Nene Valley Living January 2013 by Best Local Living

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NENE VALLEY LIVING

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£1.50 JANUARY 2013

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N ENE VA L L EY LIVING

Cover image:: By Ann Ardron, ﬁne artist. www.annardron.com Tel: 01733 380867

This Issue JA NUA RY 2013

2012

will be a tough year to beat for national celebrations but let’s hope that the mood of goodwill and community spirit will hang around. Here at NVL, our new year’s resolutions are to carry on supporting and celebrating local businesses and to champion everything that’s good about our area. If there’s anyone or anything we’ve missed, don’t hesitate to let me know. One resolution that many of us make at this time of year is to take up a sport and improve our ﬁtness. You don’t have to sign up to an expensive gym: there are so many excellent classes in community centres, village halls and schools – all you need is a pair of trainers and a few hours a week. Nene Park Academy has just opened up its brand new gym facilities to the community. In partnership with ﬁtness brand Rech@rge, you can sign up for a gym membership for as little as £17 a month, or attend one of the classes in Zumba, Bokwa, spinning or aerobics. Personally, I can’t recommend Zumba highly enough. However stressed or out of sorts you feel before a class, you’re guaranteed to come out feeling cheerful. Best wishes for 2013 – and I hope you enjoy our beautiful cover image by local artist Ann Ardron.

Fion a Cu mberpatch Editor

5 Editor’s selection

29 More than a gesture

7 Upfront

30 Ride that train

8 Upfront

32 Motoring page

11 Upfront

35 Local walk

12 Catch of the day

37 Diary dates

Get ﬁt and active

Give your bike a winter service at Bristows

Take a tour with Shaws of Maxey

Better elder care

From Billingsgate to Thorpe Waterville

The art of self expression

Hands on at the Nene Valley Railway

New models for 2013

Explore Fotheringhay

Our pick of this month’s events

15 Dining on a budget Bag a New Year bargain

19 The best bakery in Britain! Hambleton’s triumph

22 Days out for less Winter fun

25 Health and beauty notes All the latest offers and news

26 Look after your eyes Tips from The Oculist experts

Editor Fiona Cumberpatch fiona@bestlocalliving.co.uk Write to Nene Valley Living, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY www.nenevalleyliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager Bridget Steele 01733 707538 bridget.neneliving@ntlworld.com Advertisement Director Helen Walton 01780 754801 helen.stamford@btopenworld.com Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Senior Designer Nik Ellis nik@locallivingdesign.co.uk Advertising Copy Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 Email: localliving@btopenworld.com Published by Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 9FY www.locallivingltd.co.uk Printed by Warners of Bourne

W W W. B E S T L O C A L L I V I N G . C O . U K

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NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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STAY H E A LTH Y A ND A CTIV E IN THE NE W Y E AR

Editor’s selection 1

Mountain bike shoes, £110, Gorilla Firm Cycling

Nike Cheyenne running back pack, £50, John Lewis, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough

Energy drink, as used by Bradley Wiggins, £9.99 (includes bottle), Gorilla Firm Cycling, Oundle

Winter mountain biking gloves, £29.95, Gorilla Firm Cycling

Sensible, simple steps to help you shed pounds in The Food Swap Diet by Peta Bee (Little, Brown). To order from The Oundle Bookshop Tel: 01832 273523

Cycle helmet, £69.99 Gorilla Firm Cycling, Unit 2, Oundle Wharf, Station Rd, Oundle PE8 4DE Tel: 01832 273783 www.gorillafirm cycling.com

Fur lined hat, £19.99, Trek-Kits

Bloc sunglasses, suitable for all sports, £40, Trek-Kits, Oundle Wharf, Station Rd, Oundle PE8 4DE Tel: 01832 272050 www.trek-kits.co.uk

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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THE LARGEST KITCHEN AND BATHROOM STUDIO IN THE AREA Many fully working kitchens in contemporary German and traditional styles. Stunning bathrooms to suit all tastes & lifestyles. Offering full design and project management.

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W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront Reader offer: Winter bike servicing from Bristows

Spotlight on The Maldives Now Christmas is over and winter has set in, it’s time to plan your next holiday. Where could better than the paradise of The Maldives? Scattered across the Indian Ocean, due west of India is a tiny group of coral atolls. Each resort is on its own private island surrounded by white sand beaches, palms and clear blue waters. The weather is at its hottest and driest from December until April, perfect for your next sunshine break. When you arrive in The Maldives, the rest of the world will seem very far away. It’s the perfect destination for a honeymoon, or simply an escape from the stresses of everyday life. Imagine stretches of pure white sand to relax upon and shimmering lagoons to bathe in, with scuba diving and snorkelling rated as some of the finest in the world. The waters around The Maldives are home to over 1000 different types of marine life and provide a spectacular sight. Water sports abound, with windsurfing, sailing and waterskiing all on hand, while the surrounding seas boast some of world’s best game fishing year round. Oundle Travel offers a range of airlines including British Airways direct from London, however a far superior service with Emirates

and Ethiad offer seamless connections over Dubai and Abu Dhabi with their award winning Business Class cabins. “Accommodation does vary enormously on these islands,” says Paula Cockcroft from Oundle Travel. There is budget style accommodation from as little as £915 for seven nights half board on the 3* island of Thulhagiri, with an all inclusive option available. For an alternative 3* Plus island, Kuredu offers a fully all inclusive option with land and non motorised watersports also on offer. From £1159 for 7 nights. A stunning 5* property and a firm favourite with Oundle Travel is Baros. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Baros is an iconic resort offering deluxe rooms and water villas in a contemporary style from £1939 per person for seven nights bed and breakfast. For absolute 5* luxury that will meet and exceed expectations and to blow your budget, Huvafen Fushi is one the best retreats in the Maldives offering absolute 5* accommodation from £2015 for seven nights, travelling at Easter 2013. • Contact Oundle Travel on 01832 273600 for more information

It’s vitally important that you keep your bike well maintained to ensure that it performs as it should, is a pleasure to ride and will last for years to come. Whether you intend riding through the winter months or if you put your bike away until better weather arrives, now is a good time to have it checked over. If you get the bike looked at before putting it into storage, then when you come to start cycling again, there will be no nasty surprises. Bristows, of Orton Waterville, Peterborough, offers reasonably priced basic and full bicycle servicing, as well as general cycling repairs, gear tuning, brake adjustments, wheel truing, puncture repairs and more. • As a special offer for the months of January and February, Bristows are offering £5 off a basic service (£40), and £10 off a full service (£80, excluding parts). Ring on 01733 231755 or email bristows.cycles@btopenworld.com to book, and bring in the advert from this magazine when you take your bike in.

30 Years of Peterborough NCT

Hot runner scoops award

A local National Childbirth Trust (NCT) branch is looking for local parents and grandparents who have been part of the branch in the past so they can invite them to an event celebrating a special anniversary. The branch, run by volunteers, has been offering support, information and friendship to new parents and parents-to-be in the Peterborough area for the last 30 years. To mark the anniversary, they are holding an event on Saturday April 13th at the New Ark Adventure Playground in Peterborough. If you’ve been a part of the branch, you are warmly welcome to attend. • You can sign up for information and news about the 30th birthday celebrations at http://www.nct.org.uk/branches/peterborough.

A locally made spicy chutney, created to commemorate the Olympic Games, has gained an award in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards. The Hot Runner, which contains runner beans with a chilli kick, was devised by Camilla Ortega McLean of The Pickled Village, Bulwick. It will be sold in Waitrose (regionally), and Harvey Nichols. NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront Door to door holidays from Shaws Local coach operator Shaws Coaches have launched their new programme of Door-2-Door holidays for 2013, along with the latest edition of their popular day tour brochure. Featured holiday destinations include a spectacular tour of Scotland’s magical Outer Hebrides and a Grand Irish Tour which includes a visit to the new Titanic Experience in Belfast. Traditional seaside resorts such as Bournemouth, Sidmouth and Eastbourne remain popular along with Shaws’ tailor-made ‘Battlefield’ tours and gorgeous gardens. Amongst the selected European destinations are Prague, Lake Garda, Austria and, new for 2013, wonderful Copenhagen! For spring, Shaws have some great value all-inclusive holidays, as well as some lovely weekends away, including Easter in Paris, one of the most romantic cities in the world. Other popular choices include the Warner’s country house hotel, Holme Lacy, in the beautiful Wye valley, and the magical Isles of Scilly. Whether you’re looking for sightseeing, scenery, coast or city, you’ll find Shaws offer a terrific choice of holidays and short breaks, all of which include their popular Door-2-Door service and free travel insurance.

Days out Shaws new day tour programme includes some wonderful ideas, with trips to suit everyone. New destinations on offer include a cable car ride across the River Thames, a tour of the Lotus factory, the Hairy Bikers show and the Pompeii and Herculaneum exhibition at the British Museum, as well as perennial favourites such as the Strictly Come Dancing live shows and Chelsea’s annual Flower Show. The company also offers a great choice of London shows, including new productions The Bodyguard, Kiss Me Kate and Viva Forever. With prices starting at just £49.50 per person, including coach travel direct to the theatre and a top price show ticket, these trips make ideal presents. The company also does gift vouchers. 2012 was a special year for Shaws Coaches as they celebrated their 90th anniversary. Edwin Shaw, grandfather of the present owners founded the firm in Maxey in 1922. The firm has seen some changes since Edwin bought his first coach but the family-owned company make sure that they still supply the same high quality personal service on which their excellent local reputation was built. The firm currently operates more than 20 coaches and the coach hire team is renowned for its reliability and quality of service. • For further details, free brochures or gift vouchers, contact Shaws on O1778 342224, call in at the office, 49 High Street, Maxey, or email enquiries@ shawscoaches.co.uk or visit the website www.shawscoaches.co.uk

ASK THE

expert

What A level subjects should you choose? Sarah Shales, head of sixth form at Bourne Grammar School, Lincolnshire, offers some advice on this crucial decision The transition from year 11 to sixth form is possibly one of the biggest decisions young people have to make. In a year when they are working hard to prepare for GCSE exams, 15 and 16 year olds who hope to go to a top university in a couple of years’ time will have to decide which A levels they should pick. Some may have decided the direction they want to take, in which case it’s a relatively simple case of researching which course best suits, and looking at which A levels are given as absolute requirements. Most 16 year olds won’t be that certain, so what’s the advice? The prestigious Russell Group of universities published a guide in September 2011 called Informed Choices, which explains in detail what they are looking for. Top of the list is to pick two of what it calls ‘facilitating subjects’ (maths, English, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and modern languages). Avoiding overlapping curriculums is recommended although it’s better not to choose subjects that are too diverse, unless you can connect your choices and explain why you chose them. If you want a vocational/academic mix, you need to think about what you want to study as well as what degree you might take. Some schools cater for both, while others focus on those facilitating subjects that give the best potential for achieving a place at a top university. While changing school might seem like a daunting prospect, many students make that choice each year and go on to achieve the A level grades needed for securing a university place, apprenticeship or employment. Most schools hold Sixth Form open evenings. Don’t be afraid to go along and ask for advice from teachers and talk to students who have made the transition. If you miss the open evening, contact a school to arrange a visit. The more you know, the more informed your choice will be. • For more information about Bourne Grammar School Sixth Form, visit www. bourne-grammar.lincs.sch.uk A copy of the Informed Choice career guide is available to download from www.russellgroup.ac.uk

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront Care at home: considering the options

With more and more people falling outside of social services eligibility for care visits at home, and with stories of poor care quality frequently making the headlines, choosing the right care provider has never been so important. As a home care provider, Home Instead Senior Care is aware of the challenges that families face in putting quality care in place for their loved ones. They also receive many enquiries Phil and Amy from families who simply Kennedy aren’t satisfied with the quality of care or the level of service they receive from their current provider. Home Instead Senior Care, run by husband and wife team Phil and Amy Kennedy, encourage their clients and their families to explore all the options available to them. “If the appropriate care services are available through social services or charitable organisations, then it is our duty to signpost all of the options open to that individual,” says Phil Kennedy. “For most families, the first step is to arrange a care consultation with our Care Manager in the client’s home, where we would explore all of the options available and find out exactly what sort of care the individual wants. Frequently, our care provision can start with companionship, meal preparation or light housekeeping, which may only require a few visits a week, and then develop as the individual’s needs change, all the way through to daily personal care, and specialist Alzheimer’s care.” • For further advice on care services at home, or to arrange a care consultation, contact Home Instead Senior Care on 01733 333342 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk

Learn a language in 2013

Would you love to learn another language but fear you’ve left it too late? Do your kids need an extra hand around exam time but resist the idea of formal tuition? Natasha Morgan’s fun, friendly and flexible Café-Lingo language clubs could be the answer. Natasha teaches small groups in the informal surroundings of cafes and coffee shops in the Peterborough, Stamford and Huntingdon areas. “I have small class sizes and people tell me it’s very enjoyable, because it’s so informal,” she says. Once students have completed a beginners course, of six to 12 weeks duration, they can then attend weekly ‘drop in’ sessions. Equally, there are more formal courses as well. “Many people tell me that they find formal tuition intimidating, whereas my classes are a lot more accessible, yet very effective,” Natasha says. • You can find out more about the venues and classes at her website, www.natasha-morgan.co.uk or, for a flavour of Natasha’s teaching style, visit YouTube.com/mlsnatasha

Tumble Tots takeover

Jody Vaughan has taken over the franchise for Tumble Tots, the fun exercise and fitness class for children up to the age of five, in Peterborough, Stamford and Oundle. Jody says: “Running Tumble Tots is a joy for everyone involved, especially when the kids manage to accomplish something for the first time.” For more information, contact Jody on 0778182181 or visit www. tumbletots.com/peterborough

Flexible childcare at Little Ducklings Pre-School

Little Ducklings Pre-School opened in September 2012, in the old school building in the village of Barnwell, near Oundle. The Pre-School offers flexible child care, from 8am to 5.30pm, in a great setting, with a grass play area and a playground for the children to enjoy. Manager Anna Fernyhough has 20 years experience in Early Years teaching, and her team are similarly well qualified. The Pre-School recently benefited from a £500 grant from Oundle Town Council towards the purchase of equipment. Fees are £4 an hour for the Pre-School. • For more information visit www.littleducklings-barnwell.co.uk

Quilts for the community Orton Community Quilters have donated 34 handmade wheelchair quilts to the Phoenix School in Orton Malbourne. The project came about when Orton Waterville Parish Council donated £200 to the quilting group, so they could purchase bright and cheerful fabrics to make quilts for students at the Phoenix School, which caters for children with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. The Quilters’ chairperson Angela Henderson says: “the grant from

the Parish Council was used to buy lovely bright, cheerful fabric to keep us stitching through summer. In addition, Art and Stitch, on Shrewsbury Avenue, donated the wadding and The Friends of Phoenix School printed the labels. We would like to thank them both.” • If you are interested in joining the Orton Community Quilters, contact Angela at orton.quilters@virginmedia.com

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FOOD & DR INK

Catch of the day Billingsgate on a Plate is the brainchild of a local restaurateur. Dave Phillips follows the remarkable journey of the fish – and the man. Photos: Dave Phillips

t’s fish night at the Fox Inn at Thorpe Waterville and delicious aromas are already filling the dining room as my starter arrives. I’ve chosen sprats – immature herrings rolled in flour and deep-fried whole – and their little eyes seem to be gazing up at me as I’m about to tuck in. Haven’t I seen them somewhere before? Well, yes, actually I have – about 14 hours earlier and the best part of 100 miles away, at Billingsgate Market in East London, where I’d joined Fox landlord Genti Cekaj and his head chef, Pano Valmas, on their monthly quest for the best, freshest, fish that money can buy. For me it’s a journey that began at 2.30am on a cold winter’s morning in the car park of the Fox Inn at Thorpe Waterville, where I climbed aboard Genti’s hired van for the 90-minute drive to London. But Genti’s journey is much more remarkable – and began in Albania, 31 years ago. It was there, on the shores of the Adriatic, that he was born. But he grew up in troubled times: the former communist state was one of the poorest in Europe and economic collapse, combined with an armed rebellion, saw tens of thousands of Albanians flee their homeland in the 1990s. Among them was the 14-year-old Genti, who came to live with his uncle in Northampton. “My first priority was to find a job and make money,” he recalls. “I got a job as pot-washer at a local restaurant and I loved it. Cooking became my passion.” It’s a classic rags-to-riches tale. Genti worked his way up from the bottom, eventually becoming head chef at the Red Lion in East Haddon, in his early 20s. But he was always determined to open his own restaurant. The chance came five years ago when the Fox Inn at Thorpe, on the side of the A605 between Oundle and Thrapston, came on the market. It had been closed for several months, and even though the nation had just gone into recession, Genti was not deterred. “I took a gamble,” he admits. “With my passion and hard work I was confident I could make a success of the place.” And he did. The Fox quickly acquired a reputation for good food. “People came with low expectations and went ‘Wow!’. Our reputation grew by word of mouth,” he says. For the first three years, Genti served traditional British fayre, but two years ago decided to bring a taste of Albania to the Nene valley. “Fish was part of my culture as I grew up,” he says. “English people don’t eat enough fish – and I wanted to show local people how good it could be.” On the shores of the Adriatic, there was always a huge variety of freshly-landed fish and shellfish to choose from. In Northamptonshire that wasn’t the case, so Genti decided to make

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BILLINGSGATE: STEEPED IN HISTORY • Fish has been sold at market in London dating back at least to 1327, when King Edward III granted rights for citizens to hold a market. Less than a century later, Henry IV granted special rights for Billingsgate, on the edge of the City of London, and in 1699 a special Act of Parliament was passed. • Over the years, Billingsgate expanded. In the 19th century it was the biggest fish market in the world and in 1876 architect Sir Horace Jones designed a vast indoor market at Lower Thames Street. In 1982 the market relocated to new premises in Docklands, covering 13 acres and containing 98 stalls and 30 shops. It is still the UK’s biggest inland fish market. • Billingsgate is open Tuesday to Saturday. Officially, trading is from 5am to 8.30am, but business starts around 4am. It is open to the general public. • Billingsgate is located at Trafalgar Way, Poplar, London E14 5ST.

the pilgrimage to Billingsgate – the famous London fish market . On that first trip he loaded his car with boxes of fish and later that evening staged his first fish night. It was a resounding success so he made it a monthly event and it soon began to sell out weeks in advance. He decided to call his fish nights Billingsgate on a Plate and now he runs them two nights a month.

Sourcing the stock Billingsgate at 4am is an atmospheric place. Here at Canary Wharf, in the shadow of vast modern office blocks, market traders and buyers enact a ritual that has been going on for hundreds of years. The sheer variety of fish for sale is staggering. As well as the usual cod and haddock, you can buy shark, swordfish and colourful exotic species from every corner of the planet. There are even freshwater fish that local anglers would expect to find in the River Nene, including pike and carp. It’s an incredible experience, enlivened by the bustle and banter of the traders and the busy porters rushing about with laden trollies. Genti settles for a selection of nearly 30 different species that include salmon, sea bass, bream, sole (Dover and lemon), lobsters, monkfish, scallops, skate, huss, halibut, turbot and oysters. In two hours he handed over £1,500, the hired van was filled to the roof, and

we were heading north up the M11 just as the first of the commuters were starting to head in the opposite direction. Despite the early start, there is no respite for Genti, Pano and the rest of the kitchen staff. They now start on the preparation of the fish for the next two nights, in which they will serve 160 eager diners. My job is much easier: back at the Fox at 7pm to enjoy the fruits of their labour. I’m confronted by a menu that boasts a choice of ten different starters, as well as 23 main courses! Choosing between them isn’t a task to be taken lightly and half a bottle of delicious chilled white Rioja disappears by the time my dining partner and I have made our choices. Eventually I settle on the sprats (£4.95) to start. They are served with dressed salad leaves, lemon and tartar sauce. And absolutely delicious – as are the king scallops (£8.95) pan-fried in garlic butter, white wine and lemon juice, causing contented murmurs of appreciation on the other side of the table. Main courses are equally brilliant. I order skate wing (£15.95) and I’m presented with a whole wing – huge! – atop crushed new potatoes, with a sharp beurre blanc sauce, while my partner chooses whole dressed crab (£12.95) topped with Parmesan cheese. Sublime. We can’t resist peeping at the delicious-looking dishes being delivered to our fellow diners as swordfish

steaks, lobster thermadors, whole seabass and moules marinière waft past. Most readers have probably eaten at good fish restaurants while on holiday and wished they could replicate the experience back home. To them, I say pay the Fox Inn a visit on fish night – but make sure you book well in advance. “Some customers have come every single month,” says Genti. “Lots of diners enjoy it so much they book for the next month before they leave. It is so good to know you have made people so happy. The secret is the freshness of the fish. Most fish lose 30 per cent of their flavour when they are frozen. You can’t beat the taste of fresh fish.” • Website: www.foxinnthorpewaterville.co.uk. Tel: 01832 720274 NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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Apethorpe

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FOOD & DR INK

Eat out for less Just because it’s January doesn’t mean you have to stay in. Many local restaurants are offering great deals to tempt you

The King’s Head, Apethorpe Simon & Charlotte and the whole village of

There’s a price drop through January and February at this cosy village Apethorpe, are are proud to announce pub. Evening à la carte menus now priced at two coursesthat for £11.95, three courses for £14.95. newreopening, set menu (not available Fridayever. nights The Kings HeadA is betteronthan or at the weekend) is two courses for £7.95, three courses for £9.95, menu changes weekly. Also great value is a pie and a pint for £8 every Wednesday. Sunday roasts are £7.95. Plus, there’s Happy Hour, between 6pm-7pm each day, £2 per pint and £3 for a glass of wine. The King’s Head, Apethorpe Peterborough PE8 5DG Tel: 01780 470627 enquiries@ kingsheadapethorpe.co.uk

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The King’s Arms, Polebrook

A great value lunch menu board, where you can choose a course for just £6.50 is on offer at this popular pub between 12-2pm. The same deal applies on weekday evenings, 6pm-7pm. For a budget night out, landlord Justin Capp has come up with the idea of a Café de Paris evening, with a three course menu for £15, plus music by Caprice, on Friday February 1st. Go French with a choice of salade savoie, followed by either moules frites or boeuf bourguignon, and a 16:16:49 dessert of crème caramel. Please book for this event. King’s Arms Lane, Polebrook, PE8 5LW Tel: 01832 272363 www.thekingsarmspolebrook.co.uk

The Red Lion, Warmington

Pop into this welcoming country pub on a Tuesday to Saturday between 6pm and 7pm and pick up the Early Doors deal, when selected items on the menu are half price when bought with any other full priced meal. Lunch time offers include a main course for £8.95, then add another course, starter or dessert, for just £2 more. If you’re dieting, you can still take full advantage of the offers: a new lower fat menu, called ‘Slim with Tim’, is running alongside the main offering. Joint landlord Tim Stubbs will be aiming to trim some of those Christmas pounds and customers are welcome to join him! Peterborough Rd, Warmington PE8 6TN. Tel: 01832 280362

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FOOD & DR INK The Queens Head Riverside Inn

GOOD VALUE AND A WARM WELCOME

A January sale is on in this Nassington inn, with main courses at £10 each, Monday to Thursday (offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, meal deals or loyalty card discounts). A 10 ounce flat iron steak, for example, is reduced from £15.25 and belly of pork, down from £13.25. The Queens Head Riverside Inn, 54 Station Rd, Nassington PE8 6QB Tel: 01780 784006 www.queensheadnassington.co.uk

recommends

The Pheasant at Keyston From Thursday January 17th to Thursday 31st January, there’s a Pie and Pint promotion at this excellent establishment. Every lunch and evening, except Saturday evening and Sunday lunch, choose from three different traditional pies or savoury puddings, and a pint of local bitter or a glass of hearty red, all for £9.95. The sweet menu will also make a special feature of some classic British puddings. The perfect winter treat at an affordable price. The Pheasant at Keyston, Keyston, Huntingdonshire, PE28 ORE Tel: 01832 710241 www.huntsbridge.com

Nene Valley Living The Ship Inn, Oundle

Taking a slow taxi ride through the back streets of North London recently, it struck me that every pub in that area was identical: Farrow and Ball shades on the walls, bare floorboards, scrubbed pine tables, upright chairs and a blackboard menu, usually advertising some sort of scarily priced offal. Where do people go if they want a proper down-home local, I wondered? A noisy, friendly mis-matched pub with a carpet and a fire? In this region, our pubs are as individual as their landlords, and The Ship, in the heart of Oundle, is no exception. We went on a Saturday evening. The fire was burning brightly in the inglenook fireplace, and the bar was lively at 7pm. We sat down with our menus and chose from a selection of pub classics. A large party of young people were just finishing their meal, and a man with a mobile phone was setting the world to rights on the other, with the kind of wisdom that only seems to come after a couple of pints. My husband ordered rump steak and chips, my son opted for fish, chips and peas, while I chose ham, egg and chips. Not everything is served with chips. Other options included chicken and ham pie with fresh vegetables, sausage and mash and Texas chilli. There are no frills, but service is efficient and friendly. Our portions were enormous (you can order a smaller size) but we were all impressed by the freshness of the food. My son Carey’s battered fish was absolutely delicious, served with a dish of peas and tartar sauce. Perry’s steak with battered onion rings was succulent, and my offthe-bone ham and two eggs were a match made in comfort-food heaven. There’s a good selection of ales, including an intriguingly named banana bread beer, and the Stamford-made Jollydale cider. The desserts are all made in house, and Carey’s calorie-busting wedge of Banoffee Pie was the star of the show. Perry opted for the sticky toffee pudding, with two scoops of ice cream, another whopping portion. Our bill came in at a reasonable £42, including two pints of beer, a mug of mulled wine and two soft drinks, plus a definite feel-good factor on the side. Fiona Cumberpatch Look out for regular offers on all weekday nights, and lunchtime specials from £5.50 18 West St, Oundle PE8 4EF Tel: 01832 273918 theshipinn18@btconnect.com

East, Peterborough Fresh and spicy pan-Asian food. £10 Tuesdays will resume on January 8th. Or treat the family to the Sunday buffet, all you eat for £10.95 per person, £5.95 for children up to eight. We sampled this recently and it was delicious: the food was piping hot, and swiftly replenished, children will thoroughly enjoy the experience of eating aboard a boat, and being able to serve themselves. East will also be offering a two course lunch menu for £9.95. Upper Deck, Charters, Town Bridge, Peterborough PE1 1FP Tel: 01733 315702

The Brewery Tap This lively central Peterborough Thai restaurant has a lunch menu with all dishes under £7 per person, ideal for a quick working lunch on a winter’s day. The Brewery Tap, 80 Westgate, Peterborough PE1 2AA Tel: 01733 358500

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£10 tuesday

the perfect way to enjoy Tuesday evenings - a great mid-week treat

Our Chefs prepare exclusive dishes, using fresh seasonal produce and carefully selected spices to provide delicious exotic flavours. We will select the most popular dishes to take pride of place on our new Spring menu…. So whether it’s your sports team get together or your book club regular catch up, £10 Tuesday at East is worth a visit. Great food and great atmosphere with great value for money. Please reserve your table in advance because it won’t be the best kept secret for long. See you on Tuesday for £10 Tuesday. Upper Deck, Charters, Town Bridge, Peterborough

Peartree Farm Tearoom Breakfasts • Hot Lunches Daily Homemade Cakes • Light Snacks/Lunches Our tearoom is in the main street of Aldwincle in a superbly renovated farm milking barn with an outside patio area. There is off road parking in a car park.

Daily Specials Private Functions catered for Traditional Sunday Lunch available Prior booking is essential to avoid disappointment

01733 315702 www.east-restaurant.co.uk

‘SLIM

WITH TIM’ During Jan & Feb we are running an extra menu alongside our usual fare to help shed those extra Christmas pounds!

We are open daily from 11am till 3pm (Mondays) - 10.30am till 4pm (Tuesday - Sunday) For group bookings, please telephone

01832 720055 LUNCHTIME SPECIALS £8.95 - Tue – Sat

Elinor holiday cottages are a fantastic luxury 2012 conversion of redundant farm buildings set next to a trout lake with some of the best unspoilt scenery in Northamptonshire. Located in the heart of the Nene Valley where canoeing is fast becoming a must, the cottages are halfway between the market towns of Oundle & Thrapston. Access by major roads is excellent and the cottages are ideal for walking, cycling, fishing (fly) or just plain relaxing.

THE RED LION Warmington

• Freehouse • Quality Real Ales • Real Home Produced Food • Homemade Desserts • Warm friendly welcome • The Famous Red Lion Sunday Lunch - Serving 12 noon and 2.30 (booking essential)

Early Doors Buy ONE meal & get another HALF PRICE Tue – Sat (table clear by 8pm but only if required)

Book early for Valentine’s and Mother’s Day

The two self-catering cottages are both on ground floor and ideal for disabled access. For details, please contact Tim and Beverley Hankins on 01832 720614 - 07798 518 453 07718 608 129 www.peartreefarm.net

Closed Mondays Peterborough Road, Warmington, PE8 6TN - T: 01832 280362 Email: theredlionwarmington@gmail.com Web: www.theredlionwarmington.co.uk 17

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Using the finest locally sourced ingredients, traditional baking methods and a craftsman’s attention to detail, the bakers at Hambleton Bakery have created a delicious range of handmade sweet and savoury products including fresh pasta for you and your family to enjoy every day of the week. We proudly introduce The Rutland Pippin, an apple shaped crusty bread enrobing hand pulled Grasmere ham hock, sausage meat, Colston Bassett Stilton, spices and a homemade apple puree.

As seen on ITV 1’s Britain’s Best Bakery. Exton Bakery & Shop

Oakham Shop Gaol Street

Cottesmore Road, Exton,

Rutland

LE15 8AN

LE15 6AL

Oundle Shop

Stamford Shop

44 Jericho, Market Place,

1 Ironmonger Street,

Oundle PE8 4AU

Lincolnshire , PE9 1PL

Enquiries 01572 812995 info@hambletonbakery.co.uk www.hambletonbakery.co.uk 18

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FOOD & DR INK

Britain’s Best Bakery! After many gruelling rounds of culinary challenges, Hambleton Bakery, which has a branch in Oundle, was eventually declared ‘Britain’s Best Bakery’ in the recent ITV series

s well as being a food competition this series was a celebration of local bakeries around the UK, the delicious goods they produce, their regional specialities and their centuries old baking heritage. Expert judges Mich Turner MBE (TV chef, author and owner of Little Venice Cake Company) and Peter Sidwell (TV chef, cookery writer and restaurateur) sampled the delicacies of the country’s favourite independent, family run and community bakeries, tasting and critiquing their way through breads, cakes, pastries and pies. The Hambleton team comprised Julian Carter and Scott Kenny, both master bakers, and Tim Hart, coowner of Hambleton Hall, providing assistance when needed. They were ably supported by the team back at the bakery who kept the business ticking over during their absences. “The competition gave us the opportunity to promote awareness of our traditional breadmaking techniques,” said Julian “and it also stretched us in every way!” The Competition The first round challenge, at Rockingham Castle, was to make a sausage roll with a point of difference. Hambleton Bakery produced a sausage roll with a slice of black pudding on the bottom, mince in the middle and apple on the top, “encased in a beautifully buttery pastry” in the judges’ words. The challenge for the second heat was to create an afternoon tea in three hours at a cookery school, using domestic equipment. The team prepared two types of bread, three different types of pastry, cakes and chocolates (including a raspberry and chocolate cake, lemon tarts in baked cases and a mille-feuille with strawberries). On the savoury side there were scrambled eggs, smoked salmon on muffins; and manchets (brioche-like buns) with chicken liver. The teams also had to create a judge’s cake – a meringue roulade with lemon curd. All the teams found this difficult but, in the words of the judges “Hambleton survived their curd crisis” and made it through to the next round. For this round the contestants were invited to

‘create a modern twist on a traditional British cake,’ which was to be judged by the Barnes Women’s Institute. Julian chose to create a ‘flat’ Battenburg cake, with a filling that was described by the judges as ‘marvellously gooey’. For the next round, six teams met at Ipswich Catering College, with the brief to create a sweet and savoury bake for sale at Newmarket Races. The day begun at 7am and the requirement was for 100 of each. Hambleton Bakery created a new product, Ploughman’s Parcel, which is now for sale in all its stores. It is a savoury focaccia dough filled with Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese, Apple, Celery and homemade Chutney made with figs, dates, onions and balsamic vinegar, topped with seeds. The sweet bake was a tea cake with various racing odds added on top of each. Once again, Hambleton Bakery did well and progressed to the final. The Final The final round involved three teams and three challenges. The other two teams were Broughton Village Stores in Baldry, The Lake District (a husband and wife team who had both retired from the prison service to pursue their passion for bread) and the Bakery Dunbar in Scotland. The first challenge was to bake as much bread as possible in the morning and then sell it at Leadenhall Market during the rest of the day. The teams also had to make a Judge’s choice bread, a Jewish bread called Challah, which is a

sweetened dough with eggs and butter, braided. The second challenge was to create an iconic bake inspired by local ingredients. Hambleton Bakery created a Rutland Pippin. Baked in the shape of an apple, it is filled with ham hock, apple & quince purée and Stilton cheese. The bread is a cross between a pastry and dough. This is now also available at the shops The third challenge was to create a wedding cake in a day, with a real life bride and groom telling each of the teams about their preferences. The Hambleton Bakery bride and groom wanted something really different, inspired by the Mexican ‘Days of the Dead’. The team worked incredibly hard to create a stunning three level cake with intricate motifs scattered across the three layers. The Bride and Groom loved it and the cake judge loved it too. In the end the judges found much to commend in Hambleton Bakery’s offering and they were awarded the honour of being ‘Britain’s Best Bakery’. Julian Carter commented: “We were surprised that we got this far, and amazed to win. It was a delight to meet so many other bakers from around the country who are passionate, as we are, about traditional baking. We learnt a lot from each other and tried out new ideas. It will all have been worthwhile if it helps to promote the values of real bread made the traditional way.” Many congratulations to Hambleton Bakery; and we can enjoy their products every day at one of their four stores in Exton, Oakham, Stamford or Oundle. • Hambleton Bakery Tel: 01572 812995 www.hambletonbakery.co.uk

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Oundle Travel

Find your perfect holiday with your local, independent and friendly travel experts. Privately owned and managed for 18 years by Director Paula Cockcroft, Paula and her team are able to offer a wealth of knowledge, experience and truly independent and unbiased advice when booking your next holiday.

BEST CITY BREAK

Marrakech – Perfect for a short break at any time of the year, Morocco’s rich heritage and scenic treasures always impress. Direct flights from London with private transfers to your chosen hotel make the journey quick and easy. Marrakech with its pink terracotta walls the colourful city cannot fail to leave a striking impression on visitors. A wide choice of accommodation is available from the 5* La Mamounia – reopened after a three year restoration, this hotel is the oldest and most famous in Marrakech, to the smaller and rather unique Riads, often very centrally located and family owned. Top Tip – Book a private walking tour, the best way of seeing this amazing city – from £25.00 per person

FAVOURITE ADVENTURE DESTINATION

Bhutan – Protected by the mighty Himalaya, the isolated kingdom of Bhutan is an unforgettable place to visit. The landscape is stunning with steep forested hills, misty mountains rising from fast flowing rivers and superb Dxongs (fortresses) that dot the valleys and hilltops. However, it is the fascinating culture that makes this country unique and a small guided

tour is the best way to meet the relaxed local people and be totally immersed in the magical history and culture. Top Tip – This trip will raise your heartbeat and a good level of fitness is required.

BEST FUN BREAK

Las Vegas – It just has to be !! Dazzling casinos and top international shows, flamboyant, extravagant and simply unmissable , a shimmering mirage in the middle of the Nevada desert. Las Vegas is a monumental amusement centre crammed with casinos, swish shopping malls and innumerable restaurants. Stay at The Wynn Las Vegas – A luxurious fifty storey resort on the strip complete with a Ferrari dealership ! Top Tip – Escape the city in a customised helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, an absolute must !

TOP NATURE DESTINATION

Costa Rica – Located between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the small country of Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse places on earth.

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three sumptuous palaces built for the members of the Imperial Family and stay at the stunning Astoria lovingly restored by Rocco Forte which has been the centre of the City’s history since it opened in 1912. Top Tip – Why not combine St Petersburg with Moscow ? The new ‘Sapson’ high speed train takes only four hours between the two cities, making a twin centre holiday a viable option.

FAVOURITE FLY DRIVE DESTINATION

New England – Visit early autumn, commence your journey in Boston, head north for Salem before heading along the coast towards Portland, Maines largest city, head inland towards the breathtakingly beauty of The White Mountains a landscape dotted with historic villages, continue through the Green Mountains and then journey south towards the Massachusetts coast to Cape Cod with long beaches, picturesque villages and delicious seafood. Top Tip – Stay at The Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Cod – The ultimate New England retreat – 7 night Fly Drive Price from £1295.00 per person.

BEST TRAIN JOURNEY

The Orient Express – Without a doubt this is the opportunity of a lifetime and the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion in style. Travel in sumptuous surroundings on this legendary train departing from London Victoria. On arrival at Calais the immaculate Wagon Lits carriages of the Continental train await and you will be shown to your private cabin. Top Tip - Combine this journey with three nights in Venice for the ultimate experience, The Cipriani for absolute 5* luxury, located on Giudecca Island and only five minutes from St Mark’s Square by private launch. All Oundle Travel clients receive timed complimentary entrance tickets to The Doges Palace. Price on application.

FAVOURITE FAMILY DESTINATION

Visit the major national parks and explore the astonishing variety of wildlife and contrasting habitats, including rainforest, cloud forest, volcanoes, lakes and canals. Top Tip – Visit in the British winter months through until April, the weather is dry and warm.

TOP CULTURE BREAK

St Petersburg – Peter the Great built his Baltic City to drag Russia into the modern age. It is a city of stunning vistas and grand buildings, the breath-taking Hermitage and the Old Winter Palace is one of the world’s great art museums and is one of the many examples of the wealth and opulence of the Romanov Empire. Visit the

Mauritius – La Plantation d’Albion Club Med Resort – New for 2013 this is a unique family experience of a private villa with the luxury of All Inclusive. Sports academies with classes for all levels together with a Teen Spa, optional extras include babysitting and ‘Pyjama Club’ and local cookery classes, perfect for the family holiday. Top Tip – British Airways offer a direct flight from London, which makes the journey effortless with children, but be warned…. this route is very popular, book early to avoid disappointment !

BEST CHILL OUT DESTINATION

The Maldives – It just has to be…White sands and whispering coconut palms, top end resorts promise blissful relaxation beside cobalt seas. If you are seeking luxury and blissful relaxation the world’s leading hotel brands oblige magnificently; from fabulous glass floored overwater bungalows to butler serviced beach villas. The food and spas are world class, the diving spectacular, it really is as close to paradise as you will get. Cruise the atolls in a traditonal wooden dhoni or escape to an island in the middle of the ocean for a romantic chill out dinner…. The Maldivian islands really are ‘No News, No Shoes’ Top Tip – Snorkel with the turtles accompanied by a marine biologist or assist with marine conservation by participating in coral propagation and planation projects. • Oundle Travel Limited, Oundle, Peterborough, Cambs, PE8 4EA, Tel: 01832 273600. Please visit us at www.oundletravel.co.uk

OUNDLE TRAVEL OFFERS YOU COMPLETE PEACE OF MIND 21

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ACT IVIT IE S

Days out for less Christmas is over and we’re all feeling the pinch. So how do you get out and about with the kids without breaking the bank? Simple. Follow Lucy Banwell’s guide to some of the best value family outings in the area

KIRBY HALL

BARNWELL COUNTRY PARK A short walk out of Oundle brings you to Barnwell Country Park with its idyllic lakeside walks and meadows to explore. But the children’s play area is the star of the show here. There’s something for all ages including a sand pit, a pirate ship, a zip wire in the woods and an elevated wooden walkway. HOW MUCH? Free admission! Parking costs £2.50 per car WHEN OPEN? All day, every day INSIDER TIP: Take some food for the ducks (avoid giving them bread, defrosted frozen peas, grapes cut in half and leafy greens are healthier choices) MORE INFO: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk Tel: 01832 273435

This stunning half-ruined Elizabethan mansion is the perfect way to introduce your kids to the joy of historic buildings. Not only is it a feast for the eyes with its gorgeous, honey-coloured stone and geometric formal gardens, but it’s completely child-friendly because most of the rooms are empty so there’s nothing for your little horrors to damage! They can charge around the bare stone rooms to their hearts’ content and then head out into the grounds to watch the peacocks roam regally around the gardens. HOW MUCH? £3.50 per child, £5.80 per adult, underfives go free. Adult annual membership of English Heritage costs only £47 and includes free entry for up to six accompanying children. WHEN OPEN? 10am – 4pm Saturday and Sunday (closed midweek during the winter) INSIDER TIP: Bring bikes because kids are allowed to cycle anywhere in the grounds – even around the amazing formal gardens MORE INFO: www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/ properties/kirby-hall Tel: 01536 203230

FINESHADE WOODS

STANWICK LAKES There’s lots to do in all weathers at Stanwick Lakes, a 750 acre nature reserve in the heart of the Nene valley. The adventure play area with climbing tower and water play will keep young kids amused for hours and a short walk will take you to the assault course and adventure trail which are a brilliant challenge for older children. Café Solar offers hot and cold drinks, snacks and light meals, and is home to The Hideaway – a lovely soft play zone for young children which costs £1 or £1.50 depending on the child’s height. HOW MUCH? Free admission! Parking costs £2 per car during the winter WHEN OPEN? 7am – 5pm (Visitor Centre open 10am – 4pm) INSIDER TIP: Walk or cycle to the park and you get in for free MORE INFO: www.stanwicklakes.org.uk Tel: 01933 625522

Walks in this ancient woodland will give kids the chance to get up close and personal with all kinds of wildlife including birds, butterflies and creepy crawlies. They’ll also love the children’s play areas and if they’re into cycling the family cycling route will be a real winner. Why not start 2013 off with a healthy New Year’s Day Walk? At 2pm on 1 January, Forestry Commission guides will lead a gentle walk through the winter woodland, looking out for woodpeckers, deer and other animals along the way. The guided walk costs £4 per adult, £2 per child. To book call 07912 667734. HOW MUCH? Free admission! Parking costs £3 per car WHEN OPEN? 10am – 4pm daily INSIDER TIP: Grab a delicious hot chocolate at the Top Lodge Café MORE INFO: www.forestry.gov.uk/toplodge Tel: 01780 444920

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SACREWELL FARM There’s so much to do – inside and out – at Sacrewell Farm that it really is the perfect allday, all-weather day out. If it’s dry, you can feed the goats, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs and enjoy the outdoor wooden play area and maze. But if a downpour strikes, you can head under cover to the Activity Barn and have a go on the ride-on tractors and climb about in the soft play frame. The Shire Horse Centre at the bottom of the farm is well worth the walk to stroke the velvety noses of the some of the gentlest giants you’ll ever meet! Sacrewell Farm’s Wildlife Week runs from 9 to 17 February. Children of all ages can take part in the Nature Trail challenge and enjoy wildlifethemed crafts. No extra charge.

PETERBOROUGH MUSEUM Following a £3.2million redevelopment project, Peterborough Museum offers a great day out for the whole family. Boys, in particular, will marvel at the fossil and dinosaur exhibits and gasp at the sight of the Museum’s original Victorian operating theatre. Younger children are catered for with the ‘Chatter Trail’ which, for the small charge of 50p, encourages kids to spot interesting objects as they walk round the Museum. On Thursday 3 January, the Museum is running a Young Explorer session aimed at toddlers and pre-school children. Little ones will be able to explore the Victorian Kitchen and make their own musical instruments. The session runs from 10am to 11.30am and costs £2 per child. No booking required. HOW MUCH? Free admission! WHEN OPEN? Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 12 – 4pm INSIDER TIP: Don’t miss the Iron Age sword which went missing from the Museum and was then returned 13 years later! MORE INFO: www.vivacity-peterborough.com Tel: 01733 864663

FERRY MEADOWS 500 acres of green and pleasant parkland await at Ferry Meadows complete with miles of buggyfriendly paths. There are also three play areas catering for a range of ages, two cafes and a friendly Visitor Centre. The Christmas Trail activity will be continuing until 8 January. For just 50p, you can pick up a Trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and enjoy some festive fun with the kids. Ferry Meadows Railway is also a must for young children. Following winter closure, the railway will be back in action from 9 February and costs £2 for a child’s return fare from Ham Lane Station to the Watersport Centre and back. HOW MUCH? Free admission! Parking is also free until 1 March when it will cost £4 per car at weekends and bank holidays WHEN OPEN? January weekdays 11am – 3.30pm, weekends 10am – 3.30pm. February weekdays 11am – 4pm, weekends 10am – 4pm INSIDER TIP: Download the Mobile Explorer app via the website to learn more about the park’s history, wildlife and landscape. MORE INFO: www.neneparktrust.org.uk/ferry-meadows Tel: 01733 234193

HOW MUCH? £4.25 per child, £5.25 per adult, under 3s free WHEN OPEN? Every day 10am – 4pm (closed 24 December – 1 January inclusive) INSIDER TIP: Save money by bringing your own picnic and eating it at the picnic tables inside the Activity Barn MORE INFO: www.sacrewell.org.uk Tel: 01780 782254

MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, CAMBRIDGE Part of Cambridge University, this museum houses an extensive collection of zoological exhibits including animal specimens such as beetles, birds and lizards. A good range of dinosaur remains are displayed at the rear of the Upper Gallery. Bring your torch to explore the museum after dark at the ‘Twilight at the Museum’ event from 4.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 13 February. Spooky sounds will bring the skeletons to life and there will be trails, competitions and other hands-on activities. All ages welcome. No admission charge and no need to book. HOW MUCH? Free admission! WHEN OPEN? Monday – Friday 10am – 4.45pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm INSIDER TIP: Play ‘guess the animal’ with the skeleton exhibits which cover everything from giraffes to hippos to whales! MORE INFO: www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk Tel: 01233 336650 NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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Jan Marini peels £65 or course of 6 for £325

d o o f t i rabb

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HEA LTH & BE AUT Y

Health & Beauty Notes All the latest on local health and beauty businesses. By Bridget Steele

TEN YEARS WITH LIGHTERLIFE AND STILL LOVING IT

“January 10th, 2003. Having lost 5 1/2 stone in 4 and a half months with LighterLife, it was day one of my training to become a LighterLife counsellor.” Julie Larrington shares her journey to help others lose weight: “I had become desperate and frustrated at my lack of ability to lose weight, then I came across LighterLife and, at last, here was a company who did not treat me as in idiot (eat less – exercise more), but recognised that I had a problem with food, with overeating, and had the tools to help me to deal with that. I was so taken with LighterLife, I decided to buy into the franchise opportunity and become a counsellor. In my ten years of counselling with LighterLife I have seen some amazing people make amazing life changes due to their incredible weight loss and their growth in self-esteem and self-belief from the counselling. I had a young man in a dead end job who lost eight stone. He told me he had a degree in music and through the counselling he realised he would like to teach music and he is now qualiﬁed. There was also a lady who needed a new direction. She also went into teaching as the counselling helped her to discover what she wanted to do. She has just completed her ﬁrst year as a primary school teacher. Over the years I have story after story of the success of my amazing clients. To celebrate Julie’s 10th Anniversary with Lighter Life, she is offering a 10% discount on all food orders for the month of January, so now is a great time to get started on your life changing experience. • For more information contact Julie Larrington, Lighter Life Counsellor 84, Culley Court, Orton Southgate, Peterborough.PE2 6WA Tel. 01733 367205 / 07963753717 www.lighterlife.com/julielarrington

GLYCOLIC ACID PEEL I had heard of Glycolic Acid Peels before visiting the Cosmetic Clinic in Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough and I’d imagined them to be very harsh treatments with added downtime, but I could not have been more wrong. I was able to try a treatment using a Jan Marini Skin Peel that keeps the skin looking brighter, hydrated, smooth and soft. The treatment starts with a thorough cleanse to prepare the skin, and the glycolic acid peel is then applied. I felt a mild tingling sensation but it was not uncomfortable at any time, in fact it was like having a face mask applied. This is left for about ten minutes and then washed off with warm water. My face was then treated to a rich vitamin C serum that felt soothing and nourishing. Lisa, my therapist, then deeply moisturised the skin using a high SPF cream. Some people experience a red face afterwards and some ﬂaking of the skin - this has been minimal for me though and the results are great with clear and refreshed looking skin. I can see why this is pioneering treatment is called a “lunch time peel” For best results the clinic recommends a course of six treatments to be taken one month apart. If booking a course, the last treatment will be free. Lisa suggested the glycolic peel treatment can be used in conjunction with microdermabrasion treatments so clients could alternate if they prefer. Bridget Steele • For more information contact The Cosmetic Clinic, 225 Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough PE1 3PB Tel: 01733 310090 www.ukcosmeticclinic.com e-mail - cliniccosmetic@aol.co.uk

MEN’S NIGHT AT THE HAIR BOUTIQUE The Hair Boutique in Wansford is a stylish and relaxing salon within the grounds of the Haycock Hotel. It has been established for over three years and is owned by Stacey Larkin. Stylists are highly trained by top celebrity stylists such as Lee Stafford and Andrew Barton. The salon offers Men Only sessions on Fridays between 5pm and 7pm - there is a 20% discount at these sessions and a chance to relax and enjoy a beer at the same time. The salon also offers a Keep Calm and have a blow dry pack – the perfect pick-me-up for stressed winter hair. It includes a head massage, gloss treatment and a blow dry style of your choice, all for £40. • Fore more information contact www.wansford hairboutique.com Tel: 01780 781102

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

25 H&B NEWS.indd 3

19/12/12 15:17:29

HEA LTH & BE AUT Y

The eyes have it

All you ever wanted to know about looking after your sight, compiled for Nene Valley Living by optometrist Gerry Sondh of The Oculist in Peterborough

Q. My optician recently told me that I had a mole on my eye. Is this something to worry about? A. No. All opticians work to strict guidelines. If your mole was a problem then you would have been referred to see an Ophthalmologist. At The Oculist I photograph moles so it is very easy to detect small changes. I also advise a shorter time between eye examinations so if things do change then they are treated quickly. Q. Is it true that you can tell if someone has high blood pressure during an eye test? A. Yes. The retinal blood vessels sometimes change when somebody has high blood pressure. Often people can be unaware of this problem until the optician highlights it during the examination. The Oculist eye examination has digital photography as standard in every appointment, which allows me to detect any small movement of blood vessels. Q. I work on the computer every day and I have very itchy, sore eyes. Why is this and what can I do to ease the problem? A. It is unlikely that using the computer would cause itchy eyes. The itchy sensation is likely to be associated with an allergy or an infection. You should consult your optician or your pharmacist if you have itchy eyes. Sore eyes can sometimes be related to environment you work in, e.g. air conditioning. They can also be a result of dry eyes. There are lots of fantastic eye drops available which help alleviate these symptoms. I have had excellent reports from my patients about two products I prescribe – Thealoz and Hyerbak (both available at The Oculist). It is also important to remember to blink when you are on the computer. The blink reﬂex replenishes the tears in your

eye which will help with your symptoms. You should ask your optician for a dry eye assessment if you are concerned. Q. My eyes often run for no reason. It’s embarrassing as people sometimes think I am crying. What could be causing this? A. Watery eyes can sometimes be caused by blocked tear ducts. These can be cleared out by an Ophthalmologist. Watery eyes can also be caused by having the wrong type of tears. Eye drops again can help stabilise your tear ﬁlm reducing the watering. Allergies also cause watery eyes. It is worthwhile monitoring eye makeup, cologne etc to see if any of them trigger the reaction. A change in lid position can also move the tear duct off the globe. This means that the tears build up and spill over the lid. This would require a referral to an Ophthalmologist to discuss the options to reposition the lid.

Q. Are there any foods you can recommend to help maintain healthy eyes? A. You need a healthy balanced diet with lots of leafy vegetables. Eat oily ﬁsh twice a week, and plenty of fruit. Drink alcohol in moderation. Do not smoke. We also recommend 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity three to four times per week. This probably all sounds familiar, but the eye needs the same care and attention as the rest of your body. A rule of thumb I personally use when preparing food is to have lots of different coloured fresh fruit and vegetables. Include a portion of carbohydrates and protein. If you have been good for ﬁve or six days, treat yourself to a piece of cake. Then return to your controlled eating. • The Oculist, 24 Westgate Arcade, Peterborough PE1 1PY Tel: 01733 555621 www.theoculist.com

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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19/12/12 15:18:52

Advertisement Feature

ELYSIA HEALTH AND BEAUTY Always first to offer the latest treatments in beautiful, relaxed surroundings..

• Chemical Peels

or 12 years Lisa Claypole has worked to establish Elysia Health and Beauty at the forefront of beauty. The aim is to offer the latest beauty techniques available to suit teenagers and men and women of all ages. Whether you want to restore the natural beauty of your skin or to remove unwanted hair, wrinkles, signs of acne, acne scarring. Elysia have the expertise and technology to help you achieve your goals. Cutting Edge Treatments Always offering the latest treatments available, Elysia Health and Beauty is the only salon in the area of offer the CACI ULTIMATE non –surgical facial treatment system. The system treats lines, wrinkles, eye area, sagging skin, blemishes, scarring, acne, dehydrated and tired skin. Immediately after treatment, muscles are tighter skin texture improved and wrinkles dramatically reduced. Also specialising in a variety of non-surgical treatments including IPL, Skin Rejuvenation and Microdermabrasion. JESSICA GELeration and Lash Perfect Eyelash extensions are must have treatments. Hot Stone Massage, waxing and St Tropez Airbrush tanning are other salon favourites. When you visit Elysia Health and Beauty you will find a safe, comfortable and professional environment. The main focus is to help you feel good about yourself. RELAX, REWIND AND FEEL ALTOGETHER BETTER • Elysia Health and Beauty, Tansor, Oundle , PE8 5HP 01832 226328 or 07879 620196www.elysiahealthandbeauty.com

• NVL JAN ADS.indd 27

18/12/12 15:14:37

Happy New Year Happy New Teeth

issing or loose teeth is a common dental problem. The conventional way of resolving it is with a porcelain bridge, denture or an implant. These treatment options often involve irreversible preparation work on adjacent teeth and usually require a number of time consuming appointments. We are pleased to introduce a new innovative way of replacing and saving your teeth, now available after 12 years of continuous development. The treatment, Fibredontics, is normally completed in a single appointment and in most cases without the need of an injection.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU £10 OFF any facial or a free Collagen Mask worth £15 when you book a fabulous Anti-Ageing, Non- Surgical Face Lift Using CACI ULTRA, Light Life or ORO Facial Pure Health & Beauty, Church Farm, Glapthorn, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 5BE, TEL: 01832 272310 OR EMAIL:pure@farming.co.uk Ample onsite parking for all our clients

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• NVL JAN ADS.indd 28

18/12/12 15:14:51

People

More than a gesture Rebecca Birch, Artist in Residence with Fermyn Woods Contemporary Art, has made films in the Arctic Circle, California and Canada but her latest project brings her to the Corby Cube. Sue Dobson investigates

e use our hands as we talk and tap our feet to music, expressive gestures that are usually instinctive and involuntary but can speak volumes to the people around us. Artist Rebecca Birch is working on a video project to explore the ways in which relationships and social interactions can be signified, controlled and communicated through the hand and body. Rebecca is Artist in Residence at Fermyn Woods Contemporary Art, an independent arts organisation that connects urban and rural culture and landscape across Northamptonshire. Her work will form part of Gesture, a six-month, multi-disciplinary project that includes an online video exhibition and live art performances. I met her at the The Cube in Corby, where she was spending two days a week, observing and engaging with staff and visitors to explore the meaning behind their subconscious gestures. “The Corby Cube is perfect for my style of video art,” she explained. “It’s a most unusual building in that it has brought together Council offices and theatre space. Here art is not separated from daily life. It’s a unique environment that’s ideal for an artist to engage with the people who use it, both frequent and occasional visitors.” In this landmark, state-of-the-art building, a wide ramp winds up past the Library with its terraces of books to the council’s One Stop Shop. On further floors are the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Corby’s Council Chamber, meeting rooms and offices. On the ground floor, The Core theatre has three performance spaces, engaging with the community through dance, music, drama, film, storytelling, DJs and creative workshops. “I temped in council offices in London after finishing my BA degree. It was a useful experience for this project because I understand how things work and feel quite comfortable in this environment.” When we met, Rebecca was at the “making myself known” stage of her project, getting to know regular users of the building and members of staff. She’d spent the weekend at the technical rehearsal of a show being staged at The Core. “People have been very welcoming,” she smiled.

“It’s a busy building, used by people of all ages and walks of life. Some come occasionally, perhaps for a wedding or to deal with a housing or transport problem. Others use it regularly to pay bills, as a haven for a quiet read, or are involved with events at the theatre. There’s a lot of music activity in Corby. The film’s narrative will emerge as I explore how The Cube is functioning as an environment and from the visual chorus of gestures I encounter here.” People and places Social encounters, and the subconscious acts that can occur as a result, interest her. Her work focuses on the relationship between people and the landscape and the rhythm of their daily lives. Past projects have taken her among the people who live among the oldest trees in the world in California, to a small town on a Canadian mountainside and inside the Arctic Circle during the period of 24hour darkness. Recently she spent a year filming a young clockmaker in his workshop for the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Rebecca works with a small digital SLR camera that has an HD video function, using a vintage 50mm lens. “I like its short focal length, which allows me to isolate movement, and while a video camera allows for longer filming time, shooting with a manual camera gives me more control.” She expects to have around 80 hours of video at the end of the three months she is spending at The Cube. “I want to start the editing process while I’m still in the building. The way a film is edited is affected by the sounds and atmosphere of place. I’ll be involving people in conversation about it as the narrative develops.” With the emphasis of the project being on engagement with people and the building as a social environment, before her work enters the art canon and is shown in galleries, she’s hoping for a screening at an event within The Cube that will bring together everyone taking part. Rebecca’s personal gesture is to give a DVD of the final work to all the people whose gestures wrote the plot. • www.fermynwoods.co.uk/current-programme/open-online-three/ NENE VALLEY LIVING january 2013

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19/12/12 15:20:15

Gr eat Day s Out

Hear My Train a Comin’ Al Tutt enjoys a driver experience day on the Nene Valley Railway ‘Hear My Train a Comin’ Past cotton grass and moorland boulder Shovelling white steam over her shoulder, Snorting noisily as she passes Silent miles of wind-bent grasses’

or those of a certain age, there is an evocative, even romantic essence to the Age of Steam. On 11th August 1968, BR (remember them?) ran its last ever steam train in mainland Britain. The world had turned. And so, when provided with an opportunity to actually drive a steam train, well, who could resist? Nene Valley Railway is a preserved standard-gauge steam railway which opened in 1977; it is based in Wansford on the Old Great North Road and handily accessed from the A1. It runs a service between Yarwell and Peterborough, a round trip of fifteen miles, and has a fleet of circa fifteen diesel and steam locomotives. It can cost upwards of a quarter of a million pounds to rebuild a large steam loco to a running standard and NVR is currently trying to raise funds to rebuild the City of Peterborough loco. There is also the small matter of one million per year running costs to keep this registered charity solvent. A small number of paid staff work at the site, but the bulk of the day-today work - from engineering to manning the ticket office - is carried out by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers; up to 200 currently. The press ‘driving experience’ day that I attended, by and large, replicates the steam experience available to the general public – but at a price. Most people, however, take a trip round the NVR for a ride on a steam train and a poke around a near-lost world. First up is an informative tour of the loco sheds and workshops guided by the affable David Hickling. I see Thomas, a little loco from 1947 that worked at British Sugar, Peterborough, gaining its name for its blue hue and resemblance to Thomas the Tank Engine, and christened in person by the Rev. Wilbert Awdry. I walk through the only surviving mail train from the Great Train Robbery and recall Biggs, Buster Edwards and co back in grainy 1963. After scrutinising many other trains and carriages including a soon-to-be-operational Swedish rail bus and a gargantuan steam crane, I am able to have a look around the grade-2 listed London & North Western two-story signal box at Wansford. There, Stamford-based volunteer, Peter Helm, has us pulling levers to operate the mechanical signals and turning the wheel to open up the level-crossing gates. But after the hors d’oeuvre, the main course. I am to drive a London

Midland & Scottish Railway Class 4F engine; numbered 44422 and one of only three survivors of 575 built between 1923 and 1937. Weighing in at 49 tons, with a further 41 tons of coal water tender behind. When loaded, even without carriages, the driver is in charge of a 100 ton behemoth. Very hands-on. And what a visceral and thrilling experience it is. Crammed onto the small footplate are volunteer driver, Peter Greenwood, and volunteer fireman, Bob Plant plus two trainees, all replete with overalls, safety vests and gauntlets, standing before a raging coal-fired furnace on what is the hottest day of the year. And boy does that fire need feeding; so we all take turns in shovelling in the Welsh black stuff that will power us. So off we go, pulling out of Wansford Station the instructors soon have me pushing and pulling all manner of levers and controls, responding to changes in gradient, speed limits, crossing points and tunnels and, yes, toot-tooting that whistle like a half-crazed Casey Jones. Soon we are up to 25mph, flashing through the Cambridgeshire countryside, past harvest and hedgerow, and gaining the benefit of a cooling breeze through the cab, which is open to the elements. I imagine the sleet and rain in winter; that glowing furnace a godsend then. Almost everyone we see waves at the train as we pass; a steam loco seems to bring out the best in people, adults and children alike beaming as we steam by. Everything is clunking and grinding, clanking and churning. Metal on metal; all pistons firing. Soon we are at Ferry Meadows Station where we make a short stop, then it’s flying on to Peterborough NV Station (via Orton Mere Station) where we hit the buffers and turn for home, having taken on more water. This time I travel the 7.5 miles in the brake van, allowing others a turn at the controls, an altogether more meditative - and cooler - experience. All too soon we are pulling back into Wansford Station to conclude a frankly exhilarating experience, not to say a unique day – one that I would not hesitate to recommend as a special gift for that steam-mad dad, granddad, mum or sister. • Nene Valley Railway: 01780 784444 for information on the driver experience day.

NENE VALLEY LIVING january 2013

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19/12/12 15:21:40

Fireplace and Stove Specialist Multi-Fuel and Wood Burning Stoves Range Cookers and Flue Systems Fireplaces, Gas and Electric Fires Hand Crafted Stone Fireplaces Established family run business experienced in offering a complete package from survey through to design and installation with our fully qualified team. Visit us at our diverse showroom where we have an extensive range of fires and fireplaces on display

We promise you the warmest of welcomes! 37 Market Street, Whittlesey, Peterborough, Cambs PE7 1BA Tel/Fax 01733 202220 Email: aspectfires@aol.com Opening Times: Mon – Fri 9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm CLOSED Thursdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays As we are a family run business, we would kindly request that you phone our office and check that we are open before making a special journey to our showrooms - Thank you.

Please note that our Office and Showrooms will re-open at 9.00 am on 7th January 2013. NB Our Showroom will be closed on Saturday 12th January 2013

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• NVL JAN ADS.indd 31

18/12/12 15:15:03

MOT OR ING

New Model Army

Once again motor manufacturers are doing their best to entice consumers into showrooms with the promise of an array of new models being presented to potential buyers in 2013. Ashley Martin takes a look at what’s on offer

f 2012 was the year when new electric and hybrid cars stole the headlines, then the first three months of 2013 is when the heartland of the UK car market is replenished in a seriously big way. The trend towards superminis It used to be that upper medium sector models dominated UK car sales, but in more recent years the crown has passed to the lower medium sector, and now superminis are to the fore with the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa the two best-selling models. Those two superminis are followed in the sales charts by three upper medium sector models, the Ford Focus, the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra Why? The answer can be summed up the single word, downsizing. Motor manufacturers have used technology and engineering skills to obtain more power and performance from smaller, more fuel-efficient and lower carbon dioxide emitting engines, while simultaneously making cars bigger. Ever wondered why it’s harder work than ever to park your car in a designated parking space? The size of a parking space remains unchanged from yesteryear, but today’s superminis are typically the size of yesterday’s lower medium models and today’s lower medium models are the size of yesterday’s upper medium sector cars. The new models But, back to what’s new in 2013. First up is a facelift for Britain’s biggest selling car, the Fiesta. Priced from £9,795 to £17,545 on-theroad among the highlights are a 1.0 litre 100 PS petrol engine emitting 99 g/km and a 1.6 95 PS diesel engine with emissions of 87 g/km and a class-leading 85.6 mpg. Notably, the new Fiesta is the first model in the UK to feature MyKey technology, which

enables parents to place restrictions on typically younger drivers to promote safer driving. Ford’s exclusive MyKey enables owners to programme a key that restricts the top speed of the Fiesta, reduces the maximum volume of the audio system, and disables the audio system altogether if driver and passengers are not using safety belts. It can also prevent the driver from de-activating safety technologies such as Electronic Stability Control and Active City Stop, which can help mitigate or prevent low-speed collisions. Contrasting sharply with the long-established Fiesta is the Dacia Sandero which, with an entry-level model costing £5,995 on-the-road is billed as ‘the most affordable new car to buy in the UK’. Dacia is maybe a new brand in the UK, but it emanates out of the Renault stable and the Sandero - 900cc and 1.2 litre petrol engine models are available alongside a 1.5 diesel complements the Duster sports utility vehicle launched earlier last year. Also look out for Vauxhall’s new supermini, the Adam which, being smaller than the Corsa and more fashionable, is firmly targeted at car style icons such as the Fiat 500 and the Mini. Entering, says Vauxhall’s blurb, the ‘growing fashion-led A-sector’, on-the-road prices range from £11,255-£14,000 with three trim levels available JAM (fashionable/colourful) GLAM

(elegant/sophisticated) and SLAM (racy/sporty). Initially available with a choice of 1.2 and two 1.4 litre (87 PS and 100 PS) engines, the Adam is all about individuality with Vauxhall claiming owners have the ability to personalise through colour and specification in more ways than any other car in mainstream production. If the Adam is most definitely the new kid on the block, then the Volkswagen Golf is like a favourite aunt arriving to join the seasonal festivities. The seventh-generation Golf officially goes on UK sale on January 7 with prices starting below those of the previous model, at £16,285 on-the-road and rising to £24,880. Also look out for the all-new MercedesBenz A-Class. The German premium marque’s smallest car returns to the UK looking far more mainstream than when it debuted about 15 years ago. The new A-Class - with emissions from 98 g/km - is being seen as a ‘true competitor’ to the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series with on-the-road prices starting from £18,945 (A180 BlueEFFICENCY). Move up a sector and look out for the all-new Mazda 6, which goes on sale towards the end of January and becomes the second model from the manufacturer (following CX-5) to feature emissions-busting, fuel-sipping SKYACTIV Technology. On-the-road prices start at £19,595 (2.0 SKYACTIV-G petrol 145 PS saloon SE), while the 2.2 SKYACTIV-D 150 PS diesel engine in the saloon sets a new record low CO2 emissions figure of 108 g/km for the segment. Also look out for a new version of the UKbuilt Toyota Auris from £14,495 on-the-road), while five-door versions of the Audi A3 (from £19,825) are due in March 2013; and spring also sees the much-heralded return to open top motoring of Vauxhall with the Cascada.

NENE VALLEY LIVING january 2013

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19/12/12 15:23:37

D E Sign To SU iT yo Ur TA S T E

C o m e f o r a c o f f e e a n d b ro w s e t h ro u g h t h e l a t e s t f a b r i c c o l l e c t i o n f ro m C o l e f a x & F o w l e r

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â&#x20AC;˘ NVL JAN ADS.indd 33

18/12/12 15:15:16

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â&#x20AC;˘ NVL JAN ADS.indd 34

20/12/12 16:32:45

L OCA L WALK

Fotheringhay & Woodnewton We’ve given you a simple but delightful walk for the New Year, ending with a very ﬁne pub POINTS OF INTEREST

WALK DATA: Distance Typical time OS map

4 miles 1.5 hours Explorer 223 &224 or Landranger 141 (always walk with a map) Fotheringhay Flat, easy going Three or so Yes 4 miles N of Oundle

Start & ﬁnish Terrain Stiles Dog friendly How to get there Refreshments • Falcon Pub in Fotheringhay. Tel: 01832 226254. Excellent pub and restaurant food, charming garden overlooking the church. The food has been lauded by Michael Winner, no less. • White Swan, Woodnewton Tel: 01780 470944 bags of character, and under independent ownership

Fotheringhay is an incredibly historic village: • Listed in the Domesday Book in 1086 as ‘Fodringeia’ • The manor came into the possession of Edward III who gave it to his son Edmund Langley, the ﬁrst Duke of York • Richard III was born at the castle in 1452 (if it is his remains that have recently been found in Leicester, should they be buried here?) • Mary Stuart was brought here in September 1586 after 18 years in captivity. Her trial took place in the Great Hall of the castle on 14th and 15th of October, and she was beheaded on 8th February 1587 • The castle fell into disrepair after Mary’s death. The stones have been used to build many cottages and walls around the village. The mount is a fabulous vantage point of the Nene Valley.

DIRECTIONS

1. 2. 3.

6 7

Woodnewton 5

4 3

Fotheringhay 2 1

Park on the road just outside the Falcon in Fotheringhay. Proceed out of the village in a westerly direction. Just before the end of the village, turn right up a small road, that then swings round to the left. About a quarter of a mile up this road, take the footpath heading off to the left, across a track and through a delightful hole in the hedge opposite. On reaching a footbridge across a brook, turn left along a gravelled track instead of crossing the bridge (the path has been slightly diverted here; it is a very acceptable diversion). This track soon swings round to the right, running alongside the field. About 400 yards along the track, walking in a westerly direction, take a right path along the edge of a copse; this path then makes its way towards Woodnewton; when you cross a footbridge over Willow Brook, keep to the left of the field, and you will soon come to a tarmacced road leading into the village. Turn right, and then right again towards Nassington. At the end of the village there is footpath sign bearing right, and from here you get a fabulous view of your final destination – Fotheringhay Church – making navigation rather easy. Follow this path almost due east now, across a footbridge, then straight ahead. Eventually you come to a gate that leads to a wooded area. Follow the path through this wood until it reaches the main bridleway, The Nene Way. Turn right (south) now for a few hundred yards, and turn left just before Willow Brook, following it along until reaching another footbridge. Cross over this and head back into the village, where you rejoin the road and reach the end of the walk.

5. 6. 7.

Fotheringhay Church

The footbridge at 7

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2013

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19/12/12 15:24:23

Stamford Endowed Schools Entrance Examinations Saturday 19th January 2013 (for entry in September 2013) For entry into the senior schools, assistance with fees is available through SES scholarships and bursaries, which have no catchment area restriction.

Stamford Junior School Co-educational 2-11

Stamford High School Girls 11-18

Stamford School Boys 11-18

Sixth Form Co-educational 16-18 For all enquiries and to register, please call 01780 750310 or email ses@ses.lincs.sch.uk

Extensive bus service and easy rail links. Provisions are in place to help busy parents.

Foundations for Success

For boys and girls, day and boarding w. ses.lincs.sch.uk Registered Charity No: 527618

â&#x20AC;˘ NVL JAN ADS.indd 36

18/12/12 15:15:50

D IA RY DAT E S

january 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Friday 18 January Stephen Berkoff’s Graft –Tales of a Actor Award-winning master-class on the craft of acting and a savage cautionary tale about the perils of entering the theatrical profession, exquisitely performed by George Dillon. Tickets: TBC. Stahl Theatre, West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EJ. 01832 273930. emailtahltickets@ oundleschool.org.uk. www.oundleschool. org.uk/arts/theatre/.

What’s On

Great events for a New Year. Compiled by Yasmin Bradley To Saturday 26 January Sparkle and Spin! 10am -5pm Monday - Saturday 2pm - 4pm - Sunday Exhibition of Paola McClure’s soft sculpture characters and largescale installation pieces made with vintage materials. Free. Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF. 01733 864 663. http://www.vivacitypeterborough.com/museums-andheritage/peterborough-museum/ Wednesday 9 January BBC Autumn Naturewatch Nature Tots 10am – 11.30am Nature walk combined with art and craft especially for pre-school children. £3 per child including refreshments. £2.50 pay and display parking. Barnwell Country Park, Oundle, PE8 5PB. 01832 273435. barnwell@ northamptonshire.gov.uk. http:// www.northamptonshire.gov.uk Wednesday 9 January and Wednesday 23 January Volunteer days at Ferry Meadows Country Park 9.45am – 12.00noon; 1.15pm -3.30pm Learn new skills, make new friends and get some outdoor exercise! Free - booking essential. Ham Farm House, Ham Lane, Peterborough, PE2 5UU. 01733 234193. visitor. services@neneparktrust.org.uk. www.neneparktrust.org.uk/ 3 204055. www.strawbear.org.uk/ Tuesday 15 January Peterborough Museum Society Talk 7:30pm Sarah Lambert talks on the changing flora of Peterborough. Free. Howe Room, Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF. 01733 864 663. www. peterboroughmuseumsociety.org. Friday, 18 January The Sofa Sessions: A Celebration of the Music of Simon & Garfunkel 7.30pm Tim Chu & Ian Bailey, talented professional singer-songwriters from the North West bring this fabulous folk sound to a new generation. £7. rachel.tinsley@ntlworld.com.

Friday 11 – Sunday 13 January - Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival Various times. Dancing, poetry, music and lots of fun accompany the Straw Bear throughout the winter weekend. Saturday Barn Dance and Cajun Dance tickets: £9. 4 Delph Street, Whittlesea, Peterborough, PE7 1QQ. 0173 Facebook http://www.facebook. com/l/9AQHhvOI7AQGhK5YxaX sqto26NMkikdRjAACkMwxbzSiqp A/www.sandglive.moonfruit.com/. The Quarryman’s Rest, Copsy Lane, Little Irchester, NN9 7DL. Wednesday 23 January Ferry Meadows Country Park Beginners’ Bird watching 10:00– 12:00 noon Learn to identify winter birds ready for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Free -booking essential. Ham Farm House, Ham Lane, Peterborough PE2 5UU. 01733 234193. visitor. services@neneparktrust.org.uk. www.neneparktrust.org.uk/ Wednesday 23 - Saturday 26 January Oundle Amateur Theatrical Society’s Dick Whittington and his Cat 7.30pm/ 3pm and 7pm (Saturday) Traditional, seasonal fun: a crazy dame, a swashbuckling hero … and an evil giant rat baddie! Tickets: £8 (£6). Queen Victoria Hall, High Street, Oundle, PE8 4EJ from Greetings, 6 West Street, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4EF. www.

oundle-online.co.uk/greetings-cardsstationary/. 01832 272171 Friday 25 - Sun 27 January Celebrities on Ice Various evening and matinee performances. Singing, dancing and ice skating spectacular compeered by Christopher Biggins and featuring fantastic, international ice stars together with Steps star, Lisa ScottLee. Adult: £19.95; Child: £10.95; Senior: £17.95; Family: £49.96; VIP: £29.95. Peterborough Arena, East of England Showground, Peterborough, PE2 6XE. 0844 5814910. www.celebsonice.co.uk or contact katie@peterborougharena. com. Tuesday 29 January Peterborough Museum Society Talk 7:30pm. Kay Smith talks about the Scott Polar Expeditions and their legacy. Free. Howe Room, Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF. 01733 864 663. www.peterboroughmuseumsociety. org.uk/.

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