Nene Living February 2016

New faces at Dexters

Spring blooms

On quay

NENE LIVING COVERING

PETERBOROUGH,

OUNDLE

Hot stuff!

Travelling light: an artistic journal AND

THE

NENE

VA L L E Y

Here comes the bride... e v a h o t How and the best utiful a e b t s o m r e v e g n i wedd

FEBRUARY 2016 ÂŁ1.50 02

9 771740 052017

1 NL FEB COVER GillSH.indd 1

GET IN TOUCH: neneliving.co.uk

@neneliving

Nene Living 20/01/2016 14:47

2

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 2

19/01/2016 15:58

NENE LIVING

This Issue GET IN TOUCH: neneliving.co.uk

I

t’s February, and that means we’re surrounded by all things romantic and rose-tinted… it is the month of St Valentine and Leap Day, after all!

A perfect time, then, for us to put together a guide for all those planning a wedding – or invited to attend one – this year. We hope you find it useful.

Elsewhere, there’s plenty to signpost the passage from winter to spring. February is traditionally the month when snowdrops burst into flower, and there are some lovely gardens in the Nene region and nearby in which you should be able to enjoy them in all their glory. There are even brighter sights on show when Peterborough artist Kathryn Moore presents her first solo exhibition – her work is heavily influenced by travels in Australia but are created with materials found much closer to home.

With further ideas on things to do, places to go, pubs and restaurants to visit, and sports to try – fencing, anyone? – we hope you’ll find plenty to inspire you this month. Enjoy!

FEBRUARY 2016

@neneliving

5 Editor’s selection

35 Health & beauty

7, 9 &10 Agenda

39 Day out: Newark

13 Outdoor living

43 Activities: Fencing

14 Property matters

45 What’s on

February’s picks and plaudits

News and notes from around the region

What’s new and what to do in the garden

New rules for residential landlords

The latest tips on looking good and feeling great

Tales of conflict at The National Civil War Centre

A sport for all!

Events to enjoy this February

16 From Australia to Oundle An artist’s travel journal

19 All things bride & beautiful Your guide to getting it right on the big day

29, 30 & 33 Food & drink Where to go, what to try… and who’s in charge

Editor Gillian Bendall neneliving@hotmail.com Write to Nene Living, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY www.nenevalleyliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager Bridget Steele 01733 707538 bridget.neneliving@ntlworld.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

Gillian Bendall Editor INCORPORATING

Nene Living

Many thanks to George and Ellie Hill, and photographer Project1_Layout 1 03/08/2015 14:16 Page 1 Rachel Barnes, for sharing their special Page 1 day with us... p21

yout 1 03/08/2015 14:16 LIVING NENE VALLEY

Cover photo: Rachel Barnes Photography. www.rachelbarnes.co.uk. Tel: 01832 720154.

SUBSCRIBE TO NENE LIVING

For £20 (UK only) you can subscribe to Nene Living for 12 issues. Please send your name, address and a cheque made out to Local Living Ltd to: NVL Subscriptions, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY. Or you can subscribe online – go to www.bestlocalliving.co.uk.

T H E B O M B AY B R A S S E R I E MMOOSSTT AE U EN NDDIIAANN RREESSTTAAUURR XT CH LU S ITVI EC IIN AA NN TT Serving the community for the past 35 years

Come and celebrate Valentine’s & Mother’s Day with us.

DON’T FORGET OUR SUNDAY BUFFET. Eat as much as you like

Open 7 days a week - 47 Broadway PE1 cuisine 1SQ. Tel: 01733 565606/560080 most authentic Indian E BOM B A Y B R A S S E Europe’s Rin IanPeterborough, Eelegant and exotic atmosphere T E X C L U S I V E I N D I A N R E S TA U R A N T 47 Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1SQ Tel: 01733 565606/560080 Fax: 01733 262556 3 NL CONTENTS FEB GillSH.indd 2

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

3

21/01/2016 13:14

11+ Testing and Year 7 Admissions Information Evening Parents who currently have a child in Year 5 are warmly invited to attend an information evening at Bourne Grammar School on Tuesday 1st March 2016 at 7.00pm Bourne Grammar School, South Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9JE Email: admissions@bourne-grammar.lincs.sch.uk Website: www.bourne-grammar.lincs.sch.uk

The Best Atmosphere, The Best Support, The Best Results 4

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 4

19/01/2016 15:58

PERSONALLY SPEAKING

Editor’s Selection February’s picks and plaudits...

I

love these Alessi Heart Espresso Spoons, £19.95 for a set of four … perfect for a morning pick-meup on February 14! The Gorgeous Cow Bath Duo Set from Cowshed (£18) is packed with sensual essential oils, fabulous for soothing any pre-date nerves, while the Hotel Chocolat Valentine’s ‘Sleekster’ Chocolate Truffle Box (£22) is an ideal after-dinner indulgence. That’s Valentine’s Day sorted… all courtesy of John Lewis, Queensgate.

P

eterborough author Neil Patrick comes from a family of cooks, so I’m expecting lots of ‘insider info’ from his new book. Launched last month at Waterstones, Putting Down The Poison – a tale of skulduggery in a restaurant – is Neil’s third novel, and follows last year’s Just Dying To Tell, which described a doomed Fenman’s nostalgic final bike ride, starting and ending at the Posh football ground.

Neil, former editor of the national magazine Yours, says: “I was bound to end up writing a book based on food! My dad was a cook, my sister was a school meals supervisor, and my brother was a navy cook who ended up at the Savoy. My uncle did the cooking in the hotel he ran, and his son was a pastry chef at the Midland Hotel in Manchester!”

Putting Down the Poison (£7.99) is Neil’s first venture into the world of crime and tells of a star chef’s sinister behaviour when pressures build up as he establishes a new restaurant. “I hope that as well as a being a tale of one man’s decline into near madness, and his possessiveness over a woman, there’s plenty of references for foodies. I even had the pleasure of inventing a couple of original recipes to weave into the narrative!” Neil says.

I

first saw Winton Willow’s range of platters, placemats and coasters at the Oundle Xmas Market last December, when gifts for others rather than myself were top of the shopping list. Thankfully, the new year brings such self-denying nonsense to an end, and I can now place an order…

Cork-backing and a heat-resistant resin sealant give each lightly-tumbled travertine item its work-ready credentials, while specially-commissioned farmyard and countryside drawings

by Northants artist Karen Maley add a beautiful decorative touch. Prices range from £6 for a Coaster to £40 for a Large Platter (30x30cm) and £35 for a Long Platter (20x40cm). Winton Willow founder Sarah Davies will be trading at a number of local Point to Point meetings over the coming months, as well as the Oundle Food Festival in July. But if you can’t wait that long, you can buy via www.wintonwillow.co.uk, or call Sarah on 01327 842189.

T

op marks to East Northants Council for its Feed Your Caddy Campaign, which aims to get more households recycling their food waste. Thousands of homes in the area have access to a food waste collection as part of their kerbside recycling scheme and now those with a food waste caddy could win fabulous prizes simply by using it every week. Residents are asked to apply online for a registration pack (1800 were sent out in the first month!) and then stick the ‘I’m in to win’ label they’re sent to the top of their food waste caddy. Four registered recyclers will be chosen each month to win a prize – with choices ranging from canoeing on the River Nene to farm shop gift vouchers. www.feedyourcaddy.co.uk.

T

here’s nothing like a bit of comic opera to ‘warm the cockles’ on a chilly winter’s evening… so it’s good to see that the Oundle G&S Players are bringing the tale of Ruddigore to the town’s Queen Victoria Hall this month. A wonderful combination of Gilbert’s witty libretto and Sullivan’s music, Ruddigore tells a tale of unrequited love and a baronetcy labouring under a witch’s curse that requires the incumbent to commit one crime per day or die in agony. Needless to say the plot is brought to a happy conclusion by yet another clever Gilbertian twist in the tale.

Tickets are on sale at Oundle in Stitches, Market Place, Oundle; by telephone on 01832 273830 or by email to p.weetman@btopenworld.com. Monday and Tuesday tickets are £11 each with the added incentive of four for the price of three; Wednesday to Saturday tickets are £12 each. Doors open at 6.30pm with curtain up at 7.30pm.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

5 EDS PAGE Gill SH.indd 1

5

20/01/2016 14:52

ORANGERIES, CONSERVATORIES, WINDOWS, DOORS AND VERANDAS Visit our showhome at: Ketton Design House, 63 High Street, Ketton, Rutland, PE9 3TE

Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm Weekends by appointment only

01780 400 500

ahorangeries.co.uk

Let the outside in SEE YOUR HOME IN A NEW LIGHT

Laxton House, 191 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 2PN Tel: 01733 530580 Email: info@midco-care.co.uk 6

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 6

19/01/2016 15:58

FROM NEWS AND REVIEWS PETERBOROUGH, OUNDLE AND THE VILLAGES

New homes plan for hospital site

D

eveloper Weston Homes plans to build 63 high-quality houses and apartments on part of the former Peterborough District Hospital site. The Gables will include one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses and will feature a mixture of new build and newly renovated homes.

Bob Weston, CEO of Weston Homes says: “We are delighted to have acquired The Gables at the former Peterborough Hospital on Thorpe Road. We plan to build an array of high-quality homes, including apartments, which will be ideal for first-time buyers and generous family homes for those looking to upsize. We anticipate that it will be welcome news to those from the local area looking for a new home.”

Kevin Moriarty, MD of Land Improvement, which sold the seven-acre site, said: “This is a key part of our re-development plan and its sale brings our vision for this landmark site, including highquality homes and the retention of the historic Gables on Thorpe Road, closer to delivery.”

Construction at The Gables is set to begin soon, with a new sales and marketing suite due to open this spring.

Decommissioned in 2010, Peterborough District Hospital was formerly the acute general hospital serving Peterborough and North Cambridgeshire. Dating back to 1895, The Gables is a Grade II Listed building which was the original home of a wealthy coal merchant named John Henry Beeby.

It was a maternity hospital from 1947 until 1970, when it became a psychiatric day centre.

Clean curtains, without the hassle N

ow that the new year is well and truly here, you may have turned your attention to cleaning your carpets and upholstery. Often thought of as a low-traffic area in comparison to your carpets and sofas, curtains can get forgotten but they, too, can collect dirt, dust and allergens.

When neglected, the dirt and dust can build up over time, but the hassle of unhooking them and taking them to the dry cleaners can be enough to put you off altogether.

With over 15 years of experience, Safeclean Peterborough are local experts who can clean your curtains in situ, which means there’s no need to remove them and leave you with exposed windows. As skilled cleaning technicians, they have the knowledge and expertise to use specific products and cleaning methods, depending on your type of fabric. This avoids the possibility of shrinkage that you can face from dry cleaners, and restores your curtains back to a clean, fresh state.

With competitive pricing – often cheaper than dry cleaning – and a quality, professional service, your local technicians can take away all of the hassle and hard work. So, don’t neglect your curtains; start your year with a clean, healthy home by giving Safeclean Peterborough a call on 0808 144 5424 for a free, no obligation quote.

Knitter’s delight…

U

ppingham Yarns Ltd was founded in 1980 in a small shop in the town of Uppingham. As the firm thrived, Nick and Sara Challis moved several times within the town, ending up at their current location at 30 North Street East.

With a two-storey warehouse, the shop specialises in supplying yarns and fibre in many types and colours for knitting, weaving, spinning and many other crafts. The hand knitting section includes yarns by James Brett, King Cole, Adrifil, Robin, Wendy, and a new range of Bergere yarns. Nick explains: “We have recently become a Bergere partner, and now stock a good range of their pattern books and yarns. As a result of this we will be organising a couple of Bergere presentations… dates to be announced in the spring.”

The machine knitting and weaving sections contain both stock and non-repeatable yarns in many thicknesses from cashmere, lamb’s wool, silk, glow in the dark, conductive, thermoformable and reflective. The spinning and felting sections contain fibres from silk to merino wool.

• The store at 30 North Street East, Uppingham LE15 9QL is a real Aladdin’s cave of yarns.

The firm also offers an online shopping facility at its busy website: www.wools.co.uk.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

7 9 10 AGENDA GillSH.indd 1

7

20/01/2016 14:52

The Lady Rothschild Dairy COUNTRY HOLIDAY HOUSES

T

hree luxury self-catering holiday houses located on the famous Ashton Estate surrounded by wildflower meadows, rolling farmland and magical woodlands – the perfect country retreat. The houses are finished with an emphasis on quality, in a style that is both comfortable and elegantly modern. The solid oak finishes and natural features make each house individual. The Lady Rothschild Dairy is of exceptional architectural interest and has been awarded Grade II* listed status.

The Constable House – Sleeps 9 + 3 The Turner House – Sleeps 8 + 2 The Gainsborough House – Sleeps 8

Makers of the finest hand cut luxury outerwear for Men & Women British Made Since 1985

Tel: 01832 272264 / 07831 855206

Factory Outlet Shop

Chrysalis Clothes T NC LTO SHE

RD ELL PYW

RD TON SHEL

Email: estateoffice@ashton.ohllimited.com

Chrysalis Clothes Shelton Road Corby Northants NN17 5XH www.chrysalisclothes.co.uk Tel : + 44(0)1536 269034

CT ELL PYW

Website: www.ashtonestatecountryholidays.co.uk

British Cloth

Leading to Steel Road (A6116)

SON

DES

RD

Your LOCAL Mortgage & Insurance Specialist Small enough to care but large enough to GUARANTEE access to the best rates

AN INCHORA COMPANY

Albany Park is a trading name of Cover Options (UK) Ltd which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, Register number 304130.

Jonathan has a wealth of experience ranging from Mortgages, Insurance and also Property Investment both in the UK and overseas.

Pick up the phone or feel free to book an appointment to meet with us at our new office in Oundle where we will gladly discuss any of your mortgage or insurance enquiries.

“You are in Safe Hands” • • • • • • • • • •

Legal Consultants

Opening times Friday 1.30 - 5.30 Saturday 9.30 - 12.30.

New Mortgages Remortgages Right to Buy Mortgages Buy to Let/Let to Buy Mortgages & Portfolios Life Insurance Critical Illness Insurance Income Protection Mortgage Payment Protection Health Insurance Buildings & Contents Home Insurance

For a FREE NO OBLIGATION discussion and advice, please contact T: 01832 720691 M: 07528 735014 E: jonathan.weston@albanyparkfinace.co.uk • 2 St Osyth’s Lane, Oundle, PE8 4BG *YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

8

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 8

1st Floor, 14 Market Place, Oundle, Northants PE8 4BQ Tel:

01832 274891

21/01/2016 13:19

NEWS, REVIEWS, EVENTS

On quay O

utline planning consent has now been given for the Fletton Quays development on Peterborough’s south bank. It’s a significant step forward for Peterborough Investment Partnership’s plan to redevelop the 6.4-hectare site of prime river frontage between the Nene and the Peterborough–March railway line.

The plans include refurbishment of existing listed rail buildings, plus: • Up to 280 high-quality homes • Up to 166,000sq ft of office space • Up to 160-bed hotel • Restaurant, leisure and retail opportunities • Cycle and pedestrian links along the south bank • New public spaces with views across the river towards the cathedral • A dedicated wildlife area • The demolition of Aqua House at the entrance to the site Peterborough Investment Partnership undertook extensive consultation with local stakeholders and communities before completing the scheme’s planning application, including two public exhibitions last summer which were attended by 144 people. It says the development will create hundreds of jobs during and post-construction.

An artist’s impression shows how the new Fletton Quays development could look

Safeguard your family’s financial future J

onathan Weston has partnered with St Joseph’s Asset Management and H&G Legal Consultants to open a second Albany Park Finance office in the heart of Oundle. The financial services, asset management and international property experts have over 20 years of experience in the asset management, mortgage and insurance industry, and are perfectly positioned to offer ‘whole of market’ advice.

Jonathan (FCA 304130) explains: “Larger bespoke mortgages are our forte – including multimillion estates – but we are also happy to advise smaller investors and borrowers on a number of other available products.

“We are happy to discuss clients’ requirements in our Oundle office or they can visit us at our Wadenhoe House office. We also can visit clients at a time and place that is convenient for them, at no additional cost. Here at Albany Park we guarantee to give the best insurance and mortgage rates available throughout the entire UK marketplace.”

Clients are currently being offered an introductory ‘cash back’ deal on any new mortgage, re-mortgage or any type of protection insurance. Terms and conditions apply, but Jonathan outlines: “Not only do we offer all of our clients an unrivalled professional service, we are also offering a 50 per cent discount off our fees along with up to £1000 cash back for all new and re-mortgage applications up until April 2016, plus three months’ insurance premiums free of charge on certain Life or Critical Illness policies.”

Make this the month you address any gaps in your family’s finances and protection needs.

Pop into the office or call for a free, no obligation quotation.

• Albany Park Finance, 2 St Osyths Lane, Oundle PE8 4BG. 01832 720691 or 07528 735014. Email: jonathan.weston@albanyparkfinance.co.uk.

Do something good…

A

re you friendly, approachable and empathic? Do you have good communication skills and like talking to people and helping them? Are you looking for a volunteer role that will help you back into work? Then take a look at the website for Citizens Advice Peterborough – the organisation has a number of vacancies.

Currently recruiting new Front of House and Information Assistants, CAP is also looking for Trustees, including a new Treasurer.

• For information, see: www.citapeterborough.org.uk.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

7 9 10 AGENDA GillSH.indd 3

9

20/01/2016 14:53

NEWS, REVIEWS, EVENTS

Quarry dig reveals Bronze Age treasures A

clay quarry near Whittlesey was the focus for the world’s media last month when ‘the best-preserved Bronze Age dwellings ever found in Britain’ were revealed.

Archaeologists say the find gives: “An extraordinary insight into domestic life 3,000 years ago,” and explain that the settlement, dating to the end of the Bronze Age (1200-800BC), would have been home to several families who lived in a number of wooden houses on stilts above water.

The settlement was destroyed by fire, causing the dwellings to collapse into a river, preserving the contents in situ. The result is an extraordinary time capsule containing textiles, rare cups, bowls and jars, and exotic glass beads.

• We’ll have more on the £1.1million project, funded by Historic England and Forterra, in our next issue.

ANIMAL ADVOCATES Pick up – and be proud!

I The archaeological project at Must Farm continues…

Time for a change?

I f you’re struggling with the new year’s resolutions, or simply feel ready to take control of some of the issues that affect your life, now could be a good time to see what Tim Pinning can do to help. A Senior Advanced Registered Hypnotherapist, Tim has clinics in Peterborough and Harley Street, where he uses hypnosis, psychotherapy and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to help with a wide range of concerns, including smoking cessation, weight loss, fear, anxiety, phobias and bereavement.

• Peterborough Hypnotherapy Clinic is at 26 Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1WG. Tel: 01733 768839. www.curativehypnotherapy.com.

10

f there’s one thing that gets a lot of people hot under the collar, it’s the failure of some owners to pick up after their dogs.

In fact it infuriates responsible dog owners just as much as it does non dog owners – we don’t want to see it or step in it either! It frustrates us greatly as we get tarred with the same brush as those owners who just don’t care and who continue to break the law.

Whilst picking up dog mess may not be the most glamorous thing you’ll ever do, it is vitally important for the future of dog ownership.

Many councils have had no alternative other than to ban dogs from public places, thus forcing responsible owners to find different places to exercise their dogs through no fault of their own.

Wood Green urges ALL dog owners to pick up after their dogs. Use brightly coloured bags and swing them with pride until you find a suitable bin. There is no sense in bagging it and leaving it on a verge or in a tree, like some people do.

Educate your children in how to pick up after their dog – it’s so quick and easy yet the consequences of not doing so are potentially very serious. Apart from being against the law not to, it is also a health hazard – one so serious that it can lead to intestinal problems and even blindness.

So if you are one of the few that don’t abide by the law please consider it a new year’s resolution to do so – you’ll be doing the dog-loving community a great service.

• Wood Green The Animals Charity offers a low-fee advice service for dogs and cats. If you would like behaviour or training advice for your pet, please call 01480 830014 ext 1281.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

7 9 10 AGENDA GillSH.indd 4

20/01/2016 14:53

coaches

JOIN THE COACH PART Y

NEW 2016 DOOR-2-DOOR HOLIDAY & DAY TOUR BROCHURES OUT NOW Great value holidays all with quality hotels, a full excursion programme, optional FREE travel insurance and our popular Door-2-Door service!

Fabulous selection of days out with over 35 local departure points - from just £10 pp Solve that difficult present problem with our GIFT VOUCHERS - the perfect choice for a special occasion or just to say thank-you!

Call 01778 342224

email enquiries@shawscoaches.co.uk

www.shawscoaches.co.uk Shaws Coaches, 49 High Street, Maxey, Peterborough PE6 9EF

THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OUT

11

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 11

19/01/2016 15:58

Quality cleaning services from the carpet and furniture experts...

Carpet•Upholstery•Curtains•Mattresses•Rugs

n Mentio vert this ad 0 £1 to get off!

Contact Safeclean Peterborough now for a FREE no obligation quote: Call: 01733 579 703 Click: www.safeclean-peterborough.co.uk Email: enquiries@safeclean-peterborough.co.uk

OVERALL CLEANING

STAIN REMOVAL

PROTECTION TREATMENT

ALLERGY TREATMENT

DEODORISE & SANITISE

12

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 12

19/01/2016 15:58

GARDENS

Outdoor Living What’s new and what to do in the garden this month

Start now for a lovely lawn

Blooming brilliance!

T

Enjoy the snowdrops this month… they’re a sure sign that spring is on the way

I

t’s always such a relief when snowdrops burst through the grey winter gloom and give the first signs that life goes on in our gardens.

They should be at their best this month, setting the scene for a number of seasonal walks and private garden open days.

For several years the gardeners at Deene Park in Northamptonshire have lifted and divided their snowdrops after flowering has finished, resulting in what is, today, a truly spectacular show. This month the gardens there will be open to visitors on two Sundays – 21 February and 28 February, from 12noon to 4pm (last entry 3pm). Adult entry is £5, children under 12 are free and you’ll be able to enjoy swathes of snowdrops along with lakeside and garden walks. Snowdrops will be on sale and afternoon tea and cake will be served in the Old Kitchen tearoom from 2pm-4pm. Tel: 01780 450278. www.deenepark.com/events.

Well worth the short trip up the A1, Easton Walled Gardens varies the pace on a winter walk full of snowdrops and other seasonal flowers – from small displays in the alpine bed to great drifts on the snowdrop bank. Snowdrop

Grow your own F

Week this year takes place from 13 February to 21 February, 11am-4pm. Adult: £7. Children: £3.

Easton Walled Gardens is at Easton, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG33 5AP. Tel: 01476 530063. www.eastonwalledgardens.co.uk.

Closer to home, Carole and Forbes Smith have opened their garden in Wansford under the National Gardens Scheme for the last five or six years, but this month sees their final ever event. Their small woodland garden is home to a collection of 300-plus varieties of snowdrops, along with various hellebores and corydalis.

The garden will be open on Sunday 28 February from 11am-4pm. Adults £3, children free. Homemade teas will be served and, as with all NGS events (www.ngs.org.uk), proceeds go to charity.

6 Robins Wood, Wansford, Peterborough PE8 6JQ. Tel: 01780 783094.

Also open on 28 February under the NGS is Jericho, a delightful walled garden just off Oundle Market Place. Meet owners Stephen and Pepita Aris and enjoy the snowdrops from 12noon-4pm. Admission is £3.50, children free.

Jericho, 42 Market Place, Oundle PE8 4AJ. Tel: 01832 275416.

ancy your own drift of snowdrops? The easiest way to achieve it is to lift and divide an existing clump as the foliage turns yellow. Split it into smaller pieces or single bulbs, then re-plant at the same depth as they were in the soil originally.

If that’s not possible, buy plants from a nursery ‘in the green’ – just after flowering, when the leaves are still green. Be aware that snowdrop bulbs are prone to drying out, so buy them as soon as they are available and plant immediately.

A partly-shaded position in a moist, well-drained soil is best, and add some leaf mould or garden compost when planting. Make sure the soil does not dry out in summer.

he weather might not be enticing us into the garden right now but sisters Sarah and Jo Parish, who run the local GreenThumb lawn treatment service, have some top tips for our lawns. A little work now will reap real rewards for a lovely looking lawn in the year to come.

They suggest that you: • Remove leaves and debris – a covering of rotting leaves does real harm to your lawn by triggering disease and even making it die back, so rake them up. Brush off any worm casts and, using gloves, pick off and dispose of any fungi.

Importantly, cut back over-hanging bushes that deprive the grass plant from essential sunlight and good airflow.

• Service your mower – a sharp blade will ensure a clean and healthy cut and this alone can transform the look of a lawn. Mowing with a blunt blade chews away at the grass, making it weak and susceptible to disease.

• Give your lawn a cut – lawns this year (including the weeds) have kept growing as a result of the mild and wet weather, so give

yours a cut on a high setting when you can. If it’s very long, it’s advisable not to cut off more than a third of the height in one go. A shorter lawn will also dry off quicker. Don’t worry about the weeds – they need to be tackled in the spring when it’s warmer.

• Control moss and give your lawn a winter feed – but stay away from nitrogen feeds that stimulate growth. At GreenThumb, we’re applying an iron (ferrous sulphate) liquid feed that strengthens the grass and greens it up. It’s also great for controlling moss, which can be a real problem at this time of year.

• Hollow-tine aerate and scarify your lawn annually – punching out thousands of cores and removing all the dead matter in the grass is the real secret to a healthier lawn. If you don’t want to do it yourself, call GreenThumb!

• Sarah, Jo and their team of technicians look after around 2000 lawns in our area.

To find out more contact 01733 755028 or email: peterborough@greenthumb.co.uk. www.greenthumb.co.uk.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

13 GARDEN NEWS GillSH.indd 1

13

20/01/2016 14:57

WATCHING BRIEF

Property matters What’s new… and what you need to know

ASK THE EXPERT

New rules put more responsibility on residential landlords Legislation that comes into effect this month means private landlords must check the immigration status of prospective tenants. Kally Singh, a partner at Hegarty Solicitors, highlights the implications

F

rom 1 February 2016, all private residential landlords will have to check that new tenants have the right to be in the UK before renting out their property.

The Immigration Act 2014 prohibits private landlords of residential properties from allowing certain people to occupy those properties based on the immigration status of the occupiers.

Landlords will have to check the status of prospective tenants, and other authorised occupiers, to ascertain whether those parties have the right to occupy the premises before granting a tenancy. Landlords must also make sure that someone’s right to occupy the premises does not lapse. Breaching the

Safe and secure There are two other important issues which landlords need to address. Kally Singh explains…

Taking care of the paperwork All landlords must comply with certain requirements when entering into an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and recently the law has been tightened up as a result of the Deregulation Act 2015. As a consequence, from 1 October 2015, on the creation of a tenancy a landlord is required to ensure that any deposit received from the tenant is registered in a recognised Tenancy Deposit Scheme and prescribed information is provided to the tenant within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in the tenant being entitled to pursue a claim for a compensation payment equivalent to one to three times the deposit amount.

What is of more importance is that the landlord cannot then serve a valid S21 Housing Act notice in order to recover possession of the property.

In addition the landlord needs to provide the tenant with: • a valid Energy Performance Certificate • a valid annual Gas Safety Certificate • a copy of the government’s ‘How to rent:

14

prohibition could lead to a civil penalty of up to £3,000.

A person is disqualified from occupying property under a residential tenancy agreement if they: Are not a “relevant national”, which is: • a British citizen • a national of a European Economic Area State • a national of Switzerland Do not have a right to rent in relation to the property • A person does not have a right to rent if they require leave to enter or remain in the UK and do not have it, or they have leave but it is subject to conditions that prevent them from occupying the premises.

the checklist for renting in England guide’, which was in force at the time the tenancy commenced or was last renewed.

If this information is not provided at the beginning of a tenancy that commences on or after 1 October 2015, then a landlord will be unable to serve a valid section 21 notice.

As soon as the information has been served on the tenant this restriction will be removed immediately.

Safety first In terms of health and safety, the updated regulations require private rented sector landlords to have: • at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their rental property which is used as living accommodation • a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation where solid fuel is used.

Additionally, the landlord must make sure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy.

Failure to comply with The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 can result in a civil penalty being imposed up to £5000.

• For more information, email Kally Singh at: kally.singh@hegarty.co.uk.

Rental property income – more changes to come In her last article Kerry Hilliard of Stephenson Smart Chartered Accountants reviewed forthcoming changes for ‘buy to let’ landlords. This time Kerry looks further at the tax changes that are on their way relating to expenditure that arises from repairs and replacements.

T

ax relief is currently given for expenditure incurred on repairing a property and for replacing ‘integral fixtures’ such as baths and fitted kitchen units. There has previously been no relief for the replacement of furnishings.

From April 2016, it is proposed that tax relief will be given for the replacement of furnishings including moveable furniture such as beds, tables and other items, including televisions, fridges, carpets, linen, crockery and cutlery.

The new replacement relief will give relief for the cost of the replacement asset, less any proceeds received from the old asset that is being replaced. No relief will be given for any furnishings that have not been in the property before, and any element of the replacement asset that represents an improvement would be excluded from the relief.

The 10 per cent wear and tear allowance which is given whether or not any actual costs are incurred will disappear so it makes sense, where possible, to defer replacement expenditure until 6 April 2016 when relief will be available.

Owners of properties which are not fully furnished and never qualified for the wear and tear allowance are the clear winners from these changes.

• For more information and planning advice on tax matters contact Stephenson Smart on 01733 343275 or go to www.stephensonsmart.com.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

14 PROPERTY GillSH.indd 1

20/01/2016 14:57

Great choice, value and service.

Drive home a low mileage nearly new car from Motorpoint and part-exchange your current vehicle, arrange finance for your next car and also enjoy great savings* all in the same trip. Search over 5,000 cars from 35 manufacturers at motorpoint.co.uk now.

Motorpoint. Car buying made easy.

15 REG AUDI A4 2.0 TDi ULTRA 163 SE TECHNIK

£18999 SAVE £10686 *

Competitive Part Exchange

15 REG BMW 320D EFFICIENTDYNAMICS STEP AUTO (BUSINESS MEDIA)

£18999

Finance Available

Same Day Driveaway

SAVE * £12616

15 REG VAUXHALL INSIGNIA 2.0 CDTi ECOFLEX ELITE NAV

£14999 SAVE £10075 *

Test Drives Available

Motorpoint Peterborough Edgerley Drain Road PE1 5NL Call 01733 828 400

/motorpoint

@motorpoint

Open 7 days a week and until 8pm weekdays *Savings shown are against New UK List Price. All prices exclude Road Fund Licence and a First Registration Fee at the current rate where applicable. A Pre-Delivery Fee of £99 (optional) includes, HPI Certificate, PDI, Service (if required) and valet. Motorpoint Ltd will introduce you to a limited number of finance providers that we have carefully selected and we may receive a benefit from them. Specification subject to confirmation on inspection. Vehicles may be moved from site to site at an additional cost. Images are for illustration purposes only. Prices correct at time of press. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Guarantees/Indemnities may be required. Motorpoint Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit activity and our registration number is FRN 684004.

15

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 15

19/01/2016 15:59

Nene People

From Australia to Oundle… an artistic journal Inspired by the colours and landscapes of Australia, mixed media artist Kathryn Moore translates her journeys using recycled and other materials found close to her home in Peterborough. Sue Dobson spoke to her before her first solo exhibition in Oundle

A

RTIST Kathryn Moore brings all the colours and vibrancy of Australia to Oundle in an exhibition guaranteed to fascinate and intrigue. Although she’s travelled widely, Australia first captivated her back in 1988 and the landscape, the colours, the light and the people have influenced her work ever since.

Her journeys are chronicled in sketchbooks in which she records images, textures, patterns and written notes that will inform her work on her return home. These ‘painted diaries’ are at the heart of the exhibition and excerpts are displayed adjacent to the pieces of work they inspired. A wall map details the places that ignited the ideas for the mixed media artefacts on display, which include paintings, pottery, prints, baskets, collages, textiles, installations and sculptures.

Just as the indigenous people of Australia depend on local materials for their art, crafts and sculpture, Kathryn only uses materials available near her home in Peterborough. She spins and dyes sheep wool from a fenland farm to weave into scarves and wall hangings, making the dyes from hedgerow finds, nuts and berries, and the flowers and vegetables she grows in her garden. Ring pulls, bottle tops, buttons and things found, newspaper, plastic packaging, videotape and electrical wiring (“anything that is in abundance”) will find their way into the making of baskets and sculptures.

The exhibition at the Yarrow Gallery invites visitors to see Australia in a new light. Many of the exhibits can be handled, the aroma of eucalyptus scents the air and in the background there’s a soundscape of ‘bush sounds’, composed by Kathryn, who is a talented musician, in collaboration with a music colleague.

16

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

16 17 ARTIST GillSH.indd 2

20/01/2016 14:59

Inspired by nature Kathryn’s oil and watercolour paintings tell of early mornings and the heat of midday when there’s no sound to be heard. Using diluted clay, charcoal and pastel on oil paper, her ‘mud paintings’ reveal dry creeks, salt flats and a Kalbarri sunset; soft pastels on sandpaper bring brilliant light to forests and tree ferns. She depicts a train journey across the Nullarbor Plain in oils; landscapes of Western Australia in collages. Homesteads appear in monoprints, details are captured in chalk and charcoal on parcel paper, rocks and rainforests emerge vibrant in acrylics.

Eucalyptus leaves, seed heads and gum nuts scattered across the bush floor in Western Australia inspired a collage assembled with hand-printed and hand-painted papers of varying colours, textures and patterns, the detail added with Indian ink and nib. The idea for a room screen in which each panel is made in a different technique – machine embroidery, paper dress patterns made into stitch collage, knitting, crochet, weaving and batik – came from her experience of walking through a eucalyptus forest. “They are different representations using diverse techniques, but the same subject.”

Hand-woven scarves depict distinctive terrains and landscapes and a lightbox shrouded with marbled oil paint re-imagines the mines in Queensland where beautiful crystals, marbles, stones and metals are excavated. The mineral-rich mining town of Mount Isa, where the summer heat in the arid outback is intense, inspired a vibrant tapestry woven from both natural-dye and synthetic fibres.

Looking down from Ballina Head in New South Wales, Kathryn was appalled to see how

polluted the sea was at this point: “littered with plastic bags and non-biodegradable rubbish.”

Back home, her response was to weave a tapestry utilising plastic bags, string, nylon twine and heavy-duty strapping tape. The colours drift up from sandy shore to deep blue sea via foaming waves and tangled lines.

Brilliant baskets Aboriginal women use grasses to fashion the cylindrical shoulder bags they carry for gathering food, or make them in leather for carrying water. “In my case, I’ve used a wealth of discarded audio and video recording tape, so they are light, shimmery and tactile. It’s the same ethos: making use of what’s available to you. The Australians are a very resourceful nation, a lot more adept than we are at mending and restoring, re-using and recycling.”

Kathryn’s baskets are both colourful and inventive. Using three basic techniques she utilises anything from plastic bags, fabrics and newspaper to wire, twine and electrical connectors. One on display was formed from plastic screw holders, fuse wire and cable; for another she has used an old canvas tent bag, the coils held by jute.

Simple shapes and intense colours feature on her distinctive pottery. Tree bark patterns one terracotta clay dish, created with black slip and a glowing shade of yellow ochre. There are representations of the night sky, the red earth and the bush floor, too. “I’m also exploring the amalgamation of pottery and basketry techniques. Twigs from an old besom broom that fell apart recently have come in useful for that!”

Designs for dress materials, hand-printed on cotton using a variety of techniques, were drawn from a tree detail in the Northern

Territory, mining machinery in Queensland and the rock melons of Western Australia. The mannequins that display them are unloved standard lamps, converted using cardboard tubing with hessian and string, an idea sparked by sculptures she saw in the Darwin Museum and Art Gallery. “Their headdresses are baskets formed from Fosters drinks cans – and yes, they still work as standard lamps.”

Ring pulls, bottle tops and wire make up a large-than-life redback spider sculpture; a dingo dog, much smaller, is fashioned from cardboard tubes, hessian and rope.

Hundreds of buttons sweep shimmering colour across a stand-out wall hanging that’s her aerial vision of Rainbow Valley in New South Wales. “I’ve always collected buttons and this is made up of my collection, my mother’s, my sister’s and that of a close friend. I’ve loved stitching this; it’s like a memory quilt. It’s also an appreciation of the Aboriginal dot paintings that shimmer as you walk past them.”

The spiral-bound diaries – a mix of sketches, watercolours and written notes – are important as they are the primary source of all that Kathryn will create once she’s back home. She does take photographs but only as a record of where she’s been, never to work from. “In drawing, you are extracting the essence of what it was that inspired you in the first place.”

• See Kathryn Moore – The Australian Experience from 27 February to 12 March at The Yarrow Gallery, Glapthorn Road, Oundle PE8 4JF. Open Monday-Saturday 10.30am1pm and 2.30-5pm, Sunday 2.30-5pm, admission free. www.oundleschool.org.uk/ The-Yarrow-Gallery. You can find out more about Kathryn’s work as an artist and a musician at www.kathrynmoore.co.uk.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

16 17 ARTIST GillSH.indd 3

17

20/01/2016 15:00

Wedding Show

The East of England

Org a by - nised C We upids ddi Sho ng ws

SUNDAY 21ST FEBRUARY

10.30am – 3.00pm - The East of England Showground, Peterborough Tel: 07738 912092 / 01775 765385 for details www.cupidsweddingshows.com

The Regions Greatest Wedding Show!

Established 1969

Offering Private Physiotherapy Appointments at our clinic in Peterborough and Oundle Medical Practice.

All enquiries ( 8am-8pm) to our Peterborough Reception Team:

01733 565911 www.prestonshealth.co.uk

Goody Bag for the first 250 Brides Over 80 Exhibitors Free Glass of Bubbly Catwalk Shows Free Parking Free Bridal Directory Free Prize Draw Admission: £4.00 Everything you need to plan your special day

We are Registered with all Major Healthcare Companies including BUPA, AXA PPP and AVIVA. Prestons Health 2 9 A l e xa n d r a Road, P ete r b o r o u g h P E1 3DE

Private Psychological Therapy Service

Johan Truter

Chartered Clinical Psychologist Specialised in treating the following areas: • Low self esteem and loss of confidence • • Anxiety, panic and stress • • Depression, low mood and despair • • Phobias, obsessions and ruminations • • Autistic Spectrum Disorders •

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

For further information please contact

01780 758556

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

Treat yourself to a Baan Sala Thai Therapy Massage • Traditional Thai Yoga Massage • Thai Deep Tissue Oil Massage • Aromatherapy Oil Massage

• Back/Neck & Shoulder Massage • Head & Shoulder Massage • Foot Massage/Reflexology • Hot Stone Massage

Bookings by appointment Monday to Saturday Male & Female Welcome Tel: 07772373411 • 3a Belton Street, Stamford, PE9 2EF

18

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 18

19/01/2016 15:59

WEDDINGS

All things bride and beautiful Your guide to getting it right on the big day…

Lucy Banwell nails all the details to help make your Nene wedding a day to remember, with tips on: • Flowers • Photography • Make-up • Jewellery • Honeymoons • Venues PLUS where to find the best fashions for brides and their guests

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

19-27 WEDDINGS GillSH.indd 1

19

20/01/2016 15:06

"The most important day of your life deserves the best of everything, including the best owers" 01733 344738 - www.bespokebuds.com

20

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 20

19/01/2016 15:59

WEDDINGS

Picture perfect Ellie Hill looks back on her summer wedding which was held at Fotheringhay Church followed by a stunning, country-themed reception at Lyveden New Bield

W

HEN Ellie Hill got engaged it seemed only natural to her to head home to the Northamptonshire countryside to marry George, a fellow junior doctor and her love of four years.

“My family moved here when I was 16 and I absolutely love it,” says Ellie, now 28. “It’s such a really beautiful area with amazing churches and villages. Why go anywhere else?”

With more than 150 guests due to attend the nuptials on 11 July last year, the scale of the church at Fotheringhay more than fitted the bill and Lyveden New Bield near Oundle was chosen as the dramatic backdrop for Ellie and George’s marquee reception.

“Lyveden’s somewhere we always used to go to as a family when we had visitors to stay,” says Ellie. “It’s such a beautiful place. I was keen on having a relaxed reception in a marquee rather than a formal hotel do, so when we found out you can do that at Lyveden it seemed like the perfect place for us.”

Ellie went for a rustic but glamorous look for her big day. The marquee was festooned with bunting and giant pom poms, and there were bunches of country flowers dotted along the tables in vintage bottles and jugs. One of Ellie’s aunts made the wedding cake and Ellie herself painted the gorgeous, bird-themed table signs.

When it came to the dress, Ellie surprised herself with her final choice. “I initially wanted something quite simple and fitted, but once I started trying on dresses they got bigger and bigger! I’d been trying to get an appointment at The Stamford Bridal Rooms for a while and when we finally got there my dress was the last one I was going to try on that day. As soon as I put it on, my mum and I both went, ‘Oh, perfect’ and that was it!

› NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

19-27 WEDDINGS GillSH.indd 3

21

20/01/2016 15:24

WEDDINGS

Picture perfect “I have to say the dress was a bit of a pain to move around in because it was so big, but I felt it was spot-on for the big church and the dramatic expanse of Lyveden. Getting between the tables at the reception was a bit of a challenge though, so George had to go up and get my food!”

Special moments during the day came from Ellie’s dad when he produced a sixpence for her shoe just before they left the house, and his speech in which he played You Are My Sunshine to his daughter. “I managed to hold it together pretty well,” recalls Ellie, “but my sister was a mess the whole day – she cried at everything!”

At the end of the day Ellie and George were whisked off to spend their wedding night at Hambleton Hall. The only problem was when it came to paying the taxi driver – the couple realised that neither of them had any cash on them. “You don’t tend to carry a purse around on your wedding day and we’d taken our overnight bags to the hotel beforehand,” explains Ellie. “All I had on me was a lip gloss and George had nothing in his pockets.

Fortunately it all worked out fine, but it was quite funny!”

The couple honeymooned in Taormina in Sicily where they put their feet up before embarking on their first jobs as doctors – Cheltenham for Ellie and Bristol for George.

“Everything went so smoothly on our wedding day and everyone had a such a good time,” says Ellie. “It’s easy to get fixated on details in the runup to a wedding but in the end the most important thing is that you’re getting married to the man you love. We had such a beautiful day and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

• Ellie and George used Rachel Barnes Photography to capture their special day.

Tel: 01832 720154. www.rachelbarnes.co.uk.

Get the look...

THE VENUE Lyveden New Bield Tel: 01832 205158. www.nationaltrust.org. uk/lyveden-new-bield.

THE FLOWERS Foxtail Lilly Tel: 01832 274593. www.foxtail-lilly.co.uk.

THE MARQUEE Tents4Elements Tel: 07816 776813. www.tents4elements.co.uk.

THE DRESS The Stamford Bridal Rooms Tel: 01780 757028. www.thestamfordbridalrooms.co.uk.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER Rachel Barnes Photography Tel: 01832 720154. www.rachelbarnes.co.uk.

THE CATERER Absolute Taste Tel: 0208 870 5151. www.absolutetaste.com.

From florists to photographers, we present our guide to the best wedding suppliers in the Nene Valley…

FLORISTS BESPOKE BUDS Experienced florist Jo Poulter bring a raft of fresh and innovative ideas to her bridal floristry creations. During an appointment in the Bespoke Buds studio in central Peterborough, she will discuss a bride’s vision for the flowers for her big day and bring those ideas to fruition with professionalism and flair.

Tel: 01733 344738. www.bespokebuds.com.

22

FOXTAIL LILLY Tracey Mathieson provides amazing, country-style bridal bouquets and button holes sourced from her cottage garden in Oundle.

With more than 15 years’ experience supplying wedding flowers, Foxtail Lilly offers a warm, friendly service for brides-to-be.

Tel: 01832 274593. www.foxtail-lilly.co.uk.

FLORAE FORAY A creative approach is guaranteed with florist Rebecca Sayward from Florae Foray.

All budgets are catered for but her new ‘Signature Design Package’ for weddings costs just £399. Once a preferred colour palette has been chosen, Rebecca will choose a selection of seasonal blooms and foliage to take advantage of the best prices available. Florae Foray is also offering readers of Nene Living a £25 discount redeemable against any booking for bespoke floral design.

Tel: 07999 351514. www.floraeforay.co.uk.

u

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

19-27 WEDDINGS GillSH.indd 4

20/01/2016 15:15

WEDDINGS

For further information please contact our Events Manager Fee Martin on: 01832 280189 or info@efgc.co.uk www.efgc.co.uk Elton Furze Golf Club, Bullock Road, Haddon, Peterborough, PE7 3TT

Studio & location portraits

I specialise in weddings, portraits & commercial photography, working from my studio in Oakham Enterprise Park or on location.

Please email or call me on 07932 055548 to book a photoshoot or for more information. ellideanphotography.co.uk

23

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 23

19/01/2016 15:59

PHOTOGRAPHERS & VIDEOGRAPHERS Five top tips for perfect wedding photos WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RACHEL BARNES SHARES HER ADVICE… • Make sure you like your photographer as well as loving their photos. You will be spending a lot of time with them on your wedding day!

• Don’t employ a photographer who doesn’t normally photograph weddings. It is a specialist skill.

• Ensure that the images you have seen were actually taken by the photographer you are employing. Some photographers use another photographer to shoot for them, which is fine as long as you are happy with the work of that particular photographer.

• Check that your photographer has spare equipment in case of technical problems and enough experience to handle wet weddings. Even on the wettest and coldest days there are always ways in which you can photograph a wedding effectively.

• Most importantly, choose the best photographer you possibly can for your budget. After the wedding is over the photographs will be there to remind you of the fantastic day you had. An investment worth making, I feel.

Rachel Barnes Photography. Tel: 01832 720154. www.rachelbarnes.co.uk.

DINKY PICS WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY Susie Valentine-Pyle provides reportage-style photography for weddings and is happy to include natural, traditional or contemporary shots depending on her clients’ needs. Susie is brilliant at putting people at ease and will be an unobtrusive but calming presence throughout your special day.

Tel: 01832 272812. www.dinkypics.co.uk.

SARAH BROOKES PHOTOGRAPHY Based in Huntingdon, Sarah Brookes provides a fresh and fun approach to wedding photography.

Her bespoke service encourages ongoing communication with her clients in the run-up to the wedding, using tools such as Pinterest to ensure every detail is captured on the big day.

Tel: 07595 425158. www.sarahbrookesphotography.com.

ELLEN JACKSON VIDEOGRAPHY Videographer Ellen Jackson can film your wedding discreetly and efficiently to capture the memories of your big day for ever. As one of her latest testimonials attests: “Ellen provided more than we could have dreamed of in terms of video material and level of service. Ellen will capture the most beautiful moments of your wedding day which could easily be forgotten or missed.”

Tel: 07912 119543. www.ellenjackson.co.uk.

24

WEDDINGS

Wedding belle

So, you’ve been invited to the wedding of the year... but what to wear? Frocks of Thrapston has all styles and budgets covered with its extensive range of occasion wear.

PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM STEELE

N

OTHING beats the excitement of a crisp, white wedding invitation dropping onto your doormat and the anticipation of joining friends and family to celebrate the marriage of a loved one.

But then the realisation hits: you’ve got nothing to wear!

It can be daunting choosing the right outfit for a wedding, particularly if you’re due to play a big part in the special day, such as the mother of the bride or a bridesmaid. Well, help is at hand in the form of occasion wear shop Frocks in Thrapston. Frocks stocks a huge range of beautiful outfits suitable for all shapes and sizes (most of the ranges are available in size 8-22) with lots of friendly advice on offer, too.

When Karen Shanks saw a shop come up to rent on Thrapston’s high street three years ago she instantly thought: “Oh, that would make a lovely dress shop,” and so the idea for Frocks boutique was born. Karen has always been passionate about beautiful dresses and that passion is now very much in evidence in everything she offers her Frocks customers.

“We provide a personal shopping experience and are committed to finding the right outfit to suit your figure and personality,” says Karen. “We have a real range of customers and we truly offer something for everyone.” As well as a huge choice of mother of the bride and occasion wear outfits, Frocks also offers a wide range of accessories to complement your look such as hats, bags, fascinators, jewellery and scarves.

All budgets are catered for with a dressand-hat combination costing anything from £120 up to around £600 for the most desirable designer outfits.

“I love being involved with the buildup to a wedding,” says Karen. “It’s really exciting when a mum and daughter come in looking for a mother of the bride outfit. People are always happy when they come here and it’s great to play a small part in the preparations for their big day. We often have some fizz in the fridge so we can make a real occasion of finding that dream outfit.”

E

XCLUSIVELY for Nene Living, Karen has put together five stunning outfit suggestions for your perfect wedding look, modelled here by Frocks’ gorgeous shop assistant Elaine Lee. Now all you have to do is make sure you don’t outshine the bride!

Dynasty dress £345 Satin wrap £54.95 Sinamay hat £79.50 Sinamay bag £29.50

Olvi dress made from hand-made French lace £575 Sinamay hat £89 Gold diamante clutch bag £38.50 Necklace £49.50

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

19-27 WEDDINGS GillSH.indd 6

20/01/2016 15:15

MAKE-UP ARTISTS

• Frocks, High Street, Thrapston, Northamptonshire NN14 4JH. Tel: 01832 733100. www.frocks.co.uk. Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9.30am 5.30pm; Thursday 9.30am – 7pm.

LOOK YOUR BEST ON YOUR BIG DAY Elysia Health & Beauty offer a personalised bridal make-up service for £85 including a trial session in advance of the big day.

“Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and it’s a privilege to be part of it,” says Lisa Claypole of Elysia. “We are experts at helping to make your day extra special. We offer a Wedding Service for the bride, bridesmaids, mother of the bride, groom’s mother and anyone else involved in your special day.

“We use a professional mineral make-up range

by Jane Iredale. We can achieve many different looks and finishes and as it’s a natural product it is suitable for all skin types and will last all day. Call us and let us help you organise the countdown to your perfect day.”

Elysia Health & Beauty. Tel: 01832 226328. www.elysiahealthandbeauty.com.

SCRUMPTIOUS MAKE-UP Emma Trevillion is a professional make-up artist based in Peterborough who creates amazing, natural looks with the use of products from quality cosmetic brands such as MAC, Bobbi Brown, Dior and Chanel. Following a detailed consultation and trial make-up session, Emma will create your dream look including, if wanted, Airbase airbrush make-up which creates a flawless, long-lasting finish.

Tel: 07921 519835 (text only). www.scrumptiousmakeup.com.

WEDDING RINGS

Zeila dress £349.50 Snoxell hat £205 Diamante clutch £36.50 Diamante bracelet £12.95 Matching necklace £27.50

Left: Cabotine dress & bolero jacket outfit £525.50 Peter Bettley hattinator £190 Sinamay bag £29.50 Swarovski crystal pendant £27.50 Right: Tahari dress £193 Net fascinator £32.25 Satin bag £35.25

BESPOKE RINGS WITH A DIFFERENCE Nigel Hill’s interest in gemstones started at a very young age. “I’ve been collecting stones since I was an eightyear-old kid,” says Nigel, who runs the jewellers, Harpur’s of Oundle. “I’ve been fascinated with stones for as long as I can remember.” It was this passion which led Nigel to swap his career as a rock musician for one in the jewellery trade. Following extensive training in Hatton Garden, Nigel took over his father’s business and moved it from Bedford to Oundle in 2002, specialising in bespoke jewellery and unique pieces from individual makers.

“A lot of jewellers are sellers of jewellery but we are makers of jewellery, and that makes a real difference,” insists Nigel. “We can advise on stone choices for rings and create a truly unique piece so that you can be confident nobody else has a ring like you.”

Harpur’s has an extremely loyal following with many customers recommending Nigel’s craftsmanship and straightforward approach. “We offer honest advice and we treat everyone the same whether they’re coming into the shop to spend £500 or £10,000.”

Harpur’s of Oundle. Tel: 01832 274050. www.harpurjewellery.com.

CHARLES BRIGHT JEWELLERS Roger Aron of Peterborough’s leading independent jewellers, Charles Bright, prides himself on offering a top-notch, personal service along with a wide range of quality rings In gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

Tel: 01733 567830. www.charlesbright.co.uk.

u NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

19-27 WEDDINGS GillSH.indd 7

25

20/01/2016 15:16

t c e f r Pe t i f t g ou n i dd e w YO U R

OPENING TIMES: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9.30 - 5.30 Thursdays 9.30 - 7 Fridays & Saturdays 9.30 - 5.30 Sundays by appointment

Frocks – the dress and accessories boutique in Thrapston, caters for all your special occasions. Our extensive range of dresses are available in sizes 6 through to 22.

Plus we can also help with those all-important finishing touches - with stunning accessories to help complete your outfit - ideal as gifts too.

66 High Street, Thrapston, NN14 4JH. T: 01832 733100 W: frocks.co.uk E: info@frocks.co.uk

WEDDING

Photography

Studio One 5 Station Road Ailsworth Peterborough PE5 7AH Tel: 01733 380657 www.studio-one.co

Peterborough,s Premier Photographic Studio 26

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 26

19/01/2016 15:59

VENUES THE QUEENS HEAD, NASSINGTON This traditional inn on the banks of the River Nene in Nassington offers award-winning food in its charming Garden Room which is ideal for small to medium-sized functions. A marquee can be erected on the lawn by the river if required and exclusive use of the entire pub is also an option, including use of the nine en-suite bedrooms. The venue also has a licence to hold civil ceremonies, making it the perfect one-stop shop for nuptials. The Queens Head offers discounts for winter weddings and the option of a Vintage Afternoon Tea Wedding reception which includes finger sandwiches, quiche and cakes served on tiered cake stands. Tel: 01780 784006. www.queensheadnassington.co.uk.

ELTON FURZE GOLF CLUB Perfect for an informal wedding reception, Elton Furze Golf Club can provide fine dining for your guests along with stunning views of the surrounding Cambridgeshire countryside. Wedding menu choices include dishes such as Roast Loin of Pork with Roasted Red Apple and Fondant Potato and Puff Pastry Steak and Ale Pie. Great value and personal service abound at this modern clubhouse facility.

Tel: 01832 280189. www.efgc.co.uk.

WADENHOE HOUSE Fancy being Lord and Lady of the manor for the day? Well, then you may have come to the right place. Wadenhoe House is a gorgeous Jacobean manor house a few miles outside Oundle which provides the perfect setting for a wedding or special celebration. A private home which opens its doors on an exclusive-use basis, Wadenhoe House offers grand reception rooms, 27 bedrooms and eight acres of beautifully-landscaped gardens. For a larger wedding, a marquee can be set up on the lawn, enjoying stunning views of the house itself, the River Nene and the surrounding countryside.

Tel: 01832 720777. www.wadenhoe-house.com.

BULL HOTEL, PETERBOROUGH This historic hotel in the centre of Peterborough offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere and a licence to hold civil ceremonies. There are two large function suites suitable for wedding receptions, each holding up to 160 guests. Each has its own private bar, dance floor and cloakroom facilities. Accommodation is plentiful with 118 well-appointed bedrooms including a fourposter suite – perfect for the bride and groom.

Tel: 01733 561364. www.peelhotels.co.uk.

CHEQUERED SKIPPER The Chequered Skipper in Ashton now has more than 100 weddings under its belt and it’s easy to see why this pretty thatched pub is so popular – particularly for summer weddings. An adjoining barn has been converted into the tasteful ‘Green Room’ function facility which can easily seat 60 for a traditional wedding breakfast. If more seating is required, a marquee can be added onto the end of the Green Room to accommodate up to 140 guests in total. The Skipper promises buckets of character and amazing wedding photography opportunities as your guests spill out onto Ashton’s picturesque village green.

Tel: 01832 273494. www.chequeredskipper.co.uk.

HONEYMOONS

HOW TO HONEYMOON IN STYLE Paula Cockcroft from Oundle Travel recommends the Maldives, Thailand, Africa, Italy and the Seychelles as 2016’s top honeymoon destinations.

Here are her tips for planning the perfect postwedding break…

Book early This is the key to achieving the best price for your honeymoon. It also enables you to take advantage of offers such as room upgrades, spa treatments and complimentary meals.

Think about the weather If you have your heart set on a particular destination it may be worth tailoring your wedding date to the season. You wouldn’t want to hit the monsoons in India or a cold snap in South Africa!

Consider a multi-centre trip For most couples a mix of relaxation and adventure makes for the perfect honeymoon. Beach for the first week and safari for the second week works really well.

FASHION HEAD NO FURTHER FOR THE PERFECT HAT Designer hats don’t come cheap, so one option when you’re looking to complete your wedding outfit is to hire rather than buy your headwear for the big day. Trained milliner Sinead Harrington runs a hat hire company from her home in Woodnewton, near Oundle, and business is booming with more than 200 hats on offer to hire at very reasonable rates.

“The average cost of renting a hat from me is £45 and the customer can keep it for up to five days,” explains Sinead.

“My customers come from all walks of life – everyone from titled ladies attending society events to someone who wants to hire a hat to refresh an outfit for a wedding.

“Some people have a particular vision in mind or others don’t know what they want and need a lot of advice,” says Sinead.

“But that’s absolutely fine. We just have a good try on and see what works. I encourage customers to bring their outfit and shoes along so that they can pair the hat to the dress and get a real idea of the finished outfit.”

Tel: 01780 470324. www.harringtonhats.com.

MARTIN CHARLES BRIDAL GALLERY A warm welcome is guaranteed at the Martin Charles Bridal Gallery in Oundle which stocks stunning designer gowns.

Martin is a couture designer and can make bespoke dresses as well as giving honest and constructive advice. Prices range from £1800 to £2700 for stocked dresses. Call or email to make an appointment.

Set a realistic budget Oundle Travel offers a Registry Service so your wedding guests can contribute towards the cost of your honeymoon.

Complimentary inserts to your own specification are provided to enclose with your wedding invitations.

Please ask for more details.

Plan ahead Are you looking for a unique, boutique hotel or an all-inclusive which will help you budget more easily? Also think about when you want to leave the UK. If you are getting married on a Saturday, for example, you may want to think about a Monday or Tuesday departure.

Oundle Travel.

Tel: 01832 273600. www.oundletravel.co.uk

Tel: 01832 273448. www.martincharlesbridalgallery.com.

THE WEDDING ROOM Based in Peterborough’s cathedral precinct, The Wedding Room offers a relaxed atmosphere and a wide range of dresses from sizes 6 to 34. Prices start at just £150 and there is a dress alteration service available to ensure your wedding dress fits like a glove.

Tel: 01733 553263. www.wedding-room.co.uk.

VOW BRIDAL GALLERY Vow Bridal Gallery in Wansford has handpicked outfits for both men and women.

Bridal gowns in stock include those by Ramani, Madeline Issac-James and Diane Harbridge.

Tel: 01780 783607. www.vowbridal.co.uk.

GOWNS AND GARTERS Collections from Stella York, Mori Lee and Essense of Australia are available at this friendly, Thrapston-based bridal boutique. Gowns and Garters also stocks an extensive selection of bridesmaid dresses. Any alterations are done in-house to ensure your precious dress remains in safe hands.

Tel: 01832 730652. www.gownsandgarters.com.

MAISON DE LA BRIDE This elegant boutique in Peterborough prides itself in offering wedding gowns to suit all budgets and a dedicated, personal service. Maison de la Bride also stocks a selection of hand-picked accessories such as veils and tiaras to complete your outfit.

The well stocked sale rail is also worth a look – an ideal solution for short-notice weddings.

Tel: 01733 346415. www.maisondelabride.co.uk.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

19-27 WEDDINGS GillSH.indd 9

27

20/01/2016 15:16

MEL & GEM CATERING

AT OUNDLE GOLF CLUB BAR & RESTAURANT

Under NEW Management

All Welcome

Mel and Gem Catering would like to welcome all members and non- members to Oundle Golf Club, Bar & Restaurant.

Traditional Sunday Lunch served 12-3 from £8.95. Booking required.

The Berkeley Arms in Wymondham

Valentine’s Evening Dinner Saturday 13th February

Arrive to a glass of Prosecco for 7pm Sit down for 7.30pm with a three course dinner Retire to the bar area with live vocalist Laura Lou £29.95 per person Function room available | Sky Sports | Large car park Stunning views of our golf course from the restaurant and bar balcony.

Oundle Golf Club

Benefield Road, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4EZ Tel: 01832 273267 ext 3 mg@melandgemcatering.co.uk www.melandgemcatering.co.uk

Award Winning Country Pub Michelin Bib Gourmand Award 2012, 2013 & 2014 Melton Times Business Award Best Eating Experience 2011 & 2014 Countryside Alliance Awards - Highly Commended 2013

Exquisite Locally Sourced Food  Cask Ales  Fine Wines

01572 787587

THE LARGEST GERMAN & PARAPAN KITCHEN SHOWROOM IN THE AREA

www.theberkeleyarms.co.uk

HIGH QUALITY, BESPOKE FITTED KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES • HANDLESS KITCHEN SPECIALISTS • FULL INSTALLATION • FULL PROJECT MANAGEMENT • FAMILY OWNED

30% OFF ALL GERMAN KITCHENS Waterland House, 81 West Street, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4EJ

Küchen Kraft

EMAIL: INFO@KUCHENKRAFT.CO.UK CALL US NOW ON 01832 270300

w w w. k u c h e n k r a f t . c o . u k

28

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 28

19/01/2016 16:00

FOOD & DRINK

Food News

News and reviews

A breath of fresh air…

Refurb plans follow sale of Queens Head Inn freehold A

New to Dexters: Adrian Ellson and Marina Gatting

T

and some fairly simple hings are hotting up recipes, but you can on Oundle’s dining create some really out scene with the quality meals.” Buying arrival of a new team at locally is an important Dexters Bar and Kitchen. part of the Dexters Business partners ethos, with meat from Adrian Ellson and Wayne Trendalls, beers from the Southern took on the Nene Valley Brewery, popular Market Place Inside, a newly-stripped solid wood floor wines from Amps and venue in November compliments the neutral colour palette breads from specialist and, last month, threw a bakery Santoro’s in Kettering. spectacular party so that 160 specially-invited Dexters has long had a reputation for its guests could see the results of their significant tasty Tapas dishes, which remain on the menu refurbishment programme. After a two-week alongside a choice of sharing platters, beef shutdown and lots of hard work, Dexters reand fish steaks, paellas and gourmet burgers. opened with a fresh new look inside plus a There’ll be ‘specials’ on offer every day, while more spacious courtyard garden complete with those who want just a coffee and cake are outdoor heaters which held their own even against the early January cold… it all bodes well catered for too – Marina makes a fine espresso!

Much has been achieved in just a few for the balmy nights of summer! weeks but there’s more to come, with Wayne It’s a first foray into restaurant ownership and Adrian hoping to relocate the first-floor for Wayne, MD of a Kettering-based security washroom facilities to create space for a company and Adrian who was a qualified litho function room. “It would have stunning views printer and, later, an entertainer until donning out over the market place,” says Adrian. There’s his first set of chef’s whites. Before the move also likely to be a monthly programme of events to Oundle, Adrian was head chef at La Rocca to make the most of the courtyard garden. in Wellingborough; as well as running Dexters “There’s a real wow factor outside now,” he day-to-day, he will be in the kitchen with two explains, as Marina adds: “It’s going to be a other chefs while his partner Marina Gatting is great place for Tapas or cocktails… or a nice front-of-house. bottle of Prosecco on a summer’s night.”

A self-taught chef – “I learnt from books, TV, Ultimately, Adrian’s aim is to deliver quality but most of all by doing it… that’s the best way dishes at a price, and with enough variety, to learn” – Adrian says he loves cooking Italian to suit all. “We know there’s a huge range of food because: “you’re using fresh ingredients potential customers in terms of age and tastes, but we think we offer something for everyone The courtyard garden while staying true to our belief: stick to what has outdoor heating and you do best and the business will be a success.” is bigger than ever • Dexters is at 2-3 Crown Court, Market Place, Oundle PE8 4BQ. Tel: 01832 273366.

A new website will be live soon, and in the meantime you can keep up to date via www.facebook.com/dextersOundle. Sunday opening is now 10am-3pm and plans are under way for a special Valentine’s menu and, in March, Mother’s Day.

n ambitious investment plan will fund the refurbishment of bedrooms and outdoor areas at the Queens Head Inn, Nassington, following a change in ownership of the freehold at the popular riverside venue.

Completehotels – which has run the Queens Head since 2010 – has acquired the freehold of the Queens Head Inn from local businessman, Michael Padley. “Having owned and operated the business for the last five years we understand what makes it tick,” says Robert Smith, Managing Director and joint owner. “In buying the freehold we can plan further ahead, invest with greater certainty and develop the business with a clear strategy.”

Refurbishment work is already planned to some bedrooms and bathrooms, and Completehotels is exploring the possibility of improving the outdoor areas to make them more appealing to diners and drinkers.

Managing Director Robert Smith and Operations Director, Paul Smyth Paul Smyth, Operations Director and joint owner who is based at the Queens Head Inn, says the purchase of the freehold means there is longer-term stability for the existing team, and he looks forward to employing and developing additional staff in the coming months. “This is an exciting time to be involved with the Queens Head Inn as we start the next stage of our ambitious journey to make it a household name as the pre-eminent pub, restaurant and small hotel in the region,” he comments.

The Queens Head Inn is renowned for its food and offers a seasonally-changing a la carte menu, specialising in high quality steaks. It also has a busy programme of events lined up, including a Valentine’s dinner dance, a Mother’s Day lunch and live TV screenings of the Six Nations Rugby matches – tickets are £11 and include a pint and a basket meal.

• For info call: 01780 784006. www.queensheadnassington.co.uk.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

29 30 FOOD NEWS GillSH.indd 1

›

29

20/01/2016 15:17

FOOD & DRINK

Food News RESTAURANT

News and reviews

REVIEW

Decisions, decisions…

The only way to start the day…

Welcome to the all-new Snug Café

Mornings get off to a good start with breakfast at the Snug Café, Apethorpe I

’ve developed a real taste this winter for eating out at breakfast time. Those long, dark, energy-sapping nights are, to my mind at least, fit only for Netflix and a log fire. But come next morning I’m up and raring to go…

Landlady especially if it’s to a place where someone else will tackle the timings Pam of a Full English, or wield the whisk Freebody over my scrambled eggs.

It was with great excitement, then, that I set off along with my ‘other half’, to the Kings Head at Apethorpe for breakfast and a chat with new landlady Pam Freebody.

A long-time Kings Cliffe resident, Pam took over the license at this traditional village pub last October and, with the loyal support of existing chef Tyler Jackson and her daughter Teresa Bomparola (who was pot-wash girl there 13 years ago, whilst still at school!), has maintained its reputation for serving delicious food alongside well-kept, locally brewed ales and fine wines.

“It was my local for 16 years,” says Pam, a former beauty therapist. “I’d always thought about running a pub – I was more interested in the food side of the business – so when I heard

that the license here was coming up, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

Pam’s first task was to refurbish the former Snug bar, once a rather drab room used by only a handful of drinkers and local darts teams. A new, lighter colour scheme, a squashy leather sofa and fireside armchairs plus a collection of stripped pine tables and sturdy dining chairs has turned this into the all-new Snug Café, open on Tuesday to Saturday mornings.

We ordered the £6.95 Breakfast Fit for a King for himself and a Noble Breakfast (£4.95) for me, enjoying a delicious barista-style coffee and decaff tea as we settled down in a sunny window seat with the day’s papers.

The Kings Head likes to shop local where possible, and we commented on the delicious sausages from Stilton Butchers which were full of flavour and beautifully cooked. I’m told the black pudding was particularly noteworthy too, whilst my tastebuds were still ‘talking’ sometime later about the generous helping of creamy mushrooms piled high on my plate.

Verdict overall: we’ll be back!

Breakfast at the Snug Café is likely to be a popular choice with walkers and mums who want to meet up after the school drop-off – with ample parking right outside, Pam believes the Kings Head is a great option for those who struggle with the time restrictions of Oundle and Stamford.

Later in the day, daughter Teresa’s baking skills come to the fore when afternoon tea is served. Her strawberry scones looked delicious... such a shame there was no space for them in our post-breakfast bellies! And in the evenings the lighter, brighter Snug Café goes full circle and reverts to being an additional bar area, especially suitable for families thanks to an assortment of games and a bowl of fresh water for visiting pooches.

Pam hopes to extend mornings in the Snug to Sundays at some point in the future, when coffee and cakes will be served. And it’s business as usual in the spacious restaurant, where plans are now being made for Mother’s Day lunches.

• Gillian Bendall enjoyed breakfast at The Kings Head, King’s Cliffe Road, Apethorpe PE8 5DG. Tel: 01780 470627. www.kingsheadapethorpe.co.uk.

Dragonfly Hotel under new ownership T

he Surya Hotels group has announced the acquisition of a multi-million pound line-up of businesses which includes the 70-room Dragonfly at Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough.

The exact price paid by Surya Hotels is not being revealed, but the Dragonfly chain – which operates in five key locations across East Anglia – went on sale in July 2015 at an estimated joint value of around £14m, with the Thorpe Meadows hotel having a guide price of £3m.

While Surya Hotels will now assume management, the acquisition will not result in any staff changes. The hotel will remain under the Dragonfly brand and “significant” investment is planned to bring it in line with Surya Hotels standards.

30

Suki Dulai, Managing Director of Surya Hotels Ltd says: “The Dragonfly portfolio is a great fit for our brand – which is all about delivering quality facilities at fantastic prices in the heart of stunning villages, towns and thriving local communities.”

Surya Hotels is part of the Flying Trade Group which operates across several sectors of the UK food and leisure industry. The Group also includes Surya Foods, which supplies a variety of high quality, authentic ethnic products ranging from rice, flour, spices and sauces to snacks and savouries – it’s currently the biggest supplier of world food lines into supermarket giants Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.

Suki Dulai, CEO Flying Trade Group and MD of Surya Hotels

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

29 30 FOOD NEWS GillSH.indd 2

20/01/2016 15:18

THE RED LION LUNCHTIME SPECIALS £9.95 - Tue – Sat Early Doors Buy ONE meal & get another HALF PRICE Tue – Sat (table clear by 8pm but only if required) The Famous Red Lion Sunday Lunch Serving at 12.00 noon, 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm

Warmington Tel: 01832 280362 A Great Country Pub • Real Home Produced Food • Homemade Desserts • Quality Real Ales • Candles, Fresh Flowers & Linen Napkins

(booking essential)

Book the Marquee for your Summer event!

Closed Mondays theredlionwarmington@gmail.com www.theredlionwarmington.co.uk

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H H H H H Give your Oven a New Year Makeover! H H Customer H Rated HHHHH H H H H Family run business with over 30 years experience H H 1000’s of satisfied customers H H Crystal Oven Cleaners H H H H crystalovencleaning@gmail.com www.crystalovencleaning.co.uk H H 10% DISCOUNT WITH THIS ADVERT H H

OVEN CLEANING Before Crystal Oven Clean

After Crystal Oven Clean

01832 730404

63902 Crystal Oven Cleaning HALF.indd 1

02/12/2015 16:22

31

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 31

19/01/2016 16:00

Specializing in Peking & Cantonese Cuisine at its ‘Best’ 343 Eastfield Road, Peterborough, PE1 4RA.

Show how much you care Treat your Mum on her special day, to our delicious

Mothering Sunday buffet Sunday 6th March £15.90 pp

3 3

3 A La Carte menu Available 3 3

3 Take Away & Delivery service 3 3

Open 7 days a week Lunch: 12 noon – 2pm Evening: 4.30pm – 11pm Closed Monday & Tuesday afternoon

Es

c t Lo

Est

al Comp

an

1981 - 35 Years

y

Bespoke, Handmade & Factory Built Kitchens

!

• Over 30 room settings on display • Contemporary, modern, traditional & handmade bespoke kitchens • Special discounts & unrivalled service The Area’s Largest Independent Kitchen Showroom

Your local appointed Sheraton dealer.

The Maltings, Barnack Road, Stamford, PE9 2NA T: 01780 756514 or 755855 E: sales@qksstamford.co.uk www.qksstamford.co.uk 32

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 32

19/01/2016 16:00

FOOD & DRINK

Food News

News and reviews

From the Riverford Kitchen Parsnip and beer mustard gratin This tasty winter warmer is good on its own, or can be served with greens and crusty bread for a vegetarian supper. It works well as a side dish for pork, too Serves 4 Prep: 10 mins Cook time: 1 hour 15 mins Ingredients: • Butter for greasing • 300ml milk • 250ml cream • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1tbsp fresh thyme leaves • 800g parsnips, peeled & sliced into thin rounds • 2tbsp Riverford beer mustard • A little freshly grated nutmeg • A small handful dried breadcrumbs • A small handful freshly grated parmesan (or cheddar if vegetarian)

Method: • Preheat your oven to 180˚C/160˚C fan/gas 4.

• Lightly grease a medium-sized gratin/baking dish with a little butter.

• Put the milk, cream, garlic and thyme leaves in a pan. Grate in a little fresh nutmeg, then warm gently.

• Layer the parsnips in the baking dish.

• Stir the mustard into the warm milk mixture. Season with salt and pepper, then pour over the parsnips.

• Cover tightly with foil and bake for an hour.

• Uncover, sprinkle over the cheese and breadcrumbs, then bake for approximately 15 minutes until golden.

Second Tamu lounge reveals sweet taste of success

A

younger diners as well a range of fter months of speculation, the healthier desserts. We’ve had lots of venue for a second Tamu dessert requests for dairy- and gluten-free restaurant in the city centre has been options so our product development revealed. The new venture – on the team have been hard at work corner of Cowgate and King Street developing products to suit customers – is expected to open this month, with with specific requirements.” owner Salim Rehmatullah keen to The Cowgate restaurant will feature reassure customers that the popular an open counter area so customers Broadway lounge is to be refurbished An artist’s impression shows how the new Tamu dessert can watch their desserts being and remain open. restaurant could look created, and there’ll be a ‘gelato lab’ He says: “Situated over three in the basement where 22 flavours of fresh Italian floors, the new lounge offers much more space gelato will be prepared every morning – with for dessert lovers to enjoy our sweet offering in a opportunities throughout the year for customers friendly, indulgent environment.” to visit the lab and sample.

The new site coincides with the creation of The venture is likely to be the first of several, an updated Tamu logo and interior design, and with Salim revealing he is in negotiations with creates 15 jobs – manager Jack Martin is already agents in Northampton and Bedford to open Tamu in place and says: “Joining Tamu has been an amazing experience so far and I am excited to see what the future holds lounges in those locations.

He adds: “We’ve enjoyed every moment of our first couple of years in with the opening of our new lounge in Peterborough.”

Peterborough and plan to expand the business by opening in a further Salim continues: “We’ve had lots of customer feedback since opening three locations. Our current location on Broadway will be refurbished Tamu in February 2014 so our new menu and restaurant will tick a lot of and remain open. We will be adding a twist to our offerings in the boxes. summer at Broadway, so watch this space!”

“We’ll be launching a new kids’ menu designed specifically for our

refresh your diet with a weekly organic vegbox delivered free to your door

www.riverford.co.uk/sacrewell 01803 227227 NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

33 FOOD NEWS GillSH.indd 1

33

20/01/2016 15:19

34

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 34

19/01/2016 16:00

WELLBEING

Health & Beauty Notes The latest tips on looking good and feeling great, compiled by Bridget Steele

TRIED & TESTED BY NENE LIVING

Walk this way…

A

nnette Robinson runs the Sports and Physical Injuries Clinic in Oundle, where – having suffered a painful heel injury some time ago – I was keen to put her Gait Analysis service to the test.

The appointment takes about an hour and involves walking up and down the clinic, crossing a scanner on the floor which processes results on to a computer. Annette was then able to explain the results and show me where I put weight on my feet.

I was surprised to see how each foot varied and how one foot takes a lot more weight than the other – it’s not surprising I had been prone to injury! Annette explained that by having prescription-made orthotics in my shoes – medical insoles created from the precise imprints of my feet – normal balance and alignment of the body would be restored and any foot abnormalities would be gently corrected.

The orthotics are made in Ireland and are guaranteed. If you suffer from localised foot pain, bunions, hammer toes, painful hips, back or legs a gait scan could help.

• For more information contact Annette Robinson, Sports & Physical Injuries Clinic in Oundle. Tel: 01832 272200. www.injuries-clinic-oundle.co.uk.

Target and tone

I

t can be really hard to lose those stubborn areas of fat or extra inches – despite all your hard work and sensible eating, some bodies just seem to hold on to fat in all the wrong places.

For a targeted approach that will tighten and tone the skin all in one treatment, you could try LIPOFIRM PRO, widely recognised as a credible alternative to liposuction but with no downtime and painfree.

The treatment can be performed on most body areas and is effective for men and women. It offers inch loss, fat reduction, cellulite improvement, skin tightening and firming and facial contouring and wrinkle reduction. In addition, LIPOFIRM PRO can also treat the face and neck for common ageing conditions including sagging skin, jowls, wrinkles, enlarged pores and loss of elasticity.

Elysia Health and Beauty at Tansor uses advanced Radio Frequency and Dynamic Muscle Activation and say that LIPOFIRM PRO is chosen over other systems because: “It’s medically certified. We have been working with the systems for over two years and, have a proven portfolio of real results.

“And unlike alternative laser lipo systems, the results are not dependant on cardiovascular exercise after the treatment.”

• For more information contact Elysia Health and Beauty, Tansor, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 5HP. Tel: 01832 226328. E-mail: lisa@ elysiahealthandbeauty.com.

Fresh faced

B

ev Brabbins of Newborough Dental Surgery specialises in medical grade skincare. Her latest treatment combines medical science with cosmeceutical research – a dermatologically-tested skin resurfacing formulation which delivers pharmaceutical grade actives to the living dermal layers of skin, delivering highly effective treatment results.

There are no parabens, lanolin, colours or mineral oil and sun protection is formulated to aid DNA protection.

PH Formula medical grade skin care in-clinic treatments and homecare products are available – the PH Formula prescriptions treat the delicate eye area with amazing results!

• Prices depend on your unique prescription, and will be discussed at a free consultation. Call for more information: 01733 810235. www.newboroughdentalsurgery.com.

Tattoo Removal If you have a tattoo that you just don’t want any more or that has faded and looks unsightly, you may want to consider having it removed. Fran Walker has opened Laser Erase in Peterborough and specialises in tattoo removal. She has shared with us some of the most common questions asked before having a tattoo removed.

What are the costs likely to be for tattoo removal?

Laser Erase Peterborough is competitive in price and prices start from as low as £30 per session minimum (for a small tattoo). Every tattoo size is different, therefore every price is different to allow for the time and laser shots used.

What type of laser is used to remove the tattoos?

At Laser Erase Peterborough we only use the latest high-powered Q-switched Ruby, Nd:YAG and KTP lasers, ensuring superior results.

Will the skin be normal when the treatment is finished?

Our lasers are absorbed by skin pigment as well as tattoo ink. Darker-skinned patients may notice some lightening of the skin (depigmentation). This usually returns to normal quickly.

How many treatments are required to remove a tattoo?

A test patch is required first, then a few days later your first full session will take place. Most amateur tattoos require three to five treatment sessions at monthly intervals. Most professional tattoos require five to 12 treatment sessions at monthly intervals.

How long does it take and does it hurt?

Typical treatment sessions last between five and 30 minutes depending on the size of the tattoo. The lasers do cause discomfort during treatment, similar to being ‘snapped’ with a rubber band.

Does the treatment scar?

Our lasers are Q-switched, which means the lasers deliver high power in a very short pulse (25 billionths of a second!). There is usually no lasting damage to the skin.

Where is Laser Erase based and how do I get in touch?

Our business Laser Erase is at 28 St Mary’s Street, Farcet, Peterborough PE7 3AR. Get in touch via our website www.lasererasetattoo.co.uk or via our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LaserErasePeterborough.

You can also email: info@lasererasetattoo.co.uk or phone 07545 499254.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

35 H&B GillSH.indd 1

35

20/01/2016 15:19

LIGHT UP YOUR HOME Visit The Largest Independent Lighting Showroom in Cambridgeshire T: 01733 264391

10 Saville Road, Westwood, Peterborough, PE3 7PR (next door to The Party Place)

Free car park

E: sales@tlsw.co.uk

W: wwwthelampshadewarehouse.co.uk Opening times Tuesday to Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 4pm

D E SIGN TO SU IT YOUR TA S T E INSP IRATIO NAL, I N N OVATIV E & UN I QUE

DESIGN IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN FORM AND FUNCTION – IT TAKES TWO. SUPPLIERS OF Paint | Wallpaper | Lighting | Home Accessories | Furniture | Curtains & Blinds | Interior Design Visit our showroom six days a week including Saturdays:

A16 Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD or telephone: 01780 757 946 www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk 36

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 36

19/01/2016 16:00

Now is the time to make your garden ready for next year!

• • • • •

Landscaping Paving Decking Garden Buildings Maintenance

Call for a free, no obligation quotation 07447 079693 01780 479184 rdhort@icloud.com www.rdhorticulture.com

ORANGERIES, CONSERVATORIES, WINDOWS, DOORS AND VERANDAS Visit our showhome at: Ketton Design House, 63 High Street, Ketton, Rutland, PE9 3TE

Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm Weekends by appointment only

01780 400 500

ahorangeries.co.uk

Stylish windows and doors whatever your project

37

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 37

19/01/2016 16:00

BodyLaser Clinics • Laser Hair Removal • Lip Enhancement • Botox and Fillers • Vein Treatments • Skin Rejuvenation • Microdermabrasion • Dermaroller • Age Spots • Acne Treatment • Skin Peels • Cosmetics 60 Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1SU Tel. (01733) 555200

71 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1AB Tel. (01223) 464171

BodyLaser.co.uk

38

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 38

21/01/2016 13:20

Day Out

The Civil War Gallery is light, bright and packed with interest

Newark: showing off its history The National Civil War Centre in Newark is the first museum in the UK dedicated to telling the full story of the British Civil Wars. Sue Dobson thinks it’s well worth a visit

A

N epic and deadly struggle between King and Parliament in the 17th century, the British Civil War was the most devastating conflict in our nation’s history. It shaped our modern world yet surprisingly, until the £5.4m National Civil War Centre opened in Newark last year, there was nowhere in the UK that told its full story from start to finish.

The National Civil War Centre is housed in the restored Old Magnus building on Appletongate, a building that began life in 1529 as a Tudor grammar school, with additions in the Georgian and Victorian eras. The renovation has included a modern new section linking the historic rooms and resulting in a light, bright and inviting experience for visitors.

Telling the story of the civil wars in Britain and Ireland between 1638 and 1653, the Centre is packed with fascinating finds. There’s the petition from the people of Lincolnshire,

delivered to the King in Newark, wishing him to reconcile with Parliament; and an exquisitely written letter from Newark’s governor asking the King’s soldier nephew, the dashing Prince Rupert of the Rhine, for help. Among the remarkable collection of coins are gold Unites, struck for Charles’ coronation, and a selection of rare siege coins, cut from ‘liberated’ silver into diamond shapes to reduce wastage and bearing the legend Newark OBS, an abbreviation from the Latin for ‘under siege’.

These were minted in Newark during the third siege, used to pay troops and issued to locals to buy food.

Colourful recreated banners of the warring factions hang from the ceiling and the complexities of the bloody conflict are explained well in displays that span arms and armour, cannonballs and clothing, storyboards, maps and models, pictures and period printed pamphlets. Scary looking surgical instruments

Heavy gold ‘Unite’ coins, dating from the 1620s, were struck to mark the unification of the crowns of England and Scotland include amputation saws and a musket ball extractor and there’s a gruesome hand brand that was used on felons and deserters. The palms of the men who suffered this treatment were permanently tattooed with an image of the crown.

The Centre uses objects alongside human stories from people in Newark and the surrounding area, so there is much that is personal about the exhibits. One poignant memento is a gold and enamel posy ring inscribed with the words ‘Let no calamity separate our amity’. Thanks to the quite recent discovery of boxes of Civil War period NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

39 40 NEWARK GillSH.indd 1

›

39

20/01/2016 15:20

Day Out

Diamond-shaped ‘siege’ coins, minted to pay troops and locals, came in several denominations and varied in weight according to their value

The buff coat worn by the Nottingham regicide Colonel Francis Hacker, who fought for Parliament while his brothers supported the King. Press-ganged into signing the King’s death warrant, he attended the execution, accompanying Charles I as he walked to the scaffold documents, including accounts, receipts, petitions and bills, the story of the sieges is told from the perspective of ordinary citizens.

As well as looking and learning, visitors can dress up in 17th century-style clothing, try on and feel the weight of armour, wield replica weapons and become a virtual gunner.

A small cinema with expansive screens shows short professionally-made and acted films – so good they won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival last year. If you’ve got questions, the volunteer guides are friendly and knowledgeable.

Elsewhere in the building, attractivelyrenovated rooms host changing exhibitions, talks and events. Up in the attic, formerly the dormitory of the Old Magnus School, look for the graffiti and clearly visible names of R Disney 1608 and W B Darwin 1790. Two rooms off the Tudor Hall – not well signed, so do ask for direction – house the Newark Galleries, packed with local and social history spanning 2000 years. Among the artefacts on display are the press used to print the first two editions of Lord Byron’s poems and the spectacular Newark Torc, one of the finest Iron Age relics ever discovered in Britain.

• The National Civil War Centre, 14 Appletongate, Newark NG24 1JY. Tel: 01636 655765 (Newark Tourist Information Centre). Open daily 10am-4pm (5pm from March). Entry costs £7 adult, £6 concessions, £3 children 5-16 years, free to under-5s. The free (300MB) NCWT: National Civil War Trail app for smartphones and tablets (Android and iOS) can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. www.nationalcivilwarcentre.com.

40

17th century surgical instruments evoke the horrors of war

A model of sconces: earthwork defences considered to be more resistant to bombardment than solid walls. Newark has the best-preserved Civil War earthworks in the country

Newark’s story Staunchly Royalist, Newark’s importance in the Civil War lay in its location. At the crossroads of the Great North Road and Fosse Way, it provided a key crossing point over the River Trent. The town underwent three sieges; the third, in the harsh winter of 1645-6, saw 16,000 Parliamentarian and Scottish troops seal off the town and dam the river to prevent water mills from producing bread and gunpowder. A third of the population died – as much from starvation, plague and typhus as the fighting – and one in six buildings were destroyed.

The six-month siege ended in May 1646, when the embattled King Charles surrendered to the Scots at Newark. Among the artillery pieces the 1800 half-starved and disease-ridden Cavaliers left behind when they marched out was a cannon known as Sweet Lips. From the Parliamentarian stronghold of Hull and captured during the second siege, it was named after a favourite prostitute said to service both sides. Rampant disease probably saved Newark from further disaster, for the victors steered clear of the town rather than plunder and burn it to the ground, as would have been expected under the usual rules of war at that time.

“It was a cruel conflict in which four per cent of the population died,” says Centre Director Michael Constantine (above). “Brother took up arms against brother and the lives of ordinary people were shattered. No village, hamlet or town escaped the turmoil. Newark’s capitulation signalled the end of what is often called the First Civil War. Within three years, King Charles was executed by Parliament. When the Royalists initially debated their King’s order to surrender Newark, the defiant Mayor said it was better to ‘Trust in God and Sally Forth’, a sentiment that has become the town’s motto.”

Explore the town With a splendid market place at its heart, historic buildings and narrow winding streets lined with independent shops, galleries and cafés, Newark is an attractive town to visit. Download the Centre’s free ‘augmented reality’ app and take the town trail that brings Newark’s involvement in the Civil War to life.

Short films illustrate the dramas that took place in the buildings you are facing, including torch-wielding troops massing outside the Norman castle (where King John died in 1216) and King Charles and Prince Rupert having a blazing row in the Governor’s House (above what is now a branch of Greggs). There are plenty of good places for a bite to eat as you wander. Try Stray’s on Middlegate, a deservedly popular coffee bar wrapped around a bookshop.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

39 40 NEWARK GillSH.indd 2

20/01/2016 15:20

Uppingham yarns Knitting weaving spinning Announces we have become a Partner

COMING SOON BERGERE EVENTS

An inspiring independent co-educational day school for children aged 4-11 years.

www.wools.co.uk 30 North Street East, Uppingham LE15 9QL 01572 823747

Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar LLP Wills and Probate Department

Lasting Powers of Attorney, preparation of Wills, Court of Protection and Deputy Applications, Probate Administration, Will and Estate disputes.

Contact Baljit Bem on 01733 865883 or email baljit.bem@mcp-law.co.uk for more information.

Convenient town centre location and home visits available.

EARLY YEARS OPEN MORNING 9.30am – 11.30am Friday 5th February 2016 Call or email Ms Lesley Taylor, Registrar T: 01832 277159 E: lat@laxtonjunior.org.uk

• Business • Crime • Dispute Resolution • Employment • Family • Property • Wills and Probate

18 Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1JN www.mcp-law.co.uk - 01733 865880

www.laxtonjunior.org.uk

41

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 41

20/01/2016 15:42

Curtains, Blinds, Shutters & Awnings A local, family-run business with excellent service values

• ROMAN BLINDS • VENETIAN, ROLLER & VERTICAL BLINDS • WALLCOVERINGS • WOODEN SHUTTERS • AWNINGS • CONSERVATORY BLIND SPECIALIST (perfect fit system) • CUSTOM MADE CURTAINS (pencil, pinch, eyelets, valances, pelmet boards, swags & tails)

Book a free home visit to measure and discuss your requirements and receive a no-obligation quotation.

Harlequin, Prestigious, Blendworth, Villa Nova and many more!

Showroom at: 30 Phorpres Close, Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8FZ - Email: sales@jandsinteriors.uk.com www.jandsinteriors.uk.com Opening times: Mon - Sat 10 - 4; Closed Sun. Free parking - Telephone: 01733 558864 - (Behind Dobbies Garden World)

WINDOWS | COMPOSITE DOORS BI-FOLD DOORS | GARAGE DOORS O P E N M O N - F R I 9 A M T O 5 P M S AT 9 A M T O 3 P M

• 23rdYear of trading • UPVCWindows and Doors section extruded to BSI • UPVCWindows and Doors manufactured to BSI • AllWindows and Doors installed to BSI • Installers qualified to NVQ level 2 • Sealed units manufactured to BSI • ‘A’ Rated as standard

12 St. Leonard’s Street, Stamford PE9 2HN Email: sales@classic1992.co.uk

Tel: 01780 654 321 www.classicstamford.co.uk 42

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 42

19/01/2016 16:01

ACTIVITIES

Fencing... a sport for all!

Chris Howser discusses the art of combat, the physical and cognitive benefits of learning to fence and the future of the sport in this country. Interview by Rebecca Downey

N

O longer a sport only for the elite, fencing is now available to even the youngest of the Nene region’s residents thanks to Chris Howser, founder and head coach of the Oundle, Peterborough & Stamford Epee club (for those aged 10 to adult), several after-school clubs and The Yarwell Musketeers for younger fencers.

Developed in the Renaissance period, fencing encompasses the elegance and sophistication of that age and is often described as a ‘physical game of chess’. Some educators have suggested that fencing enhances mathematical performance and decision-making skills, while also teaching good sportsmanship, self-discipline and problem analysis.

With 30 years’ experience and several National and International titles under his belt, Chris has coached many local children to victory at home and abroad. He is the organiser of some of the biggest fencing events in the country and is the reigning champion of the Veterans Commonwealth championships. Chris’s teaching style is a combination of tough training and discipline (one can never be too careful with weapons in hand!) combined with humour and enthusiasm. One student describes him as: “constantly motivating us with boundless energy and support.”

pupils will join our community When and how did you club and be the stars of the begin fencing? future.

I started when I was about 10 years old. My older brother What are the qualities one attended the old Redhill club needs to be successful and and I was being dragged how does fencing benefit along. At the time I was not other life skills? deemed old enough to learn, Fencing, though obviously a but after much nagging, the physical activity, is a tactical coach relented and 30 years sport. Often it is not the later I still love the sport.

Chris Howser (on the fastest or strongest that wins, Nowadays coaches introduce right) in action but who sets up the best kids as young as five to traps for their opponent. So, even well into my proper metal fencing and yet we have also had 40s, I am able to upset high-ranking, younger, beginners aged 60. It is truly a sport for all. faster fencers and I suspect few are happy to draw me at events. The sport attracts a wide What is your greatest achievement in the range of personalities; the quick mind will often sport? out-think a more ‘sporty’ opponent, however a I have had the privilege of fencing for Great combination of the two is ideal.

Britain/England at a number of Championships.

Fencing improves confidence, Internationally, I would say winning three social skills and enhances quick Commonwealth Silver medals as part of thinking. If your mind wanders, England’s senior team. Domestically, I have won British Championships in Under 17, Under 18 and you will get hit pretty quickly.

Unlike team sports where blame Under 20, but my British Senior Championship can be cast in all directions, in 2005 is the most important to me. fencing highlights personal improvement; if someone puts the How would you like to see the sport develop effort into training it will show in in the future? performance.

Fencing has been seen traditionally as a ‘public Also, we try to support all our fencers school’ sport; however this is an outdated to learn how to referee. With supervision, viewpoint. I coach over 100 kids, of which 85 even five-year-olds can referee matches per cent are State school pupils. I would like competently and in so doing, develop a sense to see the sport expand locally, however I am of responsibility for themselves and fellow limited by a lack of other coaches available. I’ve competitors. For example, we have a female been teaching fencing within the PE curriculum referee aged 13, who attends events at the at local State schools which has been an highest level and has complete authority over enjoyable experience and gives children, who a group of adult men, twice her age. There is may not otherwise have tried the sport, a good never a problem on that piste. introduction. I am hoping that some of these

Above: Chis Howser with his British Veterans Fencing Champion award Below: Isabella Howser (on the left) began fencing with an epee at the age of five Fencing is being removed as one of the recognised sports for GCSE and A-level PE. What affect will this have on the sport’s future?

Any action that restricts the reasons for a school to support a sport cannot be a positive thing, especially when this affects what is described as a ‘minority’ sport. It is a shame that secondary school fencers who have attained International level in the sport will now have to do another sport for their GCSE/A-level qualifications. This diminishes their focus on fencing training, which could be the difference between winning an Olympic medal, or not.

• If you feel that fencing should stay on the national curriculum for GCSE and A-level PE, go to: https://petition. parliament.uk/petitions/110802 where you can sign a petition organised by Rochelle Dazeley, Executive Director of England Fencing Ltd. For information regarding classes and clubs go to: www.eliteepee.com or the OPS Epee Club facebook page: www.facebook. com/OpsEpeeClub/, or email Chris at: chrishowser@hotmail.co.uk.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

43 FENCING Gill SH.indd 1

43

20/01/2016 15:21

44

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 44

19/01/2016 16:01

DIARY DATES

What’s On Yasmin Bradley focuses on some fine events for all to enjoy this February…

Thursday 4 February Piccolo: Monthly Classical Concerts for Under-5s 10.30am Lovely music for the little ones on the first Thursday of each month in sumptuous surrounds and acoustics. £4 per adult with up to four children. St John the Baptist Church, near Cathedral Square, Church Street, Peterborough PE1 1XF. Email: stjohnscic@gmail.com.

Friday 5 February Oundle Festival of Literature presents Professor Sir Michael Marmot on The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World 7.15-8.15pm In his ground-breaking book The Health Gap, leading doctor and intellectual Sir Michael (below) lays out evidence gathered over 40 years which shows how your place on the socio-economic ladder directly affects health and life expectancy. £8 (£6) from Oundle Box Office, 4 New Street, Oundle PE8 4ED. St Peter’s Church, Oundle PE8 4AL. 01832 274734. www.oundlefestival. org.uk.

FEBRUARY 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

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 SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY

Monday 1 February Peterborough Arts Society: Portraiture or Objects 7.30-9.30pm Bring your own materials and try your hand at painting or drawing a portrait or a still life in like-minded company!

Members: £2. Non-members: £4. St Mark’s Church Hall, 82 Lincoln Road, Peterborough PE1 2SN. 01733 390201. www.peterboroughartsociety.org.uk. of the purchase of the (so-called) ‘Elgin Marbles’ by the British Parliament in an illustrated exploration of the aesthetics, ‘back story’ and controversies surrounding these ancient Greek works of art on display in the British Museum.

First visit free. The Fleet, Fleet Way, Fletton, Peterborough PE2 8DL. 01733 767539/233022. www.pdfas.co.uk.

Thursday 11 February The Prison at Norman Cross: The Lost Town of Huntingdonshire 7.30pm Expert speaker Paul Chamberlain describes the lively goings-on at Norman Cross 200 years ago – a time when nearly 7,000 Napoleonic prisoners-of-war were accommodated there while Peterborough had a population of just 3,500! £5 (£4) Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1LF. 01733 864663. www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/the-prison-at-norman-cross-thelost-town.

Saturday 6 February The Sixteen - Handel at Peterborough Cathedral 7.30-9.30pm Beautiful choral singing back by popular demand - including a performance of the muchloved Dixit Dominus.

Front Nave: £30; Rear Nave: £25; Side Aisle: £15 from Visitor Information Centre, 9 Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1HJ. 01733 452336.

Peterborough Cathedral, Minster Precincts, Peterborough PE1 1XS. www.peterboroughcathedral.org.uk.

Thursday 11 February Peterborough Decorative & Fine Arts Society (PDFAS): The Elgin Marbles 10.45am-noon (coffee from 10.15am) Dr Steve Kershaw marks the 200th anniversary

Thursday 11 February – Wednesday 2 March Wash your Dirty Linen in Public: City Gallery’s First Exhibition of Live Art by Emerging Artists Tuesday - Saturday 9am-5pm Upcoming Peterborough-based artists Penelope Harrall, Charlotte Barlow and Gaganpreet Gill Kaur (right) explore acceptable – and unacceptable – behaviour in performance, sound and installation!

Special Performance Events: Friday 19 February 6.30-9pm; Saturday 20 February 9-5pm. Free. City Gallery, Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1LF. 01733 864663. www.idea1.org.uk/ event/wash-your-dirty-linen-in-public.

Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 February Antiques Weekend: Holmewood Hall 9.30am-4pm Thousands of items to buy and browse in an 18th century manor house – plus, bring your own items for valuation. Ample parking and splendid tearoom. £2.50 (under-16s free). Holmewood Hall, Church Street, Holme, Peterborough PE7 3BZ. 07772 349431. www.fielddogfairs.com.

NENE LIVING FEBRUARY 2016

45 DIARY DATES GillSH.indd 1

45

20/01/2016 15:22

Guaranteed Personal Service from a Local Family Business

RIDGEWAY GARAGE DOORS Local family run business specialising in the supply and installation of manual & automatic garage doors.

FREE FITTING Windows, Doors, Patio Doors, French Doors, Conservatories, Car Ports, All Weather Canopies, Patio Awnings, Fascia & Guttering, Roller Garage Doors, Roller Shutters, Sliding Grilles, Security Bars, Steel Shutters, Shop Fronts, Domestic and Commercial Systems, Mesh Grilles, Venetian Blinds, Vertical Blinds, Roller Blinds

FREE ENERGY UPGRADE

• Steel, Timber and Glass Reinforced Plastic Doors Also available Security Shutters, Spare Parts & Repair Service

Tel: 01733 772934 Email: info@ ridgewaygaragedoors. co.uk

We pride ourselves on great customer service

Nene Living Do you enjoy walking?

Want to earn some extra money each month and get some exercise ?

NEW SHOWROOM 67 South Street, Stanground, Peterborough Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Telephone 01733 342888 www.manorwindows.net

Distributors required to deliver Nene Living in Werrington and Thorpe Park Road, Peterborough area Please email Rachel on

rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Applicants must be 13 years old or over.

46

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 46

19/01/2016 16:01

AGA ENGINEER MARTIN WELSH Independent Aga Engineer

• Professional Aga specialist • Legitimate Aga spare parts for regular servicing and maintenance • Over 15 years experience

HEALTH

HYPNO-SLIMMING

Amazing new easy way to lose weight • Are you unhappy with your weight • Tried all types of diets • Dislike the way you look in the mirror • Uncomfortable with your size • Can’t shift that extra weight • Clothes don’t fit • No motivation

Call: 07735 304452 or 0116 2813219 Email: martinsagaservice@hotmail.co.uk www.aga-servicing-leicestershire.co.uk

The Hypno-Slimming Programme can help you includes

ARTIST

Free Hypnotic Gastric Band worth £150 Quit smoking in just 1 hour with hypnosis

Telephone 01733 768839 Peterborough Hypnotherapy Clinic, 26 Priestgate, Peterborough City Centre.

Free initial consultation www.curativehypnotherapy.com

Muscle & Joint Specialist Ultrasound/Soft Tissue Work/Mobilisation £35.00 Initial assessment then after £30.00

Chiropodist/Podiatrist General Chiropody Treatment £20.00 a session at Oundle Clinic

DECORATING

Specialising in treatment of

Chris Ireson

Fungal Nail Infection Gait Analysis & Orthotics (insoles)

Painter & Decorator Interior and exterior work undertaken Landlord contracts welcome City & Guilds qualified

Annette Robinson BA(Hons) MBChA Registered Tel: 01832 - 272200 Mob: 0790 516 7944

www.injuries-clinic-oundle.co.uk

YOGA

NINA HEATON

Creating opportunities for change * Holistic Therapies * Matrix Energetics * Resolve Stress with HSE * Yoga & Well-being Days * Art/prints * Gift Vouchers

01733 236476

www.ninaheaton.co.uk ITEC IA IIHHT IHBC FHT Member

20 Best 20 Best Local Local Bike Bike Rides Rides

Call now for free quote Telephone 07751 995413/01733 245359

rid r de ess

est st 22 00bbe

BBIIK KEE

MASSAGE

Sa-Bai-Gai

Traditional Thai Medical Massage 10c West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EF

ENGLISH TUITION

lolo cc alal

Sp ectacular cy Spec tacu lar cycle cle around ridesrid ares ound St am d, Rutland, Stamford, for Ru tland, Harbor ou Harb and orou gh angh d Ne Valley the the Nene Vane lley

English Tutor online

Please feel free to contact me - even if only to pick my brain for advice.

Mobile: 07806593859 Email: englishtutor@cantab.net

HEALTH

HOME VISITS FOR:* Removal of Corns and Calluses * Ingrowning Toenails * Toenails clipped * Fungal Nail Treatments * Specialising in the Diabetic and Neurovascular patient * competitive rates Telephone 07931 624325 email: hollywright18@yahoo.co.uk

Holly Wright MCFHP MAFHP FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER

• NL Feb.indd 47

9 771757 01 747012

£3.50

9 771 757 747 012

pen_sabaigai@yahoo.co.uk. www.sabaigai.co.uk

£3.50

0

FULL BODY MASSAGE (2 HRS) GENERAL BODY MASSAGE (1 HR) FOOT MASSAGE AND REFLEXOLOGY HEAD AND SHOULDER MASSAGE THAI HERBAL STEAM ROOM AND PACKAGES SABAI HERBAL HEAT TREATMENTS ANTENATAL MASSAGE & GIFT VOUCHERS

IS SN 17 57 -7 47

One-to-one, online lessons target your son’s/ daughter’s particular needs and will boost selfconfidence and self-esteem enormously - attributes vital to success. Online lessons are also fun!

DAYTIME -­‐ 01832 358054 MOBILE -­‐ 07952 551833

01 ISSN 175 7-7470

Common Entrance

If you are concerned about your child’s performance in English at Common Entrance contact me for helpful advice as to how to proceed.

TO PLACE AN ADVERT IN NEXT MONTHS MAGAZINE PLEASE CALL BRIDGET ON 01733 707538

From the publis hers

Living

of

Maga zines From

the publis hers

Living

of

Magazines

PILATES

Local Pilates Classes & Pregnancy and Post-Natal Classes by an experienced Physiotherapist Available from Jan 2016

In association with Rutland Cycling In association with

Rutland Cycling

Please enclose a cheque for £3.50, made payable to Local Please enclose a cheque for Living, and return to: £3.50, made payable to LocalBLBR PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY.

Living, and return to:

online at: POOr Boxorder 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY.

www.bestlocalliving.co.uk Or order online at:

www.bestlocalliving.co.uk

21/01/2016 09:49

01780 762 908 01733 891568

Phorpres Close, Cygnet Park, Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8FZ West Street, Stamford PE9 2PS (behind Dobbies Garden Centre)

(Up from Waitrose supermarket) ALSO ALSO STORES STORES IN IN STAMFORD, PETERBOROUGH, BOURNE AND SPALDING BOURNE & SPALDING!

• NVL Feb ADS.indd 48

19/01/2016 16:01