Nene Valley Living July 2013

HELPING

YOU

TO

GET

THE

MOST

OUT

OF

LIVING

NENE VALLEY LIVING FOOD/FASHION/HEALTH

&

BEAUTY/HOME

&

LOCALLY

GARDEN/LIFESTYLE

EXPLORE OUNDLE

PLUS: THE BRONZE AGE BOATS AT FLAG FEN NVLJULYCOVER.indd 1

£1.50 JULY 2013

Nene Valley Living

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HELPIN G YOU TO GET THE MO ST OUT OF LIVI NG LO CALLY

NENE VA LIVING LLEY

N ENE VA L L EY LIVING

This Issue

&

BEAUT Y/HOM E

&

GARDE N/LIFE STYLE

EXPLORE OUNDLE

Cover image:s of Oundle by: TIM STEELE, LESLEY ANNE CHURCHILL, DAVE PHILLIPS, OUNDLE SCHOOL, ILLUSTRATION BY TINA FIRKINS

JULY 2013

FOOD/ FASHIO N/HEA LTH

Ou PLUS: THE BRONZE AGE BOATS AT FLAG FEN

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SPO TLIG

Oundle

W

hat a month July has turned out to be!

There’s festival fever in Oundle and Peterborough, with a massive choice of music, comedy, food and entertainment. I can’t ever remember such a busy, buzzing summer season, and there are lots of free events on offer, too. Let’s get down to some details: • The Oundle International Festival offers a wonderful programme of music which runs from 12th- 21st July. Highlights include the Picnic in the Park with Courtney Pine at Boughton House, Northamptonshire on Saturday 13th July, and a performance

by Tasmin Little with the European Union Chamber Orchestra on Friday 12th July. But there is so much more besides. Please visit www.oundlefestival.org.uk to see the full listings and how to book.

• Peterborough’s Willow Festival runs on the Embankment on 12th, 13th and 14th July.

It attracted in excess of 50,000 people last year and looks set to gain still more followers in 2013. There are 123 live bands playing over the three days, plus stalls, food and bars. Camping is available if you want to go for the full Festival experience.

• On a small scale, try Woofstock at Yarwell’s Angel Inn, which is well known locally for its commitment to live music. On Saturday 27th July and Sunday 28th July, local musicians and bands will play live in the pub’s beer garden, accompanied by a real ale and cider festival, plus BBQ. Free entry, but donations welcomed, which will go to The Retired Greyhound Trust.

• And here is a little gem: as part of St John’s Church Tuesdays ‘till Two concert series in Peterborough, Richard Allum, a former Peterborough resident, will be bringing The Little London Trio to perform a special concert playing Brahms’ Horn Trio. The concert takes place at 1pm on July 23rd, in St Johns, Cathedral Square. Free entry.

I hope you’ll be able to take advantage of some of these events.

Enjoy the month.

Fion a Cu mberpatch Editor

PUL L-OU T&K EEP

I

on and off, for the last 40 years. During that time, it has changed, Don’t forget but the high street, Palmer’s Chocola market square, te West shop in The Bazaar, Street, North Street West Street, and New Street for a wonderful range retain a sense of being of old fashione d sweets, caught in time.

The truffles, chocolat big names are there: and ice cream. es Boots, Tesco It’s and opposite Asha’s Coop, but they the which have has some beautifu discreet presence a l homewares, they are outnumb and fabrics and an upholste by the unusuall ered ry y service. Nearby, high number you of will find the wedding independent retailers. dress designer Trading isn’t Martin easy at Charles and present, nobody his Bridal Gallery, whose argue otherwis could tasteful e, but if creations make you choose a to do your fabulous display. shopping in Oundle, If you’re eating you will be pleasant out, try Onkar for ly surprised by Indian the breadth food, or take of goods and for everyon the services on e in Cottons family to 62 offer. You’ll (it’s where I pairs), and a Love Me find shoes bought both superb selection Do, the retro newest addition of my sons’ For cookwar themed of books and first tiny to e, hardware cards in The diner, which and lighter bites: the restaurant scene. and things you Oundle Booksho Stu-Pots is an is the There’s lots Smiths at No.4, didn’t think institution, and p. have distinct of choice for were made Dexters, Beans Stitches offers has the best personalities. any more, and the Coffee coffee window displays everything for The Talbot Hotel never been really interesti Tavern the home crafter, . Oundle in better all Eatery since its refurbish ng selection & Coffee House and White Vanilla Their afternoo of clothes, and at excellent ment by The has n tea is truly has a prices. If you covetable cashmer Bulldog Hotel delicious.

Colemans is need a gift, rarely let you Group. e sweaters a stationery Crackers, run down, shop in stock, they

by Judy Hibbins, I went in. Greeting and I always exit that can have delivere par excellence, and what will shop feeling s in West Street way to while they d to your door happier than Harpur’s of away time in is another good in record time. don’t have when Oundle is a Oundle is to short stroll source.

My favourite brilliant source selection of visit Courtho along West antique and of Street to the use Books, worth Antiques and modern jewellery presents for men, and you browsing Old Courtho the The Oundle their use (pop in for hours. For for men and Clock Shop to florist and at Green Man women will the exhibitions, when you pass). vintage gift keep including regular best birthday cards shop Foxtail For flowers, stunning setting and some inspiring Akroyd, The Lilly in South I head and gorgeou Dolby Gallery star turns by nationally Road, which s blooms, some As well as the known artist in West Street has a Food shoppin shops, Carry of which are grown is an essentia g there are dentists a barber, optician l destination. butchers, Seven is getting better all the on site. , beauticians, time. There Wells and Trendall hair dressers estate agents, s, physiotherapists, chemists delicatessen , s. It’s good news, are two great vet, , newsagent, in West Street bathroom supplier, a travel agents and fish pubs, too, that the is now under full details), and chip offering the too many to new ownersh a small town best mention individua shop, kitchen and ip (see page chocolates. needs. Just 17 for Amps Fine Wines of British cheeses, wines, lly, but everythi out new of the developm bread, cakes expert advice centre, the is bursting with ng that ent, where you and if you need fine vintages equipment at can hire a kayak Oundle Wharf is a great it. Tucked away Bakery, which , and a lot of Trek-Kits, buy and purchas in Jericho is recently won cycles and kit sample local The a prestigious and which sells beers at Gorilla Firm e outdoor award as Britain’sHambleton wonderful English None of us really at the Nene Valley Brewery Cycling or from Prince best muffins and knows what .

William School sourdough bread.bakery, Street. Let’s the future holds and Oundle for hot sausage just hope Student for School queue rolls, doughnu in Cookies bakery s generations to come. that the heart of Oundle the great British High vegetables, herbs and flowers ts, buns and sandwiches, will stay beating and there’s for on offer at Norman fruit, s.

SPECIAL E IGHT PAGE PULL-OUT Fiona-Cumberpat Pg 19 ch

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

5 Editor’s Selection

26 Absolutely English

7 Upfront

29 Fifty Glorious Years

8 Upfront

33 Ancient boats help to unlock the past

Great buys for summer

Uppingham Summer School

Win! Concert tickets to Magic of the Musicals

Northants Wildlife Trust celebrates

Bronze Age vessels at Flag Fen

11 Upfront

37 Coming Home

13 Upfront

40 On Your Marks

14 Upfront

42 Bespoke furniture

17 Food News

45 Diary dates

Spotlight on boutique Turkey

Make a pasta dish with fresh broad beans

Bespoke garden furniture by William Lloyd

Oundle’s new all-British deli

19

The 2013 Oundle Food Festival

A day trip to Houghton Hall

Get set for the Race for Life

Delcor celebrates a year in Stamford

Interesting events in July

19 Spotlight on Oundle

Launching our special eight page pull-out

21 My Oundle

Locals celebrate their town

24 A town and country walk Oundle and its environs

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

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A traditional market town striving to keep Oundle has a pace with upcoming entr high proportion of inde pendent busi the 21st century, school. In July epreneurs and an inte nesses, a host rnat , Music Festival the month when it hold ional reputation for its of s two festivals pub and the Food , the Internat lic Festival, we special supp celebrate the town with ional ’ve been visiting lement this Oundle,

Nene Valley Living

For £20 (UK only) you can subscribe to Nene Valley 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

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S U MME R BUYS FOR JULY

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Editor’s selection

Summer in a slice: fruit and almond tart, £1.80, from The Hambleton Bakery, Oundle

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Flip flops, £12, Accessorize, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough.

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Pick your own fresh strawberries at Hill Farm, Oundle Road, Chesterton PE7 3UA Tel: 01733 233270

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Conjour up some outdoor feasts with A Perfect Day for a Picnic by Tori Finch, £16.99, Ryland, Peters and Small, to order from The Oundle Bookshop.

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Woodblock print shorts, £29, Monsoon, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough.

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Let your little ones pack their own picnic with these cute wooden tea party biscuits, £10 at Jollys Toys and Games, 28a High Street, Thrapston or to order from www.JollysToys.co.uk

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Picnic blanket, £10, Next Home, Queensgate Centre and Brotherhood Retail Park, Peterborough.

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Locally made vintage French grain sack cushions, great for outdoor seating, 55cm, £60 each at www. sugdenanddaughters. co.uk NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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Book now for school holiday family dental appointments

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19/6/13 16:36:56

W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront LOVE YOUR LIDO If it’s a hot day and you can’t face the queues heading for the coast, try Peterborough Lido, It offers three heated outdoor swimming pools, large sun bathing terraces, a lawn area, playground and hot and cold food available from the new café.

Adults £4.80, children and concessions, £3.60. A family ticket for two adults and two children is £10.50. Open Monday – Sunday 9am – 6pm. Extended hours from July 22 to September 1st when it is open until 8pm every day. Bishop’s Road, Peterborough PE1 1YY

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT UPPINGHAM SUMMER SCHOOL If you’re wondering how to keep the children entertained over the holidays, Uppingham Summer School could be the answer. On offer is a wide range of courses for children of all ages. Most courses run for five days and there are residential options for any children who might want the added fun of a few days away from home doing something they love, or learning something new whilst making new friends.

Inspired by the popular TV programme, Glee Week is full of singing, dancing andmovement that culminates in a high energy show in Uppingham Theatre in front of parents and friends on the final afternoon. The drama week From Page to Stage is ideal for budding thespians, whilst Total Music Powerhouse is for aspiring rock musicians. The ever popular and long running Young Musicians’ Week is being augmented this year by the new Chamber Music Weekend aimed at more advanced classical musicians.

Other creative possibilities abound: Get Write In is a creative writing course for teenagers, along with Baking for Kids and a week of Arts and Crafts workshops. A new course this year is Time Tunnel Tardis, four days of finding out how much fun history can be in a hands-on, interactive way. Creative Technologies Powerhouse is a unique course for 11 to 18 year olds based on digital media and technology. Children will have the chance to learn about iPhone app design, computer game design, robot design, film making and animation.

For sporty children, the Festival of Sport incorporates four days of hockey, netball, tennis and rugby coaching.

Details of these and all other courses can be found on www.uppinghamsummerschool. co.uk or call 01572 820800.

HEIDI’S CHARITY CYCLE RIDE PE teacher Heidi Walton was so moved after seeing a video about Motor Neurone Disease (MND) at a charity dinner in aid of The Broad Appeal, which raises money for and awareness of the illness, that she decided to make her own contribution. At the start of this month (July) she will leave her home in King’s Cliffe and cycle to each of the four test grounds being used for this year’s Ashes series, a total of 500 miles! The idea came after a chat with Chris Broad, the former England cricketer whose wife Miche died from MND, and who launched The Broad Appeal in her memory. Heidi’s route takes her from Lords London to The Oval, Old Trafford, Chester le Street and finishes at Trent Bridge for the start of the First Test. Heidi will mostly be cycling the route on her own.

If you’d like to sponsor Heidi, contact 01733 380541 or email anniep4@btinternet.com

CARE

matters Amy Kennedy of Home Instead Senior Care writes about issues which affect senior citizens.

This month, she highlights the importance of staying hydrated as we get older Hydration is among the most important elements for the maintenance of a healthy body and mind. Water is used in the body for transporting nutrients and wastes, regulating temperature, maintaining the structure of tissues and supporting cell functions (including brain function).

Generally, healthy adults are advised to consume between two and three litres of water per day in order to maintain good levels of hydration, counteracting fluid loss through perspiration and body waste.

We take in water through drinks, but also in the food that we eat. Therefore, as we age, and our appetite starts to reduce, our ability to take on board liquids through our meals also reduces. Additionally, some of the medication prescribed to older people can have a diuretic effect on those who take them, leading to further potential fluid loss.

The effects of dehydration can be severe.

Dehydration has been identified as one of the risk factors for falls in the elderly.

It can lead to deterioration in mental state resulting in dizziness and fainting. It can be a major factor in accelerating the deterioration in a person’s health when they have bouts of sickness which cause high levels of fluid loss.

Encourage those taking medication to drink a full glass of water with their tablets or medicine. Remember, milk shakes, soup, iced lollies and sorbets are also fluids, so you can be imaginative in finding ways to increase fluid intake. As the summer temperatures start to rise, we all lose more fluids through perspiration, so staying hydrated through the day is really crucial to maintaining good overall health.

Home Instead Senior Care. Tel: 01733 333342 www.homeinstead.co.uk/oundle

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W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront Selecting a secondary school Deciding on a secondary school for a child is one of the most important decisions that parents have to make. Bourne Grammar School, one of the top performing schools in Lincolnshire, offers the following advice: • Narrow down your list of schools by checking each admissions criteria to make sure you qualify. If you are unsure, or need further clarification, call and speak to the School Admissions Officer.

• Attend open evenings or arrange a visit, so that you can find out if the atmosphere and school culture will suit your child. At these events, talk to current students and find out what school life is really like.

• Check the school’s record for education quality and academic results.

• Does the school provide a broad range of specialist or extra curricular opportunities to develop your child’s interests and talents?

Every year Bourne Grammar School welcomes applicants from over 40 primary schools from a cross-boundary catchment area that includes Bourne, Stamford, The Deepings and Peterborough. The school has recently expanded to accommodate more students who achieve the qualifying score in the 11+ admissions test, which is taken in early September of Year 6 for entry the following September. From September 2014 the number of year 7 places at the School will be increasing to 224.

Head teacher Jonathan Maddox says: “this is an exciting development for the School and we look forward to welcoming more students from more primary schools into our expanded Year 7. We aim to give our students the chance to become well qualified and well-rounded individuals with the skills, experience and confidence they need for a successful future.”

For more information on Bourne Grammar School Admissions and registering for the 11+ tests, visit www.bourne-grammar.lincs.sch.uk or email admissions@bournegrammar.lincs.sch.uk

Beautiful bunting Hilly Horton makes bunting and lovingly crafted soft furnishings from her home in Oundle.

This bunting costs £18 for a 2.5 metre length but you can have it custom made to the size you require. She sells her products via her website, www.hillyhorton. co.uk or via Facebook, at Hilly Horton Home.

She also has an Etsy shop called HillyHortonHome.

Hilly offers free local delivery, or bunting can be posted for a flat rate of £3.50.

For more details, ring Hilly on 01832 272030.

+++ STOP PRESS +++ Let’s Make Music, a concert in aid of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall will take place on July 14th at Woodstock House, Fergusons Close, Polebrook. A family afternoon of entertainment with live performances, bouncy castle, tombola, stalls and a big raffle.

Tickets, at £15 for adults, £7 children, include a hog roast, pudding and glass of wine, beer or soft drink. Call 01832 274700

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WIN! WIN! WIN! Tickets to Magic of the Musicals at Peterborough Voyager Academy

on Saturday 20th July at 7.30pm Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Voices and Peterborough Youth Choirs will team up with a live band and special guest soloists with an unmisseable concert of tunes for all the family, including classics from South Pacific, Oliver!, Les Miserables, Sweet Charity, Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma and The Sound of Music. Tickets are £12 -£14.50 from Peterborough Visitor Information Centre on 01733 452336 or online www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk You can win one of two pairs of tickets.

Just visit the Nene Valley Living Facebook page, ‘like’ us, and leave your name in the competition box, together with the name of your favourite musical.

All entries to be received by July 12th.

Gifts for a lifetime

When you decide to spend the rest of your lives together, it is such a wonderful time.

Most of your friends and family will want to mark the occasion by buying you a really special gift, so why not set up a gift list and take the guesswork out of the whole thing, ensuring that you get something you love while making it easy for others to shop? It’s easy to set up and use, whether online, by phone or in any of the John Lewis stores.

Remember your list does not have to be limited to John Lewis products. You can choose to add gift vouchers or contributions towards your Kuoni honeymoon.

To find out more about the gift list service, why not go along the the Wedding Showcase on Saturday 20 July from 10am-4pm. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and canapés and talk to the experts on hand who will be able to guide you through the services and help that is on offer. To book your place, just call 0844 6931752, extension 5880 or email CustomerSupport_peterborough@johnlewis.co.uk

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Selling & Renting The Prime Properties In The Region From Offices in Oundle & London WOODFORDANDCO.COM T 01832 274732 E info@woodfordandco.com

There’s bags more in store at •Office & Computer Supplies •Art, Craft & Hobby Supplies •Furniture & Seating •Copy Shop & Print from Stick •

Everything for the office at permanently low prices, delivered FREE with no minimum order.

10 New Street, Oundle, PE8 4EA T: 01832 272868 F: 01832 272760 E: oundle@colemangroup.co.uk www.colemans-online.co.uk

Don’t forget our Picture Framing Service!

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D E SIGN TO SU IT YOUR TA S T E

N E W W I DE W I DT H WAL L PAP ERS FRO M L EWI S & WO O D Visit our showroom five days a week: - A16

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

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20/6/13 17:04:03

W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront Spotlight on: Boutique Turkey If you are fed up with grey skies and have not yet booked your summer holiday, why not take a break in September or October to Turkey…..

One the most highly recommended destinations for summer 2013 and a firm favourite with Oundle Travel, offering superb boutique hotel and villa accommodation are the resorts of Kalkan and Kas. Kas is a harbour village set in the heart of the old Lycian region.

It enjoys a cosmopolitan atmosphere with superb restaurants, colourful shops and winding cobbled streets. The village has been carefully preserved and we are genuinely optimistic that it will retain its special charm and ambience for many years to come.

The roof terraces are a highlight of the evenings, a time when Kas is at its best, where you can dine and enjoy the magical views across the tiled rooftops to the harbour and out to the ocean. The town has managed to retain that most elusive of mixtures - an authentic ambience with relative sophistication that makes it an unusual, picturesque and uniquely welcoming destination. It is a million miles away from the over- commercialised resorts further along the coast.

The Peninsular Gardens is a stylish and intimate hotel with a well deserved reputation of being the best in the area, many rooms have private plunge pools and it was voted ‘Best of the Best’ in the Sunday Times ‘Top Ten Mediterranean Hotels.’ The hotel operates a complimentary minibus transfer to the town, just 10 minutes’ drive.

Departures for August and September dates lead in at £1300 pp for seven nights including flights from London Gatwick or Birmingham, luggage and private transfers. Temperatures in the region stay at a balmy 30 degrees with clear blue skies well into mid October.

A complimentary Gulet Sailing is available with all holidays booked through Oundle Travel for Summer 20013. Spend a long lazy day on board as the gulet slowly explores the local bays, a BBQ lunch is also included.

For more information on The Peninsular Gardens and our stunning individual villas contact Oundle Travel on 01832 273600. www.oundletravel.co.uk

Yamaha to partner Oundle International Festival Oundle International Festival’s partners, Yamaha UK, have just confirmed that they will be delivering a superb Yamaha S6 grand piano to the Oundle International Festival this year.

Last heard at the Malvern Festival, to great acclaim, this magnificent hand crafted instrument was built at Yamaha’s own workshops and is one of the finest examples of modern piano technology around. It has been endorsed by artists such as Jamie Cullum and Alberto Nose. It is well worth noting that Ronnie Scott’s in London has an S6 as their house piano and it has been used on countless recordings made in the club.

During the Festival, the featured artists, from the Dominic Alldis Trio (Monday 15 July) to the classical pianists, Young-Chon Park (Sunday 14 July), Cheng Meng (Monday 15 July) and Virginia Black (Wednesday 17 July) are all looking forward to the opportunity to play such an instrument to demonstrate their talents.

In a remarkable event, Piano 4 Hands will utilise the piano to give a performance of Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’ which is in its centenary year.

Oundle International Festival is very grateful to Yamaha for this opportunity to feature such music.

Oundle International Festival runs from 12-21st July 2013. Box office: 01832 274734 www.oundlefestival.org.uk

Quality antiques and restoration The Oundle Clock Shop is a family run business which has been based at the same premises for over 60 years. The owners pride themselves on their friendly, quality service. “Although most of our custom is from recommendations we also like to meet new customers and help them choose a beautiful time piece, whether it is a wrist watch, pocket watch, wall clock, bracket clock or long case,” says co owner Jo Elwood. “We will answer all your questions and help you as much as we can. Please come and have a look at our stock with no obligation or pressure. We expect you to visit many times before you decide to purchase.” With one hour street parking, there should be enough time for you to browse in The Green Man Antiques on the opposite side of the road.

Beautifully laid out like a Georgian sitting room, it offers good quality furniture, silver items, collectable china and scientific instruments. “We are pleased to announce that we now have a good selection of gold jewellery, especially engagement rings, and very competitively priced earrings and bracelets,” says Jo. “Repairs and restoration is our business and we are pleased to give free estimates.” There is free delivery within 50 miles and all the clocks are guaranteed for at least a year. “We also have an extensive stock in our workshops, so if you can’t see what you are looking for in the shop, please talk to Garry, Vicky or myself and we can email photos or invite you back at a later date,” says Jo. Oundle Clock Shop, 51A, West Street, Oundle PE8 4EJ Tel: 01832 272099.

You can also find the shop on Facebook.

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Oundle Mill

dine fOr £14.95 On ThurSdayS On Thursdays in June and July, for lunch or dinner, you can experience our new delicious menu for £14.95 for three courses.

SeT Menu Our new set menu offers a selection of mouth-watering dishes and is perfect to enjoy for lunch or dinner from £14.50 per person.

The set menu is not available on Thursdays, Saturday evenings and Sunday lunch times.

Sunday Lunch Join us at Oundle Mill with family and friends for Sunday lunch and enjoy scrumptious starters, traditional roasts and tempting desserts from our fabulous Sunday lunch menu.

2 courses £21.50 3 courses £25.50 Sunday lunch is served between 12.00 and 2.30pm.

Barnwell Road • Oundle • Northamptonshire • PE8 5PB www.oundlemill.co.uk • 01832 272621 • info@oundlemill.co.uk 12

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W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront At Riverford, our aim is to make fresh, seasonal organic food available to everyone. Three years ago, we launched our Riverford Cooks campaign to inspire local people to cook from scratch using a veg box.

Our local Riverford cook, Diana Burke, is based at our farm in Sacrewell. As well as keeping the farm team well fed, Diana works across the region helping communities to get cooking.

Here is her recipe for a supper dish using freshly picked broad beans.

Penne with broad beans, bacon, mint and cream Serves 4 Ingredients: • 500g shelled broad beans • 350g penne • 100g pancetta or smoked streaky bacon, cut into fine batons • 1 tbsp butter or olive oil • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 200ml double cream • a small bunch of mint, roughly chopped • 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Cook the broad beans in boiling salted water for a few minutes, until tender. Drain and set aside.

Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente. Meanwhile, fry the bacon in the butter or oil until just beginning to brown, then add the garlic and stir for a minute without letting it colour. Stir in the cream, mint and broad beans and simmer for a few minutes. Then add the Parmesan and season to taste.

When the pasta is done, drain well, toss with the sauce and serve immediately.

To order your Riverford box, call 01780 789700 www.riverford.org.uk/sacrewell

Nene Valley Living

recommends THE CROWN, ELTON

Having visited The Crown in Elton several times over the last year, my wife and I had high expectations of an interesting menu and good food. We were not disappointed, and we had to take some difficult decisions during the evening, as there were so many appealing options on the menu. Eventually, Bridget chose fresh Cromer crab with cucumber and garden herb salsa and rocket pesto. She really enjoyed this dish, which was fresh, light and seasonal. I opted for the warm poached citrus cured salmon with Jersey Royal fondant potatoes, marsh samphire and a crayfish and fennel butter. This was beautifully presented and the flavours worked brilliantly together.

For our mains, Bridget chose a roast rump of local lamb, served with lightly crushed Jersey Royals, broad beans, baby leeks and mint sauce. She felt this was the perfect dish for a summer’s evening and the lamb was cooked to perfection. My free range pork tenderloin came with local asparagus and crushed garden peas and was served on a smoked bacon potato cake drizzled with a Calvados jus. This was very enjoyable, and once again, the presentation was appealing.

When it came to dessert, we were once again torn by the menu choices.

Bridget opted for the peach and vanilla tarte tatin with Devon clotted cream, which must have been good as she refused to share! I had strawberry and Champagne terrine, served with a tangy blueberry and lime sorbet, a good option as it was so light and refreshing.

So once again, The Crown presented appealing, beautifully presented food from a very interesting and thoughtfully put together menu. Service was relaxed, helpful and friendly, and the wide choice of wines and real ale makes it a real winner for us. We’ll be back again soon. Tim Steele The Crown Inn, Duck St, Elton PE8 6RQ Tel: 01832 280232 www.thecrowninn.org

Reader offer We’ve teamed up with The Crown at Elton to bring you a brilliant and exclusive summer dining offer.

From Monday July 1 up to and including the evening of Thursday August 1, you can receive a free bottle of red or white wine with every table booking at The Crown (Mondays to Thursdays)! Just ring and book ahead, stating in advance that you are taking advantage of the Nene Valley Living wine offer. You can use this great deal as many times as you wish.

• Terms and conditions apply: the offer applies from Monday- Thursday dining only. The offer is for a free bottle per booking, not per meal or per person. Not valid in conjunction with any other Crown offer. The wine is pre-selected by The Crown, Elton.

vegboxes, meat & more to your door boxes from £10.45 with free delivery

call us 01780 789700 or visit www.riverford.co.uk

see the new range online

new

nic BBQ & pic e g n ra

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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20/6/13 16:15:50

W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront Tell me a story Woodnewton based company William Lloyd has designed and built a new story teller’s chair for Nassington Primary School. The chair, built from oak and larch has been donated by Stephen Roe in support of the school’s fund raising.

The beautiful chair features in the newly refurbished playground and has already become popular with teachers and pupils alike. It was also used recently as the May Queen’s throne at the school’s traditional May celebrations.

William Lloyd specialises in bespoke garden structures and garden landscaping.

For further information, visit www.williamlloyd.co.uk

A facelift for the Feast The annual celebrations on St James’ Day in the village of Thurning has outgrown its original venue. Lindy Rudd previews this year’s event On July 25th, thousands of people will descend on this unusually quiet village. Some will sit and enjoy delightful homemade cakes and cups of tea, served with the distinctive sound of a silver band in the background, while others will opt for a pint and a dose of rock music.

This year, things have been moved around to avoid the area getting congested. Organiser and committee chairman Derek Capp says: “the Feast has been getting more and more popular, which meant that last year, things were a bit crowded. We still want to retain the traditional flavour of the Feast and so we will have games, craft stalls and amusements in the grounds of the village hall, while the main stage and bars will move into the field.”

On the music menu, new for 2013 will be The Chicken Shack, a covered stage with a rustic feel, to accommodate some local acoustic talent. The main stage will be opened by singer Rudy Warman, who was busking at Broadstairs Folk Week when he was spotted by entertainment organiser Justin Capp. “His music is so distinctive, we’re really pleased he has agreed to play,” says Justin. Local group The Feastie Boys will also appear, as well as popular Oundle singer/songwriter Lesley Curtis and her band. Headlining is the outlandish Glam Rock band Sweet 70s, from Corby.

A variety of food and drink will be available with trained chefs cooking on site and three bars operating on the day. Local award winning brewery Digfield Ales will have their own bar, where they’ll be serving a selection of ales.

The entire organisation is run by volunteers of all ages who work tirelessly to stage the event from January onwards. All of the profits go towards the upkeep of the beautiful Grade II listed church and the village hall.

Thurning Feast takes place on Thursday July 25th, from 5pm. Entry is free but food and drink must be purchased on site. See www.thurningfeast.co.uk for details.

Little bugs On the first Monday of each month, under fives can learn to love nature at the Little Bugs Club at the Children’s Sure Start Centre in Irthlingborough. These fun sessions are free, and run from 1.30pm-3pm. Booking is required. Call Louise on 01604 774043 for more information.

The truth about your ancestors On Wednesday July 3rd, Peterborough and District Family History Society will hold a fascinating talk by Stephen Manning on how he discovered hidden secrets about his ancestors.

Entry is free and all are welcome. The meeting starts at 7.30pm in Peterborough’s Westgate Church Rear Hall. If you’re interested in researching your own past, there will be a help desk available on the night. www.peterborofhs.org.uk

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Save our lollipop lady!

When the news broke that Oundle Primary School was losing its lollipop lady Barbara, local architect David Smith, principal of Waterland Associates, wanted to do something to help. He contacted Oundle Town Council who explained that the County Council had withdrawn funding three years ago. Despite Oundle Town Council picking up the total cost for the last two years, they were unable to continue without matched funding.

Waterland Associates has always been proud of its links with the local community and David, whose three children all went to Oundle Primary School said: “a local lollipop lady is a real symbol of how much a community cares for its children and we are happy to help the town provide this important service.” Waterland Associates have agreed to pay half the cost for the lollipop lady so that, along with Oundle Town Council, Barbara will continue to see future generations of children safely across the road.

Vintage in Oundle On July 7th, there will be a Vintage Fair and Afternoon Tea in the Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle. A delightful mix of vintage and handmade treasures will be on sale, with full afternoon tea available from 1pm. Vintage hair styling also available on the day!

Admission £1. 11am – 3pm.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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Discover more this spring @

UniqUe Gardenscapes and bespo ke strUctUres by

WiLLiaM LLoyd

YOUR LOCAL GARDENING CENTRE Garden care Seeds & bulbs Gardening tools Pots, planters & compost Plants for the garden & home Landscaping & fencing Garden furniture Outdoor living

Barnwell Road, Oundle PE8 5PB

01832 273310

www.thebarngardencentre.co.uk

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

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

We pride ourselves on great customer service

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

Summer houses I Pergolas I Follies I Decks I Gardens I Ponds Garden features I Tree houses I Paths and Walls I Seats To receive a brochure or further information please call 07974 071551

williamlloyd.co.uk 15

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Advertisement Feature

Normans of Oundle

Suppliers of locally sourced food produce, in and around Oundle for over 65 years.

A

warm welcome from our friendly and knowledgable staff is what you will find at Normans .

With our ecletic mix of British and European sourced fresh produce , delicious local grown berries from Lutton Farm, beautiful peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries and melons packed with flavour and juice are just a selection of our ever changing seasonal offering. There is always a range of beautiful bespoke bouquets for sale, made on site by our highly experienced florists and locally baked organic bread and pastries from the Smallbread Co. are available Tuesday to Saturday. All go togeather to make Normans your #1 choice when food shopping. • Normans Greengrocers and Florist, 14 Market Place, Oundle, PE8 4BQ. Tel: 01832 273545 Email: normansoundle@hotmail.co.uk www.normansoundle.co.uk

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FOOD & DR INK

Food News All the latest on local food and drink

Best of British delicatessen for Oundle

Riva moves to Eye Italian restaurant Riva has moved from the Key Theatre building to new premises in Eye. Owner Chris Falco says the new setting, in the former Toscanini Restaurant, offers greater scope. “This move gives us a wonderful building with a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. It allows us to offer our dining experience to a larger number of customers but still providing an intimate ambience. We are just three miles from our old location, a five minute drive from the city centre.” There is ample free parking outside the restaurant. www.riva-restaurant.co.uk

New coffee house at Peterborough Museum

Squires Coffee House has opened on the ground floor of Peterborough Museum. It offers a good selection of coffee, teas, and cold drinks as well as homemade cakes and sandwiches, and is the perfect place to take a break from shopping in the city centre. Light bites include Taska bread pockets, Danish pastries and muffins.

There is free WiFi access, and there are also meeting spaces within the museum which are available to hire. Admission to the museum is free (apart from special events).

For more info, call 01733 864663.

A

delicatessen which sells only the best of British food and drink has just opened in West Street, Oundle. Devines Deli, the only shop of its kind in the UK, is run by mother and daughter team Emma Turner and Marina Gooch who have travelled the country to source delicious produce from farms and small companies. There is handmade ice cream from Melton Mowbray, honey from Thrapston, whiskey from Cambridgeshire, cheeses from Dorset and charcuterie from farms all over the country.

“The only thing we sell which isn’t from the UK is olives, and that will change next year,” says Emma. “The original idea was to stock food from all over Europe, but as I travelled, I found that I couldn’t trace the provenance of the overseas items, so I decided to concentrate on the UK, and we have found such amazing food and drink here that there is no need to look further afield.”

Emma and Marina will be serving fresh takeaway coffee and specialist teas, as well as sandwiches, using bread from Barnwell based The Small Bread Company. “We will make sandwiches for customers as they watch, using hand cut ham, for example, or an artisan cheddar,” says Emma. Drinks include apple brandy from Stony Stratford and Dr J’s dry Cambridgeshire gin. There are tasty preserves, kitchen table jams, fudge, handmade chocolates which are also stocked in Fortnum and Mason, and homemade crisps, too.

The pair have revamped the shop, opening up the space to create a long counter and attractive open shelving. “Suzanne Grange, who worked here before, will be staying on with us, and staff will include family members Chris and Jon,” says Emma. “This is a real family business and above all we are concerned with quality and service.”

Emma had a previous career in banking but now she says: “my passion for what we are doing here has overtaken everything.”

Devines Deli, 10B West St, Oundle PE8 4EF www.devinesdeli.co.uk NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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Fabulous Fashion and Accessories at Affordable Prices Flattering, feminine, easy to wear styles Vist our shop at 1 Market Place, Oundle, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE8 4BA

Tel: 01832 274107 or shop online at www.whitevanilla.co.uk

Prescription Sunglasses from

£40

*

When you buy a complete pair of spectacles with frames priced £50 or higher *Offer available for a limited period.

Not available in conjunction with any other offer.

5 Market Place, Oundle, PE8 4BA Tel: 01832 272974 www.judithday.co.uk

Friendly family business Fine jewellery, Georgian furniture & collectable silver Repairs and restoration undertaken

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Ou PULL -OUT & KE EP

SPOT LIGHT ON. . .

Oundle

A traditional market town striving to keep pace with the 21st century, Oundle has a high proportion of independent businesses, a host of upcoming entrepreneurs and an international reputation for its public school. In July, the month when it holds two festivals, the International Festival and the Food Festival, we celebrate the town with this special supplement

ILLUSTRATION: TINA FIRKINS

I

’ve been visiting Oundle, on and off, for the last 40 years. During that time, it has changed, but the high street, market square, West Street, North Street and New Street retain a sense of being caught in time. The big names are there: Boots, Tesco and the Coop, but they have a discreet presence and they are outnumbered by the unusually high number of independent retailers.

Trading isn’t easy at present, nobody could argue otherwise, but if you choose to do your shopping in Oundle, you will be pleasantly surprised by the breadth of goods and services on offer. You’ll find shoes for everyone in Cottons (it’s where I bought both of my sons’ first tiny pairs), and a superb selection of books and cards in The Oundle Bookshop.

For cookware, hardware and things you didn’t think were made any more, Stu-Pots is an institution, and has the best window displays. Oundle in Stitches offers everything for the home crafter, and White Vanilla has a really interesting selection of clothes, and covetable cashmere sweaters at excellent prices. If you need a gift, Crackers, run by Judy Hibbins, will rarely let you down, and I always exit that shop feeling happier than when I went in. Greetings in West Street is another good source.

Harpur’s of Oundle is a brilliant place for presents for men, and their selection of antique and modern jewellery for men and women will keep you browsing for hours. For the best birthday cards and some inspiring exhibitions, including regular star turns by nationally known artist Carry Akroyd, The Dolby Gallery in West Street is an essential destination.

Food shopping is getting better all the time. There are two great butchers, Seven Wells and Trendalls. It’s good news, too, that the delicatessen in West Street is now under new ownership (see page 17 for full details), offering the best of British cheeses, wines, bread, cakes and chocolates. Amps Fine Wines is bursting with fine vintages, and a lot of expert advice if you need it. Tucked away in Jericho is The Hambleton Bakery, which recently won a prestigious award as Britain’s best bakery, and which sells wonderful English muffins and sourdough bread. Students from Prince William School and Oundle School queue in Cookies bakery for hot sausage rolls, doughnuts, buns and sandwiches, and there’s fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers on offer at Normans.

Don’t forget Palmer’s Chocolate shop in The Bazaar, West Street, for a wonderful range of old fashioned sweets, truffles, chocolates and ice cream. It’s opposite Asha’s which has some beautiful homewares, fabrics and an upholstery service. Nearby, you will find the wedding dress designer Martin Charles and his Bridal Gallery, whose tasteful creations make a fabulous display.

If you’re eating out, try Onkar for Indian food, or take the family to 62 Love Me Do, the retro themed diner, which is the newest addition to the restaurant scene. There’s lots of choice for coffee and lighter bites: Smiths at No.4, Dexters, Beans and the Coffee Tavern all have distinct personalities. The Talbot Hotel Eatery & Coffee House has never been better since its refurbishment by The Bulldog Hotel Group.

Their afternoon tea is truly delicious.

Colemans is a stationery shop par excellence, and what they don’t have in stock, they can have delivered to your door in record time. My favourite way to while away time in Oundle is to visit Courthouse Books, worth the short stroll along West Street to the Old Courthouse (pop in at Green Man Antiques and The Oundle Clock Shop when you pass). For flowers, I head to florist and vintage gift shop Foxtail Lilly in South Road, which has a stunning setting and gorgeous blooms, some of which are grown on site.

As well as the shops, there are dentists, beauticians, hair dressers, a barber, opticians, physiotherapists, chemists, newsagent, pubs, estate agents, vet, a travel agents and fish and chip shop, kitchen and bathroom supplier, too many to mention individually, but everything that a small town needs. Just out of the centre, the Oundle Wharf is a great new development, where you can hire a kayak and purchase outdoor equipment at Trek-Kits, buy cycles and kit at Gorilla Firm Cycling or sample local beers at the Nene Valley Brewery.

None of us really knows what the future holds for the great British High Street. Let’s just hope that the heart of Oundle will stay beating for generations to come.

F ion a Cu mberpatch

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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R.C. Cotton & Sons Family run business since 1871

Fine footwear for the whole family

7 Market Place, Oundle Peterborough PE8 4BA 01832 272534 shop@cottons-oundle.com www.cottons-oundle.com

Celebrating 27 years in business We would like to thank all our customers for their continuous support

23 West St, Oundle, PE8 4EJ

Tel: 01832 273822

Lingerie | Swimwear |Accessories

• Lingerie from A-K cups • Professional Fitting Service • Swimwear • Mastectomy Bras • Maternity Bras • Sports Bras Stockists of • Elle Macpherson • Freya • Fantasie • Huit • Marie Jo • Marie Jo L’Aventure • Seafolly • Wolford & many more

01832 273969

The Bazaar, West Street, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4EJ

Asha’s, The Bazaar, West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EJ

Telephone: 01832 275605 Email: barbara@ashas.net

www.ashas.net

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

Stockists: Coffee Bag Company - cubes and cushions Keith Brymer Jones - Word ceramics Ian Mankin Fabric | Furniture | Soft Furnishing | Gifts

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PE OPLE

My Oundle We asked six local faces what they love best about living in Oundle and what they’d like to see in the town in the future.

Words: Lucy Banwell Portraits: Lesley Anne Churchill

Barbara Katavich

Proprietor, Asha’s:

Q What do you like most about living in Oundle?

A I love the community spirit of this historic market town. The Farmers’ Market is a typical example, with residents meeting up and chatting. The architecture is also stunning.

Q What’s your favourite shop or café in the town?

A My favourite shop has, of course, to be Asha’s, although if I am in need of a latte I head to Beans. A trip to the Post Office is also guaranteed to bring a smile to your face thanks to those two cheeky brothers!

Q What do you hope to see in the town in the future?

A I would like to see a bustling high street full of interesting, independent shops which cater for the needs of the community as well as attracting visitors to the town.

Chris Woodford

Owner, Woodford & Co Property Consultants & Auctioneers: Q What do you like most about living in Oundle?

A I like the atmosphere and individuality of the town. Most large towns are clones of one another but Oundle is distinctive. The natives are pretty friendly, too.

Q What’s your favourite shop or café in the town?

A For a quick coffee on a Sunday morning I like to go to Beans. For relaxation, or to have an informal meeting, I go to Smiths at No 4.

Q What do you hope to see in the town in the future?

A I would like to see a strong presence from independent retailers maintained around the Market Place. Local people need to shop locally in order to protect the town centre.

Phil Norman

Owner, Normans Greengrocer and Florist: Q What do you like most about living in Oundle?

A Having grown up in Oundle, I could never imagine living anywhere else. Walking down the street, I always bump into people I know and even if they’re in a rush they always say ‘Hello’. This is part of what makes Oundle so special.

Q What’s your favourite shop or café in the town?

A Dexters. Great staff, a warm atmosphere and a regularly changing menu serving great food. Easily my first choice when it comes to eating out.

Q What do you hope to see in the town in the future?

A We have a great range of independent food shops, so I think a clothes shop such as Fat Face or Animal would be good. With the imminent arrival of Waitrose, I am hopeful that people will still come into the town centre to shop. I actually know some local residents who don’t shop in the town because they don’t like the current supermarket choice, so Waitrose’s arrival could actually encourage them to start using our local shops again.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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PE OPLE

George Higgins Mayor of Oundle:

Q What do you like most about living in Oundle?

A I love the fact that everything I need is on my doorstep. The historic buildings are amazing and it’s probably the Market Place which I’m most in love with. From the traditional butchers, wine merchants, hotel and and coffee shops to the chemists, gift shops, barbers and art gallery, it’s just a gorgeous place to be!

Q What’s your favourite shop or café in the town?

A I don’t have a particular favourite, but I love the fact that there’s a coffee shop for every mood.

Q What do you hope to see in the town in the future?

A I hope to see more events held in the town, particularly around the Market Place. Having youth facilities in the town would also be great and it’s something I’m actively working on. I hope the town continues to prosper and that people from all over the country continue to visit us so that they, too, can get a taste of what Oundle has to offer as a ‘beautiful, thriving market town.’

Claire Pearlson Director, Trek Kits:

Q What do you like most about living in Oundle?

A Its combination of traditional, market town architecture and modern living. We also have beautiful villages right on our doorstep. And I love the fact that I don’t need to drive out of town for every day essentials.

Q What’s your favourite shop or café in the town?

A The music evening and veggie platter at Smiths at No 4 is a great hit, and I also love sitting al fresco at Beans with a smoothie.

Q What do you hope to see in the town in the future?

A I hope to see growth in the town, enabling the younger generation to work and stay in the area. I would like to see a younger and more involved town council with clear aims. I want Oundle to become a real destination for visitors but to do that we need the reinstatement of a Tourist Visitor Centre to encourage visitor volumes.

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Helen Nicholls Customer Service Advisor, Oundle Customer Service Centre:

Q What do you like most about living in Oundle?

A The friendly people, the beautiful buildings and the fact that Oundle is so quintessentially British.

Q What’s your favourite shop or café in the town?

A The Talbot. I think the refurbishment has been a great success – the hotel has kept its character while gaining a contemporary feel.

Q What do you hope to see in the town in the future?

A I hope the schools will continue to thrive as they are such a big part of the town. I know we have some new developments on the way which is good, but I would hate to lose any of our beautiful, bespoke shops which I believe are at Oundle’s heart.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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A welcoming family run CafĂŠ-Bar. A relaxed place for meeting friends and family in comfortable surroundings. “At the Heart of the Communityâ€?

Please visit our brand new website www.oundlestpeters.org.uk and see us on Facebook

Foxtail Lilly Now selling ‘Autentico’ Chalk paint and painted furniture.

0pen Wed – Sat - 10am till 5pm 41, South Road, Oundle

01832274593

www.foxtail-lilly.co.uk

Smiths at No 4 CafĂŠ-Bar, 4 North Street, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4AL, 01832 270011, smithsno4@btconnect.com, www.facebook.com/smithsatno4cafebar

Follow us on

to stay up to date with all our Events and Offers

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TEL: 01832 273448 www.martincharlesbridalgallery.com Email: martincharles.couture@btopenworld.com 13 West Street, Oundle PE8 4EJ 23

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ACT IVIT IE S

Oundle town and country stroll Oundle has both history and nature intermingled, with the town itself dating back to the 7th century and the River Nene encircling it. It makes for a perfect town and country stroll, as Nicholas Rudd-Jones discovered WALK DATA Distance: 3 miles Typical time: 1.5 hours Map: Landranger 141 Start & Finish: Benefield Rd Car Park, outside the Drill Hall Terrain: flat, easy going

Cobthorne, Oundle School headmaster’s House

POINTS OF INTEREST Cobthorne, on the south side of West St, is the Oundle School headmaster’s house. It was built in 1656 by Major-General William Butler, an aide to Oliver Cromwell. The school, dating back to the 16th century, occupies over one quarter of the land area of the town and is its major employer. It was first established in the 16th century.

St Peter’s Church St Peter’s has the tallest spire in the county, standing 210 feet high and visible throughout the walk.

Originally, St Peter’s was a small Norman Church with a central tower, which was enlarged in the 13th century with later additions and alterations in the Decorated Perpendicular styles. The interior was first restored in 1864 and contains a coloured pulpit, beautifully carved screens as well as memorials and stained glass windows. The 15th century lectern, shaped in the form of an eagle is said to be from Fotheringhay Church. It was lost when roundheads threw it into the River Nene during the Civil War. Fortunately, it was later retrieved and returned to the Church.

The church’s interior today is the result of a major re-ordering programme in the early 1990s.

The old outdoor swimming pool You come across this evocative sight just

24

St Peter’s Church before you reach Lower Barnwell Lock.

It was created by volunteers in the 50s and older residents remember many happy summer days splashing around in there. There are also the remains of the fixings of a diving board into the River Nene itself. Oh for the joys of those carefree days! It was closed in the 60s due to scares about polio in the water.

Oundle Marina www.oundlemarina.com The Marina was created over 50 years ago by making a cut through from the River Nene and flooding the local gravel pits. This has now grown into a marina with 200 non-residential moorings plus dedicated visitor moorings that can be booked prior to arrival. The marina was the original birthplace of Fairline Boats.

View of Oundle from the Marina

Barnwell Country Park On the southern boundary of Oundle, nestling in the Nene Valley water meadows, Barnwell Country Park offers waterside walks, picnic meadows, a BBQ area (bring your own charcoal), wildlife garden, fishing, bird hides, nature trails, and an adventure playground, suitable for children of all ages.

Oundle Museum www.oundlemuseum.org.uk Oundle Museum is in the former Courthouse on Mill St and is an independent museum wholly staffed by volunteers. Permanent exhibits include archaeological finds from local excavations, models of the market place and railway station and items from the Smiths Brewery which was a major industry in the town until the 1960s.

Sign at Oundle Museum The Museum is open March to November on Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and for groups by special arrangement.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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Ordnance Survey mapping © Crown Copyright. Media Licence: 078/13

THE ROUTE

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Park in the Benenden Rd car park (on the west side of town) and walk along West St to the centre of the town. Turn left into New St, past the PO on your left and cross the road Almost immediately turn right along Church St and through the St Peter’s churchyard into North St. Head south down St Osyth’s Lane, passing the Co-on on your left; continue on into South Rd, and where it veers to the right, take the road ahead, Bassett Ford Rd, onto the meadows

2

PITSTOPS Beans 1 New Street, Oundle, PE8 4EA Tel: 01832 270007 www.beanscoffeestop.co.uk Beans provides the ultimate window seat in central Oundle - to eat, drink, and watch the world go. You can enjoy top coffees, paninis, salads, baked potatoes and sandwiches.

The Talbot Hotel Eatery & Coffee House, Oundle, New St, Oundle, PE8 4EA Tel: 01832 273621 www.thetalbot-oundle.com The Hotel now has different areas in which customers can relax, including a bar, a conservatory which can be used for dining or just having coffee, and a more formal glasssided restaurant.

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• With special thanks to Brian Collis and David Wills who took me on this walk. They are part of a group called the Oundle Strollers.

If you would like to join them contact Brian on bcollis04@gmail.com. They are also very knowledgeable about the social history of the town.

Take the footpath that goes straight ahead towards a footbridge; cross over this, bear left and you will soon reach the Lower Barnwell Lock, with the overgrown outdoor swimming pool on your right At Lower Barnwell Lock, follow the gravelled track SW on the south side of the River Nene, with Oundle Marina across the water When you reach Mill Rd, turn right back towards town, and then shortly take a left into Barnwell Country Park and head north along the track between road and gravel pits

5

Cross South Bridge and return to Benenden St, passing the old Anchor Brewery on your right and Oakham Museum on your left.

Smiths at No. 4 4 North St, Oundle, PE8 4AL Tel: 01832 270011 Smiths is a place of light airy ambience. Tastefully converted from a former shop, the owners have avoided cramming the limited space - preferring to balance the usual groupings of tables and chairs with occasional sofas around low tables. Right on the route.

Oundle Mill Barnwell Rd, Oundle, PE8 5PB Tel: 01832 272621 www.oundlemill.co.uk The food here is exemplary. Whilst a full meal might be too much in the middle of a walk, they

Oundle Mill are happy to serve a single course at lunch, or just coffee or tea anytime of day; and if it’s sunny, there’s a beautiful spot to sit out right by the river.

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FOOD & DR INK

Absolutely English Oundle’s fourth food festival is packed with events and producers which celebrate the best of English food.

Fiona Cumberpatch shares some highlights PHOTO: PAUL BOX

Jane FearnleyWhittingstall

L

ast year’s Oundle Food Festival attracted thousands of visitors to the town on a beautiful summer’s day. This year, founder and organiser Alison Newcomb expects the event to be even more popular.

On Saturday July 20th the main road through Oundle will be closed to allow a street market of 70 stalls to display produce which includes cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, gin, honey, meat and fish, handmade chocolates, chillis, sausages, preserves and cakes.

“I’m very excited about this year’s festival, and the street market should be a very vibrant and exciting day,” says Alison. “I am looking forward to seeing everyone, and welcoming producers such as the Artisan Smokehouse from Felixstowe, Fleurfields, with their Northampton Wine and Christine Giddings from Kettering who churns her own butter. I’m also very pleased that some of our own Oundle traders, such as Normans greengrocers, will have stalls to showcase their produce,” says Alison.

With jugglers, a willow weaver and events staged by The Fringe Festival, expect a day of food, music - and fantastic flavours. Here are just some of the events taking place around the region as part of the Oundle Food Festival, but check the website for many more, www. oundlefestival.co.uk Saturday July 6th Hambleton Hall Italian Wine Tasting and Light Lunch A tasting of summer wines with sommelier Dominique Baduel, who will compare white and red wines from Italy. Tickets, £70 per person.

Tel: 01572 756991.

15th -19th July and 22nd-25th July A locally sourced lunch at The Falcon,

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Fotheringhay The ‘Aroundle’ is a special four course menu to be served at The Falcon, Fotheringhay at lunchtime and evenings. With Warmington smoked trout, Stoke Doyle beef carpaccio, Fotheringhay lamb fillet and Tansor strawberries, you can dine on the best of the area’s seasonal delicacies. Tickets, £35 each, call 01832 226254.

Monday 15th July Bread making workshop at The Small Bread Company in Barnwell Filam Smallridge’s fantastic breads and pastries are gaining an enthusiastic following in the region. If you would like to benefit from her expertise, Filam will be teaching a small group how to make the best loaf in her premises in Barnwell. Limited numbers, so book early. The cost is £35 including a light lunch. Call 01832 270938 for a place.

Wednesday 17th July Gin tasting at Amps Fine Wines A fun evening where you can taste different gins with various mixers. The evening includes an experimental cocktail making session.

Tickets £20 per person, book on 01832 273502.

Thursday 18th July Tea with Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall at The Talbot Hotel Eatery & Coffee House Don’t miss the chance to have tea with engaging author, mother and granny Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, who’ll be giving an illustrated talk about cooking, rationing and food, geared towards traditional home cooking in general. She’ll be drawing on her latest book Ministry of Food: Thrifty Wartime Ways to Feed your Family and signing copies of The Good Granny Cookbook and her other ‘Good Granny’

books. The chef from The Talbot will be cooking teatime treats from her books and serving them for you to enjoy. Tickets are £15, including tea.

Book with The Oundle Box Office on 01832 274734 or online at www.oundlefestival.org.uk There will also be a host of children’s activities at Barnwell Country Park, including a Teddy Bear’s Picnic, running through the week.

WIN: Dinner for two at Hambleton Hall!

What better way to celebrate the Oundle Food Festival than dinner at one of Britain’s best country hotels? Hambleton Hall, Rutland, is a beacon of quality, and has held a Michelin star since 1982. We are delighted to be able to offer such a prestigious prize, kindly donated by owner Mr Tim Hart, which includes coffee, water, service and the sommelier’s selection of wine.

To enter, visit www.bestlocalliving.co.uk and answer this question: Hambleton Hall has held a Michelin star since: a) 1982 b) 2002 c) 2012 Closing date for entries is July 30th and the prize should be taken by September 1st 2013.

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PE R SPE CT IVE S

Fifty glorious years PHOTOS: Dave Phillips

The Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust is celebrating half a century of saving rare local fauna and flora with an exhibition at Oundle Museum. Dave Phillips looks at their achievements

Ioan Thomas

H

ere in the Nene valley we live in a wonderful part of the world, with a wealth of nature on our doorstep that we sometimes take for granted.

Did you go to Short Wood in May to marvel at the bluebells? Perhaps you spent an evening in Glapthorn Cow Pastures, listening to the nightingales… or pushed your way through the luxuriant wild flowers in Barnack Hills and Holes?

What you may not have known, however, is that those special places – along with dozens of other equally special places – wouldn’t have been there for you to enjoy without the dedicated work of local people who made it their lives’ work to preserve them for future generations. And it is 50 years ago this month that those people got together to form the Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust.

To celebrate that achievement, the Trust has put on a special display at Oundle Museum, organised by founder member, Ioan Thomas. “I was very keen that this anniversary should not go unrecognised,” said Ioan, who was secretary of the Trust for 17 years and is now a vicepresident.

He has seen the Trust grow from a small group of like-minded individuals with little money but a burning desire to save the county’s rapidly-dwindling wildlife habitats. Today they own or lease 44 nature reserves, including the 180-acre wetland paradise in the Nene valley otherwise known as Titchmarsh Reserve.

Glapthorn Cow Pastures is smaller, at 69 acres, but every bit as significant – especially to Ioan. It was his interest in the extremely rare black hairstreak butterflies that lived there that got him involved in nature conservation in the first place.

When he heard in 1974 that the owners of this wood were selling it to grub up the trees and turn it into arable land, he and his fellow Trust members moved swiftly to purchase it, along with nearby Short Wood. In doing so, they helped save the hairstreak from extinction, as well as providing a stage for the virtuoso nightingale.

But Ioan, a retired biology teacher at Oundle School, recalls some stressful times along the way. “We had no money, but the late Franklyn Perring, who was general secretary of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, lived in Oundle and knew finance. He was able to negotiate two loans for us to buy Glapthorn Cow Pastures and Short Wood, but it meant we were mortgaged to the hilt and had to repay the loans.

“Franklyn felt responsible for our situation and organised four medieval fairs to raise money. They were in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983.

Each one raised over £5000 and helped us pay off our debts. We will forever be grateful for all the volunteers who came forward to make this possible.”

By May 1976, the Trust had 1300 members.

Twenty years later, in 1996, it merged with the neighbouring wildlife trusts in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire and today the combined trusts have 35,000 members, 125 reserves, 93 staff and an army of at least 1000 unpaid volunteers.

And it’s the latter, says Ioan, who are the heart and soul of the Trust, giving up their leisure time to join work parties and maintain the reserves to provide the perfect habitat for their flora and fauna.  NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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PE R SPE CT IVE S

Rare butterflies For example, the colonies of black hairstreak butterflies and nightingales in Glapthorn Cow Pastures are there because the wood has the dense blackthorn thickets they require. But these thickets aren’t there by accident: they’re trimmed and layered to provide exactly the right density for their fussy residents. And this couldn’t be done without a lot of toil by the volunteers.

Ironically, high finance has also helped.

The giant wetland reserve at Titchmarsh was bought outright thanks to a very generous grant by Northampton-based Barclaycard, which was keen to put something back into the community. Currently, the Trust is taking advantage of the government’s Landfill Community Fund – a tax on rubbish going into landfill sites that instead of going into Treasury coffers is open to charities to bid for to carry out local projects for local people.

The Trust qualifies for the fund, which means that for every £1 donated by members of the public, the government gives £9. In other words, your £1 donation is worth a tenner to the Trust. Donate £10 and the Trust gets £100… and so on.

It’s a vital source of funding at a time when wildlife and its habitats have never been under greater threat. There is also the huge Great Fen Project, south of Peterborough, where the old wetlands are being recreated to encourage the return of marsh harriers, bitterns and even cranes.

These are exciting times in the nature conservation movement.

As for the future, Ioan says: “Fifty years ago I was afraid that that interest in nature conservation was a trend that would vanish. Even today I suspect that a deep interest in natural history is not very widespread, but you only have to look at how bird watching has taken off to see there is a huge potential.

“It is much easier to found something than to keep it going. The key thing is to keep local volunteers interested, so they can see that what they are doing matters. As long as people do things for themselves instead of waiting for things to be done for them, there is a bright future.”

30

The exhibition celebrating 50 years of the Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust is at Oundle Museum, Mill Road, Oundle PE8 4BW. The museum is open every Saturday from 11am to 5pm and Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Tel: 01832 272741.

To learn about the Trust, its nature reserves and activities – or to join as a volunteer or member – go to www. wildlifebcn.org, or phone Keith Alvey on 01832 272666.

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20/6/13 16:54:27

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19/6/13 16:41:38

PE R SPE CT IVE S

Ancient boats help to unlock the past A fleet of eight prehistoric boats discovered in a quarry at Must Farm, Whittlesey are an enormously significant find which could throw new light on the Bronze Age. Fiona Cumberpatch reports

Photo: Cambridge Archaeological Unit

Moving the boats from the Hanson Kilns

I

t’s almost impossible to believe: the fleet of eight boats currently lying in their new home in cold storage at Flag Fen, near Peterborough, are about 3,500 years old. You can still see the grain in the inky dark wood, the pattern of knots and whorls of ancient oak and lime trees, smoothed over the centuries. One of the boats has decorative criss-crossed carving, another has lifting handles. The largest is a punt, nine metres in length which would have been used to negotiate the watery landscape of the newly formed Fens.

There was huge excitement when the boats were found in 2011 in a quarry at Must Farm, Whittlesey, the largest group of Bronze Age boats ever discovered at the same UK site. Quarry owners Hanson UK appointed a team from Cambridge Archaeological Unit to excavate a section of the lost course of the river Nene. The dig revealed some incredible artefacts including swords with wooden handles and scabbards, fish traps and cooking pots complete with contents and a wooden stirring spoon still inside. But most stunning of all were the boats. The quarry is used to extract Oxford clay which is used in the manufacture of bricks. “The brick pits offered the opportunity to go deep into the sediment,” explains Mark Knight of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, and it was here that the boats were found.

The waterlogged silt was responsible for their superb state of preservation.

“The condition was so remarkable that as we uncovered them, we almost felt that the people who made them were going to come along, tap us on the shoulder and ask us what we were doing with their archaeology!” says Mark.

Around 4000 years ago, there was a period when water levels started to rise, effectively creating the Fens. At first this drove the people living there back on to drier land, but by the middle of the Bronze Age, they seemed to be adapting to the new conditions. “It wasn’t a scratched out existence, as has previously been believed,” says archaeologist Francis Pryor who has played a major role in the discovery of Flag Fen. “In fact, we know that the Bronze Age economy was based on wool and sheep, exactly the same as it was in the Middle Ages. It was civilised, with long distance trade routes. This discovery gives us a whole new insight into the way that people lived in their landscape.

It is the latest part of the narrative.”

This punt is thought to be around 3,500 years old  NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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PE R SPE CT IVE S

A mystery to be solved However, there are still many unanswered questions posed by the discovery of the boats. The Cambridge Archaeological Unit are still awaiting the results of Carbon-14 dating tests, which will give vital information as to when exactly they were made. It may help to ascertain why the boats were abandoned in the river, and whether they were sunk deliberately as part of a ritual or funeral ceremony, or whether they were sunk to keep the timber waterlogged and prevent it from splitting when the boats were not in use. They may have been used in battle, or to transport goods for trading: at present, nobody really knows.

With so much more research to be done, it was imperative to find a way of storing the boats safely. To this end, York Archaological Trust were recruited to design and implement the construction of the country’s largest archaeological cold store, and to oversee the transfer of the log boats into the new facility.

Last month, this was achieved. “It was an incredible feat to lift the boats in their entirety and get them into the cold store,” says Ian Panter of the York Trust. “When we did so, it was a great feeling.”

The boats are now on display to the public, behind glass in a container which is chilled to between three to five degrees centigrade to stop them from drying out too quickly. They will be treated over the next two years with a specialist water soluble wax, polyethylene glycol, to stabilise the timbers. It is a technique which was used on the Mary Rose and it will be carried out daily at Flag Fen by conservation technician Emma Turvey.

“The public will be able to see the ongoing processes,” says Ian Panter. “We will be monitoring the timber all the time. Once it has been stabilised, the boats can be put into a new display, but this won’t be for three to four years.

They should then last indefinitely.”

With Peterborough’s leisure trust Vivacity selected to care for the Must Farm Archive, the future of the boats is assured, and it is good news that they are to stay in the region for the foreseeable future. “The boats’ arrival at Flag Fen represents a kind of ‘coming home’ because both the boats and the causeway discovered at Flag Fen in the 1980s and now on display to the public, represent novel kinds of conveyances in a landscape fast disappearing beneath rising waters,” explains Mark Knight.

“Both Flag Fen and Must Farm sit at the very edge of a lost world.”

• During the treatment at Flag Fen, the boats can be viewed through glass by visitors during regular guided tours and on special event days. For more information, visit www.vivacity-peterborough.com • Flag Fen Archaeology Park, open daily 10am-5pm, April to October.

The Droveway, Northey Rd, Peterborough PE6 7QJ Tel: 01733 323414

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The team behind the extraordinary Must Farm boats and their successful transfer to a new cold storage area, the building of which was funded by English Heritage

Moving the boats into the Cold Storage Facility

Photos left and below: Cambridge Archaeological Unit

The Fens: rich in archaeology

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20/6/13 14:54:03

d ays out

Coming home Sir Robert Walpole built Houghton Hall near King’s Lynn to house his fabulous collection of European art, which Catherine the Great acquired for the Hermitage in St Petersburg. Now the Old Master paintings have come home for a once-in-a-lifetime summer exhibition. Sue Dobson tells the story

The Common Parlour Used as the family dining room during Walpole’s lifetime and hung with portraits by artists including Rembrandt, Rubens, Franz Hals and Van Dyck

D

uring his long and colourful political career, Houghton Hall Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s de facto first Prime Minister, amassed the greatest collection of European art in 18th-century Britain. To house it in suitable splendour, in the 1720s he commissioned the building of Houghton Hall, a grand Palladian mansion in the Norfolk countryside near King’s Lynn, set in parkland abutting the Sandringham estate.

No expense was spared in the magnificence of the building and the décor and furnishings of its rooms, leaving Walpole deeply in debt when he died in 1745. Although his eldest son sold off properties in London to save Houghton and the paintings, due to the profligacy of Sir Robert’s grandson George, in 1779 a then unknown auctioneer James Christie was charged with the sale of the art collection. Pleas to parliament to save the masterpieces for the nation fell on deaf ears.

Alerted by her ambassador in London, the Russian Empress Catherine the Great gleefully stepped in and offered £40,550 (about £50million today) for 204 of the best paintings for her Hermitage in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, among them works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Murillo, Poussin and Van Dyck.

An outstanding exhibition In this the 250th anniversary year of Catherine’s accession to the throne, much to the amazement of many (not least the present owner of Houghton, Walpole’s descendant the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, for whom it is a dream realised) the State Hermitage Museum agreed to

loan some of the Empress’s treasured pictures for a unique exhibition, Houghton Revisited. The logistics were mind-blowing, but the result is that Houghton is home to the most outstanding exhibition a British country house has ever seen.

Thanks to inventories and the original hanging plans, recently discovered in a drawer of Walpole’s writing table in his library, most of the paintings hang in the same positions they occupied in the 1740s, with the grandest restored to the gilded frames that were actually designed for them.

Inevitably, through the vicissitudes of history, the Walpole collection has not survived intact at the Hermitage, with some paintings being lost, or sold, or moved to museums around Russia.

Rembrandt’s Portrait of an Elderly Lady, Murillo’s The Flight into Egypt and Veronese’s The Resurrection have made the journey to Houghton from the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow; one has come from Perm, Siberia; several paintings are here from the palace at Pavlosk outside St Petersburg, while Maratta’s Judgement of Paris was painstakingly removed from a ceiling in Catherine the Great’s summer palace at Pushkin.

Under Stalin’s rule, two of the most valuable paintings, Pope Innocent X

by Velazquez and Portrait of a Young Man by Franz Hals, were sold to the American collector Andrew Mellon. They come on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC to be reunited with others at Houghton Hall, where the state rooms have been restored to their exact appearance in the 1740s.  NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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d ays out

Modern sculpture features in the grounds of Houghton Hall. This is Full Moon Circle by Richard Long created in slate from Cornwall

The Marble Parlour. The striking portrait of Sir Thomas Wharton on the south wall is by Sir Anthony Van Dyck

The award-winning, five-acre walled garden consists of a series of themed ‘rooms’, including a double-sided herbaceous border.

The Carlo Maratta Room. The portrait over the fireplace is of Pope Clement IX (1669)

Priceless jewel Prince Charles describes Houghton Hall as “one of our country’s priceless jewels; a great house (in my humble opinion, one of the greatest in England)” and this summer, with over 70 of the Walpole collection masterpieces in place, for the first time in more than two centuries the house can be seen as it was originally intended.

Designed by the most fashionable and talented architects of the day and decorated by the celebrated and scholarly William Kent, the opulent state rooms lead from one to another in a breath-taking procession of ornate stucco, glorious painted and gilded ceilings, silk and velvet-covered walls, magnificent marble fireplaces, the finest tapestries, exquisite carvings and suites of elegant bespoke furniture.

Amazingly the house has changed little since Walpole’s time. It was closed up during most of the 19th century and when re-opened after the First World War it was a time capsule of 18th century grandeur. Much of the 20th century was spent carefully restoring and bringing it back to life as a family home.

Sir Robert’s library, its carved mahogany

shelves heavy with a fine collection of leatherbound books, together with the desk at which he worked and Kneller’s full-length portrait of George I over the chimneypiece, is much as he left it. His collection of antique busts and large scale bronzes, family portraits and gilded furniture are still in place. The magnificent state bed has its 17th-century needlework curtains and the floor to ceiling Mortlake tapestries that depict key members of the Stuart dynasty, based on Van Dyck portraits, line the walls of the room that was created for them.

Walpole was the first political incumbent of 10 Downing Street (a gift from George II in 1732) and 154 paintings from his collection were displayed there before moving with him to Norfolk when he fell from power in 1742. At the time it was considered that he owned the finest private collection of art in all Europe. That the core of it has survived to be admired in situ makes seeing Houghton Revisited a remarkable experience.

A great day out While the Hall’s fabulous rooms hosting the Houghton Revisited exhibition are the highlight,

At Houghton Hall, acres of grounds stretch as far as the eye can see and the wooded parkland is perfect for long walks there is much else to enjoy at Houghton, including the award-winning walled garden, contemporary sculpture, deer park, old stables and the model soldier museum with about 20,000 figures, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive model soldier collections in the world. There’s a children’s play area and the vast grounds and tree-filled country park (dogs on leads welcome) are perfect for long walks and picnics. Two cafés offer refreshment, cakes, sandwiches and salads; the gift shop is tempting, too.

Houghton Revisited: Masterpieces from the Hermitage runs until 29th September. Open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays from 11am to 6pm (last admission 5pm).

Admission to the Hall, gardens and grounds: adult £18, child (5-16) £10, family (2+2) £46, student £12.50. For advance booking (dated and timed tickets) see www.houghtonrevisited.com or tel: 01603 598640.

Houghton Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6UE. www.houghtonhall.com NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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HE ALT H

On your marks...

On July 9 Peterborough’s Ferry Meadows Country Park will play host to Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. Ronnie Haydon, a keen racer, suggests you dust off your trainers and join in

M

illions of women have Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life to thank for a huge improvement in their health and vitality. Since its inception, this pink and perky charity run has saved so many lives, in so many ways. The annual series of 5k (roughly 3 mile) races was set up primarily to raise money to help fund the research to find cures for all cancers. On a more quotidian level, taking part in the Race for Life has spurred many women into adopting more active habits, thus turning their lives around.

I know many female runners who, like myself, credit The Race for Life for their newfound athleticism and an enduring love affair with running.

‘Cancer, we’re coming to get you…’

Both my parents died of cancer. When a friend suggested to me that we take part in the 2006 Race for Life at Blackheath, south east London, it seemed like a pro-active way to remember Mum and Dad and raise money to help others. We trained a little; we ran all the way round and had a wonderful time. The party atmosphere, (right down to the goody bag at the end), and the energy and enthusiasm generated by all those chirpy women left me buzzing for the rest of that day. I know now that the euphoria was down to the endorphins. I wanted more.

Nearly three years later, I was jogging nervously to another Blackheath start line – for a rather bigger race – the London Marathon. That simple charity 5k made a serious runner of me. The joy of running has spilled over into all other facets of my life. I’m healthier and more positive. I’ve met a whole new bunch of people through my athletics club. Running has even enhanced my professional life, as I’m now a regular contributor to Women’s Running Magazine. In fact, my Race For Life this year will be as part of the Women’s Running team taking part in London’s Battersea Park run, scene of the first ever Race for Life in 1994.

That event attracted 680 runners. Today thousands of female participants race for life all over the country. The Race for Life is now the largest women-only fundraising event in the UK. In the 18 years since it started, six million people have raised more than £493million to fund research into cancer. This race means business. You only have to check out the video on the website (raceforlife. cancerresearchuk.org). The feisty ‘Cancer, we’re coming to get you’ message is designed to have you lacing up your trainers with fresh resolve.

There are no rules about how to run the race: you just do it your way.

Some women train hard and try to achieve a good time. Others take it gently, dance hand-in-hand, jog while chatting with their young children, walk with granny, push wheelchairs and buggies and wear fancy dress.

Many wear T-shirts emblazoned with the smiling face of some loved one lost to cancer. All of them wear a smile.

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‘…and getting fitter in the process’ If you’re planning to line up with all the other women on 9 July you may have taken a look at the myriad 5k training plans online. The Race for Life website has a good one. Such plans are all you need to get you round safely and without injury. Many women who once vowed they couldn’t run three miles even if their life depended on it (and for so many, it will) have found following a sensible, six-week walk/run plan allows them to pace their way round their first ever Race For Life with energy to spare.

If you already have a 30-min daily exercise habit, training for a 5k race will be a doddle. If you’ve never exercised, you need to build up daily walking sessions to reach this first goal (a 30-60-minute brisk walk daily) before embarking on training plan. For those who want to walk the Race for Life, that’s all the practice you’ll need. Fancy progressing to running all the way round the course? Just start walk/running. Incorporate 30-second bursts of running into your walks. Recover after each one by slowing to a walk again. Then gradually, over a period of six weeks or so, attempt running for one, then two minutes, building up to ten minutes or running with five minutes’ walking to recover.

Keep building on this until you can run for 30 minutes, no matter how slowly, without stopping.

Bingo! You’re a runner, and you can line up with the other runners at the Race For Life. Enjoy it!

Peterborough’s Race for Life takes place at 7.30pm on July 9.

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• ROMAN BLINDS • VENETIAN, ROLLER & VERTICAL BLINDS

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Showroom at: 30 Phorpres Close Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8FZ Email: sales@jandsinteriors.uk.com www.jandsinteriors.uk.com

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Opening times: Mon - Fri 9.30 - 5; Sat 10-4. Free parking Telephone: 01733 558864 - (Behind Dobbies Garden world)

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19/6/13 16:42:57

HOM E INT E R IOR S

Delcor celebrates its first anniversary in Stamford in style Nicholas Rudd-Jones finds out how Delcor has fared in its first year

The first thing that strikes me visiting Delcor at the end of Bath Row is not the sheer scale of the place, nor even the quality of the sofas on display, but the friendliness and knowledge of the team that works there. I was greeted by Kathleen Wilkinson and Leanne Mawer, who are based there full-time; and by Rick Petini, the overall MD of the business, who regularly works in each of his shops around the country to understand exactly what is on customers’ minds and how to meet their needs.

And that attention to the customer says a lot about the whole approach of the business.

Whilst most other furniture companies long ago switched manufacturing abroad to keep costs down, Delcor held to its belief that affordable quality was the key, and continued to manufacture in Northumberland, where it has been based since 1967. Everything is 100% British, hand-crafted, made-to-measure, solid wood and upholstered.

Keeping everything in Britain enables

42

Delcor to stay close to the market and to tailor products exactly to individual needs. It also means that when you buy a Delcor piece of furniture you know it is of the very best quality.

The first year In Kathleen’s words, the first year has been “very positive; people want quality and that’s what they find at Delcor; and we have already had many returning customers.”

“We are very positive about Stamford,” Rick told me, “It is getting more and more popular as a town and the White Company coming in recently is further proof that it is becoming a shopping destination.”

What makes the Delcor difference?

“First and last,” Rick told me, “it is about beautiful furniture and beautiful fabrics.

“We always aim to be at the leading edge of design. As well as many of the loved classics, you will find in store sofas upholstered in wool

and others in velvet – these are fashionable textiles at the moment, and we were amongst the first to stock them.

“We take a classic design, such as a Chesterfield, and add modern twists to it – an ebony leg, for example, and chrome castors.”

Rick began his career as an upholsterer, and has a strong creative streak; it is he that sets the design values of the company and, as a result, the fabric wholesalers often come to Delcor first to try out new ideas. “We always lead with the latest in fabrics.”

Buying a Delcor product Once you have decided on a style and a fabric, Delcor will make a sofa up in exactly the size you want; and it comes with a 20-year guarantee. As well as sofas, Delcor offer chairs, beds and accessories.

• Delcor, 30 Bath Row, Stamford, PE9 2QX Tel: 01780 762579 www.delcor.co.uk

NENE VALLEY LIVING JULY 2013

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Fireplace and Stove Specialist Multi-Fuel and Wood Burning Stoves Range Cookers and Flue Systems Fireplaces, Gas and Electric Fires Hand Crafted Stone Fireplaces Established family run business experienced in offering a complete package from survey through to design and installation with our fully qualified team.

Visit us at our diverse showroom where we have an extensive range of fires and fireplaces on display

We promise you the warmest of welcomes!

37 Market Street, Whittlesey, Peterborough, Cambs PE7 1BA Tel/Fax 01733 202220 Email: aspectfires@aol.com Opening Times: Mon – Fri 9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm CLOSED Thursdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays

Private Psychological Therapy Service

Johan Truter

As we are a family run business, we would kindly request that you phone our office and check that we are open before making a special journey to our showrooms - Thank you.

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 •

www.psychologistuk.co.uk For further information please contact

01780 758556

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

KEN RAWSON

GARDEN DESIGNS Do you want Cosy sitting areas.

Screening and privacy.

Colour and scent all year.

Ideas for shady, wet or dry sites.

Pruning advice. Plants identified.

then give me a call on 01780 481624 www.kenrawsongardendesigns.co.uk Easton-on-the-Hill, Stamford. Established 1986

www.aspectfires.co.uk Stockists of Charnwood, Chesney’s, Dovre, Heta, Jetmaster, Stovax, Stuv and many more...

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Elli Dean

PHOTOGRAPHY “Combining a natural and relaxed approach with attention to the smallest details, resulting in beautiful photos that capture the essence of your day as it was.”

www.rutlandphotographer.co.uk For full information about rates and packages or to see more of my work, call me on 07932 055548 or email: yael.dean@gmail.com 44

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D IA RY DAT E S

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

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 TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

Thursday 11 July Meet Rachel Joyce 1.00-2.00pm New Writer of the Year 2013 talks about her new book, Perfect. £5 (£4). Prebooking essential from Peterborough libraries or Waterstones.

Peterborough Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX. 01733 864280

What’s On Yasmin Bradley picks event highlights for July

Thursday 4 July Young Explorers at Peterborough Museum - 10.00 – 11.30 Bring your little one to look at shells, enjoy the ‘Sharing a Shell’ story and then get crafty making sea landscape pictures. £2: 2 – 5 year-olds; babies free.

Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF. 01733 864 663; museum@vivacitypeterborough.com. www.vivacitypeterborough.com/museums-andheritage/peterborough-museum/ Saturday 6 July - Saturday 14 September.

Summer Reading Challenge for 4 -11 year-olds Discover the secrets of Creepy House by borrowing and reading six books this summer.

Free. Enrol at your local Peterborough library. Chat, read recommendations and enter competitions on www.creepy-house.org.uk.

Sunday 7 July Leicester Printmakers’ Workshop 10am - 4pm Take inspiration from Helpston’s beautiful surroundings to produce your own collagraph plate. £55 (£50). Maximum 6 participants.

Advance booking essential. 0116 255 3634. Clare Cottage, Woodgate, Helpston, PE6 7ED. 01733 253330. http://www.leicesterprintworkshop. com/. Info@clarecottage.org. www.clarecottage.org/ Friday 12 – Saturday 13 July St Kyneburgha Festival Weekend 60s and 70s live music party night with Castor Ales on tap on Friday; Big Breakfast, fete, family feast and free evening musical entertainment on Saturday.

Advance party tickets: £10. 01733 380900. Castor School field/ marquee, Stocks Hill, Peterborough, PE5 7AY. www.castorfestival.co.uk. www.facebook.com/pages/CastorFestival-2013/190515130999066, Friday 12 – Sunday July The John Clare Festival Friday 1.30 pm; Saturday 9 am - 9 pm; Sunday 10.30 am A joyous celebration of Clare’s life and work: live poetry and music;

Sunday 21 July Peterborough Rugby Club Open Day - 10am Social player or future 1st XV star? Rounders, obstacle races and rugby to encourage girls and boys.

Free. Peterborough Rugby Club, Second Drove, Peterborough, PE1 5XA. 01733 569413. spotter@prufc.com. www.facebook.com/BoroBoys; www. pitchero.com/clubs/peterborough/m/team-info-46708.html open-air theatre; local artists’ displays; the official opening of the Chelsea Gold-medal winning garden and the Torpel Manor Visitor Centre.

Free except Saturday 3pm coach trip (£5); evening concert 7pm (£10). John Clare’s Cottage: £4.50 (£3.85)/£15.00 (family).

Helpston, PE6 7DX. 01400 282409; rosememailbox-johnclaresociety@ yahoo.co.uk. johnclaresociety. blogspot.com Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 July Oundle Fringe Another week of fabulous folk, bluegrass, rock, ceilidhs and comedy at venues in and around Oundle.

Mostly free.

See www.oundlefringe.org. member@piscan7.freeserve.co.uk.

Wednesday 17 July Piano 4 Hands 7.30pm Piano duo Joseph Tong and Waka Hasega, regular performers at London’s Wigmore Hall, play Stravinsky’s original piano duet version of the Rite of Spring, Mozart’s F Major Sonata and Schubert’s four handed

masterpiece, the Fantasy in F Minor.

Tickets £12, £10 and £5 for under 18s. Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle.

Oundle International Festival Box office 01832 274734 www.oundlefestival.org.uk Saturday 20 July Peterborough Opera Summer Concert 7.30 pm Popular choral and solo items by Verdi, Wagner and Britten.

Advance tickets: £10. Visitor Information Centre, 9 Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1HJ or 01733 452336. £12 on door. St. John’s Church, Church Street, Peterborough, PE1 1XE. 01832 272738. www.peterboroughopera.co.uk The Glass House Eclectic 3.00 - 7.00pm Familiar, improvised and live music with top-class DJing.

Free. Key Lounge Bar, Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207237/39. key. theatre@vivacity-peterborough.com. www.vivacity-peterborough.com/

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DIRECTORY

CAR VALETING

PROFESSIONAL MOBILE CAR VALETING PROFESSIONAL

MOBILE CAR TEL: TOM 07538 VALETING 402555 TEL: TOM 402555 WE COME TO YOU07538 7 DAYS A WEEK WE COME TO YOU 7 DAYS A WEEK

YOUR CAR VALETED TO SHOWROOM

YOUR CAR VALETED TO SHOWROOM CONDITION FROM CONDITION FROM JUSTJUST £20 £20 20 POINT CHECK LIST REPORT 20 POINT CHECK LISTALL REPORTVALETS WITH ALL VALETS WITH

RING FOR FULL DETAILS. CRB CHECKED

RING FOR FULL DETAILS. CRB CHECKED

CLEANING

Make domestic cleaning a chore of the past...

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

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy Appointments

now available in Oundle For more information, call our main clinic in Peterborough on

01733 286305

01733 565911 or visit

Daily Poppins

www.prestonsphysio.com

...we poppin so you can pop out

DECORATING

“Caring for the people of Peterborough and beyond for over 40 years”

PILATES • Interior Design • Painting and Decorating Call now for a free quotation

Abacus Tutoring Academy Whether your child is preparing for SATS, GCSEs or A-levels, we can help with preparation to increase knowledge, confidence and examination technique.

Our experienced teachers can Regular weekly help to improve confidence lessons and standards of work for KS1, KS2, KS3, GCSE, A Level children of all abilities and ages.

Primary Secondary Numeracy Maths We help children at primary school as well as Key Stage 3 Reasoning English Literacy Physics (when they are laying the Science Biology foundation for GCSE studies).

11+ Chemistry Our GCSE classes will help Secondary entrance with all types of syllabus.

A-level students appreciate Summer holiday Easter revision help with exam technique as crammer for revision for well as the purely academic GCSE and A-level side of their course.

GCSE and A-level

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2pm to 8pm Monday to Friday

9am to 1pm Saturday

2 C u l l e y C o u r t , O r t o n S o u t h g a t e . P E 2 6 WA

www.janmar-decorative-solutions.co.uk

Tel: 01733 203415 Mob: 07969 772988 info@janmar-decorative-solutions.co.uk

FRUIT PICKING

HILL FARM, CHESTERTON, PETERBOROUGH PE7 3UA (on Oundle road, 200 yards west of Alwalton A1 flyover)

open june - oct

farm shop and pick your own Strawberries. Raspberries. Gooseberries. Plums.

Black & Redcurrants. Blackberries. Tayberries.

Seasonable vegetables. Locally produced beef & lamb.

refreshments available.

Facilities for Disabled Visitors. Picnic Area.

Children's Play Area. Caravan Club C.L. Site Tue-Fri 9am - 6pm Sat/Sun 9am - 5pm closed Mondays except bank holidays Please ring for up to date crop information or to order ready picked produce

teL & faX 01733 233270

www.pick-your-own.org.uk/hill_farm.htm

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 The Hypno-Slimming Programme can help you includes 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

• NVL july.indd 47

To place an advert in next months magazine

please call Bridget on 01733 707538

20/6/13 12:29:30

Want to get to know your region better on foot or by bike?

Each of our guides features 20 spectacular routes, with step by step directions, points of interest and local pubs/cafés.

Order online at www.bestlocalliving.co.uk or send a cheque for £3.50 per booklet including postage, made payable to Local Living at PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY, enclosing the coupon (right)

Best Local Bike Rides Best Local Walks Name: ...............................................................

Address: ........................................................... .......................................................................... .......................................................................... ..........................................................................

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Order online at www.bestlocalliving.co.uk 47

• NVL july ADS.indd 47

19/6/13 16:43:38

delcor.co.uk

Summer Sale, Now on, 25%* off ‘Made to Order’ prices You want it longer, shorter, taller, wider.

You want floral for the sofa, tartan for the chairs. You want square legs, not turned.

You want your sofa put together in the lounge because you won’t get it in without taking the windows out. The answer is yes.

It’s what we mean by ‘Live bespoke’.

Sofas and chairs handmade to perfection. *

3 0 B a t h R ow, R ea r o f S t . M a r y ’ s H i l l , S t a m fo r d , L i n c o l n s h i r e PE 9 2 QX T e l : 0 1 78 0 7 6 2 5 79

• NVL july ADS.indd 48

Not to be used in conjuction with any other offer or promotion.

Live bespoke.

19/6/13 16:43:49