Stamford Living August 2015

Loving where we live!

STAMFORD LIVING www.stamfordliving.co.uk

@LocalLivingUK

Featuring: Back to School Teen Fashion Summer Picnics Kids Entertainment Stamford News Architecture North Norfolk Walk Face of Stamford Wedding Advice Local Art Travel Food & Drink Local Charities New Businesses History Events Guide Stamford People

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2387 ORC-Full Page Full Service Stamford Living Advert_ORC-Full Page Full Service Stamford Living Advert 20/02/2015 12:25 Page 1

Windows | Doors | Garden Rooms | Orangeries | Conservatories | Kitchens From the initial design consultation right through to the fitting of your windows, doors and kitchen, Orchard will ensure the quality of service you receive is second to none!

Visit one of our showrooms to see more‌ Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms

Windows, Doors & Conservatories

Showroom Opening Times

01780 481 850 orchardkitchens@live.co.uk www.orchardstamford.co.uk

01780 753 343 orchardwindows@live.co.uk www.orchardwindows.co.uk

Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm Saturday: Windows 9am - 1pm Kitchens 9am - 3pm

22-23 Scotgate, Stamford, PE9 2YQ 2

1 Meadow View, Uffington Road Stamford, PE9 2EX

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STAMFORD LIVING

August Contents www.stamfordliving.co.uk

@LocalLivingUK

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LOVE the way that days seem to stretch out in the summer, you finally get the time to do your favourite things and the sound of laughter and piano playing bursts out of window wide-open houses.

UPDATES, SHOPPING

4 Shopping: Back to School ideas 20 Updates: Leprosy Mission, One Touch Football, Bjorn Again, Loomes Everest watch 27 Face of Stamford winners 44 Updates: Shaws Coaches, Baan Sala therapy, Glow at Barnsdale Lodge

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY 8 Fashion: Teenage kicks 57 Serenity Weddings profile

Butterflies make their home in the buddleia, the lawn starts to lose its Wimbledongreenness and the swifts depart.

Have a lovely summer month, be it here in beautiful Stamford or in some far flung place.

Nicholas Rudd-Jones Publisher

Editor Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Write to Stamford Living, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY www.bestlocallivingliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager Claudia Bayley 01778 425502 claudia.bayley@btinternet.com Advertising Copy Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Senior Designer Nik Ellis nik@locallivingdesign.co.uk Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Published by Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 9FY nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Printed by Warners of Bourne

HOME, GARDEN, TRAVEL

40 Home & Garden: Auburn Hill’s Garden Room at Barnsdale Lodge

43 Travel: Business profile of More Travel

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Cover Photograph: Jackie Forrest

27 CALLING ALL THERAPISTS Would you like to join a busy & established business of over 10 years?

Would you like to receive a competitive rate of pay, commission, continued personal development and on going training with the top brands in the industry?

FOOD & DRINK

12 Food & Drink: Summer Picnics 36 Great Food Club winners!

47 Summer cakes recipe

ACTIVITIES, CULTURE, LEARNING & BUSINESS

16 Child-friendly Stamford: What’s On 17 Child-friendly Stamford: Arts Centre Activities Feature: New business start-ups Art: Trevor Tanser exhibition Fostering Cruse Bereavement Architectural Lincs: Stamford Doors Seaside Strolls: Burnham Overy Staithe to Holkham 59 What’s On

28 35 49 50 53 54

PEOPLE & PLACES

24 Ask Leo: Clubs & Societies in the 1960s 39 Stamford Observer: Greenhouses 78 Stamford People: Christopher Pye, pawnbroker

47 Well, if you’ve answered yes and are qualified to NVQ2&3 and have at least 2 years salon experience, are hard working, confident and reliable then you could be just the person we’re looking for.

If you are interested please email your CV to: samantha@equilibriumstamford.co.uk the closing date for applications is 14th August 2015

2005-2015

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SHOPPING

Back toschool

Most of us are probably still in a summer holidays state-of-mind, but this is the best time to prepare for our kids going back to school (it always happens too quickly!). Our local shops are full of essentials, as well as the less essential, but fun stuff. It’s time to go school shopping! Words & pics: Elli Dean www.ellideanphotography.co.uk

Walkers Books The Stamford Notebook Large £17.95 Small £14.95

Chez Soi Cath Kidston rucksack £28.00

Harrison & Dunn Lunch cooler £10.95 Drinks bottle £6.80

Love It Sesame Street tin £9.99

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Colemans Lamy fountain pen £17.99 Helix oxford pencil case £4.49 Retractable mini pens £3.49 20% student discount

Tinc Ultimate Back to School kit £50.00

Marcia May Ricosta girls shoes From £48.00 Geox boy shoes From £42.00

The Stamford Endowed School shop Shirt twin pack £14.00 Trousers £17.20

Stamford Music Shop Pencils and rubbers £7.99

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goodwin’s feature property

£549,995 Guide Price £549,000

STAMFORD - Victoria Road

Situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac a short walk to the town centre this lovely family home offers generous accommodation set in large mature gardens. The approach to the property is impressive with the Victorian style, bay-fronted property standing out in this little known but3delightful area ofsituated town. The Delightful bedroom residential period property in a ground offersinvery including secludedfloor position the flexible heart ofaccommodation this popular village. aApproached 24’ lounge, via separate room, study/bedroom 5, a largedining sweeping gravelled drive to the breakfast kitchen anddouble utility garage, whilst tothe theproperty first floor there front of the detached enjoys are four further bedrooms, bathroom and shower 3 reception rooms as well as 3 bathrooms and an room.

In addition, there is an integral garage and driveway extremely well fitted Kitchen/Breakfast room. parking. The property offers ample opportunity for The good sized grounds are a special feature of this extending (stpp). property with a Southerly aspect to this totally enclosed walled garden which is largely laid to lawn with mature borders and a patio to the rear.

Garden Cottage, Market Overton

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goodwin

www.goodwinpropertyservices.co.uk

Residential Sales • Lettings • Mortgages

Independant

. . . your local estate agent! 01780 750000 2-3 St John’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2DA

goodwinpropertyservices.co.uk

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Back to School shoes Expertly fitted by our qualified professionals

MARCIA MAY SHOES 41 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, PE9 2DS Tel: 01780 766608 Follow us on facebook

20% OF F

STAMFORD 1-2 St Pauls Street T: 01780 762324 OUNDLE 10 New Street T: 01832 272868

OAKHAM 46 High Street T: 01572 770883 PETERBOROUGH 12 Cowgate T: 01733 343201

Also at Bedford, Higham Ferrers, Huntingdon, Kettering, Northampton, Towcester & Wellingborough

We have a fabulous line-up of products for Students of all ages.

From essentials to designer collections. The great news is that between 13th July & 12th September we are offering all full-time Students 20% “Double Discount”!*

Live Beautifully

Design. Made in Germany.

Fountain Pen Normal Price £17.99 STUDENT 20%

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£14.39 Each, Inc. VAT

In 1930 Josef Lamy, a sales representative for The Parker Pen Co in Germany, set up his own writing instrument business.

The LAMY brand, established in 1952, has become synonymous with quality & innovation. The ergonomically designed Safari cartridge pen has become a student “must-have”!

unt o c s i D 20% Double

* Offer excludes some nett priced special offer items & printer cartridges

AT

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showroom@elizabethstanhope.co.uk www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk 27 Mill Street Oakham Rutland LE15 6EA 01572 722 345

STUDENT

VALUE 7

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FASHION

TEENAGE KICKS

Styled by Sally Stillingfleet and Connie Gibson

S

AM, owner of Marcia May Shoes, asked me how do you get to model in Stamford Living Magazine? To which I replied I am always looking! The idea of showcasing suitable clothes and shoes for the transition from children’s clothing into young adult was born with Sam’s very photogenic neighbour’s daughter Connie. Connie, a student at Stamford’s Welland Academy, has always wanted to model and loves her clothes but thought local shops were out of her price range. She soon discovered this was not the case, with a trip to source some outfits with some edgier brands and something for her age.

“I like to wear fashionable clothes such as shorts and crop tops when it is the summer as they are my favorite go to outfits. I usually wear jeans and a leather jacket when it is not so warm. I like to keep up with the latest trends but it is also important to feel comfortable at the same time.

“I find it hard to find decent clothing that I actually like as I don’t always fit into women’s clothing and the kidswear is too young and doesn’t have a range of different things. Not many shops have a teenage selection, especially in Stamford but I think it should.

Walking round with Sally has opened my eyes to what is available in my price range.

I have visited shops that cater for all ages and I love the retro inspired sportier brands from 23/7. Now I can mix and match with my basics and I have discovered there are things for me locally.”

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MINK PINK BLACK AND CREAM TWOPIECE SHORT SET £ 25 TOP, £30 FOR THE SHORTS. WORN WITH GOLD SEQUIN ESPADRILLES £18 ALL ENERGY

WHITE FRED PERRY TEE SHIRT £40 23/7, WORN WITH BLACK SKINNY JEANS. BLACK PATENT DR. MARTENS LACE-UPS SHOES £70 MARCIA MAY SHOES

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BLUE HAWAII PRINT TEE SHIRT £20 23/7, WORN WITH PALE BLUE SKINNY JEANS ENERGY. STRIPED TIMBERLAND DECK SHOES £80 MARCIA MAY SHOES

BACK AND WHITE STRIPED MINK PINK DRESS £35 ENERGY WORN WITH ADIDAS FLORAL ‘SUPERSTAR’ TRAINERS £67

PAINT IT RED PINK STRAPLESS TOP £24, WORN WITH NAVY TUTU £40 BOTH ENERGY. NAVY GLITTER HUMMEL HIGH TOPS £42 MARCIA MAY SHOES

Energy – 9 Ironmonger St. Tel: 01780 765633 23/7 – 3 Stamford Walk. Tel: 01780 238008 Marcia May Shoes – 41 St. Mary’s St. Tel: 01780 766608 Maples – 24 St. Mary’s Street.

Tel. 01780 752725

CORAL STRETCH SUN DRESS NOW £30 WORN WITH ADIDAS AS BEFORE.

Many thanks to Karen at Maples for doing such a lovely job of Connie’s make-up using Clarins. Karen explained the benefits of starting a skincare regime in the early years and maintaining her lovely brows with a simple eyebrow wax.

Pictures by Elli Dean (07932 055548) www.ellideanphotography.co.uk STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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FABULOUS NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Tel: 01780 654321 Email: sales@classic1992.co.uk www.classic1992.co.uk 12 St Leonard’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN 10

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Country Traditionals Traditionals Country Country Traditionals Country Traditionals

Oven/Aga/Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer proof Visitour ourshop shop Visit CURTAINS | BLINDS | SHUTTERS | AWNINGS WALLPAPER | BESPOKE POLES & TRACKS FREE DESIGN & CONSULTATION SERVICE

16 North Street, Stamford, PE9 1EH

01780 481416 www.jlball.co.uk

Visit our shop VisitLane, our our shop shop Maiden Lane, Stamford Maiden Stamford Maiden Lane, Stamford opp tourist info & artscentre centre opp tourist info & arts Maiden Lane, Maiden Lane, Stamford opp tourist info &Stamford arts centre opp tourist info & arts centre opp tourist--info arts centre Open Mon Sat&10am 10am 5pm Open Mon ---5pm Open Mon -Sat Sat 10am 5pm Open Mon -- Sat 10am 5pm Open Mon Sat755 10am -- 5pm Tel: 01780 755 409 Tel: 01780 409 Tel: 01780 755 409 Tel: 755 409 409 Tel: 01780 01780 755 www.countrytraditionals.co.uk www.countrytraditionals.co.uk

www.countrytraditionals.co.uk www.countrytraditionals.co.uk www.countrytraditionals.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

The Great British P

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS

The summer holidays are a perfect excuse to while away a few hours indulging in a picnic. Whether you are watching a play at Tolethorpe, listening to great bands at Burghley, heading down to the beach at Rutland Water, taking your teddy bears out for the day or having a Family get together, a picnic could be just the answer.

By Deborah Pennell

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HE Brits love a picnic. Eaten in the great outdoors, in the best or worst of the weather but normally with some sort of entertainment to keep the interest. People go crazy. Whole dining rooms are moved to the middle of fields! Tables, chairs, candelabra, the best silver and don’t forget a full bar. Burghley Horse Trials has for some years had a Tailgate Picnic Competition in the reserved parking area on Cross country day and it is a complete spectacle. Needless to say, it is so popular that these tickets sell out almost immediately.

But, how many of us take the same old sandwich, favourite packet of crisps, bruised piece of fruit and dry cake? These days, a picnic can be a gourmet experience, just like heading to a good local restaurant. We have ways of defying the weather - gazebos, vast umbrellas and as a last resort, the car! There is no excuse for a soggy sandwich or a questionable quiche – Stamford and the surrounding areas have excellent Delis, shops, bakeries and caterers that can provide wonderful home cooked offerings and, of course, we have our very own market in Broad Street on a Friday. So forget the supermarkets and fill up your baskets locally.

Be brave and try new things – roast chicken salad sandwiches with curled up edges, stinky

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Rain or shine. We’re all going on a picnic…

The Picnic Lovers’ Directory Caterers offering a bespoke hamper service.

Call them and they will either provide a hamper with food of your choice or stuff your own hamper full of their delicious offerings so you can pretend you did it all yourself!

The Stamford Deli 01780 755772 Fine Foods 01780 754222 Jeeves Catering 01778 349512 The Olive Branch 01780 410355 Otters Smokehouse & Deli 01572 756481

Those important little extras: The Stamford Cheese Cellar 01780 489269 Chazwinkles Preserves 01832 280338 or Facebook Hambleton Bakery 01780 754327 Askers Bakers 01780 481933 Pudding & Pie 07841 996130 or Facebook Need help choosing your Wines and accompanying drinks?

Adnams 01780 753127 Belvoir Fruit Farms 01476 870114 Belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk – stocked in many local shops

For all your Picnicware needs.

Hampers, melamine plates and bowls, plastic glasses, cutlery, paper napkins etc Harrison & Dunn 01780 762088 Lambs 01780 763250 Sinclairs 01780 765421 Steamer Trading Cook Shop 01780 756793 - check out their smokeless grill

h Picnic egg, and tuna mayo are so passé. Stuff your sarnies with Vietnamese chicken and Asian slaw, prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella and fig jam, smoked trout, Cos lettuce, roasted beetroot and horseradish mayo.

For a fantastic selection of breads try Hambleton Bakery, Askers Bakery or the Market. There are tortillas, bagels, sour doughs, focaccia, savoury scones, panini and rye.

Artisan cheeses from the Stamford Cheese Cellar. Add Chazwinkle’s preserves, produced in Oundle. Grab sumptuous cold, raised pies, hams, haslet and scotch eggs from Nelsons or Grasmere and other wonderful offerings to fill your hampers from The Stamford Deli, Fine Foods and Otters Smokehouse. Have a go at making your own hummus – incredibly simple but so different to the shop bought ‘wallpaper paste’ and a great sharing food too. Follow the recipe and wow your friends with a beetroot version of our well-known tapas dish.

For pudding, buy or make gooey chocolate brownie or blondie (white chocolate brownie), individual citrus or summer fruit tarts, jellies or large scented meringues with lashings of thick cream and topped with wonderful local berries.

The Delis have a great selection of pudding ideas and local business, Pudding & Pie, has lots of scrumptious looking treats on their Facebook page.

Beetroot Hum

And finally, something to drink?

Pimms is always a good picnic accompaniment and we now have three types to choose from – the latest, strawberry flavour, is dangerously drinkable! Belvoir Fruit Farms produce a wonderful array of cordials, which can be added to Champagne and Prosecco, or alternatively just spritzed with some fizzy mineral water. Add lime wedges, slithers of cucumber and borage flowers to pretty up your glasses.

Happy days!

mus • 400g canned chickpeas, drai ned and rinsed • 250g cooked beetroot • 1/2 tsp salt • juice of half a lemon • 1 clove of garli c • 2tblsp tahini (find it in Silver Lane foods) • 2 tsp ground cumin • 100ml extra vi rgin olive oil • 2tblsp cream ed horseradish • flat leaf pars ley Place all the in gredients, exce pt for the horser adish in a food processor and process until roughly mixed – it’s good to ha ve some texture left.

Spoon into a se rving dish and then swirl thro ugh the cream ed horseradish an d drizzle with a little extra oliv e oil and some chopped flat le af parsley STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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Health & Beauty Therapy Experience the lasting benefits from proven professional therapeutic treatments All aspects of beauty therapy including: • IPL hair removal • Thread vein elimination • Electrolysis • Hi-tech facial treatments • Microdermabrasion • Cosmeceuticals

Award Winning Salon

2 MALLORY LANE, STAMFORD TEL. 01780 763768 www.renaissancebeauty.co.uk

Treat yourself to a Baan Sala Thai Therapy Massage • Traditional Thai Yoga Massage

• Back/Neck & Shoulder Massage

• Thai Deep Tissue Oil Massage

• Head & Shoulder Massage

• Aromatherapy Oil Massage

• Foot Massage/Reflexology • Hot Stone Massage

Tel: 07772 373411

spoil yourself you deserve it...

Tel: 01780 752725 www.maplesofstamford.co.uk 24 St. Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 2DJ.

Open Tue – Sat 9am-7pm (Sun-Mon by appointment only)

12 London Road | Wansford | PE8 6JB 14

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Is it time to re-discover your hearing?

Missing the odd word during the conversation?

Having to turn the TV up?

If these situations sound familiar you may benefit from a free hearing assessment.

Healthy Hearing are your local hearing experts. With many years of experience we are dedicated to providing a comprehensive hearing healthcare service and finding the best solutions for your needs.

Call us for: • Free expert hearing advice • Free lifestyle hearing assessments • Free trials of the latest digital hearing aid technology • Home visits available

Call us today for your FREE hearing assessment

01780 759133 Stamford Hearing Centre, No 1 The Old Police House, Cliff Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1AB

With our help your hearing can only get better.

Skin Analysis Event Set to Get Under the Skin of Women in Stamford Have you ever wondered how you might look in a few years time without some serious intervention now?

C

oming to Snowdens Foot Clinic & Beauty Spa, Scotgate in Stamford in September for ONE DAY ONLY – a skin analyst from anti-aging skincare brand ENVIRON is hosting a special event and will be on hand to provide a FREE 30 minute consultation.

POSITION AVAILABLE We have a vacancy for a self-employed senior stylist in our lovely, newly refurbished town centre salon.

Call Sharon on 01780 757070 or Email sharon@mojohairandbeauty.co.uk 1A Ironmongers St. Stamford, PE9 2PL T: 01780 757070

Using powerful Visia imaging technology to reveal all that’s good and bad about your skin and to capture information and assess common problem areas such as sun damage, brown pigmentation blemishes, capillary damage, wrinkles, scars or imperfections and congested pores. The machine’s camera provides a series of images, which reveal the extent of each problem and attributes a ‘score’. The advisor will recommend products for use at home, salon treatments as well as dietary and lifestyle advice, which are aimed at giving you clearer, more radiant, even toned, smoother and less lined skin. She will identify goals for treatment and offer solutions to overcome niggling complexion concerns and take years off your appearance. Clients then return after 3 months, when improvements are graded by comparing a new set of visual with the originals.

“There are too many empty promises in the beauty world,” says clinic owner Susan Lester. “By using this sophisticated system we can now prove to our clients that using active skincare products and following our advice makes a measurable and visible difference.

We can even artificially age your skin to show how you could look in 5 years without proper skincare”.

• For more information about the Environ’s Skin Analysis Event, call Snowdens Beauty Spa on 01780 762244. Spaces are limited.

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ACTIVITIES

Child Friendly S Antonia Scott finds out what activities are going on locally to keep your little ones happy SACREWELL FARM: PET EXPERIENCE DAY

Sunday 16th August: 9.30am – 5pm As part of Sacrewell’s Pet Experience Day, visitors are welcome to bring their favourite pet rabbits, rodents and Guinea pigs into the farm to be ‘judged’ as well as a photo competition for cats and dogs. Judging will take place at 2pm. If you enter your pet into the show you’ll get free admission into Sacrewell for the day.

Come and get up close and personal with some new furry friends - meet Chimbunny Stud, Hillside Birds of Prey, Furry Petz, Deeping Reptiles and Prehistoric Pets and the South Lincs Herpetology Society.

To enter your pet into one of the categories, download the entry form on the website and enter before 12th August.

For more information: www.sacrewell.org.uk

BEASTLY BORING BURGHLEY TOURS

Aimed primarily at 6 to 11 year olds, you are guided around by costumed guides and find out all the grizzly gruesome and horrible history associated with Burghley and the people who have lived there. Admission is £8 per person (adult or child) and your ticket will then give you access to the House and Gardens for the rest of the day. Each child will receive a free Beastly Boring Burghley Guidebook at the end of their tour. Tours are at 10am every day from Sat 1st August – Sat 29th August (excluding Fridays and Sundays)

YOUTH TALENT THEATRE WELCOMES SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

From September, the popular pre-school Diddy Drama classes currently held every Friday from 9.45am – 10.30am in the Theatre Lounge at Stamford’s Corn Exchange Theatre are being extended to include school aged children. Run by qualified Drama teacher, Nathalie Rose, she is excited to open the doors to older students from 16th September: Fresh: for 4-7 year olds, Wednesday 4pm – 4.45pm Preen: for 8-12 year olds, Wednesday 5pm – 7pm Teen: for 13+, Thursday 4.30pm – 6.30pm £7/Workshop – payments are made per half term.

For more info: Tel: 07795 311777. Email: Talentyouththeatre@gmail.com Facebook. com/talentyouth

FIT CLUB FOR PARENTS - ALL CHILDREN WELCOME! Husband and wife team, Aaron and Tara Day currently run weekly outdoor Fit Clubs at

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Borderville Sports Centre, Fit Camps with weights and a Boxing Circuits class both at Rhino’s Gym in Stamford, as well as a free beginners Run Club - all aimed at people of any age or ability who are looking to shape up and improve their fitness. High on their agenda is to make fitness non intimidating and inclusive for everyone with the emphasis on fun and encouraging clients to make progress at their own pace.

Starting on Thursday 23rd July and continuing throughout the school summer holidays, there is a new opportunity to get out into the fresh air and exercise - aimed at parents who have their children with them over the summer holidays and want to continue exercising: • Meet every Thursday at 10am - The Green at the top of Arran Road, Stamford • An hour with a professional Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach for just £5/session • Parents are welcome to bring their children along (babies in buggies, toddlers or older children) • Under 12s are free of charge (remain the responsibility of their parent/carer) • 13-16 year olds receive a concessionary rate of £2.50/session • No equipment or experience is necessary just bring a drink and a towel.

There is no commitment to sign up for the whole holiday period - just book the week prior to the class.

For more information: Tara Day 07749473586 or Aaron Day 07539266120 or ‘message’ them on Facebook

THE LANDROVER BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS: THURSDAY 3RD – SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2015 Burghley Park is to be partially closed to all pedestrians and unauthorised vehicles in the weeks leading up to September’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, in a move designed to ensure public safety during the site build and breakdown periods for this world renowned

event. Access to Burghley House via the main house entrance gates on Barnack Road and access to the lower park via Station Gate entrance during the period will be unaffected.

The restricted area, which will be clearly signposted at key points, will come into force on Monday 3rd August, through to Thursday 3rd September, when the event officially starts. The measures will then be reapplied from Monday 7th September to Friday 18th September (inclusive) for the breakdown period.

RUGBY WORLD CUP MASCOTS!

The main sponsor, Land Rover has produced a bespoke Defender which is carrying the Rugby World Cup Trophy on its 100 day tour of the UK– stopping off at Burghley Horse Trials from Friday 4th September. Joining it will be a selection of RWC 2003 winners, including Jason Robinson and equestrian, Laura Tomlinson. The Defender will take a tour of Stamford on Friday, before parking up on the main lawn for visitors to have photos taken with the Cup. Land Rover is also responsible for recruiting all 96 mascots for RWC from children aged between 7 and 13 years. There are two final spots to give away at Burghley, so local children can audition at the Land Rover area on Friday, Saturday or Sunday to be in with a chance of winning. Prizes also include tickets to RWC. Children have to either sing the national anthem, give a piece of advice to the captain or say how they would welcome a visiting team to England!

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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Stamford STAMFORD ARTS CENTRE Antonia Scott drops into The Stamford Arts Centre and discovers a wide range of activities, workshops, film and theatre to keep the whole family entertained this summer War of Words: Tuesday 11th August at 10am and Wednesday 12th August at 10am.

A two day wordplay workshop with Stamford Poet, Darren Rawnsley. Have fun with words in this exciting writing and performance workshop for the summer holidays. Perform your creations on the Wednesday afternoon at 3pm for friends and family. £30 for two days. Perfect for 8 - 14 year olds.

Beatrix Potter Crafts and Stories: Thursday 13th August at 10am, 1pm.

Who is your favourite character? Peter Rabbit, Jeremy Fisher, Mrs Tiggywinkle or Jemima Puddle Duck? Whoever it is, bring all the wonderful Potter characters to life with these creative sessions - incorporating stories and crafts with Liz Paige. Feel free to wear your favourite animal costume! £10 per session. Perfect for 5-9 year olds.

Paint A Pot With Tooty: Monday 17th August at 10.30 am, 2pm / Mon, 24 August at 10.30 am, 2pm Choose from a range of items – moneyboxes, ceramic animals, egg cups, wall plaques, coasters, mugs, plates, bowls (one per child) and get creative with paint in the Gallery!

Purchase your ticket and drop in anytime throughout the session and paint for as long as you like. Additional items of pottery will also be available to paint on the day. Suitable for children aged 5 years and above. £7 per child, Limited places.

Theatre In A Week!

Monday 17th August – Thursday 20th August from 10am – 5pm and Friday 21st August from 11am – 7pm This week long opportunity for 8 – 16 year olds will include drama and dance sessions aimed at developing performance skills, leading towards a short performance for family and friends at the end of the week. Through games and improvisation, participants will learn to express themselves and enhance their imagination, coordination and confidence. Participants who play an instrument and would be interested in developing a little original music please let us know and bring it along on the first day!

Kei Bailey and Gil Burns have been working together since 2003, leading a variety

of workshops and projects, and directing and choreographing many professional, youth and community productions.

Superheroes Drama Sessions: Tuesday 25th August at 10am / Wednesday 26th August at 10am Have you dreamed of being Superman, Wonder Woman, the Hulk or Batgirl? Well now to can save the Arts Centre from the evil nemesis and create your very own special power in this fun two day drama and improvisation session. Please bring a packed lunch and drinks.

Performance for parents and friends 3pm on Wednesday. £35 for two days, Max 30 places.

For more information: Tel: 01780 763203 www.stamfordartscentre.com STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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SRI LANKA 13 September | 7 nights Centara Ceysands Resort All Inclusive From ÂŁ962pp

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UPDATES

Mamma Mia Here We Go Again!!!

Bjorn Again was created in 1988, in Melbourne Australia by Rod Stephen.

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he show’s popularity took the group Australia-wide and then overseas to international acclaim.

Here in Britain Bjorn Again has appeared at major rock festivals, including Glastonbury, and to such prestigious venues as The Royal Albert Hall, the BBC’s summer Proms, and Kew Gardens, they even performed a special function for Vladimir Putin!

Their appearance will be truly spectacular, as they perform all of Abba’s greatest hits, from Mamma Mia, to Waterloo, Thank you for the Music, and of course Dancing Queen.

The whole evening will finish off with a spectacular firework display over the stunning backdrop of Rutland Water. Where ever Bjorn Again have appeared they have impressed and delighted audiences over the world.

This will be the ultimate pop party of the summer; don’t miss Bjorn Again, when they will be joined by their special guests, Eurovision song Competition winners Brotherhood of Man • Buy tickets from http://livepromotionsconcerts.co.uk/rutland-water/4589281031

The Leprosy Mission S

upporters of the Peterborough-based charity The Leprosy Mission gathered barefoot in the city’s Cathedral Square for the launch of a pioneering campaign.

The international development charity launched its Feet First campaign on 1 June. The campaign has won UK Aid Match funding which means every pound raised between 1 June and 31 August 2015 will be doubled by the UK government.

Adventurer and TV personality Bear Grylls and former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams are supporting the initiative.

One way people can get involved is to take up The Barefoot Challenge - to go about your daily business barefoot for one day. So whether it is going shopping, to work or walking the dog, do it all barefoot to stand in solidarity with leprosy-affected people in Mozambique. Participants are invited to post photos and film of their barefoot day online using the hashtag #feetfirst, and ask friends to donate by texting FEET06 £10 to 70070. To donate to Feet First or sign up to The Barefoot Challenge, ring 01733 370505 or visit feetfirst.org.uk

The Priest’s House, Easton on the Hill T

he 15th century Priest’s House – one of the National Trust’s smallest properties - will be manned each Sunday afternoon in August from 2.00 to 4.30pm. As well as housing a museum of local artefacts there are permanent exhibitions on the mining and production of Collyweston slates and on the ironstone industry that flourished in the village from 1875 to 1918. This summer there is also a small temporary exhibition of photographs of old cars by artist/photographer Julie Alan from Ketton. Entrance is free. All are welcome.

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Holiday Football Courses O

ne Touch Football are going to be running football fun/ development days as well as a specialist goalkeeper training day in the school holidays. The sessions will be for boys & girls from ages 4 to 14 years, from beginners to more experienced players. The days will be based on learning new skills in a fun and relaxed environment.

Head Coach, Glenn Vaughan is a coach & scout for Peterborough Utd Football Club, who will attend to develop all individuals.

All for Age range 4-14 Oakham: Catmose Sports Centre 21/22/23 July & 20/21 Aug Stamford: Malcolm Sargent School, Empingham Rd 28/29/30 July Stamford: Empingham Rd Playing Fields, Empingham Rd 18/19/20 Aug How To Book Go to www.onetouchfootball.co.uk/course_ booking.html, and you can book and pay online.

Courses run from 10.00 till 3.00 ~ cost £12 per day. Find out more at www.onetouchfootball. co.uk/ftballhols

Everest Tale T

his spring the G200 Everest team agreed to climb Everest wearing British made watches, raising money for Nepal.

The project was aimed at jointly raising funds for both the Gurkha Welfare Trust and the Mountain Trust, a Cambridge based micro-charity specialising in education and healthcare in the Himalayas.

Watchmakers Loomes & Co of Stamford hand -built the watches using entirely British made components, mindful that Edmund Hillary conquered Everest in 1953 wearing a British watch.

Whilst the prospect of getting at least one serving Gurkha to the summit remains on hold, Loomes & Co decided to raffle one of the Everest watches. Partners Robert Loomes and Robina Hill presented the watch to GWT patron Joanna Lumley, hosted by QOLGR in the Tower of London.

In a few short weeks after the earthquake, Loomes & Co raised £6,350. The cheque was handed over at Stamford Town Hall, hosted by Mayor Sue Sandall.

Captain Dick Gale, climbing leader, said “the watches worked perfectly”, even when the team were snowbound in temperatures down to minus forty degrees. A testament to British watchmaking.

• One of the watches remains on display at Stamford Town Hall, and one at the British Horological Institute.

It is the only 21st century display in their watch museum.

Mayor Sue Sandall, Gurkha Major Tol on behalf of the GWT, Robina Hill (MD of Loomes & Co), Charles MalcolmBrown (chair, Mountain Trust), Robert Loomes and Melanie Brown (PR, Mountain Trust).

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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HALF PRICE SUMMER SALE

NOW ON

Kingsize for the price of a double bed 5ft Sleepeezee Backcare 2000.

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WAS £1399.95 NOW £699.95

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FREE home demonstration.

WAS £999.95 NOW £499.95

Kingsize for the price of a double bed 5ft Silentnight pillowtop divan set FREE 4 drawers.

WAS 1299.95 NOW £599.95

FREE DELIVERY

DISPOSAL OF YOUR OLD BED

West Street, Stamford, PE9 2PS (just along from Waitrose) 4’ 6’’ Black Traditional Bedstead Free mattress.

Also available in white.

WAS £399.95 NOW £199.95

4’6’’ Memory Foam Divan Set Free drawers.

Limited stock.

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Limited stocks.

WAS £599.95 NOW £299.95

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LOCAL HISTORY

Stamford Clubs & Societies As an introduction to Stamford Living’s Clubs and Societies page, Jean Orpin and Sue Lee take a look at those of fifty years ago Fifty Years Ago Fifty years ago Stamford residents were very well provided for with societies, clubs and associations for all manner of interests and activities. In ‘Dolbys’ Stamford Almanac and Directory’ the details covered nearly 30 pages grouped under a number of headings.

There were Trade, Political, Nursing and Religious Associations; Social and Cultural Societies; Youth Groups, Sports Clubs and Military Organisations.

Many trades had their own Associations including butchers, grocers, licensed victuallers and the Fur and Feather Society. The Stamford Chamber of Trade ‘for the advancement of the trade of the town’ included the Plate Glass Society providing insurance for members.

Conservative and Labour Parties each had several organisations including their women’s and youth groups. The Stamford Co-operative Party, Rate Payers and Allotment Holders all had their own societies.

National organisations were well represented with branches of Trade Unions, the United Nations and the British Legion. There were four Lodges of Freemasons, a Rotary and an Inner Wheel Club, the Odd Fellows and TOC H. Several groups were only open to men but far more – like the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Townswomen’s Club, Ladies Circle and the WVS - were specifically for women!

Social and Cultural Clubs and Associations formed the largest section with 34 entries. Sir Malcolm Sargent was President of the Stamford Choral and Orchestral Society and there were a number of other musical and dramatic societies and clubs. If you had eclectic interests you could attend Stamford Shoe-String Theatre on Monday, Choral Society on Tuesday and Chess Club on Wednesday and perhaps fit in alternate weeks at the Camera Club and Cine Club. Once a month on Thursday you could go to Horticultural Society then once a month on Friday to the Radio Society not missing out a regular visit to Stamford Philatelic Society.

Surprisingly perhaps there was no History Society listed but there was an Archaeological Society and the Men of the Stones had already been in existence for fifteen years. The new Civic Society had just been formed to ‘stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history, character and cultural life of Stamford’.

As well as Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and the Y.M.C.A there was an Air Training Corps Squadron and a Pioneer Campers Fellowship for the youth of the town. The latter provided schoolboys with ‘the best of holidays, as well as bringing them in touch with Christian things’.

There was also an overall Stamford and District Youth Association to share knowledge and experience and co-ordinate the work of youth organisations.

Twenty-six sports clubs were listed in Dolby’s under ‘Athletics and Games’ including four for football and three for bowling. There were also two boat clubs, two tennis clubs, two badminton clubs, two cricket clubs and a rugby club. Indoor games were represented by three darts leagues, a push penny league and a cribbage league with nineteen teams.

Venues across the town provided meeting places for these clubs and societies with Public Houses being used by many. The George and the Crown also hosted societies with the Assembly Rooms the Exchange Hall and the Darby and Joan Hall providing larger halls for meetings.

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Stamford Horticultural Society This is one of the societies listed fifty years ago - it is now in its 54th year. The Society still meets regularly on a Thursday once a month with a wide variety of speakers and social events. If you like any aspect of gardens or gardening, you would find it interesting. There is usually a ‘celebrity’ speaker once a year and this year award-winning gardening author Ursula Buchan will give a talk entitled “Did we really Dig for Victory” on Sept 3rd.

Anyone – member or not - is welcome to enter the Society’s Shows and there is one coming up on Saturday August 15th. There are classes for flowers, fruit, vegetables, floral arrangement and cookery and a junior section for under 16yrs.

Free schedules are available in several places in town or from the Show Secretary (see below) and the Show will be open to view between 2pm & 4pm on the day.

Meetings: 7.30pm 1st Thursday of the month at Christ Church, Green Lane (Visitors welcome for small charge) Shows: United Reformed Church Hall, Broad St Contacts: for more details 01780 757416; Show Secretary 01780 755906 Annual membership: £10

How many of these Clubs and Societies still exist?

There are certainly a good number and maybe there are new ones? If you would like your society to have an entry on this, page contact the Editor at nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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Creating beautiful bespoke kitchens Mark Goodacre creates individually handcrafted kitchens for people who appreciate a higher standard of design and finish in their homes

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Stamford Cupcake Company • Cupcakes and Celebration Cakes for all occasions • Children’s Birthday Parties • Children’s Cookery School during school holidays • Adult Decorating Classes George Farm, London Road, Stamford, PE9 3JP Telephone: 01780 489364 or 07825 153003

www.stamfordcupcakecompany.co.uk find us on Facebook

Fancy Dress Costumes & Accessories to hire and buy • Balloons & Partyware • Fabric, Haberdashery & Dress Making Supplies • Hassle Free Children’s Parties • Themed Venue Decor for all Occasions

9 North Street, Stamford, PE9 1EL 01780 754829 www.sukiespartyemporium.co.uk

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COMPETITION RESULTS

‘Face of Stamford’ 2015 Results…

The Face of Stamford competition is about bringing local business together to run a fun, lighthearted competition in the community. Lyndsay Ford, owner of ShutterBox Photography, photographed 116 children in her studio on North Street and raised £150 for Local charity ‘Anna’s Hope’.

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HE entry photos were put on view in Stamford Arts Centre where the public could vote for the child that they wanted to be titled ‘The Face of Stamford 2015’. Amazingly, over 1000 votes were placed over a 1 week period.

The top 5 children with the most votes in each category were then presented to the prize givers who had the final overall vote.

10 local businesses have generously donated prizes so that the winning children can enjoy some great treats throughout the year…..

Sacrewell Farm Winner: Family annual membership worth £150 Runners up: 16x20 canvas.

Stamford Arts Centre Winner: Pantomime tickets for a family of 4.

Runners up: Vouchers for 2 Cinema ticket.

The Yard Winner: 10 entries into soft play Runners up: 1 free play and cupcake.

Sukies Party Emporium Winner: 1 hour princess/character party Runners up: £20 voucher for Balloons.

Paint a Pot with Toot‘y Winner: Family workshop to paint a range of pottery, value of £25 Runners up: Family workshop to paint a range of pottery, value of £15 Flowers by Mandy Winner: A Bouquet for winners mum.

Runners up: Plant for child’s mum.

Belle Vintage Winner: 2 tutu’s & hair garland/boys outfit & bowtie.

Runners up: tutu/bowtie Stamford Cupcake Co Winner: Cake on Birthday & Cupcake upon winning.

Runners up: Cupcake upon winning.

Sweet Shoppe Dream Winner: £20 extra large filled sweet jar Runners up: Sweet filled smoothie cup ShutterBox Photography Winner: 20” x 16” hand framed photo.

Runners up: Family day pass.

We are pleased to announce that 2 year old Millie-Rose Edwards from the ‘1-3 year old’ age category is the overall winner and is this years ‘Face of Stamford’.

The children with the most votes in the other age categories are runners up and also win a great selection of prizes. These are…

The Runner-up with the most votes in ‘0-12month’ category: “Bryony Skinner” who is 4 months old.

The Runnerup with the most votes in ‘7-11 year old’ category: “Lukey Harriss” who is age 9.

The Runner-up with the most votes in ‘4-7 year old’ category: James Clifford who is age 5.

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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STAMFORD NEW BUSINESS START-UPS

Be passionate, love what you do, calculate all options, give it your all!

Nicholas Rudd-Jones chats with the 20+ entrepreneurs who have taken the plunge and set up on their own in or around Stamford in the last year, to find out about the ups and downs of striking out on your own

Bernie & The Beanpole Nature of Business: Children’s Accessories - Cool Kit for Kids Owner: Emma Thorp, Emily Shaw & Suzy Smart Contact details: hello@bernieandthebeanpole.com www.bernieandthebeanpole.com Tel: 01780 740436 Month started: Launching September 1st 2015!

The Beauty Manor Nature of Business: Health & Beauty Owner: Julie Ulph Contact details: 3 Red Lion Sq, Stamford, PE9 2AQ Tel: 0844 999 3365 www.thebeautymanor.co.uk Month started: May 2015 What makes you different: We have a whole range of products from the best companies in the world allowing our clients a greater choice & to use products that truly suit them.

Best moment: Seeing the salon complete & hearing all the wonderful comments. One person said it’s like a London salon!

Biggest challenge: Finding the right staff - people who are passionate & really can deliver exceptional service - we have certainly achieved that with Emma & Natalie & our clients believe so too.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Thoroughly understand where your niche in the market is. You have to be thorough & focussed on your goals.

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What makes you different: We have designed a range of cool kids’ accessories that are bold, fun and practical. Our first range includes gorgeous knitted accessories for stylish kids. We offer a high quality, uniquely designed product without the designer price.

Best moment: The day we received our first set of samples.

Seeing our ideas become a reality was so exciting!

Biggest challenge: Finding a manufacturer that was willing to take on a small start-up business, understood our brand and could deliver a high quality product.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Don’t give up! We hit many obstacles before finally getting a product that we are proud of and excited to bring to the market.

Better Salon Supplies Nature of Business: Hair & Beauty Supplies Owner: Adrian Tarrant Contact details: Newgate Gallery, Elm Street, Stamford. PE9 1QF Tel: 01780 763983 Month started: August 2015 What makes you different: We are the only hair and beauty wholesale supplier to the trade

within 15 miles of Stamford. We supply professional colours brands L’Oreal, Wella and Schwarzkopf including bleaches, perms, and styling products.

Best moment: When a customer says ‘we have needed this in Stamford for years’.

Biggest challenge: Convincing salons that I am just as convenient, and in some cases more economical than some of the very large, internet based companies.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Research the industry and area you are looking to support, and remember it doesn’t all happen overnight!

and highly skilled team enable us to make a difference to our clients, meeting their individual financial needs as life and business evolves.

Best moment: The surprise when clients come into the office for the first time and see the freshness of the environment, beyond what they would normally expect.

Biggest challenge: Finding ideal premises to operate from that met our needs along with the mobile reception being challenging!

Advice to anyone else starting a business: It is paramount to have sound advisors in place, to monitor the progress of your business to your personal and financial objectives.

Charles & Dean Bulley Davey Nature of Business: Accountants and tax advisors Owners: Rachael Dudley and 6 others Contact details: bdstamford@ bulleydavey.co.uk 2 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DW Tel: 01780 769303 Month started: April 2015 in Stamford What makes you different: A fresh approach to the financial needs of businesses and individuals. Our breadth of services

Nature of Business: Vehicle & Asset Finance Owners: Tom Perkins & Simon Grace Contact details: Willoughby House, 2 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PB Tel: 01780 763836 http://charlesanddean.com/ Month started: Expanded into new premises July 2014 What makes you different: Youthful, hungry, committed to working harder on a client’s behalf – recently funded a ‘drone’ in 3 days for example!

Best moment: Getting the first

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bathroom furniture that has all the exposed edges of the tiles bull nosed; we do this as standard, this gives the whole bathroom a much softer and unique look & feel.

Best moment: Getting the keys to the building, to open our first showroom.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Make sure you endeavour to exceed your client’s expectations every time you undertake a new project. Be prepared for delays and ensure you do not accept second best to save time.

funder on board; demonstrating to them what we could do, and our track record in other businesses Biggest challenge: 1) Youthfulness! Sometimes people are looking for more ‘grey-haired’ reassurance. 2) Educating people to look around more for asset financing – it can make a big difference!

Advice to anyone else starting a business: It’s always helpful to have a mentor; most business problems have already been encountered in one shape or another before.

Crystal Mindset Coaching Nature of Business: Life Coaching, NLP, Hypnosis.

Owner: Tom Khoury Contact details: Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE, tom@crystalmindsetcoaching.com Tel: 07427 372773 Month started: July 2015 What makes you different: My energy and enthusiasm for helping people succeed. Specifically tailoring my services to each client with a primary objective in achieving their desired outcome.

I have been trained by the best in the world, one of whom is my personal mentor allowing me to give clients phenomenal positive life changing transformations.

Best moment: Using my Crystal Mindset Coaching Techniques to help my mum overcome a long smoking addiction of 20+ cigarettes a day. The transformation to re-claim her health was fantastic and increasing her life expectancy means I get to spend longer with her.

Biggest challenge: Shutting down my other businesses to only focus on my true passion Crystal Mindset Coaching.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Be passionate, love what you do, calculate all options, give it your all.

Gagliardi Nature of Business: Menswear Owner: Richard & Gayle Wailes Contact details: 34 St Mary’s St, Stamford, PE9 2DS. Tel: 0785 017 8028 Month started: May 2015 What makes you different: Our unique shop fit & Italian inspired range. We want customers to enjoy the total experience.

Best moment: Opening day when everything finally came together.

Then secondly when it became clear that people liked it!

Biggest challenge: So many chaps work out these days with broad shoulders & small waists. We carry as many mix & match suit options with a quality/ fast alteration service for this reason.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: It very much helps if you have a position of trust with your suppliers & of course good terms.

Dictate your terms on stock intake & don’t give it away too early in a sale.

Nature of Business: Italian restaurant Contact details: 2-3 Cheyne Lane, Stamford, PE9 2AX Tel: 01780 480048 Month started: June 2015

Tel: 07841 596214 Month started: Anticipated late summer 2015 What makes you different: We are passionate mums with young children of nursery age and know exactly what parents want and need. Our unique setting is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of Stamford life. A real home from home environment, decorated in a gorgeous vintage style with furniture we have upcycled ourselves.

Best moment: Receiving such great feedback from prospective parents on our gorgeous setting Biggest challenge: We are both perfectionists of the highest possible level!

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Stay focused and just follow your passion

Early Trip Advisor comments are very positive.

Natural Stone Bathrooms Ltd

Il Vicola

Little Lane Nursery Nature of Business: Boutique children’s nursery school specialising in day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old Owners: Victoria Banfield and Emma Altham Contact details: Silver Lane, Stamford, PE9 2BT, www.littlelanenursery.com Email: info@littlelanenursery.com

Nature of Business: Bespoke Natural Stone Bathrooms Owners: Jason Willis & Eddie Bowles Contact details: 8 All Saints’ St, Stamford, PE9 2PA Tel: 01780 757164 Month started: August 2015 What makes you different: We are the only company in the UK that manufactures totally bespoke

Nest Estates Nature of Business: Estate Agent Owners: Jayne Knights & Matthew Payton Contact details: 1 North Street, Stamford, PE9 2YN Tel: 01780 238110 Month started in Stamford: November 2014 What makes you different: At Nest we strive to offer the best level of customer service. We appreciate that the process of buying and selling can be very stressful and we address this by having a professional team who really care about each customer at every step of the sales process.

Best moment: One of the best would certainly be when a customer told us she would recommend us to everyone she knew because “we were very different from other estate agents and had helped her sell and purchase another property with ease”.

Biggest challenge: Finding people to work with us who are as passionate about providing excellent customer service and who are willing to go the extra mile when necessary.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Build a strong brand and establish how you can stand out in a busy market place. Don’t underestimate the extra hours you will need to put in to grow your business.

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Autumn/Winter 2015

- DISTINCTLY MEDITERRANEAN -

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“DRINKING GOOD WINE WITH GOOD FRIENDS IS ONE OF LIFE’S MOST CIVILISED PLEASURES” Come and enjoy a fine bottle of wine with friends, in the best summer garden in town.

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STAMFORD NEW BUSINESS START-UPS Neal’s Yard Remedies

salon up and running and ready on time while my husband and I were both working.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Be prepared and allow longer than you think to get going!

Nature of Business: Ethical, organic health and beauty Owner: Peter Kindserley Contact details: 56 High St, Stamford, PE9 2AW Month started: Dec 2014 in Stamford (business founded in 1981) What makes you different: We are proud of our shop being “alive”, it is where all senses come to life; you can smell our amazing products, try our natural teas or superfoods and feel the goodness of natural wellbeing.

Best moment: Every time a returning customer comes back to give us feedback on how great they feel following the treatment or purchase of natural health/ beauty product in our store.

No. 3 The Yard Nature of Business: Restaurant Owner: Simon McEnery & Tim Luff Contact details: Ironmonger Street, Stamford, PE9 1PL Tel: 01780 756080 Month started: October 2014 What makes you different: We are an independent restaurant offering a modern British inspired menu with quirky influences of the Mediterranean. We believe in serving excellent food but in a relaxed atmosphere.

Best moment: Every single service that we are full – it reassures us that our vision of what a restaurant should be is indeed valued by diners.

Biggest challenge: Accepting that despite years of experience in restaurants, we don’t know everything – it’s ok to ask for the opinions of others.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Yes of course know your market, have confidence in your offering, keep improving, but ultimately understand, as they say at one of the finest hotels in the world: “The customer is God”!

Time For You (Stamford)

Oliver Lee Salon Nature of Business: Hairdressing & Beauty Owner: Oliver Lee Contact details: 11 St John’s St, Stamford, PE9 2DB Tel: 01780 754828 Month started: Jan 2015 What makes you different: A slice of luxury in Stamford; the time we give each client; no rushing appointments.

Best moment: Getting a great team together – finding the right people.

Biggest challenge: “Finding decent coffee for the coffee machine; we have finally settled on an organic Brazilian roast.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Get someone in who can organise your life for you!

Poze Lingerie Nature of Business: Lingerie Boutique Owner: Zoe Phillips Contact details: 2 Star Lane, Stamford, PE9 1PH Tel: 01780 753886 Month started: October 2014 What makes you different: We have created a very relaxed and friendly environment, offering “Affordable Luxury”. Knowing and understanding just how important

Nature of Business: Domestic cleaning company Owner: Jo Morgan-Walters Contact details: Tel 01780 671 071 Mob 07434 952933 stamford-oundle@timeforyou.co.uk Month started: April 2015 (started in Cambridge in 2003) lingerie is in creating an outfit and making us feel confident and glamorous.

Best moment: The amount of smiles we get when ladies are comfortable and in the correct fitting bra - priceless! When a lady came back to tell me that her daughter thought she had lost weight, when she was wearing her new bra!

Biggest challenge: Appreciating how much time and effort is required in marketing the business via social media.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Enjoy it! Stay true to your core values, but be open to all new possibilities especially from different business areas; there is always something new to learn.

Stamford Scissorhounds

What makes you different: Our clients benefit from our thorough checking service, which includes interviewing all prospective cleaners in their own homes.

Best moment: Being called by the Time for You Franchisor to offer me the Stamford area - which is fantastic because I run my business from a garden office on the outskirts of Stamford!

Biggest challenge: A new area is always a challenge because you’re starting your business from scratch. So to start with we’re on the lookout for excellent cleaners to join our Stamford team.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Be realistic. Slow and steady is best. Be prepared to have as many spokes on your marketing wheel as possible.

Nature of Business: Dog Grooming Owner: Lisa Hutton Contact details: 9 Highlands Way, Stamford, PE9 2XJ E-mail: lisa@ stamfordscissorhounds.co.uk Tel: 01780 756211 or 07787 523803 Month started: May 2015

Upp Property Agents

Best moment: Having one of my first client’s say it was the best her dog had ever looked.

Biggest challenge: Getting the

What makes you different: Upp is the first property agent in Stamford and Rutland to offer a unique three tiered approach that cuts out the old-fashioned fee structure that many agents still work with, giving the benefits of an ‘online’ price and local knowledge.

Best moment: Selling our first property, which had previously been a let.

Biggest challenge: Making people aware that we have been in the business for over a decade, originally trading under the Moores Letting name.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Make sure you make your business scaleable i.e. capable of future growth without undue stress.

Nature of Business: Property Agents Owner: David Crooke Contact details: 12 St John’s Street, Stamford Tel: 01780 484554 (also, branch in Oakham) Month started: Launched property sales in Feb 2015

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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STAMFORD NEW BUSINESS START-UPS Van Astor Gallery

Biggest challenge: Constantly trying to better our wine list, this means we change the list around once every 10 days. We are always trying to improve our wines to provide the best value for money.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Never take anything for granted, always try to improve!

Nature of Business: Art Gallery Owner: Mary-Ann Astor & Maddie Van Aitch Contact details: 1 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, PE9 2DE Tel: 0783 532 4800. Open by appointment.

Month started: June 2015 (gallery) What makes you different: Our art photographs represent ‘greatness’, inspirational stories of success and triumph over adversity. Also, our gallery is not the traditional white cube. Instead we have a Chanel No.5 colour scheme of black, white & gold, the air is scented and the sound system plays smooth jazz.

Best moment: Applying the final piece of gold leaf to the wall!

Biggest challenge: People finding us. The gallery is above Fine & Country Estate Agents, so there is no shop frontage, just a discreet black door.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Do it! But be prepared for the wait. No person or business is an overnight success; so remember to keep some cash aside to cover you until the business takes flight.

Wish Nature of Business: Independent Jewellery & Accessories Boutique Owner: Linda Peppercorn Contact details: 1 Horseshoe Lane, Red Lion Sq, Stamford, PE9 2HE Tel: 01780 238160 Month started: March 2015

Biggest challenge: Getting people through the door, not just peering through the window!

Advice to anyone else starting a business: The reality is never quite the same as what you had envisaged…but the key is to adapt and always keep working at it!

Wicked Witch Nature of Business: Restaurant & pub Owners: Dameon Clarke and Victoria Lynn Contact details: Bridge St, Ryhall, PE9 4HH Tel: 01780 763649 wickedwitch@reborn.com Month started: November 2014 What makes you different: Offering high quality cuisine at affordable prices Best moment: Re-opening the Wicked Witch as a partnership together and being welcomed back by all customers of old and new.

Biggest challenge: Preparing the premises top to bottom for reopening due to it being closed for three months!

Advice to anyone else starting a business: Be prepared to work hard, like 7 days a week hard! And look after your staff and they will look after you, as you are only as good as your people.

hard we can make ours the best bar around.

Best moment: Nothing beats the buzz of a busy night and seeing our customers smile. We love getting to know everyone and hope to continue making true friends as we progress.

What makes you different: We have devoted Wish to providing the perfect environment for women of all ages to experiment with fashion accessories, scarves and jewellery, completing your search for a personal style.

Best moment: There is nothing more inspiring than to see the faces of our customers light up when they find their perfect piece of jewellery or the handbag they have been dreaming of for years.

Biggest challenge: Getting new customers through the door is a massive challenge so we are endlessly changing our displays to entice people in.

Advice to anyone else starting a business: To make a success of running your own business be positive, never give up and above all listen to and assess the needs of your customers.

The Wine Bar Walker & Pinscher Nature of Business: Gifts & Interiors Owner: James Walker Contact details: 4 Cheyne Lane, PE9 2AX Tel: 01780 754842 Month started: May 2015 What makes you different: We have a little bit of everything – so you should always find something you love.

Best moment: When I finished my first window display – getting it just right!

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Nature of Business: Wine Bar Owners: Alex Way and Stephen Miskell Contact details: 10 St Paul’s Street, Stamford PE9 2BE. 01780 757844 www.stamfordwinebar.co.uk Month started: November 2014 What makes you different: Being two local boys we really care about our customers and focus on interacting with them to ensure they have the best experience possible.

We are always striving to improve and believe if we continue to work

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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A PICTURE TRIBUTE

Trevor Tanser

Painter, sailor, dowser

T

REVOR was largely a self-taught artist. He discovered his creative potential as a star pupil of the woodwork class at school and went on to become an apprentice joiner and cabinet maker.

His early working life was in civil engineering and construction and for a while in commerce. With a natural talent for draughtsmanship he became increasingly drawn to the arts. He acquired skills as an artist through working in the landscape and attending short courses in watercolour, oil and pastel painting.

He took over a shop in Chapel Street in Peterborough (later demolished for Queensgate). From Studio 3 he sold his paintings and offered an interior design service.

He gradually became a full time artist and tutor. He taught at Peterborough Technical College, where he set up a sculpture school and taught at the Adult Education College. He later took classes for Nene Valley and Catmose education establishments. He became a tutor for Galleon Painting Holidays which led him to teach all over the UK and abroad. In 1968 he was a founder member of the Peterborough Arts Workshop whose aim was to foster the arts in Peterborough.

Trevor met his second wife, artist Catherine Headley, when they were both tutoring for Galleon. In 1987 they moved from Peterborough to a 17th century cottage in Barrowden in Rutland. During the nineties he and his wife arranged their own painting holidays and took groups of amateur artists to Venice and Spain.

In the process of excavating for the building of a studio in the cottage garden Trevor found many fascinating objects long discarded by past generations: pieces of old clay pipes, fragments of pottery, bone and coins. He incorporated these finds in a series of assemblages, which combined exquisite craftsmanship with reference to the practise of the shaman.

In 2005 Trevor realised an ambition when he had two paintings accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. In 2006 he and his wife Catherine Headley made RA history by becoming the first married couple to each have two paintings hung in this prestigious show.

Trevor was a practising dowser with a particular interest in earth energies. He regularly checked the energies in the cottage and garden and would change detrimental energies to beneficial using his pendulum and prayers of intent. He had a great belief in the ancient mysteries of the unseen world and this spiritual life is evident in much of his abstract painting.

Generally of a quiet and contemplative nature Trevor nevertheless loved speed, whether in a sailing boat on Rutland Water or in his sports car and in the latter he would play rock music very loudly.

Trevor’s work has been exhibited in galleries in Cambridgeshire, Rutland, London, Cornwall and Norfolk and his work is part of many private collections, including Burghley House.

He was a great teacher with an ability to empathise with the needs of students.

In the words of one of his students:“I will always treasure knowing Trevor, both as a man and talented teacher and artist. I shall miss his kindness, inspiration, encouragement and lovely sense of humour but above all, his ability to instil in me the love of painting and everything to do with art.”

This exhibition shows the broad range of Trevor’s output in terms of mediums and of subject matter, which includes landscapes, flowers, boats, assemblages and abstracts inspired by visits to Cornwall, Ireland and Scotland.

• Exhibition Details: Stamford Arts Centre, 17-31 August STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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22/07/2015 17:11

BRINGING LOCAL FOOD TO LIFE

Great Food Club Awards 2 Revealed: champions of the Great Food Club Awards 2015…

W

E can finally name the winners in the Great Food Club 2015 Awards for Local Independents in the Heart of England. Three businesses take our People’s Choice Awards for the highest number of public votes cast in each category (Producer, Pub/Restaurant and Shop).

Choosing that trio was the easy bit! Deciding the other winners was the hard part – especially considering each business on the shortlist – which was compiled according to 1,750 public votes – was there for very good reasons.

Since the shortlist was revealed in May, Great Food Club’s eight-strong team of regional correspondents and I have been out judging the contenders. After much thought, here are our final decisions, complete with judges’ comments for each winner. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone shortlisted.

And remember – the point of Great Food Club and our inaugural awards is to celebrate and promote our local food and drink independents – our villages, towns and cities would be much poorer places without them, so please support them!

People’s Choice Award Winners These businesses received the highest number of public votes across the Midlands in each category.

Producer category Chazwinkle’s, Elton, Cambridgeshire: Chazwinkle’s makes a really well-thought-out and creative array of preserves that will enhance virtually any meal, each made with high quality British ingredients.

Pub/restaurant category The Mad Turk, Stamford, Lincolnshire: A familyrun restaurant that has won many fans because of its friendly approach and exceptional, authentic Turkish food.

Shop category Harker’s Farm Shop, Clipston on the Wolds, Notts: A combination of farm producing highquality, high-welfare meat, and shop that’s well-run, friendly and welcoming. Harker’s Farm Shop reestablishes the link between farm and fork, which has been eroded by our supermarket culture.

Regional Winners Leicestershire & Rutland region Producer category

WINNER Hambleton Bakery, Exton, Rutland: Superb, highquality bread and cakes served by well-informed, helpful staff.

Stars in your region No doubt lots of Living readers have heard of or visited several winners in the Great Food Club Awards 2015. In Stamford, The Mad Turk showed just how many fans it has by grabbing our People’s Choice Award in the Pub/Restaurant Category for receiving the most public votes of any restaurant in the Midlands. And The Stamford Deli grabbed the Best Lincolnshire Shop gong for doing what it does so well. The Olive Branch in Clipsham took the Leics/ Rutland Pub/Restaurant Award for being “effortlessly classy”, according to our judge, and Hambleton Bakery scooped yet another title for its exceptional breads and cakes.

Slightly further afield, Chazwinkle’s of Elton pocketed the People’s Choice Award in the Producer Category for its stunning range of preserves, and Brewster’s Brewery of Grantham was named Best Lincs Producer for its fantastic array of beers – try them out in the Jolly Brewer, Stamford or Three Crowns, Oakham.

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Shortlisted The Garage Bakehouse, Market Harborough, Leics Nice Pie, Old Dalby, Leics

Pub/restaurant category

WINNER The Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland: Effortly classy. Quality-driven, exciting but unpretentious food, great wine and beer selection, relaxed service – hard to imagine a better food pub.

Shortlisted Red Lion Inn, Stathern, Leics The Smokehouse, Leicester

Shop category

WINNER Thrussington’s Village Stores, Thrussington, Leics: Very welcoming shop, well-stocked and well-used by locals and visitors. An intelligent mix of staple items and high quality speciality goods – including a fine cheese selection – along with tea-room menu makes this a fantastic reinvention of the village store.

Shortlisted Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Market Harborough, Leics The Garage Bakehouse, Market Harborough, Leics

Lincolnshire region Producer category

WINNER Brewster’s Brewery, Grantham: Brewsters has really throught about its products and goes out of its way to produce exciting beers that fit into several different market niches.

Shortlisted Doddington Farm Shop (Doddington Kitchen Garden), Doddington Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, Gainsborough

Pub/restaurant category

WINNER The Jew’s House, Lincoln: Eating in one of the oldest buildings in Britain is an experience not to be missed; the menu is beautifully crafted and delivered with great service – an all-round great eating-out experience Shortlisted Doddington Hall Restaurant & Café, Doddington The Mad Turk, Stamford

Shop category

WINNER Stamford Deli, Stamford: Beautifully stocked deli with plenty of home-cooked delights to tempt you – a simple concept done extremely well with lots of interesting foods to try.

Shortlisted Doddington Hall Farm Shop, Doddington Grasmere Farm Shop, Market Deeping

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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s 2015: The Winners!

Nottinghamshire region Producer category

Northamptonshire region Producer category

WINNER Warner Edwards Distillery, Harrington: Warner Edwards not only offers fabulous products but also oozes passion, knowledge and an understanding of its brand. Tom Warner and Sion Edwards are a great pair and have a strong team behind them, constantly encouraging them to create and be different. Their rhubarb gin is truly scrumptious.

Now offering four varieties of gin, they are able to compete with the big boys.

Shortlisted Brown’s Gourmet Sausages, Wollaston King’s Cliffe Brewery, King’s Cliffe

Pub/restaurant category

WINNER The Swan, Braybrooke: A beautiful family pub offering not only great service but also a delicious range of food to suit any tummy rumble. A lovely pub tastefully decorated with lots of space and pretty gardens. We really enjoyed our meal here and the Prosecco was exceptional too.

Shortlisted The Wheatsheaf, Dallington The White Horse, Old

Shop category

WINNER Beckworth Emporium, Mears Ashby: Not only a beautiful garden centre and deli store, but now Beckworth Emporium is also championing Northamptonshire producers by showcasing them within their store. Beckworth stands by great customer service and offers a range of delicious food as well as their famous afternoon teas.

Shortlisted Ashley Farm Shop, Ashley Waterloo Cottage Farm, Great Oxendon

About the writer Matt Wright founded and runs Greatfoodmag.co.uk and Greatfoodclub.co.uk, two Leicestershire-based websites that celebrate and promote local food and drink. His Great Food Club Handbook 2013/14 is out now.

WINNER Maxeys Farm Shop, Kirklington: A fantastic grower of potatoes, asparagus, pumpkins, cabbages, broad beans, cauliflowers, broccoli, beetroot, Romanesque and more. Also a producer of wonderful baked and butchery items, all sold within a pleasant, well-run farm shop.

Shortlisted Harkers Farm Shop, Clipston on the Wolds Sauce Shop, Nottingham

Pub/restaurant category

JOINT WINNERS The Clock House, Upton, and Hart’s, Nottingham: We couldn’t choose between the polish of a Nottingham stalwart and charm of The Clock House and we feel they are equally deserving of the award. The Clock House is in a quaint location and dining here makes you feel special. The crab and pickled fennel starter was a highlight. Hart’s provides a true fine dining experience but isn’t afraid to bring innovation to its menu – a very strong all-round experience.

Shortlisted The Harley Café, Welbeck

Shop category

WINNER Welbeck Farm Shop, Welbeck: A unique and luxurious food and drink shopping experience, with meat, cheese, beer, bread, chocolates, pastries and coffee all produced on the Welbeck estate. The presence of an in-store patissier and chocolatier – Boutique Aromatique – provides extra appeal.

The shopping environment has been beautifully created and curated.

Shortlisted Gonalston Farm Shop, Gonalston Harkers Farm Shop, Clipston on the Wolds

Derbyshire region Producer category

WINNER Lindsay’s Still Room, Turnditch: Innovative products, fresh ideas, continually introducing and tweaking new lines and responding to customers views and maintaining high standards.

Shortlisted Amber Valley Wines, Heage Croots Farm Shop, Duffield

Pub/restaurant category

exceptional, high quality food, friendly and helpful staff – a well deserved winner.

Shortlisted The Samuel Fox, Bradwell The Shires Eatery at Croots Farm Shop, Duffield

Shop category

WINNER Hackwood Farm Shop, Radbourne: Well stocked with local produce, friendly staff and an excellent range of goods at reasonable prices.

Shortlisted Bluebells Dairy Farm Shop, Derby Croots Farm Shop, Duffield

West Midlands region Producer category

WINNER Talton Mill Farm Shop, Newbold on Stour: A warm, welcoming farm shop, packed with locally produced items, including its own meat, veg and freshly baked pies, quiches and cakes. The friendly staff are knowledgeable about their stock, making a visit a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Shortlisted Loaf Bakery, Stirchley, Birmingham Purity Brewery, Great Alne

Pub/restaurant category

WINNER PureCraft Bar & Kitchen, Birmingham: From arrival until departure, the service was attentive, helpful, knowledgable and warm, with an all-round relaxing atmosphere. The food was of excellent quality, with a diverse menu offering something for everyone. The whole idea of PureCraft oozes creativity, from the suggestions of beers paired with the food, to the restaurant decor, tasting room and ‘beer theatre’.

Shortlisted Duncombe Arms, Ellastone On The Rocks at Quigley’s, Rugby

Shop category

WINNER Loaf Bakery, Stirchley: Located in a busy Birmingham suburb and surrounded by chains, Loaf offers something very different and really sets an example for every run-down high street in the country.

Shortlisted Talton Mill Farm Shop, Newbold on Stour Jim Gough Greengrocers, Wolverhampton

WINNER Calabria, Chesterfield: A local gem with

Join Matt’s food club – Great Food Club – free of charge and discover the very best local food and drink.

Members can enjoy special offers at around 100 handpicked independent pubs, restaurants, producers and farm shops www.greatfooodclub.co.uk/join STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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22/07/2015 17:15

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STAMFORD QUIRKS

“What’s in Stamford’s Greenhouses?”

Words and Photography by Loo Loo Rose

T

HE greenhouse; a concept originally invented in the Roman times in order to increase heat and sunlight on plants, thus achieving delicious crops all year round, no matter what the weather. Indeed, traditional greenhouses have continued to spring up all over Britain even to this day. There was a time when having a ready built greenhouse on your property was a huge bonus, however nowadays it seems they are being forgotten at the bottom of the garden and are looked upon as rather a nuisance. So why do we entertain these bizarre, ugly and quite frankly distracting framed structures if not to grow our plants in? Nowadays what are people using them for? Extra storage? A garden gnome shelter? Or even an office? With the price of houses continuously rising, outdoor work spaces and converted sheds are becoming more and more popular. I decided to take a peek over the fences of Stamford and find out if anyone is actually still using them to grow plants in these days.

STEP INTO MY OFFICE “I love my rustic overgrown glass office! When we first moved in my husband wanted to knock it down as he couldn’t see the benefit or beauty of the old, slumped greenhouse. One day after I was struggling to find any peace and quiet in my loud family home, I came outside to get on with my work. On a whim I took an old chair and sat inside the greenhouse. It was hours later that I realised I had created my own private little world, surrounded by all natural light and looking out into nature. From then on, I found myself back in the greenhouse daily and eventually bringing more and more office bits in with me. However, it never feels quite like an office even when I am working.

The downside is that I don’t get to use my outside space during the Winter as it becomes dark by the time I get home, plus I would freeze. However during the Summer I love to go in there and put my feet up and read. I find it truly relaxing. It’s a space to call my own.”

THE INCONVENIENCE “That old thing outside was not the reason we bought this house, let me tell you! The previous owners left lots of old pots full of dead, dried out plants in them. After we finished the tedious job of cleaning it out, we were quite put off by the idea of using it. It has stood out there empty and ignored ever since. We don’t get much sun around there so it does not really serve the purpose of a greenhouse, as all the plants just die. I see it as more of an inconvenience really but we are selling up so perhaps the next owners will get more use out of it than we have, although it has certainly seen better days so perhaps it is past saving. I suppose it could make a sort of storage shed, however you wouldn’t dare put anything worth stealing in there as it’s made of glass...”

GNOME HOME “Gnomes have a particularly bad reputation for coming alive at night and being generally mischievous. The big gnome sits outside and keeps watch. He’s called Fred. He keeps the little ones in check. I have had a couple of occasions where I was convinced that they had been moved from where I had previously put them, so yes, I would rather believe it was the gnomes moving themselves rather than me becoming senile!

“Actually they are rather hideous things!

It started off with my daughter going away to Germany and coming back with one as a souvenir. I displayed it in the garden and from then on everyone assumed I liked gnomes and kept buying me them as gifts. Now I am all alone I keep them tucked away in the greenhouse. I have heard of the trend of stealing people’s gnomes for a prank. I wish someone would come and take mine...”

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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HOME & GARDEN

The new Garden Room at Barnsdale Lodge Auburn Hill has recently installed a brilliant new Garden Room at Barnsdale Lodge

L

AST year the team at Barnsdale Lodge identified the need for some extra sitting-out space in their lounge area, so that those not wanting to eat could have a quieter area to themselves; and to generally increase the space available.

There was an area in the courtyard between reception and the conservatory that was less used, but technically challenging as any new structure had to abut onto the old wall, a Collyweston slate roof and the existing

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conservatory. Auburn Hill were commissioned to do the work and, in addition to this challenging technical brief, needed to do it so as to cause the minimum disruption to on-going customer service.

The result is splendid, a modern day take on a traditional hardwood Orangery, bright and very relaxing at the same time. Interior space is maximised by underfloor heating.

Ed Burrows, Managing Director of Barnsdale Lodge, was delighted with Auburn Hill’s

workmanship: “One of the key elements for us is we are a very busy hotel and can’t afford downtime. It was paramount that we found a company not only local but one that could work with us with the least amount of disruption.

“Auburn Hill delivered 100% on that, so much so that a number of our guests didn’t even know it was being built until it was unveiled!”

• Auburn Hill, 63 High St, Ketton, Stamford PE9 3TE 01780 400500 www.ahorangeries.co.uk

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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All of our orangeries & conservatories are available in a range of styles, materials and colours to compliment your home, whether it be traditional or contemporary.

Orangeries & Conservatories by

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Ketton Design House, 63 High Street, Ketton, Rutland, PE9 3TE Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm, Weekends by appointment only

Auburn Hill 01780 400500 www.ahorangeries.co.uk

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TRAVEL

MoreTravel

From L to R: Helen Giddings, Lucy Holmes, Helen Dooley, Richard Dooley

Since opening its doors five years ago, this independent travel agency has arranged hundreds of holidays for Stamford residents. Alysia Anderson met owners Helen and Richard Dooley to find out what’s so special about More Travel

E

NTERING More Travel’s premises at the top of St George’s Street, I was struck by the stylish leather sofas, huge wall map of the world and artfully arranged pile of old-fashioned suitcases. You can tell instantly that owner Helen Dooley likes to add that extra touch; a knack that translates into arranging the finer details of her clients’ holidays. Helen founded the business in 2010 with husband Richard and opened a second branch in Uppingham earlier this year, while also finding time for four children aged between five and 18! It was originally named More Than Travel, but they have tweaked the company name to facilitate their Google ranking.

Helen has a history of more than two decades in the travel industry, more latterly at board level position with one of the UK’s largest retailers, so she has an interesting overview of how the way we buy holidays has changed over the last 20 years. “When I first started in travel, no one booked online, everything was written on a piece of paper or typed if you were lucky! You bought your £100 holiday from the same place as your £1,000 holiday by queuing in a dreary travel agency. As technology has progressed, the lower end of the market has become completely dominated by cheap online agencies, which is fine if you want a package holiday or something very straightforward.

However, there are three very distinct groups of holidaymakers that aren’t prepared to take the online gamble. Honeymooners, who need their once-in-a-lifetime trip to be super special; affluent families who have no desire to be

shoe-horned into a package holiday; and ‘empty nesters’ who are enjoying their new-found freedom exploring the world. More Travel was set up to cater to those groups of clients and everything we do revolves around their very specific needs.”

Business got off to a flying start immediately and has continued to fly, mainly thanks to referrals from satisfied clients as well as tour operators and tourist boards. More Travel sells a mix of long and short-haul holidays through a wide variety of tour operators, hoteliers and airlines, and holds Kuoni Partnership status.

Richard adds, “All our holidays are 100 per cent financially protected, which believe it or not is very rare when buying a holiday. Most websites and many travel agencies have ifs and buts and small print that you never think to read. We decided to do things differently: everything is protected.”

Working alongside Richard and Helen are experienced travel agents Lucy Holmes and Helen Giddings. “Lucy used to be a holiday rep before becoming a travel agent and has lived and worked in Europe, so she has lots of really valuable local knowledge.” Lucy was also accredited as an ‘Aussie Expert’ last year by the Australian Tourist Commission, having travelled widely Down Under. Colleague Helen Giddings has 20 years in the travel business under her belt, all served at travel agencies in the Stamford area. Well-known locally, she is both a familiar friendly face and fount of knowledge for clients. “Helen will nip to the shops for a pint of milk and come back with a new enquiry,” says

Richard, “That’s how well-known she is as the local travel agent!”

The team goes the extra mile to ensure each client’s holiday goes as smoothly as possible: for example, ringing a hotel the week before departure to ensure any special requests, such as interconnecting family rooms, have definitely been arranged. The Dooleys also invest continuously in their team’s travel expertise.

In May and June alone the team visited Miami, Turks and Caicos Islands, Thailand and Sri Lanka, with more trips planned later in the year.

Helen says, “Even on our family holidays we spend a couple of days scouting. For example, I’ll visit several hotels when we go to Mauritius next Easter. I also try to get to our regular destinations such as Dubai and Barbados every couple of years, as nothing compares to firsthand knowledge.”

I wondered where they enjoy travelling themselves. For Helen, it’s South Africa. “The diversity is amazing and the quality of property superb.” For Richard, it’s all about discovery. “I love new cultures and seeing new walks of life.

I’m just as happy under the stars in the Sahara as I am in a swanky hotel.” Helen adds: “For us travel is about little luxuries, the finishing touches. I like the very best and expect nothing less than amazing service from my team and the airlines and hoteliers we work with.”

• More Travel (www.more-travel.co.uk) 23 St George’s Street, Stamford PE9 2BJ (01780 433333) 29A High Street East, Uppingham LE15 9PY (01572 823516) STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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UPDATES

Glow at Barnsdale Lodge Antonia Scott experiences her first “because I’m worth it” hair moment!

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emma Frisby has a loyal local customer base having worked for the past 13 years in the Oakham area as a senior hair and colour stylist, establishing a glowing reputation. She recently leapt at the opportunity to open her own salon at Barnsdale Lodge – seeing the move away from the town centre to the tranquil beauty spot as unrivalled.

With the help of Interiors guru, Kirsti Powell, they replaced the original salon’s dark floors and white walls, with a more high-end ‘boutique’ feel, using warm pinky-beige and hydrangea blue, white furniture and mirrors to bounce light around, complimented by plants and flowers to soften the space. There is even gold star wallpaper in the bathroom!

Gemma has thought of everything to make your time at Glow easier – each of the three stations has a full-sized desk at which you can work, read or even eat! A fabulous menu of practical dishes, cream teas, or even a glass of wine or fizz can be brought to you from the hotel kitchen. There is also an ingenious ‘pot of practicality’ on each desk, containing ipad/iphone chargers, nail files, polish and remover, notepads and pencils, and free wi-fi. There is even a dish to put your jewellery in while you have your hair washed - they’ve thought of everything!

After a heavenly soporific head massage in the ergonomic salon chair, parked over high-tech wash basins, I was bathed in the latest L’Oreal products, before Gemma set to work giving me a sophisticated new hair cut. Her friendly manner and professional knowledge was evident and with a new team of 3 stylists, one of whom specialises in Wedding hair and packages, Glow looks set to appeal to many local customers and beyond.

Glow is absolutely worth the drive out to Barnsdale Lodge – with no hassle, free parking right outside the door, I left feeling totally relaxed and looking great.

• Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 9am – 6pm, Sat: 9am – 4pm (late nights on request) Tel: 01572 720611 Contact glow@ barnsdalelodge.co.uk or 07595 604603.

Baan Sala Thai Therapy B

Shaws Coaches T

he Shaws a new Summer/Autumn edition day tour brochure is out now – and also the Autumn/ Spring edition of their Door-2-Door holiday brochure.

New day tour destinations in the autumn include: • The WI Centenary Fair at Harrogate - Fri 4 September • Bedford Steam Fair - Sat 19 September • Romeo & Juliet, performed by English National Ballet at Milton Keynes Theatre – Fri 23 October • A last chance to see the Coronation Street Studio Tour before it closes for good at the end of the year – Thur 29 October • A fascinating look at Scotland Yard’s notorious Black Museum – Sun 1 November • The new visitor centre at Wedgwood (due to open shortly) – Tue 24 November Plus London theatre trips to War Horse, the Lion King and a new staging of Guys & Dolls.

Autumn Holiday destinations – all including a free Door-2-Door service from any address in Stamford (and most of the surrounding villages) include: • A Great Highland Railways scenic tour of Scotland • A 5 day trip to Germany which includes a spectacular ‘River Lights’ firework display on the River Rhine • ‘Heroes of The Somme’ – one of our specialist, fully escorted WW1 battlefields tours • Autumn Colours in the Yorkshire Dales • Christmas holiday to Jersey • Brochures are available FREE from their offices, Stamford Tourist Information Centre and Stamford Independent Travel. Call 01778 342224 or email enquiries@shawscoaches.co.uk. for copies

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ridget Steele writes: “I met Wannee Cope of Baan Sala Thai Therapy at her treatment rooms in Wansford where she has opened this year offering Traditional Thai Yoga Massage and Deep Tissue Massages.

“The Yoga Massage uses the ancient healing system combining acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles and assisted Yoga postures. Treatments vary from thirty minutes priced at £20 to two hours at £70. Reflexology and Thai foot massage is also on the treatment menu.

“I opted for the Deep Tissue Massage and chose an hour long treatment. It took me a few minutes to relax, but Wannee quickly put me at ease and her soothing oiled hands soon ironed out the knots.

The massage also includes a Thai foot massage which I loved and Wannee used her Reflexology knowledge to identify any weak areas in my body and was just right in her diagnosis.

“I liked the combined foot and body treatments, Wannee is knowledgeable and informative - she knew when to just let me relax but was also happy to discuss any findings and give suggestions.

• “Wannee can be contacted on 01780 782824 or 07772 373411 and her treatment room is based at SW31, 12 London Road, Wansford, Peterborough, PE8 6JB.”

STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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FOOD & DRINK

Recipe: Little Summer Loaf Cakes Emily Hughes, currently studying for A levels at Arthur Mellows Village College in Glinton, is a keen cook and aspiring food writer. Here she shares a favourite summer recipe

S

ummer has well and truly arrived, and with it the soft summer fruits are plentiful. These little loaf cakes are easily adapted to suit both you and the seasons, with the possibility of using a variety of seasonal soft fruits to suit your personal taste.

The importance of eating seasonally is highlighted in this recipe; I believe there is nothing nicer than seasonal produce, picked at its finest then lovingly baked into these Little Summer Loaf Cakes, capturing the true essence of summer days.

Those living in Stamford are fortunate in the sense that if you don’t grow your own fruits and vegetables, Stamford Market is on your doorstep and is the perfect place to source fresh seasonal produce - which is exactly what is required for this recipe.

As it is the school holidays, this recipe is also great to make with children, as they will enjoy baking and decorating them too.

MAKES 1 LARGE LOAF, 6-7 MINI LOAVES, OR 12 CUPCAKES: Ingredients: • 125g butter • 125g castor sugar • 2 free range eggs • 125g sieved self-raising flour • 2tbsp milk (I use whole milk) • 2tsp vanilla extract or essence • 1tbsp freshly boiled water • 200g frozen soft fruit, OR 250g fresh soft fruit • 175g icing sugar • Soft fruits to decorate Method: • If you are using fresh fruit, put 50g to one side to make the icing with later.

• But if you are using frozen fruit, place it into a bowl to defrost, ensuring you don’t throw away any juice that drains from the fruit as you will need

this for the icing later.

• Once it has defrosted, drain the juice into another bowl and leave to one side. Preheat the oven to 180 °c, or 160 °c fan.

• Place the butter and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Now is a good time to put the kettle on to boil the water.

• Then, add in the eggs one at a time along with half of the flour with each, and mix until combined.

• Add in the boiled water, milk, and vanilla then mix until just combined, being careful not to beat any of the air out of the mixture.

• Finally, fold in the fruit and spoon the mixture into the tin, loaf cases, or cupcake cases and bake in the oven for 20 minutes (longer if making one large loaf cake), until springy to the touch and a cake tester or skewer comes out clean. Then leave to cool on a baking tray whilst you make the icing.

• To make the icing, if you have used fresh fruit, purée the fruit that you put aside earlier (with a fork, or in a food processor), or if you used frozen fruit, use the juice that drained from the fruit whilst it was defrosting. Add 175g of icing sugar, then mix until a thick paste is formed.

• Once the loaf cakes have completely cooled you can add the icing, either by piping it onto the loaves, or simply using a spoon and spreading some icing on the top of each one.

• Finally add some fresh fruit to decorate just before serving. These little loaf cakes will keep well in airtight containers in the fridge for 3 days.

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Fostering One of the most rewarding and demanding things you can do is to foster a child. Alysia Anderson finds out how to go about fostering and meets some local carers to chat about their experiences

W

HEN Anne Walker, or Miss Desbruslais as her pupils know her, retired from full-time teaching at the Welland School of Dancing, she wanted to do something for less fortunate children. Anne and her husband contacted Lincolnshire Fostering Service about becoming carers. “We enquired in November 2013 and did our first course the following January. You are very well supported by the social workers throughout. We were approved within a few months and had a brother and sister come to us while their carers went on holiday. Then we had two girls, aged 12 and 13, who came for ‘respite’ for ten days while their father was in hospital. For the last eight months we have had two sisters with us. You never really know how long a child may come for. It could be ‘task-based’ where you are preparing a child over several weeks for adoption, or ‘emergency’ care when you might get a call at 2am to take a child just for the night. We keep a daily log and the social workers visit regularly.

Schools and the NHS also monitor the children so they are very much in the system.” Anne was under no illusions that fostering would be easy, however. “Placements regularly break down as carers don’t envisage the problems until the children arrive. All kids in care have emotional issues on top of the normal problems of growing up. They often move home and school which can be very disruptive. We provide the caring bit, with the aim of getting them to recognise security and what makes a good background. There are 65,000 kids in care in

the UK so more carers are desperately needed.”

Lincolnshire Fostering Service (www. lincolnshire.gov.uk/adoptionandfostering) defines fostering as ‘substitute care in a family setting for children who cannot live with their birth family’. Almost anyone can foster, regardless of age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or whether they are unemployed or on benefits. Indeed it is better for children to be placed with carers who reflect their own background. The only practical requirement is a spare bedroom. Emotionally, carers need to be patient, recognise the positives in children, implement boundaries yet also be flexible, be open to receiving professional support, work in partnership with birth parents and relatives and respect the child’s family history and ethnicity. They must also be able to talk openly with children about their foster arrangements and appreciate how it may impact their behaviour and development.

Cecilia Hammond works as a nurse at Copthill School but has also fostered with her husband since 1991. “We first discussed it following the Romanian orphanage crisis in 1989. We have fostered about 40 children, some local Peterborough or Asian children and more recently children from other countries.

Currently we are fostering two lovely girls aged 15 and nine who will stay with us until they grow up. We also have a young asylum seeker: these children are like any other child but they have witnessed terrible things. Our fostering experience has mostly been very positive. It is wonderful to see children who have suffered

great loss and sadness start to rebuild their lives and begin to enjoy themselves. Sometimes fostering can be very stressful but it is important to see asking for support from the social work team as a sign of strength. We all need to work together. Another downside is the mountain of washing, ironing and shopping!”

Sometimes birth families make huge efforts to enable their children to return home again.

Cecilia said: “It is wonderful when this happens.

We fostered a young mum and her baby when my own daughter was little. The young mum was able to parent alongside me and learn how to care for her daughter. Instead of going for adoption, they were able to set up home. The baby grew up and went to university and has a good job now. It’s very rewarding to have been part of this!”

Foster carers receive on-going training and support including courses such as first aid and access to online learning tools. Allowances are paid towards childcare costs, starting from £130 a week for children under four to £224 for over16s. Carers also qualify for care relief on income tax and receive discounts at local businesses.

Yet the real pay-off is in giving these children a chance in life. As Cecilia said, “I wouldn’t change it for anything. Life is fun, busy and rich in love and family time.”

• If you are interested in becoming a foster parent call 0800 093 3099 or email fosteringandadoptionenquiries @lincolnshire.gov.uk

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CHARITIES

Cruse Bereavement Care Dealing with the loss of a loved one is always difficult. Doing it alone is even harder. William Eichler sat down with the team at Cruse Bereavement Care to find out how they help people through this difficult time

E

VERYONE needs somebody to talk to from time to time. This is especially true after a death. Not everybody, though, has someone and even for those who do, it is not always easy to open up to friends and loved ones. This is why it can be helpful to talk to a neutral party, a trained professional who can listen and help. Cruse Bereavement Care can provide just this.

Cruse is a UK-based organisation and one of the largest bereavement care charities in Europe. The headquarters are in Richmond, south London but it has branches scattered throughout the country. I met with the team that runs the Stamford and Bourne branch in the home of Pat and Peter Shough, bereavement worker and treasurer respectively, where they helped me to understand exactly how Cruse works.

The basic starting point is that loss affects everybody differently.

Referring to a hypothetical example, Pat lays out the core of Cruse’s approach. “That person was unique,” she informs me. “You [the client] are unique. Your relationship to them was unique. And therefore your loss is unique. We work with that uniqueness.”

Everything else follows from here. A client must ask for help themselves. A doctor or a friend may recommend that they contact Cruse, but it has to be the client who actually makes the phone call.

The referral secretary, Jenny Hardy, will then take the client’s details and match them up with a bereavement worker who is, essentially, a councillor. This might not happen immediately of course. “We’re only a small branch,” Peter tells me, “which means that unfortunately some people have to wait. They go on to a waiting list but we try and keep that as short as we possibly can.”

The bereavement workers are fully trained by an outside body (usually on a weekend) and this is organised by central headquarters.

Gwen Thompson, a bereavement worker herself, emphasises this point.

“Though they are volunteers,” she says “before somebody works face to face with a client they go through a rigorous training course. They are trained to a high standard.” They are also closely supervised. Helping people deal with their grief can be emotionally draining for the volunteers, so Cruse ensures that they are provided with support of their own.

The role of the bereavement worker is not to “cure” the client.

There is nothing that needs curing.

Grieving is a natural process and Cruse is simply there to help the client through it. This involves sitting with them and listening in a non-judgemental fashion to anything and everything they want to say. They can express the kinds of thoughts that they might find too uncomfortable sharing with friends or family. Steph Terrey, secretary of the Stamford and Bourne branch, assures me that it is cathartic. “We see clients in a very private, neutral place,” she says, “and we explain that this is your time and that seems to work its own magic.

They talk. It’s like pressing a button.”

The symptoms of grief are numerous. Loss of appetite, sleeping difficulties, forgetfulness - these are just a few of them. It is not always obvious that grief is the cause though. It does not necessarily set in immediately after a death. As Steph points out: “It could be that the death has occurred a year ago or two years ago.” This does not matter for Cruse. If you are struggling to come to terms with loss, it’s irrelevant when it occurred; Cruse still wants to help.

Each session is one hour long and held in a room that is provided free of charge by Priory Court Care Home (Priory Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2EU). Everything is in the strictest of confidences.

Whatever the bereavement workers hear, stays in the room.

• If you wish to talk to someone then you can contact Jenny, the referral secretary, on 01780 751 162 or email them at stamford@ cruse.org.uk

“Grieving is a natural process and Cruse is simply there to help the client through it. This involves sitting with them and listening in a non-judgemental fashion to anything and everything they want to say. They can express the kinds of thoughts that they might find too uncomfortable sharing with friends or family.”

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ARCHITECTURAL LINCS

Stamford Doorways Rachel Morley PGDip (B.Cons.)

BEng, Architectural Conservator working at Hirst Conservation and author of ‘The Stones of Stamford Revisited’, takes a closer look at our fabulous doors

D

OORWAYS, perhaps more than any other architectural feature, evoke all sorts of feelings within us. Relief to have made it on time, anxiousness, excitement or dread at who or what may wait within, happiness to finally arrive home. So often, as we approach a building, our minds have already crossed the threshold imagining what’s inside. Doorways are such key features of buildings, showcasing status, wealth and function, yet these thoughts often obscure their design and detail.

A short walk through the centre of Stamford reveals some of the quirkiest doorway designs – some feats of architectural achievement, others collages of different periods, styles and home-owner’s tastes.

Where else to begin but at St Mary’s Passage.

The Norman structure sandwiched between two buildings was once an entry point through the town walls. With its chevron-carved arch it is the oldest surviving doorway in the town.

The simply decorated right-hand jamb (from St Mary’s Hill) has been half-swallowed by the adjacent building… which appears to have been eaten up several times over itself! Less obvious, but equally ancient is the simple round-topped arched doorway to 15 St Peter’s Street. The date plaque places the house in the late 17th century, but the doorway belies the later façade.

Of course, it is possible that the doorway was moved from an older building and relocated.

This is not uncommon. A 15th century hoodmoulded doorway with figurative head-stops was relocated from the High Street to Maiden Lane in the late 1960s. It was replaced by the current Tesco building, which Pevsner describes as “architectural bad manners”. It is interesting that of all elements, it was the doorway that was salvaged. Further cases of wandering doorways include the flowing foliate Victorian doorway to 6 Ironmonger Street, which originally adorned the Midlands Bank on the High Street. Other doorway anomalies in the town include the abandoned remains of a 14th century arched doorway set into a modern brick wall on Sheep Market, while tucked behind some garages on Bath Row is a rather grand 13th or early 14th century arched doorway with single chamfered jambs.

As, by the end of the Middle Ages, Stamford had fourteen parish churches, two monasteries and four friaries, it is most likely that these homeless doorways and masonry were reclaimed from these demolished structures.

14th century doorway, Sheep Market

Burghley Estate Offices

Africa Roundel, High St

Barn Hill House

St George’s Square

Former Stamford Institution, St Peters Hill

Indeed, it may be from one of these Staying on Saint Martin’s, the sources that the sculptural oddity at doorways to nos. 66 and 67 with Reedman’s Court on on St George’s the rusticated stonework and St came: a block set into the majestic crowning keystone detail is doorway, which bears a fragment of capped, rather unnecessarily, with elaborate chain carving. a moulded pediment. Interestingly, Perhaps even more intriguing both of these doorways retain than relocated doorways are their original mid-18th century blocked-up doorways, where stray doors – carved panels with narrow timber lintels in stone facades show decorative fanlights overhead. how when one door shuts another This style of door appears often opens… usually only a few yards in the town, showing that, by this Hermes, Scotgate away. And usually replaced by time, architects and builders were far larger and grander affairs. An interesting consulting pattern books for design features. example is the former (now vacant) Dorothy Stamford traces the continuous development Perkins building on the High Street, where of the doorway. As we enter the 19th century, originally the doorway was formed of a curved entrances become even more elaborate – most pediment set on foliate corbels with a modest wonderfully the low-relief panels to Lloyd’s cartouche inset. This entrance has been Bank on the High Street, bearing roundels demoted to a window and an opening over of America, Africa, Asia and Europe and the double the width created alongside it.

Graeco-Egyptian tapered doorway to the In instances where new doorways couldn’t be former Stamford Institute, which employed made, we see a charming patchwork of styles: several clever devices to exaggerate the height polite Georgian door-cases attached to ancient and scale of the building. jettied buildings or cute lead-lined canopies With so much history literally right on your placed over deep rusticated entrances. These doorstep, perhaps as you next approach a layers of history, literally on your doorstep, add building lay your thoughts aside for a moment to the richly textured Stamford streetscape. and appreciate the doorway. Take a moment Not every building felt the need to change, to consider the minds and hands that created however. On High Street Saint Martin’s, the these architectural quiffs, the centuries of feet 16th century doorway to the George Hotel of that have worn the front step and the passing naturalistic spandrels and figurative stop-heads bodies which polished the jambs to a high was so admired that it was replicated in the finish as, like you, the hurried inside this portal 19th century to form an adjacent entrance. to the past.

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SEASIDE STROLLS

Burnham Overy Staithe to Holkham WALK DATA

If you only have time to do one walk along the coast, this is probably the one to do; it immerses you instantly in the North Norfolk experience – a quay and tidal creek, salt marshes, mud flats, sand dunes and a mile-long (actually a two miles long) beach of glorious, golden sand.

POINTS OF INTEREST Burnham Overy Staithe is a popular spot for dinghy sailing and a good place to hire boats or kayaks. It has a chandlery.

Distance: 7 kms (4 3/8 miles) Typical time: 1 3/4 hrs Height gain: none Map: OS Landranger 132 NE Norfolk Start: Coasthopper Bus Stop: Burnham Overy Staithe, Hero Pub Finish: Coasthopper Bus Stop: Holkham, Victoria Inn Parking: Cliff car park, Old Hunstanton Terrain: StraightforwardNorfolk Coast Path: This route follows the Norfolk Coast Path until it reaches Lady Anne’s Drive towards the end of the walk

Scolt Head Island (yes, it really is an island!) is a project for another day. A mile due N, there is usually a ferry that runs around high tide. It’s a National Nature Reserve so a great place for spotting wildlife, and is almost always deserted.

Gun Hill, the rise on your left (W) as you approach the sea along the sea wall, is the spot where artillery was installed during the Napoleonic Wars.

Holkham Beach is consistently voted as one of the Top 10 beaches in the UK, and is often used as a film set; perhaps most famously for the final scenes of Shakespeare in Love (1998), starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

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THE ROUTE: 1

Head down East Harbour Way to the quay from the bus stop, and turn right (E) on reaching it, following the coast path along the sea wall, which heads NE alongside Overy Creek toward the sea. Follow this track through its various twists and turns, eventually becoming a boardwalk and going N through the dunes Coming out through a gap in the dunes, you reach the W end of the majestic Holkham beach. Turn right (E) along the beach and enjoy a walk along the sand for the next 3kms or so until you come to the Holkham Gap, which is the main entrance to the beach. You will recognise where to come off the beach as at this point the beach has an inland ‘V’ (often rather muddy) which funnels towards the Holkham Gap – you will also probably see several people emerging at this point, from the car park in Lady Anne’s Drive Climb the steps, head through the Holkham Gap off the beach and, following a boardwalk through the pine trees, you will soon come to the top of Lady Anne’s Drive Head down the drive to the coast road; and the bus stop back to Burnham is 100 metres or so to your left.

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The Hero, Burnham Overy Staithe, right by the bus stop (PE31 8JE) serves homemade dishes, using local produce. It has a cosy ambience.

01328 738334 There is often an ice cream van in the summer at the top of Lady Anne’s Drive.

The Victoria Inn, Holkham (NR23 1RG) has a light, airy interior and good food, plus a pretty garden out front. Close to the bus stop too.

01328 711008

Walk along the coast and catch the bus back! Tel: 01553 776980 www.coasthopper.co.uk STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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www.barnsdalelodge.co.uk

the perfect location for your wedding or private event Perfect Wedding Planning

Fort Henry

The unique location of Fort Henry or the traditional setting of Barnsdale Lodge give you such a wonderful choice.

Our experienced Events Team can guide you through all the details to create the most perfect wedding or private event.

Please contact us for more information.

Barnsdale Lodge

The pressure to plan a wedding can be all consuming, if you are feeling overwhelmed, hire Serenity Weddings to plan your day

Laura

Selena

Value for Money – Weddings are our business. By building close relationships and negotiating preferential rates with suppliers and venues, Serenity Weddings can save you money, in most cases the cost of using our services is dramatically reduced or actually covered. We do not take commissions from our suppliers, we negotiate the best price and pass these directly onto our clients.

Giving you Time – We recognise the demands of careers, hectic social lives and family commitments. We will save you valuable time from sourcing venues to arranging and attending supplier meetings, budget and financial planning to guest management. GIving you time to do the things you want.

Reduce Stress – At certain points during the planning process stress levels can rise, we can envisage problems and eliminate. Our priority is for the Bride and Groom to enjoy the planning process, right up to their big day, stress free.

Experience and Advice – As professional Wedding Planners we are there to help you with everything from suppliers to etiquette. Our knowledge and skills, along with our contacts ensures that your day comes together seamlessly.

• Fresh, seasonal food • 45 ensuite bedrooms • Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner • Private dining • Weddings • Conferences • Self-catering in Retreats ~ www.rutlandretreats.com

It’s all in the Detail – “That will do” is not in our vocabulary. We offer meticulous attention to detail and ensure that the smallest element is not overlooked. We can translate your vision or help you create a wedding to ‘wow’.

Flexibility – We can amend our services to suit the individual requirements of clients. By arranging a free of charge, no obligation consultation, we can talk through your requirements.

For more information call us on: Selena 07710 962 964 Laura 07585 122 182

The Avenue, Rutland Water, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8AH tel: 01572 724678 enquiries@barnsdalelodge.co.uk

E: selena@serenityholdings.co.uk E: laura@serenityholdings.co.uk W: serenity-weddings.com

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Serenity Weddings

Combining Experience with Excellence Selena Bailey and Laura Desborough are in the very fortunate position of loving their job with a passion. With vast combined executive experience in event planning, the duo run Serenity Weddings, a Rutland based wedding planning company with standards higher than the bride’s Jimmy Choo heels. Amander Meade discovered that recruiting a wedding planner might just be the best investment you make towards your wedding – not only should they help create your perfect day but also save you money in the process

First Things First According to the Serenity Weddings philosophy, the best time to contact a wedding planner is right at the start – and they mean the very start: “If you have never planned a wedding before, how do you even set about creating a budget within your means?” explains Selena, “Most couples have no clue about what flowers or caterers might cost so we can help them establish a sensible budget from the beginning because we do have that insight and experience.”

With the right planner and a manageable budget in place, time and effort can be saved in lots of ways: “With one central point for administration and organisation there is always less potential for conflict between the couple and their suppliers or well-meaning family,” adds Laura. Trained by the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, Serenity adheres to the code of practice which includes a pledge to pass discounts and commission directly on to clients. “We know the best service providers and how to negotiate the best prices so busy couples can enjoy the process of planning without getting involved in the stressful parts.”

A good planner should get to know each couple really well and have a clear idea of what they want from their day and as such, should be able to suggest some ideal venues but if there’s a wedding co-ordinator at the venue you don’t need a planner too right? Wrong!

“The venue co-ordinator operates on behalf of the venue, not the couple.

We love a great co-ordinator and have worked seamlessly with many over the years – it’s a great combination on behalf of the bride and groom but we fulfil very different roles. Venue co-ordinators generally take care of the logistics, have a large portfolio of events but rarely work at weekends, often handing over responsibility for weddings to the Banqueting Manager who you may not have met. For us, the most important stage is being with you on the day, working discreetly in the background to make sure everything goes according to plan. We remain available to you throughout your wedding, leaving only when you have said ‘goodnight’ to your guests.”

A must if you live remotely…

Couples planning from afar often find it’s hard to organise suppliers that they have never met or imagine a space they are not familiar with. “We often work with couples with one set of parents living in the region and who have decided to take advantage of the many gorgeous wedding opportunities the area affords. However, if the couple are living and working elsewhere and most of the guests are travelling in, an experienced wedding planner can be a major asset in getting the job done the way they want.”

Making It Real No matter whether you know exactly what you want, have a vague idea, or no idea at all, Serenity Weddings can help you define the look, style, mood and emotions you want to create. “We know the latest trends and are inspired daily by other brides, suppliers and the industry. We can visualise what will work in your venue and know how to bring your desired mood to life.”

Last Word “We are constantly aware that your wedding is all about you, not us. You can select our involvement on a full or partial basis and we only undertake one wedding per month so you can be assured of our full attention at all times. Your wedding day should be filled with joy and happy memories – When you hire Serenity Weddings, you secure the peace of mind that every detail is in hand. Together we will create a wedding truly unique to you.”

• Check out Serenity Weddings website for full details of services and pricing www.serenity-weddings.com STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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MAMMA MIA HERE WE GO AGAIN!

“Pinter’s game of happy families” 15 to 19 September, Stamford Arts Centre - 7.45pm Tickets £10 / £8 conc. Box office 01780 763203 A work of dazzling directness and simplicity, on the surface, where the family conflicts create a play that is both comic and menacing.

THE AUSTRALIAN ABBA SHOW TS SPECIAL GUES

RSPCA Stamford Shop 5 Red Lion Street, Stamford. PE9 1PA Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am - 4pm DONATIONS OF CLOTHING URGENTLY REQUIRED Donations gratefully received during opening times

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Advertisement Feature

LAND ROVER Burghley Horse Trials

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Photo: Getty images.

The 2015 event will see the top horse and rider combinations drawn from across the globe to take part in what is recognised as eventing’s toughest challenge.

Photo: Kit Houghton.

ituated within the magnificent parkland of Burghley House, Stamford, The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September 2015) is renowned not only as a major international sporting event, but also the premier occasion in the Autumn social calendar.

Land Rover Burghley starts with two days of dressage in the main arena (Thursday and Friday). Saturday is cross country day, when competitors test their nerve around Burghley’s famously demanding course, designed by Captain Mark Phillips. The competition then comes to a climax with show jumping on Sunday to determine who will carry home the Land Rover Perpetual Challenge Trophy and the substantial first prize.

The expansive, much-loved retail village is currently being planned, with a number of exciting new developments in the pipeline. Each

Photo: Kit Houghton.

year more than 600 trade exhibitors offer everything from artisan cheeses and local produce to luxury goods such as jewellery, fashion and accessories. For the serious equestrian every possible element of horse-related paraphernalia is on sale, ranging from stabling, feed and tack to riding boots, hats and clothing.

The Box Office is now open and there has never been a better time to book; advance bookings offer great discount on admission tickets and car parking, and Thursday, Friday and Sunday admission tickets are now interchangeable! Book your tickets at www.burghley-horse.co.uk or call 01933 304744.

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DIARY DATES

What’s On Some of the best entertainment in the region this month.

Thursday 23 July to Saturday 8 August, 9.30am to 9pm EXHIBITION: Art On The Map Lincolnshire’s leading artists and craft makers, from painters, sculptors and textile artists to glass and furniture makers will show their work.

Stamford Arts Centre Admission is free Tuesday 4 August, 10am to 3pm EVENT: Osprey Family Fun Day Games, activities, crafts and guided walks for families. Join in the treasure hunt through the reserve and see if you can ‘migrate’ all the way from England to Gambia and send a postcard to the children there. Explore the reserve and see the Ospreys. Lyndon Nature Reserve £5 per child or just £10 for the whole family.

No booking necessary.

Saturday 8 August, 7pm for 7.30pm MUSIC: Songs from the Shows by Rapport Flower arranging competition theme ‘Music’, entries to church 9am to 1pm with viewing 9am to 5pm Sunday 9 August.

Carlby Church Tickets £10 to include refreshments, children £5 Sunday 9 August, 10am to 4pm EVENT: Family Fun Day Organised by Stamford Kiwanis and with proceeds donated to local charities and good causes, this event is bigger and better this year thanks to lottery backing. All weather marquees, workshops, trade stands, games, live entertainment, fairground rides, refreshments and a full programme of events.

Burghley Park Entrance is free for all with plenty of f ree parking.

For information Tel: 01780 729468.

Saturday 15 August, from 11am EVENT: Maxey Classic Car Show The Maxey Classic Car Show is now one of the largest and best attended events of its type in the region. Informal and low key – single show vehicles do not need book, just turn up on the day. A great family day out with plenty to see and do including fair ground, live entertainment, trade stands and refreshments.

Morell Lake, Quarry Lane, Maxey. £3 adults (either on foot or as a passenger).

U14s are free as are drivers of show cars.

Thursday 3 September to Sunday 6 September EVENT: The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Without doubt the premier equestrian and social event in the international sporting calendar and a focus for the best horses and riders in the world. The parkland of Burghley provides a perfect setting for the four day event competition and a stunning location for the popular shopping village of more than six hundred exhibitors tempting all ages and tastes. Burghley Park. For tickets or more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk Sunday 16 August, 7.30pm MUSIC: VJ Day Concert A special show to commemorate the anniversary of VJ Day featuring the Cottesmore Military Wives Choir.

Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre Tickets £11/£10 Tel: 01780 766455 www.stamford-corn-exchange.co.uk Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August EVENT: The British Birdwatching Fair Jointly organised by the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust and the RSPB, Birdfair encompasses the whole spectrum of the birdwatching industry whilst at the same time supporting global bird conservation. This is the event of the year for anyone with an interest in birds and wildlife. A wide range of fantastic conservation projects have been supported by Birdfair with hundreds of stands selling the latest products for wildlife enthusiasts. Guests include Chris Packham, Simon King, Mike Dilger, David Lindo and many more.

Tickets and all the event information is available at www.birdfair.org.uk Sunday 30 August, 10am to 5pm EVENT: Stamford Car Show Organised by Stamford Round table and with proceeds donated to the Community Service Fund for local causes, visitors can expect over five hundred cars of all makes and models. A relaxed event with trade stands, refreshments and much more.

Stamford Meadows Admission with or without a car is free but donations much appreciated, with additional information at www.stamfordcarshow.co.uk Throughout August THEATRE: Stamford Shakespeare Season The annual season of plays which this year includes Henry V, Romeo and Juliet and Tom Jones all performed on the famous open air stage. Dining or picnic options available. Tolethorpe Hall Tickets and information at www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk or Tel: 01780 763203 STAMFORD LIVING AUGUST 2015

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ACCOUNTANTS

CARPENTRY

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All aspects of carpentry and building work undertaken Tel: 01780 591396 - Mob: 07703 056260 Matt@mpcarpentryandbuilding.co.uk

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Chartered Accountants

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Mob: 07811 310 012 Tel: 01780 752602 CARPET CLEANING

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• SL August.indd 54

Why does the computer always play up in the evenings when the repair shops are shut?

Help available until 9pm including weekends.

Computer repair and support for home and business A complete service for all your computing needs

Bill & Sue Crowe Tel: 01780 754043 Mob: 07766833076 www.bcit.co.uk Email: bill@bcit.co.uk

CALL NOW On 01780 740997 8am to 8pm

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OVEN CLEANING Do you want the fairies to clean your oven?

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Ovens, Ranges, Agas, Hobs, Extractors, Microwaves, Start from £39 Fridges, FreezersPrices & BBQ’s • Prices start from £42 T: 01572 767678 M: 07785 987112 t. 01572W: 767678 - m. 07785 987112 www.ovenfairy.co.uk Ovens, Ranges, Agas, Hobs, Extractors, Microwaves, Fridges, Freezers & BBQs

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To place an advert in next month’s magazine please call Claudia on 01778 425502

23/07/2015 11:54

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10/06/2014

17:01

PROPERTYSERVICES

• • • •

Wood Burning Stoves & Biomass

Unit 1 • Station Road Business Park • Barnack • Stamford • Lincolnshire • PE9 3DW T 01780 482039 E stamfordplumbing@yahoo.co.uk W www.plumbingstamford.co.uk

Plumbing • Gas Heating Bathrooms Worcester Bosch Accredited Installer.

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£3.50

ISSN 175 7-747

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9 7717 57 7470 12

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Call us now for a free no obligation quotation.

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Magazines

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

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

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My studio is in Oakham (for studio shoots) but location shoots can be arranged for any location; your house & garden, Rutland Water, local woods & parks... * I offer various attractive price options and products, all designed to give you plenty of choice (including an all-inclusive digital package). You can choose a package before booking your session - so you will always know the cost in advance.

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STAMFORD PEOPLE

Christopher Pye; Antiques & Pawn Broker Words & Pictures: Harjit Gammon Harjit Gammon chats to maverick antiques dealer and pawnbroker Christopher Pye

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HOUGH the name may not ring a bell, if you’ve seen Christopher around you’ll undoubtedly remember him. He has unmistakeable signature mutton chop sideburns framing a youthful face, in a quirkily Victorian dandy manner. To this add a dash of occasional waistcoat and you have the picture. Perhaps it’s the antiques business that has shaped his maverick look or the maverick look has found a soul mate in the antiques and latterly pawn broking business.

Whatever the case, that there is a synergy, fortuitous though it may be, is unarguable.

The descendant of a long line of Norfolk wheeler dealers beginning with hawkers trading in birds of prey, through second hand furniture salesmen & upholsterers, and antique dealers, trading comes naturally to him, Christopher says. Though he worked as an electrical design engineer until very recently, he has, he says, always bought and sold things. Initially his focus was centred on vehicles; cars and motorbikes in the main, and progressed over time to antiques. He recounts a significant light bulb moment on this path.

“I remember opening a book and seeing a walnut chest of draws could be worth a thousand pounds.

So I bought one and sold it for £3,000,” he says with a cheeky, satisfied grin on his face. After this there was no looking back. He fervently began trading as a hobby, while still holding down his day job. However, juggling large pieces of furniture proved to be a tricky thing to combine with the day job. For one thing, he had to store large items somewhere until they were re-sold, which meant acquiring suitable storage and incurring cost in addition to the money tied up in the antiques.

So in March this year, Christopher took the plunge and started trading as a business, reasoning that, “you’ll be more hungry when you’re doing it full time”. In addition it meant he could do more antiques fairs and work on turnover speed. A regular now at the major trade and general public fairs and adept at moving items on, he has added a second string to the business in the form of pawn broking. “Pawn broking fitted in well with the antiques,” he says. In both areas he deals in art, jewellery, gold, silver and other antiques, focusing on the so called ‘posh pawn’ end of the market as opposed to the high volume, everyday, transactions of outfits like Cash Converters and the like.

Being an astute, canny kind of chap the fact that the pawn broking business has boomed in recent years, in part due to the recession and, combined with the record high price of gold of late, did not escape his attention, in determining to acquire a pawn broker’s licence, or Consumer Credit Licence as it is officially known. “It’s a traditional business that won’t be smashed by the internet,” he reasons and is a useful additional income stream for balancing out the peaks and troughs of the antiques business.

Christopher now does a brisk trade not only in selling antiques, but in buying items direct from the public (he buys at around the price an item might realise at auction) as well as lending money against pawned items such as family pieces or collectables.

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Much of his pawn business is he reports short term asset loans against items which customers generally wish to redeem (redemption rates in the industry average around 85%). “Some of my customers told me of times when they needed additional cash, but didn’t necessarily want to sell their beloved antiques,” he explains. “They only wanted short term funds, but couldn’t get the help they needed, at reasonable rates from their bank or other lenders. That got me thinking that maybe I could help them in some way, and provide my business with a more reliable revenue stream.”.

Questioned about the kind of items pawned, he reveals he has recently had a Georgian stick barometer, a signed Lowry print and a stuffed fish!

So, whether it is an antique purchase, something to sell or perhaps to pawn, a visit to Christopher’s shop on the corner of Scotgate and North Street may be in order. You’ll find him there settled behind an expansive, cluttered desk listening to soul music on an ancient wind up gramophone, surrounded by the large pieces of furniture that are his speciality.

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Walcot Road, Barnack £695,000 Set opposite the ‘Hills and Holes’ in Barnack this versatile family home offers a wonderful opportunity to live in one of Stamford’s premier villages. A well appointed dining room leads to the dual aspect sitting room, stylish breakfast kitchen with handmade units and a granite work surface, as well as a further family room, utility room, cloakroom and shower room.

A side entrance hall gives access to the study and fourth bedroom which has been used as a sizable annex. To the first floor is a well presented Master bedroom with large en-suite bathroom, and well laid out dressing room, and two further Bedrooms. The grounds are simply stunning and must be viewed to be appreciated.

Roman Bank, Stamford £575,000 This five bedroom family home offers superb versatile family accommodation over three floors all within a short walk from the centre of Stamford. The property offers stylish accommodation which includes a stylish open plan kitchen/diner with granite worksurfaces, large living room, ground floor wc and utility room. To the first floor are four bedrooms, one being ensuite and further bedrooms and a family bathroom. To the second floor is the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom.

The property benefits from ample off street parking to the front whilst to the rear is a patio and lawned garden.

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NURTURING SALES SINCE 1842 Are you thinking of selling your property?

Summer is blooming with buyers looking for houses, so please call us any day of the week on 01780 758 090, for expert residential sales advice and guidance.

Part of the Chestertons Group 64

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