Yattar Yattar July - August 2016 by Brillybox Publishing & Media

JULY/AUGUST 2016

Fun in the sun

OUTDOOR THEATRE, FUN FESTIVALS AND HISTORY SHOWS

FREE WHY BUY ANOTHER MAGAZINE?

Water, water OUR RIVERS AND LAKES ARE JUST WAITING TO BE EXPLORED

WHAT S ON?

YOUR PA C GUIDE T KED 50-PAGE EVENTS O THE BEST OUT THISAND DAYS JULY AUGUST AND

WIN! TURN TO PAGE 148

★ A FOSSIL WATCH FROM MOCOCO ★ TICKETS TO PARADISE ADVENTURE GOLF ★ A FAMILY DAY OUT AT BLUE PLANET AQUARIUM

Heavenly holidays GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR SUMMER BREAK

Seaside Adventures DISCOVER THE STUNNING COAST AND BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF WALES AND WIRRAL PLUS ★ PICNICS & BARBECUES ★ DAYS OUT ★ GARDENS ★ SUMMER FASHION

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“

…friendly, family atmosphere that enables pupils to excel...

”

Ruthin School News best-schools.co.uk Ruthin School has received a crystal award and is listed on the best-schools website as a Top 5 Independent Co-Educational Boarding School for 2015. Our league position within this ranking is 4th in the UK with the %A* - A grade being 72.77. We are very proud of last year’s Upper Sixth pupils who gained these results, most of whom have gone to top ranking universities.

Cambridge University Offers 7 students out of this year’s Upper Sixth have received offers to go to Cambridge University. Alice will go to Trinity College to read Mathematics, Barry will go to Christ’s College to read Mathematics, Marshall will go to St John’s College to read Mathematics, Thomas will go to Emmanuel College to read Mathematics, Nelson will go to Pembroke College to read Mathematics, Michelle will go to Jesus College to read Law and Emily will go to Newnham College to read Geography.

New Teachers Additional teachers have been appointed for September 2016. Dr I Franjic (Mathematics), Miss R E Howlett (Mathematics), Mrs I Haywood (Mathematics, Economics), Miss C S Boffey (Biology), Mr C D Perry (Physics) and Miss G J Bonner (Head of EAL) will join Ruthin School to ensure that class sizes remain at 10, whilst overall pupils numbers increase from 300 to 360. Mrs J I Morton started this term as Director of Summer Courses and in September she will introduce Latin, as we expand our curriculum.

Mathematics Success – National Champions FOR A PROSPECTUS OR TO ARRANGE A TASTER DAY PLEASE TELEPHONE

01824 702543 www.ruthinschool.co.uk

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Our team of Mathematicians in Lower and Upper Sixth came 1st in the 2016 National Mathematics Challenge. They were invited to represent the UK in a European competition held in Italy where 120 teams competed. Our team came 2nd, narrowly beaten by the team from Hungary. Well done to Alice, Marshall, Thomas, Veronica, Betty, Rayna and Viki.

Taster Days Free taster days are available for all ages. Come and see for yourself the environment in which pupils at Ruthin School excel.

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yattar yattar

MAGAZINE

™

Founder and owner Stephanie Anne Lloyd stephanie@yattaryattar.co.uk Publisher Rebekah Harriman rebekah@yattaryattar.co.uk Development Manager Nigel Davies nigel@yattaryattar.co.uk

Editorial Editor Olivia Abbott olivia@yattaryattar.co.uk Staff Writer Emma Joy Anderson

Dear reader, T

his issue we have some very exciting news for you, our advertisers and ourselves. Yattar Yattar, founded as a not-for-profit, community lifestyle magazine, has become the official partner of Nightingale House Hospice, perhaps the region’s favourite charity providing free specialist care for people facing life-limiting illnesses. We think this is a perfect partnership serving the needs of our shared community. To cater for this exciting new era we have added to our experienced team, all of whom share our passion for producing an excellent magazine. Joining us is Rebekah Harriman, our new publisher. Our production editor Olivia is now editor, and she will continue to work closely with Julie and Nia who handle artwork and design, alongside an ethical sales team who will FREE look after the advertisers who make this all possible. Nigel Davies, Fun in Water, water whom many of you will know from the BBC television series of Hotel the sun Stephanie has joined the team as development manager. As founder of this unique magazine, I love the project and I will still be very much involved, replying to your letters and writing my occasionally controversial Yattar On article (see our letters page for WIN! Heavenly more about that!). I have now reached the ripe old age of 70 but still holidays work full time on the premise that both mentally and physically I need to ‘use it or lose it’ and that Seaside Adventures death is God’s way of telling me to slow down! Turn to page 60 for our special Let’s hope that this year really does bring us a STEPHANIE ANNE LLOYD feature on the local coastline FOUNDER & OWNER ‘barbecue summer’! Best wishes to you and yours, JULY/AUGUST 2016

Design Art Editor Julie Gagen Designer Nia Banwell Sales Team Christian Williams, Zoe Fernee advertising@yattaryattar.co.uk Print Acorn Printers Distribution Martin Lomas, Self Select Administration Credit Control Norman Brian Accountant Chris Dimmock Contributors Beth Abakhan, Catherine Jackson, Mark Lampkin, David Lee, Gloria Mans, Roger McDuff, Clive Potter, Louise Tomlin

WHY BUY ANOTHER MAGAZINE?

OUTDOOR THEATRE, FUN FESTIVALS AND HISTORY SHOWS

WHAT S ON?

YOUR PAC KED 50-P GUIDE TO AGE THE BEST EVENTS OUT THISAND DAYS JULY AUGUST AND

TURN TO PAGE 148

★ A FOSSIL WATCH FROM MOCOCO ★ TICKETS TO PARADISE ADVENTURE GOLF ★ A FAMILY DAY OUT AT BLUE PLANET AQUARIUM

DISCOVER THE STUNNING COAST AND BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF WALES AND WIRRAL PLUS ★ PICNICS & BARBECUES ★ DAYS OUT ★ GARDENS ★ SUMMER FASHION

In this issue... rafting and Flowing from spot for white water controlled river is a popular canoewales.com Visit a lovely bankside walk.

With an RSPB walks beautiful woodland banks, not to mention – this sculpture park and cafe! and wildlife – plus a for mid Wales has something beautiful reservoir in everyone. Visit rspb.org.uk

Abbott

ydd Trawsfyn in north Wales mountains, Trawsfynydd

Surrounded by in summer in bad weather, but can be a brooding place feel, with family activities it takes on a whole different Visit trawslake.com and plenty of wildlife.

Bike with Mike, 17th July Join Ranger Mike to learn about the woodlands, the wildlife that lives there and how the staff at Dudmaston care for them.

c o ast

Estate

Festival of Archaeology, 24th-31st July A week of events, walks and talks to help you discover more about the archaeology of Dudmaston. history and In association with the Council of British Archaeology to celebrate the 26th Festival of Archaeology. Children’s Summer Holiday Activity Days, 25th July-31st August A range of creative and fun challenging trails and craft activities with a different theme each week. Bat Walk, 27th August Join a ranger on a nocturnal walk around the park and gardens to find out more about the bats that reside on the estate.

’50 Things’ Woodland Camp, 23rd July Take your tent and enjoy the great outdoors while learning a range of bushcraft skills. Dinner will be cooked on the fire and there will be time for stories before bedtime. A great event for families.

Awesome Art, 28th-29th August Celebrate Lady Labouchere’s birthday at a weekend of art, one of her favourite pastimes. Help create works of art or just take the trail through the garden. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

Feet First: Time Walk – the story of the Earth in a thousand paces A fascinating and informative event. Walk through nearly five billion years tracking the story of our home planet. Marvel at the way everything on Earth has evolved from stardust. From the origins of our world through eras of amazing life forms to the present moment, this is the strangest true story ever told. Feet First Theatre’s cosmic guides will lead the audience on a one kilometre walk though beautiful landscapes, bringing alive the story of evolution and our human origins. 31st July, Carding Mill Valley, 01694 725000, £8 / £6

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The biggest natural Lake steam railway days out. Plus the Bala watersports and family

Beautiful beaches

beach on Anglesey

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and pretty sailing boats

The waters of Wirral

are part of the attraction

It isn’t just Wales that has great beaches: the Wirral also boasts three – Meols, Moreton and West Kirby – that achieved the highest ‘excellent’ rating in the 2015 Good Beach Guide, with a fourth, Wallasey, rated as good.

Of the three excellent beaches, Moreton is perhaps the most popular, with the nearby Leasowe Common providing the perfect venue for picnicking, ball games and kite ﬂying. The beach is next to the North Wirral Coastal Park, which, with its grassland, reedbed and sand dune

l 8th-10th July, Wenlock Olympian Games The Olympian Games were founded in 1861 by William Penny Brookes and since then the tradition has been upheld with competitions in everything from

years

face painting and various stalls to look around. Also lots of free children’s games and activities, all at the Old Vicarage. Adults £2.

Summer at Stokesay

Stokesay Court is a magnificent lateVictorian mansion set within extensive grounds just outside Craven Arms. During The First World War the house important role as a military played an hospital and additional rooms and displays are now open as part of a tour which bring this history to life. The house also won fame as a location for the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement.

14th July, Sidbury Medieval Village Walk A 12-mile walk from Severn Valley Country Park. Head out towards New England and Chorley before arriving at Sidbury where there is a deserted medieval village. Return through Billingsley and Highley. You’ll need walking boots, packed lunch and a drink.

Still very much a lived-in, private home, Stokesay welcomes visitors inside its doors and behind the scenes of Atonement on pre-arranged tours, which this summer take place on Tuesdays and Sundays throughout July and August. And if you book a house tour for Stokesay Court a 2-for-1 voucher for you will receive the nearby Stokesay Castle through the summer, including Stokesay Stories, which also has a number of events going on Roses, plus Hands-on taking you back to Tudor History events, bringing times and the War of history to life. On 25th the of outdoor theatre with August there’s a summer Rain or Shine Theatre evening Company’s production Visit stokesaycourt.com of A Midsummer Night’s and english-heritage.o Dream. rg.uk

l 16th July, Build a Dry Stone Wall A one-day course at Acton Scott Farm, introducing you to the craft of dry stone walling. l 16th July-3rd September, Sounds in the Square Every Saturday for six weeks there’s live music in Welllington Market Square. Bands playing include The Bandicoots, Cool and Uke and The Telfordaires, plus the Wrekin Inn’s weekly open mic night will take the open air stage.

P6 to P56, WHAT’S ON If it’s worth going to, it’s in our guide to the best events of summer

at Abersoch in north

Harbour is popular with

families and is easily

accessible

observe from the comfort of your deck chair. Traeth Soden can be Benllech beach on Angelsey reached by footpath is another from Nanternis near easily accessibly option. New Quay. Once used While it’s great for as a smugglers’ beach, sea kayaking, windsurfi where salt was ng and fishing, the brought ashore during sandy beach also has the 18th century to plenty of rock pools avoid taxes, the secluded where you can encounter cove now offers some a quiet spot to relax. creatures up close. Meanwhile, sea There is another small the small cove to be found to town of Benllech has the north which can all the facilities you’ll be reached during low need, including cafes tide. and shops. Traeth yr Eifl is another The New Quay Harbour hidden gem. beach is Taking its name from particularly popular Yr Eifl, the last of with families – while Snowdonia’s mountains, many of the town’s streets are steep, there it can be accessed by walking is sloping access all from the nearby the way down to the village of Trefor. The sand. The town is where walk is rather pleasant, author and poet taking you over the Dylan Thomas spent cliffs that frame Morfa, much of his life, and a National Trust owned the Victorian terraces reserve. While the that inspired some beach itself consists of his work can still be mostly of rocks and seen today. pebbles, there are plenty If you’d rather head off the beaten of grassy knolls on the surrounding slopes path, there are a number where you can sit of ‘secret’ down, relax and maybe beaches to be found, catch a tan. though you might Find out about all the have to do a little walking beaches Wales has to get there. to offer at visitwales.com

Wales

habitats, is also a popular spot for birdwatching. Wallasey beach is also part of the coastal park. Despite being just 300 metres long, West Kirby beach has all the facilities you’d ever need, including nearby parking, cafes and the all-important ice cream shop. The Hilbre Island Local Nature Reserve is just a kilometre off shore and accessible on foot at low water, though it is of course advisable to check the tide times before you venture out to avoid getting stranded! Find out more about the Wirral coast at visitwirral.com Moreton Shore on Wirral

Family fun

The beach at New Quay

Celebrating 50 festival

For its 50th Anniversary archery to volleyball and Festival this year, the Church everything in between. Arts Festival has bowed Stretton to audience pressure and invited back a number of popular performers who have appeared before the celebrations. Joining to join in them from 30th July-14th August, for the two-week event, which runs will be a host of artists new to the festival to create a varied and first-class programme of events. From the opening concert by the Phoenix Singers of Shrewsbury, through art exhibitions, performances coffee concerts, of Shakespeare, GET IN TOUCH! workshops, brass bands, one-woman stand-up Do you have any shows and meet-the-artist l 9th July, Cardington sessions, to the final event of A Night at the Country Fete Classic, events you’d like to rally Opera with London and race modified cars, Festival Opera, this is see in the next issue? an arts festival that has birds of prey, Morris something for everyone. dancing, duck racing, Email to editorial@ Visit strettonfestival.org.u afternoon teas, beer k tent, yattaryattar.co.

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Colourful beach huts

ales boasts some of the cleanest, safest and best beaches in Britain, with the Blue Flags to prove it. For the uninitiated, to be awarded a Blue Flag, a beach must meet 32 requirements that guarantee cleanliness and appropriate facilities. Of the 100 or so beaches that dot the Welsh coastline, 41 were awarded Blue Flags for 2015. With such a huge range to choose from, you’re bound to ﬁnd a beach that offers what you’re looking for, whether it’s somewhere for the kids to play, for you to relax and catch a tan, or a chance to take to the waves. If you want to minimise the effort it takes to get from the street to the sand, there are plenty of easily accessible beaches. With ramps and other additional facilities, they’re a great option for parents with pushchairs or wheelchair users. While it’s best known as a sailing hot spot, the main beach at Abersoch is perfect for lazy, sunny days out with the kids. With no severe currents or rips during calm conditions, thanks to its sheltered position, the water is safe for swimmers. There’s plenty in the way of watersports and sailing nearby thanks to the likes of Abersoch Sailing School (scyc.co.uk), whether you want to get involved in or just

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July/August 2016 Everybody likes to be beside on sunbathing or swimming the seaside – and whether you’re planning 22/06/2016 15:27 , rockpooling or donkey low-down on the best riding, we’ve got the spots on the coastline of Wales and Wirral

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P70, DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE Discover the tranquil lakes and rivers of the region – perfect for a picnic!

3rd July, Ellesmere Rotary Regatta This annual event is a fun day out for sailors and spectators, with Bell Boat races for adults, ladies and junior crews, plus all of land-based entertainment sorts and attractions for all the family.

A Hill climb with a difference

Lord Hill’s Column, opposite Shirehall in Shrewsbury, is open to the public again this summer, offering the chance to get inside and climb the 172 steps to see the remarkable views from the top. The £5 charge for this makes you a life member of the Friends of Lord Hill’s Column and contributes to the preservation of this important monument. Although the column itself has been restored, the statue of Lord Hill at the top needs to be replaced and public support is essential. This year marks an important anniversary for the column – it was 200 years old on 18th June. The column is open on 17th July, 20th August and 11th September with tours limited to 14 people every 30 minutes. Booking is essential. To find out more call 01743 244668.

July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 41

is a hotspot for sailing,

Llyn Tegid on its northernmost tip, Llyn Tegidlake in the country, with the town of Bala perched it. Visit visitbala.org.uk runs along the side of

The sandy Benllech

The PEFC logo and labels are globally trusted trademarks. They identify merchandise and goods from forests that are managed sustainably.

Summer at Dudmaston

Panasonic Lumix Photography Roadshow, 10th July Try out some top-of-the -ange photography equipment to snaps around the property take some and you’ll get to keep the memory card as a souvenir of the day.

most of the

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Arts come Alive this summer

Make the

(2016) Visit Wales; Olivia

Peaceful walks, to at this family-friendly things you can get up held are just some of the waterside events are in Shropshire. Lots of site near Whitchurch here too. Visit dearnford.net

What’s On in brief

Say it with flowers

Shrewsbury Flower Show – the worlds’ longest running place again this year on independent flower show 12th-13th August at Quarry – takes Park. The Dingle will be flowers, food and live entertainment awash with – the ultimate summer exhibitors from all over day out. The show attracts the country with floral top displays, competitions The Quarry Marquee will and trade stands. showcase top national nurseries and growers, Marquee is home to home-grown while the Severn flowers and vegetables. variety of entertainment, As well as this, the arena with highlights including offers a Grade A Showjumping, Fingle Comedy Car act, the Dingle live music from The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and The a firework display both nights. Christians, and Inspirational and passionate horticultural expert Sarah tips and advice, while in Raven will be sharing the dedicated food hall, gardening celebrity chef Gizzi Erskine creating mouthwatering, will be indulgent but healthy food. There are also lots opportunities in the trade of great shopping stands area and unique gifts in the dedicated craft Children 15 and under marquee. enter free with an adult, making ideal family day out. Visit shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk the Shrewsbury Flower Show an or call 01743 234050.

Jaguar Drivers’ Club, 10th July A display of classic motors in the orchard by the Jaguar Drivers’ Club.

of water-based activities, Wales hosts a range This reservoir in north you want to stay dry, and water zorbing. If including boating, fishing the surrounding area. or even horse ride in you can walk, cycle Visit llyn-brenig.co.uk

Lake Dearnfowildrdswimming, camping geocacheing and even

WHAT’S ON SHROPSHIR E

locations in the country most beautiful waterside We have some of the a family picnic on the try a water sport enjoy e – whether you want to the tranquility of the countrysid riverbank or simply enjoy

Lake Vyrnwy hotel on its reserve, and a luxury Llyn Brenig

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WIN!

Turn to p a to see w ge 148 hat grea t prizes a nd ti you cou ckets ld w this issu in e!

A river runs through it

River Tryweryn this dam Bala in north Wales, Llyn Celyn through to also has

Images: © Crown copyright

Yattar Yattar is delighted to be supporting Nightingale House Hospice as its official charity. We will be working closely with them in helping raise vital funds to ensure they can continue to support the communities they serve.

GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR SUMMER BREAK

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Thanks this issue to Lea Hansel and Mario Garcia Yattar Yattar Magazine, Brillybox Publishing & Media Ltd, CDC Distribution Centre, Unit 13, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HA 01978 813035 yattaryattar.co.uk ISSN 2042-8588

OUR RIVERS AND LAKES ARE JUST WAITING TO BE EXPLORED

Looking for something to do with the kids? There are plenty of seaside activities that your little ones will enjoy!

Rockpooling

You can enjoy rockpooling no matter what your age, but the chance to see the sometimes odd-looking creatures that call the waters around our shores is particularly popular with kids. You can go rockpooling at any time of year, but the best time is from late spring to early autumn when the weather is more likely to be calm and clear. Among the creatures that you may find lurking beneath the waters are star fish, sea anemones, hermit small fish or prawns and crabs, shrimp. The tools of the trade are shoes with a good grip – trainers, wellies or wetsuit boots with a thick sole are best – and a bucket or Tupperware to let you get a closer look at any creatures you may find. Avoid nets as they can cause harm to small and delicate creatures and make sure you return you’re finished. A full rockpooling any animals to their home when guide for families is available the National Trust (nationaltrust.org.uk from ).

is very popular

Collecting shells

Of course shells can be found at most beaches, but a particular hot spot in north Wales is Shell Island near Harlech. More than 200 varieties of shell can be found on the island’s three sandy beaches, some of them so small that they can barely be seen with the naked eye! Wherever you collect your shells from, there are a few things to never take a shell that has bear in mind: a living creature in it – if you find a creature that is still alive, put it back and, if you decide to keep your shells as a memento, make sure you wash them thoroughly when you get home.

Donkey rides

A trip to the seaside wouldn’t be complete without a donkey ride down the beach. Children can enjoy a ride at West Kirby beach on the Wirral, Dyfi Donkeys (dyfidonkeys.blogspot.or co.uk) run rides throughout the spring and summer, starting at the children’s playground in Aberdyfi . Children aged two and over can enjoy a ride (though there is a weight limit of 8st/55kg), but younger children and of course adults can meet the donkeys and give them a fuss!

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P60, BESIDE THE SEASIDE We all love to be there, so ﬁnd out where are the best places to go right here!

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We want to hear from you! PEFC/16-33-533

Yattar Yattar is published bi-monthly by Brillybox Publishing & Media Ltd. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy throughout this publication. The publishers accept no responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action in reliance on or as a result of anything omitted from any articles in Yattar Yattar. Views expressed by contributors to Yattar Yattar are not necessarily those of the magazine or of Brillybox. Save as expressively permitted by law no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written authority of the Publisher. © 2016 Brillybox Publishing & Media Ltd, all rights reserved. Registered Number: 7725045.

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! S M IS IL A M EV TE ’T D AY N D PL O E DIS

D R TE E U TH CH RA

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p60 Discover the coast of Wales and Wirral

Contents JULY/AUGUST 2016 6 What’s on All the best events, shows, days out and more in north Wales, mid Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire and Wirral

99 Homes & interiors Inspirational interior design ideas, revamp your kitchen, the joys of a conservatory for summer, and much more

51 Days out Spend a day with sharks, or with beautiful butterﬂies, take a slow boat ride and more…

105 Gardens Advice from the experts, local plant fairs, garden furniture, beautiful roses and more

54 Reviews A golﬁng adventure, the Cosford RAF show and a unique art exhibition

109 Pets & wildlife Discover wildﬂower meadows, a dog-friendly hotel, support your local rescue centre – and of course your cute pets

56 Bright lights, big city The best shows in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff

p93 Buy your own art

p114 Beautiful summer jewellery

59 Explore… Head north to Caernarfon, a unique town where history and modern life meet 60 Make the most of the coast Discover the seaside towns of Wales and Wirral, plus great seashore activities and beautiful beaches 67 Everything under the sun Head outdoors for your entertainment this summer – picnic theatre, music festivals and historic events

p70 The calm of the waterside at Bala p67 Head outdoors for your entertainment this summer

p99 Great ideas for your home

70 A river runs through it Celebrate the beauty of our region’s waterside spots, whether you want to be in it, on it or by it! 75 Holidays From boating holidays to self-catering, and luxury holiday parks, it’s all here 81 Get active On two wheels, on two feet on the water or in the water – just get out there and do something different today! 84 Escapes Treat yourself to the best hotel breaks in the region 87 Food & drink Put your hands together for pork, pre-prepared picnics, great local gin and more

p105

93 Arts & crafts Local crafts and exhibitions, successful local artists, plus your lovely photographs

Everything’s coming up roses p114 Fabulous frocks for summer!

05 Contents OA.indd 5

114 Fashion Summer trends for men and women, plus advice on choosing your beachwear 120 Online shopping Where to buy locally without leaving your armchair 122 Health & beauty Never be afraid to visit the dentist, get bendy with yoga, the best facial spritzers and more help and advice 126 Care and mobility A caring home for independent people, and a hospice that celebrates life 129 Education news Everything that’s been going on at your local schools, colleges and universities 135 Your poetry 136 Book club Meet a local author, plus great summer reads, and local literary events 138 Working life Nail that job interview, plus great ideas for working smart 140 Volunteering & charity Ideas for getting out and helping in your community 142 Sudoku and Aunty Emma Win a subscription to Yattar Yattar, plus our new aunty on dealing with nephews and nits! 145 Legal Advice from the experts 148 Competitions Great prizes up for grabs! 151 Your letters

July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 5

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What’s on at Erddig Hall Matthew Wood, Artist in residence, 9th July-4th August Since November, Erddig’s artist in residence has been inspired to paint scores of paintings of the property. Do you have any Discover Matthew’s events you’d like to unique journey through this historic house. see in the next issue?

Tree climbing fun to be had at Erddig this summer

GET IN TOUCH!

Saturday lates, 23rd July-27th August The gardens and outbuildings will be open to 9pm on Saturdays, with themed evenings of music, theatre and food in the gardens.

Email to editorial@ yattaryattar.co.uk

The Railway Children, 13th August Chapterhouse Theatre presents the heart-warming story of adventure and family set in the Yorkshire countryside. With period costume, traditional music and songs. Visit chapterhouse.org or call 0844 249 1895. Tree Climbing, 28th July & 25th August TheGreat Big Tree Climbing Company takes young adventurers to new heights and see Erddig from a different perspective. Tickets are £18.50 and suitable for children aged 6 upwards. Booking essential, call 0844 249 1895.

Denbighshire Heritage events Visit Plas Newydd in Llangollen for some summer fun Ghost of Dylan Thomas, 20th July Another play by local playwright and actor Peter Read, all set in the atmospheric courtyard at Plas Newydd Stableblock. Zorro, 5th August Follow the adventures of Zorro among the Yew trees and Bardic stones of Plas Newydd as Off the Ground Theatre company return for another great performance. Visit offtheground.co.uk for prices and booking. Visit denbighshire.gov.uk

Fun in the sun with Ffestiniog Railway Summer of Fun, 25th July-29th August Throughout the summer holidays, there’ll be a little something extra each day for families. Special activities announced so far include footplate rides, food on the move trains and lots more.

Jazz in the Park, 28th July; 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th August Join Dr Jazz for an evening of foot tapping and a barbecue at Tan y Bwlch station. Classic Car and Family Day at Dinas, 21st August See loads of classic cars plus stands and stalls to browse at Dinas station. There’ll also be family activities, including footplate rides, slate shunt challenges and miniature train rides. Find out more at festrail. co.uk

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

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WHAT’S ON NORTH WALES What’s On in brief

Shows at Clwyd Theatr Cymru Diwrnod Hyfred Sali Mali, 6th July A Welsh language play for children aged three to seven based on Mary Vaughan Jones’s classic characters. Step in Time, 7th-9th July The Whitton Morris School of Dance presents its first pantomime production to celebrate 40 years at Theatr Clwyd. The Wind in the Willows, 8th-9th July The Trap Door Theatre Performing Arts students present the tale of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and This Glorious Son, 16th July Chester Theatre Club Youth Theatre and Heirs of Banquo Productions present two contrasting pieces based on the work of Coleridge and Shakespeare.

World Cup ’66, 30th July Match footage, fascinating stories, appearances from football heroes and incredible songs from 1966 are brought together to commemorate the historic day that England won the World Cup, exactly 50 years after it happened. National Youth Dance Wales 2016, 26th August NYDW brings its own brand of high quality, creative contemporary dance to the stage combining artistry, clear technique and high energy. Visit theatrclwyd.com or call 01352 701521.

l 1st-10th July, Conwy Walking Week A series of guided walks throughout the county. Discover Conwy’s beautiful countryside on foot, with themed walks suitable for varying abilities; from an easy stroll to a really hard hike.

l 2nd July,

On your bikes! Living legend Giacomo ‘Ago’ Agostini will be guest of honour at the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival – LlanBikeFest 2016 – which takes place on 23rd-24th July at the Pavilion, Llangollen. With an unbeaten record of 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships titles, Ago is flying in from his Italian home to spend the weekend meeting fans, judging competitions and providing opportunities for autographs and photos. Ago said: ‘I am looking forward to being at LlanBikeFest in July – a real festival of motorcycling for everyone who loves bikes, in a beautiful part of the world.’ As well as this, ‘George Formby’ will be riding again at Llangollen, as 1930s TT tribute act Graeme Hardy rides his replica of Formby’s home-made racer (a 1926 Model P Triumph). Just like George, Graeme strums the ukulele and sings a range of classic songs, including Riding at the TT Races. LlanBikeFest is set amid some of Britain’s best biking roads, at the foot of the Horseshoe Pass and its famously bike-friendly Ponderosa Café, and on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. On-site attractions will include hundreds of bikes, displays, stunts, demonstrations, trade and club stands, plus beer, bands and evening entertainment in Llangollen town. There will also be a charity raffle in aid of Wales Air Ambulance. Day tickets are £10. Visit llanbikefest.co.uk or call 07960 693398.

Wrexham Heritage Service events

Photo © Nick Kennard

Touched by Greatness: The Story of Welsh International Football, until 3rd June, 2017 Timed to coincide with Wales’s first appearance at an international football finals since 1958, this exhibition chronicles the heroic endeavours of the country’s greatest footballers. Bersham Ironworks guided tours, 7th July & 4th August Take a look round the ironworks made famous by John ‘Iron Mad’ Wilkinson.

l 2nd July, North Wales Coast Bikeathon An ideal day out for all, this is an eight-mile leisurely bike ride along Cycle Route 5 of the National Cycle Path, hugging the shoreline.

l 2nd-3rd July, Craft and Country Fair Visit Plassey Craft & Retail Centre to find craft and food stalls along with falconry, kids’ stalls and Thomas the tank engine rides around the park. A fun day out for all the family!

l 3rd July, Penbedw Estate 10km and 20km trail races The route for both races follows the same route at the start and the end but the 20km route extends over moorland and more hills. There is plenty of variety in terrain with forest tracks, footpaths, fields and moorland.

Find out more about Wrexham Museum’s exciting current exhibition on our Arts pages, p93-96

Holt Castle Talk & Tour, 20th July This outdoor talk and tour will be led by Steve Grenter, Wrexham Heritage Service Manager.

History Alive! on 31st July

North Wales Agricultural Show, Caernarfon Something for everyone and always a friendly atmosphere. Attractions this year include Dai Bando and crew terrier racing and John Islwyn Jones from Pen y Bryn Falconry.

History Alive! Battle Fest 950 at Bersham Ironworks, 31st July Wrexham’s annual living history festival marks the 950th anniversary of probably the most important date in the history of this island. Follow the epic events of 1066 in the company of the Viking Society, north Wales’s Cwmwd Iâl and Shropshire-based Les Miles des Marches as Norman, Saxon and Viking battle for supremacy in a struggle that had huge repercussions for Wales. Tickets £5, £4 and under 18 £1 Call 01978 297460 or visit wrexham.gov.uk/heritage

l 5th-10th July, Llangollen International Music Festival Six days of music, song and dance from around the world, including performances from Byn Terfel, Carmen starring Katherine Jenkins (pictured), and Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

l 8th-9th July, Folk at the Hall Head for Trelanwyd near Rhyl for this intimate but growing folk festival which this year features well-known names Karine Polwart and Jackie Oates, as well as up-and-coming acts such as Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar. therecordjournal.co.uk

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NORTH WALES WHAT’S ON What’s On in brief ● 8th-10th July, Gwyl Arall Festival, Caernarfon A jam-packed weekend of literature, music, art and ﬁlm, celebrating the Welsh language and taking place around the town.

Gig guide

Go ﬂy a kite this summer!

● 9th July, Little Mountain Country Festival, Minera Tyn y Capel The Little Mountain Country Music Festival is a day packed with UK country artists. Kicking off at 12.30pm and going through until 11pm it’s a great day out for all the family. A day pass costs just £6 or £10 to include a light lunch. The festival will be the ultimate blend of contemporary and traditional Country and Americana Music.

● 10th July, Mold Carnival Experience the ﬁnal of Mold’s Got Talent, say hello to celebrity guests, enjoy amazing entertainment, experience the great fun fair and participate in events for all the family. moldcarnival.co.uk

● 14th-24th July, Llangollen Fringe Festival Ten days of music, literary events, theatre and workshops, including performances from The Selecter and Jah Wobble, live country music on the Llangollen Steam Railway, author talks, a jazz narrowboat cruise and more.

● 17th-23rd July, Conwy River Festival A celebration of the town and its relationship with the river estuary. The week-long event offers a variety of shoreside entertainment for all the family, as well as water-based activities and serious racing events.

● 19th July, Red Squirrel Walk, Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens, Find out about some of Plas Cadnant’s most charming and cutest residents with one of the Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels.

Summer fun at Bodnant Garden There are family events in the garden at Bodnant every day of the school holidays, through July and August. Fun and games include self-led activities – pooh sticks, den building and fossil hunting – and staff-led activities such as kite ﬂying, pond dipping and wildlife arts and crafts. All activities are free. Beatrix Potter Day, 28th July Celebrate the 150th birthday of the children’s writer, who gave 4,000 acres of land, including 15 farms, to the National Trust. There will be story telling sessions and children are invited to bring along their favourite Beatrix Potter cuddly toys. History of Bodnant Garden Walk, 24th August Take a tour with a gardener and ﬁnd out more about the history of the gardens. Tree climbing, 28th-29th August Scale some of Bodnant’s tall trees with the help of experts from the Big Tree Climbing Company and get a bird’s eye view of the garden. (Cost £20, book on 01492 650460)

What’s On at William Aston Hall

Price & Jones, The Cross Keys, Llanfynydd, 5th July Rose Price and Ian Jones guest at the popular acoustic club, with a 60-minute set of thoughtfully interpreted traditional and contemporary material. Expect engaging music and presentation from this Chester-based duo.

Music in the Pin Mill, 24th July & 14th August There will be a regular programme of music in the historic Pin Mill building on Sunday afternoons, including award-winning Welsh harpist Dylan Cernyw.

Sikth, Central Station and Yales, 13th July The Poem open days, A metal band with a 26th July & 30th August refreshingly original take Explore the beautiful on the genre. They have a interior of the powerful sound, making Victorian full use of their large mausoleum, six-man line-up. The which belongs group’s mission to to the create their own Bodnant Garden garden’s style of progressive donor family. covers more than music has took them on tours all 80 acres – that’s a To ﬁnd out round the world and lot of plants and more visit earned them plenty nationaltrust. ﬂowers! of praise. The band org.uk/bodnantreunited for Download garden 2014, six years after the cult Watford act broke fans’ hearts by parting ways back in 2008.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wrexham Symphony Orchestra, 3rd July The orchestra in residence continue their amazing Mahler Project, in conjunction with Betrinac, with Mahler’s 5th Symphony. This is the seventh concert in the series, which so far has raised more than £10,000 for a number of dementia charities. Elsberdance, 9th-10th & 16th-17th July Having just returned from representing Wales at the Dance World Cup in Jersey, the talented students of Elsberdance present four different summer themed shows. Each is packed with high energy dance numbers, talented vocalists and entertainment for all the family. Visit glyndwr.ac.uk or call 0844 888 9991.

The Cavernites, The Long Bar, Towyn, 13th August This professional four piece band from Liverpool, perform a tribute show that recreates the vibrant sounds and atmosphere of the Swinging Sixties. The Cavernites take their name from the fan club members of The Cavern Club in Liverpool, and are an accurate live recreation of a Sixties pop group during the Beatlemania years.

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Play out at

Chirk Castle, Erddig & Powis Castle It’s one of the many challenges of parenthood: how do you keep children amused during the summer holidays? Because, let’s face it, even the best laid plans can be ruined by a sudden downpour. Never fear, we’ve got a few ideas up our sleeves. We’re not talking about ‘no running’ stuffy old houses or ‘don’t touch’ museums. We’re talking about storytelling, wildlife tracking, and tree-scrambling adventures. With a generous dollop of mud pie making, den building and toasting marshmallows over an open camp fire. Now what family doesn’t need a bit of that?

At Erddig, Chirk and Powis Castle you can tick off a whole host of the activities from our list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾. From rolling down a really big hill at Chirk Castle to cooking on a campfire at Erddig and tracking wild animals at Powis Castle. Did you know: At Erddig, Chirk and Powis you can complete 31 of the 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ at these three places alone.

Erddig tree climbing with the Big Tree Climbing Company 28 July and 25 August Join our tree climbing experts who will guide you up Erddig’s trees using ropes and harnesses.

Powis Castle WW1 obstacle course Be put you through your paces on our Great Lawn assault course – have you got what it takes to be WWI soldier? Hop through tyres, balance along logs and crawl under cargo netting – which of your family will complete the course in the quickest time? Did you know: The Great Lawn covers one hectare of our garden - the same size as a professional football pitch. That’s plenty of open space to enjoy this summer!

Once you’re kitted out, you’ll get an opportunity to see our 1,200 acre estate from a different perspective. Booking is essential as places are limited, so book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. Ages 6 plus, cost £18.50 Did you know: The longest rope used for tree climbing on our sycamore tree in Big Wood is 17.5 metres long, that’s nearly 60 feet high.

Chirk Castle, Medieval Games 1 July – 4 September Try your hand at some traditional medieval games around the castle, and learn how to make them for yourself at home.

Let the outdoors move you activities Our beautiful spaces provide the perfect backdrop for getting active in the outdoors. At Erddig let us help you to discover and enjoy our beautiful parkland with our fun beginner jogging and Nordic walking sessions or at Chirk Castle find your perfect woodland cycling or running route for all the family? If that’s not enough, we also have lots of tennis taster sessions arranged throughout the summer holidays or for something more traditional, why not try your hand at croquet in Powis’ beautiful Edwardian garden

For more information visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wales

Did you know: In medieval England the game of quoits became so popular that it was prohibited by Edward III and Richard II to encourage archery, as they were worried about not having enough archers for their armies.

Mortimer’s Fortress: A Medieval Weekend 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 August Journey back in time 700 years and discover how the people lived, ate, fought and dressed in a medieval castle. Wander through the living history camp and experience medieval sights and sounds including craft demonstrations, archery, combat, armour, and more.

NTWales

Rhif elusen gofrestredig 205846/ Registered charity no. 205846 Lluniau/Images: ©National Trust Images

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WHAT’S ON NORTH WALES Summer shows at Rhyl Pavilion

Events at Bala Lake Railway Classic Commercial Vehicle Rally, 30th-31st July Displays of vintage buses and other commercial vehicles ar Llanuwchllyn and Bala, plus regular excursions by train or bus on a circular tour to Llyn Celyn reservoir. Barbecue Specials, 6th & 18th August Depart from Llanuwchllyn at 6.30pm on a steam train to Llangower, where you’ll stop for a barbecue and to watch the sun go down across the lake. Pre-booking is essential. Race the Train, 20th August Join or watch the paddleboarders who are taking on the speed of the train. Last year the train won, but only just! If you want to see all the action of the race, but don’t fancy the physical exertion, you can travel on the train and cheer the entrants on!

Summer Dreaming: Rock ‘n’ Roll Dynamite, 7th July A brand new concert paying homage to the music of the 50s and 60s. Fancy dress is highly recommended! September in the Rain, 20th July A bittersweet comedy from John Godber, following miner Jack and his wife Liz on their annual holiday to Blackpool over the years. Chernobyl 30th Anniversary Concert, 22nd July A concert presented by North Wales Coast Link of Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline with Denbighshire Youth Services, featuring Only Boys Aloud plus guests from Belarus and Ukraine. Leo Green Presents Sounds of the 50s Live, 23rd July All the hits from the 50s brought live to the stage, including songs from Elvis.

Roxy Musique, 2nd August A two set show by Roxy Musique, the definitive tribute to Roxy Music. Pink Floyd’s The Wall Live, 26th August A three-hour show which includes the whole album, plus other classics performed by some the of best musicians from across the North West.

Dinosaur Zoo, 31st August-1st September Do you dare to get up close and personal to these prehistoric beasts? Direct from the West End, Dinosaur Zoo gives you the chance to see everything from cute baby dinosaurs to teeth-gnashing giants on the stage. Visit rhylpavilion.co.uk or call 01745 330000.

What’s on at Penrhyn Castle

DID YOU KNOW?

Visit bala-lake-railway.co. uk to find out more.

l 22nd-23rd July, Graig Aid Festival A weekend of live music next door to the Three Pigeons Pub at Graigfechan, featuring rock, folk, jazz and blues. From its humble beginnings as a pub music night, the festival is now an established event. Camping available.

l 23rd July, Prestatyn Carnival A grand parade will go through town and there’ll be a full programme of entertainment on the carnival field, including a giant fun fair, charity stalls, trade stands, bouncy castles, donkey rides and classic cars, plus hot and cold refreshments, a fancy dress competition and four entertainment areas. l 24th-30th July, Conwy Classical Musical Festival, The festival, centres on St Mary and All Saints’ Church. Lunchtime and evening concerts feature prominent musicians from Wales and further afield, with a full range of orchestral, choral, vocal and instrumental experiences.

Steam Gala, 26th-29th Strawberries in the park, August 16th July A special gala to celebrate Indulge in a summer picnic, or steam locomotive Diana’s grab a bowl of strawberries first season with the railway. and cream and relax on She’ll be joined by lots of the lawn. Watch or other engines, take part in a spot including special of tennis and stroll guest Quarry around the Hunslet Velinheli gardens. coming from Bala Lake Railway is Launceston the home of the real Castle fun day, Railway. A full 21st July life inspiration for timetable of A day of family activities, Alice, the Little fun with games including Welsh Engine on the lawn, passenger trains storytelling, crafts and demonstration and fun trails. freight trains, will be available on the website closer to the event.

What’s On in brief

Lotus Motor Show, 23rd July Rev up those engines and motor on over to Penrhyn for a day of classic Lotus cars on display around the castle.

Falconry Fun, Sundays from 24th July Meet Alan, Edgar and Storm as they walk and squawk around the grounds with their handler. Get up close and learn more about the world of birds of prey. You can also try your hand at a spot of archery with the Wild Elements team. Wild Nature: Find the way, 25th July Only the most skilled and daring explorers will venture to Penrhyn Castle for a day of maps, compasses, stick trails and kites. Are you brave enough for the barefoot challenge? Will you find the geocache? The first step? Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

l 29th-30th July, Prestatyn Flower Show A Traditional Flower Show held in the Edwardian Vicarage Gardens, with exhibition marquees, stalls, children’s entertainment, classic cars, live jazz and brass band music – something for everyone to enjoy.

l 30th July, Teddy Bears’ Tea Party, Bodelwyddan Castle For children age seven and under with their carers. Take your favourite cuddly toy and turn up for a tea party with games and entertainment. l 31st July-5th August, Colwyn Bay Bowling Festival Now one of the largest bowling festivals in the UK, with seven major tournaments plus additional ‘flyers’ on 10 different greens around Conwy County. Eirias Park is the main host.

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NORTH WALES WHAT’S ON What’s On in brief

● 1st-7th August, UK Geocaching Mega Event, Llangollen Pavilion An event to showcase the very best of north Wales, from coast to mountain and town to country. There’ll be a number of events during the week with the main event on 6th August at The Pavilion.

● 5th-7th August, North Wales Blues and Soul Festival Three days of blues and soul music on Kendrick’s ﬁeld and in local pubs and restaurants. The festival has a line-up of the best in this genre of music from Britain and beyond.

A Llangollen Railway summer Fish & Chip Special, 9th July Enjoy a plate of traditional ﬁsh’n’chips as you travel through the Dee Valley. 1960s Weekend, 23rd-24th July Relive the sights and sounds of the 60s with a retro train service, classic vehicle display and a real ale festival back at the station. Visitors are encouraged to dress up in their 60s ﬁnery for the occasion! A Day Out with Thomas, 6th-7th & 11th-14th August Peep peep! Thomas the Tank Engine is returning to Llangollen Railway. A chance for kids to take a ride with Thomas and meet the Fat Controller, plus there’s activities for the whole family to enjoy.

● 6th August, Moelfre Lifeboat Day One of Anglesey’s biggest events of the year, with a lifeboat display, hundreds of crafts and boats, a display from the RAF Valley rescue helicopter, music, entertainment, stalls and much more.

● 6th August, Round Anglesey Race This legendary sailing race that has been gracing Anglesey’s shoreline since 1966. Exciting and sometimes even hair-raising it’s a race sailors wouldn’t miss for the world and is a great spectator event.

● 13th August, Eglwysbach Agricultural and Horticultural Show Classes for rare breeds of cattle, sheep and horses, cookery, vegetables, ﬂower arranging, honey and wine. Also a fair, entertainment for the children and an art exhibition in the nearby primary school.

● 13th-14th August, North Wales Faery Festival There will be more than 130 stalls at Llangollen Pavilion, plus a full programme of events including speakers, free wing and wand-making workshops for children, facepainters, strolling players, a vintage funfair, healers and readers, faery re-enactors, storytellers, live music, a Grand Faery Ball and many craftspeople.

Steam and Jazz Train, 20th August An evening of live jazz music on board a train departing from Llangollen station at 7pm. An on-train bar will be available throughout the journey. Advance booking is a must. Peppa Pig, 27th August Kids’ favourite Peppa Pig will be making a personal appearance at the station, with train rides and other fun activities also available. Find out more at llangollenrailway.co.uk

Take a sleep on the wild side! Want to get up close and personal nature? So close and personal that you’re prepared to sleep out in the wild?! Now is your chance to do so with the Big Wild Sleepout at RSPB Conwy on 30th July. This is a great opportunity to spend a night on a nature reserve. All you need is family and friends, a tent and your food – the RSPB willsupply the wildlife and adventure. The event starts on Saturday evneing, when you’ll pitch your tent and then cook and eat dinner. As darkness falls, you’ll be given some wildlife challenges, plus there’ll be moth trapping and a bat-watching wander. Before bed, you’ll toast marshmallows on the campﬁre. On Sunday morning you’ll be up early to listen to the birdsong and to check what moths were caught in the traps overnight, before breaking camp and heading home. The event costs £30 adult non-members, children £16, discounted for members. Booking is essential. Visit rspb.org.uk or call 01492 584091.

What’s on at Welsh Highland Heritage Rail Steam & Song, 17th August Enjoy an evening of entertainment with a Welsh male voice choir. Lace on the train, 20th-21st August Watch lace being made or have a go at yourself. Visit whr.co.uk

What a show! The Anglesey County Show, which takes place 9th-10th August celebrates its 129th show this year. It is the biggest two-day agricultural show in Wales – attracting approximately 58,000 visitors. There is something for everyone. For those whose interests are equine, there are more than 1,000 horses, from powerful shire horses down to miniature Shetland ponies, plus many high-ranking show jumpers. Plenty of other animals feature, too, with 10 different breeds of cattle on display as well as more than 24 different breeds of sheep. Pigs and goats are also a great attraction, as well as the poultry, rabbits and pigeons. There’s plenty to see and do – other attractions include the horticultural marquee with flowers, cookery and crafts, and a country life activity area which hosts the International Gun Dog Competition

as well as Dog Scurry Competitions and Clay Target Shooting. With more than 300 trade stands, and a fairground it’s a great day out for all the family. Entertaining the crowds in the main ring this year will be the Motor Stunts International Motorcycle Display Team and the Anglesey Vintage Equipment Society – both spectacular attractions not to be missed. Visit angleseyshow.org.uk or call 01407 720072.

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WHAT’S ON NORTH WALES What’s on at Chirk Castle Vintage tractor rally, 3rd July Local vintage tractor owners come to Chirk as part of a charity run around North Wales.

What’s On in brief

Superheroes travel by train! Take a super journey from 24th-28th July, when you’ll be able to spot plenty of superheroes all along the Llanberis Lake Railway and at each of the stations as part of the all-new Super Hero Week. Children are encouraged to dress up, and any child dressed up as their favourite superhero, cartoon or Disney character can travel for free, and there’ll even be a prize for the best dressed every day! Visit lake-railway.co.uk

l 18th August, The Denbigh & Flint County Show A day out with entertainment for the whole family. Attractions include the food festival with cookery demonstrations and an array of locally produced foods, vintage machines and classic cars, livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, horses) and BSJA Show Jumping. denbighandflintshow.com

Chirk Castle halfmarathon, 10th July Run Wales bring this popular half-marathon back to Chirk Castle. Visit runwales.com Merry Wives of Windsor, 15th-16th July Join the Oswestry Drama Project for two evening performances of this Shakespeare play in the gardens of Chirk Castle.

Dragon Quest, 16th-17th July Join the Dragons of the Wye-Ten for some puppet theatre in the gardens. Civil War musket weekend, 23rd-24th July With firearms expert Brian Godwin to learn all about Chirk Castle’s fantastic collection. Including live musket firing in the courtyard.

Mortimer’s Fortress, 6th-7th, 13th-14th and 20th-21st August Medieval weekends with the Marcher Freemen. Weapon demonstrations, activities, archery and more. Meet the group at their camp to learn all about medieval life. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

l 20th August, Beaumaris Lifeboat

What’s On at Galeri Caernarfon Dangosiad yr Haf Dawns i Bawb, 2nd July Galeri Caernarfon’s annual showcase gives you the chance to get a glimpse of what the gallery does with local community groups.

Caitlin, 15th-16th July In 1973 Caitlin, wife of poet Dylan Thomas, started attending Alcoholics Anonymous. The audience sits with Caitlin in the circle of chairs as she revisits her tempestuous life with Dylan, and the unoccupied chairs become part of the action in this physical and powerful duet. English and Welsh language performances. Tic Tacs: Owain Tudur Jones, 18th July A Welsh language evening with the former Welsh international footballer. The evening will be chaired by Nic Parry and will be an opportunity to hear about Owain’s career from the early days playing for Bangor City to representing Wales. Calan, 21st August Five young musicians give Welsh traditional music a fresh and vibrant sound. With a contemporary and lively approach they breathe new life into the old traditions with sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing.

Day Lifeboat displays, children’s games, train rides, plus various stalls and a chance to meet with the lifeboat crew and guild members.

l 20th August, Postcard Fair, Llandudno This is the only dedicated postcard fair in North Wales, with 20 dealers from Wales and other parts of the UK, selling original postcards dating from the past 120+ years.

Tonic: Solrela, 18th August Sisters Lisa Angharad, Gwenno Elan, Mari Gwenllian from Aberystwyth make up Sorela. Having sung together for years as backing vocalists for their mother Linda Griffiths, the girls had never ventured out on their own... until now! The acapella trio sing a bilingual, eclectic mix of traditional Welsh folk tunes, 90s pop hits, 50s classics and original works all in acapella.

l 21st August, St Asaph Country Fayre A great day out for all the family, with all sorts of attractions such as performing animals, circus skills workshops, fairground, live music and more, at Llanerch Park.

l 21st August, Tour de Mon, Holyhead One of the best sportives in the county, taking riders around the most beautiful and iconic locations on the island of Anglesey.

l 27th August, Denbigh Show An

Trio a’u Ffrindiau, 20th August A very special concert in the company of Trio as they launch their new album. Joining Trio will be the popular duo `Piantel` (Annette Bryn Parri and Dylan Cernyw) and Gwen Elin, winner of the Bryn Terfel Urdd Gobaith Cymru Scholarship 2015. Visit galericaernarfon.com or call 01286 685250.

outdoor traditional family event. With live music throughout the day, workshops, arena events and static displays, pet show, horse events, classic cars and show favourites such as Punch and Judy. thedenbighshow.com

l 29th August, St Asaph Car and Motorbike Show With vintage, classic, American, modified, commercial and motorbikes. Trophies and medals for the best vehicles in their category and also best ‘club’ stand. Adults £5, Children £3, Under 10s Free.

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NORTH WALES WHAT’S ON Events at Cadw sites Mametz Remembered, Caernarfon Castle, 7th-10th July It may have lasted just a few days, but the Battle for Mametz Wood in July 1916 was one of the bloodiest in history and is where hundreds of Welshmen died, most of them volunteers. This exhibition will tell their story, with the help of some costumed interpreters.

Gladstone’s Library events A Little Bit of This, A little Bit of That, 1st-3rd July See a typical slice of discussion at Gladstone's Library. A compendium of thoughts starting with bestselling novelist Salley Vickers and concluding with a discussion about liberal values. Gladstone Umbrella, 15th-17th July A chance to discuss history, Victoriana and of course the ‘Grand Old Man’ himself, plus a visit to William Gladstone's office, The Temple of Peace, in Hawarden Castle. Entertaining Judgement: The Afterlife in Popular Imagination, 22nd-24th July Greg Garrett offers imaginative insights into our persistent absorption with the afterlife through film, television, novels, art, pop music, graphic novels and more. The Authentic Paul, 25th-29th July Kalyan Dey offers refreshing and liberal insights into the genuine New Testament writings of Paul, with surprising results.

Welsh in a Week, 22nd-28th August By the end of the week, even complete beginners will be able to carry out a conversation in Welsh. Victorian Bestsellers, 30th August-1st September A course considering the ways in which the bestselling novels of Victorian England responded to their historical context and just why they were so popular. Visit gladstoneslibrary.org

What’s on at Plas Newydd 1970s Weekend, 2nd-3rd July A weekend all things 1970s to celebrate 40 years since Plas Newydd first opened to the public. Don’t forget your platform shoes, flares and big hair!

Romeo and Juliet, Valle Crucis Abbey, 15th-16th July; Rhuddlan Castle, 17th July A promenade performance (you move with it as the action progresses) of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays to celebrate 400 years of the bard.

Bees and pollinators, 5th July Discover the wonderful world of bees and their importance within the garden. Pond Life, 27th July Delve into the strange world below the pond surface. See what lives in the water and have a go at trying to catch a fish in a net. Summer Fair, 2nd August Stalls, games and all the fun of a traditional summer fair. The Poisonous Garden, 9th August The average garden contains a wide range of beautiful but sinister plants. Join the garden team and find out what lurks at Plas Newydd. Ready, steady, grow! 10th August Outdoor cooking fun with the Wild Elements team. Have a go at growing your own and making a Cresshead. Try a tasty treat from the fire. Then relax and play with the mud as make pies! Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Festival of Archaeology, Rhuddlan Castle, 23rd-24th July A day of celebrating Welsh history and heritage including storytelling, craft demonstrations, hands-on activities and craft workshops. Roald Dahl Event, Rhuddlan Castle, 27th-31st July Witches, warts, revolting rhymes and marvellous medicine brought to life at one of Wales’ ancient castles. Find out more at cadw.gov.wales

North Wales History Ty Mawr Wybrnant

Despite its name, which means big house, Ty Mawr is actually very small by today’s standards. Located in the Wybrnant Valley about four miles from Betws y Coed, Ty Mawr Wybrnant is best known as the birthplace of William Morgan, in around 1545, who spent 10 years translating the Bible into Welsh. Before this, Welsh people had never been able to or allowed to worship in their own language – Henry VIII had ordered that only English be used in religious services and before that, only Latin had been used. Morgan’s efforts created a standard written version of Welsh for the time and helped to give Wales one of the highest levels of popular literacy in Europe in the following century. Around 1000 copies of Morgan’s bible were published in 1588, though only around 20 copies survive today, two of which are now on display in the house he once called home. Ty Mawr Wybrnant is owned by the National Trust, who have restored it to its 16th century appearance. The house is still fairly isolated – getting there requires a drive from the village of Penmachno down a forest road. Thanks to its secluded location, Ty Mawr Wybrnant gives visitors a real feel for what life would have been like during the 16th and 17th centuries in rural Wales. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk to find out more.

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NORTH WALES WHAT’S ON Snowdonia and Llyn events

What’s on at Pontio

Blas y Môr Aberdaron, 10th July Produce stalls, cooking demos and the chance to sample and buy fresh local seafood. Also children’s activities, art, kayaking, paddleboarding and more.

Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs, 2nd July Ballet Cymru present two stories from the mind of Roald Dahl. With costumes by designer Steve Denton and a stunning lighting design by John Bishop, this is a performance with many surprises. Whatever Happened to LaLa Shockette?, 15th July Why did Boy George take a dislike to Anglesey sea salt? Was Gary Numan really a robot ‘between the sheets’? All is revealed in this hilarious, 5-star award winning comedy and cabaret show, tracing the life of the early 80s New Romantic pop star LaLa Shockette, alter ego of Lowri-Ann Richards, from her humble beginnings. Principality Only Boys Aloud Academi Concert, 20th July In 2015 The Principality Only Boys Aloud Academi launched a six-month pilot project for Only Boys Aloud in north Wales. Following performances at St Donat’s Castle and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Academi comes to Pontio.

Grass, 23rd July Look down. What are you standing on? Explore the ground and all of its wriggling inhabitants in this quirky dance show for young children. A free bug-making workshop with the artist Eleri Jones will be held after the show. I Ka Ching Fifth birthday gig, 23rd July This record label was named NME Label of the Week last year. Celebrate at this all-day gig with some of its bands, including Candelas, Swnami, Yr Eira, Palenco, Ysgol Sul and Siddi. Visit pontio.co.uk, or call 01248 382828

All that jazz

The 2016 Llandudno Jazz Festival, at Bodafon Farm Park above the Promenade, brings some of the cream of the jazz world to north Wales on the weekend of 29th-31st July. Jazz enthusiasts and lovers of popular music alike can enjoy three days and nights of extraordinary performances. Bodafon Farm Park’s Lower Courtyard provides a secluded spot ideal for a jazz festival main stage, offering great views just outside the marquee plus all facilities on site, including real toilets, a fully stocked bar with real ales and excellent wines, plus a full service kitchen for cafe style refreshments and full restaurant menu, a barbecue, pizzas and a terrace cafe. The festival aims to highlight a range of talent from north Wales, the UK and across the globe, with a line-up that includes Tina May, Art Themen, David Newton, Nicola Farnon, Peter Long, Alan Barnes, Tori Freestone, Clark Tracey and many more. Great music, good food and drinks, all set in a truly superb and inspiring location in Wales’ premier seaside capital. Visit llandudnojazzfestival.com

What’s On at Venue Cymru West Rock, 13th July Hits from legendary artists such as The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Journey and more in this journey through America’s classic rock scene. Let’s Twist Again, 14th July Big Tony Tremendo, live band The Twisters and a full company of critically acclaimed performers in a show that combines music, laughter with the greatest hits of the 60s and 70s.

Chaplin: The Charlie Chaplin Story, 15th July A heart-warming and hilarious musical about Charlie Chaplin’s journey

from Victorian London to the glitz of Hollywood, with an all-star West End cast. The Mousetrap, 25th-30th July A special 60th anniversary production of Agatha Christie’s play. A group of people in a country house cut off by the snow discover there is a murderer in their midst.

Little Shop of Horrors, 16th-20th August Sell a Door Theatre Company present the 1950s musical sci-ﬁ spoof. Seymour Krelborn becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers a strange and exotic plant. The Dreamboys, 26th August An action-packed show full of music, muscle, magic and mayhem. Visit venuecymru.co.uk or call 01492 872000.

Beach fun days: Porthdinllaen 29th July; Llanbedrog, 1st August; Porthor, 15th August Kayaking or paddleboard taster sessions, beach football, a sandcastle competition, rock-pooling and much more.

Craflwyn fun day, 4th August Den building, treasure hunt, story time and the wellythrowing championships. Guided bike ride, 11th & 25th August Join the National Trust ranger on a guided ride from Porth y Swnt, Aberdaron. Booking essential, call 01758 760469. Llandanwg beach fun day, 17th August Create some wild art, fly a kite and find your way with a map and compass. 50 things fun day at Ty Mawr Wybrnant, 19th August Try hunting for bugs, making a home for a wild animal and ‘plant it, grow it, eat it’.

Porthor ‘50 things’, 28th August Make some wild art, build and ﬂy a kite, use a map and compass to ﬁnd treasure. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

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Magnificence at Machynlleth This year the Machynlleth Festival celebrates its 30th year with a bumper collection of concerts from 21st-28th August, including Welsh choral singing, jazz, classical music, and talks, interviews and masterclasses. Musicians from all over the world will be arriving to sing and play in the Tabernacle, a hall that has one of the finest acoustics in Britain and Europe. Highlights of the week include a great Welsh tradition, Cymanfa Ganu, congregational singing in four part harmony; the male voice choir, Cantorion Gogledd Cymru; and ‘Songs about us’, a family lunchtime concert which is completely free for all. There will also be a return visit by the great bass-baritone Sir Willard White, in a programme that includes selections from the American Songbook. Sir Willard also gives the Festival Masterclass, open for all to attend and learn from. Other highlights include the brilliant Budapest Café Orchestra; British string quartet Navarra, making their festival debut; ‘The Singing Cellist’, a late night hour of side splitting fun and satire; Pascal Rogé, doyen of French pianists, talking to Christopher Cook, and performing a ravishing programme of French piano masterpieces; and the Ferio Saxophone Quartet by candlelight. There will also be an all Mozart programme from the young Italian pianist Saskia Giorgini, this year’s winner at the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg; and the Festival Finale features a wind quintet from the Netherlands, Calefax. Visit moma.machynlleth.org.uk

WIN!

We’ve got a pair of tickets to see Cantorion Gogledd Cymru at MOMA! Turn to page 149 to enter

Top: the great bass-baritone Sir Willard White; Left: Cantorion Gogledd Cymru; Right: Pascal Rogé

A right Royal Welsh time

Never forget your Welsh The National Eisteddfod, the definitive celebration of Welsh culture, pitches its iconic pink pavilion at Abergavenny this year, from 29th July-6th August. The event, which alternates between south and north Wales each year, will see music, dance, visual arts, original performances and much more taking place. This year, Only Men Aloud will be appearing at the opening concert, as well as a host of other performers and shows taking place during the week. You don’t have to speak Welsh to appreciate the spectacle, and Welsh learners are welcomed, with a special area, Maes D, especially set up as a centre for learning Welsh. Visit eisteddfod.wales for more information.

The pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar, the Royal Welsh Show, takes place this year, from 18th-21st July at the showground in Llanelwedd. The livestock classes last year attracted more than 7,000 entries from far and wide and an equally high number is expected again this year, promising an exciting four days of competitions. In addition to the livestock, the show has something for everyone with a wide range of activities including forestry, crafts, countryside sports, food and drink and a 12-hour programme each day of exciting entertainment, attractions and displays – not to mention the great shopping! The big attractions in the main ring this year will be the spectacular Ukrainian Cossacks, Big Pete and the Grim Reaper Monster Trucks, Tristar Carriage Driving, Merion Owen and the Quack Pack, Inter Hunt Relay and trotting competitions and much more. Visit www.rwas.wales

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WHAT’S ON MID WALES What’s On in brief

What’s On at Aberystwyth Arts Centre Musicfest 2016, 23rd-31st July A huge annual celebration of classical music that includes over 30 concerts over the course of the week and an installation of film, music, movement, dance and sound exploring why music inspires and changes lives. James and the Giant Peach, 26th-31st July See the Sell A Door theatre company’s take on this Roald Dahl classic, that follows the adventurous, young James and his friends – Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird and Earthworm. Saturday Night Forever, 27th-29th July A roller-coaster ride through Cardiff’s nightlife as gay man Lee breaks up with one lover and resolves never to fall in love again. Saturday Night Forever follows Lee on a journey through the wreckage of past relationships and the early stages of a promising new love affair. Footloose, 10th-27th August The explosive rock ‘n’ roll musical that tells the story of city boy Ren who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Choose your star – Lee Brenan (10th-21st August) or Gareth Gates (23rd-27th August). How Time Flies, 17th August HandMade Theatre presents a brand new show inspired by the wonderful and intriguing world of archaeology. Join the eccentric team of archaeologists in their interactive field tent, as they lead you through an exciting dig to find long lost artefacts. Then and Now, 25th-26th August A celebratory anniversary review including excerpts from some of Castaway Community Theatre’s best-loved shows over the years, some well-loved favourites and a few surprises. Visit aberystwythartscentre.co.uk or call 01970 623232.

l 1st-3rd July, Barmouth Country

Steampunk fun

The Llandrindod Wells Steampunk Weekend returns from 5th-7th August, and this year is bigger and better than ever. The Steampunk Spectacular on Friday night features an international line-up of performers, while the Pirates’ Ball on Saturday evening welcomes all buccaneers, libertines and ne’er do wells for a swashbuckling and rollicking good time. The weekend is ‘rapped up’ with an An Awfully Good Finale on Sunday, featuring arch rivals Professor Elemental and Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer. Before this, though, there’ll be plenty of daytime activities to keep the whole family amused, including Teapot Racing and a not-to-be-taken-lightly Tea Duelling competition, plus a bazaar of weird and wonderful things to buy at the Most Curious Marketplace. Visit steampunkwales.co.uk to find out more

and Western and Linedance Festival A weekend full of fun, laughter, dancing and of course great live country and western music.

l 3rd July, Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival The scenic Aberaeron Harbour provides the back-drop for this annual showcase of fish and seafood. See and taste the best food that the seaside has to offer.

l 6th July, Wildflowers at Elan Valley Join Sorcha Lewis to find some of the beautiful wild flowers at Elan Valley and learn about their folklore and what they’re used for.

l 9th July, Fun Day at Rheidol Hydro Power Station Loads of fun activities for the whole family to take part in. There’ll be making animal masks, stands for the Vincent Wildlife Trust, bees from the Beekeepers Association, Wisewood Wales making Bird boxes, plus the Aberfrwd Ladies Guild cake stall and Guess how many sweets in the jar.

Glorious summer at Gregynog Hall Bonhams Valuation Day, 4th July Specialists will be at Gregynog Hall for free auction valuations for a variety of art and antiques. Mid Wales Opera Gala, 24th July The Friends of Mid Wales Opera summer gala concert, has a Shakespearean theme, and features young professional soloists and Charlotte Forrest at the piano. Take a picnic; tea/coffee available. Tickets £16 from Theatr Hafren or on the door. House Visits 31st July & 21st August Explore the Hall with librarian and historian, Mary Oldham. Discover its history, its heritage, its treasures and characters. Advance booking recommended. Garden Party, 29th August In support of Welsh Historic Gardens Trust. There will be an exhibition of garden photographs from years gone by, and tea and cake served in the Hall. £8/ ticket. Advance booking recommended. Visit gregynog.org or call 01686 650224.

l 9th-17th July, Rhayader Carnival Week A combination of art, sport and culture, some of which you will only ever see in the small market town of Rhayader. The week’s highlight event is of course the Carnival Day, with Queens from five local towns and a large entry of floats and walkers taking part in the parade.

l 14th July, Penglaneinon Sheep Shearing Day, Elan Valley Estate Watch modern and traditional sheep shearing and wool spinning, plus learn more about ear tags, hefted flocks and everything else to do with keeping sheep.

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MID WALES WHAT’S ON What’s On in brief ● 15th-17th July, Welshpool Country Music Festival A weekend of live music with a huge variety of country and western performers. Take your own chairs to the arena to sit and watch or, if you’re feeling more energetic, join the line dancing in front of the stage.

Very Victorian

The Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival takes place from 22nd-28th August. Over the course of the festival, 35,000 people are expected to attend – no mean feat for a town with a population of just 5,000! The architecture of the town makes the perfect backdrop for this celebration of everything Victorian. Add in some period window displays, horses and carriages, and townspeople in authentic costumes and you’ll truly feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Over the course of the festival, there’s plenty to do for the whole family. In the Temple Gardens, there’ll be a huge variety of street performers, children’s entertainment, magic shows, talks and exhibitions. There are also evening concerts, including a male voice choir, musical hall, Victorian melodramas and more taking place. This year’s festival will have not just one, but two Queen Victorias – one from early in her reign and one from the later years. Both will be appearing throughout the festival, so have your best bow or curtsy ready! Find out more at victorian-festival.co.uk

● 16th July, Tug of War, Aberaeron Harbour The annual spectacle that sees teams test their strength – those that don’t pull their weight will be pulled in to the harbour! Fancy dress is welcome!

Theatre Hafren shows

● 23rd July, Lampeter Food

Acoustica: Jonny Keeley, 30th August Jonny has been heard on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and has appeared on BBC 3 performing with his band Fight the Bear. Selftaught and taking strong inﬂuence from his father Pete Keeley, Jonny’s style is classic, modern and original.

Festival The annual festival at Lampeter University promises a lively programme of cookery demonstrations from local chefs, where you can taste the dishes and be inspired to try the recipes at home.

Movie Matinee: Woman in Gold, 28th July A drama based on the true story of a Holocaust survivor who mounted a legal battle against the Austrian government to reclaim a Klimt painting of her aunt, which was seized by Nazis before World War II.

Movie Matinee: Bridge of Spies, 31st August Bridge of Spies is a Cold War drama in which a US lawyer is recruited to defend a Soviet spy and help the CIA to rescue a missing pilot. Visit thehafren.co.uk or call 01686 614555.

● 24th July, Archery Taster Sessions, Elan Valley Estate Ever fancied trying your hand at archery? Now’s your chance with hour-long sessions available throughout the day. Children must be aged eight or above and accompanied by an adult throughout the session.

● 27th July, Music on the train Take a ride to Devil’s Bridge on the Rheidol Railway, accompanied by ﬁve local artists providing musical entertainment along the way.

● 30th July, Gwenddwr Show On the last Saturday of July every year, all roads lead to Gwenddwr for a day of fun and entertainment near Builth Wells. Competitions for all ages include crafts, ﬂowers, fancy dress, cookery sheep and more. Plus there’s a dog show and a pony show!

Adventure on the moors Head for Powis Castle on 22nd July for an evening of open-air entertainment as Chapterhouse Theatre company whisk you away to the desolate and mysterious moors of Devon for an adventure with Sherlock Holmes. Adapted from The Hound of the Baskervilles by Laura Turner, the story takes place on the lonely wasteland of the Devon moors. When death stalks the Baskerville family, legend and superstition collide with the most heinous of crimes. On the moor nobody is safe, not even the bravest of men. So Sherlock Holmes is called upon to solve the greatest mystery of all time... Take a picnic and your best detective skills for an unforgettable evening of mystery, suspense and theatre under the stars. Visit chapterhouse.org or nationaltrust.org.uk

Mid Wales History Strata Florida Abbey

Taking its name from the original religious settlement built by Cistercian monks in the early 12th century on the banks of the Afon Fflur, Strata Florida (Ystrad Fflur in Welsh or Vale of Flowers in English) was an important religious and cultural site for centuries. The Abbey was founded through the patronage of Rhys ap Gruffydd around 1164 and several of his descendants went on to be buried at the abbey, including 11 princes of the Welsh royal house of Dinefwr of Deheubarth during the 12th and 13th century. Other notable burials at the abbey include that of medieval Welsh poet Dafydd ap Gwilym, who is interred beneath an ancient yew tree. These days, the abbey is in the care of Cadw. Visitors can take a look at the remaining ruins or the excavated medieval tiles that were found on the site. One such tile, which shows a medieval gentleman admiring himself in a mirror, can be seen in the small onsite museum. Archaeological excavations at Strata Florida are ongoing with some recent discoveries pointing to a possible link to the Nanteos Cup, a medieval wood mazer bowl that is traditionally believed to be fashioned from a piece of the true cross and that has the supernatural ability to heal anyone who drinks from it. Professor David Austin will be giving a talk exploring this possible relationship at the National Library of Wales on 9th July.

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Artistic Director - Julius Drake

Y Tabernacl, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8AJ www.machynllethfestival.co.uk - 01654 703355

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WHAT’S ON MID WALES What’s On in brief

Summer at Talyllyn Railway Victorian Train Experience, 7th, 14th & 21st July The Talyllyn Railway is perhaps unique in that it is still able to run its complete passenger train dating back to the 1860s. See just what the railway would have been like during the Victorian age. Evening Heritage Train, 26th July Take a relaxed journey up the line and discover the history of the railway and the area it serves. Departs from Tywyn Wharf at 7pm. Teddy Bears’ Picnic, 28th July & 18th August A fun day out for children and their teddies, with loads of entertainment at Abergynolwyn Station, including a teddy tombola and face painting. Beer Festival, 5th-7th August Your chance to enjoy some real ale, with a great selection available over the weekend from King’s Café. Normal train services will be running, and on Sunday, the Llechfan Garden Railway will be open.

A fairy tale ending Award-winning Swiss theatre company Nicole & Martin will be pitching their white tent on Presteigne’s Went’s Meadow and telling spine-tingling fairytales in a way you’ve never seen before, from 15th-17th July. Nicole & Martin travel throughout Europe in their painted wooden wagons, pitching their magical tent on village greens and theatre lawns, captivating audiences of all ages with their retelling of Grimms fairytales. Their performances combine theatre, music, song, dance, juggling, acrobatics, laughter and goosebumps. Plus French crêpes and Italian coffee – not to be missed! They will be performing Iron John, The Musicians of Bremen DID YOU KNOW? and The Girl without Hands on consecutive days. Tickets Grimms fairy tales £14 adults, £8 children. were not originally Visit nicole-et-martin.ch

l 30th-31st July, Rock, Gem ‘n’ Bead Show, Royal Welsh Showground Be fascinated by the range of natural stone products from around the world. There are spectacular mineral specimens, sparkling polished and carved crystals of every colour and truly ancient and rare fossil. l 5th-7th August, New Quay Music Festival The fishing village comes alive with a great music festival. There will be a great selection of bands in the marquee on each of the three nights. On Saturday during the day there will be buskers in the pubs and cafes and on Sunday there will be a free concert of bands live on the sea front.

intended for children l 9th-11th August, Cardigan Bay Regatta A three-day event that – but British kids combines sailing and sea shore events for all the family on New Quay loved them! main beach and Traeth y Dolau.

Floral Evening Train, 9th August In association with Tywyn Garden Club, a specially decorated train will take you through the Fathew Valley. At Abergynolwyn there will be a male voice choir performing and refreshments will be available. Beer and BBQ Evening Train, 16th August Departing from Tywyn Wharf at 7.30pm, this train will take you through the scenic Fathew Valley to Abergynolwyn station, where there’ll be a barbecue with excellent food and quality beer available. Race the Train, 20th August A unique event for multi-terrain runners where you run alongside the railway to Abergynolwyn and back. Take on one of four challenges, ranging from 3.5 to 14 miles. Peter Sam’s Party, 25th August Join Peter Sam and his friends for some fun and activities. Find out more at talyllyn.co.uk

l 12th-29th August, World

Sinking into a bog… Described by Lonely Planet at one of the top 50 ‘must do’ things from around the world, the 31st World Bog Snorkelling Championships, which take place on 28th August at Llanwrtyd Wells, will see hundreds of people from around the world gather to take part. The event takes place at Waen Rhydd bog on the outskirts of the town, getting under way at 10am. There are food and drink stalls, crafts, a bouncy castle, live music and a real ale and cider bar on the site, so it’s a great day out even if you don’t fancy taking the plunge. But go on, you know you want to… Visit green-events.co.uk

Alternative Games, Llanwrtyd Wells Billed as an alternative to the Olympics, all the normal events are thrown out of the window and replaced with an array of more events, including worm charming and chariot racing!

l 13th August, Llanfyllin Show This annual showcase of the best of the countryside is fondly known as the ‘friendly show’, attracting around 3,000 visitors and competitors from across Wales and the border counties. llanfyllinshow.co.uk

l 13th August, 5th Aberaeron Beer and Cider Festival Held at the Aberaeron Yacht Club, this festival is a must for beer and cider fans, with a huge variety of Welsh ciders, perries and real ales available, plus a barbeque and live music during the day and evening entertainment.

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MID WALES WHAT’S ON What’s On in brief

What’s On at The National Library of Wales

● 14th August, Aberaeron Festival of Ponies and Cobs A unique festival that celebrates and showcases every aspect of the Welsh pony and cob. There’ll be events throughout the day in the Square Field, Cae Sgwar right in the middle of Aberaeron.

● 18th-21st August, Green Man Festival, Glanusk Estate An independent music and arts festival near Crickhowell. Live music (in particular alternative, indie, rock, folk, dance and Americana), literature, ﬁlm, comedy, theatre and poetry.

A hidden gem in Mid Wales Over 40 years ago Bruno Schrecker, then cellist with the Allegri Quartet, bought a holiday home in Llanfyllin in the rolling hills of mid Wales. Fellow musicians came to visit, and play informal concerts, and they discovered that the church, St Myllin’s, had a marvellous acoustic for chamber music. Thus the Llanfyllin Music Festival was born, in 1972, and the Allegri Quartet – despite its members changing over the years - have been back each year to play in the church to appreciative audiences, and enjoy the hospitality of the area. This year the festival comprises four concerts, on 15th, 17th, 22nd and 24th July, with an audience not only from Shropshire and Mid Wales – music lovers from further aﬁeld want to know the Llanfyllin dates a year in advance, so they can book a holiday there at Festival time. The programme this year includes works by Beethoven, Janacek, Brahms, Mendelssohn and more. To ﬁnd out more visit llanfyllinfestival.org.uk

● 19th-21st August, Volksfest Wales Brecon Volksfest celebrates its 17th anniversary. There’ll be traders, auto-jumble, vehicles for sale, club display, catering, bar, adult and kids themed party and more.

● 26th-28th August, The Big Tribute 2016, Aberystwyth This familyfriendly festival returns for three days of live music and entertainment. Weekend and day tickets available.

Do you have any events you’d like to see in the next issue? Email to editorial@ yattaryattar.co.uk

Tregaron Festival of Harness Racing A highlight of the British Harness Racing Season, this festival is the Cheltenham of Harness Racing – with Irish invaders! 27th-29th August, Model Railway Exhibition, Y Plas, Machynlleth A chance to spend a few hours looking at model railway layouts in various gauges. With trade and craft stands, refreshments and light snacks, plus railway-related items and books for sale.

Animal Tales from Around the World, 2nd August A series of comical stories that all unfold from a giant canvas map. Pictiwrs Plant, 9th & 23rd August Join in the Welsh language adventure with classic cartoons from the archive including SuperTed and Wil Cwac Cwac among others (by kind permission of S4C), and a short ﬁlm, A Letter from Wales. Suitable for children of primary school age. A Pirate’s Life for Me, 16th August Meet pirates Captain Mary MacGuire and her ﬁrst mate Annie Greengrass as they share stories of life on the high seas. Of course it wouldn’t be a show about pirate without the obligatory pirate ship and its crew, who in this case are puppets.

GET IN TOUCH!

● 26th-27th August, The

Welsh National Opera: In Parenthesis, 16th July A recording of a live performance of composer Iain Bell’s adaptation of the epic poem by Welsh poet, writer and artist David Jones which was created to commemorate World War One.

Tea on the train

Visitors to the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway will have the opportunity to take a trip with a difference along the Banwy Valley this on 24th July, on a Welsh Tea train. Departing Llanfair Caereinion at around 1.50pm, passengers will travel in one direction in one of the line’s balcony-ended carriages built originally for the Zillertalbahn Railway in Austria. On offer will be a selection of locally-sourced Welsh tea-time treats including Caerphilly scones, bara brith and Welsh cakes. For the journey in the other direction passengers will join a select few who have enjoyed the sumptuous white leather armchairs of former Sierra Leone Government Railway carriage no 1207. This British-built vehicle was repatriated by the W&LLR and fully restored to its original condition in 2009. In keeping with the ﬁrst-class environment, a steward will be on hand to offer cooling drinks as might have been served to combat the African heat in the carriage’s former days. Space is limited and advance booking is necessary – visit wllr.org.uk

Writers’ Workshop: Anni Llyn, Children’s Poet Laureate, 26th August A Welsh language workshop that will be ﬁlled to the brim with fun and preposterous poetry. Be prepared to rhyme, compose silly lines and fall about in stitches. Suitable for children 7–11 years of age. Visit llgc.org.uk

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A festival for foodies North West food-lovers can look forward to another taste-bud-tickling weekend this summer as Foodies Festival returns to Tatton Park to serve up a lip-smacking feast from 15th-17th July. The region’s culinary elite will be cooking live, sharing insights into 2016’s food trends and answering questions from the audience. Expert mixologists and sommeliers, including Neil Phillips and Charles Metcalfe, will be hosting

Hello flower!

Gardeners will be heading for Tatton Park from 20th-24th July for the RHS Flower Show. Featuring innovative show gardens, a floral marquee, talks, demonstrations, advice, trade stands and exhibitors, all wrapped up in a vibrant carnival atmosphere, this is a show not just for plant lovers, but for friends and family too. This year there will be some spectacular show gardens including the latest in contemporary design from the new Evolution Garden category. The Water Garden category offers plenty of ideas and those with smaller outdoor spaces will enjoy the Back to Back Garden category. There’s a new Family Day event on 23rd July when Roald Dahl’s BFG will come to life in the form of a fabulous show garden, and other celebrities to look out for include Monty Don and Carol Klein. Visit rhs.org.uk

wine masterclasses, there’ll be tutorials in home beer brewing and baking expert Charlotte White and master chocolatier Fiona Sciolti will host the Cake & Bake Theatre. Plus there’ll be an array of Great Taste Award winners to shop and sample – a great opportunity to meet artisan producers from the local area and across the country. Visit foodiesfestival.com

Let’s get steaming The Cheshire Steam Fair this year takes place from 9th-10th July. The main arena attraction for 2016 is the Flyin Ryan Stunt Show, a display of motorcycle tricks and freestyle jumps. Attempts will be made to jump steam engines, plus we’ve been promised there’ll be a show stopping fire stunt to keep the whole family on the edge of their seats! As well as this, the Crazy Bears will be appearing live on stage, so you can join them for a fun-packed extravaganza for the whole family. The six bears entertain with singing, dancing and magic tricks plus there are meet and greet sessions in-between performances. A full programme of steam fair attractions includes the Wall of Death, steam engines, classic cars, vintage vehicles and more, plus there’ll be bird of prey displays with eagles and vultures, trade stands, a craft and fine food marquee, old time and modern funfairs and catering and a licensed bar. Visit outdoorshows.co.uk/cheshire-steam-fair

A breath of fresh air – on film Enjoy some movies by the light of the silvery this summer with the return of Moonlight Flicks to Chester from 5th July-27th August. Grab a deckchair and enjoy some of the best films around, in the shadow of the city’s Roman ruins, with friends, with family, with anyone! Films being shown this season include classics from The Philadelphia Story to Dirty Dancing, indie and arthouse such as The Artist and Birdman as well as action blockbusters including Jurassic World and Mad Max Fury Road. The season kicks off with Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan on 5th July. You can take your own drink, and order pizzas to be delivered during the show. Visit storyhouse.com

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WHAT’S ON CHESHIRE What’s on at Crewe Lyceum

What’s On in brief

Where the Fallen Live Forever, The Somme – 1916, 2nd July An evening bringing together music, film, theatre and art to tell the story of soldiers and their families from Crewe who were involved in the Battle of the Somme. Includes a specially-written musical score by composer Adam Shilton. A Night in Venice, 8th July An evening of music performed by the European Baroque Ensemble and featuring some world-class opera singers. Includes some of the great music of Verdi, Puccini and Rossini. Some Guys Have All the Luck, 21st July A brand new production celebrating the career of Rod Stewart. The show follows his story from his days as a street busker through to the present day and naturally includes renditions of all his greatest hits. Mission ImPUDSEYble, 26th-27th July Britain’s newest secret agent is off the leash and ready for action! Join the Britain’s Got Talent winners for this brand new live adventure featuring an array of gadgets, cars, jet packs and gismos. Death Toll, 8th-10th August A desolate lodge in the Scottish Highlands. A playwright and his wife await the arrival of his new ‘muse’ – a charming and charismatic young actor. An evening of twists, turns and eventually... murder. Spirit of Elvis, 16th August Awardwinning Elvis impersonator Gordon Henricks takes you on a journey through all the King’s music. Visit crewelyceum.co.uk or call 01270 368242.

Summer fun at Dunham

To celebrate summer, Dunham Massey will be holding a variety of themed weeks, with loads of activities for the family. Picnic Week takes place from 25th-29th July. Special activities include circus fun and games, the chance to prepare a Victorian picnic in the kitchen and a special workshop where you’ll get to decorate a piece of Dunham Massey’s patchwork picnic blanket. From 1st-6th August it’s Ranger Week, when you’ll be able to meet the ranger team and take part in some outdoor activities. Victorian Week (8th-12th August) gives you the chance to take part in some themed workshops where you can make Victorian toys, or just enjoy some tales from storyteller Helen Stewart. If you’re looking to explore, Adventure Week from 15th-19th August is for you. Whether you fancy exploring the gardens in search of the smelliest, stickiest and most beautiful plants or dredging the pond to see what you can find, now’s your chance! Wild Week (22nd-26th August) is a celebration of the animals that can be found around the gardens, and summer is brought to a close with Show Week (30th August-2nd September), which includes Victorian theatre workshops and puppet shows. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

l Until 4th September, Dinosaurs at Chester Zoo They’re big, they’re fierce...and they’re back! Walk among the predators and their prey, not knowing what’s lurking around the next corner on a journey back to the Jurassic age when these gigantic creatures roamed and ruled the earth. l 2nd July, Forest Live, Delamere Forest Simply Red and Kaiser Chiefs are the latest bands to announce dates as part of Forest Live, where acts perform in spectacular woodland settings around the country. Everything you need for a great night out, with full catering and bar facilities, al in a relaxed atmosphere. Visit forestry.gov.uk l 7th July, Collabro at Gawsworth Hall Since winning Britain’s Got Talent, Collabro have gone from strength to strength, selling over 360,000 albums, making them platinum album recording artists. In 2015 they completed a sell-out 32-date UK tour, while this year they play prestigious venues such as The Royal Albert Hall. Visit gawsworthhall.com

What’s on at Quarry Bank well as discovering beautiful art from some brilliant contemporary artists.

The Clockwork Garden, until 11th September This exhibition is an interactive installation filling the garden space with strange metallic fronds. Within it you’ll find a puppet theatre in a hedge, and you can make cloudgazing poems, add blooms of joy to the garden, marvel at mechanical artwork, investigate garden games and the growth of plants, as

Relatively Speaking, 8th-9th July Wilmslow Green Room present an open-air production of Alan Ayckbourn’s play in the beautiful surroundings of the Quarry Bank Garden. Summer Holiday Fun, 25th July-19th August Lots of fun activities for children, related to the Clockwork Garden exhibition Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

l 9th July, Skate Off, Middlewich Have you got what it takes to compete at this year’s Skate Off competition? Skateboarding, BMX and Scooter enthusiasts are all invited to take part. Registration 12.30pm, competition starts at 1pm. For ages 7-17 years. Free entry and prizes! l 9th July, Live in the Park at Arley Hall A live outdoor tribute concert with a spectacular firework finale in aid of the Neuromuscular Centre. You can picnic before seeing Marcus Andrews as Elton John, Fleetwood Bac and The Rhythm and Blues Brothers.

Revving up for summer

An expanded CarFest North, which takes place from 29th-31st July, moves to a new home at Bolesworth Castle this year. As ever a dazzling array of performing cars is at the heart of the daytime show. The ‘Time Tunnel’ will take festival-goers on a magical evolutionary journey of motoring history while the ‘Xtreme’ phase of track action will include dramatic displays by the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. When the daytime dust settles, the atmosphere changes from high revving road show to pop festival. For more information visit carfest.org

l 10th July, Chester Raft Race Watch teams battle it out for charity on their homemade rafts in the hugely popular fun day out which takes place on the River Dee right in the centre of Chester. One thing you can guarantee – somebody is going to get wet!

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CHESHIRE WHAT’S ON What’s On in brief

● 9th-23rd July Wirral Festival of Firsts A community arts festival with a difference that takes place at various venues in and around West Wirral. The Festival brings together artists, performers and musicians to celebrate the power and diversity of the Wirral art and music scene while also helping raise money for local charity. Visit festivalofﬁrsts.com ● 15th-17th July, Mid Cheshire Charity Scooter Rally & Beer Festival, Blakemere Now in its fourth year this is a celebration of all things scooter, music and beer at a fun family weekend. The Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal are joining Blakemere again to put on this event in aid of raising money for charities.

● 15th July Horticultural Highlights Tour, Grappenhall Heys Join the head gardener as they explain how gardens such as Grappenhall Heys, were the powerhouses of the estates of yesteryear. Discover some of the key varieties of trees, plants and crops and their uses found in the pleasure and kitchen garden. 01925 213638, £3 for adults only ● 16th-17th July, Middlewich Classic Car & Bike Show Held from 10am-4pm in Market Field and Civic Way Car Park, there’s free admission to this fascinating show. ● 16th July, Congleton Carnival This is a bi-annual event so don’t miss it – thousands of people from the town of Congleton and beyond visit Congleton Park from 10am until 8pm in. The day starts with a procession through the streets followed by music, entertainment, stalls and much more.

● 21st July, The Canterbury Tales, Arley Hall A cast of just ﬁve actors present every single one of Geoffrey Chaucer’s timeless tales in under two hours in the critically-acclaimed and family friendly Pantaloons Theatre production, which takes place in the Walled Garden. Visit arleyhallandgardens.com

Noshing at Nantwich

DID YOU KNOW? The Great Fire of Nantwich lasted for almost three weeks, though only two people died

From 2nd-4th September, Nantwich will be bursting with flavours as the Food Festival takes over the town. This is one of the few UK food festivals based entirely within a town centre and gives visitors the chance to appreciate fine food alongside one of the largest collections of historic buildings in Cheshire, with Elizabethan, Georgian and Victorian architecture throughout the town centre. The town is known as already well known as a bit of a foodie’s paradise, with narrow streets full of independent shops, selling food, wine, and much more, as well as a lively community of coffee shops, restaurants and bars. Plus of course, Nantwich is home to the International Cheese Awards which take place at the Agricultural Show in July (see page 34). For the Food Festival there will be two marquees full of top quality food and drink producers from Cheshire, all around Great Britain and indeed the world, as well as a wide variety of street food stalls. There is something for every age, taste and wallet, and it’s easy to find your way around the festival and enjoy the town at the same time. Visit nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk

Cheshire History Chester City Walls The walls around Chester are perhaps the city’s most well-known and distinguishing feature. They can be traced back to around 74 or 75 AD when the Roman legion Legio II Adiutrix established the fortress of Deva. Construction of the sandstone walls began around 100 AD but was abandoned in the early part of the 2nd century. After the Romans abandoned Deva, in 907 Æthelflæd refounded Chester. The Anglo-Saxons repaired parts of the walls, often using Roman stones, including tomb stones. A castle was added to the city following the Norman Conquest, and this led to the circuit of walls that can still be seen today, and also the construction of three new gates: the Watergate in the west wall, and the Shipgate and Bridgegate. Hundreds of years later, repairs and refortifications were carried out in the early 1640s in expectation of the Civil War and they proved to be needed as the walls were heavily damaged, including two major breaches, during the siege of the city by Parliamentarian forces in 1645. Once the Civil War ended, the walls no longer had any defensive use, but they became increasingly popular for recreational purposes. Famous figures attracted to the walls during the early 18th century included Methodist leader John Wesley and writer Samuel Johnson. These days, the Chester city walls are the most complete Roman and medieval defence system in the country, and they remain a major tourist attraction. Visit chesterwalls.info

What’s On at Chester Forum Theatre

Frank Sinatra – The Movie Years, 15th July Robert Habermann tells the story and sings the songs from ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ Frank Sinatra’s ﬁlm career including Ol’ Man River, You’re Sensational, All the Way and many others. Oklahoma! in Concert, 11th-20th August All of the songs from the ﬁrst and one of the most loved Rodgers and Hammerstein collaborations (and still one of the most performed musicals in America) performed ‘concert style’ by Tip Top productions. Visit tiptopproductions.co.uk or call 01244 341296.

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WHAT’S ON CHESHIRE Fun and games in the country The Cheshire Game & Country Fair takes place over the bank holiday from 27th-29th August at the Cheshire County Showground. There will be three dedicated arenas with a variety of displays, from horseboarding to the hilarious ducks that sheepdogs somehow have to get back into the pen. The World of Dogs is dedicated to our canine companions, with displays of all types, from working gun dogs and sheep dogs, to fire jumping obedience. There’s also a variety of activities for you and your dog including a fun dog show. There will also be plenty of fun and entertainment for children and families all around the showground; a mini food festival within the main show, featuring food halls, the Piazza, and chefs on stage; chainsaw carving; a Craft Village; and plenty of stalls selling a range of items, country clothing and accessories, home and leisure products, country sports equipment and more. Tickets cost £13, over 65s £12, children (15 and under) £4, under 5s free. Visit livingheritagecountryshows.com

What’s On in brief ● 24th July, Classic Car Show, Capethorne Hall A great range of classic cars, plus the Hall is open from 12 noon and the Butler’s Pantry will be serving homemade refreshments from 11am-4.30pm. Adults £2, children free

● 30th July, Middlewich Town Crier Competition Town Criers from around the UK will compete for the new Middlewich Trophy, with the town’s very own Crier, Devlin Hobson, as Master of Ceremonies. Lots of fun, ﬁnery and fulsome announcements all take place in the White Bear Courtyard from 11am.

Visit Eaton Gardens for charity The gardens of Eaton Hall in Eccleston, Chester, the family home of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster, will be open to the public again on 31st July and 28th August from 10.30am-5pm to raise money for local charities. As well as the 88 acres of gardens to explore, there will be plenty of entertainment during the day. In July, there’ll be duck herding displays

and plenty of laughs with a Lamb National, plus Chester Wind Band will be playing. In August it’s falconry and gun dog displays, while the Little Big Band will provide musical entertainment. As well as this, there will be craft and charity stalls, and children can take rides on Katie the steam engine (subject to availability). You can also take the rare opportunity to see Eaton Chapel, with its splendid stained-glass windows by Frederic James Shields, dating back to 1870. The Carriage Museum and former stables, as well as the Family History and Exhibition Rooms will also be open. Light refreshments will be available to buy at the Courtyard and at various points within the event, or you can take your own picnic. Entry is £7; £2 children; £16 family (2 adults and 2 children). All proceeds will go to Girlguiding Cheshire Forest, NEWCIS, Hospice of the Good Shepherd and the Three Villages Project. Dogs are permitted on leads. Visit eatonestate.co.uk or call 01244 684400 or for more information.

● 5th-7th August, Rewind North, Capethorne Hall The 80s music festival has a line-up including Marc Almond, Adam Ant, UB40, Midge Ure, Go West, Hazell Dean, Rick Astley, Earth, Wind & Fire, Paul Carrack, Hazel O’Connor, Noisettes, Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, Mari Wilson and more. rewindfestival.com ● 6th-7th August, Kidzfest, Royal Cheshire Showground Two days of entertainment for the whole family featuring attractions including stars from CBBC, live shows, bands, fun fair, trade stands, festival circus and more, all supporting the children’s charity Brainwave.

Summer at Cholmondeley Castle Cholmondeley Castle Horse Trials, 30th-31st July The Weatherbys Cholmondeley Castle Horse Trials returns for for two days of events. A selection of exhibitors will also be attending.

● 13th-14th August, Astle Park Traction Engine Rally A spectacular Saturday night ﬁrework display is one of the highlights with other attractions including the Inch Perfect Trials Team, the Crazy Bears live on stage, plus steam engines, fairground organs, classic cars and commercials, vintage tractors, a craft and food marquee, catering and licensed bar and much more.

Summer Kids’ Gardening Club, 3rd & 24th August A chance for little gardeners to learn all about growing vegetables and flowers. Teddy Bears’ Picnic, 14th August The ever popular Teddy Bears Picnic promises a super family day out with lots of fun and activities. All funds raised will go to this year’s chosen charity, the Wingate Centre. Pony Club Championships, 19th August Some of the most talented Pony Club Members in the UK compete for the 2016 national titles in disciplines

including Eventing, Show Jumping, Polocrosse and Mounted Games. Jazz in the Gardens, 29th August While away a summer afternoon with The Robin Joiner Quartet, who will be performing music by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Mancini and Jobim. Visit cholmondeleycastle.com to find out more.

● 14th August, Cheshire Dog Show and Summer Fair, Altrincham The proceeds from this new event with all go to local no-kill no-cage rescue centre Dogs4Rescue. There’ll be a range of activities for all ages from craft and pet stalls to local produce, plus a fairground, face painting, a vintage tea room, licensed bar – the event is dog friendly why not enter your pooch into the dog show!

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CHESHIRE WHAT’S ON What’s On in brief

What’s On at Tatton Park

● 19th-21st August, Mayor’s Charity Boat Pull, Middlewich A fun day out for all the family, whether you go in to lug a tug or not! Entry: £5, per team of four. Entry fees go to the Mayor’s Charity.

40 years on the river ● 19th-21st August, Just So Festival, Rode Hall This weekend-long camping festival for children and their families provides an adventure like no other, with art, music, literature and theatre all taking place in an outdoor landscape of woodland clearings, rolling parks, arboreal amphitheatres and lakeside spots. Visit justsofestival.org.uk

● 26th-28th August, Creamfields, Daresbury Creamfields returns with an all-star line-up, so make some noise – this is all about the music. You can even camp at this two day long event, for a weekend you’ll never want to forget. creamfields.com

This year is the 40th anniversary of the opening of the National Waterways Museum (NWM) at Ellesmere Port and to commemorate this event, the museum is hosting a weekend of celebratory activities on 2nd-3rd July. The anniversary weekend will include the opening of the museum’s new Window on the World experience, performances from the museum’s artist in residence, Francesca Millican-Slater, and the one-off chance to venture into the canal lock which will be specially drained for the replacement of two hand-crafted oak lock gates. For more information visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/nwm

Everybody say Cheese Awards!

● 27th-28th August, Bank Holiday entertainment at the Village Restaurant, Blakemere There’s something for all the family with a kids’ tea party and family disco on the Saturday, and family bingo and an Elton John tribute act on Sunday.

● 27th August, Poynton Show Fun for all the family including a motorcycle aerobatic stunts and ﬂoorshow display. Visit poyntonshow.co.uk

● 29th August, Dotty the Dragon, Adlington Hall Dotty the Dragon is a new outdoor show brought to life by Blunderbus Theatre and performed on the front lawn of Adlington Hall. This big-hearted tale of true friendship is told with songs, music and puppetry. There are plenty of laughs, lots of surprises and even a life-sized ﬁre breathing dragon! Visit adlingtonhall.com

The Nantwich Show and International Cheese Awards take place on 27th July, once again encompassing the largest cheese show in the world, with some 4,500 entries of every type of cheese. Celebrity chefs including James Martin, Will Holland and Sean Wilson will be doing live cookery demonstrations throughout the day (probably using some cheese…). As well as this there will be some 450 trade stands – so whatever you’re looking for, from clothes to tractors, you’ll be able to find it in the shopping and craft marquee, plus there’s a food hall with plenty to taste and buy. Of course there will be everything you’d expect from a countryside show, including displays of animals, plus ring displays and demonstrations in the Countryside Pursuits area and a parade of vintage vehicles in the Main Ring. Not to be missed are the stunt displays from the Bolddog Lings and there’ll be plenty of food, drink and children’s entertainment. Visit nantwichshow.co.uk

Stars and Stripes American Car Show, 2nd-3rd July One of the UK’s best events for lovers of all things American, the Stars and Stripes show features Corvettes, Mustangs, Cadillacs, hot rods, custom cars and more, plus there’s the chance to see the infamous Wall of Death Prepare for Battle!, 17th August A new workshop for children aged 7-11 where they can learn about important battles, weapons through history and also try some battle formations and techniques. Passion for Power, 20th21st August Around 2000 classic cars will be on display over the weekend as part of this popular classic car show. There’ll also be the chance to explore the Passion for Power Dream Cars Pavilion – a huge pavilion crammed with the latest models from some of the world’s most exclusive car manufacturers. Traditional Country Weekend, 27th-29th August An entire weekend of traditional English fun that celebrates country life. Activities to watch include sheep racing, sheepdog demonstrations and Morris dancing. There’ll also be loads of traditional stalls selling local ice-cream and cheeses, old-fashioned sweets and Tatton’s own produce. Visit tattonpark.org.uk

Down by the lake

● 29th August, Golf Open, Cardington Park What is better on a summer’s day than a good game of golf? Head along and compete in the August Bank Holiday golf open at Carden Park.

Three days of spectacular live music take place at Tatton Park this summer, from 28th-30th July. First of the big names performing at Concert by the Lake will be Tom Jones on the Thursday, followed by Wet Wet Wet on Friday, and then on Saturday the Hallé will be entertaining as part of a picnic proms event followed by a spectacular fireworks finale. For more information visit concertbythelake.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON CHESHIRE

Gig guide China Crisis, The Brindley, Runcorn, 7th July Who said the Eighties were all bad? China Crisis were one of the better musical things about that muchmaligned decade. They formed in 1979 in Kirkby on Merseyside, There are four River with a core band of Dees in Britain – two in vocalist/keyboardist On 31st July enjoy a night of 50s and 60s Scotland and one in Dance and dine on board Garry Daly and rock’n’roll including music from Jerry Lee Lewis, guitarist Eddie Cumbria as well as one of ChesterBoat’s luxury river boats this summer on a the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Lundon. Their single our own! three-hour cruise that features Richard, Ray Charles, Louis Jordan and Buddy Christian made UK a freshly prepared hot supper Holly. Homemade pie will be followed by Sicilian number 12 in early 1983, plus live entertainment. lemon or chocolate pots. bringing them to national On 3rd July it’s a Dixieland Jazz night, Finally, on 28th August, it’s a 60s Country & prominence along with with resident musicians Brian and Rae (pictured) Swing night, with music from Hank Williams, Wishful Thinking. joined by guest pianist, clarinet and sax players Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, John Denver, Glen to deliver some traditional jazz standards, Campbell and many others. You can enjoy a The homemade lasagne served with salad and crusty parades, spirituals, blues and boogie woogie. The Houghton bread, followed by individual desserts. menu will include Cajun chicken breast followed Weavers, Call 01244 325394 or visit chesterboat.co.uk by good ol’ homemade apple pie and cream. Congleton Town Hall, 8th July The UK’s premier comedy/ folk group, The Visit Blakemere Village on the weekend Weavers have been at the of 23rd-24th July for all the fun of a forefront of the country’s traditional countryside fair. There’ll be music scene for over three all sorts of entertainment and activities decades with a hectic for all the family – and pets! – with duck concert schedule. Since and dog shows, family dog shows and a sheep roadshow. cutting their teeth in folk As well as this there’ll be fairground rides, food and craft clubs in their native North This summer, a new stalls, a beer tent, chainsaw carving, and a chance to meet West, they have enjoyed intergalactic festival of Cotebrook shire horses and watch some ferret racing (and meet non-stop success, and music, science and space and greet the furry critters). Youngsters can take a ride on Dillon guarantee a great evening exploration comes to Jodrell the donkey and friends, plus there’ll be plenty of other free of entertainment. Their Bank on a mission to children’s craft activities, and a free circus workshop for children experience in the business entertain and inspire. The of all ages – whether you’re 8 or 80! together with their style and new Bluedot Festival takes The event is from 10am-5pm each day, and entry is £2 per professionalism ensures that, place from 22nd-24th July person. Visit blakemerevillage.com to find out more as their motto says, they will and features a programme always ‘Keep Folk Smiling’. of music, science, arts, technology, culture, food Walter and ﬁlm, all taking place in Trout, The the shadow of the iconic Live observatory. Rooms, The headline acts on the Chester, main stage (appropriately 22nd July named the Lovell Stage) are Walter electronic duo Underworld, was voted the godfather of electronic the 6th music Jean-Michel Jarre, and best guitarist ever in a BBC Caribou. They will be joined Radio listeners poll and gets by a line-up of other musical rave reviews with quotes like acts over the weekend. ‘When it comes to blazing Ticket prices start at £119 guitar players, Walter Trout is for adult weekend tickets the prophet’. His guitar (including camping) or £35 technique is dazzling and for day tickets. Visit his rapport with fans both discoverthebluedot.com funny and intense.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cruising to the music

All the fun of a Blakemere fair

Completely (blue) dotty

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WIRRAL

WHAT’S ON

Fall in Love with New Brighton On 16th July, two of Wirral’s ﬁnest summer arts events take place, and this year the Love New Brighton Parade and the Astral Coast Festival will combine. The event includes a parade with marching bands, including the Wirral Samba Band, plus street dancers, stilt walkers and much more. The main stage will overlook the coastline at Marine Point and bring together the region’s most exciting emerging artists. While you’re there the children can ride the donkeys on the beach or wander further up the promenade towards Vale Park. Here you’ll ﬁnd the Pirate Ship which appeals to kids of all ages

and provides the perfect photo frame through its masts of the Liverpool Waterfront. And if you visit at night you can see New Brighton lighthouse newly lit up after 42 years without any lighting. For more information visit www.visitwirral.com

Summer in Port Sunlight

Shakespeare at the priory Birkenhead Priory is the oldest standing building in Merseyside and a great place for outdoor entertainment. During the summer it is staging various events including A Midsummer Night’s Dream on 15th July and Zorro on 4th August, two great evenings of outdoor theatre. Meanwhile, the nearby Williamson Art Gallery and Museum has a new exhibition called Renaissance to Regent Street: The Della Robbia Pottery, which runs until 4th September. The Della Robbia Pottery, drew inspiration from a number of sources but primarily looked to Italy. This exhibition puts Birkenhead’s Della Robbia into a contemporary context, as the truest Arts & Crafts pottery put on to the market. To ﬁnd out more visit thebirkenheadpriory.org

The picture postcard village of Port Sunlight is a delight at any time of year but is particularly pretty in summer, planted up with a variety of colourful flowers. During the summer it hosts a number of events, including on 7th August the annual Fun Dog Show and Children’s Day (above). More than 400 dogs took part last year, and it’s a great family fun day out. This year, Port Sunlight Museum is celebrating the unique heritage of the village, with the special exhibition, Port Sunlight in Focus 18961916, Jenkins, Cotton & Davies, which showcases the work of three local photographers who contributed most to the pictorial record of the village during its first 20 years. The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of talks, tours and family activities. Meanwhile, at the Lady Lever Art Gallery, you’ll find one of the most beautiful collections of fine and decorative arts in Europe including Pre-Raphaelite paintings by Millais and Rossetti, portraits by Gainsborough and landscapes by Turner. The museum is also currently hosting a free exhibition of Picasso Linocuts featuring works that are among the artist’s most important. Visit portsunlight village.com, and liverpool museums.org. uk to find The Port Sunlight Museum out more.

A-maize-ing fun for all the family!

Situated just behind Brimstage Hall, and open from July through to September, the giant maize maze is an interactive, three-dimensional puzzle with clues to discover and solve as you find your way through. If you’ve still got energy after this, there are indoor and outdoor play areas on the farm with lots of activities to keep the kids happy. There’s also eclectic shopping in the hall courtyard, plus refreshment options, and the picturesque village of Thornton Hough is minutes away and perfect for a wander around. Visit brimstagehall.co.uk or brimstagemaze.co.uk

What’s On at Floral Pavilion Theatre

Some Guys Have All the Luck, 9th July This production celebrates the career of Rod Stewart – from street busker to international superstar. Paul Metcalfe assumes the persona of the singersongwriter right down to the last detail - from the distinctive vocals to the swaggering showmanship and sheer fun. Desperate Scousewives 3, 14th-15th July The desperate Scousewives are back! It’s summer and Susan is looking for love, and when the beautiful beauticians, Bossy Gayle and Dozy Donna move into a vacant property on the street, they are keen to jump on board and help her with her quest. Meanwhile Vanessa is fuming that her best mate is spending so much time with her new found friends… Jimmy Carr, 21st July Jimmy is gathering a selection of his very best jokes along with brand new material for the ultimate comedy show. A man who has devoted his life to crafting perfect jokes and has left a trail of laughter in his wake, Jimmy distills everything we love to laugh at and be shocked by, into one incredible, unparalleled night of entertainment. 90 Glorious Years, 27th July A musical celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday, with tributes and performances to delight all. The Gruffalo’s Child, 30th-31st July The award-winning sequel to The Gruffalo is brought to life in this magical, musical adaptation. No Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood, but one wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist, does he? Visit ﬂoralpavilion.com

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Say it with flowers Shrewsbury Flower Show – the worlds’ longest running independent flower show – takes place again this year on 12th-13th August at Quarry Park. The Dingle will be awash with flowers, food and live entertainment – the ultimate summer day out. The show attracts top exhibitors from all over the country with floral displays, competitions and trade stands. The Quarry Marquee will showcase top national nurseries and growers, while the Severn Marquee is home to home-grown flowers and vegetables. As well as this, the arena offers a variety of entertainment, with highlights including Grade A Showjumping, the Dingle Fingle Comedy Car act, live music from The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and The Christians, and a firework display both nights. Inspirational and passionate horticultural expert Sarah Raven will be sharing gardening tips and advice, while in the dedicated food hall, celebrity chef Gizzi Erskine will be creating mouthwatering, indulgent but healthy food. There are also lots of great shopping opportunities in the trade stands area and unique gifts in the dedicated craft marquee. Children 15 and under enter free with an adult, making the Shrewsbury Flower Show an ideal family day out. Visit shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk or call 01743 234050.

Arts come Alive this summer

Summer at Dudmaston Estate Panasonic Lumix Photography Roadshow, 10th July Try out some top-of-the -ange photography equipment to take some snaps around the property and you’ll get to keep the memory card as a souvenir of the day. Jaguar Drivers’ Club, 10th July A display of classic motors in the orchard by the Jaguar Drivers’ Club. Bike with Mike, 17th July Join Ranger Mike to learn about the woodlands, the wildlife that lives there and how the staff at Dudmaston care for them. ’50 Things’ Woodland Camp, 23rd July Take your tent and enjoy the great outdoors while learning a range of bushcraft skills. Dinner will be cooked on the fire and there will be time for stories before bedtime. A great event for families.

Festival of Archaeology, 24th-31st July A week of events, walks and talks to help you discover more about the history and archaeology of Dudmaston. In association with the Council of British Archaeology to celebrate the 26th Festival of Archaeology. Children’s Summer Holiday Activity Days, 25th July-31st August A range of creative and fun challenging trails and craft activities with a different theme each week. Bat Walk, 27th August Join a ranger on a nocturnal walk around the park and gardens to find out more about the bats that reside on the estate. Awesome Art, 28th-29th August Celebrate Lady Labouchere’s birthday at a weekend of art, one of her favourite pastimes. Help create works of art or just take the trail through the garden. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

Tessa Bide: Arnold’s Big Adventure Gather under the branches for the biggest day in the woodland calendar, Drop Day! Arnold the acorn is about to drop from his tree and begin his amazing adventure in search of somewhere to put down his roots. Taking place in a special bell tent, Arnold’s Big Adventure features beautiful shadow puppetry, original music and plenty of thrilling surprises along the way. 29th July, Wem Town Hall, 01939 238279, wemtownhall.co.uk; £8 / £6 30th July, Carding Mill Valley, 01694 725000, £8 / £6 Feet First: Time Walk – the story of the Earth in a thousand paces A fascinating and informative event. Walk through nearly five billion years tracking the story of our home planet. Marvel at the way everything on Earth has evolved from stardust. From the origins of our world through eras of amazing life forms to the present moment, this is the strangest true story ever told. Feet First Theatre’s cosmic guides will lead the audience on a one kilometre walk though beautiful landscapes, bringing alive the story of evolution and our human origins. 31st July, Carding Mill Valley, 01694 725000, £8 / £6

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WHAT’S ON SHROPSHIRE What’s On in brief

l 3rd July, Ellesmere Rotary Regatta This annual event is a fun day out for sailors and spectators, with Bell Boat races for adults, ladies and junior crews, plus all sorts of land-based entertainment and attractions for all the family.

A Hill climb with a difference

l 8th-10th July, Wenlock Olympian

Celebrating 50 festival years

Games The Olympian Games were founded in 1861 by William Penny Brookes and since then the tradition has been upheld with competitions in everything from archery to volleyball and everything in between.

For its 50th Anniversary Festival this year, the Church Stretton Arts Festival has bowed to audience pressure and invited back a number of popular performers who have appeared before to join in the celebrations. Joining them for the two-week event, which runs from 30th July-14th August, will be a host of artists new to the festival to create a varied and first-class programme of events. From the opening concert by the Phoenix Singers of Shrewsbury, through coffee concerts, GET IN TOUCH! art exhibitions, performances of Shakespeare, Do you have any workshops, brass bands, one-woman stand-up shows and meet-the-artist sessions, to the final events you’d like to event of A Night at the Opera with London see in the next issue? Festival Opera, this is an arts festival that has Email to editorial@ something for everyone. yattaryattar.co.uk Visit strettonfestival.org.uk

l 9th July, Cardington

Country Fete Classic, rally and race modified cars, birds of prey, Morris dancing, duck racing, afternoon teas, beer tent, face painting and various stalls to look around. Also lots of free children’s games and activities, all at the Old Vicarage. Adults £2.

Summer at Stokesay Stokesay Court is a magnificent lateVictorian mansion set within extensive grounds just outside Craven Arms. During The First World War the house played an important role as a military hospital and additional rooms and displays are now open as part of a tour which bring this history to life. The house also won fame as a location for the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement. Still very much a lived-in, private home, Stokesay welcomes visitors inside its doors and behind the scenes of Atonement on pre-arranged tours, which this summer take place on Tuesdays and Sundays throughout July and August. And if you book a house tour for Stokesay Court you will receive a 2-for-1 voucher for the nearby Stokesay Castle which also has a number of events going on through the summer, including Stokesay Stories, taking you back to Tudor times and the War of the Roses, plus Hands-on History events, bringing history to life. On 25th August there’s a summer evening of outdoor theatre with Rain or Shine Theatre Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Visit stokesaycourt.com and english-heritage.org.uk

l 14th July, Sidbury Medieval Village Walk A 12-mile walk from Severn Valley Country Park. Head out towards New England and Chorley before arriving at Sidbury where there is a deserted medieval village. Return through Billingsley and Highley. You’ll need walking boots, packed lunch and a drink.

l 16th July, Build a Dry Stone Wall A one-day course at Acton Scott Farm, introducing you to the craft of dry stone walling.

l 16th July-3rd September, Sounds in the Square Every Saturday for six weeks there’s live music in Welllington Market Square. Bands playing include The Bandicoots, Cool and Uke and The Telfordaires, plus the Wrekin Inn’s weekly open mic night will take the open air stage.

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SHROPSHIRE WHAT’S ON What’s on in Whitchurch

What’s On in brief

Summer music concert and creativity exhibition, 11th July Head to Sir John Talbot School for a showcase of talent from the pupils.

● 17th July, Wem Town Hall Craft and Food Fair A variety of stalls all share their wares of homemade crafts by local artisans, delicious foods from freshly baked breads to scrumptious cakes to fruity chutneys. Get some great presents or just treat yourself!

● 17th July, Greenwood Working Course, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Explore basic tools used in greenwood working, such as axe, drawknife, shavehorse, bit and brace, rounder and saw, split a greenwood log and make a stool. £45 per person.

● 19th July, Listen & Dance, Shrewsbury Buttermarket A Shropshire Theatre Organ Trust Event in association with Age UK. All music is provided by the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ. There will be a rafﬂe with light refreshments. £3.50 on the door.

It’s show time at Oswestry On 6th August, the Oswestry Show brings more than 100 trade stands and a huge variety of displays and activities to the town, all with the aim of promoting agriculture and rural ideas. There’s a packed schedule of events in the main ring, with the Royal Signals Motorcycle display team, the White Helmets and Bob Hogg Sheepdogs & Duck Display conﬁrmed so far – plenty more announcements are promised in the lead up to the show. Elsewhere, the Village Green will have loads of activities to keep visitors of all ages occupied, while over in the Livestock Area, competitors will be showing off their animals, including some rare breeds. There’ll also be a shearing competition, where entrants from the local area will compete to get the ﬂeece off tidily and in record time, all in the hope of earning a place in the 2016 Welsh Lamb Shearing Circuit. Visit oswestryshow.co.uk.

Shrewsbury Rally steams ahead ● 23rd July, The Searchers in Concert, Festival Drayton Centre This special ‘solo’ concert combines anecdotes and reminiscences, with all The Searchers’ famous hits, plus album recordings, B-sides and a selection of other well known favourites.

● 23rd July, Amazing Maize Maze Park Hall Countryside Experience opens its maze for summer. Trek around the labyrinth of pathways and see who is the ﬁrst to complete the maze. Open until September. ● 23rd-24th July, Cosford Food Festival Now in its fourth year, this popular foodie event regularly attracts some 7,000 people. A host of independent food and drink suppliers from across Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands will be exhibiting a range of local, fresh produce. With cooking demonstrations, live music and family entertainment taking place over the weekend, it is sure to be a great day out.

The Shrewsbury Steam Rally has something for all the family. Taking place from 28th-29th August, the rally includes more than 100 exhibits, with steampowered tractors, cars and other vehicles of all shapes and sizes; historic military vehicles; vintage and veteran cars, commercial vehicles, motorbikes and tractors, plus vintage fairground organs and other machinery. Events in the main arena include the Grand Parade of Steam Engines, plus heavy horses and birds of prey. The working ﬁeld brings the past back to life, with a range of demonstrations showing the history of farming, including the ever popular shire horses. As well as this there’s food and drink on offer, plus a crafts and hobbies marquee and plenty of trade stands. Visitors are invited to go along in costumes from the 1930s to the 1960s to add to the atmosphere. Camping is also available if you decide you want to spend the weekend! Visit shrewsburysteamrally. co.uk to ﬁnd out more

Show me a good time! One of Shropshire’s largest one-day agricultural shows, the Newport Show, takes place on 9th July this year. Last year, thousands of people enjoyed a day out at the 106th show. Farmers from all over the country enter their champion animals into a variety of competition categories including horses, cattle, sheep and pigs. This year, the show features Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, plenty of high-octane displays in the show ring, a Festival of Food celebrating the best local food, as well as the schools’ marquee – and don’t forget the vintage tractors! The show provides a day of entertainment for all the family, from 8am to 6pm. Visit newportshow.co.uk or call 01952 810814.

Car Boot & Collector’s Fairs, Dearnford Lake, 10th & 24th July The perfect opportunity to clear out your clutter and bag a bargain at the same time. Stallholders can set up from 7.30am, gates open at 8am. Flicks in the Sticks, Talbot Theatre, 12th & 26th July Showings of Dad’s Army (12th) and Eddie the Eagle (26th) – both PG rated and great family entertainment. Trevanion & Dean Auctions, 16th July & 20th August Viewing is on the Thursday and Friday before the auction.

The Wizard of Oz, 20th August Click your heels and wander down the Yellow Brick Road to Dearnford Lake for a fabulous production of the Wizard of Oz by the Immersion Theatre Company. Join Dorothy on her quest to the Emerald City with her loyal friends, the brainless Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the heartless Tin Man. There will be lashings of audience participation, dazzling costumes, a great script and plenty of laughter. A treat for all the family. For tickets call 01948 665914.

Whitchurch Boat Rally, 20th-21st August Held on the Whitchurch Canal Arm, this event is two days of fun and entertainment for all the family, with attractions such as stalls, music, boat rides and a dog show at 2pm on the Sunday. 10am to 4pm, free entry. Visit whitchurch.info

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WHAT’S ON SHROPSHIRE What’s On in brief

What’s On at The Place One Night Only, 3rd July The Gaston-Payne Dance & Theatre School present their annual show with an array of beautiful costumes and spectacular song and dance numbers.

● 24th July, Canine Capers at

Brassed off at Ironbridge Rhythm of the Dance, 7th July A celebration of Ireland’s rich history and the art of Irish dance, from the disciplined Celtic Step to the sensual Sean Nos dance style, presented by championship dancers, a traditional Irish band and the Young Irish Tenors. Let’s Go to the Movies, 9th July Students from the Oakengates and Childs Ercall academies perform their latest show numbers. With street dance, ballet, tap, musical theatre and much more, a great display of local talent. An Evening of Musical Theatre, 14th-16th July The talented young people of The Arts Centre Telford take to the stage with another ‘songs from the shows’ spectacular. Includes musical numbers from the likes of Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, Footloose, Spamalot and many more.

The popular Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival takes place 9th-10th July outdoors on The Green at the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron. Now in its 13th year, the free event showcases some of the finest brass bands from Shropshire and the surrounding counties – and this year there will also be a special guest band from Germany giving the festival an international flavour. With some 20 bands performing, it’s the largest, non-competitive brass band festival in the country. Among the bands performing are the Abraham Darby Brass Band, Llangollen Silver Band, Black Country Brass Band, Shrewsbury Brass Band the Wellington (Telford) Brass Band and Salopian Brass. A ticketed charity gala open-air concert in aid of the Severn Hospice, Brass Night of the Proms, takes place on the Saturday evening, 9th July from 7.30pm. Compèred by BBC Radio Shropshire presenter, Eric Smith, it will feature the Ifton Colliery Band and the Band of the Royal Signals. Call 07583 279608 or visit ironbridgebandfestival.co.uk

Dorothy Clive Garden Pamper your pooch at a special family day out for dogs and their owners. Lots of fun for dog lovers and all the family. Free for dogs! The event supports the Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association.

● 25th July, Native Indians Head for the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre at Craven Arms for some summer fun and learn about Native Indians. Make a dreamcatcher to hang above your bed. Can you track and creep up on prey? Learn how to send smoke signals.

Shropshire History Wroxeter Roman City Once the fourth largest Roman city in the UK and similar in size to the tragic city of Pompeii, Wroxeter lies beside the River Severn, about five miles away from Shrewsbury. Its Roman name, Viroconium Cornoviorum, is actually a Roman version of the old native Brittonic name that belonged to a hillfort on the Wrekin. Viroconium was first settled by the Romans in about 58 AD as a fortified camp during the Roman invasion of Wales. When the Roman forces were recalled to Chester around 88 AD, it was taken over by the Cornovians, who expanded it to become a city. At its peak, the city had a population of around 15,000. When the Romans left Britain around 410, the city is believed to briefly have been used as the capital of Powys before it was abandoned following famine and plague in the area. Viroconium was rediscovered in 1859. The remains of the bathhouse can be seen, along with the Old Work – the largest piece of freestanding Roman wall in the county. Visit english-heritage.org.uk

● 29th July, Butterfly Bonanza Head for Severn Valley Country Park to find out more about these lovely insects. Track their life cycle, use butterfly nets, see if you can catch one and make your own feeder. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential.

● 30th July, Farmhouse Blues Summer Fest Head for Wheathill Court Farm near Bridgnorth for a day of great blues music, plus there’ll be a fully stocked bar, food vendors, and camping available.

● 30th-31st July, Telfood Feastival

The Giant’s Loo Roll, 26th July Look out for the biggest loo roll ever on stage in this children’s musical. There’ll be frightened sheep, lots of excited children and a fantastic amount of toilet paper in this new musical by TaleGate Theatre Productions. Visit theplacetelford.com or call 01952 382382.

Fields of fun Shropshire is really feeling the festival vibe this summer, and

Shrewsbury Fields Forever hits the town from 15th-17th July. The county’s largest dedicated multi arena live indie, alternative, electronic, dance and popular music, comedy and arts festival returns to the heart of Shrewsbury to The Quarry, with Dizzee Rascal, The Happy Mondays and rapper Wretch 32 among the crowd-pulling acts. Three town centre campsites, including a VIP campsite next to the main arena, mean you can experience the festival to the full. Visit shrewsburyﬁeldsforever.com

More than 130 food and drink producers will be taking their artisan products to the QEII Arena in Telford, plus there will be a music stage, free talks and demos, a free big top with circus skills for the kids and lots of fun activities.

● 31st July, Brampton Bryan Scarecrow Festival A celebration of scarecrows from around the world. Follow the Scarecrow Trail, book a tour of Brampton Bryan Castle (not normally open to the public), visit the ﬂower bedecked church, go for gold in the dog show, visit stalls, and much more. All day fun!

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SHROPSHIRE WHAT’S ON What’s On in brief ● 7th & 13th August, Open Air Theatre, Dorothy Clive Garden Folksy Theatre present The Smartest Giant in Town and As You Like It. Expect puppetry, colourful characters and songs, bold acting and plenty of audience interaction.

● 12th August, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Severn Valley Country Park Enjoy the antics of four gorgeous mortal lovers and six slightly less gorgeous Rude Mechanicals, as they become unwitting participants in the magical machinations of the immortal world.

Folk festival tops the charts A trio of chart toppers with a number of Top 40 hits among them has joined the line-up of this year’s Shrewsbury Folk Festival, 26th-29th August. Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack (right) and Andy Fairweather Low will perform together at the event. Lowe, who had hits with Cruel to be Kind and I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass, will be reunited with Carrack (of Mike & The Mechanics and Squeeze) and Fairweather Low, performer of hits including Wide Eyed and Legless and (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice, following their debut outing at last year’s Glastonbury. The singers join a host of other acts, including Rosanne Cash (daughter of Johnny), folk rock band The Levellers, Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band, singer songwriter Tom Robinson, world music star Raghu Dixit and Show of Hands, on the festival bill. The festival has four main music stages, a dance tent, more than 100 workshops, children and youth programmes, onsite camping, a craft fair, real ale, wine and cocktail bars, and a food village. Visit shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

What’s On at Theatre Severn West End Story, 1st July Compèred by Celebrity Big Brother winner Alex Reid, this show will take you on a journey through the world of musical theatre, featuring a live orchestra and songs from the nation’s favourite musicals. Mark Watson: I’m Not Here, 9th July The multi-award-winning star of TV shows including Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You, and his own cult Radio 4 series Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better, returns with the follow up to his highly celebrated and successful Flaws.

● 14th August Fun Dog Show, Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere A fun afternoon at the Hectors Greyhound Rescue Fun Dog Show. All breeds are welcome and there are classes for everyone plus lots of giveaway treats for your dog.

● 19th-29th August, Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival Shropshire’s biggest free music and arts festival features a wide range of music and art events throughout the town, plus a main music event in the High Street on Sunday, and more events at Quayside on the Bank Holiday Monday and in the Castle grounds on the following Saturday.

Dog day afternoon

Ludlow’s fun Dog Day, 24th July, has become an essential date in every dog lover’s Blake: Songs from Stage and calendar, providing a great opportunity for dogs, Screen, 10th July their owners and families to enjoy a day out at Stokesay Fresh from recent Court. There is something for everyone with four event rings, appearances on The Graham a packed programme of dog displays, competitions, a Norton Show, Strictly Come variety of stalls and activities, plus a play area for Dancing and The One Show, the children, a cafe and Hobson’s bar for the British harmony trio Blake present a brand new exhausted adults! tour featuring the ﬁnest Jules Hudson from Escape to the Country songs from stage and and Kate Bliss from Bargain Hunt will be screen. appearing at the event. In the last two Dalmation puppies years more than 6,000 people and nearly are pure white when Ken Dodd: The 4,000 dogs have attended the day and so Happiness Show, born and develop helped raise almost £40,000 for charity. 16th-17th July Visit ludlowdogday.co.uk Enjoy an evening of their spots as they

DID YOU KNOW?

grow older

Ten years of foodie fun

● 20th August, Minsterley Show This one day agricultural show caters for all ages and has a variety of different attractions. The main ring attraction this year will be the Pony Club Mounted Games. ● 27th August, Ellesmere Rocks A free one-day music event held in Cremorne Gardens, from 3pm till late, with Indigo Sky among the acts appearing.

● 27th August, Bicton Beer Festival Try more than 20 real ales and six ciders. Music throughout comes from EdsJazz, Paul Parker Duo, Lewis Lloyd-Evans, and more. Food available. Admission £3.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Oswestry Food Festival, on 9th-10th July, and there will be an extra-special celebratory atmosphere in the town this year. The festival is curated by a small band of local people who want to showcase the food and talent in and around Oswestry and the Borders – and of course for everyone to have an enjoyable and fun day in the town (not to mention tasting the odd sausage or two)! The event takes place in and around the main streets of the town, with plenty of opportunities to discover new producers and get new recipes, plus tips and advice and, of course, sample some of the excellent quality produce, which includes beers, cheeses, breads, meat, fish, puddings, wine and more. Along with the mouth-watering food on offer, the festival also has plenty of events to keep all the family entertained – and it is completely free! Visit www.oswestryfoodfestival.co.uk

laughter and songs in a show for all the family, with non-stop gags and a selection of songs presented in Ken Dodd’s uniquely versatile style... everything from ballads to grand opera! Russell Watson: Songs from the Heart, 21st-22nd July The UK’s bestselling classical crossover artist of all time returns to the stage with his brand new show Songs from the Heart, featuring a stunning collection of best-loved songs. Ray Quinn, 24th July Originally known for his role in Brookside, Ray came second on ITV’s X Factor in 2006. He is now back on stage with a new array of songs. Visit theatresevern.co.uk or call 01743 281281.

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WHAT’S ON SHROPSHIRE

Gig guide BD Lenz Trio, Boycott Arms, Claverley, 7th July This funky/jazz guitarist extraordinaire from New York has released nine acclaimed recordings and has played over a thousand gigs in North America and Europe. His music can be heard on hundreds of TV shows internationally and he’s a pretty cool guy.

Forties fun at the SVR

Models look good Hundreds of scale models of iconic aircraft will be taking to the skies at the annual Large Model Aircraft Rally at Cosford RAF Museum on 16th-17th July. Taking place on the airfield, this show in miniature is an absolute must for any aviation enthusiast. Visitors will be able to see a whole range of models designed, built and flown by members of the Large Model Association – from biplanes to modern day jets. From a distance in the skies, the models truly look like the real thing! Themes for the 2016 Rally include marking the 75th anniversary of the first flight of a Spitfire with a large Spitfire formation. Tickets are £8 in advance, £10 on the gate; children under 16 free when accompanied by an adult. Visit rafmuseum.org.uk

Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection, Broseley’s Birchmeadow, 16th July From a cafe in Paris, via a hoolie in Dublin, to a night out in New Orleans with rip-roaring fiddle and banjo – this band does it all! Innovative arrangements are beautifully performed on instruments including the guitar, cello, fiddle, banjo and uilleann pipes, all overlaid with a large dose of wry humour. Steel Threads, The Old Vaults, Oswestry, 22nd July An original band performing their own unique blend of acoustic rock and folk. Influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Adam Ant, Crowded House and Fleetwood Mac, Steel Threads pride themselves on their strong song-writing and heartfelt performances. Ashley Hutchings, Hentry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, 21st August Legendary folk icon Ashley Hutchings charts his life in words and music. For this show he is joined by talented singer/multi-instrumentalist Ruth Angell who will accompany his music on guitar, violin and harmonium.

What’s On at Attingham Park Walk with the Deer, 3rd July A walk with the estate’s deer manager to chat about all things fallow. The route is approximately two miles long. The event is not suitable for dogs. Dragonflies and Damselflies Walk, 17th July Discover the dragonflies and damselflies that call Attingham their home. There’ll be the chance to see the beautiful creatures up close plus a dip in the pond to see what lives beneath the waters. Cronkhill Open Day, 22nd & 24th July See a major restoration project in action at Cronkhill, an Italianate villa designed by the Regency architect John Nash between 1802 and 1805. Discover the outside of this striking house, stroll around the gardens and enjoy one of Shropshire’s hidden gems. Outdoor Theatre: Danny Champion of the World, 30th July Pack a picnic, set yourself up in front of the mansion and enjoy an evening of entertainment from Illyria Open-Air Theatre. Follow Danny in his adventures to rescue his dad in this family show based on the book by Roald Dahl. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

The flag-waving, allotmentplanting, Big Band Swinging spirit of Forties Britain is celebrated in style at the SVR’s Step Back to the 1940s weekend from 2nd-3rd July. This year, some very famous faces, including Sir Winston Churchill, King George VI and General Montgomery will be travelling alongside the many passengers and daring visitors can witness feats of military bravery as the hugely popular battle returns once again. Icons of the airborne war effort, a Spitfire and Hurricane will make flypasts, and hundreds of costumed re-enactors will be helping to tell the wartime story along the line. Visit www.svr.co.uk

Don’t forget to say peas The annual Wem Sweet Pea Show, 16th-17th July, is an event for flower lovers and all the family. There will be more than 70 classes for sweet peas from Formal Vases to Bowls, Baskets, Plants, Floral Art and a Children’s section. The show, which takes place at the Thomas Adams School, includes an Eckford Sweet Pea Society of Wem stand where you can seek advice on sweet pea problems, find seeds of pre-1910 old-fashioned sweetly scented varieties and gifts, cards and china. As well as this, there’ll be stalls for gardening accessories, plants, souvenirs, collectibles, jewellery, a willow weaving demonstration (you can even have a go!) and crafts. Call 01948 840779.

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DAYS OUT Visit the Blue Planet Blue Planet Aquarium near Cheshire Oaks, is a family friendly attraction that is home to Europe’s largest collection of sharks. This summer will be a very fishy one with the ‘She’s hiding – can you find her’, event – a tribute to a blockbuster film out this summer. You’ll see hundreds of blue and yellow regal tang fish…

WIN! WIN! WIN!

We’ve got five you know who we mean! With 15 themed zones, Blue Planet offers a host fabulous family days of opportunities to see thousands of different out at Blue Planet species. From Lake Malawi to a flooded forest, a Aquarium to give whole world of adventure awaits. Meanwhile the away! Go to page famous Aquatheatre shows wow and entertain in equal measure, with presenters who will tell you about 148 to enter all the fascinating creatures of all shapes and sizes that are right in front of your eyes. Take a walk through the shark tunnels, the largest of their kind in Europe, to marvel at the ‘jawesome’ sharks. There are 13 different types of shark all living happily together in the reef section, from lemon sharks to the mighty nurse sharks, which are more than 12 feet long! As well as this there are at least 14 shows and feeds on throughout the day – why not watch as the greedy caiman crocodiles enjoy their lunch? For a slightly less frenetic experience you can see how Blue Planet is cultivating real coral and preserving its delicate nature in the Rockpools area. You can enjoy a bite to eat at the Nautilus Kitchen, where freshly prepared and cooked food is served daily, and find a shark souvenir at the gift shop. You can also upgrade to include the Access All areas tour, just £3 per person, where you’ll go behind the scenes to see the marine nurseries. Blue Planet Aquarium is open 364 days a year, and has a ‘pay once and stay all day’ policy – you simply get your hand stamped at reception and then you can come and go as you please. To find out more visit blueplanetaquarium.com

Fun at the farm

A right royal palace While the name might mean ‘butterfly palace’ in English, there are plenty more animals to be seen at Pili Palas in Menai Bridge, Anglesey. The creatures that call this family attraction home include birds, meerkats, snakes and lizards. You can get up close and personal with some of these creatures in the regular ‘meet the animals’ sessions. If any of the family is a creepy crawly fan, then the bug zone should definitely be on the ‘to do’ list. There, you’ll find hissing cockroaches, locusts, giant snails, tarantulas and loads more. Animals of the more cuddly variety can be found in the farm barn – donkeys, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs are among the friendly and furry types that call the barn home. Of course, we can’t not mention the butterflies! The butterfly habitat is the perfect place to visit no matter what the weather – it’s an indoor steamy tropical environment that’s full of lush vegetation and waterfalls, with beautiful butterflies of all shapes and sizes flying all around you. The fun doesn’t stop once you’ve met all the animals – there’s also an indoor play area for toddlers, while older children can enjoy the giant bouncy castle and the adventure playground, complete with zip wire. There’s also the nature trail to enjoy, where you’ll be watched by friendly alpacas as you stroll by. For more information visit pilipalas.co.uk

For a day watching farm animals in their natural habitat, head for Fordhall Farm in Market Drayton, Shropshire. This is England’s ﬁrst community owned farm and has been organic for more than 65 years. Owned by more than 8000 community shareholders, the farm has something for everyone to experience on a delightful day out, with everything from cows and pigs to solar panels and a composting toilet. As a continually developing educational and leisure facility, Fordhall offers a way-marked farm trail, with three walks around the surrounding countryside. The whole family can enjoy fun among the wood carvings, and you can make your own dens in the woodland. There are ropes to clamber through, woodland stepping stones and great views across the Tern Valley. Depending on your enthusiasm, there are three walks of varying length, plus an orienteering option. When you start to feel peckish, you can treat yourself to some organic goodness with breakfast, lunch and late afternoon snacks at Arthur’s Farm Kitchen, a sustainably converted barn. Enjoy home made cakes, scones and organic teas and coffees too. If you try something you just can’t live without, pay a visit to the farm shop where you can buy Fordhall beef, lamb, free range eggs, organic ice cream, home made pork pies, cheeses and much more. Visit fordhallfarm.com or call 01630 638696.

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DAYS OUT A fun family adventure

Are you in need of something to keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays? Look no further than GreenWood Forest Park in Y Felinheli, between Bangor and Caernarfon, where you can enjoy a great family day out. The list of things for kids to do at GreenWood Forest Park is huge and covers everything from adventure play to craft activities, so no matter what your little ones’ tastes, they’ll ﬁnd something to entertain them. Throughout the summer months, there’s a packed entertainment schedule with live theatre from Smarty Marty and Ricardo the Pirate and the chance to see John the WoodTurner in action. There’s also the chance to meet GreenWood’s furry and feathered friends with a donkey ride around the woods or

the daily meeting sessions at Rabbit Village, where you can get close to the park’s friendly rabbits and guinea pigs. Activities for the more adventurous include the world’s only people-powered rollercoaster – the Green Dragon, an amazing 70-metre sledge run (and a mini version for tiny tots), a treetop adventure through the forest and the Barefoot Trail, which gives you and the kids the chance to lose your shoes and socks and become one with nature. There’s also a new adventure attraction for 2016 – the Solar Splash is the ﬁrst solar-powered ride in the UK and boasts two wave chutes and 91-metre-long spiral tube chute. Elsewhere, there are plenty of challenges for children to take on, including GreenWood’s den-building area, where the entire family can try their hand at constructing a shelter using logs and fallen branches, or you can take to the water with the Jungle Boats challenge, where adults and children alike will have to work together to pull your boat along the canal using only ropes and a paddle. Even if the weather isn’t great or if you just need a break from the sun, there’s still stuff to do – the Enchanted Wood Barn is the perfect place for kids to play indoors, while the grown ups enjoy a well-deserved break in the Green Oak Café. Visit greenwoodforestpark.co.uk

Step back in time Chester and its surrounding area has a rich Roman history, and you can ﬁnd out all about this by visiting the city’s Grosvenor Museum. There are a number of galleries to explore, with the Roman archaeology collections in the Timeline gallery and the Newstead Roman Gallery. The ﬁrst tells the story of Chester’s legions and fortress, with displays on the army, fortress buildings and everyday life. The second houses a nationally important collection of Roman tombstones, discovered in the 19th century having been re-used to build the city walls. The curious Draconarius Tombstone depicts a Sarmatian rider, perhaps one of those who were conscripted into the Roman army in second century Britain. There’s much more than just Roman exhibits to see, though, with items from Chester’s social history, archaeology, art and natural history also on display in various other galleries, so there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained. The museum is free to enter but welcomes donations. Visit westcheshiremuseums.co.uk or call 01244 972197.

Whatever ﬂoats your boat The World Heritage Site of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is well-known both locally and across the UK, and while it’s one thing to walk beneath the aqueduct, or even along its length, its quite another to enjoy the sights from the water. A trip with Jones the Boats will offer you not only the chance to travel along this famous landmark, but will also give you an unrivalled view of the surrounding countryside while you enjoy your trip. Based just outside Acrefair near Llangollen, Jones the Boats offers regular trips along the Llangollen Canal throughout the summer aboard Eirlys – a traditionally painted narrowboat, which has been a regular sighting on the canal for three decades. The 45-minute trips usually depart at noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, but make sure to check the website for a full schedule. Tea and coffee are available on board during the trip and there’s a bar too, plus commentary about the canal’s history and canalside features as you cross the aqueduct not just once, but twice. If you’re after a more unusual experience, or want to celebrate a special occasion, group charters are also available. Jones the Boats’ second narrowboat, Tommy, can accommodate up to 20 people at tables, so you can even enjoy a meal as you travel. In addition to the 45-minute aqueduct trip, you can journey to some great local destinations, including Chirk Aqueduct or the town of Llangollen. To ﬁnd out more visit canaltrip.co.uk

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Yattar Reviews If you’ve got a show or event happening anywhere in Wales and the Borders we’d love to come and review it! Just email to: editorial@ yattaryattar.co.uk

Barry Manilow, Liverpool Echo Arena, 17th June

Liverpool might have seemed a funny place for an American worldwide superstar to celebrate his 73rd birthday, but Barry Manilow couldn’t have wished for a better party. He even got a cake, and a packedout, hugely appreciative audience singing Happy Birthday. In fact, the audience sang along with every song he did, which he appreciated too. ‘I love it when the audience sing and dance!’ he said – and letting age (and seats) be no barrier, everybody was up on their feet swinging their hips and joining in, not to mention waving glo-sticks like teenagers. The atmosphere was terriﬁc. All the hits were performed, including of course, Copa Cabana and Mandy – the ever-charming Mr Manilow even invited two ladies up on to the stage to help him out with Bermuda Triangle. He might be in his 70s, but his energy is unfailing and his pleasure at being on stage infectious: he was up there for one-and-a-half hours without a break, and his voice is still as recognisable and strong as ever. Let’s hope he comes back to Liverpool for his 74th birthday. JG ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Summer Film Releases

A day out in Chester

This was the ﬁrst time that I had been to Chester, and coming from a relatively modern city myself, it seemed like a town from another era. The city is surrounded by an ancient wall that is almost completely intact – it’s easy to imagine the Roman soldiers here, defending the town from Celtic tribes! There are guided tours on offer, but I decided to just wander, and came across all sorts of other historical places, enjoying the feeling that I was making the discovery all by myself. Not least was the Roman amphitheatre, not far from the centre of the town in the middle of a roundabout. The old architecture of Chester merges with the new. The diversity of the town makes it a favourite place. MG ★ ★ ★ ★

Paradise Island Adventure Golf, 4th June

The Legend of Tarzan, 6th July Many years after he left the jungles of Africa behind for an aristocratic life in London, Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård), now known as John Clayton, Third Viscount Greystoke, returns to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of the House of Commons. Little does he know that he is actually a pawn in a Belgian captain’s sinister schemes. Ghostbusters, 11th July 30 years after the original ﬁlm, the supernatural comedy makes its eagerly anticipated return with director Paul Feig’s fresh take. A paranormal researcher (Melissa McCarthy), a physicist (Kristen Wiig), a nuclear engineer (Kate McKinnon) and a subway worker (Leslie Jones) try to rid New York of ghosts that can possess humans. The BFG, 22nd July A live-action adaptation of the spectacular children’s book by Roald Dahl. A girl named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) encounters a Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance) who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kind-hearted soul who is outcast by his fellow giants because he refuses to eat children! Together they set out to capture the evil, maneating giants that have been invading the human world.

Arriving at Cheshire Oaks, we received a friendly welcome and soon set off on our first golfing mini adventure – Lagoon Bay. Finding Dory, 29th July My husband’s golfing experience gave In this sequel to 2003’s Finding him a distinct advantage over the children Nemo everyone’s favourite and me, but trying hard to not get too forgetful fish suddenly recalls competitive, we made our way past a her childhood memories, bottomless pit and a flashing including that she was Mayanesque statue with separated from her lots of laughter. parents as a child. Dory We reached hole 13, sets out to find her which seemed to be an long-lost family, omen at how badly A family day out meeting plenty of we all did at trying to colourful characters at Paradise Island get the ball into the and learning a thing Adventure Golf! lighthouse to make the or two about family seagulls squawk. Our along the way. Turn to page 148 slightly sad spirits were to enter Suicide Squad, picked up, though, by the 5th August obvious fun the children A shadowy government behind us were having. organisation assembles a We moved on to course 2 – setting team of supervillains, who are off on a ship full of tea crates, and things then sent off to carry out began to get very competitive. My golf dangerous black ops missions. skills began to improve and the children But once they realise they got louder – their enthusiasm for this course were only chosen so they getting the better of them. The shark could be blamed when it all attack and giant octopus were particular goes wrong, will the squad go favourites and the sound and wind effects down fighting or decide it’s were really impressive. Great fun was had every man for himself? A by all the family, and I am particularly star-studded cast includes Will proud of my totally fluked hole in one – I’m Smith as Deadshot and Jared sure they could hear my triumphant Leto as The Joker. shouting across Cheshire! RH ★ ★ ★ ★

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Andrew Coomber, A Different View, and Ifor ap Glyn, the Carriageworks

Ifor ap Glyn, recently appointed as the National Poet of Wales, delivered a reading of his winning poetry at the Carriageworks in Love Lane, Denbigh in early June, where he once again held the Bardic Crown he won in 2013, designed and made by Andrew Coomber. It was a moving and inspiring afternoon, with both Ifor’s poetry and Andrew explaining the way landscape inspired his work. The exhibition runs until 9th July, so now’s your last chance to catch it.

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upcoming events? Get the attention of 48,000 readers who see these pages!

Call: 01978 813035

or email advertising@yattaryattar.co.uk

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Cardiff

Manchester

Liverpool

Birmingham

BIG CITY

WHAT’S ON

Arijit Singh Live in Concert, Barclaycard Arena, 9th July Known as the ‘heartthrob of millions’ and renowned for his voice full of pain and romance, Arijit Singh is one of the hottest sensations of Bollywood. He will be accompanied by top musicians and vocalists in this performance, which is part of his tour of the UK and Europe. barclaycardarena.co.uk

Rent, Old Rep Theatre, 26th-30th July An exuberant East Village rock version of Puccini’s opera La Bohème, Rent captures the heart and spirit of a generation of struggling artists, addicts, and impoverished young people living in the shadow of AIDS, battling the coming wave of gentrification. oldreptheatre.co.uk

The Glenn Miller Story, New Alexandra, 23rd-27th August Legendary performer Tommy Steele stars in this extraordinary new production. Tommy will be joined by a live 16-piece authentic Glenn Miller orchestra along with a company of singers, dancers and actors to tell the story of one of the most iconic musical figures of the 20th century. birminghamtheatres.com

Earth, Wind & Fire, Echo Arena, 4th July After wowing audiences back in 2014, Earth, Wind & Fire will be making a spectacular return to Liverpool. The brainchild of late music legend Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire still remains one of the top touring groups of all time with founding members Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson. echoarena.com

The Maccabees, O2 Academy Liverpool, 14th July The past 12 months have been quite spectacular for The Maccabees – they’ve scored their first number one album, Marks to Prove It, completed a sell-out European tour and won Best British Band at the NME Awards 2016. academymusicgroup.com

Lazy Town Live 2016, The Empire Theatre, 11th-13th August A 60-minute nonstop interactive and energetic show, jam packed with singing, dancing, acrobatics and music, featuring original tracks and all of the characters from the TV show, including Sportacus, Stephanie, Ziggy and Robbie Rotten. liverpooltheatres.com

Save the Last Dance for Me, Palace Theatre, 27th June-2nd July From the team that brought you Dreamboats and Petticoats, this nostalgic, feel-good journey will transport you back to music’s golden era as we follow two teenage sisters through the summer of ’63. manchestertheatres.com

HMS Pinafore, The Lowry, 14th-16th July The same team behind the awardwinning The Pirates of Penzance present another thrilling all-male version of a much-loved classic. Dealing with the age old conundrum of love between social classes, the show is fresh, fast, inventive and fun. thelowry.com

The Who, Manchester Arena, 31st August One of the most legendary and defining bands of rock music, with hits such as My Generation, Baba O’Riley, Pinball Wizard, Behind Blue Eyes and many more. The Back to the Who tour is the band’s triumphant return to the UK after headlining the Glastonbury Festival last year. manchester-arena.com

The Planets/The Shadows of War, St David’s Hall, 19th July The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestra commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme with the world premiere of Paul Mealor’s The Shadows of War, and Holst’s Planets Suite, marking 100 years since the composition’s completion in 1916. stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wales Millennium Centre, 3rd-21st August The most fantasmagorical musical comes to Cardiff, starring Lee Mead as Caractacus Potts, Claire Sweeney as Baroness Bomburst, and Shaun Williamson as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst and with Carrie Hope Fletcher as Truly Scrumptious. wmc.org.uk

No Man’s Land, New Theatre, 29th August-3rd September Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart star in Sean Mathias’ acclaimed production of Harold Pinter’s play. One summer’s evening, two ageing writers, Hirst and Spooner, meet in a Hampstead pub. The lively conversation soon turns into a revealing power game. newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

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DAYS OUT

EXPLORE...

Caernarfon

There’s more to this medieval town on the Menai Strait than its world-famous castle, as we discover

The old town streets are well worth a visit

ention ‘Caernarfon’ and we all think of the castle – a UNESCO world heritage site and an awesome piece of engineering, yes, but it would be a shame to visit Gwynedd’s county town and not explore further. The medieval old town’s narrow streets are full of hidden treasures, while the stylishly redeveloped waterfront, home to cafes, bars, art galleries and a theatre, also merits a visit. Plus there are still imposing old town walls waiting to be explored. If you want to ﬁnd out more about the town’s history, visit Oriel Pendeitsh, next to the tourist information centre, where you’ll ﬁnd an exhibition telling the story of the town along with lots of information about the Princes of Gwynedd. The shopping centre in Caernarfon isn’t huge, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in interesting, independent and eclectic shops. A wander through the maze of narrow backstreets turns up all sorts of treasures from local traders. The town also makes a good starting

Photos © Crown copyright (2016) Visit Wales

A brief history People have been living in Caernarfon since prehistoric times. The Ordovices, a Celtic tribe, lived in the region, and during the Roman conquest, around AD 80, the fort of Segontium was built to subjugate the Ordovices. The Romans stayed here until their rule of Britain ended, after which Caernarfon became part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. In the late 11th century, William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a motte-andbailey castle here, but Wales remained independent until around 1283. In the 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, ruler of Gwynedd, refused to pay homage to Edward I of England, which was what kicked off Edward’s brutal campaign against Gwynedd. Edward then built Caernarfon Castle, one of the largest and most imposing fortifications built by the English in Wales. In 1284, the English-style county of Caernarfonshire was established by the Statute of Rhuddlan; the same year, Caernarfon was made a borough, a county and market town, and the seat of English government in North Wales.

point for an exploration of Snowdonia – whether you choose to head out by bicycle, on foot, or take the relaxing choice, with a trip on the Welsh Highland Railway (which runs through stunning countryside to Porthmadog). The Lon Eifion cycle route is traffic free and runs alongside the railway line. Or if you fancy getting out on the water, how about a RIB ride along the Menai Strait? Keeping dry on the waterside, Doc Fictoria is where you’ll find Galeri, a contemporary arts complex which also has a theatre and cinema, and the art and crafts centre Celtica. Plus you can sit out in the sunshine here and watch the world go by. The waterfront has been an important part of the town ever since it was founded – it’s thought there was probably a harbour here long before the town and castle, which was built in the late 13th century. Caernarfon has the advantage of two rivers flowing into it, as well as a long stretch on to the Menai Strait

Doc Fictoria has been stylishly redeveloped

which made it an important port for trade. In the 19th century, the two river mouths were developed as harbours, Victoria Dock serving the general coastal trade, and Slate Quays for the export of that all-important commodity for north Wales – slate. Today you can see the remains of a series of compounds and some 19th-century buildings at both harbours, while between the two, the medieval wharves that stretched alongside the Menai have been given a new lease of life as a promenade. Taking a walk along the waterfronts is a fascinating history lesson in itself. y

The castle Caernarfon is possibly the most famous of Wales’s castles – its sheer size and brutality set it apart from the rest, and it was built to signal in no uncertain terms the intention of Edward I, who intended to stamp his authority over the country. Construction of the castle was begun in 1283, but it was not only a military stronghold – it was also intended as Edward’s seat of government in Wales and as a royal palace. Alongside its strength, the castle also has beauty and symmetry – its polygonal towers are unique, and the striped walls were apparently designed in imitation of the walls of Constantinople. To rub it in to the Welsh, Edward made sure that his son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284. Today the castle can be visited and explored, and hosts a number of exhibitions located in the gatehouse towers. It is also home to the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Wales’s oldest regiment. July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 59

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Make the

c o ast

most of the

Everybody likes to be beside the seaside – and whether you’re planning on sunbathing or swimming, rockpooling or donkey riding, we’ve got the low-down on the best spots on the coastline of Wales and Wirral

Beautiful beaches

The sandy Benllech beach on Anglesey

The beach at New Quay Harbour is popular with families and is easily accessible

observe from the comfort of your deck chair. Benllech beach on Angelsey is another easily accessibly option. While it’s great for sea kayaking, windsurﬁng and ﬁshing, the sandy beach also has plenty of rock pools where you can encounter some sea creatures up close. Meanwhile, the small town of Benllech has all the facilities you’ll need, including cafes and shops. The New Quay Harbour beach is particularly popular with families – while many of the town’s streets are steep, there is sloping access all the way down to the sand. The town is where author and poet Dylan Thomas spent much of his life, and the Victorian terraces that inspired some of his work can still be seen today. If you’d rather head off the beaten path, there are a number of ‘secret’ beaches to be found, though you might have to do a little walking to get there.

Traeth Soden can be reached by footpath from Nanternis near New Quay. Once used as a smugglers’ beach, where salt was brought ashore during the 18th century to avoid taxes, the secluded cove now offers a quiet spot to relax. There is another small cove to be found to the north which can be reached during low tide. Traeth yr Eiﬂ is another hidden gem. Taking its name from Yr Eiﬂ, the last of Snowdonia’s mountains, it can be accessed by walking from the nearby village of Trefor. The walk is rather pleasant, taking you over the cliffs that frame Morfa, a National Trust owned reserve. While the beach itself consists mostly of rocks and pebbles, there are plenty of grassy knolls on the surrounding slopes where you can sit down, relax and maybe catch a tan. Find out about all the beaches Wales has to offer at visitwales.com

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Colourful beach huts and pretty sailing boats are part of the attraction at Abersoch in north Wales

The waters of Wirral It isn’t just Wales that has great beaches: the Wirral also boasts three – Meols, Moreton and West Kirby – that achieved the highest ‘excellent’ rating in the 2015 Good Beach Guide, with a fourth, Wallasey, rated as good. Of the three excellent beaches, Moreton is perhaps the most popular, with the nearby Leasowe Common providing the perfect venue for picnicking, ball games and kite ﬂying. The beach is next to the North Wirral Coastal Park, which, with its grassland, reedbed and sand dune

Family fun

Moreton Shore on Wirral is very popular

Collecting shells

Looking for something to do with the kids? There are plenty of seaside activities that your little ones will enjoy!

Rockpooling

You can enjoy rockpooling no matter what your age, but the chance to see the sometimes odd-looking creatures that call the waters around our shores is particularly popular with kids. You can go rockpooling at any time of year, but the best time is from late spring to early autumn when the weather is more likely to be calm and clear. Among the creatures that you may find lurking beneath the waters are star fish, sea anemones, hermit crabs, small fish or prawns and shrimp. The tools of the trade are shoes with a good grip – trainers, wellies or wetsuit boots with a thick sole are best – and a bucket or Tupperware to let you get a closer look at any creatures you may find. Avoid nets as they can cause harm to small and delicate creatures and make sure you return any animals to their home when you’re finished. A full rockpooling guide for families is available from the National Trust (nationaltrust.org.uk).

Of course shells can be found at most beaches, but a particular hot spot in north Wales is Shell Island near Harlech. More than 200 varieties of shell can be found on the island’s three sandy beaches, some of them so small that they can barely be seen with the naked eye! Wherever you collect your shells from, there are a few things to bear in mind: never take a shell that has a living creature in it – if you find a creature that is still alive, put it back and, if you decide to keep your shells as a memento, make sure you wash them thoroughly when you get home.

Donkey rides

A trip to the seaside wouldn’t be complete without a donkey ride down the beach. Children can enjoy a ride at West Kirby beach on the Wirral, or Dyfi Donkeys (dyfidonkeys.blogspot. co.uk) run rides throughout the spring and summer, starting at the children’s playground in Aberdyfi. Children aged two and over can enjoy a ride (though there is a weight limit of 8st/55kg), but younger children and of course adults can meet the donkeys and give them a fuss!

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Oh I do like to be beside… Our region has some of the best seaside towns in the country where you can relax and maybe spend the night after a long day exploring the beaches, or where you can ﬁnd even more to see and do. Here are just a few to explore…

Aberystwyth The home of the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth was once one of the busiest harbour towns in the country. In addition to the harbour, the town also has a pier and two beaches as well as a seafront lined with traditional Victorian and Edwardian buildings. It also boasts its own castle, though most of the structure is admittedly now in ruins, thanks in no small part to the ravages of the wind from the sea. Much of the stone that was once part of the castle was taken centuries ago by locals to build their homes, but parts are still standing and can be seen today. Visit aberystwyth.org.uk

Aberdyfi This peaceful seaside village is nestled just to the north of the Dyfi estuary. The little (but extremely active) harbour is the perfect place for those who love to spend time on the water, with sailing, fishing and boat trips available. You’ll find plenty to do if you head inland as well – the village sits just a short distance away from a number of historical sites and other attractions, including the Talyllyn Railway in nearby Tywyn. Visit aberdovey.org.uk

81 per cent of the population speak Welsh, has buckets of character, with narrow streets full of independent shops and boutiques. Both of the town’s beaches, the sandy Glan y Mor and the shingle and pebble South Beach, have been awarded Blue Flag status, while Pwllheli Marina is thought to be one of the best in Britain.

Rhyl and Prestatyn If you’re looking for family fun, look no further than Rhyl and Prestatyn. Six miles of golden sands stretch between the two resorts where you can sunbathe, swim or build sandcastles. There are also donkey rides available for the kids. More unusual attractions include the Rhyl Promenade Land Train and the Sea-Life Centre (seaquarium.co.uk).

Llandudno The ‘Queen of the Welsh resorts has been a popular tourist destination since Victorian times, and it remains Wales’ largest resort town to this day. Attractions include the pier, which at 2,295ft is the longest in Wales, nearby Blue Flag beaches, loads of local events and entertainment and plenty of restaurants and pubs to choose from. Perhaps one of the most recognisable features of the town is the Great Orme, which rewards visitors who make their way to the top with views of the Isle of Man and the Lake District on a clear day. Of course, the resort town isn’t short on places to stay – a huge variety of accommodation is available, including luxury hotels and B&Bs. Visit visitllandudno.org.uk

Pwllheli From top: Aberystwyth has a castle too; peaceful Aberdyﬁ; take a tram at Llandudno; sandcastle building at New Brighton

Often thought of as the unofﬁcial capital of the Llyn Peninsula, Pwllheli is a bustling coastal town that makes the perfect base for those who want to explore the local area. The charming town, in which around

A stroll along the prom to Fort Perch, Wirral

New Brighton Located in the north east corner of the Wirral, New Brighton is home to the Floral Pavilion theatre along with a whole host of other attractions, including a bowling alley, laser quest centre and the New Palace Amusement Arcade, which even has a small fairground. The seaside resort recently underwent a £60 million redevelopment scheme, which added a hotel, restaurants, cinema and icecream parlour, plus championship adventure golf to the long list of attractions. On the coast itself, you’ll ﬁnd Fort Perch Rock (fortperchrock.org), which as well as being a historic attraction in itself is home to a number of historical exhibitions. Perch Rock lighthouse and Vale Park can also be found further along the promenade.

At a grand total of 870 miles long, the Wales Coastal Path is the world’s first uninterrupted route along a national coast. Of course, very few people take on the challenge of walking the entire length, so the path is split up into sections, with routes to suite all fitness levels and abilities – there are even stretches specifically designed with families or wheelchair users in mind. Beginning in Queensferry in the north and heading all the way down to Chepstow in the south, the path shows off the best that the Welsh coast has to offer, including beaches, estuaries, cliffs, woodlands and hills. Walking routes and maps are available online or from local tourist information centres, while for those of you who simply can’t live without your gadgets, there’s even a Wales Coast app which will help you plan your day out or holiday and will help you find all the information you need about nearby beaches and coastal walking routes. Visit walescoastpath.gov.uk

The Wales Costal Path

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If you want to get wet, why not have a go at kayaking with Plas Menai, or try scuba diving with the team at Anglesey Divers

Splashing about in the water Of course, there’s no better way to explore the seaside than from the water itself. If you want to try and spot the wildlife that call the

If you prefer to stay dry, try an excursion with New Quay Boat Trips

waters home, there are few better ways to do so than from a specialist boat trip. New Quay Boat Trips (newquayboattrips.co.uk)

offer one- and two-hour dolphin spotting trips that depart regularly during the high season. Two- and four-hour fishing trips are also available, with equipment provided. If you’d rather be the captain of your own (admittedly rather small) boat, you might like to try your hand at sea kayaking. As proof that size isn’t everything, these small crafts allow you to get close to rocks and cliffs that would be inaccessible in a larger boat and allow you to explore the water at your own pace. Plas Menai (plasmenai. co.uk) offer courses in sea kayaking, as well as a whole load of other waterbased activities, including dinghy sailing, windsurfing and power boating. The Welsh coast often provides perfect conditions for surfing, with Hells Mouth on the Llyn Peninsula attracting surfers from all over

the country. Even if you’ve never picked up a board before, you can give it a go – West Coast Surf School (westcoastsurf.co.uk) has been giving lessons since 1996 and has helped thousands of people take to the waves with lessons aimed at complete beginners. There are also intermediate and advanced lessons available for those who want to improve their skills. You can also go beneath the waves and try your hand at scuba diving for a unique view of the coastal landscape. Anglesey Divers (diveanglesey.co.uk) offer the chance to discover the magical marine world of ﬁsh and living reefs with their Try Scuba Diving sessions. Full training is offered to make sure that you stay safe during your trip underwater and can truly appreciate the strange new world you’ll discover. y

Wildlife watching Wales’s beaches, cliffs and sand dunes boast some of the best wildlifespotting locations in the UK. Just a stone’s throw away from the beach of Llanddwyn Bay, you’ll find Newborough Forest, where you can see red squirrels. While the entire island of Anglesey is a stronghold for the cute critters, the forest provides an ideal habitat for them, though you may find it hard to spot them from the main path – they’re shy! Of course, squirrels aren’t the only animals that live in the forest – the area is also well known for its large raven roost, once the largest in the UK, of up to 2000 birds. The salt marsh to the north west of the forest is vital for hen harriers, merlins and other birds of prey in winter and, along with the adjacent mudflats, regularly supports over one per cent of the British population of pintail ducks. The nearby Warren and Llanddwyn Island are designated as a National Nature Reserve and Ynys yr Adar, near Llanddwyn Island, supports a large breeding population of cormorant. Bardsey Island, just off the Llyn Peninsula, provides sanctuary for seabirds, with up to 16,000, including Manx shearwaters and puffins, found on the island. Back on the mainland, large stretches of the peninsula’s coastline are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Of course, it isn’t just on land where you’ll find a huge variety of wildlife. The Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau SAC (penllynarsarnau.co.uk) covers a massive 146,023 hectares and works to protect all the marine animals that can be found there. For example, during the summer months, large barrel fish attract leatherback turtles, most of whom have travelled great distances from the tropics following the Gulf Stream. Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau is also home to one of the most colourful fish in the UK, the cuckoo wrasse. Bottlenose dolphins live in Cardigan Bay, but are known to travel around quite a bit, so can often be spotted all over the SAC, and grey seals can also be found in the area. Even otters make occasional visits to the sea in search of food and can sometimes been seen. Of course, it isn’t just on the Welsh side of the border where you’ll find all creatures great and small. Much of the Wirral coastline has also been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Of particular interest to wildlife lovers is the Red Rocks Marsh costal reserve, which lies within the Red Rocks SSSI. Among the sand dunes, reedbeds and marsh, you’ll find Wirral’s only breeding colony of natterjack toads. The area is also very important for wading birds during the winter.

Left to right: Spot squirrels at Newborough Forest; see seals in Cardigan Bay; Red Rocks Marsh is home to Wirral’s natterjack toads

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OUTDOOR EVENT?

48,000 readers will find out about your event here!

Call: 01978 813035 or email advertising@yattaryattar.co.uk

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Everything under the sun

Summer is here, and who wants to be stuck indoors? From outdoor theatre companies, to music and arts festivals, plus historic-themed days out at local castles, there’s plenty to keep you out in the sunshine!

Play on words As summer hits, so the country’s outdoor and touring theatre companies come blinking out of the darkness into the sunlight, ready to entertain and delight their audiences with drama, comedy, musicals and more. Outdoor theatre shows are a great way to discover tragedy, romance and comedy and to introduce children to the delights of theatre going, whether it’s Shakespeare or The Gruffalo. Many outdoor productions take place in the gardens of castles and stately homes, so you’re surrounded by beauty while watching great performances. You can make a whole day or evening out of an event as picnics are usually welcomed. The Chapterhouse Theatre Company return to the region this year, with

productions of Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles at Dunham Massey in Cheshire (16th July) and Powis Castle in Powys (22nd July); and Peter Pan (23rd July) and The Railway Children (13th August) both at Erddig Hall in Wrexham. Chapterhouse encourage pre-show picnics and lots of merriment at their shows, which are adapted for outdoor staging by award-winning writer Laura Turner. From enchanting mermaids and magical fairies to family drama, plus legend, superstition and adventure on the moors, there’s something for all the family this summer. Visit chapterhouse.org Grosvenor Park Theatre Company in Chester, meanwhile, has gained a reputation for excellence, innovation and fun. Productions take place in the round in a specially designed theatre (now with 500 seats) in the park, with picnic terraces, a canopy over the back rows and a lawn around

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present an all-male version of Much Ado About Nothing

The classic and massively popular As You Like It is the headline Shakespeare for the season, with the bard’s ridiculous The Two Gentleman of Verona completing the line-up. So that’s three comedies, although only

▲

Chapterhouse Theatre Co present everything from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes

Grosvenor Park Theatre Company have their own specially designed theatre in Chester

the classic thrust stage. This summer the company presents more accessible and fun outdoor performances for all the family. The season, which runs from 1st July-21st August includes two Shakespeare plays – As You Like It and The Two Gentlemen of Verona – and an adaptation of kids’ favourite Stig of the Dump. Clive King’s Stig of the Dump is one of the 20th century’s best-selling and most enduring children’s classics, the tale of a lovable time-shifting Neanderthal. The play is presented by the same team who brought the sell-out hits The Wind in the Willows and The Secret Garden to the stage.

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OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT

Listening to music beneath the stars

Illyria Theatre present three shows this year

one with a caveman… Visit grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk The Lord Chamberlain’s Men is an all-male touring company who this year present Much Ado About Nothing, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The sparkling, battle-of-the-sexes (and wits!), one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies, is performed in the open air, with Elizabethan costume, music and dance. You can see it at Ludlow Millennium Green on 1st July; Shrewsbury Castle on 9th August; and Arley Hall on 26th August. Visit tlcm.co.uk. Illyria Outdoor Theatre are touring three shows this summer, starting with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is at Plas Glyn y Weddw, Pwllheli on 27th July, Abergavenny Castle on 9th August and Montgomery Castle on 17th August. For kids of all ages is Roald Dahl’s funny and heartwarming story of Danny Champion of The World which is being performed on 30th July at Attingham Park; 3rd August at Harlech Castle; 11th August at Abergavenny Castle and 18th August at Plas Glyn y Weddw. Finally, Gilbert & Sullivan’s

Folksy’s shows include music and puppetry

glorious spoof of haunted house stories, Ruddigore, is performed at Plas Glyn y Weddw on 2nd August, Abergavenny Castle on 10th August, and Harlech Castle on 11th August. Visit illyria.uk.com Folksy Theatre Company’s shows include music, multimedia and puppetry, and are suitable for all ages. They perform come rain or shine, so make sure you take a picnic (and wine) and waterproof gear just in case! As You Like It takes place at Little Moreton Hall on 9th August, in Port Sunlight on 10th August, at Dorothy Clive Garden in Shropshire on 13th August, Bodelwyddan Castle in north Wales on 16th August and Norton Priory in Cheshire on 20th August. The Smartest Giant in Town is based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, authors of The Gruffalo, and is performed at Norton Priory on 2nd August, Dorothy Clive Garden on 7th August, Port Sunlight on 9th August and Little Moreton Hall on 26th August. Visit folksytheatre.co.uk

Small is beautiful – the Ymuno festival in north Wales

We’ve plenty of music festivals going on this summer, too, whatever type of tune gets you up and boogieing. Fancy doing a bit of line dancing, perhaps trying your luck on the bucking bronco, or maybe you fancy yourself as a quick draw? Head for Welshpool Country Music Festival at Powis Castle from 15th-17th July, and you can have a go at all this, as well as watching a traditional westerners’ charge – and of course, enjoying some good ol’ country music. The event is held to raise funds for the Heulwen Trust, so as well as having a good time, you’ll be supporting a good cause! Visit countrywestern.org.uk Now recognised as one of the country’s top folk festivals, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, from 26th-29th August, is about Yee-hah! Head on down to more than just music, offering a relaxed atmosphere with Welshpool for some C&W plenty to explore on site including four sound stages, a dance tent and specialist venues for the children’s and youth festivals. There are shops, caterers, bars, a craft fair, plus free buses into Shrewsbury town centre – where a host of events and performances spill out into the town. This year artists performing include Show of Hands, Tom Robinson, Eliza Carthy, Shooglenifty and John McCusker. Visit shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk Farmer Phil’s Music Festival is a Shropshire-based family friendly music festival complete with on-site camping, two stages featuring more than 50 live acts, three bars, children’s entertainment, plus high quality food vendors, and hot showers and clean toilets! Among the artists performing over the weekend of 12th-14th August are The Selecter, Dreadzone and Ferocious Dog. Visit farmerphilsfestival.com If you think small is beautiful head for Abergele on the north Wales coast from 1st-4th July for the Ymuno festival – the ‘little festival with a big heart’. Performers include Renegade Brass Band, Sorceress, KOG & The Zongao Brigade and Sera Owen, and there’s plenty more to see and do, too, including a junk instrument workshop, grafitti artisits, circus skills workshops, star gazing, laughing yoga… Visit ymuno.com

Best of the rest ● Alsager Music Festival, 9th-10th July, Cheshire ● Live in the Park, 9th July, Arley Hall, Cheshire (pictured) ● Rewind North, 5th-7th August, Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire ● V-Fest, 20th-21st August, Weston Park, Shropshire ● The Big Tribute Festival, 27th-29th August, Aberystwyth ● Creamﬁelds, 25th-28th August, Daresbury, Cheshire ● Ellesmere Rocks, 27th August, Ellesmere, Shropshire

Shrewsbury is one of the top UK folk festivals

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‘There’s plenty of entertainment and a full-on musical line-up at Glass Butter Beach’

Watch a historic battle at Whittington Castle

Why not learn something new? Fancy doing a bit of stargazing? Solarsphere is an astronomical and music festival that takes place in mid Wales from 12th-15th August. With solar and astronomical observing, astronomical talks and workshops, a Cosmos Wenlock Festival at the Edge incorporates storytelling, music, Planetarium, plus stalls and crafts, plenty of art, poetry and workshops music and events such as fancy dress parties, this fun and educational weekend is great for the whole family. Visit solarsphere.events Glass Butter Beach is a festival that gives you the opportunity to try something new, whether it’s wake boarding, fly boarding or surfing. As well as a host of water-based activities, there’s plenty of entertainment and a full-on musical line up at the event, from 19th-21st August in Llanbedrog, Abersoch. Visit glassbutterbeach.com Want to hear some tall tales? Festival at the Edge, at Wenlock Edge from 15th-17th July, is the oldest storytelling festival in England, and Discover inter-planetary wonders has a packed programme of events for all age groups. With storytellers from all over the world, at the Solarsphere festival plus practical workshops, story rounds, informal music sessions, bonfire sessions and a special children’s festival running alongside it, this is a family event with a difference. Visit www.festivalattheedge.org The new Bluedot Festival takes place at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire from 22nd24th July and features music, science, arts, technology, culture, food and film, all taking place in the shadow of the iconic observatory. The headline acts on the main stage include electronic duo Underworld, the godfather of electronic music Jean-Michel Jarre, and Caribou. Meanwhile, beneath the MK II radio telescope, affectionally known as ‘42’ due to its 42ft diameter (which Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fans will know as the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything), you’ll find the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, where there’ll be three menus available from Aiden Byrne’s curated exploration of g’astronomy, a Stargazers Feast and a hearty Sunday Lunch. Visit discoverthebluedot.com

Travel back in time A host of history festivals take place across the region over the summer, when you can see demonstrations, re-enactments and parades at some of the most fascinating historical sites in the country. These educational, fun and immersive days are a great way to discover your local history in new and different ways. From 30th-31st July you can find out about many aspects of the story of Whittington Castle in Shropshire during its multi-period Living History Weekend. Over the course of the weekend, the House of Black Star re-enactment group will be performing displays from medieval times through to the Second World War. ‘Events like these are a great way to absorb history,’ says Sue Ellis of Whittington Castle Preservation Trust, ‘The performers are passionate and really engage visitors. It’s a fun, interactive day out for all the family.’ This extensive Marches castle provides the perfect setting for such a festival, with its roots See the knights at Beeston dating right back to Norman times. Visit whittingtoncastle.co.uk At Beeston Castle in Cheshire, the Knights Tournament on 30th-31st July will see noble warriors taking on the ultimate medieval contest. Swords will be wielded, archery skills tested and helmets battered as the men are put to the test in each nail-biting round. It’s a chance to soak up the sights and sounds of daily life in a medieval encampment and smell the food cooked on an open fire. Children can feel the weight of real armour and burn off energy in battle drills. Visit english-heritage.org.uk y July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 69

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River Tryweryn

Flowing from Llyn Celyn through to Bala in north Wales, this dam controlled river is a popular spot for white water rafting and also has a lovely bankside walk. Visit canoewales.com

Lake Vyrnwy Llyn Brenig

With an RSPB reserve, and a luxury hotel on its banks, not to mention beautiful woodland walks and wildlife â&#x20AC;&#x201C; plus a sculpture park and cafe! â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this beautiful reservoir in mid Wales has something for everyone. Visit rspb.org.uk

This reservoir in north Wales hosts a range of water-based activities, including boating, fishing and water zorbing. If you want to stay dry, you can walk, cycle or even horse ride in the surrounding area. Visit llyn-brenig.co.uk

Dearnford Lake

Peaceful walks, wild swimming, geocacheing and even camping are just some of the things you can get up to at this family-friendly site near Whitchurch in Shropshire. Lots of waterside events are held here too. Visit dearnford.net

Trawsfynydd

Surrounded by mountains, Trawsfynydd in north Wales can be a brooding place in bad weather, but in summer it takes on a whole different feel, with family activities and plenty of wildlife. Visit trawslake.com

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A river runs through it

Images: © Crown copyright (2016) Visit Wales; Olivia Abbott

We have some of the most beautiful waterside locations in the country – whether you want to try a water sport, enjoy a family picnic on the riverbank or simply enjoy the tranquility of the countryside

Llyn Tegid

The biggest natural lake in the country, with the town of Bala perched on its northernmost tip, Llyn Tegid is a hotspot for sailing, watersports and family days out. Plus the Bala Lake steam railway runs along the side of it. Visit visitbala.org.uk July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 71

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RIVERS & LAKES

River Severn

The longest river in the UK meanders flat and wide through the Shropshire countryside with lots of tempting-looking and peaceful picnicking spots on its banks.

Elan Valley

There are no fewer than four reservoirs in this mid Wales hotspot, all surrounded by stunning scenery and wildlife, plus slow-flowing rivers. Visit elanvalley.org.uk

Llynnau Cregennen

This remote spot in north Wales is tranquil, undisturbed and perfect, whether you want to walk the length of the lake and the ridge of Pared y Cefn Hir above, or simply sit by the waterside and enjoy the peace of the area.

‘Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.’ A A Milne, Winnie the Pooh

River Dee, Cheshire Wide and calm, the majestic Dee rises in Snowdonia, and wends its way through Chester, where it’s host to the annual raft race and home to ChesterBoat before heading for its estuary at Wirral. 72 yattaryattar magazine July/August 2016

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A solid Warm Roof adds a completely new dimension to your conservatory

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Everything you need is on site

Now that summer’s here, your thoughts have no doubt turned to holidays, and making sure you don’t miss out on the holiday of your choice. How great would it be if you never had to worry about booking again? With a holiday home at Glan Gwna holiday park in beautiful north Wales that dream could easily become a reality. You can set yourself free from the tyranny of holiday companies and booking requirements and fees, and have your own home from home in Snowdonia, ready for you whenever you want it. Glan Gwna has a wide range of new and pre-owned holiday homes for sale and can offer advice and information to help you find the ideal one for your requirements. The park sits between the Snowdonia National Park and the Llyn Peninsula with its golden beaches, and is a great base for exploring local attractions such as castles, historic houses, gardens, the Isle of Anglesey, and a huge choice of sporting activities. Of course, if you’re looking for a true retreat, there are plenty of facilities on site, including an outdoor heated pool, a poolside bar, a well-stocked shop, a children’s play area, and even a beauty salon offering a wide range of treatments. Plus, fishermen can catch trout and salmon on the river, or go coarse fishing on one of the site’s two lakes. Visit glangwna.com or call 01286 673456 to find out more.

Yattar Holidays

Great loc al holida y parks, hotspots, boating breaks a self-cate nd ring cotta ges

Small is beautiful

Audlem-based Cheshire Cat Narrowboats have added a new boat to their hire ﬂeet. Northern Lights is a small, cosy traditional style narrowboat, ideal for couples. Fleet owners Mark Edwards and Linda Andrews had long felt there was a market for a smaller hire boat. ‘Not everybody wants to hire a 62-footer, it can be quite daunting for ﬁrst-timers,’ says Linda. ‘Northern Lights is small enough to be easily handled by one person, so is ideal for the solo boater, or for couples.’ The boat has all the facilities a bigger boat might offer, including a full-length double bed plus a make-up double, shower room, well-equipped galley, and even a solid fuel stove in the lounge to keep the crew warm and cosy. As with all Cheshire Cat’s boats, pets are welcome aboard at no extra charge. How did the boat get its name? ‘We went to Iceland a couple of years ago to see the Northern Lights,’ says Linda. ‘It was truly awesome.’ Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays are based at Overwater Marina, just south of Nantwich on the Shropshire Union Canal. Visit cheshirecatnarrowboats.co.uk or call 07867 790195

‘How great would it be if you never had to worry about booking again?’

The Heights of luxury Ocean Heights Caravan Park, near Pwllheli on the southern coast of the Llyn Peninsula, is a small-but-perfectly-formed luxury five-star holiday site, covering three fields of luscious Welsh countryside. Plus, the park now has a brand new development, with all holiday home plots having a patio parking space and spacious manicured lawns. Tucked away in a well kept secluded area, the tranquil park is perfect for families, with a large expanse of grassland offering an ideal spot for ball games and picnics, plus a children’s play area and football pitch. The site is dog friendly, too, so even the family pet is welcome, and also has free wi fi, plus a launderette. And for the times when you want to get out and explore, the site is in a perfect spot for visiting Portmeirion village, Pwllheli and Criccieth castle. Ocean Heights is open from March to November and there is a wide range of caravans available, whether you want to hire for a week or two, or are considering in investing in a holiday home of your own so you can come back whenever you like. Visit thornleyleisure.co.uk or call 0800 917 3170.

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Yattar Holidays

With private decks and magniﬁcent views, holiday homes here are truly luxurious

Year round luxury at Aberconwy Aberconwy is a luxury resort and spa in the Conwy Valley in north Wales, where you can own a new, luxury holiday from just £29,995. With the mountains of Snowdonia as a backdrop and Conwy

Morfa Beach right on the doorstep, Aberconwy is a perfect place to relax. If you’re looking for enjoyment and total indulgence this resort could be the spot for your perfect holiday home. Facilities on site include Langley’s Country Club, Mali’s Hair Salon, The Langley Spa and the Michelin 2016 recommended Signatures Restaurant, all of which add to the luxury and draw of owning your very own handpicked holiday home. One of the great things about Aberconwy is that it’s a great place to have a holiday home all year round – the local area is as attractive and vibrant in January as it is in August. And if you just want to truly chill out on the site, you’ll be spoilt for choice, whether you want to bask in the health and relaxation spa; rejuvenate and refresh in the gym, Jacuzzi and swimming pool; or soak up the great atmosphere and ambience with a drink or a meal in Signatures Restaurant and Bar. Visit darwinescapes.co.uk

Hot spot Shropshire Wenlock Priory

It might just be ruins, but that doesn’t mean that Wenlock Priory is anything less than spectacular. The 12thcentury remains that can be seen today were built on the site of an even earlier Anglo-Saxon monastery, which was founded in about 680 by King Merewalh of Mercia, whose abbess daughter Milburge was hailed as a saint. It was the rediscovery of her relics that prompted the building of the later priory. Perhaps one of the most impressive parts of that remains is the Chapter House, which was built around 1140. Here you can still see the elaborate stone carvings, including one grotesque head carved into the lintel of the doorway!. Elsewhere on the grounds of the priory, you’ll ﬁnd the Cloister Garden set against the backdrop of the complete inﬁrmary wing, which was converted into a mansion after the priory’s dissolution and is still a private residence today.

‘This is a great place to have a holiday home all year round – the local area is as attractive and vibrant in January as it is in August’ The Llandudno Bay Hotel is a stylish spot to relax and from where you can explore the area

Style by the bay The Llandudno Bay Hotel is north Wales’ newest four star hotel, sitting proudly upon the resort town’s magnificent promenade, and bringing style and elegance to the north Wales coastline. This is a chic, elegant hotel, where you can indulge in the finest food, socialise in the Champagne bar, laugh with friends over afternoon tea or simply, sleep – beside the sea. It’s also a great base for exploring all that the ‘Queen of Welsh Resorts’ has to offer, from the magnificent headland of Great Orme to the pier, and everything in between. Visit llandudnobayhotel.com

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Yattar Holidays

Morfa Lodge Holiday Park has not one but two heated swimming pools

Relax by the pool at Morfa Morfa Lodge Holiday Park at Dinas Dinlle is just a stone’s throw from Caernarfon and its magniﬁcent castle, nestling in the foothills of the magniﬁcent Snowdonia mountain range. Set in in unspoilt, beautiful parkland, near long, sandy beaches, the park is family owned and has been personally operated for 50 years. With excellent facilities, including two heated outdoor swimming pools with patio areas, and allocated play areas for children there’s everything you need for a relaxing holiday on site. There’s also a shop, and a clubhouse with large family room plus a lounge bar for adults only. If you want to get out and explore the area, there’s plenty to do nearby, from walking in the mountains to relaxing on beautiful sandy beaches; from exploring historic castles to discovering local craftspeople and artists, or even taking a train ride on one of Wales’s famous steam railways. You can choose whether to hire or purchase a holiday home at the site, or even bring along your own touring caravan. Whichever you choose, you can be assured of a warm welcome. For more information visit www.morfalodge.co.uk or call 01286 830205.

Hot spot North Wales Menai Strait Known in Welsh as Afon Menai, the Menai Strait is the narrow stretch of shallow tidal water that separates Anglesey from the mainland. The Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 and designed by none other than Thomas Telford, spans the strait and is a tourist attraction in its own right and is even mentioned in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. Prior to the bridge’s construction, there was no fixed way across the strait and anyone wanting to get to or from Anglesey had to brave the dangerous waters via ferry. The strait encompasses numerous habitats, from marine reefs to sandy beaches and sea cliffs. Parts are designated a Marine Special Area of Conservation, so it’s a hot spot for local wildlife. Perhaps most obvious are the wide variety of shore and wading birds, but there are plenty of other, more-difficult-to-spot creatures that call the Menai Strait home, including rock-boring sponges, piddocks and acorn worms. On rare occasions, even seals and harbour porpoises can be seen. The strait has more to offer than just wildlife – the waters are perfect for a variety of watersports. Llanddwyn beach offers the perfect conditions for windsurfing and paddleboarding, and the Marine Club at Menai Bridge, situated next to the iconic suspension bridge, offer lessons as well as courses in power boating and jet skiing. Find out more at visitanglesey.co.uk

Blaen y Nant is one of North Wales Holiday Cottages’ lovely properties

North Wales is the place to be North Wales Holiday Cottages, the longest-established holiday letting agency in Wales, which is now celebrating its 50th year, says demand for holiday cottages in the area is soaring, with high occupancy levels and a growing demand for properties in key hotspots around the region. The company cites the success of world-leading attractions including zip wires in Snowdonia, the Bounce Below underground trampoline attraction, and Surf Snowdonia’s inland lagoon as helping to promote north Wales as UK’s outdoor adventure capital. David Griffiths, one of North Wales Holiday Cottage’s family owners, says: ‘There’s a growing trend for second homeowners to use their property as a holiday let business, not just because of the tax benefits but also because many second homes are under-used and owners can earn a useful income from letting them. Plus, regularly used holiday homes bring economic benefits to local communities with visitors likely to support local shops and services during their stay. ‘Owners can manage the letting themselves or use an agency and benefit from their expertise and marketing. Some agencies want control but the preferred option for many is an agency that gives owners the freedom to reserve the home for their own use and let it out at other times.’ To find out more visit northwalesholidaycottages.co.uk or call 01492 582492.

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GET ACTIVE! On two wheels or on two feet, on water or on dry land, on your own or in a crowd, we’ve got some great ideas for getting out there and doing it!

Get active with all the family Llyn Brenig in Conwy, north Wales is a great place to go walking or cycling, with lots of routes to choose from to suit all the family, all with spectacular views and with plenty of wildlife in the forests surrounding the lake to look out for as you walk. Most of the moorland around the lake is in the Mynydd Hiraethog Site of Special Scientiﬁc Interest. For history buffs there’s a 4km archaeological trail that takes you across open countryside to discover the relics of Bronze Age man, who used Brenig as a burial ground. Foundations of 16th century farmhouses also form part of the site’s trail. The reservoir is also a great place to experience the thrill of the open water, with a variety of ways to get out on it. Perfect for sailing, the site has frequent windy conditions for the budding and adventurous sailor. There’s even an on-site sailing club who are happy to accept new members and have a wide range of boats and training possibilities. There’s also guided kayaking and other activities, including water zorbing for the kids.

The visitor centre on site offers lots of information and leaﬂets about activities at the lake, and there’s also a cafe overlooking the water where you can get snacks and drinks. For more information visit llyn-brenig.co.uk

On yer… penny farthing?

Race the river rapids With summer in full swing, it’s a great time to give white water rafting a go, and a visit to the National White Water Centre near Bala makes a great day out, with sessions that all the family can enjoy. Rafting at the centre is on the Afon Tryweryn, which offers two routes. For younger members of the family, or those who want to ease themselves into it, you can start with a gentle journey on the Lower Trywern. True adrenaline junkies, meanwhile, can skip straight to the Upper Tryweryn for the excitement of crashing waves and boulder dodging on the fast-ﬂowing river. The Tryweryn is dam controlled, so rapids are all but guaranteed throughout the summer months and conditions are reliable. Unlike many other venues in the country, this doesn’t come at the cost of your surroundings – you’ll still get to enjoy a real wild mountain river and a beautiful natural environment. The centre offers more than just rafting – other activities you might like to try include canoeing and canyoning, and if some members of the family don’t want to take to the water, or maybe as a way to round off your day, there’s the Tryweryn Trail – a riverside walk that stretches from the Llyn Celyn reservoir to the River Dee. A free guide is available from reception. Find out more at canoewales.com

A unique cycling event takes place at Blists Hill Victorian Town in Ironbridge on the evening of 9th July. The exciting Queen Victoria Cyclo-Cross brings more than 300 of the UK’s top riders speeding through the recreated Victorian streets on modern bikes. For the event, Blists Hill has teamed up with the organisers of Newport’s Nocturne cycle race. The technical course contains some formidable challenges for the riders, not least the fearsome climb up the Hay Inclined Plane. There are also steep descents, chicanes and single track sections, which weave around the historic buildings. The inaugural event in 2013 was described by Cycling Weekly magazine as ‘Britain’s craziest bike race!’ Cyclo-cross is one of the fastest growing disciplines of cycle sport with urban and summer events leading the way. Although mountain bikes can be used in the event, most competitors will be on specialist ‘cross bikes’, which are faster and a blend of a racing bike and a mountain bike. Gates open at 5.15pm and the first race will start at 6pm with the event finishing at approximately 9.30pm. To find out more visit newportshropshirecc.org.uk and ironbridge.org.uk or call 01952 433424.

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GET ACTIVE!

Are you swimming safely? Summer is here, and taking a dip in a lake, river or the sea is very appealing – but even if they’re used to swimming in a pool, diving into outdoor waters can be a bit daunting, especially for youngsters who are not used to it. If you’d like your children to feel safer in the water, Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre at Caernarfon is running free outdoor swimming and safety sessions for children aged eight and over from 15th-17th July. There are several sessions each day and you can book online at swimming.org/swimsafe or call in at the centre for more information.

Yattar Yattar walk Rodney’s Pillar by Clive Potter

This walk offers great rewards for a bit of effort. Breathtaking views await on the 365m summit of Breidden Hill, along with the historic monument Rodney’s Pillar. On a summer’s evening you can watch the sunset with views over the Powys/Shropshire Border and the Cheshire plains. There are three routes on permissive paths, all of which are shown on a sign board at the car park near Criggion village hall, which is the start point. Route one is 2.5 miles, with an easy gradient and I highly recommend this. Route two is shorter – 1.5 miles – but with some difﬁcult walking on a mixture of tracks; an adventurous, fun route. At 1.1 miles, route three is shorter still, but has some hard walking with a mixture of tracks. The walks can be joined up. Sensible footwear is advised as well as a windproof jacket as it can be very windy on the open summit. On your way, look out for wild deer and the giant picnic table just off walking route 3. On a clear day you can see Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, and the cold war relic of Criggion Radio station. Map OS Explorer 240, grid reference SJ294149. Clive lives in north Wales and has a passion for walking and photography. Visit clivepotter.co.uk

Into the forest

Get out with the family this summer and explore all that Oneplanet Adventure in Coed Llandegla Forest near Wrexham has to offer. On two feet, you can enjoy a variety of trails of different lengths, taking you among the beautiful spruce and larch, and coming across hidden glades and lakes, where you can enjoy a picnic or just sit and listen to the birdsong. Want a bit more of a challenge? How about tackling the newly opened 10km running trail? If you fancy having a go on two wheels, you can hire a bike and enjoy one of the graded mountain bike trails – there’s everything from a 5km family trail to a black graded 21km trail – something for all abilities. If you’re a bit unsure of your bike handling skills, why not book a qualiﬁed instructor for a family skills session or guided ride. Once you’ve enjoyed exploring the forest, head back to the visitor centre at Oneplanet, where you can choose something to eat from the extensive menu, along with a freshly ground coffee. For a bit of indulgence, why not treat yourself to one of the legendary hot chocolates or even a homemade cake. For more information call 01978 751656 or visit oneplanetadventure.com

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Yattar Escapes Treat yourself to a well-deserved short break at a local hotel

ABODE HOTEL

A striking, modern hotel a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Chester, with 84 bedrooms and a range of dining options including the Champagne bar. Looking for a bargain getaway this summer? The Summer in the City package, available till 31st August, includes a night’s accommodation, a two-course dinner and breakfast for £99 per room. abodechester.co.uk 01244 347000

CAE MOR HOTEL

The Cae Mor, opposite Llandudno promenade, offers luxury accommodation, with 23 en-suite individually designed bedrooms. Enjoy a mid-week break for as little as £345 per room for three nights’ accommodation, dinner each evening and breakfast each morning. This offer is available for any three nights, Sunday to Thursday. caemorhotel.co.uk 01492 878101

CLIVE HOTEL

Just outside Ludlow, The Clive has 15 en-suite bedrooms including an executive double and a junior suite. The restaurant has been awarded two AA Rosette for its local dishes made using fresh seasonal ingredients. Dinner, bed and breakfast costs from £139. theclive.co.uk 01584 856565

LAKE VYRNWY

Enjoy a summer experience at Lake Vyrnwy. The hotel’s Summer Romance package costs from £84.50 per person per night. Included in the package are Champagne and chocolate truffles on arrival, a meal in the award-winning Tower Restaurant and a full Welsh breakfast. lakevyrnwy.com 01691 870692

ARBOUR HOTEL

A family-run hotel on the Barmouth promenade, just a short distance from the beach, with 35 en-suite rooms. An any timebreak is just £115 per person for three nights’ bed and breakfast, while the Summer Bargain Break package (excludes bank holidays) costs £139 per person for three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast. arbour-hotel.co.uk 01341 280459

CARDEN PARK

With 1000 acres of grounds and plenty of rooms with a view, Carden Park is all about luxury. Summer holiday break packages are available from £99 per room per night, including full use of the leisure facilities, a full English breakfast in the morning and a 10 per cent discount voucher for Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. cardenpark.co.uk 01829 731007

GREGYNOG HALL

Set in the heart of Montgomeryshire, Gregynog Hall is a historic house with Grade 1 listed gardens and is one of Wales’ premier country estates. Rooms range from grand historic to single study bedrooms, all with views of the grounds. Prices start at £73.50 per night for bed and breakfast. gregynog.org 01686 650224

LLYNDIR HALL

This 19th century villa, has five acres of gardens, and 48 en suite bedrooms and luxury suites. Book direct with the hotel via their website using promo code ‘SUMMER’ to receive up to 30 per cent off the price of two-night breaks, including breakfast and optional dinner. Kids stay free! hallmarkhotels.co.uk 0330 028 3417

BODYSGALLEN HALL

This hotel has 15 bedrooms all individually decorated featuring antique furniture and views of the parkland or gardens. The Escape to the Country Break package, available until 31st October (excluding bank holidays) includes £43 per person towards dinner, breakfast and admission to a local property of interest from £260 per room per night. bodysgallen.com 01492 584466

CHATEAU RHIANFA

On the island of Anglesey, Chateau Rhianfa offers the Explore Snowdonia package, 18th-20th July and 15th-17th August which includes a two-night stay with a full Welsh breakfast each morning and a guided tour of Snowdonia National Park. On the second evening, there’s a canape reception and a three-course meal. £250 per person. chateaurhianfa.com 01248 713656

GROSVENOR PULFORD HOTEL AND SPA

Combine luxury with a Chester Zoo break. Family prices start from £280 per night for two adults and two children, and include full English breakfast, £25 dinner allowance for adults (children eat free) and of course, tickets to the zoo. grosvenorpulfordhotel.co.uk 01244 570560

LLANDUDNO BAY

The Bay Hotel offers a four-star boutique experience, with recently refurbished rooms and fine dining in the Forster Restaurant. Bed and breakfast starts at £85.50 per night Sunday to Thursday for a double room. Or you can upgrade to a sea view deluxe double from £103.50. llandudnobayhotel.com 01492 555400

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MAENAN ABBEY

In the heart of the beautiful Conwy Valley, this hotel is built on the site of a historic abbey, with the mountains of Snowdonia as backdrop. Bedrooms are individually designed and the hotel is pet friendly. Packages available include three nights dinner, bed and breakfast from £175 per person or a seven-night holiday with dinner, bed and breakfast from £375 per person.You can upgrade to a four poster bed for just £10 a night. maenanabbey.co.uk 01492 660247

OAKELEY ARMS

Dating back to the 16th century, this Grade II listed building is one of the most historic hotels in Wales. It has recently been lovingly restored to maintain an abundance of period features and charm, while providing modern and comfortable facilities. A double room with en suite starts at £89 or take along the family and stay for £150 per night in a family en suite room which sleeps four. oakeleyarms.co.uk 01766 590277

ROWTON HALL COUNTRY HOUSE & SPA

Nestled in secluded grounds, Rowton Hall has a relaxed, friendly feel. Combine a relaxing stay at the hotel with a visit to the famous Chester Races: special rates are just £165 per room per night (two night minimum stay) on race days. Breakfast is available for an additional £12.50 per person, per day. rowtonhallhotel.co.uk 01244 335262

SEIONT MANOR

Situated in 150 acres of grounds, Seiont Manor near Snowdonia boasts three AA red stars and an AA two rosette restaurant. The two-night classic break package offers a room or suite, a three-course set meal on the first night and a full traditional breakfast on both mornings from £148 per room, per night. handpickedhotels.co.uk 0845 072 7550

MELLINGTON HALL

For a break in a quintessentially British countryside location, Mellington Hall Hotel is offering a late deal for three nights from £450 during the week or £495 over the weekend. The package includes accommodation in the luxurious Mellington Suite, Prosecco on arrival and breakfast in the morning. Availability may vary; contact the hotel to check. mellingtonhallhotel.com 01588 620456

THE OLD RECTORY

This handsome Georgian hotel is just outside the Shropshire market town of Wem, set within 3.5 acres of walled gardens, rolling lawns and stunning views. Each of the 14 bedrooms has been individually designed to create warmth and comfort. Immerse yourself in warmth and comfort with a stay from £90 per night for a cosy double room with bed and breakfast or upgrade to a luxurious four poster bed room for £150 per night. oldrectorywem.co.uk 01939 233233

THE ROYAL OAK HOTEL

The Royal Oak is in the idyllic village of Betwsy-Coed in the Snowdonia mountain range. The Walkers’ Break package includes two nights (Wednesday to Saturday inclusive) dinner, bed and breakfast, a packed lunch for both days and a map with highlighted walks, plus full use of the swimming pool, steam room and sauna to unwind after a long day of walking. Prices start from £150 per person, not available bank holidays. royaloakhotel.net 01690 710219

THE WHITE HOUSE

The White House at Rhuallt boasts seven bedrooms and two penthouse suites, which all have their own en-suite bathroom. The bar lounge offers superior home made food. Prices during spring and summer start from £80 per room per night for a double or twin room. whitehouserhuallt.co.uk 01745 530000

NANTEOS MANSION

Enjoy a lazy Sunday at Nanteos Mansion with this package. Round off your weekend with cream tea on arrival, and a luxurious stay in a comfortable room, where you can enjoy a lie-in, with late check out available until 1pm. Prices start from £149 per room. Available for Sunday arrival only. nanteos.com 01970 600522

ROSSETT HALL HOTEL

Combining the grandeur and charm of a Georgian hotel with modern amenities, Rossett Hall is situated in its own grounds with a tranquil atmosphere. Treat a loved one to a special getaway with the hotel’s Romance at Rossett Hall package. For just £150 per person, you can enjoy two nights in an executive room with that special someone, with a romantic evening meal and a full Welsh breakfast. rossetthallhotel.co.uk 01244 571000

RUTHIN CASTLE

This magical Welsh hotel has royal heritage stretching back over 700 years and offers unusually themed and extravagantly furnished accommodation. It isn’t often that you get the chance to stay in a castle, but you can grab a bargain with the hotel’s midweek deals. Prices for the midweek castle escape start from just £99 for bed and breakfast with a night in a castle room. ruthincastle.co.uk 01824 720664

Y TALBOT

This cosy and characterful pub with rooms in Tregaron has a contemporary restaurant, and stunning gardens and makes an excellent base for exploring mid Wales and the Cambrian mountains. The Summer Adventure Package includes two nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast in a superior double room from £340. ytalbot.com 01974 298208

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HOTEL REVIEW

Safe Arbour

Patrick Gough goes to the seaside and ﬁnds a perfect hotel on the promenade

quick jaunt through mid Wales, along winding roads and through deep valleys, and we were in sunny Barmouth. And the sun was indeed shining: statistically, it is sunny more often in Barmouth than further inland in Wales, because the nearby mountains catch the clouds and rain. This was just one of many interesting and useful titbits of information given to us by our excellent hosts at the Arbour Hotel, Steve and Karen. The Arbour is hard to miss in its prominent location, sticking out towards the palm-tree-lined promenade across the road. It is the closest hotel to the sea in Barmouth, a large and striking building with excellent views towards the Llyn peninsula and further south down the bay. It was clear straight away that we were in a hotel with a personal touch. Entering the Arbour feels like you’ve been welcomed into someone’s (rather grand) home. And of course it is a home, to Steve and Karen, who have owned it for 14 years. They demonstrate a love and fascination for Barmouth, and furnished us with a wealth of information about the local history, architecture, music scene and everything in between – including a recommendation for where to get the best bag of chips, which, luckily for two hungry travellers, turned out to be Wales’ ofﬁcial No 1 chip shop! Barmouth is not your typical seaside town. There are too many alluring vintage shops, boutiques and hip-looking eateries. There is a cool and bohemian atmosphere in the streets and great walks all around the area. Plus of course there’s the unique beach that is given an otherworldly feel by the surrounding bay and looming hills behind. Walking along the promenade at sunset is a wonderful experience. The sunsets here, Steve informed us, are renowned. Our room was large, almost like an apartment, with its own hall-like area and a great view. The bed was grand and had plenty of pillows – something so often neglected by hoteliers! Our hosts work relentlessly to ensure their guests are comfortable and well catered for. They were still up when we went to bed, and of course were up – bright and early, not a hair out of place – to serve our breakfast. Two vegetarians looking for a slap up breakfast? No problem. Wales’ gift to the vegetarian – Glamorgan sausages – to the rescue! We left the Arbour in no doubt that we would be back, as this is a hotel run by real people who care and who will guarantee their guests comfort, great food and excellent free tourist information! y For more information visit arbour-hotel.co.uk or call 01341 280459.

The imposing hotel looks out across the bay; while proprietor Steve is ready to serve drinks behind the bar

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Food& Drink

Local butchers, gin creators and ice cream makers! Plus pubs, picnics and more…

Easy peasy picnics

Happy pigs make for tastier pork, say the butchers at Battleﬁeld 1403!

Everybody loves a picnic, but they can be a real faff to prepare, and after a lot of hard work it can be disappointing to end up with a pile of soggy sandwiches and a bit of wilted salad. Carluccio’s restaurant have taken the hard work and disappointment out of eating al fresco with their special picnic baskets. Each picnic is prepared fresh and contains an antipasti selection, plus dishes such as citrus poached chicken breasts, goat’s cheese salad ‘The production with beetroot, asparagus, walnuts, radish and baby spinach, and stuffed peppers; plus dessert. of meat is part of Take one to the park, to a picnic concert, a the cycle of family outing, your own back garden – in fact any seasonal foods al fresco spot you can ﬁnd! Picnics cost £45 each and serve two (£10 for a children’s picnic.) Order and ethical four hours in advance. production’ Carluccio’s, The Square, Shrewsbury, 01743 366040 or visit carluccios.com/picnics

The revival of pork Traditionally, beef has been the most popular meat over the counter at Battlefield 1403 near Shrewsbury, the butchery tells us. But recently there has been competition for this slot with the woodland pigs sales growing. The Battlefield pigs have a very free range lifestyle with groups of 25 running in a pen of around five acres, spending their time rummaging around on the woodland floor. Each of the breeds – Large White, Middle White, Gloucester Old Spot and Pietrain cross – is chosen for the flavour of the meat, and ‘Once you try them you’ll turn your back on the intensively reared, flavourless pork from the supermarkets forever!’ say Battlefield’s butchers. The production of meat for the butchery is part of the cycle of seasonal foods and sustainable ethical production that Battlefield 1403 pride themselves on. Eating meat with a high welfare standard where the butchers serving you know which field the animals were raised in is important. The careful decisions of the farmer influences the speed the animal is raised and the conditions it enjoys along the way. Buying from a butcher’s counter is the best way to understand the food you’re enjoying so make sure you ask lots of questions and take their advice. Visit battlefield1403.com or call 01939 210905.

Mighty meaty Ludlow Ludlow Food Centre is celebrating success once more after scooping eight awards at this year’s National Meat Products Competition – including two golds. Almost 400 products from 48 producers across the country were entered into the competition. Ludlow Food Centre’s butchery team, headed by butchery manager John Brereton, won an award for each of the six products entered: green back Ludlow Food Centre butchers John bacon, smoked air dried Brereton and Damien MacNamara beef, beef burger, traditional pork sausage, sage and apple sausage, ﬁocco, Pete’s pasty and turkey and ham cutting pie. All of the Gloucester Old Spot pork, lamb, beef and game used at Ludlow Food Centre is sourced from its surrounding Oakly Park Estate in Bromﬁeld, two miles from Ludlow. Visit ludlowfoodcentre.co.uk or call 01584 856000.

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Food& Drink ...

FIVE OF THE BEST

Local Pubs

The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno Although it looks and feels just like a traditional village inn, the Loaf, as it is affectionately known, is actually found down a back street in the centre of Llandudno. It’s a great place to find a pint of locally brewed cask ale or a glass of wine, and the Loaf serves food, all fresh and homemade using local produce. They describe their menu as ‘traditional with an added touch of creative finesse’. the-cottageloaf.co.uk, 01492 870762 George III, Penmaenpool, Dolgellau On the banks of the Mawddach Estuary, this former railway station is right on the Mawddach Way and looks across at the old wooden tollbridge over the river. Good local real ales and down-to-earth pub food are served in the flastone-floored downstairs bar and the cosy, carpeted upstairs lounge. georgethethird.co.uk Axe & Cleaver, Dunham Massey, Cheshire This lovely Victorian pub has a really great beer garden, dotted with trees, and looking out on to fields full of wildflowers and quiet country lanes. You can sit outside and enjoy classic pub food cooked with care such as cod and chips and gourmet burgers, or a traditional Sunday roast with huge Yorkshire pudding, washed down with a real ale or a glass of wine. chefandbrewer.com

Gin and bear it Tiger Gin, from the Shropshire Gin Company has been named one of the world’s best gins, having picked up a Silver Award at the International Spirits Challenge this spring – and it only launched at the end of February! Owner of Tiger Gin JJ Lawrence said: ‘Being recognised as one of the world’s best gins so soon after launch is fantastic. Our aim when we started was to create the ‘world’s best tasting gin’ and this award goes a long way to proving we have done Darren Wall and Martin Waite from Tiger Gin just that.’ Tiger Gin has already amassed a following of more than 20,000 people on social media and is stocked by more than 100 local bars, restaurants and other outlets. If you want to give the gin a try, you can buy a ‘Tiger Cub’, a 5cl miniature, from local spirits specialist Moonshine and Fuggles in Ironbridge. Visit tigergin.co.uk to ﬁnd out more

Yattar Yattar’s guilty pleasure… Sometimes you want a bit of elegant tastiness that doesn’t cost the earth, but maybe want to feel just a bit indulgent too… May we present Moser Roth Sea Salt chocolate bars. Five individually wrapped bars (so you can have just one, or, sod it, go for it and have all ﬁve!) of dark (yep, the good-for-you type) chocolate, with a really good hit of sea salt that tastes a lot more expensive than its bargain price would have you believe. £1.49 for 125g from Aldi.

Get your kicks on Route 76!

The ninth Route 76 mobile beer festival hits the Denbighshire roads again on 9th The Druid Inn, Goginan, July – this time with bigger buses with a Ceredigion simpler route on a one-way clockwise Sitting on the A44 trunk system, making it easier and more road to Aberystwyth, the comfortable for ale aficionados to try a Druid is a friendly pint in each of the 10 pubs taking part. locals pub, popular with Each pub will have a bus stop visitors too conveniently placed outside and and a special bus service is being laid serving a good selection of ‘Alongside famous on to transport punters between them. The annual Vale of Clwyd Festival real ales, mostly from the national brews there of Real Ale and Cider offers the opportunity to choose from a selection of Wye Valley Brewery and approximately 60 different real ales and 12 ciders. including their excellent are local ales from Alongside famous national brews like Young’s and Theakstons there Butty Bach along with a Conwy, Wrexham are local ales from Conwy, Wrexham and Flint, including Purple Moose changing range of guest beers. Traditional homemade beers from Porthmadog and Rosie’s Cider from Llandegla. and Flint’ food is served in the bar and GHA coaches will be servicing the pubs in an clockwise direction taking in restaurant, including Sunday the Kinmel Arms, White Horse and Golden Lion in Llandyrnog; the Golden Lion roasts that have been voted in Llangynhafal; the White Horse in Hendrerwydd; the Griffin at Llanbedr DC; Britain’s best by Guardian Travel. Three Pigeons in Graigfechan; White Horse in Llanfair; Drovers at Rhewl and the Kings goginan.com/druid-inn Head in Llanrhaeadr. All the participating pubs will be serving food and there’ll be plenty of music and entertainment. The Old Three Pigeons, There’ll be a bus every 15 minutes from midday – a rover ticket will allow you to Nesscliffe, Shropshire A quintessentially English get on and off throughout the day at any of the pubs or at Ruthin bus station. pub in the village of Visit busroute76.com Nesscliffe, The Old Three Pigeons has won a reputation for its great cuisine. The pub is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Humphrey Kynaston, an outlaw and Shropshire’s answer to Robin Hood – you can work up an appetite with a walk in the nearby Nesscliffe country park to see the cave where he lived, and then settle down in front of the huge inglenook fireplace to enjoy some locally sourced produce and a locally brewed real ale. 3pigeons.co.uk, 01743 741279

The Kinmel Arms at Llandernog and The Drovers Arms at Rhewl – two of the pubs taking part

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Food& Drink

IN SEASON FOOD

Where to ﬁnd your local farmer’s market North Wales Colwyn Bay

We all scream for ice cream Summer’s here and it’s ice cream time! But rather than giving your kids the sort of flavoured plastic that you get from supermarkets, why not treat them to a proper, locally made, flavourful ice cream? Chilly Cow is based near Ruthin in north Wales, and all their artisan ice creams are made using fresh milk from the family farm. The cows are Brown Swiss, who produce milk that is higher in butter fat than most other cows – making it especially great for rich, yummy ice cream. The ice cream is made in small batches, with flavours including lemon meringue, sticky toffee fudge and cherry cheesecake. The farm shop is open Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 11am-4.30pm. To find other stockists, visit chillycow.co.uk Cheshire Farm Ice Cream needs no introduction really – renowned for its huge range of traditional and unusual flavours, this ice cream is definitely a cut above the average. Unusual flavours such as liquorice and blackcurrant, raspberry pavlova and salted caramel can be found at restaurants and cafes around the region, or you can pay a visit to the Ice Cream Farm near Tattenhall, which is a day out in itself with loads of ice-cream-themed activities. Visit theicecreamfarm.co.uk The Shropshire Ice Cream Company uses locally produced ingredients, including free range eggs, and freshly picked fruit to create a range of ice creams and sorbets. No additives are used in the flavours which include roasted strawberry and the unusual sweet honey parsnip as well as more traditional tastes. The company can be seen at various events around the region, with their vintage caravan Daisy, and can be booked to serve up their goodies at your wedding or party. To find out more visit shropshireicecream.co.uk

Merry Berries

Taking place every Thursday at the Bay View Shopping Centre, this market offers a huge variety of fresh local produce straight from the farm. All of the producers come from within 30 miles of the town, bringing with them everything from fruit The Egton Bridge and vegetables and quality Welsh meat to Old Gooseberry homemade Society, founded in delicious cakes and biscuits.

1801, hold an annual

The British climate is great for Gooseberry Contest Mid Wales producing perfect gooseberries – juicy, on the first Tuesday Machynlleth tart and full-flavoured – and they seem to be a particularly British favourite, with Market in August us making them into crumbles and pies, The weekly market on not to mention gooseberry fools! Maengwyn Street takes Gooseberries were first cultivated in Britain in the place every Wednesday 16th century when they were used medicinally and under the gaze of recommended to plague victims in London. They reached a Machynlleth’s Victorian peak of popularity in 19th century Britain when gooseberry clock tower. You’ll find a wines, pies and puddings were commonplace. Amateur huge variety of food stalls gooseberry clubs, mostly in the Midlands and north of England, selling a range of local held very serious and fiercely-fought competitions to find the produce including meat, biggest and tastiest fruit, and many new varieties were vegetables, preserves, developed during this period. bread and much more, plus The gooseberry season starts in July with the familiar green other stalls selling pet foods, ones, which are the best for cooking. Use them to make a home goods, books and just delicious gooseberry fool or poach them with a little sugar and about anything else you water to make a traditional accompaniment to mackerel. Later could need. in the season come the dessert gooseberries that are sweet machynllethmarket.co.uk enough to be eaten raw – try them in fruit salads. Source: eattheseasons.co.uk Cheshire

Alderley Edge

Undercover restaurant critic As we always pay our bill we can give you the unvarnished truth… The quaint village of Llanrhaedr has been bypassed by the Ruthin to Denbigh road so is now a nice backwater with a historic church and adjacent pottery run by a charming couple who were happy to show us round so we could admire the hand-made items. The King’s Head is owned by Enterprise Inns and they need to invest as this pub serves delicious food at cheap prices, but the building desperately needs some serious TLC. Starters and desserts are priced at £3.95 and our mains were lamb shoulder at £8.95 and ham, two eggs and chips at £6.95. We had cheesecake and chocolate fudge cake for dessert, both of which came with both ice-cream and pouring cream. The total food bill for 2 people having three courses totalled £30.09. The food was good and excellent value for money; the only downside was that two cask beers were out of stock and drinks were relatively expensive, but on a nice summer’s day it is well worth the drive out. The King’s Head, Llanrhaeadr, Denbigh LL16 4NL, 01745 890278

Full of passionate producers who know everything there is to know about their products, the Alderley Edge Farmers’ Market is the perfect place to pick up a variety of locally produced goodies – they even have a gin producer! The market is held on the second Sunday of each month and, alongside the food stalls, you’ll also ﬁnd a barbecue, music and crafts.

Shropshire Whitchurch

This incredibly popular farmer’s market takes place on the ﬁrst Saturday of every month in the pedestrianised area of the town centre known as the Bullring. There is a strict producers-only policy – traders may only sell what they produce and should originate from within 50 miles, so you can be sure about where what you’re buying came from. whitchurchfarmersmarket. co.uk

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Arts&Crafts Affordable artworks, creative crafts, exciting exhibitions and much more

Photos taken by the residents,above and below; and one of the course particpants snapping away at the allotments, bottom

Inspiring photographers Oriel Colwyn, a photography gallery in Colwyn Bay, has picked up a major award after setting up a working partnership with a local Ever fallen in love with a beautiful piece of artwork, only to know housing association. that you simply can’t afford it? The Arts Council of Wales has created The ‘Focus of Photography’ the Collectorplan scheme to help UK residents buy original works of project was put together and run art and crafts by living artists. by Paul Sampson, curator of Oriel The scheme allows buyers to take an interest-free loan of anything Colwyn, for Cartrefi Conwy, and from £50 to £5,000, making a 10 per cent deposit upfront, and the housing association recently repaying the loan in monthly instalments over a 12-month period. received the Arts, Business & Health You can buy as many works of art as you like, from any galleries that award from Arts & Business Cymru. participate in the scheme (there are more than 50 in Wales) up to the Paul has run a digital photography maximum value of £5,000 – so if you’ve always dreamed of starting course for older people living in your own original art collection, now you can afford to do it! accommodation at Cartrefi Galleries taking part in the scheme include Aberystwyth Conwy for more than two Arts Centre, Galeri Betws y Coed, Mostyn in Llandudno, years. The aim of his project ‘A camera is a Oriel Davies in Newtown and Oriel Ynys Mon – but there was to develop the skills of are plenty more in our region. For example, printmaker save button for the participants and Angie Lewin’s beautiful screen print The Yellow Cup the mind’s eye’ improve their confidence (pictured) is available from Oriel Wrecsam for £335, or a around social media and the Internet. Roger Kingston 10 per cent deposit and £25.12 a month for 12 months. The project developed into an established To find out more visit collectorplan.arts.wales. A similar photography club and it has been so scheme, Own Art, runs in England. Visit www.ownart.org.uk successful that the participants have been commissioned to document allotment life in Llandudno for the Wales and Britain in Bloom This amazing photo of a sunset competition, for the second year in a row. They are now over the fields in Knighton near keen also to set up websites to showcase their work and Market Drayton was sent in by mentor new members of the group. reader James Crook. Want to see your photos in The Arts & Business Cymru judges felt the partnership print? Send your pictures to established between the two organisations was editorial@yattaryattar.co.uk and ‘incredibly powerful’ and a clear winner in the you could feature here! competition. Oriel Colwyn is based above Theatr Colwyn in Colwyn Bay. ‘I am thrilled that our Focus on Photography project with Cartrefi Conwy has been recognised with this award,’ says Paul. ‘It’s been wonderful to see photography transforming the lives of the participants in such a positive way and I am extremely proud of their continued work and friendships.’ As well as a programme of photographic exhibitions and talks throughout the year, monthly photography classes for young people are also held at Oriel Colwyn, under the banner of Lightbox Jnr. To find out more visit orielcolwyn.org

A plan for art collectors

Reader photos

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Arts&Crafts

Working craft days at Afonwen Afonwen Craft and Antique Centre in Caerwys, Flintshire, is where you can see a variety of craftspeople at work, demonstrating their skills and their wares – plus of course you can browse stalls of crafts and antiques and enjoy coffee, lunch or afternoon tea at the Edenshine cafe.

Crafty ways to transform your home Fancy a vintage look for your home? Beth Abakhan explains how to transform a pine dining table into a country-inspired statement piece ‘One of the best parts of working in a craft store like Abakhan is getting to personally test some of the new products that come our way – so when we were trying out a new range of chalky paints, I was more than happy to volunteer my dining table for renovation. The pine table in question has served my family well, but it was time to change it to something light and bright with a touch more personality. The transformation was pretty easy. After a rub down with methylated spirit to get rid of any lingering grease, the next step was to apply two coats of chalky paint. In this case we used a sponge roller to apply ‘Juniper’, a warm clay-coloured brown, from the Grand Illusions Vintage Paint range.This chalky paint is self-priming to save on the elbow grease. As we were aiming for a ‘shabby chic’ distressed look, we coated the Juniper base colour with varnish, ready for finishing with a contrasting colour. For the topcoat we went for a delicate grey-blue called Gulls Egg, applied with a sponge roller to give a very smooth finish. This is a Swedish-inspired hue that has enough colour to make it distinctive, but light enough to give it a summery feel. Once the top has dried, the fun really starts as it’s time to get creative. With some coarse sandpaper we distressed the edges of the table, rubbing just enough for the Juniper base coat to show through, giving the table a well-loved look. As this is a dining table that has to stand up to the rigors of family life, we finished it with two coats of flat, matt acrylic varnish. In this case we used Simply Varnish, which is also from the Grand Illusions range. Delighted with the end result, we didn’t stop at the table. We’ve also transformed chairs to create a one-off dining set with bags of Country Living style. If you’d like to find out more about transforming your own furniture, you can find these products in Abakhan stores in Mostyn, Chester and Liverpool, where you’ll also get plenty of friendly, helpful advice. For more information visit abakhan.co.uk

David Tolley Local artist profile Born in Birkenhead and now

based in Wirral, David is an internationally renowned artist who works mostly in oils, though he has created pieces in a variety of media. His work has been displayed in national and international galleries including Liverpool, York, London and Dubai. More locally, David has recently been signed to Cloud gallery in Chester. His work also graces the walls of many private collectors, including celebrity figures – TV presenter Chris Tarrant bought one of David’s pieces in 2008 as part of an auction. Visit davidtolleyartist.co.uk

July ❋ 26th, Natalie Grifﬁths, illustrator and print maker Quirky and heart-warming pictures and wall hangings using Natalie’s free hand style of drawing and lettering, along with linocut printmaking and character based illustrations. ❋ 27th & 28th, Cherry Bea Elaine will be working on her beaded jewellery collection using this season’s colours as well as offering her re-stringing service. ❋ 29th, Susie Q Delicately styled hand crochet and knitted babies’ and toddlers’ garments and bright and beautiful soft toys. ❋ 30th & 31st, Ana and Sona Sona makes a huge selection of day bags using many famous name materials such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Liberty’s, while Ana is a whizz with traditional knitted toys and teddies that she creates clothes for. AUGUST ❋ 2nd & 3rd, Silk painting with Mair Morgan Mair has been silk painting for many years now but is always trying new techniques and styles. Her work is vibrant, stunning and fascinating to watch. You can see pieces being started and how the process works as well and completed works that range from wall art to scarves, cards and cushions. ❋ 4th & 5th, Eileen Evans Eileen makes jewellery from polymer clay which is both colourful and robust. You can see a fabulous selection of styles, designs and colours perfect for special occasions or everyday wear. ❋ 6th & 7th, Love spoon carving with Murray Taylor Watch Murray chipping away and carving intricate designs into love spoons and wall plaques. Many are created for commission orders and others for purchase on the day. To ﬁnd out more about these and other demonstrations, visit afonwen.co.uk or call 01352 720965

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Arts&Crafts Exhibition Diary

Exhibition of the month

● Until 28th August, I do like to be beside the seaside, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery The nostalgia of a traditional weekend by the sea is celebrated at this exhibition which was inspired by Shropshire Museums’ collection of early-20th-century glass lantern slides of Edwardians enjoying the sea air. Unlike many portrait photographs of the period, many of these pictures are often very informal and show another, more relaxed, side of Edwardian life. The exhibition also allows visitors to enjoy some of the many delights of a coastal resort with a wide range of activities for all the family based on ‘end of the pier’ entertainments. ● Until 17th September, Sian Rees Astley – Gallery 6: Uprisings, Mostyn, Llandudno Sïan Rees Astley’s work makes wide use of everyday materials, often those produced for the domestic space. Her work positions the process of its making at its core, and heightens the sense of time spent working with the materials. A key element of the work is repetition, used throughout, and which sometimes renders the materials used beyond recognition, only apparent by way of the work’s captions.Her works are deliberately kept open, bearing a performative element and frequently appearing as the residue of something else, even unfinished and ready to be reworked anew. ● Until 17th September, The School of Narrative Dance and Other Surprising Things, Mostyn, Llandudno This is the first solo exhibition in a British institution by Marinella Senatore, presenging a selection of the artist’s work from 2009 to today, in a renewed form of installation which will enable visitor participation and active engagement. A special focus is dedicated to The School of Narrative Dance, an ongoing, touring project founded by the artist in 2013 which has received wide acclaim from the public in over ten countries around the world. ● Until 30th October, Cover to Cover: Roald Dahl Around the World, Tatton Park A fascinating mansion exhibition of Roald Dahl book jackets from around the world and throughout time. The celebrated children’s author’s first book was printed in 1953 and his stories have been published more than 200 million times and in 51 languages. ● 1st-3rd July, The Big Art Show, Shewsbury As well as more than 150 exhibitors in a huge range of media and genres, this family friendly event inclues workshops and talks, poetry and live music. A great chance to see the work of last issue’s profiled artist, Nik Burns. ● 3rd July-4th September, Artist in the Garden, Sarah Key at Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens, Anglesey Sarah Key creates images inspired by botanical and architectural form through drawing, painting and printmaking and in this exhibition will be focused on capturing the beauty of the walled garden. ● 12th July-17th September, Flora, Aberystwyth Arts Centre After the success of Flora at Oriel Davies the exhibition is touring across Wales and comes to Aberystwyth for the summer. It is an exploration of the significance of contemporary art through flowers and includes artists; Emma Bennett, Michael Boffey, Anya Gallaccio, Ori Gersht, Owen Griffiths, Anne-Mie Melis, Jacques Nimki, Yoshihiro Suda and Clare Twomey.

Sacred Spaces: The Rock Art of the San in southern Africa, Wrexham Museum until 27th August Take yourself on an adventure into Africa’s past and discover amazing human creativity, through the sacred paintings of the San people (the Bushmen) of southern Africa. This exhibition is of digital reproductions of the rock art (which is of course still preserved in situ in Africa), plus animation and interactive installations will take you on a journey exploring the story of a people from prehistory to the present day. This is a ‘Windows on the World’ exhibition, produced in partnership with the British Museum and entry is free. For more information visit wrexham.gov.uk

Sculpture inspiration A new arts-led project, inspired by the work of the great British sculptor Dame Elisabeth Frink is taking place at RAF Cosford, and members of the public will be able to see the results – as well as two of Frink’s sculptures from the museum’s collection – on display there over the summer. The sculpture project aims to engage younger visitors and inspire them to create their own masterpieces. During March and April children from local schools took part in sculpture workshops at the museum, using two pieces of Frink’s work as inspiration. The two examples of winged ﬁgures, created by Frink during the 1960s, resemble a man’s legs morphing into a bird, representative of her work during that period. During the summer term, the students will be invited back to the RAF Museum for a special unveiling event, where their completed sculptures will go on display alongside those of Elisabeth Frink in the museum’s visitor centre throughout the summer. Entrance to the museum is free. For more information about the project, visit rafmuseum.org.uk or call 01902 376200.

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Homes&interiors Efficient kitchens, clever conservatories and more great ideas for your home

Open door policy Oswestry Windows and Doors open their newly renovated showroom at Maes-YClawdd this summer, displaying a selection of uPVC and wooden windows, uPVC doors and conservatories. The company offers a range of services including the supply and installation of windows, doors, conservatories, Guardian Warm Roofs, porches, cladding, fascias, soffits, guttering, rainwater systems and roofline products. There is also a trade counter open to the public and selling a apart from other retailers,’ says Neil. Indeed, diverse range of products, all of which are it is this dedication to great design and UK manufactured and BS approved. attention to detail that has seen the bespoke Oswestry Windows and Doors is a retailer expand it’s operation from a small member of industry-recognised CERTASS unit to a purpose developed showroom off and Quality Assured National Maesbury Road in Oswestry. Warranties and is a registered The Oswestry showroom covers ‘In total Guardian Warm Roof Installer 300 square feet with kitchen, the showroom and member of Team bathroom and bedroom Guardian. boasts more than 30 designs, arranged in a room As well as this, the displays of kitchens, set style. In total the company will be showroom boasts more than bathrooms and showcasing a new display 30 displays of kitchens, bedrooms as well as gallery for Truedor bathrooms and bedrooms as Composite Doors, products a wide range well as kitchen and bathroom endorsed by George Clarke, of taps’ taps, sanitary ware, shower the architect and Channel 4 enclosures, shower heads, mixers television presenter. Visit the new and hoses and shower panels and boards. showroom to view the selection of Next door to Inspire is Oswestry Tile composite door designs in a range of Centre which provides a huge range of wall styles and bespoke colours. and floor tiles and much more. For more information call 01691 680998 Visit inspirehomedesign.co.uk or visit owdgroup.com

German design and excellence ‘Creating beautiful kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms is our mission and it’s something we are passionate about,’ says Neil Jones, general manager at Oswestry based Inspire Home Design. ‘This is one of the main reasons behind our decision to bring Rotpunkt into our portfolio, and offer superb German design, quality and engineering excellence.’ Rotpunkt was established in 1930 by Heinrich Rabe and Wilhelm Meyer and progressed over the years from making cigar boxes to wooden toys to sewing boxes and, in the 1950s, kitchen cupboards. Decades later Rotpunkt is now an acknowledged specialist for top quality German fitted kitchens. It is still a family run business which upholds the values of classic craftsmanship and respectable business values, which neatly fits into the same ethos as Inspire. ‘It’s our dedication to offering our customers the best balance of design, practicality and value for money that sets us

A window on the world… With summer here, it’s time to think about new windows for a fresh look at the outside world – or how about a conservatory to bring the outside in? A beautifully designed conservatory, garden room or orangery can transform your home, creating a light, airy space where you can enjoy quality family time – not to mention adding value to your property. Snowdonia Windows, which this year marks its 40th anniversary, offers a full service to homeowners in north Wales and the north west of England. Whether you want to increase the size of your living space, replace tired windows and doors, or add value to your property, this family run company can design and install windows, doors, conservatories, orangeries or garden rooms to satisfy your exact needs. Snowdonia Windows has more than 50,000 happy customers and prides itself on its friendly workforce. As well as this, the company

has invested in the achievement of many industry accreditations and has even developed its own Kitemarks to ensure the quality of its products, providing stylish, A conservatory from Snowdonia Windows energy efficient, secure and technically advanced PVC windows, doors and conservatories. Visit snowdoniawindows.co.uk or call 01352 758812.

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Homes & interiors AFTER

BEFORE

Keep the chill off No one wants to cut their outdoor time short, so why not look for some patio heating and lighting to extend your time in the garden? Gareth Mostyn of Saxon Homecare has some advice ‘It’s the time of year where we love nothing more than lazy days in the garden, soaking up the sun. Whether you’re enjoying a bit of me time, a family get together, or an evening of festivities with friends, everyone loves to be Conels Kitchens & Bathrooms in Kinmel outdoors in summer. But as dusk sets Bay is celebrating 10 years in business in and the air starts to cool, your this July, and to mark the occasion and warm, comfy deck chair can start to thank all past and present customers, seem that bit less inviting. the family run company is offering ‘We have cast iron ﬁre pits and 10 per cent off for 10 weeks from bowls that come with a 1st July. ﬁve-year guarantee ‘No one The company opened its showroom doors in wants to cut their starting from as little as £34.99. Available in Llandudno in July 2006 outdoor time short, so four different sizes and was there for eight why not look for some there is years before moving to something for patio heating and Kinmel Bay in 2014. every patio. We Conels is run by a lighting to extend also have clay husband and wife team your time in the chimineas to help who pride themselves in

A new lease of life for your old kitchen

liven up the garden – these proved so popular last year that we have increased the choice to four vibrant coloured designs. ‘For outdoor lighting we have the JOI lamp, a candle powered outdoor light that can’t be blown out! It uses the latest thermo-technology, giving you up to four hours of light from just one tea light. ‘This season’s must have, though, is an electric patio heater from Tansun. We have three models – the Rio, the Rio Grande, and the Sorrento. Easy to ﬁt these give great radiant heat and ambient light, keeping away any summer evening chills.’ Visit saxonhomecare.co.uk or call 0800 169 8187.

garden?’ offering their customers a more personal service through designing and fitting to after care. As well as being able to create your If you’re looking to spruce up your home for summer dream kitchen – whether you just fancy some new curtains or are from scratch, planning a complete overhaul – it might pay you to Conels offer a make a trip to Hafren Furnishers of Llanidloes. AFTER great service for The company, which celebrates 50 years in those who are business this year, has a vast showroom, with seven perhaps just floors of furniture – every room in the house is looking to covered, from the smallest to the largest, with every spruce up their style you can think of catered for. kitchen or Home to Wales’s largest Bed Studio, Hafren bedroom with a hosts a numer of famous brands and a range of bed bit of a styles. Soft furnishings are catered for, too – as well makeover. The as the Carpet Right concession, there is also a new company Curtain Express display in store, meaning you can specialises in made-to-measure get customised curtains and blinds in seven days. replacement kitchen and bedroom doors. Also new in store is the Halo Living studio where ‘We use local trusted and qualified you can browse the latest range of Halo Living tradesmen who work very well with us,’ luxury handmade dining and living furniture says owner Suzanne Whelan. ‘Any future (pictured). Plus, of course, Hafren stock all the leading names such as Gplan, Parker customers thinking about considering Knoll, Himolla, Stressless, Duresta, Ercol and Tempur plus hundreds more. Conels can find out a bit more about us Still a family-run business, Hafren Furnishers are experts in the field, and offer impartial on checkatrade.com.’ advice that you can trust, free delivery in England and Wales and interest-free credit. For more information visit conels. Visit hafrenfurnishers.co.uk or call 01686 414000. co.uk or call 01745 350236.

Spruce up for summer

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Home shopping

Make your house beautiful with some gorgeous furnishings and accessories this summer!

Voyage Maison Harriet Hare cushion, £43.95 from Tweedmill, tweedmill.co.uk

Bringing the outside inside

With the arrival of summer the line between indoor and outdoor living starts to become blurred, and this is when the dream of having a conservatory or orangery becomes more and more appealing. It doesn’t have to be a dream though. Premier Windows and Conservatories of Oswestry specialise in the design and Link coffee/side table by installation of bespoke conservatories Yellow cane lounge chair by Rice DK, Miniforms, £310 from Go Modern and orangeries. The company offers a £240 from Sisters Guild, sistersguild.co.uk Furniture, gomodern.co.uk number of styles of conservatory, or, if you’ve an odd-shaped garden or house, or just a very particular idea of how’d you like your extended living Bespoke crockery, from £10 for an espresso cup to £19 for a space to look, they can offer a sugar bowl, from Abi Fisher, complete bespoke design service. Tarporley, abifisher.co.uk Using the latest computer aided design software, your conservatory can be completely personalised – meaning there’s no chance of the neighbours getting the same thing, and you get a conservatory ‘If you like designed to exactly fit the idea of a Wooden doggie coasters, your needs! £10 for six, from Shop conservatory, but If you like the idea of in the Clouds, want more privacy – a conservatory but shopintheclouds.co.uk a bit more bricks and would like something with a bit more less glass – an privacy – a bit more orangery could bricks and mortar and Country style cushions, bespoke Treacle shelves, handmade, £55 each from less glass – an orangery be for you’ handmade in Rascal & Roses, rascalandroses. could be the right choice raw oak, £65 co.uk for you. Again Premier can from Loaf, tailor make your orangery for you loaf.com to fit with any quirks your garden or home may have. Do you already have a conservatory? Is it too hot in summer and too cold in winter? Premier Windows can cure the problem with a Warm Roof system that will turn your conservatory into a comfortable living space all year round, whatever the temperature outside, plus the company also offers replacement double glazing for windows and doors. For more information visit premierwindowsoswestry.co.uk or call 01691 773993.

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Gardens

Advice, best buys and places to visit – have a spectacular summer in your outdoor space!

Coming up roses Pay a visit to the Country Garden Plant Centre and Tearoom at Hadnall near Shrewsbury in the height of summer, and prepare to be overwhelmed by the sight and smell of thousands of stunning roses. This lovely garden centre has built up its reputation as a rose specialist over 25 years, with more than 900 varieties of potted rose to choose from, including hybrid teas, ﬂoribundas, patios, climbers and ramblers, shrub roses and more. Country Garden Plant Centre is not just for the rose lover, though – sitting in the grounds of the 12thcentury Black Birches House in 15 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside, the centre is a destination in its own right. Open from 10am-5pm every day from March until October, and 10am-4pm in winter, the centre is also home to the Country Garden Tea Room. With indoor and outdoor seating to choose from, you can enjoy snacks, lunches, afternoon teas and all-day breakfasts, plus fresh, homemade scones, cakes and traybakes, whatever the weather. Roses make beautiful gifts, and can last for decades. The Country Garden Plant Centre specialises in unique rose gifts, with more than 150 special occasion varieties to choose from – and you can even name your own rose; what could be a more beautiful and romantic gift for a loved one, or a newly married couple, than a rose named after them? All of Country Garden Plant Centre’s roses are available online, so even if you can’t get to the centre in person, you can visit the website and choose the perfect gift, knowing that all the roses are grown in the UK, and have been tended by expert gardeners to provide you with the perfect, perfumed plant. Since 1927 the Visit countrygardenroses.co.uk

Through the garden gate The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) is a chance to visit private gardens not normally open to the public, and to donate money to a good cause – participating gardens charge a (usually fairly small) fee to visit, with the money going to a number of charities, including Macmillan. Here are a selection of gardens open in the region during July and August. To ﬁnd more, visit www.ngs. org.uk and look out for the yellow road signs while you’re out and about! Sambrook Manor, Shropshire, 17th July, 14th August The garden surrounds the early 18thcentury manor house and contains a wide selection of herbaceous plants and roses. Features include a waterfall down to a pond and various acers. A new development leading to the river along the edge of the garden is ﬁlled with a variety of shrubs and trees. 5 Cobbs Lane, Hough, Cheshire, 28th July, 3rd August A plant person’s 2/3 acre garden with island beds, wide, cottagestyle herbaceous borders with bark paths running through for access. A large variety of hardy and some unusual perennials, shrubs, grasses and trees, with places to sit and enjoy the surroundings. A water feature runs to a small pond; island beds have interesting features.

Ponthafren, Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 9th July, 13th August NGS has raised more than Ponthafren is a £45m for nursing registered charity for and caring people with charities mental health issues or those that feel lonely or isolated. The beautiful, community garden is on the banks of the River Severn and includes a sensory garden with long grasses, herbs, scented plants and shrubs, and a productive vegetable plot.

DID YOU KNOW?

Blossoms at Bodnant

Now is a great time of year to pay a visit to Bodnant Garden in north Wales, and enjoy the roses on the famous Italianate terraces. You can also take a look at the garden renovation work which has been done this year, including the Canal Terrace wildflower beds, which have been planted up with an annual flower design voted for by the public in a Bodnant Garden poll earlier this spring. Or take a look at the Bath, an old Victorian poolside shrub garden, which has been transformed into a garden for exotic plants. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk

Caereuni, Corwen, Denbighshire, 31st July, 28th August Plantsman’s collection of rare trees, shrubs, plants, containers of tender plants and topiary set in a quirky themed garden. This approx 1/3 acre garden includes Japanese smoke water garden, old ruin, Spanish courtyard, Welsh gold mine, Chinese peace garden, Mexican chapel, 1950s petrol garage, woodman’s lodge and jungle.

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GARDENS

Conservation and a warm welcome

BY HEAD GARDENER AT POWIS CASTLE, DAVID LOCK At Chirk Castle our garden and outdoor spaces are picture perfect during the summer months, with striking colours, scents and relaxing spaces to take in the inspiring surrounding views. With long, refreshing days to look forward to, it’s time to make the most of the outdoors – hopefully with a healthy serving of sunshine! The gardeners are busy with mowing and edging the lawns, deadheading roses and herbaceous plants, and we begin to mow the meadow areas now too. With the high number of visitors we expect to welcome at this time of the year the garden can suffer with an acceleration of wear and tear which we try to prepare for. Chirk is 700ft above sea level – hence the amazing views but it can be dry for long spells which will have a detrimental effect on the lawns. If they get the required moisture and nutrients they will keep growing; if they dry out for instance they stop growing and get very worn which lowers the standard of presentation. In these areas we can manage with regular maintenance and raising the height of cut to withstand the wear. For a real show of colour delve a little deeper into the greenery of the castle’s garden. The roses are in full flower all over but particularly in our rose garden, where Lady Margaret Myddelton has planted her favourite varieties, the reds of ‘Lilli Marlene’ the golden ‘Allgold’ and the taller centrepieces of Alexander and Queen Elizabeth. Many other roses flourish around the garden filling the air with perfume. Herbaceous plants are also at their best at this time of the year, from the clouds of Astilbes and Campanulas in the shrub garden to the Phlox and Geraniums elsewhere. At Chirk we take enormous pride in the fact that so many people enjoy our gardens. We work hard to strike a balance between welcoming visitors and long-term conservation work – we are dedicated to making our gardens a place people of all ages can be inspired by. We want you to enjoy and explore our gardens and if it wasn’t for our visitors we wouldn’t be able to do the job that we do.

The Harriet table and bench set

Are you sitting comfortably?

Plant Hunter Fairs

Henbury Hall, Macclesfield Cheshire, 16th-17th July A new fair with half price entry On a lovely summer’s day everybody likes to entertain friends to the garden and plant fair and spend time with the family in the garden. of just £2.50. There will be a Whether it’s a picnic with the kids, afternoon tea, great range of specialist nurseries all with their own a barbecue, or a relaxed dinner party, you will unique range of plants always need a good set of garden furniture. from trees to alpines P&A Garden Centre in Mold has a great and everything in range of solid pressure treated wooden between. Plant lovers The world’s biggest garden tables and chairs, perfect for will find old flower garden is in favourites, rarities creating a comfortable outdoor dining Dubai and has more and brand new experience. Katie is a round picnic table varieties all lovingly that is great for cosy corners, while the than 45 million grown by the specialist Rose round can seat eight adults nurseries. Teas served in flowers comfortably. The Emily, Caroline and Abbey the old courtyard.

DID YOU KNOW?

sets each offer different combinations of tables, chairs and benches, or go for the new Harriet set, which includes a large, solid wooden table and matching benches featuring elegant curved legs. All items are flat packed, FSC certified and come with a 10 year guarantee against rot. Visit p-a-group.com or see the products in the showroom.

Garden shopping It’s time to get barbecueing – and there’s something to suit every style of garden

Funky…The Uuni 2S Wood Fired Oven, £199, garden housedesign. co.uk

Basic…House Doctor Fire Pit, £265 from graceandgloryhome.co.uk

Modern… The Alpha Forno pizza oven, £POA from saxon homecare. co.uk Portable… Lifestyle Portable Camping Gas BBQ, £39 from internetgardener. co.uk

Battlefield 1403, Shrewsbury, 30th July Free entry to this fair, with highly respected specialist nurseries and a great mix of plants and specialities. Pick up some summer flowering plants to give your garden a boost. There’ll be nurseries specialising in plants of all sizes for a wide range of garden situations from hot sun to cool shade. Abbeywood Gardens, Cheshire, 21st August These gardens reach their peak in August with plenty to see and enjoy. The exciting and vibrantly planted Christopher Lloyd inspired Exotic Garden is filled with Dahlias, Bananas, tender perennials and annuals is a real showstopper. The newest feature is a fabulous planted prairie garden. Reduced entry to gardens and plant fair is £3. Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton, 28th-29th August A winning line up of the best nurseries around, a charming and beautiful garden and a truly relaxing and inviting atmosphere. There’s a special event price of just £3.50. Ness Botanic Gardens Wirral, 4th September A great mix of specialist nurseries, all happy to offer expert advice to help you select the right plants for their gardens. For true ‘plantaholics’ there are always those little treasures to discover that can’t be obtained elsewhere. Visit planthuntersfairs.co.uk

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GARDENS

New to the range... It might not seem like the most exciting subject in the world – but the team at Jacksons Fencing have come up with some inspiring new ideas for your garden, as Louise Tomlin explains

New Tartan panels looking pretty with summer planting

t’s quite hard to come up with new ideas for fencing. Panels do tend to fit into a fairly predictable format of a certain width, normally 1.8m wide with varying heights, and of course, if they’re timber, which is more often than not the case, they are woody in appearance. We like wood, so that’s just fine. Our challenge is to come up with fresh ideas that will inspire our customers, giving them some new choices for their garden and other outdoor areas. Hooray for some new additions to the already abundant and attractive range of fencing that we offer. And even if I say it myself, I think there are some winners in this new crop! We’ve noticed that even though a lot of our customers prefer to stick with traditional types of fencing, like featherboard (aka closeboard), there has been a sizeable swing towards more modern and clean-

The Venetian Hit and Miss panel is on the right

lined panels, such as our Venetian. In fact, this style has become so popular that we’ve found it has been imitated – I’d say in most cases rather poorly! The first new panel to introduce you to is a variation on the Venetian theme; I just mentioned how popular they are, but I’d say the one drawback is their seethroughness. They look contemporary and sleek, complementing the chic suburban garden beautifully. But when it comes to the balancing act of light versus privacy, the scales come down heavily in favour of light, and privacy is sacrificed! So how do you get the stylish look of horizontal slats that still allow some air and light through, but don’t give the neighbours a view of you baring your body to catch some rays? Answer: our new Venetian Hit and Miss panels. They look as stylish as standard Venetian, but have another set of horizontal slats on the other side. These are fixed to cover the space between the slats on the first side. The slats alternate, in much the same way as hit and miss panels are made. Which means some air and light can still pass through, but the view through is obscured. Another big benefit is they are what we refer to as ‘good both sides’ so neither you or your neighbours have a view

of rails, which can be a bone of contention. I’m aware I’m only going have enough space to tell you about two of our lovely ‘newbies’ here, so will save the other additions for another time, and tell you about my personal favourite: Tartan trellis, there it is pictured at the top of the page, how pretty is that? I think it fits into the ‘less is more’ school of design – by not putting a baton at every third spacing, we’ve created a pattern that looks really great. I’m amazed at how effective it looks. Enough said, I hope I’ve whetted your appetite – if you’d like to know more about these or our other new products, go to your dedicated web page jacksons-fencing. co.uk/chesterlocal louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk y

‘How do you get the stylish look of horizontal slats but don’t give the neighbours a view?’

Win! £300 of Jacksons vouchers...

To enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win £300 of Jacksons vouchers simply log on to your dedicated page, address below, and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 30th August 2016. To enter go to jacksons-fencing. co.uk/chesterlocal

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&Wildlife

Pets

For all your beloved creatures, great and small…

No dog is too bad for Snowdonia Sanctuary

Based in Capel Garmon near Betws y Coed, Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary has been taking in dogs to be rehomed since 2002. This non-proﬁt organisation is self-funded and relies totally on donations and the hard work of volunteers. The centre does not believe in putting healthy animals down and, very importantly, does not consider animals that are showing signs of stress, aggression or fear to be unhealthy. They have a spectacular track record, and have succeeded in rehabilitating and rehoming dogs that were previously deemed too challenging for rehabilitation by the RSPCA, other rescue organisations and even the police. As the centre relies entirely on the efforts of its volunteers, people with a little spare time to offer are always welcome – reliable and trustworthy dog walkers and cleaners are always needed! Alternatively, if you are able to open your home to a dog in need, foster carers are also needed to help save the lives of more dogs. Existing knowledge and experience of dogs is of course preferred, but Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary will work with you to ﬁnd the type, breed or even individual dog that’s right for you. Find out more at snowdoniaanimalsanctuary.co.uk

YOUR CUTE PETS

SEND US YOUR CUTE PETS

Me and my teddy… Bright Eyes from Nantwich

Send us a picture of your favourite pet to editorial@yattaryattar. co.uk and we’ll publish it in a future issue

Cosy… Elsa from Llangyniew

Did someone say ‘worm’? Sausage from Oswestry

The heat is on! With summer in full progress, our canine friends can really feel the heat. Helping your dog keep cool is very important as in severe cases heatstroke can prove life threatening. The experts at Petcetera etc offer some helpful advice to keep your dog cool this summer Cars retain vast amounts of heat, therefore never leave dogs in parked vehicles on hot summer days. Petcetera stock Ventlocks – which can fix the car’s rear door in a semi-open position to allow ventilation. Pet cooling fans, which can clip on to crates and carriers, can be useful to keep pets cool when travelling. Be vigilant for signs of dehydration. The Thirsty Milo acts as a water store and bowl in one handy container – useful for on the go. Alternatively, collapsible and portable silicon travel bowls are lightweight and compact for summer days when you’re out and about. Try to exercise your dogs in the early morning and late evening when temperatures are at their coolest – but if you do have to go out in the heat of the day, a cool-coat (pictured right) can keep your dog comfortable and refreshed for hours. These clever coats are activated by water and are light, cool and soft to the touch. Hurtta Cooling Vests are specially designed to protect the heart region and chest which are vital for circulation. It’s important to keep dogs cool when inside too! Cool Mats (pictured below) are filled with a non-toxic gel, and will be typically 5-10 degrees cooler than room temperature – and there’s no need to refrigerate. As well as Petcetera etc, at the Bradeley Green Pet Shop, just outside Whitchurch you’ll find Osmonds, which supplies a variety of all-natural, complementary feed supplements for cattle, sheep, alpacas, horses, dogs – and even pigeons! Osmonds Electro-Plus is the ideal supplement to replenish lost salts, fluid and energy in animals during hot weather. Visit petcetera. co.uk, osmonds. co.uk or call 01948 668100.

Can I have another cushion please? Mimi from Oswestry

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PETS AND WILDLIFE Nomad bee

Yellow vetch

Summer wildlife

By Sioned Jones, visitor experience manager at the RSPB’s Lake Vyrwny reserve ‘Summer is a season for flowers, butterflies, bees and dragonflies. Wildflower rich meadows at this time of year are full of colour and alive with insects and animals. Yellow vetch can turn a simple meadow into a carpet of gold in With great walking countryside right from the front door, the Castle Hotel is summer. These flowers provide nectar and pollen for a a very pet friendly establishment. It’s a great place to visit for a drink, a multitude of interesting insects which are meal or afternoon tea – whatever you’ve been up to you’ll find respite attracted by the smells, shapes and vibrant Do you have a and a warm welcome for you and your four-legged friend. Dogs are colours of the wildflowers. welcome to be at the table with you in the bar areas, and feeding ‘Among the meadows, look out for the favourite dog trays, food and water bowls are available. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Small friendly spot? Tell us Dogs are welcome to stay, free of charge – in fact, the Castle Copper butterflies. The former is found in so we can share it provides a Dog Welcome Box which includes a feeding mat, food a variety of habitats and has distinctive markings on the underside of the with readers! Email bowl, drying towel, lead, treats and poo bags. And if you happen to forget any vital accessories, the hotel even has leads, pet-specific hindwing. The latter, despite its tiny size, editorial@yattar towels and torches on request. Now that’s what we call really dog catches your eye because of its bright yattar.co.uk friendly! Visit thecastlehotelbishopscastle.co.uk or call 01588 638403. orange markings standing out from the dull brown upperwings. They are highly territorial and it can be entertaining to watch them defend their patch against encroaching rivals. ‘There’ll be plenty of bees buzzing around too, so keep ‘Rabbits need custard creams for a shiny coat, an eye out for the guinea pigs cannot be transported at more Fabricius’ nomad than 30 miles per hour and rabbits shouldn’t eat bees, which forage grass before six months of age.’ Those are just from a wide range of some of the pieces of misinformation that vets plants including hear from their clients. dandelion and daisy. This has spurred Supreme Petfoods to Their antennae are produce a Rabbit Revolution Toolkit to help vet black at each end practices and pet shops keep owners informed and red in the middle about the best way to care for their pet. The with small yellow spots number one concern has been identified as people not appreciating on the side of an the need to give their rabbits sufficient hay, every day. The tiny Small orange abdomen. Copper butterfly Around one in five animal care professionals also said that pet ‘Small mammals owners don’t understand that rabbits are social animals and need an such as mice, voles appropriate companion. Other rabbit myths included that juice and shrews, are also common meadow inhabitants and should be added to a rabbit’s water bottle and that six years of age if there’s water nearby, it will pay to keep an eye out for was a long lifespan for a rabbit (average life expectancy is actually the Common Hawker Dragonfly. 8-12 years, with the oldest rabbit recorded as living till 17 years old). ‘Hopefully this has given you an insight into how Claire Hamblion, Supreme marketing manager says: ‘A Rabbit spectacular a wildflower meadow can be, so why not get Revolution is clearly long overdue. It seems there is a long way to go out and experience the sights and sounds for yourself? before we really see the big improvements in rabbit welfare and care It’s National Meadows Day on 2nd July, and we’ll be that are desperately needed. It’s very sad to hear that some pet owners helping visitors to Lake Vyrnwy to identify local flowers and still have a lot to learn about caring for their pet and we want to do plants. It’s a great way to connect with nature in a truly everything we can to provide the information that is so sorely needed.’ beautiful setting.’ For information about caring for rabbits and other small pets go to Visit rspb.org.uk or call 01691 870278. supremepetfoods.com or ask your vet or pet shop for advice.

Dog Friendly The Castle Hotel, Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire

A rabbit revolution

PET SHOPPING

From happy hamsters to comfy dogs, keep your local animal life entertained! Encourage the kids to feed the birds! Fun bird feeders, £7.99 from Chapelwood, lovethegarden.com

Let’s go camping! Kerbl Hamster Tent, £2.99, petplanet.co.uk

Play tease! These Jolly Moggy cat teasers in a range of designs and colours, £3.99 from petcetera.co.uk

Are you walking comfortably? Soft, padded Comfort Collar (from £9) and matching shock absorbent Comfort Lead (£21) from longpaws.co.uk

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gossip

Who’s had a good month, who’s had a bad month, and which big names have been spotted locally? Here’s all the scoop on our local celebs…

Sian Phillips

Gary Barlow

Celebrity

One of Wales’ most successful stars of screen and stage, 82-year-old actress Sian Phillips has recently been honoured for her services to drama in a ceremony where she was awarded an OBE from Prince Charles. Originally from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen in south Wales, she has said that the award was ‘totally unexpected’ but ‘a very nice thing to happen’.

Dawn Ward and Misse Beqiri

The two stars of Real Housewives of Cheshire seem to have put their on-air feud behind them – Dawn recently posted a picture of them both on night out together to her Instagram, complete with hearts in the comments, to which Misse replied ‘love you honey’, so it seems like despite the frosty start to their relationship, the pair are now the best of friends.

Bad month

Good month

Cheshire-born pop star already has a bit of a reputation for turning up to sing at weddings and making bride’s dreams come true, but recently he gave a superfan a spectacular birthday surprise. His unannounced appearance at Jo Chapman’s 40th birthday is the ﬁrst of many milestone birthday appearances that the Take That frontman is planning to make this year.

Marcus Bean

Celebrity chef, author and owner of Brompton Cookery School Marcus Bean recently managed to complete the London Marathon in under four hours, despite doing no training and managed to raise £2,000 for charity in the process! The money raised will be going to NSPCC to help fund ChildLine, which was the ofﬁcial charity partner for this year’s marathon.

Spot ted!

Lemar

Brit Award winner Lemar was recently spotted at the star-studded Pink Ribbon Ball held at Manchester Cathedral, where he gave a performance. Held in aid of Breast Cancer Now, the second annual ball attracted plenty of other famous faces, including Gemma Atkinson, Dean and Magali Gorre, Paul Dickov and Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester Carl Austin.

Joe Woolford

The Ruthin lad and half of musical due Joe and Jake was recently in Stockholm to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest. The UK’s performance in the contest is perhaps best described as ‘not as bad as it could have been’ – it wasn’t quite nul points, but placing 24th out of 26 entries certainly isn’t anything to celebrate…

Ryan Giggs

Rumours abound after the Welsh footballer’s wife Stacey has reportedly asked for a divorce following rumours of his ﬂirting with waitresses at the restaurant he owns. The impending split doesn’t seem to have put a stop to his ﬂirting ways either – he allegedly chatted up Celebrity Big Brother’s Stephanie Davis just days after the news broke.

Lionel Richie

The American singer and songwriter recently appeared to a crowd of around 15,000 people at Eirias Stadium as part of his All the Hits tour. Quite naturally, the performance included many of the star’s legendary hits. Other famous acts that have appeared on stage at Eirias Stadium include Olly Murs, Pixie Lott, Little Mix and the legendary Tom Jones.

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why your business

DESERVES to be in

Yattar Yattar Attention all local business owners! Owner and publisher of Yattar Yattar Stephanie Anne Lloyd explains how we can help you increase you business

‘I have spent a lifetime in marketing and I know that you can have the best product or service in the world, but if you don’t tell people about it then they won’t buy it – because they don’t know about it. ‘I established Yattar Yattar in 2009 as a not-for-profit magazine that would promote local businesses in our special part of the UK. The idea was to print and distribute more copies than a national publication, all concentrated regionally for maximum exposure, and Yattar Yattar has become the UK’s leading quality magazine, with a print run that exceeds that of many national titles. ‘We receive almost 2,000 letters and competition entries from our readers every issue, as our audience engages with us. Our readers trust our complete impartiality – for instance our reviews of restaurants and attractions are always truthful and honest. ‘We have a print run exceeding 50,000 and distribute Yattar Yattar via the major supermarkets and other selected outlets. These free copies are so sought-after that one of the major supermarkets recently requested that we increase the allocation to their stores.

‘If you operate a business, large or small, and want to attract customers, how can you afford not to advertise in Yattar Yattar? The latest readership survey indicates that the magazine is read by 163,000 individuals, and our advertising rates offer great value for money. ‘We appreciate that advertisers are sceptical, which is why we encourage you to add special offers for Yattar Yattar readers – we are so confident that once you advertise the results will ensure that you do so regularly. High-circulation, quality publications free to readers is the only sustainable future. If you check with our distributors they will confirm that we enjoy zero returns. ‘Yattar Yattar is published by a not-for-profit venture that is financially subsidised by myself as the owner. There is always a minimum of 60 per cent editorial content, ensuring that we deliver interested and engaged readers to you. More than 50,000 copies are distributed across Cheshire, Shropshire, north and mid Wales, plus we have 1200 subscribers who pay for postage and packing to guarantee they get a copy of the magazine.’

We employ only the most passionate of staff and have a small, committed team to book your advertisements

ZOE FERNEE

REBEKAH HARRIMAN

CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS Sales executive

Junior Sales executive

rebekah@yattaryattar.co.uk

christian@yattaryattar.co.uk

zoe@yattaryattar.co.uk

JULIE GAGEN

NIA BANWELL

OLIVIA ABBOTT

julie@yattaryattar.co.uk

nia@yattaryattar.co.uk

olivia@yattaryattar.co.uk

Publisher

We offer a first class team to design and produce your advertisement and any accompanying editorial

Art editor

Designer

Editor

ONCE YOU TRY IT YOU’LL WANT TO BE IN EVERY ISSUE JUST GIVE US A CALL ON 01978 813035 TO FIND OUT HOW! 113_YY34_2016.indd 1

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Fashion Find your summer style here – from top to bottom. Plus, the perfect beachwear for your body shape

Style wisdom ‘In difﬁcult times, fashion is always outrageous.’ Elsa Schiaparelli

Tropical print shift dress, from £20, from Next

Black and lime ¾ dress, style no 56582, by Frank Lyman, £POA from Daniella of Nantwich

Floral jumpsuit by Joseph Ribkoff, £229 from So Chic, sochicbangor.co.uk

Safari dress, £79, by Pomodoro, from Out of Town, out-oftown-oswestry. co.uk

Multi tribal print maxi dress, £35 from Tweedmill, tweedmill.co.uk

Lucie leather sandal, £55 from Phase Eight

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Jacket, £65, from Next

Style wisdom

‘Vain triﬂes as they seem… clothes change our view of the world and the world’s view of us.’ Virginia Woolf

Seasalt sleeveless top, £42.99, and Esprit skinny denim pant, £45 both from Clare’s of Llandudno

Calista Burnout ﬁt and ﬂare dress, £150, from Phase Eight

WE LOVE Arcadia Dress by Adini, £45.99 from Clares of Llandudno Striped midi shift dress, £39 from M&Co

Moda In Pelle Pablar £79.95 from Clare’s of Llandudno

2-in-1 dufﬂe bag, £29.50, from M&S Collection

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Fashion

FASHION TIPS

Summer swimwear

Whether you’re staying at home or heading abroad this summer, swimwear is a must – how else are you going to get out there and soak up some sun or enjoy a splash in the water? We’ve rounded up some of our favourites for the season, for every shape and size.

WE LOVE

The bikini

Equilibrium necklace, £18.99 from Shop in the Clouds, shopintheclouds.com

Patterned twinset by Joseph Ribkoff, £289 from So Chic, sochicbangor. co.uk

Woodland Butterﬂies Black & Silver Watch by Olivia Burton, £80 from Mococo, mococo.co.uk

Pink knit, £49; coloured jeans, £49, both by Marble, from Out of Town, out-of-town-oswestry.co.uk

Style wisdom

‘The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes don’t wear her.’ Mary Quant

As well as giving the obvious advantage of showing more skin and therefore giving you the chance to get a full-body tan, the advantage of a bikini is that you can often buy the top and bottoms separately – great if you aren’t quite the uniform size eight all over of your average supermodel. High contrast caged bikinis like this one from New Look (£7.99 for the bottoms and £12.99 for the top) are the height of fashion right now if you have the figure to pull them off – but beware of some very strange tan lines! More forgiving options include bandeau bikinis, or if you want a two-piece without flashing so much flesh, try this high waist, high neck option, also from New Look (£12.99 bottoms, £17.99 top).

The one-piece Joules Wensley Longline scarf, £19.95 from Clares of Llandudno

Sunglasses, £45, from Next

Floral border print maxi dress, £35 from Tweedmill, tweedmill.co.uk

Turquoise top, style no 4030, by Marble, £49.50 from Daniella of Nantwich, daniellaofnantwich.co.uk

The sexy one-piece has seen a bit of a resurgence in the last few years, so if you don’t want to bare all in a bikini, you still have plenty of options that won’t leave you looking like you’re on your way to a swimming lesson. This black and white print swimsuit from the M&S Collection (£35) manages to look sexy while preserving your modesty thanks to the lace-up front. Even better, the gathered fabric across the midsection is very ﬂattering to less-than-ﬂat tummies. If you have a larger bust but still want a one piece, look for a piece with a bit of extra support like this lovely retro rose-patterned swimsuit from Floozie by Frost French (Debenhams, £40).

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At So Chic you can shop for timeless, elegant, wearable designer clothing and accessories for all occasions. We make shopping an enjoyable experience in a relaxed environment, with friendly service and professional advice.

Fashion Advertise your fashion business in the most stylish pages around!

occasion and day wear

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VOTED BEST OCCASION Visit usWEAR at 154 High Street,Opening Bangor,times: Gwynedd LL57 1NU SHOP IN NORTH WALES Monday-Friday 10am - 5.00pm Opening Saturdaytimes: 9.30am - 5.00pm FIVE YEARS RUNNING 2010 - 2015 Monday-Friday 10am - 5.30pm Evening9.30am appointments Saturday - 5.30pm www.sochicbangor.co.uk www.sochicbangor.co.uk

01248 372283 01248 372283 email: email:carysd@tiscali.co.uk carysd@tiscali.co.uk, info@sochicbangor.co.uk info@sochicbangor.co.uk

are also available.

Evening appointments 154also High Street, Bangor are available. Gwynedd, LL57 1NU

22/06/2016 14:22

Men’s Fashion

FASHION TIPS FOR M

Do something different

Summer is here and it’s time to rejuvenate your wardrobe! Want to be bang up to date? Here are some of the more unusual trends for this season…

From sharp suits to cool shades – the hot looks for men this summer

Going grey

Usually, summer fashion is all about bright colours, but not this year. The spring/summer catwalks were awash with grey – grey shirts, grey trousers, grey shoes, often all at once. No doubt you already have plenty of this colour in your wardrobe, but this season’s look is all about texture – combine several shades and fabrics to give your outﬁt a three-dimensional look. To get you started, this distressed t-shirt from Red Herring (Debenhams, £16) is casual and perfect for layering.

Albatross Jacket by Brook Taverner, £199 from Clares of Llandudno

Socks and sandals

Round frame sunglasses, £16 from River Island, riverisland.com

Albatross cotton linen shirt by Gant, £85 from Clares of Llandudno

Classic pique polo by Crew Clothing £35 from Clares of Llandudno

Kestin Hare iris print shirt, £45 from M&S, marksandspencer.com

Brown leather belt, £18 from Next, next.co.uk

Style wisdom ‘The difference between style and fashion is quality.’ Giorgio Armani

Sharpe ice blue suit, shirt and tie, £99 from Tweedmill, tweedmill. co.uk

It has long been regarded as a total fashion no-no, but suddenly it seems that that wearing socks with your sandals might actually be on trend. To keep this controversial look edgy rather than over-theedge, ditch the grotty gym socks in favour of cotton or cashmere options that match your outﬁt. As for the sandals, pretty much anything goes – these pool sliders (Next, £18) are a great option.

The backpack revolution

It’s hard to deny the practicality of a backpack – all the space you’d ever need in an easy-to-carry bag – but, they’ve never been exactly stylish. That’s all changed in the last year or so, with designers coming up with new styles and experimenting with different fabrics to create packs that aren’t just useful for hiking or the gym, but that are suitable for everyday use as well. This example from Next (£25) is perfect for carrying your essentials on any summer excursions.

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Daniella of Nantwich - busy being fabulous -

Opening Times - 9amÂ toÂ 5pm Monday to Saturday Appointments Available

29 Beam Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5NA

Tel: 01270 629202 - www.daniellaofnantwich.co.uk 119_YY34_2016.indd 1

22/06/2016 12:49

GET IN TOUCH

Are you a local online retailer? Call 01978 813035 or email editorial@yattaryattar. co.uk to ﬁnd out how your website can feature on these pages…

Shop local,

Yes, you can have it all – shop local from the home, and have it delivered straight to your

While there are eight physical shops in the country, including two locally in Chester and Mostyn, Abakhan also has a huge selection for would-be crafters available on this easy to use website. Delivery is free when you spend over £35, but even if you spend less is still a very reasonable £2.48. Visit abakhan.co.uk

This butcher offers a variety of quality produce from Wales with mouth-watering images and an elegant colour scheme. There is a ﬂat rate delivery charge of £4.99 but orders over £75 are delivered free. Visit bwydlyn.co.uk

Offering a variety of traditional clothing and accessories, with everything organised by category so items can be easily found. It’s a fairly basic site but that makes it easy to ﬁnd what you want. There is a useful sizing guide, plus free delivery to all UK addresses.Visit countryand leisureclothing.co.uk

Based in Prestatyn but with free delivery available on all orders over £300 to anywhere on the UK mainland, And Now to Bed is the perfect place to browse for a bed! Online you can see everything in their massive range and their special offers, and it is easy to ﬁnd what you’re looking for. Visit andnowtobed.co.uk

A vast range of home and garden items from tents to kayaks to basic kitchen accessories. The website is easy to navigate, with price sliders so you can make your choice based on how much you want to spend. Delivery is free if you spend over £75, or £4.50. Visit charliesdirect.co.uk

This Anglesey-based jeweller is setting up a new site, but in the meantime a link takes you to a website devoted to sales of beautiful Clogau gold jewellery. The site is easy to navigate and delivery is free on every order over £29. Visit daviesjewellers.com

A wide range of products, from home accessories to garden and outdoor living, the vast majority are made of metal. Products are sorted clearly on the site which makes it easy to navigate. Delivery costs vary according to what you buy and where you want it delivered. Visit blackcountrymetalworks. co.uk

Buy a birds of prey experience for yourself or as a gift here. Choosing and buying your experience is an easy process and you can take advantage of the special offers available. There’s also in-depth information, with great images, about the history of falconry. Visit cheshirefalconry.com

This shop sells a huge variety of beds and mattresses, plus some bedroom furniture too. Delivery is free on many items, with a large number delivered in 24-48 hours and others taking up to two weeks. The site is easy to use, and there’s a helpful returns policy, plus quite a few internet only offers. Visit dialamattress.co.uk

A wide selection of Welsh produce is easily located with useful drop-down menus. The standard delivery charge for food produce and hampers is £10, however you can choose to order online and collect your products from the store. Visit bodnant-welshfood. co.uk

Segway taster sessions and woodland glides are just some of the experiences available on this user-friendly site. Plenty of images show what to expect. You can buy vouchers or look for special offers from the home page so buying is convenient and easy. Visit cheshiresegway. co.uk

This traditional Welsh butcher offers Welsh meat products. Shop online for pork sausages, rump steaks and sweet cured back bacon. Register an account and you can even specify a delivery day. Free delivery within a six-mile radius of Conwy for orders over £50. Standard charge is £7.95. Visit edwardsofconwy. co.uk

This lovely site offers ‘timeless, handpicked products’ and it’s a delight to browse. Products are categorised under headings such as Happy Days and Shropshire Life. Delivery is free for orders over £100, otherwise it’s £4.95, and items can be gift wrapped for £2.50. Buying is quick and easy. Visit brookhousetrading. co.uk

This site stocks everything for the great outdoors: technical waterproof clothing; tweeds and accessories for men, women and children; plus gifts, guides and more. The site is split into sections for ease of use. There’s free shipping on orders over £75, otherwise delivery is £3.95. You can contact by phone if you’ve any queries. Visit cherrytreecountryclothing. com

A wide variety of beautiful handmade glass products from ornaments to jewellery and decorations to gifts. The site layout is slightly disorganised, but ﬁlter boxes make it simpler to ﬁnd what you’re after. Delivery costs vary. Visit glassblobbery. com

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online

Skin care for men and women. The site is very straightforward and all the products are clearly displayed and located. Spend over £35 and you’ll receive a free travel pack containing after sun, insect repellent, body lotion and hair/body wash. No delivery charges are displayed until you log in. Visit natural-skin-care. com

This eclectic online shop sells ethnic and fair-trade clothing, scarves, unusual gifts, incense, religious icons and more. Select a category to browse and purchase. Not all products are available to buy online, but can be bought from their shop in Oswestry. Delivery starts from £3.30. Visit rowanthorn.co.uk

A wide variety of furniture is on offer here, from beds and sofas to tables. The site shows all products in relevant sections, making for a quick and complete shopping experience, from choosing to buying. Delivery is free in mainland UK and ‘quickbuy’ items can usually be sent within 48-72 hours. Visit hafrenfurnishers.co.uk

A huge range of beds and mattresses with free UK mainland delivery on all items. All the products are easily located under clearly headed sections. Express and next day delivery are only available on certain products. Visit northwalesbeds.co.uk

A simple, elegant site where you can buy seathemed gifts. There are plenty of high quality pictures to inspire your purchase. Items are sorted by category and then into speciﬁcs. You can pay through PayPal, standard delivery charge is £3.50 to UK mainland. Visit seashoreno4.co.uk

Featuring contemporary décor, with everything from sofas to lamps and dining tables to cushions. The site is easy to navigate around with a pleasing layout. Each section is clearly labelled and products are easily found. Delivery starts from £9.95. Visit juliajones. co.uk

All of your party needs are helpfully sorted by category. You can buy party packs per child for boys and girls, in addition to additional items such as balloons and tableware. You can pay through PayPal if you wish, and shipping is free if spending over £50 with a party pack included, and £3.95 if under. Visit partiesnthings.co.uk

Alongside its collection of all things Welsh – including the latest Wales rugby strip for all patriots – this site offers collectables and teddy bears, and a range of other gifts. There’s a sliding scale of delivery charges which ranges from £3-£12. Visit shopintheclouds.com

comfort of your own front door!

A great variety of produce, a lot of which is locally produced (even on the estate), with a dairy, butchery and kitchen cupboard to name just a few departments. The site is easy and swift to navigate. The checkout process is speedy and next day delivery is £6.95. Visit ludlowfoodcentre. co.uk

A beautiful, quirky website offering an

array of gifts and home products, including the range of chalk paints by Annie Sloan. The site is easy to navigate with good photographs of products. Delivery starts from £4.95. Visit petticoatlane shop.co.uk

With a variety of clothing, crafts and gifts on offer at the mill, a limited selection of products are available online. Products are easily found with a detailed description and image, there’s also a convenient option to shop by price. Delivery prices start from £4.95. Visit meirionmill.co.uk

Great selection of products from gourmet gifts to Christmas favourites. Products are easily viewed and selected via the many categories. Quick view and sort-by options make browsing much quicker and you can even compare products before buying. Delivery charge is £3.95 or free if order is over £50. Visit portersdeli. co.uk

Offering big names including Swarovski and Pandora, plus up-and-coming British designers such as Shaun Leane, this online jewellery shop has a very helpful gift ﬁnder. Delivery is free for purchases over £50. All items are gift wrapped with a treat included, and you can add your own personal message. Visit mococo.co.uk

A selection of beautiful jewellery, both antique and modern, plus other vintage items such as jugs, spoons and bowls. The site is organised by category and there’s a special section for engagement rings. Standard delivery within the UK is £2.95 and takes 5-7 working days. Visit powells thejewellers.com

This shop sells British and luxury yarns and wool in various colours for your crafting needs. Colinette Yarns are dyed locally in Llanfair Caereinion, Powys. Shop by price or popularity, with products at various prices from around £4. Shipping starts at £3.45. Visit 67thepincushion.co.uk

A huge range of wines, spirits, ports,

sherries and more with a website that reﬂects the design and quality of the produce. Buying is a clear and simple process with a helpful description of the wine and reviews. Delivery is normally £7.95, but orders over £95 are delivered free. Visit tannerswines.co.uk

Traditional Welsh tapestries and knits, plus gifts are easily identifiable from the home page via the shop sections. Front and reverse pictures of products give plenty of detail and drop down menus make navigation efficient. Prices of range from reasonable to indulgent. Delivery costs are specific for each product. Visit t-w-m.co.uk

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Did you know, Rejuva offers the complete package when it comes to looking and feeling great... Call in and discover a whole new you all under one ro of.

£5 off Rejuva Treatments and Products when you spend £20 or more Or £5 off Afternoon Tea for 2 at Java Square

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Smile! You’re at the dentist! Janet and David Lee, dentists and partners at The Willows Dental Practice in St Asaph, address the three main reasons why people don’t go to the dentist

Valid until end of August 2016

yourse Treat

We are now fully licensed!

Fear

‘We find people are frightened that we will not be able to do anything for them, and past experiences have led them to think that dental treatment is always painful. Fear of the dentist is very common, and understandable. Dentists can help to overcome this in a number of ways. ‘A pleasant environment, together with caring, experienced and knowledgeable staff, provides reassurance from the first consultation. The use of plain language to explain things allows patients to feel more in control, and we have a group of regular patients who are happy to have a chat over the phone to give a patient’s view of a particular treatment. ‘There is still the treatment itself to be frightened about, and here we use a combination of three techniques to help patients to undergo treatment: ‘Hypnotherapy is a great way to help patients to relax, and can be carried out as a course of treatment for phobia or anxiety, or during an appointment. We often use this together with sedation. ‘Happy air or nitrous oxide is an effective solution that allows patients to undergo treatment yet still be able to drive home. ‘Intravenous sedation is something we have used effectively for more than 25 years, and we have never had a complaint about it. It allows the most phobic of patients to have long dental appointments in comfort.

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Time

‘We lead increasingly busy lives, and it may be difficult to take time off work to attend dental appointments. Your treatment should be carried out over as few appointments as possible.

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Cost

‘This is a big factor. Many patients worry that a treatment will be too expensive, and they can’t afford it. Some treatments are very expensive, but not all, and often you will find there are a number of different options available to suit different budgets. ‘At The Willows we find that being honest and realistic about the different treatments and costs allows patients to make informed decisions about their treatment. It is important to know that your dentist will be able to help you whatever your situation.’ For more information visit willowsdental.net or call 01745 585000.

For him…

or email advertising@yattaryattar.co.uk

122-124 Health and Beauty OA.indd 122

‘

Call: 01978 813035

Because blokes need a bit of sun protection and care too… Bulldog’s Protective Moisturiser (£8, from Boots, Tesco or bulldogskincare.com) contains nine essential oils, aloe vera, green tea and a broad spectrum SPF15. Gentle, but tough!

22/06/2016 14:37

It wasn’t the cough that carried him off…

Health & Beauty Make the dentist a fear-free zone, change your life with yoga and have a happy, healthy summer! Water, water Bend me, shape me everywhere If you like the idea of yoga, but are looking for something a bit more demanding, Kundalini Yoga could be for you. A combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, chanting and meditation, Kundalini yoga is a workout for body, mind and soul all at the same time. Daria Wawrzynska teaches Kundalini yoga classes in Wrexham. ‘Kundalini yoga helps to strengthen you physically, mentally and emotionally,’ says Daria. ‘It is designed for busy lives so you can regenerate, re-energise and deal with obstacles in life in a much more positive and peaceful way.’ Daria has been teaching Kundalini yoga for more than four years and has seen many beneﬁts in her life. ‘In my early 20s I was very unhealthy. I took up yoga to encourage more healthy habits and here I am 10 years later more healthy and energetic than ever before and sharing with others how they can change their lives, become more healthy, conﬁdent and happy.’ For more information visit www.highonyoga.co.uk.

Exercise of the month Body Groove

If you love to dance for exercise but always get tangled up trying to follow intricate movements, you’ll love BodyGroove. (Editor Olivia is already a big fan.) Created by dancer Misty Tripoli, it’s a dance workout that combines powerful, funky music with simple, easy moves. Instead of following prescribed steps, you’re encouraged to move freely to the beat in whatever way you feel like. ‘Every body is unique, so there shouldn’t be a one-sizeﬁts all workout either,’ Tripoli says. It’s a dynamic class that delivers a great cardio workout – it’s impossible to stand still – so just get up and strut your stuff! Body Groove videos can be downloaded from bodygroove. com – they’re a bit American, but good fun to do.

Going abroad this summer? It’s vital to say hydrated in hot climates – follow these tips from the Natural Hydration Council

1 2 3

Make sure to drink enough water before ﬂying. Once you’re on the plane, drink water rather than alcohol. On hot days on the move or on the beach, make sure you have access to enough bottled water. Aim to drink six to eight glasses (1.2 litres) of water per day. If drinking alcohol, start with a glass of water before moving on to alcoholic drinks and drink water or a soft drink between each alcoholic drink. When travelling in Africa, Asia or South America only drink bottled water and check the seals on bottles are intact when you buy them. Be cautious about having ice in your drinks, unless you know the source of the water used. If you suffer from food poisoning or diarrhoea, make sure you rehydrate with water and electrolytes (salts). Make sure children always have access to a supply of clean water. Visit natural hydration council. org.uk

4 5 6 7 8

By Stephanie Anne Lloyd Coughs are caused by a virus and antibiotics have no effect on viruses, so if you’re suffering from a persistent summer cough, don’t bother the doctor until it has lasted for a full eight weeks or you experience a high pitched wheezing noise. If you cough up mucus it doesn’t indicate sinus infection just that you have a common cough. Prevention is always the best cure, so wash your hands regularly and try to avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes with your fingers. Remember germs are to be found on handrails, door handles, phones – in fact practically any surface you touch. The average length of a cough is 18 days and although there is no cure you can ease the symptoms with simple measures. Pour boiling water into a bowl, add some Vick’s Vapour Rub, place a towel over your head and breathe in, this will ease breathing. Do not drink dairy milk while you have a cough, use almond milk as a substitute. To get a good night’s sleep refrain from eating or drinking alcohol for a minimum of three hours before bedtime. Buy a humidifier which will ease your breathing. Many cough remedies are advertised, but just sucking on a cough sweet and taking paracetamol is all you really need. Moving between cold and hot environs can trigger a coughing fit, so a day tucked up in bed with someone feeding you home-made chicken broth (aka Jewish penicillin) will help. Keep hydrated with plenty of fluids, such as green tea and water. If you experience blocked up ears then diluted hydrogen peroxide applied with a dropper can bring relief. If you love your fellow human beings stay away from crowded places if you are experiencing coughing and spare them from catching your germs.

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Health&Beauty Health and Beauty Myths Garlic will ward off mosquitos While they might both feed on blood, that’s where the similarities between mosquitos and vampires end – the pesky insects unfortunately don’t share the Count’s aversion to garlic. While the scent of your sweat or skin secretions can play a role in how likely you are to get bitten by mosquitos, this is largely genetic and can’t be altered.

Get a free haircut!

Shrewsbury College trains many of the top hair-stylists in the region at its state of the art training facilities on London Road, and students who are completing their ﬁrst two years of study are now offering free haircuts, with a 30 per cent discount on colours. ‘These students are very skilled at this stage in their training,’ says Samantha Morris, hairdressing lecturer, ‘but it is critical at this point that they get as much experience as possible. It’s a win/win situation. Customers get a great cut and colour at a very low price while our students get the hours in the salon required to complete their course. Every treatment is fully supervised by the lecturers. Customers need to pop in for a skin test 48 hours before a colour, but we can arrange all of that on the phone.’ Contact the Shrewsbury College Evolve Training Academy on 01743 342561 or 01743 342583.

Beauty insider BY LYDIA DORFLING: OUR WOMAN IN THE KNOW

At last the sun’s come out and the temperature’s rising – and you know what that means: skirts and shorts and the inevitable exposure of legs. It’s time to get your pins ready for summer. But if you’re looking more Ernie Wise than Giselle Bundchen in your new shorts, don’t worry, there’s a host of products out there to help. Start with exfoliation Keep cool in the heat with a reviving mist – whatever you do next, of softly scented, moisturising water whether it’s hair removal, Skin Revivals Rose Mist Facial Spray, £4.10 fake tan or moisturiser, you (special offer until end of August) from need the smoothest, Beauty Naturals, beautynaturals.com healthiest top layer of skin Naturally fragranced with you can get. Scandinavian rosa damascena floral Decadence Bath and Body water and witch hazel, ‘If you’re Salt Scrub, £14.50 from this mist rehydrates, looking more Ernie Inner Soul Organics and soothes to (inner-soul.co.uk) is reduce irritation. Wise than Giselle You can use it as a gentle enough for legs, Bundchen in your toner or a skin tough enough for feet. freshener at any new shorts, don’t Or for a wash-and-go time – put it in the solution, try Alba worry – there’s a fridge and use as a Botanica’s Hawaiian cooling mist in the host of products Exfoliating Body Wash summer. The dinky to help!’ (£6 from Beauty Naturals, little bottle is great for beautynaturals.com). carrying with you for use anywhere, any time. The trouble with any method of hair removal – Neals Yard Frankincense Hydrating Facial unless you can afford the Mist, £11.50, nealsyardremedies.com luxury of all-over laser This is a light and refreshing spray that treatment – is that it grows contains fragrant and toning essential oils, back. Laidbare’s Hair Today, anti-oxidant and collagen stimulating Gone Tomorrow! (£6.99, herbal extracts, all combined with moisture touchmyface.co.uk) boosting hyaluronic acid – that’s a lot of skincare packed into a facial spritz! contains a botanical Particularly good for mature skins. complex of liquorice extract, caffeine and horse chestnut Skin Essential Hydrating Toner by Ark, £24, seed extract which combine arkskincare.com to inhibit hair growth. Contains a blend of natural ingredients, If you’ve been caught including wild water mint, to hydrate and unawares by the sudden soothe, cooling and calming hot and sunshine and want to get irritated skin. Great to keep on your desk to spritz over the face during the day to out there – like, now – try This refresh your make-up! Or use after Works Perfect Skin Leg cleansing and before moisturising. Miracle (£37, thisworks.com) – it contains a natural, Balancing Organic Toner by Yours Truly no-chemicals, wash-off tint, Organics, £19, yourstrulyorganics.com and also contains Vitamins This toner is great for itchy, irritated skin. It C and E to correct contains witch hazel and aloe vera to imperfections. Brilliant. soothe and repair, helping to return skin to its optimal pH level and improve its ability Although I’m a zealous to absorb moisture. Especially good for convert from baking it to oily/acne prone skin it can be used as a faking it, it does seem that toner or as a spritz. companies find it very hard to get rid of that DHA smell Neroli Flower Water by Toulou Organics, in fake tans. So, welcome £16.50 toulouorganicsltd.com Elemis’ Total Glow Bronzing Just the smell of this is refreshing on its own! Body Lotion (£34.50, elemis. It contains traces of neroli essential oil which has an uplifting influence, and it also com) which contains the has soothing, anti-inflammatory and naturally derived DHA calming effects on hot, tired skin. It’s Vegetan to give a gorgeous suitable for all skin types, and is especially colour without the nasty smell. good for sensitive skin. Bring on the sunshine!

5 of the best Refreshing facial sprays

Moisturiser (or butter!) can be used to treat sun burn Be very careful what you put on sunburnt skin! Many moisturisers can actually trap heat in your skin, and butter deﬁnitely will. Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to sunburn, and every effort should be made to avoid it, but if, despite your best efforts, you do suffer from too much sun, stick to after sun products or natural alternatives such as aloe vera.

You only need to apply sunscreen once a day Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as an all-day sunscreen and you will have to reapply throughout the day. While most of us have begrudgingly accepted that sunscreen isn’t an apply once and forget job, it might come as a surprise to some that sunscreen only provides about two hours of protection per application, regardless of what SPF you use. In fact, you could be protected for as little as an hour if you’re sweating a lot or in the water.

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We offer pain

free

dentistry • Janet and David are the principal dental

surgeons with many decades of practice and hospital experience in all aspects of dentistry.

•

We have a caring and committed staff of highly qualified registered Dental Care Professionals.

•

We take everything into consideration such as fear, embarrassment, your valuable time and very importantly these days, your budget.

•

We offer pain free dentistry using very effective relaxing techniques such as hypnosis, happy air and intra venous sedation.

•

We are just 75 meters off the A55 Expressway, only 25 minutes from Chester and 10 minutes from Colwyn Bay. We have plenty of off road parking in front of our Practice for your convenience.

TEL: 01745 585000

Our first aim is to get to know you and

find what you want with regard to your smile and your dental health.

Appointments are offered for:

✔ Regular dental health and oral cancer checks. ✔ Preventative treatment for teeth and gums, is usually carried out by our highly qualified dental hygienist/therapist Louise. ✔ Gentle treatments for the bite to prevent breaking teeth and headaches. ✔ Smile makeovers/Cosmetic treatments. ✔ Orthodontics for children and adults ✔ Implant treatment: We provide all aspects of preimplant surgery and implant treatment from start to completion and have gained a reputation for Same Day Teeth or the so call All on 4 ™ technique. ✔ We have our own scanner in the practice. ✔ Using 3D video imaging and cad/cam we can provide tooth like crowns, inlays and veneers in just one appointment with our Cerec machine.

willowsdental.net

info@willowsdental.net

MINAFON, THE ROE, ST ASAPH, LL17 0LT, UNITED KINGDOM 125_YY34_2016.indd 1

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&mobility

Feeling worthwhile

Nightingale House Hospice provides specialist palliative care services, free-of-charge, to patients and their families across a wide area that stretches from Wrexham, Flintshire Nightingale House aims to and East help patients ike Sally Ann Denbighshire Hart (above right) to live to Barmouth their lives to the full The Care Quality Commission has rated two and the border Shropshire homes as delivering a ‘good’ standard towns including Oswestry and Whitchurch. of care. New Fairholme in Oswestry and The hospice’s aim is to help patients to live Crowmoor House in Shrewsbury, which are both their lives to the full – controlling pain and run by not-for-profit firm Coverage Care Services, managing symptoms. It’s philosophy is about received the assessments after unannounced visits allowing people to spend time with their family in February. and friends and making the most of the time The inspectors made their findings after speaking to residents, staff and relatives and they have in the way they wish. viewing the day-to-day operation of each home. Sally Ann Hart, a patient at the hospice, says: New Fairholme, in Shrewsbury Road, caters for 88 people with dementia and physical ‘I can smile, laugh, cry and be me at needs. Crowmoor House in Monkmoor is home to up to 57 people with dementia, mental Nightingale House. No one judges me. They are health issues or learning disabilities. just there for me and that is something very The performance of each home was assessed against a national framework that special. The Day Care on a Monday has taught measures service performance. Each was judged as good in the five key areas that state me to relax, chill out, learn about my body whether homes are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. and how it works, prepare for ‘the end’, Coverage Care Services operates 14 residential and nursing homes around as well as getting emotional and Shropshire. Visit coveragecareservices.co.uk or call 01743 283200. WANT TO HELP? psychological support from trained support staff, the social workers If you’re looking for and generally everyone who ways to help local works at the Hospice.’ Many people think that a organisations, turn to hospice is just somewhere to go our volunteering Abbeyfield Colwyn Bay offers Colwyn Bay and Rhos on to die, but Nightingale House is and charity independent sheltered living – a home Sea. All are in lovely much more than this. The hospice pages, p140 from home for independent people residential areas, part of the helps its patients very early in their looking for company and a community community, and with good diagnosis so that they can talk to their situation without being in a ‘home’. This access to local shops and families and consider how they want to registered charity and attracts people amenities. The houses are professionally spend the rest of their lives and also to plan for from all over the country, such is the run and the emphasis is on caring for the any care needs they may have in the future. ‘feel-good factor’ surrounding its houses. residents’ wellbeing – providing The aim is to help people to live their lives to The charity offers safe, secure home-cooked meals, cleaning and the end of their days and achieve the things accommodation in three houses in company, while allowing them to they want to, no matter how long or short that continue living a full and independent life. may be. There are different types of The hospice doesn’t just care for patients accommodation available, depending who may be dying from cancer, it also cares for on vacancies, but all rooms are en-suite, patients with other life-limiting illnesses such fully carpeted and with a kitchenette. as motor neurone disease and pulmonary Resident Gladys moved to Abbeyfield fibrosis, end stage liver disease, heart disease or Colwyn Bay eight years ago. ‘I chose kidney failure. Abbeyfield Colwyn Bay as I felt it would Sally sums it all up beautifully when she enhance my quality of life,’ says Gladys. says: ‘Nightingale House is not somewhere to Philip, meanwhile, moved to die; it is a place where you can live, albeit Abbeyfield after many years travelling differently from what life may have been like the world with the Navy. ‘After I lost my before being ill; but it makes me feel wife, I wanted the companionship that worthwhile, useful and not a burden. That comes with Abbeyfield,’ says Philip. is something very special.’ To find out more visit abbeyfield.com Visit nightingalehouse.co.uk Residents Beryl and Pat enjoy a glass of or call 01492 533724. wine at Abbeyfield’s Alex Road property

Care

Living life to its fullest potential, whatever your circumstances and wherever you are Shropshire homes win praise from inspectors

Enjoying an independent life

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THOMAS ADAMS SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM CENTRE

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re choosing a secondary school or sixth form college for your child, why not choose Thomas Adams? We are situated in the heart of Shropshire with 30 acres of grounds and transport links to Shrewsbury, Baschurch, Market Drayton, Whitchurch, Ellesmere and Oswestry. We are a modern school with a strong history. The school is committed to nurturing and monitoring our students closely, offering a broad range of academic courses and a wide spectrum of enrichment opportunities, including sport, music and drama. Students are academically successful at all levels and are guided to achieve their full potential through mentoring and intervention. When they progress to Adams

Attend one of our open days!

College, this pastoral and academic support remains strong and our students aspire to ambitious destinations. Adams House, our boarding facility, accommodates 60 students from across Britain and abroad. This eclectic mix of young people gives both school and college a cosmopolitan buzz and an energy which we believe is important for preparing students for their futures. Come to an open day to talk to students and staff about what makes us unique. Our school open day will be held on Tuesday October 4th and our college open day on Thursday October 20th, with tours at 10.30am and 1.30pm as well as open evenings from 5.30pm.

Find out more at our website, www.thomasadams.net or follow us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

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Top of the class Visits to London, record-breaking achievements, motoring successes and help with fees – all the news and events from your local schools, colleges and universities

Pupil Will Littlewood and centre manager Chris Cutler at Buckingham Palace

A visit to the palace

Pupils from Abbey Gate College in Chester recently made a visit to the capital to mark 60 years of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Two sixth form pupils who have recently been awarded their Gold Award, William Littlewood and Lucy Hopewell, went to Buckingham Palace with headmistress Tracy Pollard and centre manager for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at the school Chris Cutler. Visit abbeygatecollege.co.uk or call 01244 332077.

School is only half the story

Every year, thousands of overseas students are educated at independent schools across the UK. When their school closes for half term holidays and exeat weekends throughout the year, they need a host family who will provide a home away from home. Pippa’s Guardians has been providing guardianship services to international students for over 17 years. A family run company, they understand the value of a good home and how a host family can positively affect a student’s wellbeing. Pippa’s Guardians know their students well and match them with well-suited families. Welcoming an overseas student into your home can be a very rewarding experience and there are a number of ways you can become a host family. As well as receiving a generous payment, there are many other advantages in being a host family. It is a great opportunity to introduce your family to other cultures and languages. Sharing your traditions and family life with an overseas student and knowing that you are helping them during their time in the UK is very gratifying. Long term friendships often develop and many host families keep in touch with the students and their families once they are back home. Visit www.pippasguardians.co.uk or call 01684 252757.

Garden project for unsung hero A group of Year 10 students from Abbotsholme School in Staffordshire went to Westminster recently to help create a memorial garden to unsung hero Mary Seacole. This new memorial at St Thomas’ Hospital is a tribute to Mary Seacole who worked during the Crimean War at the same time as Florence Nightingale, but who did not receive due recognition for her efforts because she was a Jamaican/British woman. Four Abbotsholme pupils – Ben and Phoebe Broughton, Henry The students, top, and hard at work Walker and Amanda Clough – in the garden, above responded to an appeal made by the project leaders for volunteers to help create the garden. A team of seven in total helped to create the garden, and the four pupils worked for six hours to help shape this memorial. Visit abbotsholme.co.uk

Rugby star at Rydal Penrhos Sporting stars at Rydal Penrhos School in Colwyn Bay were joined by a special guest at a recent pre-preparatory sports day. Philippa Tuttiett, a former Welsh women’s rugby star and current athlete mentor for Sky Sports’ Living for Sport scheme, attended the annual showcase at the school and presented the Welsh women’s rugby star Philippa winners’ trophy after a Tuttiett with some young pupils superb day of action, at the end of which Snowdon house took home the title. This is the second time that the ex-Wales international has visited the school in recent months, as she also gave a presentation to GCSE pupils before speaking about her life as an elite athlete with the Living for Sport group in January. Visit rydalpenrhos.com July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 129

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EDUCATION

Celebrating students look forward to their ride in a Jag

Bobby Manesh (far left) with engineering students

Purring with satisfaction!

Students race towards a bright future Wrexham Glyndwr University is searching for sponsors for its entry to an acclaimed student competition, as its put together a new strategy for the Formula Student motorsport challenge. More than 130 universities from 30 countries design, build and then race a car at Silverstone grand prix circuit during the four-day competition. Wrexham Glyndwr has fared well in past years but plans to move up a gear from 2017 onwards, led by performance car technology lecturer Bobby Manesh. ‘It’s a very serious event and one we aim to take even more seriously in the years ahead because we know how highly regarded it is by employers,’ says Bobby. ‘We want current and prospective students to have this on their CV – they will if they join us.’ Participating in this Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ festival of motorsport is a unique selling point for students who later apply to enter the engineering sector. ‘The competition takes place just days after the Silverstone Grand Prix, so you’re there working in the pit lane just days after the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have been there with Mercedes and Ferrari,’ says Bobby. ‘One minute you’re watching it on TV and the next you’re there with your Formula Racing team and getting ready to send a car out to compete – it’s a very surreal feeling as you also camp right there next to the tracks with thousands of other people in a fantastic atmosphere.’ Wrexam Glyndwr University has its next open day on 20th August. Visit glyndwr.ac.uk. To find out more about sponsoring the Formula Student team, email Bobby.Manesh@glyndwr.ac.uk

The Oswestry Otters

Mark to make a splash at Marches Olympic swimmer and speaker Mark Foster is heading for Oswestry to inspire a lucky group of local youngsters at this year’s Marches Academy Trust Festival of Education, which is to be held at The Marches School on Friday 1st July. Local swimming group Oswestry Otters have been invited along on the day to meet Mr Foster and listen to his talk. Hannah Shepherd, head coach of Oswestry Otters, says: ‘We feel privileged that the Otters will get the chance to meet Mark Foster on the day. He will be a huge inspiration to the club’s swimmers through what he has achieved in his long, illustrious career as Britain’s most successful swimmer.’ Visit marchesschool.co.uk

Students are put through their paces at the hospital

Bangor pupils’ studies are in good health GCSE students from Ysgol Friars school in Bangor recently boosted their Health and Social Science studies with a behind-the-scenes visit at Nufﬁeld Health Chester Hospital. The 17 pupils took part in a series of interviews with key staff members, and did practical sessions to provide insight into life working at the hospital and its neighbouring ﬁtness and wellbeing gym. Visit friars.gwynedd. sch.uk.

Shrewsbury High Prep School is celebrating after reaching the World Finals of an international maths competition for the third year running – the only school from Shropshire to have qualified. Making the experience even more exciting is the generous offer from Hatfields Jaguar Shrewsbury to chauffeur drive the pupils to the event in two top of the range Jaguar cars, ensuring that the children are the envy of all the other teams as they turn up for the event! The Jaguar Maths in Motion Challenge has become a well-established event in the calendars of many schools as a way of engaging children of all ages and abilities in an exciting and motivating mathematics based project. It is a truly global event with teams coming from as far afield as Spain and Qatar for the Final. Visit shrewsburyhigh.gdst.net

Help to pay for learning Any potential students aged over 19 who want to complete a Level 3 qualiﬁcation may be eligible to pay fees. Such students can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for further education fees at an approved college or training provider. North Shropshire College (NSC) is an approved college and provides a wide array of eligible Level 3 courses and apprenticeships. Students can apply for the Advanced Learner Loan for courses starting between 1st August 2016 and 31st July 2017. Director of Student Services at NSC, Lucy Beaumont, says: ‘Advanced Learner Loans are a win-win situation. A Level 3 qualiﬁcation gives you much greater earning potential or opportunity to go to university and you do not have to start repaying until you are in employment and earning more than £21,000.’ Student Ben Francis says: ‘Before I started my course I believed I would have to pay to do the course. I spoke to the course coordinator Jill Cawthray, who told me about the Advanced Learner Loan. I applied online, it was very straight forward and I haven’t had to worry about it since. Without the loan I probably wouldn’t have been able to follow my long-term career plan, with the loan I have completed my Access to HE course and been accepted on to the Paramedicine course at Liverpool John Moores University.’ For more information about the Advanced Learner Loan, call 01691 688029 or visit gov.uk/advancedlearningloans

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22/06/2016 12:53

EDUCATION

A ﬁrst for Shrewsbury

In response to demand from current Foundation Degree students, from September 2016 Shrewsbury College will welcome students on to its new BA Honours in Education top-up degree course. These students have already completed a Foundation Degree in Education at the College. Higher education and education lead Helen Fellows says: ‘Previously students have had to move on to a university setting for this final year of their degree, but it is so much easier and more cost-effective for them to be able to stay and study in Shrewsbury.’ Of the students, six are planning to become primary school teachers. One of these, Nicola Saunders, explains: ‘This is a great opportunity, it means we can fit in our degrees around work and family and not travel long distances to another university. We really benefit from the small class sizes and the personalised, highly supportive staff. It’s perfect.’ For more information visit shrewsbury.ac.uk

Midlands hockey call-up for Georgie Talented young hockey player 13-year-old Georgie Nicholas from Packwood Haugh School in Ruyton XI Towns, Shropshire, has won a place in the Midlands regional hockey squad. ‘Georgie has been playing in the Shropshire Under 14 side (a year young) and was part of the team that represented the county in the recent Midlands tournament,’ said the school’s first team hockey coach, Miss Lowe. ‘The tournament was attended by Junior Regional Performance Centre assessors and Georgie was selected on the basis of her excellent performance on the day, and also on the recommendation of her Shropshire coaches.’ Visit packwood-haugh.co.uk

Oswestry pupil receives Lord Lieutenant Cadet award

At just 16 years old, Oswestry School pupil Fiona Newman has been selected to become one of just three Lord Lieutenant Cadets for Shropshire. Lord Lieutenant Cadets are drawn each year from the armed services –Army, Air Force and Navy Cadets. They support the Lord Lieutenant in his duties as the Queen’s Clever cadet: Fiona Newman representative within the various counties across the country. The present Lord Lieutenant is Algernon Heber-Percy whose family has lived in Shropshire at Hodnet Hall for nine centuries. Fiona was nominated for the post by Oswestry School’s CCF Contingent Commander, Alistair Othen. Her application, along with many others, was vetted and considered by the Shropshire lieutenancy committee who then selected Fiona as a suitable candidate. Fiona was presented with a certificate and badge which she will wear during her tenure. Her first official engagement was to support the Lord Lieutenant at the Market Square in Shrewsbury as he lit a fire and read a message from the Prince of Wales to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. Visit oswestryschool.org.uk or call 01691 655711.

Record breakers!

The Firs School Chester recently received confirmation that their year 3 and 4 pupils are Guinness World Record Holders. Last year pupils from the school spent a day at Liverpool tennis tournament. Alongside 830 others they attempted to break the world record for the largest tennis lesson and also the greatest number of people simultaneously bouncing a ball on a tennis racket. The event was declared a success but the organisers had to wait till now for Guiness to officially declare the attempt a world record. Head of the school Lucy Davies said: ‘We are proud that some of our pupils are World Record Holders.’ Visit firsschool.net

Holiday fever Roger McDuff, acting head at Rydal Penrhos School, on coping with the summer holidays With the school year now approaching its end, many parents will be looking for ways to help their child continue learning throughout the summer holidays. This is an essential part of a child’s development and ensures that they are ready to hit the next academic year running, rather than having to adjust to the process of learning again when they return to the classroom. Even something as simple as family game nights, where children have to use critical thinking skills in games such as Jenga, Monopoly or Scrabble are good. Another way to help is to encourage creative construction. Parents can challenge children to use a variety of materials to invent a building, vehicle or any contraption they can dream up. Inspiring creativity is something fun that can benefit them immensely. Invite your child to make a ‘Summer 2016’ scrapbook, which will get their creative juices flowing. Choosing a different activity every week is another way to make learning a fun part of their holidays. No matter what you do, the most important part is that you and your child take part in activities together. To make outings more fun and sneak in more learning take an adventure bag, compass, and field notebook so that you can ask your child to look for wildlife. Without school, a child’s day can tend to lack structure, making it hard for them to readjust once school starts. Summertime fun often includes adventures that make sticking to your routine difficult, but having that initial routine established can make it easier to move back to your schedule.

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Poet’s Corner This is a chance to show off your creative talent – whether you prefer rhyming couplets, iambic pentameter or haiku, we’d love to see your poems. Here is a selection of the poetry we’ve recently received…

Empty Chair

Old Grumbler

That empty chair at which I stare your company now no longer there it speaks to me sad words of blight instead of happy words you might it just is not a happy sight just that empty chair with you not there less loudly speak O empty chair.

Rattled He plodded on his shady way On and on Through dell and dale Discordant angry The black and white shape Trundling lumbering along Decided to slink Back into the moonlight Under the stars Scintillating and Lighting up his way Until at last He came upon his tree His ﬁnal scratching post.

BRIAN STONE

ANNE DOUGLAS

Love for my child I can see the sun smile When I look at you From early in the morning All through the daytime too You were sent by God And entrusted just to me To always keep you safe And have you here with me

When in my arms I take you And hold you to my breast This overwhelming love I feel Will never let me rest The love I have for you my child I will store away For you will always ﬁnd it As it ﬁlls my heart For there can be no other love Like the love I feel for you PAULINE LOVE

SUMMER

The sun shining down, warm feeling of heat, The tingle of grass to the bareness of feet. The sting of a nettle, healed by a dock, The puff of the wind to a dandelion clock. The gold of the buttercup and yellow eyed daisy, The sweetness of clover, the cows being lazy. The trickle of water down meandering stream. The overgrown paths, wild garlic of cream. The leaves of the oak, the weeping of willow. The breeze through the trees, when cotton skirts billow. The squadron of gnats, swished away by a hand The flight of the butterfly, descending to land. The sheep tangled wool on bushes of gorse. The foal in the field, gentle canter of horse. The song of the birds, the hum of the bee. The blue of the sky, this is summer for me.

Do you want to appear in Poet’s Corner? Send your poem to editorial@ yattaryattar.co.uk

Poem for My Daddy I know a man who I love with all my heart He has loved me unconditionally right from the start He taught me all I needed to know To walk, talk, ride a bike and play in the snow He always worked hard to provide a roof and food I hope I have made him proud by trying to do good.

Although I know at times I was not very nice He held me in his arms and didn’t think twice I know one day he will leave us here That day is the one I am scared of and fear I am not going to say goodbye or that I can’t go on I shall say I love you and see you later, even when gone. When he is in heaven I hope he watches over me At night the brightest star he will be Remember Daddy, when it’s my time to join you in the sky When we can hug and say hello again, instead of just hi You may need to pay for me to enter the gate Until then, in my dreams we will meet so don’t be late. I’ll remember you with memories that make me smile To make you proud of me I shall go an extra mile Though you will eventually leave, you will be forever in my heart Whilst out on walks and in the garden you will be a big part Each time I see a magpie or two maybe three I think of you This may seem odd; it’s not the black or white but the blue. I love you Daddy, you really don’t know how much Of my life, thoughts, dreams and choices you actually touch I could go on and on and on, but for now I shall stop Please know Daddy that your little girl thinks you are top.

NICKY LAMBERT

PATRICIA PARKER

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Book Club

Meet a local author, great reads for all the family, plus book events

Bonds, Marie Anne Cope At first glance, Bonds is a Gothic drama, but even if you’re not a fan of the frightening and macabre, you’ll find plenty to keep you interested. From the very beginning, readers are hooked with a prologue that takes place in the 17th century, and soon you’ll find yourself not only wondering what will happen in the present day, but also exactly what happened all those years ago. In the present day, our heroine is Becca, a strong modern woman who, as the novel progresses, struggles to come to terms with her ancestry as she must face Antony, a centuries-old man who bears the vampire’s curse after he traded his soul for a chance at vengeance. Throughout the book, the story jumps between the ages, but despite this, the narrative is always clear. This is thanks in no small part to Marie Anne Cope’s skill and easy-tounderstand style as a writer, which has also allowed her to create rich, three-dimensional characters who always seems to have their own motivation and never do something just because it is convenient for the plot. The sequel to Bonds, Broken Bonds, is also available. ‘I hadn’t planned For a chance to win on writing a sequel so soon, but a copy of Bonds, I received so many emails and messages asking for one that I email your contact decided to write what happens details to editorial@ next.’ Bonds is available from yattaryattar.co.uk Amazon at £8.99

WIN!

Meet the author

‘I never planned to become an author,’ says Marie. ‘In primary school, I wrote a short, fully illustrated story about a severed arm being found on the beach – unknown to my parents, I’d watched Jaws. As soon as she saw it, my teacher told me never to write anything like that again, and I stopped writing completely until I was in my 20s. That same teacher is now one of my biggest fans! ‘It was like my subconscious was talking to me, telling me to start writing again, so I began writing short stories, not always horror, but usually about supernatural subjects. I submitted some of my stories for publication, but didn’t really get anywhere until I overheard a small snippet of a conversation – ‘three silver bullets’. The story this inspired me to write only took about half an hour to complete, but it was the first to be published. It appears alongside others in my short story collection, Tales from a Scarygirl, which was published in 2013.’ Aside from the third and fourth instalments of the Bonds saga, Marie has a number of other projects in the pipeline, including a children’s book. ‘It’s called The Misfits and it’s all about a group of supernatural misfits that can’t do what they’re supposed to be able to do,’ explains Marie. ‘For example, there’s a werewolf who suffers from allergies and changes form every time he sneezes! I’m working with an illustrator to create the book and I’ve already mocked up the storyline – it just needs dialogue.’ Visit marieannecope.co.uk to find out more

Summer Reads Me Before You, Jojo Moyes This New York Times number one bestselling novel has become this summer’s romantic blockbuster movie. Lou Clark knows lots of things, but what she doesn’t know is that she’s about to lose her job. Meanwhile, Will Traynor doesn’t know that Lou is about to burst into his world, and that they will change each other forever. The sequel, After You, is also available. Vinegar Girl, Anne Tyler What better way to celebrate 400 years of Shakespeare than with this thoroughly modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew? The story follows Kate Battista, who is stuck running her eccentric scientist father’s home. Meanwhile, Dr Battista’s brilliant young lab assistant is about to be deported, and he cooks up an outrageous plan to keep him in the country, which of course needs Kate’s help. Anne Tyler’s retelling of this classic asks whether a thoroughly modern, independent woman like Kate would ever sacrifice herself for a man. The Fireman, Joe Hill Joe Hill’s fourth novel tells of a post-apocalyptic world where most of the population has been infected with a deadly spore. Nobody knows where the virus came from. Fox News said it had been set loose by Isis, using spores that had been invented by the Russians in the 1980s. MSNBC said sources indicated it might’ve been created by engineers at Halliburton and stolen by culty Christian types fixated on the Book of Revelation. While every TV station debated the cause, the world burnt. This is the story of one woman’s quest for survival at the end of the world. Dietland, Serai Walker Alice Sebold Plum Kettle does her best not to be noticed, because when you’re fat, to be noticed is to be judged. When a mysterious woman starts following her, Plum finds herself involved with an underground community of women who live life on their own terms. At the same time, a dangerous guerrilla group called Jennifer begins to terrorize a world that mistreats women. A funny, feminist revenge fantasy novel that takes on the beauty industry, gender equality and our weight loss obsession. Lawyer for the Dog, Lee Robinson Attorney Sally Baynard is baffled when Joe, her judge ex-husband, appoints her to represent the interests of a pet dog, Sherman, a miniature Schnauzer, in a divorce case. As Sally begins to investigate, she discovers the battle for Sherman masks a whole host of problems between Rusty and Maryann Hart. The more she discovers, the more Sally starts to realise the dog is the least of their worries. The Museum of Things Left Behind, Seni Glaister Escape into the warmth and charm of this big-hearted modern fable and discover a European country you’ve never heard of. Nestling in the picturesque mountains between Italy and Austria is the beautiful but isolated country of Vallerosa. The world has finally started to take notice of this hidden gem, and when a letter arrives, announcing the imminent arrival of a Very Important Person, the Vallerosans hurry to make preparations for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show off their country. But the visitor is not quite what they had in mind…

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Literary Events

Teen Reads My Favourite Manson Girl, Girl Alison Umminger A chilling story about how girls disappear. Anna has had a miserable year. Rather than stay and face the consequences, she steals a credit card and books herself on the first flight to LA to stay with her sister. When she’s offered a job researching the murderous Manson girls for a dubious film, she reluctantly accepts – she needs the money. But soon enough, among the fake smiles and glitter-fuelled parties, things turn from strange, to dark, to dangerous. Summer Days and Summer Nights, Nights Stephanie Perkins (editor) A beautiful collection of 12 romantic short stories by some of the best young adult authors writing today, all collected together by Stephanie Perkins, the editor behind My True Love Gave to Me. A must-read for all fans of young adult fiction and perfect for reading over the summer holidays. Highly Illogical Behaviour, Behaviour John Corey Whaley Sixteen-year-old Solomon has agoraphobia. He hasn’t left his house in three years, which is fine by him. Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to go to a top-tier psychiatry program. She’ll do anything to get in. When Lisa finds out about Solomon’s solitary existence, she comes up with a plan sure to net her a scholarship: befriend Solomon, treat his condition and write a paper on her findings. But when their facades fall down, will their friendship collapse as well?

Books for Kids A Mermaid Called Marissa, Marissa Georgie Cornwell One day, when playing hide and seek with her friends, Marissa the Mermaid ﬁnds herself lost in unfamiliar territory. As she works her way home, Marissa meets lots of new friends who have been affected by hazards such as plastic waste. Written by a former educator, the book aims to make children take an interest in the environment. The First Hippo on the Moon, David Walliams Comedy legend David Walliams and artistic genius Tony Ross created this explosively funny space adventure for kids aged three and up. The book tells the story of two big hippos with one enormous dream, but which one will make it to the moon ﬁrst?

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Rent a Bridesmaid, Jacqueline Wilson In Tilly’s favourite daydream, she’s kitted out in the most beautiful bridesmaid dress, walking down the aisle behind a stunning bride, so she’s understandably a little bit gutted when her best friend Matty is asked to be a bridesmaid. Seeing no other choice, Tilly puts her bridesmaid services up for hire. The Accidental Secret Agent, Tom McLaughlin The secret service has made a major mix-up and mistaken a 13-year-old boy named Kevin for a secret agent! Despite being the sort of kid that would try and zip wire across a building and end up falling head ﬁrst into a fountain with his bum on show, it’s now up to Kevin to save everybody from an evil supervillain.

● Jo Baker, A Country Road, A Tree Tree, Booka Bookshop, 7th July The bestselling author of Longbourn talks about her new novel, set in Paris, 1939. Nazi soldiers march along the Champs Elysees. A young unknown writer – Samuel Beckett – recently arrived from Ireland, smokes one last cigarette with his lover before the city they know is torn apart. Soon, he will put is own life and those of his loved ones in mortal danger by joining the Resistance… Jo’s previous novel, Longbourn, was a below-stairs account of the world of Pride and Prejudice. In A Country Road, A Tree she goes behind the scenes again with a moving and beautifully written historical novel based on a fictional portrayal of a 20th-century literary icon. 7.30pm (doors at 7pm), tickets: £5, redeemable against a signed hardback copy of A Country Road, A Tree. Includes a glass of wine/soft drink on arrival. Visit bookabookshop.co.uk ● Meet Peter Robinson, Waterstones Chester, 21st July Peter Robinson has won Canadian, British, French and Swedish awards for his writing and been translated into 15 languages, and counts Stephen King and Dennis Lehane among his fans. When the Music’s Over is his 23rd DCI Banks book. Visit waterstones.com ● Gladfest, 2nd-4th September Billed as ‘the UK’s friendliest literary festival’, Gladfest takes place at Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden in Flintshire, with a weekend of talks and workshops with the best contemporary writers, book signings, activities for young people, good food and the all-new Gladfest marketplace. Big names appearing this year include Val McDermid, Scarlett Thomas, Michel Faber, Loyd Grossman, Richard Holloway, Sarah Perry and more. You can listen to literary talks in the beautiful Grade I listed Reading Rooms, mingle with other festival-goers, or share a drink with the authors by the fire. At Gladfest there’s no backstage and no green room so you never know who you’ll sit next to! Visit gladstoneslibrary.org ● Writing for Children, Waterstones, Wrexham, 15th September-13th October Join the Disney Winnie the Pooh Laureate for the North West, Jude Lennon, for this creative writing course. Suitable for anyone with an interest in writing fiction, the course takes place on Thursday evenings and covers plot, character, setting, developing a storyline, writing techniques, publishing hints and tips, marketing and ways to make money from writing. £100. Email littlelambphonics@gmail.com

23/06/2016 12:14

Careers

Top tips for interview techniques, qualiﬁcations for beauticians and ways to work smart Shed light on your beauty career

From September 2016, changes in industry regulations mean beauty professionals wanting to provide intense pulsed light and laser treatments will have to have a Level 4 qualification. North Shropshire College (NSC) will be one of the first FE Colleges in the Shropshire area to deliver the Advanced Beauty Therapy course where students will learn practical skills such as how to provide laser and IPL treatments for skin rejuvenation and hair removal. Students will also complete theoretical units covering the physiology of ageing, chemistry of hair and beauty products, as well as experimenting with microbiology. Therapists have the opportunity to expand their skill set and to some of the first beauty professionals in the area to be qualified in this advanced qualification. The course will be delivered part-time over one year, suiting those already working in salons. For more information visit nsc.ac.uk or call 01691 688080

Top tips to beat RSI Repetitive strain injury can affect the forearm, elbow, wrist, hands, shoulders and neck and is usually caused by repeated activity such as typing, using a mouse or talking on the phone at an awkward angle. Business essentials maker Speedlink has some tips to avoid it. 1 Laptop lift Consider investing in a laptop raiser, peripheral keyboard and mouse. A docking station or hub will help with cable management and using a larger display screen can prevent visual strain. 2 Screen height Ensure your screen is at the right height and angle for your line of sight. The top third of the screen should be at eye level and an arm’s length away. 3 Move regularly Set a reminder to change posture regularly. Stand and even walk when sitting for long periods. 4 Sit pretty It’s vital your chair can be adjusted. It should have at least five castors, a swivel base and seat height, backrest height and tilt should all be adjustable. 5 No slumping Reduce spinal compression by engaging your core and shoulder stabilising muscles. 6 Eyes wide open Regularly focus on distant points and try to blink more often every now and then. Adjust character size, brightness and contrast of the screen to ensure you can view it without strain. 7 Lights on Check lighting is adequate. You should be able to easily see the screen. There should be no significant glare or reflections. 8 Desktop tidy Keep frequently used items within easy reach. Your keyboard and mouse should be close enough to use without stretching. The Descano ergonomic To find out more vertical mouse helps to visit speedlink.com prevent RSI. £37.99, Amazon

Are you standing comfortably?

Get that job! Recruitment agency Pertemps in Wrexham give their advice on how to have a good job interview Prior to interview Do as much ‘homework’ on the company as you can. It will impress them if you know a bit about them. A day or two before the interview ﬁnd out exactly where it will take place. Have an accurate map, and ﬁnd out where you’ll need to park. Do a trial run to check how long it will take you to get there. Ensure that you know the name(s) of the person or people who will be interviewing you and if there will be any assessments taking place.

Dressing for an interview First impressions do count! So it is Google offers advisable to adopt a smart dress standing desks code. Also take a copy of your CV, as part of its your homework on the company employee and a note pad and pencil/pen to wellness make any notes. programme and Facebook has Questions hundreds of staff You will always be asked questions Standing at work using standing about your work history. Remember keeps energy high desks, saying that the dates and names of where you standing tables keep the energy have worked in the past. Know your level high in the office. reasons for leaving. But it is not just big corporate Ask about who you’ll be working companies and London-based with and where. Some firms will show head offices that are following this you around. If they don’t offer, ask! It trend – Shropshire Council, shows your interest and commitment. Shropdoc, Shrewsbury-based Prepare questions around the job Caradoc Medical Services and a spec you’ve been given – around 5 to number of the region’s GP 10 is ideal. practices and housing associations now The Interview Do you offer have staff working When you arrive, be polite careers advice, at Varidesks. and friendly to reception Peter Masters, apprenticeships or staff. Give your interviewer business work experience? a firm handshake when you manager at We can help enter the room. SMILE! buying publicise this for you. Maintain good eye contact. consortium Email editorial@ If you don’t understand a Caradoc Medical yattaryattar. question, politely ask for it be Services, says: co.uk repeated. If you are asked a ‘Providing products question that you can’t answer that encourage happy because you don’t have the staff makes savings due to a relevant experience, be honest but lack of staff turnover and a say that you are willing to find out. reduction in sickness and If you feel you haven’t been asked absenteeism, but also increases enough questions to express your productivity, which helps increase suitability, ask if you can tell them a income and achievements. bit more about yourself. If you feel ‘Many people think Varidesks the role is for you – tell them! Finally, and other employee benefits are ask them what they thought of you only for the likes of companies such and if there is anything else they as Google and Facebook but we would like to know. have supplied the desks to dozens Call Pertemps on 01978 291565. of smaller, regional businesses.’

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been helping people find the right jobs and helping employers find the right people since 1961 We are experts in recruitment in a number of sectors. We have developed an enviable track record over the years and our staff have achieved impressive results by using their industry knowledge. By understanding the specific business needs of our clients, we can help find the right fit for your vacancy.

Search current jobs or use our branch locator to contact our consultants to assist you at www.pertemps.co.uk or call 01978 291565 139_YY34_2016.indd 3

22/06/2016 15:29

Volunteering olunteering and charity

Get out and volunteer! It does you the power of good to help others…

Growing for mental health

Dog AID wins support For as little as £1 a week, you could be in with a chance of winning £25,000 via The Unity Lottery – and you’ll be supporting Shrewsbury-based charity Dog AID at the same time. The Unity Lottery is a fundraising scheme designed to give good causes, large and small, the chance to gain support and raise valuable funds through a weekly draw. Out of every £1 you spend, 50p goes to charity, and it’s just £1 per ticket. Every Saturday, the lucky winners are selected at random to receive a cheque from £5-£25,000. Established in the 1990s, Dog AID helps people with disabilities to train their own dog to assistance dog level. Training takes from 18 months to two years with both dog and owner receiving specialist education from a network of trainers based around the country. There are 57 fully qualiﬁed dogs around the country that have beneﬁted from this scheme. ‘We are very excited about this new venture, as it helps us at the same time as giving people the potential to win money,’ says chair of Dog AID Sandra Fraser. ‘We don’t receive any government funding so are reliant on fundraising, corporate support and schemes such as these. Why not give it a go?’ Visit unitylottery.co.uk and dogaid.org.uk

Vale of Clwyd Mind have recently started a new project that aims to attract people with mental health problems and the wider community of St Asaph and surrounding areas. The Allotment Project is at Roe Plas Meadow, St Asaph from 10am-2pm on Wednesdays and Fridays and gives people the opportunity to enjoy a garden environment, grow fruits, ﬂowers and vegetables for their own use, and learn how to use what they grow as part of a healthy diet. In a time when an increasing number of people suffer from stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, the project hopes to be provide LOOKING FOR support, while reducing the stigma associated VOLUNTEERS? with mental health issues. If your organisation would If you have time to spare or knowledge to like to be featured on share, or just want to take the opportunity to these pages, get in touch make new friends, volunteers are always on 01978 813035 or send an email to: editorial@ welcome. To ﬁnd out more, call Catherine yattaryattar.co.uk Thompson or Jenny Bolton on 01745 812461.

Footie for a good cause ons Chasing dralaDraggon Boat Festival on the

lds its annu le from Severn Hospice ho and is asking peop sbury on 3rd July, rew Sh in at family gre s thi rt River Severn po sup d to come along an crews across the county hool Boat Club, 33 the Shrewsbury Sc at g rtin Sta t. 40ft-long dragon in day ou er oth ch ea will be racing and of up to 20 people ed to the winners prizes will be award r; rive the on ats bo fancy dress. you those in the best ents on the day so providing refreshm l the m fro on ms Tipples bar wil be tea g the drink while cheerin can enjoy a cool s: ‘This is river bank. vern Hospice say ts manager at Se ryone is Eve r. da len Elodie Home, even ca ce event in the hospi al nu river, an d the ve on -lo a much this spectacle along and enjoy welcome to come r.’ ba food, drinks and a k with hot and cold ernhospice.org.u rn Hospice visit sev ve Se t ou ab re For mo

Fancy enjoying a football match and supporting a good cause while you’re at it? Kevin Williams, an ex-soldier who served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, will be getting all the old boys together on 31st July at Llandudno Football Club for a match that’ll see Royal Welch past and present take on Llandudno, with all money raised going to two fantastic charities – Help for Heroes and Blind Veterans UK. There’s more than just football on offer, though – there’ll also be plenty of activities for the family to enjoy, with a DJ, face painting, a bouncy castle, a tombola, rafﬂes, a charity auction, blindfolded penalty shootout challenges and loads more fun and games. Doors open at noon, with the match kicking off at 2pm.

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Information for MS sufferers On 9th July, the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells will host Living with MS, a full day of talks and workshops for people suffering from multiple sclerosis, their carers and their families. The information day aims to help everyone who is affected by the condition, whether they are newly diagnosed or have been living with it for some time. The event is completely free, but booking in advance is essential. The event is run by the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the UK’s largest MS charity, which helps thousands of people with the condition across the country. There are more than 270 Multiple Sclerosis Society branches in the UK, all of which help to support people with MS in their local communities. The charity also helps to fund research into MS with the aim of developing better treatment options and eventually ﬁnding a cure. If you would like to support the charity, you can donate by phone, post or online. There are also loads of fundraising and volunteering opportunities available, whether your skills lie in cake baking, website building or just about anything in between. Find out more at mssociety.org.uk

The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity

The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity supports children and their families across the North West and Wales who are living with brain tumours and post-operative complications. This can mean giving families a grant to help cover the costs of hospital expenses and travel, helping to provide specialist equipment and house adaptations or helping to organise special treats such as holidays after chemotherapy. The charity also helps hospitals by donating teenage entertainment packages that include games consoles, TVs and iPads. It is also trying to raise awareness of the need for improved changing facilities in public places for young people and adults. The charity is named after Josh Wilson, who died at the age of 14 in 2014. He was just three-and-a-half when he was diagnosed with a brain stem tumour, but life-saving surgery to remove it left him with serious post-operative complications. The charity was formed on Josh’s 13th birthday and went on to raise £100,000 in its ﬁrst year. The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity is supported by the local community and a team of volunteers. If you would like to get involved, you can become one of Josh’s Thumbraisers – just sign-up online to get a fundraising kit or to register your event. Visit joshwilson.org.uk to ﬁnd out more.

Play a part in a local drama production

An exciting new drama about the life of Jesus entitled The Cloth of Man is coming to Holywell, thanks to the efforts of a local writer – but volunteers are needed to help the production make it to the stage. ‘It has been a long-time dream of mine to produce an open air, large-scale production on the life of Christ to celebrate the long and rich religious heritage of Holywell,’ says local actor and writer Andrea Yarnell Dakin. ‘I hope to put the play on during summer 2017. It currently seems a long way off, but it’s a big undertaking and will take a lot of work! I’m negotiating a very exciting location, but can’t reveal any more just yet.’ Andrea is looking for volunteers to take on a variety of roles, from fundraising to helping backstage with prop and costume making. There’s also the opportunity to get involved with the play itself, with both solo and background parts available. To ﬁnd out more, call Andrea on 01352 711240 or email andreadakin112@btinternet.com

Local heroes

As we went to press on this issue, 17 members of the Denbigh Harriers running club were planning to run, walk and, if need be, crawl the 176 miles of the Offa’s Dyke Trail in aid of British Red Cross. The route, from Chepstow on the Bristol Channel to Prestatyn, was expected to take five days. The group will have covered more than 35 miles of hilly terrain each day and prepared with months of training to get fit enough to do the miles and also deal with climbing and descending on uneven routes. The runners hope to raise £10,000 for the British Red Cross who provide emergency support internationally, nation ally and locally including at large scale public events. ‘We’ve all been with our families to things like fireworks displays, festiva ls or music and sports events and the British Red Cross have helped save lives by providing first aid at the scene as soon as a problem occurs,’ says Roger Snaith from the Denbigh Harrier s. ‘The defibrillators that they use at these events now need replacing and so the money will go towards buying them eight new ones.’ You can donate online at justgiving.com/teams / denbigharriersoffasdyke

Horsing around at Perry RDA

It’s an exciting year for the Shropshire based Perry Riding for Disabled group (Perry RDA) whose vaulting squad will be competing at the 2016 Riding for the Disabled National Championships, from 15th-17th July. The championships, which will be held at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, host many different disciplines, including dressage, combined training, horse care, musical ride/drive, show jumping, carriage driving and vaulting, and will bring together hundreds of competitors from all over the country. The Perry RDA vaulting squad and trainers have all worked tirelessly to choreograph and rehearse routines ready for the big event, and will be taking Great Bear, their 14-year-old warmblood cross thoroughbred, who’s sponsored by Great Bear Distribution Company. Qualifying for the championships isn’t the only exciting news for the Perry RDA – the group are also making progress in the development of their latest project, the Cavalier Centre, which will eventually become their new home. The new centre will offer allweather facilities for the group’s activities, lessons and events. If you want to find out more about Perry RDA or the Cavalier centre, head to the Kingswood Equestrian Centre near Wolverhampton on 3rd July for a gala afternoon from 2-4pm. It will be an opportunity to see the sorts of things the group run on a regular basis. There’ll also be refreshments, a cake stall, tombola and a raffle. To find out more visit cavaliercentre.org

Lynn Munro, the Centre’s Hypotherapy Instructor and Physiotherapist, with Sam Davidson, one of the many brilliant volunteers, Jake and Blossom Photo © Stephen Thomas

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WIN!

Auntie Emma

takes a look at family life from the sidelines. This issue she gets crafty and does a bit of nitpicking…

A subscription to Yattar Yattar Send us your completed Sudoku puzzle and one lucky winner will get their favourite local magazine delivered direct to their door for a year!

D 5 6

7 4

espite being the older sibling, I am child-free, while my sister has two kids. While I love my nephew and niece dearly, I don’t think I’m cut out for motherhood – like a hamster, I’m not sure I could be trusted not to eat my young when the going gets tough. Of course, the beauty of being an auntie rather is that you can give the kids back. Toddler throwing a tantrum? Here’s mummy… But despite my lack of skills at dealing with children, and the amount of whingeing I do about the mess that my youngest relatives make, I do love being an auntie. Recent highlights include my nearly three-year-old nephew cheering when I defeated a monster in World of Warcraft (I’ll make a proper geek of him yet!) and managing to hold my four-month-old niece for a whole 20 minutes before she saw through the ruse of me wearing my sister’s scarf, realised I wasn’t actually her mum, and started crying.

2 9

Getting crafty(ish)

How to do a Sudoku puzzle There is only one valid solution. The only way the puzzle can be considered solved correctly is when all 81 boxes contain numbers and the Sudoku rules have been followed. Here they are: 1. Each column must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9 and no two numbers in the same column of a Sudoku puzzle can be the same. 2. Each row must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9 and no two numbers in the same row of a Sudoku puzzle can be the same. 3. Each block must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9 and no two numbers in the same block of a Sudoku puzzle can be the same. Good luck! Name …...........................................................................................................

Address …........................................................................................................

…......................................................................................................................

…............................................................. Phone ............................................

Email …............................................................................................................

Last issue’s solution Closing date for entries is 12th August. Send your completed Sudoku puzzle to Sudoku Competition, Yattar Yattar magazine, Unit 13, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HA T&Cs: One subscription prize per household, editor’s decision is ﬁnal, winners will be notiﬁed by email. Please see Competitions page 148 for full terms and conditions.

142 Aunty Emma/Suduku.indd 142

8 9

3 6

1 9

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9 3

6 1

5 7

9 2

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CUT ALONG LINE

The biggest task when I’m babysitting is ﬁnding something to keep my nephew entertained. Not wanting to have to sit through The Lion Guard for the millionth time, I’ve recently resorted to craft activities. So, united by our love of anything sweet, my nephew and I attempted to decorate cookies. We managed to produce one sort of OK-looking biscuit How cookie decorating before he resorted to eating icing should have been (top) straight from the tube, with me and the reality (bottom) squeezing it out for him, while gathering up the sprinkles that he had helpfully strewn across the table. All in all, we both considered it a great success!

The great nit saga

One day, my nephew came home from playgroup with head lice. I’m sure plenty of people reading this can sympathise with the immediate paranoia this brought on – why yes, my head has been slightly more itchy than usual, now you mention it! I’m not a big fan of bugs in general, never mind those that can jump and that actually live on the body. In fact, most of my encounters with any sort of creepy crawly usually ends with me hunting it down with a flip flop (or slipper, as the season dictates). However, beating myself around the head to rid myself of any creepy crawlies that may or may not have been there was not an option, so a trip to the shops for combs and special shampoo was made. Of course, the only fine-toothed comb advertised as suitable for the job that they had in the entire shop was a whopping £15, so I resorted to a flea comb from the pet section. After combing until my scalp was sore, I eventually, thankfully, discovered that my hair hadn’t become a hotel for lice (dodged a bullet there). My sister wasn’t so lucky, so both she and nephew were subjected to a frankly horrendous smelling treatment. Even mentioning the entire thing, or just nits in general, makes me itch all over again. Much as I love my niece and nephew, I won’t be babysitting again until I’m sure my sister’s house is certified a nit-free zone! y

22/06/2016 14:59

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Don’t miss out on your bumper, jam-packed September/October issue of Yattar Yattar. Full of autumnal entertainment and great ideas for ways to spend your days, the next issue is published on 2nd September ● Foodie

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Yattar Yattar keeps you up to date with everything local and, best of all, it’s completely free! So, whether you’re looking for local events, special offers, advice for improving your home and plenty more, or just looking for a good read, make sure you grab the next edition. For the best of Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire, keep an eye out for the September/ October 2016 issue of Yattar Yattar in a supermarket near you from the ﬁrst week of September onwards!

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LEGAL EAGLE

Pay heed to the warnings!

Despite the usual media hysteria that this case exemplifies a perceived compensation culture, does it really change anything? Well, in my opinion no; and indeed the appeal judges were at pains to stress this case was decided on its own facts, following a site visit by the judge who found that the sheer drop was not an obvious danger and therefore visitors should have been warned of its presence or denied access to it. It is really as simple as that. The sheer drop was not visible from the top. How was the visitor to know that if he descended the grassy bank he was running the gauntlet? The If you have a legal judge did, though, reduce the question, tune in to Dee award of damages by 50 per 106.3 on the first Monday cent, recognising that the of every month at 6pm to faller should have been catch Ask Lampkin. Ask cannons were located and more aware and that too your question at intended to descend a was approved. lampkins.co.uk and steep bank to a lower path. In fact, Lord Dyson says this: hear the answer As he descended he was ‘The decision in this case on air! unable to see that the wall of should not be interpreted as the moat beneath was a sheer requiring occupiers like English drop and as he couldn’t stop he plunged Heritage to place unsightly warning signs right over. in prominent positions all over sensitive The judge hearing the original claim historic sites. They are required to do no visited the site and clearly found that the more than take reasonable steps.’ sheer drop was not visible from the Read the signs platform, although he accepted it would I am often asked by businesses in the have been reasonable to predict it. He Wales and borders region about how to gave judgment against the castle owners minimise the chance of their premises finding that, even though they did have causing such catastrophic injuries to warnings around the place, they should visitors and opening up legal actions. reasonably have put a sign on the platform Well I suggest they read the judgment at the top, warning of and think about what dangers may not the sheer drop. be ‘obvious’ to a visitor and warn about The Court of Appeal them. You only have to be ‘reasonable’ gave judgment on 11th in the circumstances, not perfect. May approving the If you are a visitor, watch out for original judge’s obvious dangers, read the signs and decision and dismissing don’t take risks and above all keep an appeal, leaving English Heritage and enjoying the beauty around. However, if other visitor attraction owners scratching you are caught out and are unexpectedly their heads and setting off with clipboards injured, get good advice as this case to tour their properties and with sign writers may give you a route to justice. y on speed dial.

Our resident legal eagle, Mark Lampkin, owner of Lampkin & Co Solicitors, analyses a recent Court of Appeal decision that will have a major impact on all visitor attractions, and the need for site managers to think again Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight is a beautiful fortiﬁcation with ramparts and a dry moat – designed at the time to repel invaders but which, in 2011, caught out GLE EA L GA LE an unwary pensioner, Mr Taylor, who descended a steep grassy bank and was ‘pitched’ into the moat below sustaining serious head injuries. His family sued the castle owners, English Heritage, alleging a breach of duty.

Reasonably safe legal crux of the case was whether there If you have a The Dee question, tune into was a breach of Section 2 of the at 106.3 every Monday pkin. Lam Ask Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 which 9pm to catch at Ask your question imposes a duty on all occupiers of www.lampkins.co.uk, er premises (including you and me) to ‘take and get your answ for free on the air!

such care as in the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that the visitor will be reasonably safe in using the premises for the purposes for which he is invited or permitted by the occupier Bio in pk Mark Lam up be there’. to ool, Mark grew Originally from Liverp later qualified as in Preston where he for So here we had a visitor on a day out ing work lly Initia a solicitor in 1990. firms he began a number of large law photographs. He was on a ﬂat and nal injury law taking to specialise in perso kin & Co in 1999. Lamp firm, own founded his platform on the outer bastion where two and firm the at tor ipal Solici

‘He was unable to see the sheer drop and plunged right over’

He is the Princ legal advice show features on a weekly called Ask Lampkin on which is broadcast Chester’s Dee 106.3. s Mark regularly write articles on the ever changing area of personal injury law, claimant rights and features in editorials giving advice on a range of legal issues. He is an experienced motorcyclist and also an accomplished musician, playing tenor saxophone and has a passion for jazz.

Mark Lampkin

Originally from Liverpool, Mark grew up in Preston where he later qualified as a solicitor in 1990. Initially working for a number of large law firms he began to specialise in personal injury law and founded his own firm, Lampkin & Co in 1999. He is the principal solicitor at the firm and features on a weekly legal advice show called Ask Lampkin which is broadcast on Chester’s Dee 106.3. Mark regularly writes articles on the ever changing area of personal injury law, claimant rights and features in editorials giving advice on a range of legal issues. He is an experienced motorcyclist and also an accomplished musician, playing tenor saxophone and has a passion for jazz.

Lampkin & Co, Newgate House, Broughton Mills Road, Broughton, Chester, CH4 0BY. Lampkin & Co are regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority. Contact them on 0808 178 2110 for clear and honest advice for free, or visit the website at lampkins.co.uk

ointment. U-turns are, looking for his next app the most dangerous in my opinion, one of on the road. things you can ever do ably the second 4. Turning right is prob s ty-twenty vision doe Twen s. most dangerou spot just over your not extend to that blind be will there ume pres shoulder so again just in. 145 LAMPKIN OA.indd 145 look aga a bike overtaking and another

22/06/2016 15:00

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BY GLORIA MANS

ARIES 20th March – 20th April

Uranus journeying through Aries is bouncing around in your life like a loose cannon! It’s said that a change is as good as a rest but not when constant. That’s why time away is the one change you’ll welcome now.

TAURUS 20th April – 21st May

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Yumminess

Stars

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Shared resources show successful developments in August after an intense few moments have passed. There is such a thing as universal justice which shows its hand just when you thought faith had left the room. Fait accompli at last.

GEMINI 21st May – 21st June

Talk to someone face to face, I don’t mean anybody other than yourself! This may sound obtuse but your sign represents the twins. You’ve two sides and one needs to give the other a pep talk. It’s all about sad or happy!

CANCER

21st June – 23rd July Your astrological colour is silver but forget someone crossing your palm with it. Make your own luck and bring your hidden potential to the surface. There’s opportunity to be creative and practical now, sow’s ear and silk purse come to mind!

LEO 23rd July – 23rd August

Let’s talk magic. It’s birthday time and a party to look forward to and if not that a special event. You won’t need a conjuror to make your day because the energy you’re expressing will allow all gloom to disappear. Just like that!

VIRGO 23rd August – 23rd September

Hopefully you’re making the most of this year because it’s a 12-year cycle in which opportunities abound. Your life’s expanded but it’s been trial and error. However there’s a statue in every block of stone so start sculpting.

LIBRA 23rd September – 22nd October

The past is a different country, they do things differently there, so move on with the help of a new moon in your own sign in early August and into the future where new adventures, new romances and new experiences dwell.

SCORPIO

Starting with which issue? eg next issue, September/October ................

23rd October – 22nd November Your astrological animal symbols might be invertebrates but you have the backbone to get you through a demanding phase. You may shed a skin but another will soon grow, you’re just not the thick-skinned person people think you are!

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Sunny days are here again, all you have to do is believe. Cloud cover doesn’t mean that they have disappeared. This is a metaphor for a loss of optimism. Come mid-August and all will be well with your world.

CAPRICORN 21st December – 20th January

It’s said there’s no fool like an old fool because mature individuals live and learn. Heed that proverb this summer because Jupiter in the zone of your chart dealing with events abroad show someone there is trying to fool you.

AQUARIUS

30th January – 19th February ‘I am a bear of very little brain and big words bother me,’ said Winnie the Pooh – not you! Use your highly intelligent mind, work out what discombobulated means and move around the obstacle confronting you; it’s easier than charging into it!

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19th February – 20th March Relationships are tricky but only because of details being worked out. Criticism can be constructive, give it a chance to solve a problem. Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than in the one where they sprang up! Astrologer Gloria Mans trained at the prestigious Faculty of Astrological Studies in London. She has worked for many celebrities including Jerry Hall, David Bailey, Fay Weldon and Valerie Singleton. Visit gloriamans.com

22/06/2016 15:02

The

great escape The adventures of Bumble, the bearded collie

My name is Miss Bumble, and recently, we moved from The Sticks to Semi Sticks, which means the house has other houses nearby and – joy upon joys – lots of doggies going up and down the road. One day my mistress went out of the front door, and of course I followed her. I wandered over to the wall and all of a sudden, on the road below, I saw a fine black dog trotting past. He stopped and looked up at me, I wagged my tail and he wagged his, and then he carried on for a little way, stopped and turned to look back… well, I had to follow him to introduce myself and find out a bit about this fine fella. So, even though I knew it was wrong, I ran on to the road, and after Black Dog.

Chase the leaves

We trotted off together and soon got into the woods. This was fun. We played Chase the Leaves and Black Dog kept barking and going down on his front paws and putting his head to one side. He was a handsome prince, I tell you… We bounded round the trees, up tracks and down tracks and rolled around… Then all of a sudden it was getting dark and I felt hungry. Black Dog must have thought the same, too, because of one accord we left the wood and headed back to People Land. Black Dog trotted to a door and scraped it and his Special Person opened it and he shot in. I stood in the shadow, not quite knowing what to do. There was another door half open, just to the side so I went in to see what was there. I was snifﬁng around when suddenly a huge gust of wind slammed the door shut! It was dark – very dark – in that place and it smelt very funny, not very nice at all. I sat down and whined a bit. Nothing happened. I whined a bit more. Still nothing happened. I wanted my bed, my bowl ﬁlled with dinner and my Mistress. Eventually, I found a corner and went to sleep.

Vaguely right

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Suddenly I woke up, and there were noises of humans. The shed door opened. A man stood there with a bucket in his hand. I shot past him, tore through undergrowth, through a hedge until I was too tired to run any more. I stopped, stretched, and sniffed the air. Then I trotted along paths, and began to feel that something was vaguely right. And there it was! My own front door! I trotted round to the back of the house and there was my Mistress. I whined. I wagged my tail. Mistress turned around and called my name and jumped down and ran to the door and opened it and dragged me in and got down on her knees and hugged me, even though I was really dirty and very smelly. She was crying too. I felt very happy to be home but I was so hungry! Mistress knew this and I was soon tucking into my dinner. I don’t think I’ll be following Handsome Black Dog again in a hurry; he just dumped me, didn’t he?

23/06/2016 10:14

Competitions! Great prizes to be won,

WIN!

A family day out at Blue Planet Aquarium

HOW TO ENTER: Simply fill in the form with your answer circled, and include your name, address and contact number and send it by 12th August to: Blue Planet Competition, Yattar Yattar, Unit 13, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HA. Winners will be notified by email, so don’t forget to include your email address. Fancy a fun and fishy day out? If your kids have been enthused with all things aquatic by the film Finding Dory, Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire is the place to go to keep them happy. The venue will be holding a special ‘She’s hiding – can you find her’, event in tribute to the film this summer, and you can see lots of ‘Dorys’ on your visit! As well as this, of course, Blue Planet is home to no less than 13 types of shark, plus a host of other fascinating sealife. Visit blueplanetaquarium.com We’ve got five family tickets, including a behind-the-scenes Access All Areas tour, to give away.

WIN!

How many types of shark live at Blue Planet Aquarium? a) 13 b) 30 c) 31

Name ........................................................................................... Address ........................................................................................ ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... ............................................. Postcode ....................................... Contact number: ....................................................................... Email (please complete)................................................................... PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME ANY OTHER INFORMATION

A stylish Fossil watch from Mococo

HOW TO ENTER: Simply fill in the form with your answer circled, and include your name, address and contact number and send it by 12th August to: Mococo Competition, Yattar Yattar, Unit 13, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HA. Winners will be notified by email, so don’t forget to include your email address. A stylish timepiece is a must-have accessory for summer, and this women’s watch from Fossil certainly fits the bill. With an artisanal saddle strap and a textured dial, it’s a tailored and classic alternative to the season’s boldest watches, perfect for summer parties. Fossil watches are available at Mococo, with branches in Wrexham, Chester, Ruthin and Mold, as well as online. Mococo stocks a wide range of other prestigious jewellery brands, too, including Pandora, ChloBo, Swarovski and Kit Heath. Visit mococo.co.uk Mococo are giving away one of these great watches to a lucky Yattar Yattar reader.

WIN!

For your chance to win, just answer the following question:

For your chance to win just answer the following question: What type of strap does the watch have? a) bridle b) stirrup c) saddle

A family day out at Paradise Island Adventure Golf

HOW TO ENTER: Simply ﬁll in the form with your answer circled, and include your name, address and contact number and send it by 12th August to: Paradise Island Competition, Yattar Yattar, Unit 13, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HA. Winners will be notiﬁed by email, so don’t forget to include your email address. Paradise Island Adventure Golf is a fun miniature golf experience at Cheshire Oaks. Set in a ‘tropical island paradise’, the adventure facility offers a great mini-golf challenge with two bespoke 18-hole courses, the Coral Cove and the Lazy Lagoon. Full of twists and turns, the courses have been designed to send you on a rollercoaster ride, with mini-golfers’ skills being tested to the limit through a maze of fun obstacles and uneven terrain. It’s a great day out for all ages. Visit paradiseislandgolf.com We have a family ticket giving entry to two adults and two children to be won.

For your chance to win, just answer the following question: Which of the following is not a course at Paradise Island? a) Lazy Lagoon b) Beautiful Beach c) Coral Cove

RULES OF THE COMPETITIONS DATA PROTECTION NOTICE Brillybox Publishing and Media Ltd will use your information for administration and analysis purposes and may contact you from time to time with relevant offers, information or for research purposes. Your details will not be passed on to third parties except the sponsors of these competitions. Please tick the relevant box if you do not wish to be contacted. COMPETITION RULES The promoters of these competitions is Brillybox Publishing & Media Ltd, CDC Distribution Centre, Unit 13, Vauxhall, Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham. LL14 6HA. The competitions are open to all readers of our magazine and viewers of our websites except employees of the prize providers or Brillybox Publishing & Media Ltd and their immediate families. The winner will be the ﬁrst person or persons drawn after the closing date who have completed the correct answer. No cash alternative is available. The winners names can be obtained by writing to the competition address with a self-addressed envelope after the closing date. The winner agrees to participate in any follow-up publicity. Brillybox Publishing may print the name only of entrants to this competition in subsequent issue(s) of Yattar Yattar. This is to enable competition entrants to fairly claim a promotional offer, for competition entrants only. By entering this competition you are giving permission for Brillybox to print your name only. No personal information will be printed. No purchase necessary, answers on a postcard are accepted.

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just cut out and enter today… Congratulations to our lucky winners from the May/June issue! A stay for two in Wirral Michelle Brown, Flintshire A Gousto recipe box and Mary Berry cook book Ian Furlonger, Nantwich Tickets to Wrexham Symphony Orchestra Mrs A Hill, Winsford; Mrs M Evans, Corwen Tickets to Shrewsbury Food Festival Barbara Watson, Wrexham; Jane Jones, Oswestry; Rosemari Marshall, Penybontfawr; Iris Bladon, Shrewsbury; Sally Williams, Connahs Quay Tickets to Welshpool Country Music Festival Melissa Roberts, Flint; Clive Richards, Wrexham Tickets to the Royal Welsh Show Ian Young,

Wrexham Tickets to Peter Pan Charlene Davies, Denbigh Tickets to Sherlock Holmes Jennifer Morris, Ironbridge Tickets to The Railway Children Mrs S Jones, Oswestry Tickets to Shrewsbury Flower Show Sandra Owen, Newtown; Bev Hadwen, Sound Tickets to Solarsphere Joanne MacDonald, Shrewsbury Tickets to HMS Pinafore Heather Jones, Burcote Bridgenorth Tickets to the Drifters P Johnson,Wem Tickets to Lazy Town Jane Bellis, Llangybi

WIN! TICKETS TO AN UNMISSABLE SHOW OR EVENT! ● Two family tickets to the Denbigh & Flint County Show, 18th August A great day out with a host of attractions and entertainments. Enjoy the food festival with Diana Beard, the Bolddog Motorcycle Display team, and admire vintage machines and classic cars, livestock, BSJA Show Jumping and dog agility displays. Visit denbighandﬂintshow.com ● Two pairs of tickets to Moonlight Flicks Inside Out, at Roman Gardens, Chester 23rd August When Riley is uprooted from her Midwestern life because her dad has a new job in San Francisco she and her emotions have a bumpy ride as she has to adapt to her new surroundings. One for all the family to enjoy. Visit storyhouse.com ● A pair of tickets to Cantorion Gogledd Cymru at the Machynlleth Festival, 23rd August Cantorion Gogledd Cymru are one of the best Male Voice Choirs in Wales. The 60 strong member choir produces breathtaking and uncompromising sound that has captivated audiences all over the world. They are joined by Welsh soprano Gwawr Edwards, one of Wales’ leading talents. Visit moma.machynlleth.org.uk

● Two pairs of tickets to Moonlight Flicks The Artist at Roman Gardens, Chester, 24th August A glorious tribute to the early years of Hollywood, The Artist is truly a film that will make you laugh and cry in the best of the golden age tradition. The film undoubtedly features the best performance by a dog in the form of a loyal and highly trained Jack Russell who just about steals the show. Visit storyhouse.com ● Two pairs of tickets to Moonlight Flicks Jurassic World at Roman Gardens, Chester, 26th August Action adventure as the dinosaur breeding programme gets out of hand with a terrifyingly large, genetically modified, new attraction at the popular tourist resort Jurassic World. Will everyone make it out alive? Visit storyhouse.com ● Five family tickets to Ludlow Food Festival, 9th-11th September The festival that kick-started a UK foodie revolution, this is still one of the best food festivals in the country and has loads of goodies in store for visitors. Held mostly in the grounds of Ludlow Castle the festival will feature hundreds of top-quality, independent food and drink producers, plus free talks and demos, children’s workshosp and plenty of fun with food. Plus of course there’ll be the hugely popular sausage and ale trials. A family ticket provides entry for two adults and up to four children aged five to 13. Visit foodfestival.co.uk

HOW TO ENTER: Simply ﬁll in the form with your answer circled

(you’ll need to read the magazine to find it!), and include your name, address and contact number and send it by 12th August to: Tickets Competition, Yattar Yattar, Unit 13, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HA. Winners will be notified by email, so don’t forget to include your email address. Which local nature reserve is 1km off shore from West Kirby beach? a) Hilbre Island b) Shell Island c) Puffin Island

I’d like to win tickets to… ❒ Denbigh and Flint Show ❒ Inside Out ❒ Cantorion Gogledd Cymru ❒ The Artist ❒ Jurassic World ❒ Ludlow Food Festival ❒ The Cruise Show

❒ Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers ❒ Back to Bacharach ❒ Madam Butterﬂy ❒ All or Nothing ❒ Rich Hall ❒ Rent

● 10 pairs of tickets to The Cruise Show, Birmingham NEC, 10th-11th September Whether you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime cruise or a tropical family holiday, the Cruise Show is packed with inspiration. Discover destinations and hear what’s new for 2017.

Visit cruisingshow.com ● A pair of tickets to Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers at Rhyl Pavilion, 10th September Les McKeown brings back all the excitement of Rollermania, performing original hits including Bye Bye Baby, Shang-a-Lang, Remember and Give A Little Love plus many many more. Visit rhylpavilion.co.uk ● A pair of tickets to Back to Bacharach at Theatre Severn, 14th September A celebration of the magical music of Burt Bacharach, one of the most accomplished popular composers of the 20th century, who together with Hal David penned some of the most memorable and iconic hits that stand the test of time. This exciting production is performed by three of the finest west end singers accompanied by a live 10 piece band. Visit theatresevern.co.uk ● Two pairs of tickets to see Madam Butterfly at Venue Cymru, 17th September No opera can match the tragedy and sorrow of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the tale of the doomed love of an American naval lieutenant and his young Japanese bride. This exquisite production, with its beautiful set and costumes, intensifies the emotion in an already heart-breaking opera. Visit venuecymru.co.uk ● A pair of tickets to All or Nothing at Theatre Severn, 20th September This ‘Mod’ musical celebrates the unique sound of the iconic Mod band, The Small Faces. Featuring an arsenal of brilliant hits like Whatcha Gonna Do About It, All Or Nothing, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Here Comes The Nice and Itchycoo Park. Visit theatresevern.co.uk ● A pair of tickets to Rich Hall at Theatr Hafren, 7th October Rich Hall’s grouchy, deadpan style has established him as a master of absurdist irony and the king of rapid-fire wit. The award-winning Montana native is renowned for his expertly crafted tirades, quick fire banter with audiences and delightful musical sequences. Visit thehafren.co.uk A pair of tickets to Rent at Clwyd Theatr Cymru, 21st October This landmark rock musical tells the story of a group of young artists struggling to survive in New York City’s East Village in the days of Bohemian excess. Inspired by Puccini’s classic opera La Boheme, Rent features unforgettable music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Visit theatrclwyd.com

Name ........................................................................................... Address ........................................................................................ ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... ............................................. Postcode ....................................... Contact number: ....................................................................... Email (please complete)................................................................... PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME ANY OTHER INFORMATION

July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 149

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PC KNOW-HOW

Why should I… …sign in to my new tablet / iPad? IT trainer and owner of Easy PC Tuition Cath Jackson advises on the pros and cons of giving your details Apple, who created the iPad, and Google, who created Android for tablets and smartphones, want to know who you are and what you like to do on your device. To get to know you and what you like, they ask you to add your name and email address to your device. This is your ‘identity’ – in fact Apple actually call it ‘Google want to your ‘Apple ID’. It allows your activity know what you’re to be recorded against your name up to, so their apps so that a) Apple or Google know which areas are used most or which won’t let you use need most development; b) they them until you’re can keep in touch with you via email; signed in’ c) you can access all your photos, documents and emails etc if you sign in on another device. This does mean that there are quite a few apps on a new tablet which can’t be used straight away! Google want to know what you’re up to, so their apps won’t let you use them until you’re signed in. This includes Google Maps, Google Play Store (which is where you download new apps, whether Google designed them or not) Google Hangouts, Gmail, Google Calendar – to name just a few. As for Apple, they’ll only let you download apps from their App Store if you’re signed in, and they ask you for your Apple ID password every time too.

What it involves

When you create your sign-in details, don’t be nervous of the terminology. You are creating an ‘account’, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to link anything ﬁnancial to it. There are apps you can buy (usually between 69p and £5), and some apps are free but with paid-for content, such as Google Books/Kindle Books, iTunes or ﬁlms. Don’t feel pressured, though, to link a payment card to your account unless you want to use those sorts of apps. When you’re presented with the option to add a payment card, you can always select ‘Skip, ‘Not Now’ or similar [see pic].

Peace of mind

When you’re asked for all these details, it might seem like a lot of information to key in, but it does help you out as well as Google/Apple. Once you’re all set up, you can use your account to secure your phone or tablet, and ﬁnd it too. If you lose it, you can lock it remotely (via the main website) or even wipe all the private data on it. As long as it’s switched on, you can also use the GPS to locate it on a map. Very clever! y For more information and advice visit easypctuition.co.uk or call 01745 570258

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Your LETTERS No politics please E R L TT I picked up your magazine in the

S TA

Write to Letters to Stephanie, Yattar Yattar, CDC Distribution Centre, Unit 13, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HA. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Unless otherwise stated, all letters are answered personally by our founder and owner, Stephanie Anne Lloyd. If you would like to contact Stephanie direct about any issues or with any queries, email her at stephanie@yattaryattar.co.uk

supermarket, thinking it was a nonsectarian, non-political ‘nice’ magazine with recipes, tourism, heritage, that type of thing – but it seems I was mistaken. I would have thought such outspoken anti-Europe points of view (Yattar On, May/ June) inappropriate for such a publication. Every one has their own political and moral views but surely this magazine, being given out free, ought to be non-biased regarding politics; it came across as being a lifestyle magazine, but I shall be dumping my copy on the recycle pile. Keep politics out of it please – we get enough right wing, anti-foreign and poor people rubbish as it is in the tabloid media. Alison Browning, Tal y Bont The editor replies: Thanks for your email, Alison – I would like to assure you that these are the personal opinions of our owner Stephanie, who is sometimes deliberately controversial in order to provoke debate. Yattar Yattar has no political stance and we believe readers should make up their own minds. What do other readers think? Would you like to see more or less politics in Yattar Yattar? Let us know!

TRUMP CARD?

He has denigrated women, foreigners, the LGBT community – so how has Donald Trump managed to beat everyone to become the presidential nominee? Mr Hastings, Shropshire

First Leicester win the Premiership after being 5000:1 outsiders and now Donald Trump has confounded the experts to become the Republican frontrunner against Hilary Clinton. Statistically he shouldn’t be able to win but there are a lot of angry voters – mainly working class men – who feel that they have lost their jobs to immigrants or by manufacturing moving to China. People everywhere are disillusioned with career politicians and elections all over the world are becoming unpredictable. Will Donald Trump win? I hope not but I wouldn’t bet on it!

THIN PICKINGS ON BROADBAND

I heard that the Government has gone back on their promise to ensure everyone would have superfast broadband and that many rural communities will now miss out. Why are they doing this when small rural businesses are the very ones that need it most? Mrs Sears, mid Wales Politicians of all persuasion promise everything they think we want until elected and then quietly forget them. I live in a rural part of north Wales and often watch the brave snail trying to push my broadband traffic up an old copper wire. Simple economics is the answer to your question: it is relatively easy and cheap to lay fibre cables to lots of homes in big cities and towns but not so in isolated hamlets. The government spokesman Ed Vaizey stated that it was too expensive to reach rural areas and ‘residents would be unlikely to take up the offer of superfast broadband anyway’. BT Openreach has the responsibility to install the infrastructure and they have decided to spend $2 billion on football broadcast rights instead. Minorities are always the ones to suffer.

NO TO E-CIGARETTES

I was told off and asked to go outside when I went to a pub and used my e-cigarette, which I use instead of normal cigarettes when not at home. I can’t understand it – it seems like discrimination to me. Dave, north Wales

Since any form of smoking has been banned in any public enclosed space, pubs and restaurants have provided a much more conducive atmosphere for families. While e-cigarettes (vaping) are undoubtedly safer than tobaccobased products the intended use is to wean people off smoking at all and using them still sets a bad example to children who we hope will never consider smoking as a lifestyle choice. If I still ran hotels I would also ban their use. July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 151

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YOUR LETTERS PAY AS YOUR PHONE GOES…

My mother is 89 and we bought her a pay-as-you-go mobile phone to contact us in an emergency. I recently rang it only to ﬁnd a stranger answering it. I contacted Vodafone and after hanging on for ages ﬁnally spoke to someone who informed me that if a payas-you go phone has not been used in the past six months then they reassign the number – all of this without telling you. What are my options? Carol, Cheshire Tucked away in Vodafone’s terms and conditions they do reserve this right but who reads them? Companies should stop these lengthy T&Cs written in small print with a button at the front to tick to say ‘I agree’. Your only option is to move to another provider.

USE IT OR LOSE IT!

Why are you still working at 70 when you are rich? Richie, Shropshire I hesitated a to reply to this somewhat personal and impertinent question but here goes: I had a very humble upbringing and a secondary school education but I have worked hard with long hours for 54 years and believe that ‘death is God’s way of telling you to slow down’. Both brain and body need to be kept active so ‘use it or lose it’ is my motto. Yattar Yattar is my baby and I love it, plus I still take in rescue animals and run several businesses in the UK, EU and New Zealand. My normal working day starts at 7am when I catch up with our social media channels, then in the office from 8am to 6pm but I do mostly have weekends off when I pursue my interests of gardening and walking the dogs, as well as the upkeep of our 50 acres with tractors, flails, harrows etc. It is true that I own a lot of businesses but I live on my salary paid to me as an employee of the holding company. Oh I also get a state pension!

CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE

I am being regularly besieged by advertisements, phone calls and even when out shopping trying to sign me up to give a monthly amount to this or that charity. I buy poppies and leave loose change in collection boxes, but am left feeling guilty. I am an elderly pensioner living alone and just can’t afford to make any more commitments. Mrs Jones, north Wales The major charities are big businesses who pay their CEOs extravagant salaries, with others receiving the perks of first class rail travel and company cars. Many even outsource their collection to professional companies who use aggressive and heart-rending advertisements designed to make you feel guilty. Personally I prefer to help people in need or small charities who look after humans and animals as a vocation. As little as 8p in every £1 reaches the beneficiaries in some charities so don’t feel guilty – you should not have to scrimp to feed the ‘fat cats’.

TOP TIPS

My partner and I ate out in Chester recently to celebrate our anniversary but when we received the bill for what we thought was an already expensive meal we saw that a 10 per cent gratuity charge had been added. Not wanting to cause a fuss and spoil the evening we paid up, but wonder if this is even legal. Can you advise please? Ellie, Chester It is legal but not decent or honest. Routinely we tip in restaurants, hairdressers and taxis but why when we don’t do the same with bus drivers, supermarket staff or workmen, many of whom earn the same hourly living wage of £7.20? You should never be coerced into tipping, so even if a restaurant adds a service charge it is your right not to pay it. The other worrying aspect is where your tip ends up. Tips should be pooled and divided fairly among all the staff as those in the kitchen or cleaners also work hard to deliver the service. Australians, New Zealanders and the Japanese don’t tip, it is just another nonsensical idea we have picked up from the Americans.

CAN’T BANK ON BANKS

I live in a rural village that used to have two banks but they have both now closed. I seem to remember an agreement that there would always be at least one bank or post ofﬁce in every community so what has changed? Rosie, Denbighshire You are correct: there was a promise between the banks and politicians which they have broken (surprise,surprise!). I don’t trust any of them. Unfortunately, despite their nice cuddly TV ads, banks are only interested in profits. Having such a small number of huge banks is not good for the public or businesses so we need more people to set-up small local community banks who know and are interested in the rural areas.

A message from our founder and owner, Stephanie Anne Lloyd ‘Due to a recent systems error in the ofﬁce, some letters and emails addressed to me have gone unanswered. I have contacted and apologised to the people I have been able to identify but I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to anyone who has sent a letter to me personally and not received a response. I now have my own personal email address ‘stephanie@ yattaryattar.co.uk’ so please do write to me direct!

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for sending me your May/June issue – hadn’t realised what a very nice magazine it is! Pat Edgar, via email @wardsbutchers Our lovely advert in @yattaryattar magazine! Do you like it? #eatlocal #welovefood

Get in touch with Yattar Yattar

We love to hear from you, so please get in touch and tell us what you like (or hate!) about the magazine. What would you like to see more or less of? What do you think we could do better? You can post on our Facebook page, contact us on Twitter, send us an email or even write a letter! We really want to hear from you. We also welcome poems for our Poets Corner, and photographs for our local photographer spot. If you’ve got a story to tell, an event to publicise, a charity to champion, a bee in your bonnet about something, or anything else you’d like to shout about, get in touch. All comments and contributions are welcome!

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23/06/2016 09:28

yattaryattar on

Nightmare journeys Are airports deliberately made such a miserable experience to get us all to spend an extra £4? asks Yattar’s founder and owner Stephanie Anne Lloyd

remember a time when you could drive to the airport without much trouble and, as long as you arrived 10 minutes before the British Airways Shuttle departed, were guaranteed a seat. You even paid on-board for your ticket! If you are of a certain age, I’m sure this will ring bells with you – in contrast to a recent journey I made. I set out from my home in Llangar and drove along the A5 towards Llangollen to find that the temporary traffic lights that Denbighshire County Council had installed in Glyndyfrdwy just prior to Easter for no apparent reason were still there but, hey ho, only a few minutes’ delay. The M56, however, was stop-start all the way until it passed the M6, so I arrived at Manchester Airport 90 minutes before departure instead of my usual two hours. ‘No problem,’ I foolishly thought, ‘I’ve checked in online and only have hand luggage.’ Lo and behold, I headed upstairs to find huge long queues snaking around waiting to pass through security. The airport has installed 10 state-of-the-art scanning lanes costing millions of pounds. All were there looking shiny and expensive but the first seven were not in use. One was reserved for people paying an extra £4 for a fast track service while we common people were limited to just two.

Triggering an alarm Shuffling along it took an hour to reach a lane where I dutifully took out all my computer equipment, which was all I was carrying, took off my coat and stepped through the body scanner, warning them that my replacement hip would trigger the alarm, which it duly did. I was in the shower cubicle looking machine that can see through your clothes, my 70-year-old body was patted down then ‘wanded’, and I had my shoes removed before I was allowed to proceed. All of my computers came through without a problem but my carry-on suitcase was directed down the ‘suspect’ row. It was hand searched and then swabbed for explosives and drugs. I went up to the security desk where all of the security bigwigs reign over us and asked why seven out of 10 lanes were closed only to be told ‘We think that’s

quite sufficient’. I asked if I could quote them on that. ‘Yeah if you want,’ was the response. Now I am very keen that security should be tight and it is, so that’s good, but I have a sneaking suspicion the whole ‘queue up for an hour’ is designed to encourage you to pay the £4 for the fast track service next time round. Just a note to Manchester airport’s security staff – you may wear impressive uniforms but it is important that you are also polite and helpful: we are after all customers, as well as potential terrorists. Eventually I was allowed to continue, and realising that boarding was already under way but calculating I could grab a £3.99 meal deal from WH Smith, I chose a sandwich, a packet of crisps and a bottle of water and rushed to where the tills used to be to find them replaced with do-ityourself payment systems. Baffled by the technology that insisted I owed £6.43, I asked the only member of staff, a young girl who yelled: ‘Just follow the instructions on the screen!’ Now I always thought I was of average intelligence but this Dalek-like machine entirely outwitted me. Faced with total indifference from the lippy girl I asked for

assistance which was not forthcoming, so I abandoned my lunch and walked out muttering ‘Next time they’ll want me to make my own sandwich’ except there won’t be a next time because if WH Smith can’t be bothered to serve me then I figure they don’t deserve any of my hard-earned money. I dashed – as far as my new hip would allow – for the departure gate and made it on board just in time, huffing and puffing, to enjoy the comfy seats in the new Airbus A340. As we took to the skies I regained normal breathing mode and browsed the menu. £4.40 for a sandwich, £2.30 for a coffee – extortionate prices for cheap refreshments but with no choice I reluctantly paid up. Having left sunny, warm weather behind in the UK, I arrived in Gibraltar to find it raining, and as I am writing this on my first day here, it is miserable and overcast, not helped by the Sky weatherman telling me that at home you are enjoying record high temperatures. If someone could arrange for us not to have quite so much rain in the UK perhaps we could all avoid the misery of modern travel. I look forward to being back in 10 days, if summer hasn’t been and gone! y

‘Next time they’ll want me to make my own sandwich – except there won’t be a next time’

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