Plymouth Magazine December 2016 - 150th edition by Cornerstone Vision

Celebrating Fred Astaire at Plymouth Pavilions Meet the woman behind Barbican Theatre’s success ‘Brex Factor’ is good news for first time buyers Major milestone for Sherford development What’s On guide

Another milestone for the magazine... Little did we think when we launched the Plymouth Magazine in May 2004 that we would still be here more than 12 years later - and here we are celebrating our 150th edition.

Publishers: Chris Girdler and Ian Pilkington Editor: Debbie Girdler Designers: Sven Lauch, Diana Mazuru and Naomi Girdler Photography: Roy Perring and Laura Joint Contributors: Anthony Goord; Fiona Newton; Derek Anderson, Laura Joint and Darren Lawson Advertising sales: Karen Pilkington, Dave Simpson, Nathanael Logan, Jessica Bennett , Ali Alexander and Esther Cole Distribution: Tony Hodges Artwork: Sarah Simpson Finance: Karen Pilkington and Kim Strachan Front cover: Strictly Come Dancing stars Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara, who are starring in ‘Remembering Fred’ at the Plymouth Pavilions Contacts: Editorial Tel: 01752 225623 e-mail: chris@cornerstonevision.com Advertising Tel: 01752 225623 e-mail: karen@cornerstonevision.com

The views expressed in the plymouth magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of all information contained in this magazine. However, the publishers do not accept any liability for any advice or information included in the magazine. The Plymouth Magazine is distributed free to 45,000 homes across Plymouth each month, with a further 2,000 copies strategically placed in leisure and retail outlets in Plymouth, Saltash and other locations.

Published by Cornerstone Vision, 28 Old Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth PL3 4PY Tel 01752 225623 Fax 01752 673441 e-mail info@cornerstonevision.com web: www.cornerstonevision.com Follow us @CornerstoneVis

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This issue represents yet another important milestone for all of us here at Cornerstone Vision and we look forward to continuing to develop and improve the magazine. At a time when the local and regional press is facing some tough economic challenges it is particularly pleasing to reflect on the success of this magazine, which has undoubtedly made its mark in the community we serve here in Plymouth. With copies delivered to 45,000 homes across the city by our hard-working distribution team we believe the Plymouth Magazine is not only the largest circulation monthly lifestyle publication in the city - but probably the largest in Devon, if not the South West. As a free distribution publication we are only able to achieve this thanks to the ongoing support of our advertisers, some of whom have been with us right from the very first issue. We thank them all. We have always tried to make the magazine informative, entertaining and hopefully inspirational and, above all, positive about this wonderful city in which we live and work. It is a formula which seems to have worked and proves the point that people do like to read good news, despite what the doom and gloom merchants would have us believe. Thank you to you, our loyal readers, who pick up the magazine month in and month out and respond to the stories, event information and advertisements which it contains. Thank you to all my colleagues in the hard-working team at Cornerstone who work tirelessly to produce a magazine which people look forward to receiving. Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year.

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2016 EDITION

PLENTY OF BOTTLE

Plymouth mum Sarah James has come up with an innovative solution to the age-old problem of what to do with school bottles

WHAT’S ON

Our comprehensive What’s On section has details of all the events coming up in the Plymouth area over the next few weeks

SHERFORD UPDATE

The first show homes at the huge new Sherford development on the outskirts of Plymouth have been unveiled

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GOOD HEALTH

Laura Joint popped over the Tamar to mee Becky Pranauskas at Saltash Aesthetics where she helps clients to look good and feel rejuvenated

HOLIDAY UPDATE

Our travel expert Anthony Goord looks at how our holidays may be affected in the future after the Brexit vote earlier this year

CARING COUPLE

Richard and Claire Down of local business Moorheat talk about their charitable work and the Many Tears Animal Rescue centre

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Another key milestone as Cross Rhythms radio licence extended to 2022 by Ofcom The announcement that Plymouth’s community radio station Cross Rhythms has secured a further five-year broadcast licence from Ofcom has been warmly welcomed by founder Chris Cole.

faith in a language that is accessible to contemporary culture but doesn’t water down its truths. We have used the music to demonstrate that the Christian faith is still very relevant in the 21st century. This has led to positive feedback from listeners who have a faith, as well as those that don’t. “This is great news,” said Chris, “and guarantees that the “We have enjoyed continued growth and success over the station will be on air until at least 2022. It means that we will last 15 years which has seen Cross Rhythms programming be broadcasting during and beyond the syndicated to 75 other radio stations historic Mayflower 400 events in 2020.” around the world, including the USA, “We have developed a model for Australia and Africa. community radio which is fully endorsed “We are also working towards the by Ofcom and has resulted in Cross launch of a global online station aimed Rhythms having collaborative stations at 16 to 21 year olds, which is our next not only in Plymouth, but also in Stokeexciting development.” on-Trent, Stockton-on-Tees and more Chris said that none of the Cross recently an online station in Bethlehem Rhythms success in Plymouth would have in Israel supporting the local Palestinian been possible without the dedication and Christian community.” commitment of a team of volunteers, led The stations, which broadcasts by station manager Dave Simpson. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year are Chris added: “We have a brilliant team committed to promoting Christian involved in the station and look forward values in the public arena as well as to developing what we have in this supporting charitable and public sector next licence period. Our partnerships organisations which contribute to the with organisations and charities who strengthening of the local community. are working for the good of the city will The pioneering work of Cross continue to develop and we are excited Rhythms goes right back to 1983 when to bring more interviews, information Chris - a former night club owner and and uplifting content to the people of entrepreneur - launched a weekly 30 Plymouth through our broadcasting. minute contemporary Christian music “We also work in close partnership show on Plymouth Sound commercial with the team at Cornerstone Vision who radio. publish the Plymouth Magazine and the Chris Cole - founder of Cross Rhythms The programme proved extremely Plymouth Shopper series of community popular and remained on air for more than newspapers.” 13 years. In the meantime Cross Rhythms had expanded Chris Clewer, chairman of Churches Together in Plymouth into other areas - including the Cross Rhythms Festival, a (CTiP) said: “Churches Together in Plymouth is delighted that quarterly magazine and website. Cross Rhythms have had their licence to broadcast extended A big breakthrough came in 2002 when Ofcom granted for another five years. one of the first community radio licences in the UK to Cross “The station has gone from strength to strength in their Rhythms in Stoke-on-Trent. programming and include so many relevant and informative Cross Rhythms Plymouth started broadcasting in 2007 voices from the community. Their message of faith, music followed a year later by Stockton-on-Tees. A media training and life, interspersed with words of wisdom and challenge, centre was launched in Stoke-on-Trent in 2012. is much needed by all generations in the city. Cross Rhythms Chris said: “Community radio is a vital third of arm of Plymouth has become an essential part of the fabric of the broadcasting in the UK, alongside the public and commercial city.” broadcasters. These micro-local, not-for-profit stations meet the needs of a wide variety of community interests. There For further information visit www.crossrhythms. are now well over 200 community radio stations across the co.uk/plymouth or tune in to 96.3FM. country. “Our aim in all that we do is to communicate the Christian

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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WOMEN AT WORK

Do the school run in style, thanks to innovative Plymouth mum Sarah

Sarah James with the Bottle Buddi

It’s a familiar story for most parents on the school run – the bulky school water bottle is constantly dropped, squirted or handed to the nearest adult to carry. It’s one of those daily inconveniences that are part and parcel of the chaos of school drop-offs and pick-ups for thousands of parents in the city. One Plymouth Mum was tired of the water bottle battle, so she created a nifty solution. Sarah James, from Compton, has created the Bottle Buddi. Made of soft, waterproof material, a water bottle slips inside the Bottle Buddi, which is then fixed to the handles of a book bag or backpack with two straps secured with press studs, allowing the bottle and bag to be carried together. And when the bottle is taken out, the Bottle Buddi lies flat against the bag so it can be stored away easily in school. “I needed something simple so that my daughter Nyah could carry her school belongings easily and without a fuss!” said Sarah. “I was sick of putting her bottle in my handbag and ending up with a wet phone, and felt awful when she put it in her book bag and ended up with soggy homework. I searched for options and couldn’t find anything that fit the bill. So I decided to fix the problem!” Bottle Buddi is the first product that Sarah has ever created, but from a few sketches at her kitchen table, she designed and protected the innovative new product herself. Having hunted internationally for a firm that could make her product, earlier this year Sarah stumbled upon Footprints Uniform based at Fort Austin Avenue in Plymouth. “I was searching for places that could manufacture my design; I even briefed a Chinese firm about a prototype. So when an internet search showed Footprints Uniforms barely a mile from my home, I couldn’t believe my luck! We met and discussed the design, and they created a demo version, which we refined together. I am so proud that this is a 100% locally created and handcrafted product, made with real skill and a lot of pride.”

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Sarah placed an initial order for 1,000 of the Bottle Buddi's with Footprints Uniforms - but they were quickly exhausted with Sarah receiving anything up to 100 orders a day. "I now place a weekly order with Footprints to keep up with the demand - and I'm currently packing and despatching all the orders myself: which is keeping me extremely busy!" Sarah has created the Bottle Buddi in all standard school uniform colours (navy blue, royal blue, black, bottle green, red, burgundy, purple and yellow) and is selling it via her website www.bottlebuddi.co.uk for £6.95 plus postage. Local Plymouth parents are also welcome to collect directly from Sarah if they get in touch via the website or Facebook. Schools can also order in bulk, at a reduced rate, to stock their school uniform shops. Despite only launching it this summer, orders are flooding in from across the UK and Sarah has high hopes for the future. “I get such a thrill to see children on the school run using the Bottle Buddi and seeing their parents recommend it on social media. I hope that word spreads far and wide, as it’s a simple but really effective way of making one part of the day that little bit easier for busy parents."

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N WE ALSO U

Sarah with her daughter Nyah

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For more information visit www.bottlebuddi.co.uk

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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THEATRE MATTERS

Shelia Snellgrove - 36 years heading up the Barbican Theatre

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Unit 4/5 The Couryard Fore Street Saltash Cornwall PL12 6JR

Plymouth, September 1980, and Sheila Snellgrove has just arrived back in her native South West after three years in London studying at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and working as a teacher in the performing arts. What she returns to is a city with no cultural scene to speak of at all: “There was nothing,” she recalls. “The Theatre Royal hadn’t yet opened. The only place the city had really was the Hoe Theatre. And that was it.” In the sitting room of her ground floor flat in Wyndham Street, Stonehouse, Sheila set about changing that. It’s a journey that’s lasted 36 years and counting: “I had a strong aspiration to make work and show work with a particular focus on engaging young people. The starting point was in the sitting room. We’d push the furniture back against the wall and start to create works, initially with the thought of taking them out to schools.” What started life as Rent-A-Role Drama Service was soon to evolve and become the Barbican Theatre, of which Sheila is company director and CEO. The theatre, in Castle Street virtually opposite the Mayflower Steps, was bought in two stages in 1986 and 1997 by Plymouth City Council, and rented out to the theatre. A National Lottery capital grant enabled a complete refurbishment in 1998. In an office high up in the Barbican building, Sheila sits and chats about the theatre’s story and says its success is a direct result of its “modus operandi”. “Learning is the golden thread that goes through everything we do,” she explained. “Helping people to create and perform their own work is what’s really important to us. We are delighted that there is now an Acting Degree at the University of St Mark & St John and Plymouth University because it means that there are more performance artists that we can work with and encourage to stay in the city, making it a more vibrant, distinctive and diverse place with an exciting, sparky, cultural offer. “And you’ll see things here at the theatre that you won’t see elsewhere. We look for different, unusual, experimental work.

We want to inspire people to create, innovate, and not be afraid. People have asked us to produce work around issues such as mental health and domestic violence and we’ve delivered these in their settings, at places of work and at conferences. We’ve worked with BME groups and the Black Police Federation. We’re a socially driven, socially engaged company.” It’s this approach that has helped to earn Arts Council funding as part of the organisation’s national portfolio: “We’re very proud of that because only a small number of theatres are on that list,” said Sheila. “The Arts Council recognises that we look at things differently.” November’s Illuminate & Thanksgiving event at the Mayflower Steps is a perfect case in point: “We were asked to provide the narrative for Illuminate so we used the Wampanoag Native American people's creation story, Moshup the Giant. "The whole Mayflower 400 story is fascinating. Whose story is it? Whose voice is it? We are celebrating 400 years of white colonisation. What about the other story – the story of 15,000 years of Native Americans? So our narrative looks at ‘the other’ story. And that’s what we do, this is how we think. And we also ask: what relevance does it have now?” Right from the start Sheila has seen collaboration with other organisations as vital for driving growth in the arts. The Barbican is currently working with Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery to devise an historically accurate theatrical walking tour of the Barbican. And the theatre’s big summer 2016 production, Romeo and Juliet, directed by Barbican artistic

director Mark Laville, was performed outdoors at the Royal William Yard. “That brought together professional actors and emerging artists and the quality was very high,” said Sheila. “The feedback we had was excellent. And our audiences love the fact that we’re locally produced and they want to support us.” One of those locally-produced shows is the annual Christmas co-production with Devon-based Le Navet Bete. This year, they’re staging 46 performances of their unique take on Jungle Book: “Le Navet Bete is a great example of where we have recognised the potential of local artists and given them the opportunity to perform and grow, to the extent that they’re now a theatre company that can live and work from their Devon home all year round. That’s a result!” The same could be said about Sheila’s own vision, first expressed in her Stonehouse flat almost four decades ago. Then, Plymouth was virtually a cultural desert. Now, it has a thriving arts scene: “Plymouth is really sparkling at the moment with exciting and cutting edge companies – and the Barbican Theatre has been an important contributor to this renaissance,” said Sheila.

••

The Barbican Theatre Castle Street, Plymouth PL1 2NJ 01752 267131 info@barbicantheatre.co.uk www.barbicantheatre.co.uk www.facebook.com/BarbicanTheatrePlymouth

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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HEALTH MATTERS Becky at work with a client at Saltash Aesthetics

Trust Saltash Aesthetics to get you looking and feeling rejuvenated! Whether it’s a long-term solution to unwanted hair, skin concerns or just a well-deserved pampering session you’re after, trust, professionalism and affordability are probably the main considerations when choosing your aesthetic practitioner. As a registered nurse and nurse prescriber with over 10 years experience of working in the field of aesthetics, Becky Pranauskas – the owner of Saltash Aesthetics – passes those requirements with flying colours. In June, Becky opened Saltash Aesthetics in The Courtyard, tucked away off the town’s Fore Street, enabling her to offer her experience and skills to the people of Plymouth and South East Cornwall from her own clinic for the first time. Prior to this, Becky served in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps where she qualified as a registered nurse in 2004. By 2006, Becky felt drawn to aesthetic nursing where she worked in the West Midlands for two market leaders in the cosmetic industry. Here, she took lead professional roles that included ensuring high clinical and medical standards were met. During this period, Becky helped Bupa to develop their aesthetics services in Solihull and London. “That time working for established and trusted brands was crucial in my development as an aesthetic nurse practitioner,” said Becky. “I worked alongside amazing doctors and consultant dermatologists. I am proud to say that this wealth of experience and knowledge is now reflected in my own clinic and it is what inspired me to gain my Independent Nurse Prescriber qualification in 2011.”

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Saltash Aesthetics is perfectly positioned in a discreet yet accessible location in the centre of the town and a short walking distance from car parks. It has a welcoming and relaxing waiting room area, a consultation room and a treatment room featuring a medical-grade Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) system made by UK firm, Lynton, which is listed on the NHS supply chain. It’s here in the treatment room that Becky puts all of her training and experience into practice – but only after an all-important free initial consultation: “This initial conversation is crucial,” she said. “It’s where trust and rapport is built from the start. It allows the patient to tell me what their concerns are and gives me the opportunity, as their practitioner, to assess their needs and offer advice. I see this as a partnership where we work together to achieve their goals and expectations. There’s no pressure and it’s not about promising miracles; it’s just a chat about which options are best suited to achieving realistic goals.” All clients are asked to fill out a medical history form and, said Becky: “I have built up an understanding of what to treat and what not to treat so there are cases where I advise against treatment. And, where there’s a medical reason underpinning an issue, I might suggest that they see their doctor first.” This highlights Becky’s ethical approach with a firm grounding in nursing practice and principles. After the consultation, clients are able to go away and consider their treatment options. Becky is particularly passionate about the Lynton IPL system that she offers: “It’s a top of the range piece of equipment and I’ve seen it achieve

excellent results,” said Becky. “It is life changing for some women and men with unwanted hair or ingrowing hair as it offers a long-term solution. It is also great for removing facial red thread veins and age spots.” Other treatment options include facial rejuvenation and anti-aging services such as cosmetic injectables and skin peels. Here, Becky has used her experience in the industry to select the brands she trusts, and knows will deliver excellent results for her patients. Whatever you choose, you won’t feel rushed: “This is your time to feel special,” she explained. “I want this to be a relaxing experience for people and no-one is hurried out of the door.” As far as relaxation services go, Becky also offers a range of facials using the organic, sustainablyproduced Eminence skin care range. These treatments incorporate oriental face massage techniques to face, neck and décolletage – look out for special seasonal facials. In December, Becky has a Festive Facial available with a special offer of £25 for a 45-minute treatment which incorporates the scents of cranberries, arctic berries and cinnamon and is great for rehydrating the skin. “During the winter our skin takes a battering from the elements outside and from central heating inside,” said Becky. “So it’s nice to give your skin a bit of a boost at this time of year. And if you need help with circulation and aching muscles, this is a great time to try a relaxing warm bamboo massage which gets deep down into the muscles.” For those still looking for Christmas present ideas,

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treatment gift vouchers and a comprehensive range of skin care products not available on the high street are available for purchase. December marks six months since Becky opened Saltash Aesthetics: “We have a lovely community here,” she said. “All the businesses help each other; the Courtyard feels like home already.” She is now looking forward to a busy 2017, with the introduction of new services: “We’ve had so many referrals already. Word of mouth works wonders and I’m really grateful to my patients for spreading the word and telling their friends about their great experiences here at Saltash Aesthetics. I look forward to developing our treatment menu early next year with the introduction of microneedling which is great for general anti-aging or to minimise scars.” Opening times are 9am-3pm on Mondays and Tuesdays; 12-9pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 9am-2pm on Saturdays, although Becky is flexible and can accommodate those too busy to make the usual opening hours. For in-depth information about all of the services offered by Becky, visit the Saltash Aesthetics website or give her a call.

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Saltash Aesthetics The Courtyard 158-160 Fore Street, Saltash PL12 6JR 01752 849417 www.saltashaesthetics.co.uk

The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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FOOD MATTERS

Get a real taste of Italy at Il Capriccio

When Roberto Francesa and his wife Barbara opened Il Capriccio they had a clear vision of how they wanted their Italian eatery to be. Their offering would be a traditional trattoria, an informal setting where people could enjoy authentic, freshly-made Italian dishes, or, as they put it, “everyday food that everyone can enjoy”. “We wanted to bring a flavour of the real Italy to Plymouth,” said Roberto. “There wasn’t anywhere else like this in Plymouth. But if you visit Italy, trattorias are everywhere and people love them because they are genuine.” The couple, originally from Milan, opened Il Capriccio in Frankfort Gate in 2012 and have built up a loyal clientele of city centre workers and shoppers, and diners who’ve experienced trattorias in Italy and appreciate the ethos behind the food. “Most of our customers are people who’ve been to Italy,” said Roberto. “They like everything to be made fresh and they like the ambience. We’re not a posh restaurant because we don’t want to be a posh restaurant. The idea is for it to be

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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casual and affordable.” Roberto and Barbara came to England in 2003 and spent the first couple of years in London. They settled in Plymouth in 2005 after a business trip brought Roberto to the area: “We decided to move down here so we lived here for seven years before opening Il Capriccio. It was a big thing for us to do but we had been cooks when we were in Italy and we wanted a place like this.” They deliberately have a small menu and recipes for most of the dishes have been passed down by their mothers and grandmothers. All of the food – including the pasta and pizzas – is made fresh to order and most of the dishes are with you within 10 minutes. The seafood comes from the pannier market across the road and changes daily depending on what’s available. Recent menus have included sea bass, lemon sole, linecaught mackerel, mussels, scallops, prawns and squid. The meat is from farms in Cornwall, while Italian cured meats are available over the counter as well as in snacks such as focaccia sandwiches. Italian cheeses and highest grade organic Italian virgin olive oil is also used, while all the breads, biscuits, cakes and ice-cream are also freshly made and can be bought to take away. Customer favourites include seafood tagliatelle, escalope of veal, potato gnocchi, ravioli, pork wrapped in pancetta, and risotto – “and at Il Capriccio,” promises Roberto, “we do risotto properly!” He added: “Our regular customers will ring us and say ‘we’ll be there in 10 minutes,’ and they’ll ask us what’s on the menu and tell us what they’ll be having so we can prepare. “Some of our customers book the whole restaurant and they ask us to have a special menu, such as suckling pig. And if anyone wants a particular dish they can pre-order it and we’ll get the ingredients in for them.” Because everything is cooked to order, customers can ‘tweak’ their dish to suit them: “We’ll do what the customer asks,” explained Roberto. “If someone wants pizza without cheese we’ll do pizza without cheese. We don’t say to customers ‘no, we can’t do that because we always do it this way’.” Being Italian, you’d expect Roberto and Barbara to be passionate about their food, and they are: “Oh yes, we love almost everything,” said Roberto. “And we love making it, too, and seeing people enjoying our food.” The informal nature of the trattoria makes it a perfect place to pop in for a snack or just a cup of Italian Kimbo coffee: “This is the best coffee, we wouldn’t have anything else,” said Roberto. Il Capriccio also has a selection of Italian wines and beers. So why not take the advice in the name? Translated, Il Capriccio means ‘to indulge one’s whim’. In other words: “Why not try a little bit of what you fancy?” As Barbara says: “It’s simple, tasty food, made in the way it should be made, using the best ingredients where 100% freshness is the thing. What’s not to love?” Opening times are 10.30am-3pm Monday – Saturday, with additional evening opening 5.30-9pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Visit the website for the current menu and the Facebook page for updates. And contact Roberto and Barbara if you’d like to book the 24-cover trattoria for a special occasion.

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WHAT’S ON The Lyric Royal Parade Plymouth Box Office 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

Best of musicals, dance and ope Theatre Royal Plymouth’s spring programme features the best of musicals, dance and opera. Musical favourites such as the highly anticipated Sunny Afternoon and the the first UK tour of Mamma Mia! are among the highlights.

Nov 30 to Dec 2 RAMBERT - A LINHA CURVA Rambert brings the riotous, colourful, sexy A Linha Curva to Theatre Royal Plymouth. This percussion fuelled explosion of samba-flavoured dance helped the company win the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in 2010. An evening of contrasting works which share Rambert’s trademark quality: combining virtuoso dancing and live music to thrilling effect. Dec 3 BBC BIG BAND Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading and most versatile Orchestras, See preview on page 23. Dec 4 THAT’LL BE THE DAY: CHRISTMAS SHOW Topped with lashings of Christmas spirit, get ready to party as That’ll Be The Day returns with its Brand

Based on a true story Michael Morpurgo’s novel Running Wild is brought to life on stage in May

Critically acclaimed plays such as Robert Le Page’s Far Side of the Moon and National Theatre’s production of Jayne Eye are featured while the Lyric staff will also host the world premiere of Sleepless, a production in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth. Dance highlights also include Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, last seen in the UK four years ago. Cuba’s vibrant flagship contemporary dance company will present an exciting programme choreographed by some of today’s biggest names. Hofesh Shechter will bring an explosive new production to Plymouth for two preview performances in June ahead of its world premiere in Paris. Birmingham Royal Ballet will present Cinderella, a sure fire mix of wonderful dance, spectacular scenery and a cast of characters that includes mice, lizards and even a dancing frog!

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Dec 7 to 10 GLYNDEBOURNE MADAMA BUTTERFLY Puccini loved to portray ‘great sorrows in little souls’, as he put it, and never did he do so more stirringly than in Madama Butterfly. Derived from a true story of a Japanese geisha married and abandoned by an American sailor, Puccini’s popular masterwork unfolds a disastrous clash of East and West.

Dec 8 GLYNDEBOURNE BEHIND THE CURTAIN Whether you are completely new to opera, or simply curious to find out more about this uniquely beautiful art form this special performance presented by Paul Rissmann is for you. This brand new special event has been created especially for Tour 2016 to provide a behindthe-scenes exploration of what goes into putting an opera on stage, while at the same time demystifying opera itself with an inspirational look at Don Giovanni, one of our touring operas this season. Dec 16 to Jan 14 SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS With star of stage and television Lesley Joseph and Blue pop sensation Duncan James leading a sensational cast, the Theatre Royal Plymouth’s pantomime will be the fairest pantomime of them all! Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be spectacularly brought to life with an abundance of comedy, sensational song and dance numbers, fabulous costumes and special effects.

Theatres & Shows

era for Theatre Royal’s spring programme Welsh National Opera will present a season of heart-wrenching stories of love and loss, including Puccini’s evocative La Boheme and his poignant classic Madam Butterfly. Thirty years since The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle’s bestselling novel, the world’s hardest working soul band tell the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working class music fan, who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act. Highlights at The Drum include The Here and This and Now, a bold new Theatre Royal Plymouth production from the Plymouth writer of Forever House that asks ‘is happiness ever more than a state of mind?’ Younger audiences are catered for too, with The Star Seekers presented by The Wardrobe Ensemble, who have created a unique theatre experience for children.

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For tickets and information on the spring programme visit www. theatreroyal.com or call the Box Office on on 01752 267222 or in person at the Box Office from 10.30am.

Cuba’s vibrant flagship contemporary dance company Danza Contemporánea de Cuba perform in March

Jan 17 to Feb 25 MAMMA MIA! Join the ultimate feel-good party at Mamma Mia!, the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical! Set on a Greek island paradise, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget.

after choreographic names. For more than five decades Danza Contemporánea de Cuba’s hybrid and hothouse dance blend of African-Caribbean rhythms, jazzy American modernism and influences from classical European ballet has been evoking the sensual heart of the Cuban spirit through vigorous and highly physical contemporary dance.

Feb 27 to Mar 1 ROOM ON THE BROOM Join the Witch and her cat on their mission to defeat the dragon in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Songs, laughs and scary fun for children and up and their grown-ups, in the Oliviernominated show that’s toured Britain and the world!

Drum Theatre ROYAL PARADE PLYMOUTH Box Office 01752 267222

Mar 3 and 4 DANZA CONTEMPORÁNEA DE CUBA Last seen in the UK in 2012, Cuba’s vibrant flagship contemporary dance company will present an exciting programme choreographed by some of today’s most soughtwww.cornerstonevision.com

Nov 29 to Jan 14 THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES Following sell out performances of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Stuff and Nonsense return to the Theatre Royal Plymouth with their latest production. Populated with puppets, music and song, this inventive and energetic production is told in true Stuff and Nonsense style; with unending energy, great storytelling and, as always, a show for all the family. Nov 30 to Dec 23 GLORIA IN THE MIST French actress and Animal @CornerstoneVis

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01752 364186 The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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WHAT’S ON

Theatres & Shows Dec 22 THOMAS FORD Absurdly brilliant blues from Thomas Ford, his guitar, voice and harmonica.

Communicator Gloria Delaneuf returns this Christmas to share her life-changing experience with the gorillas of the Kungalunga Jungle. A hilarious new show, following on from the award winning Gloriator.

Dec 23 METROPOLIS SPRING QUARTET Christmas special from popular jazz quartet.

Jan 24 to Jan 28 HOME Exploring a new and unknown world, Home immerses audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) in a multi-sensory story of discovery. Home is the latest bold and exciting production from Frozen Light. Jan 31 to Feb 4 SPILLIKIN: A LOVE STORY Prepare to have your heart broken by this 5* sell-out Edinburgh show from Pipeline Theatre featuring a state-of-the-art robot as a full cast member. Spillikin will make you laugh, cry, and ponder big questions of love, death, and technology. Feb 7 to Feb 11 BE BRAVE AND LEAVE FOR THE UNKNOWN The award winning and critically acclaimed RedCape Theatre return with their new show Be Brave and Leave for the Unknown - a story of love, loss and courage told through the hands of a piano player and the lens of a photographer. Inspired by true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations, RedCape’s exhilarating new show explores the nature of bravery both epic and domestic, large and small. Feb 14 to Feb 18 THE THING THAT CAME FROM OVER THERE! The Thing That Came From Over There is a fast-paced rollicking ride, mixing paranoia, suspense and hilariously gruesome deaths. Join three daring actors as they play over 15 roles in 85 minutes of shocks, spine tingling silliness, and blood curdling terror. With comedy and thrills galore, the show features visual gags, verbal wit, giant puppetry, and even a little bit of live music. Feb 21 to Feb 25 TANK Inspired by the Dolphin House experiments, Breach’s Fringe First winning Tank rips the story apart to explore the violence of language, the power of culture, and what happens when you inject a cetacean with LSD. In 1965, a researcher lived with a dolphin for ten weeks to try and teach him to speak English. It was

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Annika Skoogh...appearing at the B-Bar in December

part of a NASA-funded research project into human-animal communication.

Castle Street, Plymouth BOX OFFICE: 01752 267131 www.barbicantheatre.co.uk Dec 13 to Jan 15 THE JUNGLE BOOK Le Navet Bete return to Barbican Theatre this Christmas with their fun and energetic take on The Jungle Book. Join us to see Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo, Shere Khan, Kaa and probably an ape or two for an unforgettable fools’ retelling of the classic tale. A really accessible show, suitable for the whole family!

. CASTLE STREET, PLYMOUTH 01752 242021 www.b-bar.co.uk Dec 1 FERGUS TANNER Alternative-folk singer/songwriter blending soulful lyrics with intricate guitar melodies. Thoroughly enjoyable for fans of Ben Howard, Mumford and Sons or Bears Den. Dec 2 SWINGOLOGY Swingology perform gypsy swing in the style of guitar legend Django Reinhardt. The swinging guitars and soaring clarinet solos are evocative of the soundtrack to 1940’s Paris.

The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Dec 7, Jan 4 COMEDY NIGHT Some light relief with the best stand-ups on the UK circuit. Dec 8 RHYMEWARP Comedy word-nerdiness, crackpot crowd participation and a platform for aspiring performance poets. Expect words larks from host MC Vegas, emerging poets & wordsmiths, and crowd-sourced tongue-tomfoolery! Dec 9 LOST IN SPACE A seven-piece party band that kicks out blistering sounds with a madcap mix of funky ska, gypsy stomp and retro grooves. Dec 10 HOT CLUB OF STONEHOUSE Gypsy jazz of 1930s Paris bals musettes to present day Blighty. Dec 14, 28, Jan 11, 25 CAFE ACOUSTICA B Bar’s fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singer-songwriter Jessie Mullen. Dec 15 WATERLOO SUNSET Eclectic mix of 60s, celtic rock, folk rock and bluegrass Dec 16 ANNIKA SKOOGH LATIN TRIO Latin set from vibrant jazz vocalist Dec 17 FREE CUBA PARTY Latin tunes and cocktails with resident DJ playing the best in salsa, merengue, bachata and more. Dec 21 HAUNT THE WOODS Contemporary folk-rock favourites.

MILLBAY ROAD, PLYMOUTH Box Office: 0845 146 1460 Dec 2 FORBIDDEN NIGHTS A classy new all male variety show with full theatre production and explosive choreography FORBIDDEN are skilled and professionally trained performers, hand-picked from around the UK with charisma, undeniable talent, sparkling personalities and honed physiques in equal measure. Dec 3 ROYAL MARINES CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Festive military splendour will return to Plymouth Pavilions when the world famous Royal Marines Christmas Spectacular heads back to the arena. Dec 6 KEVIN BLOODY WILSON The Kevin Bloody Wilson show is not just a concert performance; for most, it’s a full on event and an opportunity to tick from your bucket-list, a chance to see Australia’s most unique international comedy legend. Dec 7 REEVES & MORTIMER Back by huge popular demand, comedy legends Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer will be taking their critically acclaimed live show – ‘25 Years of Reeves & Mortimer: The Poignant Moments’ – back on tour this autumn. Dec 9 JOOLS HOLLAND Musical master of ceremonies Jools Holland and his much loved Rhythm & Blues Orchestra are renowned as one of the UK’s most popular tours. Now in it’s 21st year, these shows are not to be missed and will this year feature special guests The Selecter’s Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson.

WHAT’S ON

Dec 10 ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN In 2000, Gary Mullen won ITV’s ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ Live Grand Final, with the largest number of votes ever received in the shows history. Gary began touring on his own and in 2002 formed a band ‘The Works’, to pay tribute to rock legends Queen. One Night of Queen is a spectacular live concert, recreating the look, sound, pomp and showmanship of arguably the greatest rock band of all time.

comic Jack Whitehall is back on tour and bringing his brand new live show to theatres across the country. It is the biggest tour ever from one of the UK’s hottest comedy stars. Feb 10 BUSTED Following the release of their brand new single in over a decade, the disco-tinged new single, ‘On What You’re On’, pop trio Busted are pleased to announce a UK headline tour. James, Matt and Charlie first broke onto the music scene in 2002 with their tonguein-cheek ode to Matt’s school teacher Miss MacKenzie, ‘What I Go To School For.’ Within just two years the three-piece had become the biggest band in the country, with four number one singles, two triple platinum albums, a total of five million records sold, and over 750,000 ticket sales including and a record-breaking run of thirteen Wembley Arena shows.

Dec 11 THE HUMAN LEAGUE British Synth legends, The Human League return to Plymouth Pavilions. With special guests Blancmange and +Ekkoes. Dec 15 RIZZLE KICKS Rizzle Kicks, one of the most popular, engaging, and singularly English, success stories of the last decade, who mark their very welcome return to the music world with a brand new tune named ‘Always Late’ will play the Pavilions. Dec 16 SOLID GOLD 70S SHOW Reviving the golden age of pop, it’s the latest live concert show

80s legend T’Pau is part of the line up at Icons of the 80s at the Plymouth Pavilions in January

from the creators of the Magic of Motown. Glamrock greats, disco hits, power ballads and party anthems from Sweet, T Rex, Queen, Elton John, 10CC, David Essex, Suzi Quatro, David

Cassidy, ELO, The Carpenters, Osmonds, Bay City Rollers and more, its super-cool band have performed with Mike Oldfield, Asia and Ultravox. Have fond memories of Pans People and Eurovision, Luke Skywalker and Saturday Night Fever, Danny and Sandy. . . Dastardly and Muttley? This is the show for you. . . come and have the top of the pops time of your life. Platforms, flares, cat suits, tank tops, boob tubes and air guitars welcome, plus plenty of room for Choppers and Space Hoppers in the car park. Dec 20 THE BOOTLEG BEATLES With over 4000 performances in over 40 countries, The Bootleg Beatles are the number 1 all British Beatle band! Jan 14 ICONS OF THE 80S The 80s are back as three legendary stars – Go West, Nik Kershaw and T’Pau – join forces for a truly incredible concert experience. With millions of albums sales and iconic hits such as We Close Our Eyes, Call Me, King Of Wishful Thinking, Wouldn’t It Be Good, The Riddle, I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Heart and Soul and the classic China in Your Hand, this authentic eighties triple header is not to be missed. Jan 21 JACK WHITEHALL Multi award-winning stand-up

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Feb 23 to 26 LORD OF THE DANCE 2017 Following the phenomenal success of the 2015 UK tour, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games is excited to announce a return to the UK in 2017 for a 23 city Nationwide tour. Fresh from hugely successful runs in the West End, Broadway, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games continues to thrill audiences around the globe with its intoxicating mix of dance and music that fuses the traditional with the contemporary in a classic tale that showcases the exceptional talent of the cast. Feb 27 KAISER CHIEFS Fresh from a run of sold-out UK shows and soon to be headlining at V Festival, Kaiser Chiefs have announced a brand new single Hole In My Soul and their first arena tour in two years in support of the forthcoming album Stay Together. Mar 3 MIKE + THE MECHANICS Mike + The Mechanics are an English pop/rock supergroup formed in 1985 as a side project of Mike Rutherford, one of the founding members of the band Genesis. The band is known for their hit singles ‘Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)’, ‘All I Need Is a Miracle”, “Word of Mouth”, “Over My Shoulder”, and “The Living Years”.

Theatres & Shows

BBC Big Band in city The internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band, conductor Barry Forgie, and the extraordinary vocal talents of vocalist Jeff Hooper, will present a fun-filled programme of festive favourites at the Theatre Royal - with a swing twist! A real Christmas cracker of a programme, featuring big band settings of favourite yule-tide numbers such as Let It Snow, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Mel Tormé’s The Christmas Song – and much more. Plus a selection of sparkling Big Band classics to warm you up on a winter’s night. The perfect swinging start to Christmas festivities! The BBC Big Band is at The Lyric, Theatre Royal on Saturday December 3 for one night only.

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Tickets can be booked online at www. theatreroyal.com or by calling the Box Office on 01752 267222.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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WHAT’S ON

Music

Saxophonist Charlie Hearnshaw will bring his Munjenta Cafe at Plymouth Jazz Club on December 8

Dec 10 SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR Harewood House, Plympton Annual Christmas Concert, director Jenny George. Booking essential - www. sirjoshuareynoldschoir.co.uk

Dec 2 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR Church of the Ascension, Crownhill Joint concert with the Rame Male Voice Choir including including seasonal songs and carols at 7.30pm. Admission £5.available at the door with proceeds in aid of local charities. Dec 3 PLYMOUTH PHOENIX CHORALE St Peter’s Church, Plymouth Concert of Carols and Christmas music. Details 07971169335 Dec 3 SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR St Andrew’s Minster, Plymouth Rutter’s Magnificat. D irector Jenny George. Admission free retiring collection Dec 4 23RD INTERNATIONAL LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES Duke of Cornwall Hotel Christmas Gala Concert with the Chamber Ensemble of London, directed by Peter Fisher - violin. For tickets call Tel 275850 Dec 4 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill Charlie Hearnshaw’s Munjenta Cafe. Leading West Country saxophonist brings his exciting Latin jazz and swing band to Pymouth. Details 01752 721179 or www.plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk Dec 5 THE FOLK DIMENSION Sherwell Centre, Plymouth University Plymouth University Music BA students with Alice Perrot and Sam Richards perform music by Vaughan Williams, Bartok and other 20th century composers. Introduced by by Dr David Bessell, Head of BA Music at Plymouth University. Dec 5 FOLK SINGING WITH JAKE SONNY ROWLINSON Bread & Roses, Ebrington Street

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Originally from Staffordshire, Jake Sonny Rowlinson graduated from Plymouth University in 2011. His interest in folksong was sparked by leading folk revivalists and for some years he has been interested in ‘carrying a story with only the use of your voice’. He runs the monthly session at The Dolphin and will host this session in an informal and inclusive style. Anyone wanting to sing will be given a spot. Dec 6 WORLD MUSIC AND MINIMALISM Room 018, Rolle Building, Plymouth University Plymouth University Gamelan Orchestra, conductor Saj Collyer, with Mike McInerney - shakuhachi Dec 6 THE RECURRING MUSIC BAND Rolle Building, Plymouth University Comprising highly accomplished musicians in their own right, The Recurring Music Band, director Lona Kozik, was formed to mainly specialise in minimalism, postminimalism and new compositions by its members. Their programme includes ‘classic’ minimalism as well as music by ensemble director Lona Kozik using visuals and electronics. The programme also includes work by Philip Glass and Louise Adriessen.

Music from Harry Potter and music for brass, strings and woodwind ensembles. Admission free; parting donations towards concert costs welcome. Dec 9 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR St Edwards Church, Eggbuckland Concert of Christmas music and carols. Proceeds in aid of church funds. Tickets £5 on the door. Dec 9 SAM RICHARDS - PIANO Rolle Building, Plymouth University Jazz: Freedom songs for solo piano, includes songs from The Digger Song of the 17th century English revolution to Bob Marley’s Get Up, Stand Up by the way of Guantanamera from Cuba and Nkozi Sikalele. Dec 9 JAZZ: ALEX LLOYD TRIO Sherwell Centre. Plymouth University Material by Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus and other greats of the post World War Two progressive jazz scene. The Trio also plays improvisations and original material by Lloyd.

Dec 8 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR St Boniface School, Crownhill Seasonal songs and carols at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 on the door.

Dec 10 UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH CHORAL SOCIETY St Andrew’s Minster, Plymouth Christmas Concert with conductor Simon Ible featuring Haydn’s Te Deum and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. The concert also includes traditional carols for audience participation.

Dec 8 PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA Davy Main Hall, Plymouth University Works by Sibelius, Arnold, Prokofiev, Anderson and Williams:

Dec 10 THE PALACE THEATRE PHILHARMONIA AND CHORUS Plymouth Guildhall The Palace Theatre Philharmonia

The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Music and Chorus, musical director Marcus Alleyne. Enjoy the nation’s favourite festive music from Plymouth’s newest award winning choir and orchestra.

Dec 13 PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY CAROL SERVICE St. Matthias Church, North Hill, Plymouth Featuring University of Plymouth Choral Society, conductor Simon Ible. Free admission. Parting donations in aid of the Shekinah Mission welcomed. Dec 16 CHRISTMAS CONCERT St Mary’s Church, Brixton Featuring the Sir Joshua Reynolds Choir, director Jenny George. Details www. sirjoshuareynoldschoir.co.uk Dec 17 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT CHORAL FOUNDATION Christmas Concert Methodist Central Hall, Plymouth Tickets £10 from 01752 365580. Dec 17 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR Pilgrim United Reform Church, St Levan Road Concert of Christmas songs and carols with proceeds in aid of church funds. Tickets £5 on the door to include mulled wine and mince pies in aid of 366 cancer care at Derriford Hospital and Jeremiah’s Journey Dec 18 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill New Orleans Heat - Plymouth Jazz Club’s Christmas party with a highly popular and entertaining traditional jazz band. Details 01752 721179 or www.plymouthjazz-club.org.uk Dec 31 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill Plymouth Jazz Club New Year’s Eve Party with the ‘Enjoy Yourself’ Jazz Band - an evening of fun and lively traditional jazz with a bar and buffet. Tickets £15 includes buffet. Details 01752 721179 or www.plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Plymouth gears up for an unforgettable Christmas Plymouth is being turned into a Winter Wonderland with everything from giant snow globes and fabulous illuminations to a Santa driven train. The City Centre Company, Plymouth traders, Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Waterfront Partnership are uniting for a Yuletide to remember, hoping more people than ever before will visit Britain”s Ocean City from now unti the New Year. The Christmas holiday fun kicked off on November 17 with the Christmas lights switch on ceremony attended by thousands of people. From then on the celebrations keep getting better as the special Santa and Elf-driven city centre land train carries visitors, every Wednesday to Sunday from the West End to Drake Circus and back, right up until Christmas Eve. The Piazza will be completely transformed as the Christmas Market sets out more than 50 beautiful log cabin-style stalls trading from December 1 to 18.

Theatres & Shows

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The stalls, selling unique hand-crafted gifts, will be festooned in fairy lights offering warming drinks, a Bavarian bar with heated seats and festive food to keep visitors going. Perfect for those chilly, late night Thursday shopping trips when traders will be open until 9pm. The popular giant snow globe returns to the middle of Armada Gardens until December 23‚ allowing visitors to take photos and selfies for great festive memories. The city centre Nutcracker Trail is back, along with a new waterfront Snowflake Trail, both running until January 3 and offering great prizes. Santa and his little helpers will be meeting children in his Grottos at Drake’s Circus until Christmas Eve. Following Christmas 2015’s smash hit sell-out run, The Radiant Christmas Grotto is back once more from December 3 to 23 in Derry’s Cross. The Christmas Wonderland market will take place at the Royal William Yard on December 4 where Santa will arrive on an RNLI Lifeboat. In addition, there will be live music on the water from Amelia Whitman and festive Christmas experiences presented by Far-Flung Theatre Group. Small Business Saturday on December 3 will see local traders unite at Frankfort Gate to show off more unique, hand-crafted gifts and a fairground will be in the Civic Piazza until the New Year. www.cornerstonevision.com

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Christmas Fayre at Mount Edgcumbe

Back for the 13th year, and better than ever!

Saturday 10th December 2016 10am-5pm & Sunday 11th December 2016 10am-4pm See inspirational cooking demonstrations from West Country chefs and maybe pick up a few tips. Lots of local produce for your culinary delight. Beautiful floral displays by Duchy College students available to purchase. A wide variety of local gifts and crafts. Plus a programme full of entertainment, a family activity zone, you can even visit Santa in his Grotto! Scheduled ferries from Stonehouse and the Barbican

Entrance: £3 adults, £1 children, Parking £1 per car

Please note - no dogs, except guide dogs, are allowed in the fayre

Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park Cremyll Torpoint Cornwall PL10 1HZ Tel 01752 822 236 mt.edgcumbe@plymouth.gov.uk

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WHAT’S ON

Major Events Various dates LEAGUE 2 FOOTBALL Dec 3 Argyle v Newport (Cup) Dec 10 Argyle v Doncaster Dec 26 Argyle v Wycombe Dec 31 Argyle v Crawley Jan 14 Argyle v Stevenage Jan 28 Argyle v Blackpool NATIONAL LEAGUE RUGBY Dec 10 Albion v Blackheath Dec 17 Albion v Hartbury Coll Jan 14 Albion v Esher Jan 28 Albion v Fylde BRITISH LEAGUE BASKETBALL Dec 18 Raiders v Leicester Riders Dec 28 Raiders v Manchester Jan 29 Raiders v Leeds Force Until Jan 3 NUTCRACKER TRAIL Armada Way Santa has been busy touring Plymouth getting lots of toys for all the boys and girls this Christmas. On his travels he has left behind 20 Nutcrackers who have been told to find out what

A taste of Christmas at the Orangery this festive season...

presents children are asking for. Each Nutcracker has a name, simply tour the city centre with your Nutcracker Trail booklet and write down all of their names and you could win one of the 12 iPAD Mini’s that Santa left with Plymouth City Bus for us to give away. Until Jan 3 SNOWFLAKE TRAIL The Barbican & Sutton Harbour A six week long Snowflake trail with competition prizes. Enjoy a family day out and collect the names of the 20 Snowflakes located at the Royal William Yard, Millbay, Hoe, Barbican and Sutton Harbour - all within walking distance of one another. Dec 1 to Dec 18 PLYMOUTH CHRISTMAS MARKET Armada Way Plymouth’s Christmas Market returns to the heart of Plymouth City Centre and will see over 50 stalls in the style of traditional pretty log cabins selling the best arts, crafts and foods from around the South West. Dec 3 and 4 ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS PRESENT SHOW Carnglaze Caverns

Plymouth Market – Shoppers can take the hassle out of Christmas this year by visiting Plymouth Market for a one stop Christmas shop! From the turkey to the veg, Christmas presents to Christmas wrapping, Plymouth Market has everything shoppers need, all under one roof. With over 140 stalls there are gift ideas for all the family and friends. And its seven days a week shopping in December with the Plymouth Market is open every Sunday in the month as well as being open late night shopping on Thursdays. There’s festive fun for everyone at Plymouth Market in December – take the children along on Saturday December 10 and visit Santa for a chance to win a fantastic iPad Mini, a treat for all the family. Plymouth Market will also give customers the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in style this year with a £10,000 With Santa’s Grotto and a host of festive stalls. 10am to 5pm. For details visit www.carnglaze.com Dec 3 to 23 RADIANT CHRISTMAS GROTTO Radiant Gallery and RumpusCosy As ever, the Grotto is a foot high with snow and the show includes audience participation, singing, dancing, arial acrobatics, and a heart-warming story. Featured as one of the ‘Top Ten Best

Christmas Attractions in the UK’ in The Guardian last year. The show follows the story of Snowy the Fluffy Snow Creature and the frightfully charming deer as they work with the audience to save Christmas and remember how it can bring joy to all. The 20 minute micro-theatre performances are devised by the Plymouth-based cultural laboratory Effervescent. For more information visit www. radiantspace.org.uk

Book your dream wedding here. Spiced cinnamon coffee with gingerbread Christmas Brunch Turkey roast dinner with all the trimmings Bubble and squeak with fried eggs Christmas afternoon | High tea Christmas cocktail Homemade mulled wine

Why not share your Christmas with us? Staff parties & lunches | family festivities. Your Christmas ball | company package available upon request (private hire only).

For bookings call: 01752 822 586 Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Cornwall, PL10 1HZ

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Spring | Summer weddings – what a beautiful setting…

The Orangery and gardens are simply stunning in the spring and summertime. Live music on the lawn, homemade scones being served, whilst the hog is turning. The sun is beaming and the Champagne and Pimms are flowing. It doesn’t get better than this.

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Autumn | Winter weddings – the magical feel of the darker evenings…

There’s nothing like being by the coast on a crisp winter day with all your loved ones and friends. Wintertime in this historic venue is the most romantic and picturesque setting of all. Candelabras glowing, heating roaring, and guests toasting mulled wine under the moonlight. Perfect.

Out door hog roast, barbeques and buffets in full English tradition.

For wedding enquiries e-mail info@camelliacatering.co.uk www.theorangerymountedgcumbe.co.uk

Major Events

something for everyone this Christmas Radio Plymouth Crack the Safe competition. Register with Radio Plymouth, then pop in to Plymouth Market on Saturday December 17 or Sunday December 18 hand in the six-digit code – you’ve got to be in it to win it! This Christmas Plymouth Market is teaming up with Derriford Hospital’s Gold Dust Appeal to help improve the children’s wards and will be encouraging shoppers to make a donation and spread some cheer this Christmas. The Market will also be offering a Christmas gift wrapping service for a donation to the Gold Dust Appeal – a great time-saving way to get all the presents wrapped up. For more about Christmas at Plymouth Market, tune in to Radio Plymouth or visit the market now – it is business as usual during the exciting multi-million pound improvement programme to make the market even better.

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www.plymouthcitymarket.co.uk

Festive mirth with Plymouth Comedy Club Christmas is coming…and Plymouth Comedy Club is laying on a fantastic festival of mirth for the festive season. Headlining the show at The Plymouth Athenaeum on December 3 is Troy Hawke, who is joined by Silky, Danny Ward, Mark Hurmann and resident MC Chris Brooker. Troy Hawke is a man of many guises…actor, raconteur, socialite and wit, whose hilarious tales and off the cuff brilliance have featured at comedy festivals around the world. Returning by popular demand, Liverpool’s softly spoken songsmith Silky will be opening the evening’s Troy Hawke

proceedings. A truly unique way with words marks him out as one of the true heroes of the comedy business.   Support will also be provided by local lad done good Danny Ward as well as rising star of the scene Mark Hurmann. The night will be hosted by resident MC and compere Chris Brooker.

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Tickets are on sale now from www. plymouthcomedyclub. co.uk and booking in advance is strongly recommended. Follow @PlymComedyClub on Twitter and like the PlymouthComedyClub on Facebook for the latest news and events.

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WHAT’S ON

Magical family fun at Drake Circus

Plymouth’s Drake Circus Shopping Centre has revealed its plans for Christmas - with tons of magical fun for all the family. Christmas officially kicked off at the South West’s leading shopping centre, when Santa opened his Smeaton Tower style grotto and put his elves to work on November 17. As if by magic it will start snowing on Old Town Street every day at 4pm until Dec 24. On December 1, 8, 14 and 22, the centre will resonate to the sound of the ever popular local choirs singing Christmas carols. Amongst the choirs performing will be the Kings School Choir, University of Plymouth Choir, Plymouth Performing Arts Choir and the Oreston Primary School Choir. On December 3 it’s time to dust off the best acrylic sweater in time for Christmas Jumper day, in aid of the St Luke’s Hospice charity. Shopping at Drake Circus will definitely have a festive feel, with 70 top brands under one roof, late night shopping evenings every Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, Click and Collect, the Drake Circus Gift Card and car park opening hours every day from 6.30pm - 10.30pm. “Christmas at Drake Circus is gearing up to be really special this year - we’re particularly looking forward to welcoming Santa to the centre,” said centre director, Greg Lumley. “We’re very proud of our customer service at Drake Circus and we aim to make Christmas shopping enjoyable and fun for all the family.”

One of Hollywood’s true screen legends and entertainers Fred Astaire will be celebrated in an exciting new show at Plymouth Pavilions on May 13 next year. Starring Strictly Come Dancing stars Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara, ‘Remembering Fred’ is from the producer of Darcey Bussell’s and Katherine Jenkins’ Viva La Diva. ‘Remembering Fred’ will feature song and dance and celebrate the legacy of the great entertainer. Aljaz and Janette will be performing the golden age of Hollywood’s most celebrated dance routines and audiences will also hear famous Fred ‘fans’, such as Darcey Bussell, Ava Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, Irving Berlin, Twiggy, Don Black and Bruce Oldfield, amongst others, talk about how the screen icon touched their lives and what made him so special. ‘Remembering Fred’ is a magical evening of top hat, white tie and wonderful tales! Backed by a full supporting cast of dancers, live band and singers, Aljaz and Janette will perform classics from the American Songbook, written by the likes of George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berling and Cole Porter. ‘Remembering Fred’ will feature songs such as They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Night & Day, S’Wonderful, Cheek To Cheek, Puttin’ On The Ritz, Let’s Face The Music & Dance, The Way You Look Tonight, Top Hat, White Tie & Tail and many others.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

For tickets and further information visit www. plymouthpavilions.com or call 0845 146 1460

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WHAT’S ON Dec 10 WILD ABOUT PLYMOUTH: CHRISTMAS STARS Mayflower Museum, The Barbican Get in the Christmas mood with specimens from Plymouth Museum’s spirit collections including festive pickles, sea horses and star fish. The curator will bring along other items that he’s collected from the winter foreshore too so you can work with out guest artist to make yuletide decorations inspired by the natural world. Session times: 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm. Adults £3 Children £2 (5-16 years). Under 5s go free Advance booking and payment by December 2 are essential due to limited numbers. Book online at www.eventbrite.co.uk an 21 WILD ABOUT PLYMOUTH: NATURAL HISTORY SCIENTISTS Davy Building, Plymouth University Come along for a quiz with a difference and a chance to see inside one of the labs at the University. We will be donning our lab coats and investigating some weird and wonderful animals, just like real scientists. Peer down a telescope, examine skeletons and

more! This event is suitable for children aged 5+. Saltram House Plympton 01752 333500 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saltram Until Jan 1 FESTIVE FAMILY TRAIL Pop into the Welcome Centre and pick up this year’s festive family trail around the house and garden. Until Jan 1 ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS Brighten up dark winter nights with a stroll around the enchanted illuminated gardens and see the house magically decorated throughout with inspiration taken from some well-known fairy tales. Dec 9 to 24 STORYTIME WITH FATHER CHRISTMAS Have you ever wondered what Cinderella got for Christmas? Sit down and join Father Christmas in the stables as he shares magical stories of what some of his fairy tale friends got for Christmas. Includes a keepsake. Jan 2 to Feb 28 PUDDLE TRAIL Get your wellies on for a splash around Saltram garden. Hunt for the biggest puddles and then plot

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them on your trail sheet using the puddle shaped stickers. Don’t worry if it’s a dry day you’ll be spotting plants and flowers too.

for a festive feast, admire the greenery in the Great Hall and discover peace and tranquillity in the Chapel.

Jan 8 to Feb 16 A WINTER WALK AMONGST THE SNOWDROPS As the snowdrops frame the pathways take some time for yourself and enjoy a brisk winter walk. Return in February to plant a snow drop with our garden team.

Dec 4, 11 FESTIVE FAMILY FELT Get ready for Christmas as The Wet Felting Company arrives to help you create tree decorations, gifts and more.

Jan 14 WASSAIL! Bring whistles, pan lids and wellies as we bless the orchard at Wassail. Join us in the Saltram Orchard to scare away the spirits and bless the crop for 2015 in the ancient custom of wassailing. Spend the rest of your evening in the Cafe to sample the fruits of last year’s crop with apple cakes, juice and ciders whilst watching or joining in with the Dartington Morris Men. Buckland Abbey Yelverton 01822 853607 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bucklandabbey

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Dec 1 to Jan 2 CHRISTMAS AT BUCKLAND: THE FIRST NOEL Celebrate the Christmas season as local NAFAs groups fill the barn with festive joy with their seasonal interpretation of the carol, The First Noel. For details visit website. Dec 1 to 23 AN ELIZABETHAN CHRISTMAS AT HOME Step back in time to experience an Elizabethan Christmas at home. See the kitchen getting ready

Dec 7 & 14 CHRISTMAS DINE OUT AT BUCKLAND Enjoy a festive meal at the heart of the Buckland Abbey estate, as the Ox Yard restaurant opens its doors late for seasonal meals to celebrate the year gone by. Dec 19 to 23 AN AUDIENCE WITH OLDE FATHER CHRISTMAS Rediscover the Christmas magic as Olde Father Christmas invites you into the Great Hall for tales of Christmas past. Dec 27 to Jan 2 POST-CHRISTMAS WALKABOUT Walk off the Christmas dinner with friends and family with a festive walk about the Buckland Abbey estate. Jan 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28. 29, & Feb 4 WINTER WALKS Dust off the cob webs and enjoy a self-led walk around the Buckland Abbey estate with the frosty crunchy leaves underneath your feet and a slice of delicious homemade cake in the restaurant. Jan 17 VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT DAY Have you ever thought about volunteering at Buckland Abbey?

Family Events this 60th anniversary 60-foot masterpiece in the Great Hall until 31 December and enjoy a variety of local choirs and groups performing under it. Until Dec 24 LYRICAL LINKS IN THE LIBRARY An exhibition in the Library where you can explore how some of Cotehele’s collection link to your favourite Christmas carols. Discover some items in Cotehele’s collection, and some aspects of its history, that link with the lyrics of Christmas carols and songs.

Cotehele Calstock 01579 351346 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele Until Dec 31 CHRISTMAS FLOWER GARLAND 60TH ANNIVERSARY When the residents of Cotehele first hung a modest, floral, Christmas display in the hall six decades ago, little did they know how their simple decoration would turn into the magnificent and famous tradition it is today. Until Dec 24 CHOIRS AND MUSICIANS UNDER THE GARLAND The garland is complete, the log fire is burning - join us to admire www.cornerstonevision.com

Jan 10 to 12 APPLE TREE PRUNING WORKSHOPS An introduction to apple tree pruning with Cotehele’s gardeners. Part theory, part practical. Tools provided, but wrap up warm.

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Dec 17, 18, 22 & 23 FESTIVE ART & CRAFT FUN Have fun making art with garland flowers, glue and paper. Father Christmas will pop in too. We’ll have arts and crafts supplies ready for children and families to create some festive art. Father Christmas and his helpers will be dropping in during these sessions to give a hand too. There is no charge for making art; Father Christmas gifts for children will be available, £3 per gift.

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Dec 10 & 11 CHRISTMAS FAYRE Back for the thirteenth year, and still fabulous! The fayre will run 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Inspirational cookery demonstrations from leading west country chefs, local produce will be available for your culinary delight, lots of entertainment and Christmas Carolling. If your looking for that special Christmas gift, there will be a wide variety of crafts and gifts available, and even a visit from Santa Saturday & Sunday 11am-3pm. Admission: Adults £3 each, Children £1 each.

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Dec 17, 18, 22 & 23 AT HOME WITH MOTHER & FATHER CHRISTMAS Meet Mother and Father Christmas in their grotto at Cotehele. Mother and Father Christmas will be receiving visitors in their grotto before they return to the North Pole to start their Christmas deliveries. Timed tickets will be issued on arrival.

Volunteering can be a very rewarding experience and a way to learn new skills and make friends. Come for a chat, meet the team, enjoy some tea and find out how we can work together.

Dec 3 to 24 THE FATHER CHRISTMAS TRAIL Follow the Father Christmas trail from reception, through the woods to the Edgcumbe tea-room on Cotehele Quay finding clues along the way. Collect your Father Christmas biscuit at the end of the trail. Your dog is welcome too.

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Jan 18 VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT DAY What are you doing in 2017? Do you have an interest in working with us in our house, garden, reception, mill or in the great outdoors on the estate? Come for a volunteer day to learn all about how you can help us look after Cotehele. Join us for a chat, tea, cake and to meet the team. No need to book, just drop in anytime during the day.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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WHAT’S ON

Exhibitions and Other Events

Film news from Plymouth Arts Centre

Plymouth Arts Centre’s film programme in December opens with The Queen of Katwe, the inspiring story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from a Ugandan slum whose life was changed the day she wandered into a chess club looking for free porridge. There she receives support and encouragement and with more from her family and community, she is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. The film features an outstanding cast including Lupita Nyong‚ David Oyelowo and a powerful debut performance from Madina Nalwanga. The Queen of Katwe is rated PG and is screened on December 2,3,6,7 and 8. Also screened from December 2 to 8 is Swiss Army Man, which is rated 15. Outrageously fun yet deeply affecting, Swiss Army Man tells the tale of Hank who is stranded on a desert island and has given up all hope of ever making it home. One day, everything changes when a corpse named Manny (Radcliffe) washes up on shore.

Local exhibitions Dec 3 to 17 RE-IMAGINED STATES - ARTS AND HUMANITIES MA SHOW Peninsula Arts Gallery Many of the graduates are working with the relationship between humanity, technology and image. These inter-relationships between the social, cultural and the landscapes of technological change, have fascinated artists, photographers and designers for many years. They have grappled with questions of form, reportage, function and utility since the industrial age, but today’s designers and photographers are trying to reconcile the interactions between the sustainable, science and society, between the digital and the ecological, between the periphery and centre. Until Jan 7 ASTRO RAGGI Megan Broadmeadow Plymouth Arts Centre In the 1970s Pasquale Quadri invented the Astrodisco, a disco light with lenses, mirrors and a motor that produced a web of beams and movement the disco world had never seen before. For her solo exhibition at Plymouth Arts Centre Megan Broadmeadow’s installations takes us into the magical world of the Astrodisco. Welsh artist Megan Broadmeadow lives and works in Bristol. Her immersive installations and sculptural work include combinations of videos, lights and illusions. A graduate of The Slade and Goldsmiths College, Broadmeadow was awarded the 2015 -16 Mark Tanner

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Probably the most bonkers buddy movie of all time, it’s also a celebration of all the wonders cinema has to offer, and a wholly original examination of human vulnerability and connection that has to be seen to be believed. Showing between December 9 and 15 is The Light Between Oceans (12A) starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz, Jack Thompson.Tom is a World War I veteran who maintains a lighthouse off the shore of Australia with his wife Isabel, a woman desperate to have a baby. Her prayers are answered when an infant washes up on shore in a rowboat. Tom thinks they should notify the authorities but ultimately gives in to Isabel’s wish to keep the girl. Fate strikes again when the couple meet the child’s biological mother on the mainland. Now, Tom and Isabel must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of four people.

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For film times and bookings contact the Box Office on 01752 206114 or visit www.plymouthartscentre.org

Sculpture Award. Free entry to the exhibition. Gallery Opening Times Tuesday-Saturday 1-8.30pm. Additional events associated with the exhibition: Bringing In Baby: To The Disco Tuesday December 6 11am–12 noon Adults and under 1s. £2 includes a hot drink Drop in for a guided tour of Megan Broadmeadow’s Astro Raggi with our visual arts team and your little ones. Criss cross the dancefloor as we adventure into the world of Italo Disco and take in the music and mirrors of the galleries. Post-party we’ll rest our dancing feet in the comfort of the cafe and have a chance to meet other parents with a passion for culture over a coffee. Disco naps allowed! The box office is open from 1pm Tuesday–Saturday 01752 206114 Jan 21 to Mar 18 MALCOLM LE GRICE: PRESENT MOMENTS AND PASSING TIME Peninsula Arts Gallery & Plymouth Arts Centre Come and see an exhibition that spans 50 years of innovation in painting, film, video and digital art in an exhibition that celebrates the ground-breaking work of Plymouth-born Malcolm Le Grice, who has exhibited across the UK, Europe and in New York. This is a History Centre partnership project delivered by Peninsula Arts and Plymouth City Council (Arts and Heritage).Until Dec 31 All Wrapped Up Cotehele Gallery A Christmas exhibition filled with unique gift ideas for someone special, your home or yourself. This exhibition includes Jane Eyers with her intricate fairies and angels, Margaret Johnson’s garland glow pots, Spencer Larcombe with a stunning wrought iron and copper chandelier and Margaret Burke with a limited edition vase of Cotehele, garland baubles and more.

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WHAT’S ON

Festive market from the Native Makers

Pictured at the Native Makers summer event are Emily Dymond and Rosie Drake-Emery (front centre) and their fellow makers

Native Makers are extending their renowned Christmas event to a two-day festive market. At their last event in July, Native Makers attracted over 6,000 visitors from across the country to Plymouth. Co-founders Emily Dymond and Rosie Drake-Amery have been working on Native Makers since 2014, and this will be their fifth event. “We work hard to promote our events to not only local people, but to the rest of the South West and beyond. We attract visitors from Bristol, Dorset, Cornwall and even as far afield as London. Our last event was so busy that we decided to extend our Christmas event to a two-day market.” said Rosie. Mel Brown, illustration lecturer at Plymouth College of Art described the event as “Incredible! I had to keep reminding myself that I was in Plymouth, it felt like a Shoreditch festival, there was such a good vibe!” Rosie and Emily started Native Makers as makers themselves, in need of a high quality selling opportunity in the city. “It’s amazing to be able to give our makers the support and audience they need,” said Emily “We collect feedback from our makers at each event

and listen to their thoughts. Last time the majority of our makers requested more music so we went for it.” Freya Moses, textile designer and veteran Native Maker said: “The atmosphere is like nothing I’ve ever experienced at a makers market. It is supportive and fun, relaxed but exciting. The girls are doing such a great job of bringing in the right audience! I always clear a good profit and have a brilliant time!” Roberta Juxon-Keen and Hazel Gibbons, creators of ‘Bedboat’ magazine, were new exhibitors and benefitted from Native Makers ‘Native Nurture’ Scheme, providing half price stall spaces to new creatives who have been trading for 12 months or less. “We felt so proud to be amongst some amazing quality makers, of which Rosie and Emily curate brilliantly. The event was fun, colourful, eclectic and social and we felt lucky to have been welcomed into the Native Makers family! The environment was so supportive, full of like minded folk and inspiring. The Native Nurture scheme is so important for emerging creatives like us.” Rosie and Emily are now planning their Christmas event and will add more creative drop-in workshops for weekend long entertainment. The event will be held at Devonport Guildhall, on December 3 and 4, from 10am-4pm both days.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

For more information on Native Makers and to stay up to date with their events, check out their website www.nativemakers.co.uk or follow them on Facebook and Instagram, search for ‘Native Makers’.

Exhibitions and Other Events

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TRAVEL MATTERS

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How Brexit may impact on holidays in the future By Travel Expert

In the aftermath of the far reaching Brexit decision, there have been numerous theories and media reports about the implications of leaving the EU for us as individuals and for businesses.

Some of these effects are already being felt with the drop in the value of Sterling against both the US Dollar and the Euro raising the cost of everyday imported goods. My primary focus has obviously been on how the Brexit decision will affect the travel industry, in particular the cost of holidays, the booking process and how the travel habits of British people could change as a result. People who are simply booking the flight element of their holiday for next year should not see any immediate impact on prices. This is because airlines 'hedge' their fuel costs. This is done by using a contractual agreement to cap fuel prices in advance thus reducing their exposure to volatile oil prices and exchange rates. The prices and exchange rates for most of the fuel they anticipate using next year will therefore have already been agreed. As far as package holidays are concerned, the main tour operators such as Thomson and Thomas Cook will have also agreed their accommodations costs with hotels and signed contracts months ago. However, any contractual agreements made in local currencies will obviously be subject to exchange rate fluctuations and could result in increased prices to the tour operator, which will ultimately be passed on to the holidaymaker.

Anthony Goord

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

My advice would be to seriously consider booking your holiday now to save money rather than waiting until after Christmas. Tour operators will re-print their brochures and update their systems just before the festive season and I feel sure that prices will be increased to reflect exchange rate adjustments. If you confirm your holiday now and pay a deposit, you will stand a chance of securing a better deal particularly on certain holiday types and high-season breaks. Once your holiday is confirmed, you will avoid the need to 'gamble' on how a weak pound could inflate your holiday price if booked later. I should point out however that it is always important to check the small print in the booking conditions. The relevant tclause states that 'the operator will absorb the first 2% up to 10% of any unforeseen extra charges they incur but for anything over this amount, the client must pay the difference or be allowed to cancel'. During my 30 years working in the travel industry, I can never recall a single occasion where an operator evoked this clause to increase a holiday price after it had been confirmed and a deposit paid. It is important, however, to know that the remote possibility exists. Still on the subject of how exchange rate fluctuations could affect holiday prices, I would issue a separate warning to those travellers who are considering tailor-making their own holiday by booking flights and accommodation separately online. Many of the hotel deals you may find will be based on prices in local currencies and paying the hotelier either when you check-in or leave. If there is significant movement in exchange rates (not in your favour) between when you book and when you travel, you could be in for shock when you pay the final bill at check-out! In recent months, I have noticed an increasing number of clients enquiring about holidays to all-inclusive properties only, particularly those travelling with children. This can again be attributed to the recent volatility of the pound because spending money is obviously a key factor when planning the holiday budget. Regardless of the board basis advertised for your chosen

hotel, most establishments are flexible and offer many options from self-catering to all-inclusive. It is therefore always worthwhile asking your travel agent to check whether your board basis can be upgraded if required. Another notable booking trend to avoid being hit by exchange rates has been to travel to areas where the pound is still relatively strong such as South Africa, China, Australasia, the Far East and non-Eurozone destinations closer to home. Holiday deposits with most tour operators have reduced recently too with many starting from as little as £50 per person giving you no excuse to miss out on the best deals if you book now.

UPDATES ON VISAS TO CANADA AND CUBA CANADA The leniency period for passengers travelling to Canada by air without an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority/Visa) ended in November. From this date, if you hold a British or other European passport you will need to apply for an ETA at a cost of $7 (Canadian Dollars). This visa is only required if you arrive in Canada by air; if you enter by land or sea you will not need one. Please be aware however that if you have any previous criminal convictions, you should apply for the visa as early as possible and be prepared for a much lengthier process of application or ultimate refusal of entry into the country. The Canadian Embassy do not have any U.K. office staff available to deal with queries relating to ETA’s making any complications or queries with an application very difficult to resolve quickly, or at all. CUBA From October this year, ALL British passport holders require an ‘Entry Tourist Visa’ for Cuba. Historically, when booking a holiday with a tour operator a ‘Tourist Card’ was included in the cost of holiday and was either sent with your tickets

or provided at the airport check-in. This system has now changed and for holidays with certain operators (including Thomson and Virgin Holidays), clients are now required to arrange their own visas. The approximate cost of this visa including the administration fee is £27. When booking your next holiday with Cuba, please ask your travel agent to check and confirm whether the visa is included as this can have a substantial impact on the overall holiday cost and might make the cost of alternative packages look more attractive. Finally, as we find ourselves fast approaching the end of 2016, we reflect on a year that has brought a host of unexpected events, some of which will benefit the travel industry and others which will no doubt hinder it. We are delighted to announce that the beginning of 2017 will mark the 40th Anniversary for Peter Goord Travel. My brother Victor and I are extremely proud to have been able to continue running our successful family travel business for almost 20 years after the retirement of our father, Peter. It is no secret that we have had to make some fundamental changes and adapt our business to keep apace with the fast moving travel industry but we are adamant that we never lose the 'personal touch' that we feel only a family business can truly deliver. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their kind comments, steadfast loyalty and support over the years – without you and the tireless efforts of our amazing staff, it would never have been possible. I hope to cover our 40th anniversary in more detail in next month’s Plymouth Magazine. Wishing everyone a fantastic Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Editor’s Note: Last month's editorial on Cuba was written by Victor Goord, not Anthony as implied in the magazine article. Sorry Victor!

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Jamie Shewbrook of West Country Tile and Bathroom

Treat yourself to affordable luxury at Westcountry Tile and Bathroom When Jamie Shewbrook opened the Westcountry Tile and Bathroom showroom in Crownhill just under three years ago, he had a clear vision: “I wanted to give customers in the South West a choice of bathrooms that would rival anything from London,” he said.

Duravit, based in Germany’s Black Forest, have reinvented the bathroom as a place of rejuvenation for the mind, body and soul by introducing three new stunning collections: Cape Cod, Philippe Starck & L-Cube. All of these can be admired at Westcountry Tile & Bathroom. As well as the highly contemporary sleek, glossy look, “We offer bathroom collections from luxury brands that another trend is for the use of ‘natural products’ such as wood, stone and glass. provide our clients something unique and allows them a For customers who want a ‘mix and match’ bathroom choice of affordable luxury in their own homes.” combining brands, or have a particular look and feel in mind, As we walk around the showroom at Christian Mill Business then Jamie and Dan will to able to help design their Park, it looks as though he’s achieved just that. Villeroy & Bach Oberan bath Boasting some of the most prestigious brands dream bathroom through visualization using High Definition CAD (computer aided diagram) design. including Villeroy & Boch, Artelinea, Keuco and “We can even incorporate sound-and-vision and Duravit, the showroom has 50 stunning displays under floor heating within the bathroom,” said of bathrooms of all shapes and sizes – including one fully working display. Jamie. The showroom also has a large selection of high Everything on display at the family-owned Tile quality accessories to add the ‘finishing touch’ to and Bathroom showroom is carefully selected by your bathroom, such as mirrors, furniture, towel Jamie and his team, which includes mum Sue and rails and radiators. fiancé Mel. That also includes the new Artelinea and Duravit bays which were being installed when And, with an experienced team of fitters, plumbers, electricians and tilers, you’ll be enjoying Plymouth Magazine paid a visit. your beautiful new bathroom before you know it: “We’re developing our ranges all the time “We can provide an all-in-one service to consult, and these two displays are perfect examples of what we’re trying to achieve which is to offer design and fit everything for you, so you can sit back and relax.” the very latest in innovative design and quality.” Jamie gets much of his inspiration from visiting That’s clear to see in the Italian craftsmanship the world’s largest bathroom trade fairs, including from Artelinea, portrayed uniquely though ISH in Germany: “The next one is in March,” sophisticated style and design.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

BUSINESS MATTERS

Artelina bathroom display

Duravit Cape Cod bathroom display

he said. “I always look forward to attending the show in anticipation of the new designs from Germany, Italy, Spain and further afield that will be on display and available to us for 2017.” It’s this enthusiasm that has helped Westcountry Tile and Bathroom to become so successful. The shop is about to celebrate its third anniversary but Jamie has been in the industry for nearly 25 years and clearly loves his work. He’s not the only one: “We have a team of eight and if you add up all our years experience in the bathroom business, it comes to almost 80 years. That’s a lot of experience to have under one roof.” said Jamie. And he added: “We’ve had a tremendous amount of recommendations since we started which is nice to hear.” With more people choosing to refurbish their homes rather than move, the showroom has seen an extremely busy 2016. And, says Jamie: “Customers have become much more discerning, they want quality and are looking for a bathroom that really adds extra value to their homes.”

Luxury developers are also recognising this change in people’s expectations: “We’ve started to work with several house developers in the region who want to include quality bathrooms in their projects and have asked us to create those for them,” explained Jamie. It’s another reason why Jamie and his team are looking forward to a successful year ahead: “The New Year is always a busy time and we’re getting customers in who are looking to refurbish their homes after Christmas holidays,” he said. “So it’s already shaping up to be a busy year for us.” Pop into the Westcountry Tile and Bathroom showroom to discuss how you, too, could get your dream bathroom in 2017.

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Westcountry Tile and Bathroom 56-60 Christian Mill Business Park, Crownhill PL6 5DS 01752 770077 sales@westcountrytileandbathroom.co.uk www.westcountrytileandbathroom.co.uk

To Wed or not to Wed?

Latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics reveal that there has been a decline in the number of couples deciding to marry with an increase in people preferring to just to live together. With a 4% decrease in marriage rates over the last 13 years and a 3% increase in people cohabiting during that same period, there is suggestion that this is a modern trend which is only likely to be more and more popular. It is common for people to think that when couples are not married, a separation may be more straight forward to achieve. However, legally, there is a significant

lack of protection for cohabiting couples when they separate which can often lead to complicated disputes when it comes to dividing property and assets.

Although married couples have wide protection from legislation called the Matrimonial Causes Act, there is no such legislation which assists to protect couples who live together in the event of a separation. Cohabiting couples faced with a relationship breakdown instead have to turn to the rules under Civil Law which can prove to be complicated and at times, expensive. Resolving a relationship breakdown when you are not married can be difficult and there may not be clear evidence about ownership of assets. For example, one person may own a property in their name only but the other person may have made significant financial contributions to the property whilst living there. There may be dispute about the extent of those contributions; how they give one person an interest in the property and how that legal interest may be quantified. There may also be children of the relationship whose needs need to be considered. Separation

can sometimes initially lead to the non legal owner ﬁnding themselves homeless, as they may not realise what rights they have.

The legal protection hasn’t yet caught up with this trend of living together without being married and there is no immediate plan for the Government to change this. If you are living with someone or about to move in with someone, you can avoid the uncertainty by entering into a Cohabitation Agreement which can set out your intentions at the outset and hopefully avoid any disputes in the event of a relationship breakdown. Perhaps not the most romantic gesture, but a way of oﬀering certainly and security to you both. If you want further advice on Cohabitation Agreements or your rights in the event of a relationship breakdown then please contact Vikki at Wolferstans for practical and straight forward advice; by telephone on 01752 292218 or by email at vmartin@wolferstans. com

01752 292218 www.wolferstans.com www.cornerstonevision.com

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Wolferstans your local family law experts, here for you when you need us

The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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PROPERTY MATTERS

Left to Right: Councillor Roger Croad, Deputy Lord Mayor of Plymouth Sam Davey, Clare Brimble Sherford Consortium Member, Brian Deacon Sherford Consortium Member, Councillor John Tucker Leader of South Hams District Council, Sherford Consortium Member Wayne Bennett

Sherford new town set to get its first residents in January

Wolferstans Approved For Wills & Inheritance Quality Scheme Wolferstans Solicitors are celebrating having been successfully reaccredited to the Law Society Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS), for the second year. It is recognised that individuals who choose an unregulated Will writer to draft their Will risk leaving their loved ones in a legal minefield. Although your Will is one of the most important financial and personal decisions that you will make, very often individuals choose to draft a Will themselves or choose not to use a specialist solicitor, running the risk that their Will may be invalid, incomplete or contested after death, often at very considerable financial or emotional cost.

know who to trust and what to look for in choosing an adviser. This is why the WIQS scheme is so important, as it identifies firms who are skilled and accredited in the work, and who have signed up to stringent quality standards. We were delighted to have been one of only a handful of firms locally who were originally accredited under the scheme, and are really pleased to renew that accreditation this year.”

Currently there is no regulation surrounding Will drafting so anyone is able to hold themselves out as an expert in drafting Wills.

It is extremely important to talk to a specialist solicitor who can make sure that the Will is correctly and appropriately drafted, but also provides for exactly what the individual needs and chooses. A specialist will also be able to advise on complex ﬁnancial issues such as inheritance tax and trusts planning, and advise upon potential challenges that could be made to the Will.

Samantha Buckthought, partner and Head of the Wills and Trust Department at Wolferstans says “It is very diﬃcult for those seeking advice to

Samantha adds “At the heart of WIQs is the Law Society standard for delivering tailored Wills and probate advice. In achieving our WIQs

www.wolferstans.com

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

accreditation, we underwent an application and assessment process to demonstrate our adoption of best practice procedures in delivering Wills and probate advice. This beneﬁts our clients by ensuring that they understand the issues in preparing a Will or seeking probate advice, and are aware of the options, costs and timescales in order to make an informed choice from the outset. This means that our clients can be conﬁdent that they will be seen by a specialist who will be able to give them advice to meet their individual needs.” If you would like information or advice regarding drafting a Will or probate matters please contact Rebecca Bawler on 01752 292322 or email rbawler@wolferstans.com or alternatively visit www.wolferstans.com

Wolferstans your local legal Wills and Trust experts, here for you when you need us

The first completed homes at Sherford on the outskirts of Plymouth have been unveiled, with over 20 available to buy and two show homes being thrown open to the public. The town’s first residents could be settled into their new homes as early as January, with the first houses falling within the Plymouth sector of the 5,500-home town – which also takes in the South Hams. Some 600 homes will be available in the first phase over the next 3-4 years, 122 of them affordable, including 24 which are wheelchairadapted. The first homes on the market range from one-bedroom flats to six-bedroom houses. Of the 5,500 properties, one in five will be affordable housing with a starting price of £174,995. The first show homes are the six-bedroom Kiln and four bedroom Heybrook town houses. The town is being built by The Sherford Consortium, a partnership of Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Taylor Wimpey. The consortium described the completion of the first homes as “a monumental milestone”. Consortium officials and councillors from Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council and South Hams District Council attended a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the launch, with Plymouth’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Sam Davey, doing the honours. The development covers 1,200 acres of farmland between the A38 at Deep Lane on its north eastern edge and the A379 near Elburton on its south western corner. Part of the land is for commercial use which it’s hoped will lead to 5,000 new jobs. Tender opportunities will be available from 2017. When complete the town will have four schools – three primary and one secondary – and the first one, Sherford Vale Primary, is expected to open its doors in September 2017. The main street, which has the first homes, is accessed via Haye Road. Works vehicles will enter from the other end of the main street, to minimise disturbance for residents. As the town develops, the main road will lead to the High Street which will have shops, businesses and places to socialise. There will also be a town hall, library, health and children’s centre, community hall, theatre, sports centre including a swimming pool and a youth centre. These community elements will be 'triggered' in phases as the houses are built. Outdoor spaces will feature playing fields and football pitches while a 500-acre parkland will have gardens, allotments, wildlife walks, wildlife corridors and potentially an organic farm. The wildlife corridors include the so-called ‘Bat Bridge’ bearing the ‘Welcome to Sherford’ message. The wooden bridge was installed to help the navigation of the area’s 14plus species of bat, following the removal of hedgerows which they used as navigation aids. The unveiling of the first homes follows 20 years of planning process and controversy over where the new homes should be built. Sherford was eventually given the go-ahead despite environmental objections and concerns over the impact on the surrounding road network – particularly the A379 and Laira Bridge. A park and ride service will be provided at the Deep Lane end to encourage people to use public transport. There will also be National Cycle Network connections. The consortium believes that the green spaces incorporated in the town lay-out will retain a ‘country’ feel. And the partners are promising “one of the greenest communities in the UK” with over £1.6 million invested so far in eco-friendly initiatives. These include wind turbines to create energy at Sherford. Brian Deacon, sales and marketing director at Linden Homes, told Plymouth Magazine there had already been a lot of enquiries from local people: “We’ve had a huge response, mostly from people in Plymouth but also from people in the South Hams. People have heard a lot about Sherford and they’re keen to come and take a look. So it’s been a great start. “Our challenge is to create a community,” he added. “This community element is extremely important to us and it’s very exciting to be part of it.” Plymouth City Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Patrick Nicholson, also cabinet member for strategic transport, housing and planning, agreed: “Not only will the site provide much needed homes locally, but it is also about providing the homes within a close commuter distance to Plymouth and the vital infrastructure for Plymstock and Elburton that the area desperately needs.” Work at Sherford started in September 2014 and it’ll be another estimated 15 years or so before the town is complete. For more information visit www.sherford.org

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PROPERTY MATTERS

Darren Lawson, managing director of Mansbridge Balment

First timers have a powerful voice in the year of the ‘Brex Factor’ Brexit – it was one of the most historic votes in British constitutional history that had some doom mongers predicting the end of civilisation as we know it; but just what impact did it have on the property market here in Plymouth? Mansbridge Balment managing director Darren Lawson gives his assessment, alongside the other key events in 2016 – and what might happen in the year ahead. The great ‘should we stay or should we go’ debate may have dominated the headlines this year, but even before the Europhiles and Eurosceptics had properly locked horns and fired their opening salvos ahead of the Brexit vote, there was another unprecedented event taking place in the property market. Unsurprisingly, Chancellor George Osborne’s decision to sharply raise Stamp Duty on Buy to Let properties and ‘Second Homes’ created a flurry of activity as

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

buyers, in what has been a highly lucrative sector in the marketplace, rushed to complete their purchases ahead of the March 31 deadline. That was great news for the solicitors, lenders and of course, estate agents like us, as those buyers who might have taken their time over such an important investment were suddenly up against the clock, desperate to complete their purchase and avoid a hefty wallop in the wallet. But where there are losers, you will invariably find winners too and just as I had predicted as 2015 drew to a close, the Stamp Duty hike was also great news for first time buyers. Seen as the perennial ‘also rans’ of the property market in recent years, they were suddenly in the running again. Thanks to George Osborne they had more choice and crucially, more spending power. As the deadline passed and ‘Buy to Let’ investors began stepping aside, the first

timers took their chance and enthusiastically leapt in to fill the void. Already buoyed by the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, it was another helping hand onto the property ladder – and richly deserved too. One of my predictions that I was particularly pleased came true. So to Brexit then. You could be forgiven for thinking the end of the world was nigh if you listened to some of those in the ‘prophets of doom’ camp and as ‘B-Day’ approached in June there was a noticeable cooling in the market. Was I surprised? Not at all. In common with General Election years it’s human nature to wait until uncertainty passes and the Brexit vote was no different. The doom mongers may have been predicting the market would be brought to its knees but within 48 hours of the vote, the market clearly had other ideas. It had picked itself up, got back on its bike and rode off into the sunset! Our message at the time was Keep Calm and Carry On and that certainly seems to have resonated with people. Historically, any impact on the property market is largely due to ‘supply and demand’. It is also worth remembering that people will always need to move home as and when personal circumstances dictate, not necessarily as a result of outside forces, be they political or otherwise. Having said that, it would churlish to suggest that in the medium to long term, Brexit will have no effect on the market. Once Article 50 has been triggered and the formal process of our departure from the European Union begins, uncertainty at that time could well impact on prices. Like much of the impact around the effects of Brexit though, it is still a little too early to say precisely what will happen. Trump’s shock victory in the US Election had an immediate effect on money markets and in the coming months that too could have a ripple effect on the market this side of the Atlantic, but again we will have to wait and see.

But enough of Brexit…this has still been a year to accentuate the positive. There has been a steady growth in the Plymouth property market and our total value of house sales is already up on last year with a little under two months to go. With interest rates low, borrowing is still very affordable and the continued pragmatic approach to lending will ensure stability in the market place, I see no reason why growth won’t continue in 2017, albeit at a more modest rate perhaps and hopefully there will be a good balance between supply and demand to keep prices in check too. There is still an issue around availability of suitable properties, particularly those in mid-price ranges, but what has been particularly pleasing is the impact Help to Buy has had on new build homes, particularly in the affordable housing sector, which should help alleviate some pressure on demand. What has been equally pleasing to me is the performance of Mansbridge Balment in 2016. We have sold more houses in Plymouth during the 12 months from October 2015 than any other agent in the city. Given a number of challenges this year, it’s a great achievement, but I think I take even greater pride in the Gold awards both the agency and several staff members have received in recognition of our customer service. This has been my first full year back at work since my skiing accident, almost two years ago, and it has been fantastic to see first-hand how our customer engagement continues to go from strength to strength. Our ‘Gold Standard’ service is certainly something we will be proud to shout about in 2017. Alongside our fantastic sales performance, it has given us much to celebrate and fired us with enthusiasm for the new challenges ahead. I’m sure Brexit won’t be too far from the headlines next year either, but right now our message is still the same – Keep Calm and Carry On!’

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CHARITY MATTERS

Claire and Richard’s dogged determination Moorheat Plumbing & Heating Solutions should be a familiar name to readers of the Plymouth Magazine, having advertised within its pages, more or less ever since the company began back in 2007. Run by husband and wife team, Richard and Claire Down, they have established a reputation of being reliable, realistically priced and respectful to all their customers. They are fully accredited Worcester boiler installers, and are now able to offer up to 10 year guarantees on new Worcester boilers professionally fitted by themselves. As a small team they pride themselves on being able to say that no job is too small or too big, and are happy to quote on anything from a leaky tap to a full central heating and/or bathroom installation. And, with a young family themselves, they are able to spot when the demands of life are difficult, and have the flexibility to react quickly and professionally. Claire recalls being phoned from a number in France by a daughter whose elderly mother had woken to a burst water main. Recognising the stress the situation was causing the family, Claire’s husband Richard, was able to respond straight away much to the relief of the householder, and for the peace of mind of her daughter. Many of our local tradespeople here in Plymouth can respond with kindness and care that often goes above and beyond the call of duty: what makes Moorheat really special is their unique passion and value for those much less fortunate than themselves and their ability to go the extra mile for human and animal friends in need. One would think that running a small business alongside the pressures of toddler taming would be enough for most couples, but Richard and Claire have an extra very special string to their bow. Looking for a family dog on the internet led Claire to discover the Many Tears Animal Rescue, run by Sylvia Van Atta and her husband Bill. The Rescue takes in and re-homes primarily ex-breeding dogs which are no longer required, those on ‘death row’ in the pounds and those whose owners are no longer able to keep them.

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Since 1985

The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Claire explains that some breeding dogs are bred purely as an income stream, and can be cruelly treated, especially when they are no longer fit for purpose. Sometimes young dogs will be forced to have litter after litter, living their entire life in cages in the dark with minimal food. She goes on to say that if puppies are taken too early, mums often experience severe psychological traumas including phantom pregnancies. And for both parents and puppies, the lack of human love and contact means that these poor animals are not named, never stroked or walked, and have numerous health complications that develop because of the unsanitary and inadequate conditions they began life in. The Rescue Centre regularly cares for many dogs at a time, up to 15 sleeping on owners Sylvia and Bill’s bed, but its real engine is the army of foster carers all over the country that give temporary care and rehabilitation to animals until they can be found a forever home. After getting her own dogs from Many Tears Animal Rescue, Claire now regularly makes the drive to Wales to collect up to 12 dogs at a time. She either drops these to foster homes across the county, or brings them back herself to foster until a permanent loving home can be found. Claire explains that these dogs need to be taught how to walk on a lead, how not to be terrified of normal household noise, and basically given enough love and attention to mean that they can be re homed as family pets after seven months or so of intensive therapy. “They need to be taught about human interaction as they have only ever been in the company of other dogs,” continues Claire. “They often need other dogs around them as they are more likely to learn quicker and be less fearful of the alien human environment they find themselves in. However with the right commitment and care, they can become the most loving, devoted pets. “I always have a mixture of emotion to see them successfully adopted – all adoption placements are visited and vetted beforehand so I am delighted for them that they can have the

n to support charity

life they deserve, and a little sad to see them go, especially if I have worked with them for many months. One story from an adopter on the Many Tears website speaks volumes regarding the exceptional care that these animal lovers have: “Delilah was adopted on 7 September 2016. She was blind when rescued by Many Tears and had been with her foster mummy Carol whilst she was undergoing two eye operations at Rowe Referrals in Bristol. She can now see a world she could never have imagined existed. Delilah is my fourth ex-breeding survivor. As soon as I saw her photo and bio I knew I wanted to take care and love her for the rest of her life. She has fitted into our family seamlessly and daily shows how much she is gaining in confidence. Although she is also deaf we are developing a communication which is hard to describe, except to say we get each other!! We continue the daily routine of eye drops without any fuss, which will be a part of her life forever. Thank you Many Tears for allowing us to adopt this angel. We promise you she will always be loved and cared for, for the rest of her life.” “I am very proud to be part of an organisation that has rehomed 25,000 dogs since 2004, including 2,500 this year, with all the fostering and collecting being done by volunteers like myself,” enthuses Claire. “Every Christmas Moorheat gives a donation to charity and this year for every boiler serviced we will buy a Many Tears dog a Christmas dinner. Being involved in the charity is so personally rewarding that we want to see it be able to give every animal that it gets involved with a second chance at a happy life.

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Many Tears can be contacted through their Facebook page, their website www.manytearsrescue.org or by calling 01269 843084. Moorheat can be contacted on 01752 705042 or 07768231106

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GARDENING MATTERS

Make the most of your Ch By Fiona Newton and Derek Anderson of Plymouth Garden Centre

Christmas 2016 - wow, it has certainly come around quickly! Decorations have been in the shops for months, we have had glorious weather and not wanted to think about Christmas but it’s here! So you have made your decision to buy a fresh tree – one I always agree with. I know artificial trees are easier and they are getting better in looks but really you can’t beat a fresh tree – the fun of choosing (the arguing!), getting it home (too big for the car, leave the family pick them up later, risk it on the roof!) , putting it up , getting it straight, the realization it’s much bigger than you thought and you have to move half the furniture out, it’s all so much more fun! Plus you can’t beat the smell! So the next step is to look after your tree, it’s been an emotional journey so far so you need to give it the best care. Taking care of your Christmas tree People always ask us what the trick is to not losing needles from your tree. Some add lemonade to their tree, some spray their trees with all sorts which I don’t recommend at all. There is no trick – they just like plenty of water. Once the tree is cut sadly it is dying and the aim is to prevent it from drying out too quickly. Therefore water and lots of it is the answer. To take care of your tree, we recommend that you cut the bottom inch off the bottom of the trunk, so that you create a fresh wound for it to drink from. The base can form a seal from the initial cutting that will prevent it from taking up water. Think of your Christmas tree as a giant cut flower, to stay fresh you need to remove a small section of the base and give it plenty of water to drink. Christmas trees drink a lot of water, they can drink anywhere from half a pint to a pint of water a day, so make sure it’s topped up regularly. We can trim the bottom of the stump for you in the garden centre if you don’t feel confident enough to do it at home. Once you get your tree home, soak it in a bucket of water outside or somewhere cool for a few hours if you can. This will just guarantee that your tree will be as fresh as it can be for decorating. Choose a suitable position for your tree in your home. Ideally a place where it won’t get knocked over, close to a power point and away from a source of heating is perfect. Placing your tree next to a heat source will result in it drying out and dropping some needles. Also make sure that it is not near any open flames. Choose a tree to fit your room. If you have a small space, a huge tree is going to look out of place, cramped and squashed. On the other hand, a small tree in a large space will look lost and lack any impact or statement. Remember that your tree will be raised approximately 30cm (12”) from the floor on its stand, so bear that in mind when choosing the height. If it is possible try to bring your Christmas tree stand with you when choosing your tree, as this will allow you to find a tree that will fit the stand. You will not believe how many people choose a tree with a stump that is three times wider than their stand! Shaving chunks off the trunk to get it to fit in your stand is not a good idea, it prevents your tree from drinking as the tree drinks from the outer layers of the trunk. If you shave the trunk down and remove these layers the tree cannot drink which will cause it to drop needles. If you need a new stand or are starting from scratch, we are happy to help you decide which stand is right for you. If you have a stand which requires the base tree to be drilled, we can also do that for you in store at the garden centre.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

Indoor Plants and Gift Ideas A great bulb for giving as a gift and for indoor growing is Amaryllis. Pot up one of the gift sets or buy one of our already planted Amaryllis and it will be in bloom approximately six weeks after planting. They have spectacular showy, lily like flowers on stalks with three to four blooms per stalk. Amaryllis like to grow in a gritty compost in bright light. For best results, plant them in a terracotta pot, with John Innes no.3 compost mixed with grit. Water well while in growth, but leave it to dry out after it has finished flowering and leaves begin to yellow. Amaryllis grow to a height of 45-60cm (18-24 ins) with a spread of 30cm (12ins). They are available in red, white, pink, cream, burgundy and stripped varieties. A new and novel way to grow Amaryllis is by coating the bulb in wax. These bulbs come ready waxed in a number of bright colours and designs and don’t need any looking after, just stand the bulb in a light position and enjoy, no need to water. Forced Hyacinths and Narcissus Tete a Tete make wonderful indoor arrangements and will be in flower for Christmas day. Their scent will up fill any room and if kept on the cooler side, the blooms will last much longer. Plant them up in a stylish pot to make a great gift. You can place Hyacinths bulbs in Hyacinth jars filled with water and they will grow and flower quite happily on a sunny window sill, without any compost. When they have finished flowering, just plant the bulbs out in the garden, where they will flower for many years to come. Alternatively if you don’t want the hassle of growing the bulb, we also sell them already growing, just pop them in a container of your choice or choose from one of our many planted containers. The plant that epitomises Christmas more than anything else is the Poinsettia. They will be ablaze with colour all the way through December, and not just in the traditional festive red, they are now available in a wide selection of colours such

With Plymouth Garden Centre

hristmas tree

as white, cream, pink, orange, burgundy, marbled, and red with cream blotches. To keep your Poinsettia looking at its best, place it in a room with bright, but not direct sunlight. Make sure that the temperature does not drop below 13-15C. Plant it in a mix of John Innes no.3 compost mixed with grit. They will grow to a height of 60cm (2ft) with a spread of 30cm (12ins). Water it sparingly, only water when the surface of the compost feels dry to the touch. Keep away from central heating and cold drafts and it should stay looking great for weeks after Christmas. We have a great range of orchids in stock which make beautiful and exquisite gifts. The large exotic flowers are stunning and surprisingly easy to care for. They have quite a vast colour range, so there is one to suit any taste and style. Cyclamen have long been a favoured Festive favourites...Poinsettia (above) houseplant for the and Cyclamen winter months. They are easy to look after, elegant, come in a range of festive colours and flower for months. They are now many types available, from the larger varieties which look great on there on own or the mini cyclamen which look great in groups, to the bi-coloured flowers of ‘snowridge’ that look like snow-capped flames or ‘frilly’, that have beautifully ruffled edges to their petals and intense silver veining on the foliage. Cyclamen like to be on the cooler side, which is why they thrive outdoors, but if keeping them indoors, avoid putting them in a room with central heating. Keep them in a cool room such as a porch, conservatory or cool window sill. They prefer a spot in bright light to shade, but never in direct sunlight. Plant them in a gritty compost and water them when they become dry. Cyclamen grow to a height and spread of 10-20cm (4-8 ins) depending on the variety. For a real show stopping display, try using a large cyclamen to create a statement and feature and surround it with mini cyclamen. To compliment it, fill it out with sprigs of holly and fir. This will make a long lasting, colourful and festive centre piece. As well as indoor planted gifts, we also have a full range of outdoor planted pots ready to go in a range of styles and festive colours. These are perfect gifts for your gardening friends and family, as it will add a bit of cheer and colour to their doorstep or patio throughout the rest of winter and well into spring. If you would like something a bit special or more personalised, then we are happy to plant up a pot that you can select form one of our collections with plants that you can hand pick from. We would like to wish the team at the Plymouth Magazine and all its readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Fiona & Derek

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2016

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