Cheltenham Standard 16th October 2014

WEEKLY

www.shaneduffsoccer.co.uk

www.cheltenhamstandard.co.uk 16 OCTOBER 2014 ISSUE 13 Your discerning local weekly newspaper

FREE

COMPLETE SCHEDULE INSIDE!

A SNAPSHOT OF THE VERY BEST HOUSES ON THE MARKET

“POOR RUN MUST BE WAKE-UP CALL FOR ROBINS” – YATES

PAGE 16 >>

PAGE 18 >>

BACK PAGE >>

YOUR WEEKEND TV GUIDE

PROPERTY & HOME

Racecourse development galloping ahead T

HE racecourse opens its door for the start of the 2014/15 Jump season this Friday and Saturday with the two-day Showcase meeting.

The £45million development of the course is progressing well and the site will look very different to those attending. Local contractors Kier have been working on site since 10 days after The Festival concluded last March and many of the 14 different projects are now completed in time for the first race of the new season. The Weighing Room has been extended and refurbished and 200m2 of solar panels have been positioned on the roof. These will heat one floor of the new grandstand when it is complete in March 2016. The new plaza area at North Entrance has been finished and is home to the popular Best Mate statue,

commemorating the three times Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

A brand new bar will be opened this Friday, the refurbished ‘See You Then’ bar which is situated above the Parade Ring which overlooks the Winner’s Enclosure. There are lots of other projects that are scheduled to be opened at different race meetings this autumn and winter including; another new bar by the paddock, a Betfred Betting Shop and a terrace above the betting shop.

The final piece of the jigsaw is the main grandstand itself, which will be five and a half stories high and will be completed in time for The Festival in 2016. So with all this going on it looks like Cheltenham Racecourse is all set to go racing again!

2

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

Cheltenham WeatherWatch THURSDAY 16th Oct Min 13ºC Max 16ºC FRIDAY 17th Oct Min 15ºC Max 17ºC SATURDAY 18th Oct Min 15ºC Max 18ºC SUNDAY 19th Oct Min 12ºC Max 17ºC MONDAY 20th Oct Min 11ºC Max 15ºC TUESDAY 21st Oct Min 10ºC Max 14ºC WEDNESDAY 22nd Oct Min 12ºC Max 15ºC

ADVERTISING gillkirkham@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk CUSTOMER SERVICES office@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk EDITOR editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk LOCAL NEWS STORIES jo@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk HEALTH & LIFESTYLE natalieneale@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk SPORTS sports@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

GOT A STORY? EMAIL OR CALL US ON 01242 257019 www.cheltenhamstandard.co.uk Twitter: @CheltStandard

Want to be a reporter?

We’re on the hunt for local stories that are happening in your area.

Send us your local reports on anything from mums and toddlers, through to the local moggy getting stuck up a tree.

We want to know!

Drop your local stories onto our lap at editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Badger cull Court of Appeal reserve judgement THE Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the latest legal action by protesters against the badger cull.

The government is accused of letting the latest pilot culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire go ahead without an independent expert panel (IEP).

The Badger Trust asked three appeal judges to rule it was unlawful because there was a “legitimate expectation” that an IEP would be put in place.

A ruling is likely to be made next week following the one-day hearing.

The appeal came after the High Court ruled in August there were “no plausible grounds” to support the protesters' claim.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is using the two pilot schemes to test whether the shooting method can be rolled out to other parts of England. The challenge arose after a second year of controlled shooting of free-roaming

badgers in Gloucestershire and Somerset was sanctioned, as part of efforts to tackle tuberculosis (TB) in cattle. An IEP was in place in 2013 but Defra decided to continue the programme this year without one, saying the monitoring was only intended to

run in the first year.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss is accused of breaching a substantive legitimate expectation that an IEP would monitor the entire pilot cull.

Ministers and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) believe culling badgers will curb TB in cattle. Opponents say shooting the animals is not effective and inhumane.

This year's six-week long pilot cull is due to end later this month.

The appeal court's ruling, which is due next week, is expected to provide legal guidance for future culls.

Private healthcare too influential FOUR in ten in the South West say private healthcare has too much influence over NHS. Locals took to the streets last Saturday to ask MEPs to protect the NHS from secretive trade pact 41% of people in the South West say private healthcare providers have too much influence over the NHS, according to a new poll released today.

The YouGov survey of 2,021 British adults, commissioned by campaigning group 38 Degrees, comes as people across the South West take part in a national day of action this Saturday against a controversial trade deal between the EU and USA. Campaigners say that the agreement would force the NHS open to competition from American private healthcare providers.

The campaigners, members of campaign group 38 Degrees, will be encouraging local people to get in touch with South West MEPs, asking them to oppose the controversial trade deal in the European Parliament.

The agreement - the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership - would force the NHS open to competition from Ameri-

can private healthcare providers.

The deal is also set to allow multinational businesses to sue the government if British laws dent their profits.

Critics say this would expose the government to lawsuits if it tried to take privatised health services back into public ownership. More than 180,000 people have signed a 38 Degrees petition against the deal.

The day of action follows local protests - including in Devon, Cheltenham and Bournemouth this August, when campaigners from the South West joined 10,000 people across the UK to collect signatures for the 38 Degrees petition against the deal.

David Babbs, executive director at 38 Degrees, says: “One of the most worrying things about this deal is that it’s being agreed behind closed doors - so 38 Degrees members are taking to the streets to force it into the spotlight. “People in the South West will be standing with thousands of people across the country to say that we love our NHS too much to let it be sold off to the highest bidder. “It’s time for MEPs to answer our concerns and explain exactly what they’re going to do to stop this.”

YOUR FIRST 100 MIN COURSE WITH THIS ADVERT

29 WINCHCOMBE STREET, CHELTENHAM GL52 2LZ

THE infamous A417 has struck again with the death of another motorist.

Following confirmation last Friday of the death of a man in a two vehicle collision on the A417 at around 5.30 in the morning, it has been revealed that he was aged 69 and was from Newent. His next of kin were informed. The deceased man who died at the scene, was believed to be the van driver. Another man, thought to be a lorry driver, was taken to hospital with what is believed to be non-life changing injuries.

The southbound carriageway was closed between the Air balloon roundabout and Cirencester. The road was re-opened at about 1.30 pm on Friday afternoon.

State of the Art UV tanning equipment

SPECIAL OFFER

30% OFF

Death on A417

Fully air conditioned

Top of the range sound system

Competitive rates and discounts

01242

Friendly approachable fully trained staff

CHELTENHAM’S NEWEST TANNING BOUTIQUE

We pride ourselves on cleanliness and providing a sterile environment to all our clients

228 112

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

3

Officers nominated for police bravery award FIVE Gloucestershire Constabulary officers have been nominated for a prestigious Police Federation bravery award for safely resolving a dangerous hostage situation in which a man held a revving disc cutter to his girlfriend's throat before using her as a human shield and punching her repeatedly in the stomach.

PCs Mark Alcock, Matt Wainwright, Nigel Fullerton, Oliver Sargent and Mark Robinson, all firearms officers, will visit Government ministers at a special reception in Downing Street before the ceremony in London on Thursday (October 16) night.

If they win the regional category they will then be put forward for a national award on the same night.

It all comes after an incident the officers were called to at a bedsit in Barton Street, Gloucester in the early hours of Saturday September 29 2012.

Hearing noises inside the property on arrival, the officers glimpsed the then 23year-old Peter Pavlisin clutching a large power tool to his girlfriend’s neck while threatening to kill her and any police who intervened.

Responding to the imminent danger, the

team broke down the door to the flat and entered, prompting Pavlisin, who was high on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol, to use his girlfriend as a human shield and threaten to shoot her with what he claimed was a firearm held in the small of her back. The officers spotted a black metallic object in Pavlisin’s hand and began long and intense negotiations just metres away from him in the claustrophobic setting. Throughout the ordeal Pavlisin was unresponsive to the officer’s requests, verbally abusing them and threatening anyone who approached.

Finally, after an hour and a half of trying to talk him out of the situation, the officers were compelled to take decisive action when Pavlisin started to punch his pregnant girlfriend’s stomach. As they approached, Pavlisin pushed his girlfriend to

Indecent exposure in town POLICE are appealing for information about separate approaches to two young girls in Charlton Kings last Wednesday 8th October, one of them involving indecent exposure. An E-Fit of the suspect has now been produced.

The incidents took place between 4-4.10 pm when a male riding a black BMX bicycle separately approached two girls aged 13 and 12-years-old, in the second case indecently exposing himself. Police believe he may be the same person since his description is very similar on each occasion.

The first incident involved a 13 year old girl walking near the church in the direction of Pound Walk at about 4pm was approached by a male who spoke to her, attempted to grab her shoulder, and fol-

lowed her across Lyefield Road West and into Brookway Road, after which he rode off. He is described as white, in his late teens to early 20s, blue eyes, with shoulder length blonde hair in dreadlocks, at least 1 and a half metres tall, of proportionate build, possibly wearing a hooded top, and riding a black BMX bicycle.

In a second incident a 12 year-old-girl walking along Cudnall Street towards Sixways at about 4.10pm was approached by a male on a bicycle that exposed himself to her, but did not speak. He is described as white, in his early 30s, with shoulder length blonde to mousey hair in dreadlocks partly tied back, wearing a long baggy creamy brown coat and blue joggers, and riding a black BMX bicycle.

Lap dancing clubs avoid complete ban in Cheltenham

Special status for our important green spaces

LAP dancing clubs have avoided an all-out ban in Cheltenham, but have been limited to operate in the town centre away from residential areas.

Cheltenham Borough Council looked at the issue following complaints after the town's first club opened this year. Cabinet member Andrew McKinlay said: "There was an amendment to ban lap dancing clubs across the town, which was lost by 19 votes to 18."

Venues will still need to apply for licences from the borough council.

RESIDENTS are being asked to help identify green spaces in Cheltenham that are important to them, with the aim of giving them special protection in the Cheltenham Plan.

Cllr Steve Jordan, leader of the council, said, “I would encourage residents to get in touch with their parish councils and neighbourhood forums to help promote the case for giving special status.”

Contact details for local parish councils can be found on the council’s website.

Alternatively, local residents can contact Hannah Wright, from the council’s neighbourhoods team, email hannah.wright@cheltenham.gov.uk for contact details for either local parish councils or neighbourhood forums.

the ground and lunged towards the floor, giving the officers the chance they needed to fire Taser shots at him and restrain him. He was arrested and a three inch lock knife with an open blade was found in his back pocket. Thankfully his victim and her unborn child were uninjured. Pavlisin went on to receive 4 years 8 months in prison for false imprisonment and a further 18 months for the threats to kill.

PC Matt Wainwright said: “Personally, I have never experienced a situation quite like this during my eight year firearms career. So much so, there were occasions during the siege where I felt that lethal force would have been justified and required on the male should the opportunity present itself. It was a highly stressful and challenging environment to work in but it’s very rewarding to think it all ended without harm coming to the victim or her unborn child.”

PC Oliver Sargent added: “We’re all quite modest as firearms officers and don’t go around patting each other on the backs but it’s a nice honour to be recognised by chief officers and the Federation. We’re really looking forward to the ceremony and are quite proud of what we achieved.”

Wallet snatcher POLICE have released an e-fit of a man who snatched a wallet from an 85-yearold man at a bus stop in Cheltenham.

The incident happened at about 1pm on Monday, 6 October in Tommy Taylor's Lane. The offender struck up a conversation with the elderly victim, then produced a folded £20 note and asked the victim if he'd dropped it.

Despite saying 'no', the victim did remove his wallet from an inner jacket pocket, at which point the offender grabbed it and ran off towards Swindon Lane.

The wallet contained cash, cards and a driving licence. The suspect is described as white, in his late 30s and thin with a 'bony-looking' face. He had dark brown untidy hair. He wore a black longsleeved rain coat.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident no 245 of 6/10/14

4

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

Light Relief in Tivoli

By Faye McNaught RESIDENTS of Cheltenham show their appreciation for town history with plans to revive antique street lights.

As a well preserved regency town, Cheltenham boasts many fine examples of historical architecture and period features.

Some particularly charming ones are the vintage street lamps dotted around town.

The Tivoli shopping area is blessed with one the most impressive specimens (pictured).

Cheltenham’s first electric street lights were switched on in February 1897, and some residents and local business owners of the Tivoli and Montpellier area have recognised the importance of reserving these small slices of history. They have decided to come together to bring many of the still elegant but perhaps not-so-fresh street lights back to life.

Martin Canning is the owner of local shop Antique & Modern Fireplaces on Great Norwood Street and his enthusiasm for restoring antiquity has extended to participating in this process. Around the corner from his shop along St James’ Place sits one of the old lampposts nestled in the mouth of a red-brick alley, tickled by winding roots and leaves.

Martin said as “the only street light on the whole road”, it provides a ghostly, dimmed hue at night and reminds him of a “dark Dickensian street”. He said, “As you can see I like listed buildings and antiques” and seems to hold the smallest signs of the past in just

A NUMBER of trade unions have announced their intention to take strike action on Tuesday 14 October, however Cheltenham Borough Council’s Municipal Offices will be open to the public as usual.

Whilst there are likely to be reduced staffing levels in some areas, the council is making arrangements to ensure there is

minimum disruption to the public. The cemetery and crematorium will run as normal and household, trade waste, refuse and recycling collections will be made as usual.

Customers can still access the council’s website and make payments online at www.cheltenham.gov.uk

CHALKTALK

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Cheltenham gets vocal...

T as high a regard as most would a historic manor house or castle.

Martin was immediately interested in the project as soon as he caught wind of the plans. As well as his clear appreciation for the historical value of the street lights, he said, “it’s also so nice to see that people are doing something for no personal gain”. He told how those involved had spoken to the Borough Council about how the lights may have looked in their hay day and “are even painting the lights their traditional colour of pale green”.

Military Preparation College Opens A NEW college dedicated to helping 16-18 year olds prepare for a rewarding career in the Armed Forces is to open in Cheltenham on 20th October 2014.

The Military Preparation College Gloucestershire (www.mpct.co.uk) will be based at GC, Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham. It will help young men and women from across Gloucestershire to develop their physical fitness, functional skills and self-confidence – giving them the best possible chance to pass selection for the Armed Forces, and complete basic training.

Huw Lewis MBE, founder and managing director of The Military Preparation College, said: “Over the last 15 years, we’ve helped thousands of young people from all types of backgrounds to fulfil their individual potential. Whilst our courses are themed around

Council anticipates business as usual

core skills required and expected in the military, many of those are very transferable to other careers, especially in other Public Service roles. Fundamentally, we’re here to engage, motivate and educate young people to enable them to achieve their goals, whether that’s a career in the Armed Forces or further training and education.”

The launch ceremony was designed to showcase the kind of competitive learning experiences on offer at the Military Preparation College, and celebrate the College’s recent Ofsted rating. Huw Moores, employer engagement manager at The Military Preparation College, said: “We’re very excited to be opening our new Gloucestershire College in Cheltenham. There is currently very little provision in the region for the kind of vocational training and qualifications we can offer. It’s also a great time for young people to consider a career in the Armed Forces, with the Army actively recruiting for 15,000 more reservists by 2020. Our students have a 92% success rate in passing Phase 1 Training in the Armed Forces, so for local young people keen to succeed in this kind of career, there’s no better place to start their journey.”

For more information about The Military Preparation College, visit www.mpct.co.uk or call 08442 438438. An Open Day for prospective students and their families will be held on Friday October 17th 2014, from 10.30am – 2.00pm.

HERE’S nothing quite like a scifi film to point out the passing of the years. Particularly when the plot is about time-travel. But that’s exactly what some of us Cheltenham 30somethings might be noticing at the moment. You see, we grew up transfixed by the ‘Back to the Future’ franchise – films about Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) and his adventures across time and space in his DeLorean time machine. What we never seriously imagined though was that 2015, the impossibly far-off year Marty travelled to in the second film, would ever actually arrive. And now it is almost upon us.

The film made a number of predictions. Some were reasonably accurate.

Flat-panel TVs, Skype and headmounted displays are all with us. The relative rise of the Asian nations has come about too. But when it came to transport, and the fundamental business of how we would get from A to B, I’m afraid the plot-writers had a bad day. Flying cars, air motorways, and hoverboards are still some way off.

But what few of us watching in Cheltenham in 1985 could have imagined is that rail travel would have changed so little. Surely connectivity from the town would be better? Surely trains would be faster? At least the station would be more modern? Sadly not. The reality is that users of Cheltenham Spa in the 1980s, including me, recognise all too much about today’s facilities.

1.8 million visitors use our station every year, but even the Council admits that it is “inadequate”. Earlier this year we were told we were on the verge of securing £3.3 million for improved facilities and new platforms. That fell through. And to rub salt in the wounds,

Gloucester succeeded where Cheltenham did not, winning £2.2 million to boost their facilities.

Connectivity too remains poor. The journey to London is just 95 miles, but it takes a yawn-inducing 2 hours 20 minutes, and often more. The average speed is just 41 mph. Compare that with the 1930’s, when the world’s fastest train was known as the ‘The Cheltenham Flyer’. And the position is not improving.

Only last month, Cheltenham suffered another downgrade as Arriva cancelled their late night connection between Gloucester and Cheltenham. That means that the last train back now leaves London at 8.45pm.

Why do we need to connect better with the South-East? Because it represents a pipeline of potential investment opportunities to support Cheltenham’s jobs of tomorrow. But that pipeline feels at the moment like a clogged artery. It’s doubly frustrating because it does not need to be this way. The rail network is there, including the recently re-doubled Swindon-Kemble line. The problem is that Cheltenham is not winning the argument for getting the benefit.

So, we need to do better. I believe we can. We need to make a stronger case to Network Rail and First Great Western to reverse their decision to scrap investment in the station. Second, we need to build a compelling argument for faster, more direct, services between Cheltenham and the South-East. We have plenty of points in our favour (the Festivals, GCHQ etc) but the arguments need to be properly marshaled and supported by evidence.

We simply cannot afford another 30 years of stagnation. Until we get Marty McFly’s hoverboards, the railway will be central to whether we succeed.

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

5

Local fish and chip shop shortlisted for top 10 in UK

NOW BUY NO W– P AY NEXT YEAR! PAY

0

% Finance

For F or a limited limited time only onlly

upp ttoo

35%

DISCOUNT DISCOUNT Act fast!

WINDOWS, CONSERVATORIES WINDO WS, S, DOORS, O CONSERV VATORIES

PRIOR PRODUCTS CTS Ltd Manufacturers Manuf acturre errs and installers bespoke ins tallerrs of bespok e PVCu PV Cu windows, windows, doors doorrs and cconservatories. onservatories.

A ffamily amilly run company company established es tablished 26 years. yearrs s.

SIMPSONS Fish & Chips of Cheltenham have been named one of the Top 10 Independent Fish & Chips Shops in the country, and THE best for The Midlands area by the National Fish & Chip Awards 2015.

Simpsons have been shortlisted in the Top 10 alongside other industry leaders including Harbourside Fish & Chips in Plymouth, Broughton Award Winning Fish & Chips and Papa’s Fish & Chips in Warrington to name but a few.

In ordered to be named THE best Independent Fish & Chip Shop in the country,

Simpsons will now prepare for the final round in London on Monday 19 January.

They will take part in a 20 minute presentation to a panel of industry experts in where they must showcase their achievements, demonstrate their industry knowledge and put their case forward for why they deserve to represent the industry and be crowned independent Takeaway Fish & Chip Shop of the Year.

The results will be announced at The Fish & Chip Awards on Tuesday 20th January at The Lancaster London Hotel.

Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Manufacturers and Installers Installers BFRC Manufacturers Approved Installers Installers Planitherm Approved Coloured Grained Grained Windows Windows w available available Coloured PVCu Facias, Facias, Soffits and Guttering Guttering PVCu Repairss tto Windows Glasss Replac Replacement Repair o Windo ws and Glas ement Aluminium and Wooden Wooden Frames Frames available available Bi-fold Doors Doors and Orangeries Orangeries eries Bi-fold Garage Doors Doors Garage Quottation No Deposits & FREE Quotation Trade Frames Frames (supply (supplly only) onlly) also available available Trade

Visit Clifford Chambers, V isit our our Showroom: Shhowroom: Cliff C ord Chamber s,

Nr Stratford Stratford upon upo on Avon Avon CV37 CV37 8LW 8LW

CCall a ll uuss on 01242 0 220518

www.priorproducts.co.uk www .priorp products.co.uk Opening Times: Monday-F riday/Sunday 10am-4pm pm Monday-Friday/Sunday

MP calls for an end to “game of chance” bus service for blind people GETTING off at the right bus stop is like “playing a game of chance”, says guide dog owner Linda, about her experiences navigating the bus network without sight. Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood got a chance to experience for himself why people with sight loss need audio-visual announcements (AV) on buses, through playing a memory game, at the Liberal Democrat Party conference in Glasgow.

AV is essential for people with sight loss to live independently, yet only one fifth of the UK’s buses have AV. Without AV bus passengers with sight loss have to ask the driver to remember to tell them when they have reached their stop. Finding out more about Guide Dogs’ work, the MP for Cheltenham heard that 7 in 10 bus passengers with sight loss have been forgotten by a bus driver. For a sighted person, missing a stop is an annoyance, but for someone with sight loss, it is potentially very dangerous. Mr Horwood said, “Trying to remember the journeys at Guide Dogs’ conference

stand was a great way to understand how impossible it is for a bus driver to always remember to tell people when to get off.

AV is such a simple and cheap solution and would ensure access for all to public transport that is so vital to people’s everyday lives. It’s routine in London so we should have it as routine in Cheltenham and the rest of the country too.”James White, Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs commented: “Guide dogs do fantastic work getting people out and about safely, but the lack of AV on buses acts as a real barrier to their independence. That’s why we’re urging politicians like Martin to call for the mandatory installation of AV on buses, something that is cheap to do.” AV doesn’t just help people with sight loss – tourists, older people and infrequent bus users all find AV useful. Guide Dogs released their Destination Unknown report this September showing that nearly half of survey respondents said they would use the bus more frequently if it had AV.

6

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

Award winning local charity celebrates 30 years

Little Owl pub sign finds brand new home MARCUS Homes Ltd, A Cheltenham based property developer has given the Little Owl pub sign, featuring the racehorse by the same name to the former jockey and owner of the horse, the 1981 winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Before the new development gets under way, Marcus Hawtin, Managing Director of Marcus Homes Ltd “ I thought it was fitting that the pub sign, a painting of the racehorse Little Owl was returned to the jockey and owner”.

The pub has changed its name

several times over the years but in 1981 it was renamed ‘The Little Owl’ after the Racehorse, owned by brothers Jim and Robin Wilsons and ridden to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

by Jim Wilsons himself. This was only the third ever amateur jockey to win the prestigious cup.

Jim Wilsons said” It is very nice to have this sign as a memento, it doesn’t seem like yesterday that we opened the pub for Sam Wilson and his father” The development of 10 houses called Kings Hollow is due for completion in Spring 2015.

THIRD Sector Services, a charity and company limited by guarantee which provides transport for local residents and communities, recognised the length of service of both its volunteers and staff at an event at Gloucester Deaf Centre recently. The organisation, started 30 years ago as Cheltenham Volunteer Centre, now provides nearly 100,000 passenger journeys a year throughout Gloucestershire and the Midlands and was named Disability Confident Employer of the Year at the Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2014.

Chief Executive Gareth Blackett said, “Our staff and volunteers are always prepared to go the extra distance for our customers. We felt it was important to acknowledge the length of time we have been serving Gloucestershire communities by presenting service awards to volunteer driver Ron Daniels and minibus driver Henry Phillibert who have worked with us for 19 and 21 years respectively.’’

Henry Phillibert said, “ I am pleased to receive an award for length of service, but my

real pleasure comes from helping some of our most vulnerable residents to get to the important locations they need to - be it the hospital, doctor’s surgery or supermarket.’’

If you would like to find out more about what Third Sector Services can offer either as a customer or a volunteer driver, please go to www.thirdsectorservices.org.uk or contact Bev Hemming on 01242 244635.

Cheltenham Guides at Wembley LITTLE Mix, Diversity, Neon Jungle and Union J took the stage at massive girlonly gig Guides from Cheltenham were dazzled by some of the biggest names in UK pop as they headed to Wembley Arena for Girl guiding’s BIG GIG on 4th October.

The 17th Cheltenham (Bethesda) Guides joined a girl-only crowd of more than 10,000 at the event, held exclusively for Guides from all over the UK. The day’s highlight for the girls was seeing Little Mix perform live, although they also enjoyed Union J, Little Mix, Di-

versity and Stacey Solomon. The girls enjoyed travelling to London on the train, dressing up in matching pink tutus and being part of the energetic crowd.

Maya Shah-Thornley 13, said: “When we went on the train to the Big Gig I was really excited! I couldn't wait, as they had some really good people playing, such as; Little Mix, Union J and Diversity. My favourite was definitely Little Mix! Although Diversity were amazing! Everyone in the crowd was lit up with flashing lights. It was an amazing experience. I would definitely go again!”

Food waste recycling just got easier!

RESIDENTS living in Cheltenham will find it easier to recycle their food waste following an announcement by Gloucestershire’s Joint Waste Team this week.

From October, householders taking part in their local food waste recycling service can line their caddies using any type of plastic bag including supermarket carrier bags, sandwich bags, pedal bin liners and bread bags.

Previously, residents could use only newspaper or compostable bags to line their caddies but now, they can opt to use plastic

bags instead.

Councillor Martin Quaile, Chair of Gloucestershire’s Joint Waste Committee, said: ‘Most food waste in Gloucestershire – with the exception of the Cotswolds – is now being processed using anaerobic digestion.

Due to this change, all bags, regardless of what they are made from, will be separated from the food waste as part of the treatment process. Therefore, it is no longer necessary for residents to use compostable bags to line their caddies.’

‘In the summer, the Waste and Resources

Action Programme (WRAP) reported that two million tonnes of household food in the UK is still being discarded because it is not ‘used in time’, half of which is thrown away whole or in unopened packaging, costing consumers around £2.4b a year. It is clear that messages about minimising food waste and getting food out of landfill are still valid, and we will continue to promote these, but some food waste is unavoidable and this change, making it cheaper and easier for residents to recycle their food waste at the kerbside, will enable even more householders to

take part in the service.’

In the past 12 months Gloucestershire has sent over 11,000 tonnes of food to be recycled, saving £1m in landfill tax.

Plastic bags recovered from the food waste process will be sent away to be recycled. Residents are asked not to put any sort of food packaging into their food waste caddies.

Householders needing a food waste caddy or requiring more information about their food waste service should contact their local council, alternatively more details can be found at www.recycleforgloucestershire.com

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

7

PARK ‘N’ SIGN

By Faye McNaught BUSY Sherborne Place car parker’s sign petition to take action against the parking restrictions.

Sherborne Place car park near the back of Debenhams is regularly filled by visitors and local workers, but inconvenient parking restrictions are causing problems.

The terminal charging hours and paying blocks conflict with the hours of a typical working or visiting day and many of the parkers are frustrated with having to leave early or schedule their stay in accordance with the restrictions.

At the forefront of the petition for change is Cheltenham Pilates and Yoga Studio manager Sallie Taylor. She has been communicating with Cheltenham Borough Council on this matter for some time, having first put it forward two years ago.

She said, “It is not as if they have done nothing, they have been responsive but there has been no real action so far. I am happy to look at anything they propose”.

One of the main problems with the restrictions in the area is the one hour paying blocks, which the petition requests be changed to 15 minute segments. The ma-

jority of users often have to pay for almost an hour more than they actually need. This kind of system may be suitable for town centre car parks with shoppers only using it occasionally, but many of the petitioners for Sherborne Place pay extra on a daily basis.

Sallie also explained that many of the studio customers “may only stay for a 75 minute class, but have to pay for two hours”. She said, “We have between four and six hundred customers a week, many of whom are from out of town and around the Cotswolds. If you think of parking as a business we bring in an awful lot of business.”

The petitioners have made other requests to improve the car park, such as the terminal charging hours to be moved from 8pm to 6pm. There are also issues with the general maintenance, as Sallie said, “quite often the lights aren’t working, and it is a dark road anyway”.

The general argument is that it is “unfair to have a two tiered parking system”, especially for an area where the majority of the use of the car park is generated by local businesses, who simply wish to have their say in something in which they are effectively supplying a portion of revenue.

AgonyAunt Kimberley Wall ONE of my guilty pleasures is TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex); especially on a Sunday evening when I wrap my week up to some light entertainment. However, not knowing where true-life halts and the set-up of situations begin with this programme, I didn’t give the serious element of the series much thought until last Sunday.

The programme is thwart with relationship issues; dating, disagreements, infidelity, secrets, friendships, families, separation and reunion are all common themes and topics. Whether all the content is real or not it definitely offers a platform for us viewers to analyse our own relationships. We subconsciously ask ourselves questions such as; do we agree with the character’s decisions?

Would we have handled the situation differently? And do the scenes stir up emotions from events in our own lives?

Which was why it was refreshing to see one of the main couples sit down and discuss the possibility of attending couple’s counselling together last Sunday. Because in real-life, if a relationship is continuing to cause upset or if conflict is continuing to spiral, it is difficult to know where to turn. I think TOWIE has highlighted another option

which can seem to be the road less travelled or a possibility for ‘other people’ when really it may just provide the right environment for you, or you and your partner, to start talking through the underlying issues that could help you see the situation in a whole new light.

Whatever situation you find yourself in, I’m here to listen. Why not send me an email on office@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk and I will answer as many letters in my column as I can. Alternatively you, or you and your partner, could try the couple’s counselling method and talk through an issue face to face with a Relate Gloucestershire and Swindon counsellor instead (charges apply); please call 01242 523215 for more information or to book an appointment. It might be worth trying something different – it just may be the break-through you needed.

• Over 500 room sized carpet remnants in stock, many half price • Free estimates and planning • Discounted roll lines greatly reduced all from stock • Fitting and delivery service available • We guarantee to find you flooring to suit any area in your home at the best possible price • Free local delivery on all beds on production of this advert 16-28 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HA

01242 22 88 55 carpetemporium@hotmail.com

www.carpetemporium.co.uk Open 9am-5pm Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAYS – 9am-6.30pm

8

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

BUSINESS Editor’sDESK

T

HEY’RE at it again. The supermarkets in this town think its Christmas now. No it isn’t. It’s at least two and half months away. In fact I’m visiting this topic slightly late as I know some of them have been pushihjg the jolly old yuletide for weeks now. I’m not a ‘’bah humbug’ kind of chap. In fact I love Christmas and in a rather Dickensian way I like to ‘’keep Christmas well’’. But the way the retailers deal with this is downright immoral and quire frankly disgusting. Seasonal spending traditionally gives the retail sector a massive boost, but consumer habits are changing and while the market continues to boom, the rate of growth is shrinking. Is Christmas a cracker or a cold turkey without the gobble? Spending on gifts for loved ones and the food and drink to wash it all down will add up to £12.5bn of additional consumer spending this year, a 5 per cent increase on last year, according to new figures from the Centre for Economic and Business Research.

But while Christmas is getting bigger there are signs, particularly from the high street retailers, that its rate of growth is slowing. Even so the overall business of Christmas is unlikely to start shrinking unless the economy takes a surprising nose dive over the next few years and that’s unlikely.

Early Christmas shopping is one thing but ladling out the mince pies and all that Christmas spirit in September is just being plain greedy for market share. Tesco even have an early bird aisle which gets you off to a cracking start to beat the rush. In October? It’s a world gone mad. Morrison’s have also managed to get in on the festive act by putting together a large selection of Christmas cards that nobody is going anywhere near right now. I know the postal system in the UK can be a bit hit and miss these days but this early? Not to be outdone the Co -op in Prestbury had a large selection of Christmas Quality Street on offer. Their thinking I’m sure is that there’s going to be either a rush on the chocolate delights in that very recognisable tin box or indeed a famine.

Tradition for our beloved multiples seems to have gone right out the window in a desperate attempt to secure our seasonal loyalties and spend. I often wonder that someone somewhere at those retail giants has sat down and said, ‘’right marketing team when does Christmas really starts?’’

And I’m guessing the reply from these retail gurus is, ‘September and at the latest October’’. Some of the mince pies on offer at Morrison’s Market Street had a sell by/best before date of 27th October. What a nonsense and a disgrace. It’s bad enough that the mid-season sales are on right now and of course the shops will all have the early Christmas sales in the second week of December. The magic of Christmas is being sucked away by this greed and its getting out of hand.

In Austria from mid-November to Christmas, Vienna’s prettiest squares transform into magical Christmas markets.

The aroma of Christmas bakery items and hot punch creates a pre-Christmas atmosphere second to none. I’ve been and it’s fantastic. I think the retailers here could compromise to say the middle of November as well to at least make us feel just a tad ‘Christmassy’. It was difficult to look at mince pies in September when we still had sunny, 24 degree days.

So it’s not bah humbug…but I think Santa would be appalled with the ‘need for greed’.

Got a comment?

Please contact us at editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Feeding the FUTURE FOOD and drink research company, Campden BRI recently worked together with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to give young people a look inside the potential and scope for a career in food science.

Campden BRI hosted a group of 12 local young people between the ages of 16 and 24 identified by Job Centre Plus, and gave them an insight into what they do at Campden BRI, how varied a career may be, and what kind of day to day tasks they undertake.

Feeding Britain's Future is all about engaging the next generation and trying to spark an interest in food technology. So often nowadays people accept that food comes prepacked from supermarkets, but there is such a huge backstory to everything consumer’s purchase, from taste tests to process engineering, that it is sometimes easy to forget the vast number of people in-

volved in providing your evening meal. Supermarkets, distributors, wholesalers, packaging, pickers, growers, seed providers and equipment manufacturers; all play a part in delivering the loaf of bread you buy from your local supermarket.

The participants took part in a taste testing session in the custom sensory suite. Here they took part in a blind taste test to identify the 5 basic flavours in clear liquid form sweet, salt, bitter, sour and Umami.

Then there was a ‘triangle test' where manufacturers can conduct blind tests to identify specific tastes and how they are perceived by consumers.

Participants also took a tour of the microscopy suite where they were given a basic grounding in analysis techniques for foreign body contaminants in food, before having a tour of the process halls, where the large scale batch processing needed for full production lines are assessed

and tested for safety.

Di Haines, Gloucestershire Employer Relationship Manager for the DWP said: "I believe the Feeding Britain's Future event offered by Campden BRI and their partner Kane's provided a really excellent insight into the food industry and the variety of careers available. "It was really interesting to find out about research and development in the food and drink industry. The microscopy team demonstrated how to tell the difference between apple core and finger nail clippings, we also spent time with the Sensory Team and their expert food tasters.

It was a great day which all of the participants found interesting and some are now keen to pursue careers in the food industry. I certainly enjoyed my "taster" of an alternative career!”

For more information about careers with Campden BRI visit: www.campdenbri.co.uk/vacancies

Brewery Complex Commitment to data security expansion confirmed EUROLINK Connect is one The UK- wide hotel group Premier Inn has confirmed last week that it will open a hotel in Cheltenham’s Brewery complex. The 104bedroom, £6 million hotel is due to be completed by the summer of 2016 and will create 35 full and part-time jobs. The hotel entrance is due to be on the corner of Henrietta Street and the High Street and will include one of its trademark restaurants. The Premier Inn chain is owned by the Whitbread group, which used to own the former Flowers Brewery site.

Premier Inn is just one of the first new developments heading towards The Brewery. The Hollywood Bowl centre will also open its lanes above restaurants at the site on November 10th taking over the old site of Gala Bingo, which closed almost two years ago.

Three days earlier, the new IMAX screen will be showing its first movies at Cineworld on November 7th offering Hollywood blockbusters on a super high-quality screen, which is viewed through 3D glasses .Local business representatives and politicians have welcomed the hotel group’s decision to move into The Brewery complex.

of the first businesses in Gloucestershire to be awarded updated certification of ISO standard Local Telecommunications Specialist, Eurolink Connect is one of the first businesses in Gloucestershire to be awarded the updated certification of ISO27001:2013, showing their commitment to exemplary data security.

ISO27001 is the international standard describing best practice for an Information Security Management System.

The ISO27001:2013 certificate has been introduced to replace ISO27001:2005, putting more emphasis on measuring and evaluating the success of information and security implementation, as well as assessing a company’s outsourcing protocol, ensuring that they are up to scratch. Eurolink has been working towards the ISO27001:2013 and became an early adopter in July.

Derek Maddox, Eurolink Director said “We are extremely proud

and excited to have been awarded the ISO27001:2013. With businesses moving more and more to cloud based solutions access to data and the security of it is incredibly important. We have always ensured that we work with a supply chain that has this ISO27001 certification, but we are now taking it one stage further by achieving the new 2013 standard ourselves’’. He added, ‘We’re already benefiting from more focussed behaviours in our business and look forward to helping our customers to understand and benefit from these processes.”

More information www.eurolinkconnect.com or 01453 700 800.

Cheltenham Standard is published weekly by Paul.Bates Publishing Ltd is registered at Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham, GL50 1TA. Reproduction of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publishers. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, Paul.Bates Publishing Ltd will not accept liability for loss or damage. Dates, information and prices quoted are believed to be correct at time of going to press but are subject to change and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. Neither the editor nor publisher accepts responsibility for any material submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. All rights reserved.ISSN no. 2055-2092.

Terms and conditions at www.cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

9

BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Dying without a Will?

NEW and future legislation has changed some longstanding rules – make sure you are prepared.

Changes to the intestacy rules mean that surviving spouses/civil partners will inherit a larger share of the estate.

The Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Act 2014 announced a number of changes to intestacy rules.

For example, the Act says that the survivor of a childless married couple or civil partners will inherit the whole estate, rather than part of it potentially passing to the deceased’s parents, siblings or the siblings’ children. The Act undoubtedly improves the intestacy provisions, but is still no substitute for a properly considered and drafted will.

It is estimated that almost two-thirds of UK adults have not written a will and therefore the estate would be distributed in accordance with the rules of intestacy.

There are no changes to the rules governing unmarried partners. They will continue to have no entitlement where there is no will in place even if they have been living together for a number of years.

As more and more estates will be caught by an Inheritance Tax liability due to rising house prices and a recovering economy, it is important to review your will and consider Inheritance and Estate Planning. Inheritance tax is levied at a rate of 40 per cent on the value of an estate above the nil rate band which is currently £325,000. For more information on the above or a review on your estate please contact Charlotte on 01242-530999 or email charlotte@montpellierasset.com This is for general information only and is not intended to be advice to any specific person. You are recommended to seek competent professional advice before taking or refraining from taking any action on the basis of the contents of this article.

First year of @Chelt52 comes to an end CHELTENHAM-based social media project @Chelt52 wraps up its inaugural year this week – and its founders are being presented with a tasty treat to mark the occasion! @Chelt52 is a social media cultural project launched on Twitter by Liam McKinnon and Sophie Fryer in October 2013.

The project passes a virtual ‘baton’ to organisations, businesses and individuals from across the town, who take the reins of the @Chelt52 account for one week at a time.

With 52 participants in all, spanning the course of a year, @Chelt52 has portrayed the diverse lifestyles that make Cheltenham unique. Plans for a second year of @Chelt52 are already in place.

Founders Liam McKinnon and Sophie Fryer commented: “@Chelt52 has been such a fun and interesting way to get to know local people, causes and organisations. We’re really pleased with the response from the first year. We’re on the hunt for quirky, creative and fun people and organisations to help us compile the line-up of 52 for the second year.To mark the end of the

first year, Contemporary Cake Designs – who Tweeted for a week in July – have produced a fantastic mammoth @Chelt52 cake to Liam and Sophie.

Xavier Pelloux, Owner of Contemporary Cake Designs, said: “We took part in @Chelt52 back in July and we had a fantastic time interacting with local people and businesses. It is a fantastic initiative that shows connective marketing at its best. It worked really well for us as it enabled us to showcase our work and introduce ourselves, gaining new followers along the way”.

Martin Horwood said of the project: “@Chelt52 is such a quirky fun project but with a serious undertone: to teach us all a bit more about our town and the places and people that make it so special”. The project is part of a ‘rotation curation’ movement on Twitter, which has similar accounts for Bristol, London and Edinburgh. @Chelt52 has amassed over 8,000 followers in its first year. The second year will run from January – December 2015 and anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to check back for updates on cheltenham52.co.uk and @Chelt52’s Twitter.

10

C

HELTENHAM Borough Council has voted to amend its Sexual Entertainment Venue (lap dancing clubs etc) licensing policy. After undertaking a public consultation which showed overwhelming support for a zero limit on the number of such premises throughout the whole town, the council decided that was a step too far.

Instead a zero limit will be set in most of the town, the exception being the town centre shopping area where there will be no limit on the number of such venues.

Councillor Flo Clucas did a wonderful job putting forward an amendment which would see residents in the town centre afforded the same respect and dignity as those living in the suburbs by proposing a zero limit for the town centre also.

I seconded this amendment and we were nearly successful with the result being 18 councillors voting in favour and 19 against.

The vote was recorded so you will be able to see how your councillor voted in the minutes of the meeting which took place on 13th October.

Residents living near to the lap dancing club on Bath Road say they feel uncomfortable walking past. I have been sent a complaint about door staff harassing people walking past where men were urged to ditch their female companion and go upstairs to see the girls who were stripping upstairs. This complaint covers two separate incidents, one of which was reported to the police. This is the

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

Soapbox

By COUNCILLOR KLARA SUDBURY unpalatable reality of sexual entertainment venues. These clubs need to make money it is what they are there for and they need to get punters through the door somehow.

There is no individual freedom to buy and sell sexual entertainment so important that the council could condone females visiting, living or working in our town being treated this way. Whilst the licensing policy regarding Sexual Entertainment Venues is ‘gender neutral’ it does have a far greater negative impact on women in my opinion due to the different perspective men have watching females strip compared to women watching men strip.

Gender inequality remains a massive problem.

Women are underrepresented in all areas of politics and power.

At the current rate of progress a female baby born today will have to wait until they are drawing their pension before they have a chance of being

equally represented in their own national government. One in four women will experience some form of domestic abuse.

On average two women a week are killed by a partner or former partner. All politicians, in everything we do need to work much harder and take positive action to improve the outcomes for women and promote equality. Councillors had a chance to give a strong message that we do not condone activity that reinforces sexism and the attitudes it promotes, which underpin inequality and violence against women. We had a chance to say that we will not passively support activities that make females living, working in our town feel excluded and not safe in their own community. We had a chance to be part of the solution to the often subtle but pervasive attitude that women are mainly valued for what they look like or their sex

appeal. Sadly most were too absorbed in their own ideology about the importance of personal freedoms or enthusiasm for the regulation of sexual entertainment to take this opportunity.

This summer I have received many more complaints about the nuisance caused by seagulls than I have for many years. I am pressing my council colleagues to prioritise tackling this issue. Each year the Borough Council sets aside a small budget to pay for the ‘cherry picker’ needed for staff to reach nests to oil eggs at different locations around the town. This year 447 eggs were oiled in 172 nests. However due to the long, mainly hot summer gulls have been re-laying eggs after the ones that have been oiled and so council officers think the egg oiling was less successful this year. Also it has been suggested that the demolition of the Odeon has displaced some gulls to other parts of the town.

The council has set up an ‘Urban Gulls Focus Group’ which met recently. We heard that the oil used to treat gull eggs will no longer be able to be used next year unless a special dispensation is granted to the council. Those of us present, including residents and councillors, agreed that a bigger budget was needed, along with a revised plan of action to include using dummy egg replacements in nests as this is thought to be more effective than oiling.

We will be suggesting this to the Cabinet to consider through its budget setting process.

TheVIBE A snapshot of student life in Cheltenham

Cor Blimey’ A tipple in the right direction UNIVERSITY is not just about getting an education anymore, oh no it is a hell of a lot more than that - it’s an identity. If you go to Manchester or Bristol you’re a doctor, if you go to Birmingham you’re a businessman and as for Oxbridge, well then you’re just a ‘ bludey genius’.

University doesn’t just depict a classic stereotype of the person you may be anymore, uni is now a brand and the University of Gloucestershire is embracing it.

Where did it all start? Hoodies of course! The infamous hoody that you buy in freshers and becomes your ‘I’m so hung-over I can barely move’ attire. We may not want to admit it but we all know it’s true, we go home at Christmas and wear it constantly, ‘ yep that’s right I go to (place your institution here) university and its

flipping great. This has now extended to all kinds of clothes; tshirts, scarves, hats, gilets and even to my horror, but also secret delight, onesies.

Now the University of Gloucestershire has taken it one step further we now have our very own cider, yep that’s right alcohol, specifically for US. Silas Miller, the social enterprise coordinator for the university said, ‘Core Blimey is the second product from Core Blimey Juice and Cider.

Core Blimey Juice and Cider is a social enterprise run by students.'

The launch party, last weekend was a huge success, with live bands and DJs and why wouldn’t it be? I think its gold dust, who in their right mind isn’t going to love having a cider tailored to their university? Especially at 6.3 percent. Bottoms up!

The new kid in town It seems Cheltenham may finally have a new place to offer…

SINCE the beginning of the term V club has been drawing a lot of attention, even though the venue is notorious for not keeping a club for long. We all new lace was doomed when they thought it was a smashing idea to remove the P from its previous title ‘the place’ and turn it into lace, needless to say it wasn’t a goer.

Then V arrived with its snazzy re-furb that is now becoming the new place to be on a Monday night for motive Mondays. See ya later Glamourpuss at Moo Moo’s , V club is raking in famous DJ’s such as Zane Lowe, DJ fresh and Sigma like there is no tomorrow. Even the dingy alley to get to the clubs front entry is now just seen as exclusive. With its massive DJ booth bathed in an electric blue and chandeliers left, right and centre, the place seems to be a success stealing a lot of the student attention on Mondays. Even the hour-long queue, crawling past French connection and Topshop doesn’t seem to be dampening anyone’s spirits.

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

11

HEALTH&LIFESTYLE BASQUE BOOT CAMP BACK ON! YOU may have noticed Natalie Neale and I hesitantly moving towards getting fit.

We started all guns blazing a few weeks ago, with the motivational (but now despairing) personal trainer Matt Coulthard of 24:7 Fitness in Winchcombe. We dubbed it the ‘Basque Boot camp’, a kind of ‘biggest loser’ competition to get in shape for a burlesque-themed party. No idea how it’s happened, but the party is less than two weeks away, and I’m still the same shape and size as I was before (a shape I’m now happy to be seen in public with until the new improved model emerges).

I’m sure anyone who’s embarked on a health kick will identify with finding it so hard to keep eyes on the prize. For me, motivation and focus drift in waves of ‘ooh, another pinot, don’t mind if I do, it will complement those chips beautifully’

WERE there many people attending ‘The NHS - What’s the Prognosis’ at Cheltenham Literature Festival last weekend? Having worked for the National Health Service (NHS) for over 10 years, I’ve seen and been part of many changes - some for the better, some not so. It was a surprise to discover that I am not the only person passionate about the NHS as I joined a large audience to listen to a debate hosted by the BBC’s Health Editor Hugh Pym. There were two main issues up for debate – the apparent lack of funding within the NHS and whether privatisation would mean a better healthcare service.

Panellist, Camilla Cavendish told how she had really wanted to understand healthcare and spent months travelling the UK speaking to healthcare assistants and nurses, to hear their views. She stated that she disregarded the phrase ‘basic care’ (referring to the core of nursing care) claiming that ‘actually its very skilled care’ to an applauding audience. Later in the debate she went on to state that “the NHS delivers a first class service, but it has also given shocking care which is a disgrace”. Unfortunately I would also have to agree, and having worked in four different Trusts I feel it can be all too evident that Trusts can have different priorities when spending their money. Do have you any idea how frustrating it is for nursing staff (and I include our wonderful Healthcare Assistants without whom I personally wouldn’t have survived many a shift) who want to provide a first class service but are unable to due to lack of equipment and resources. Human beings

ThePulse

By JO BETTERIDGE

jo@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Surging through the veins of Cheltenham Life

Musings of a Cheltenham Wannabe and ‘not for me thanks, I’m on a diet’.

Either that or I’m too busy to eat all day, only to trough my way through fat-saturated junk when hunger hits later on. My failure to focus has been largely due to a hectic work schedule, which, according to law, has to be balanced with a ‘play hard’ opposite, unfortunately involving calories.

So all that goes to prove what Matt tried to instil in me in the first place – it’s all about a healthy lifestyle, not dieting but making healthy choices. Must try harder.

To my credit, I’ve worked hard(ish) on the exercise front. I’ve turned up to (most of ) my PT sessions, and started my beloved Body Pump and Body Combat again, which I kind of get addicted to once in the (now elusive) ‘zone’. And I feel compelled to say that in our first PT session together, I grunted, sweated and

squealed through excruciatingly tough circuits, enthusiastically encouraged by the vociferous Ms Neale. I was most impressed that she could speak, since I could barely even breathe, only to find her just sat there watching once I managed to sit up. Having had another motivating

session with PT Matt last night, burning some 500 calories in just 30 minutes, I’m all fired up again. Especially since he showed me an inspiring couch potato to Lara Croft before and after photo of one of his PT clients.

So the day of reckoning has arrived, our PT is angry, disgusted and disappointed with our lackadaisical attitudes (sorry Matt!), our basques are groaning, and its high time we focus. So show us your support people of the ‘Nam, watch our progress, let us know what you think (please be gentle) or even join in! @NatCheltStand @jocheltstand @247PT http://247pt.co.uk/

HealthMatters Your essential guide to staying healthy and enjoying the best life has to offer

By NATALIE NEALE

HEALTH… LITERALLY! are unpredictable creatures – no one can anticipate when a patient may become clinically unstable and require one to one nursing or indeed when that happens that the nurse will require the support and assistance of colleagues. If resources are short it’s the remaining patients that will be waiting an unacceptable length of time for their buzzer to be answered. It’s easy to see why patients and relatives may think at times like this they are receiving a sub-standard service but does this mean that those nurses want to or are providing a poor standard of care? No of course not. They have just had to prioritise at that time. It’s no wonder that morale at times can hit an alltime low amongst some nursing staff. Following the public enquiry to Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust in 2010 the Francis Report was born with one of the main contributory factors for appalling patient care

and high mortality rate being under staffing of wards. Gloucestershire NHS Hospitals Trust has Foundation status meaning that the Trust is in charge of its own budget allocation – again this could be debated whether in fact this is a good thing. For example whereas one Foundation Trust may deem it important to implement state of the art technology, another may choose to invest more of its budget on resources or equipment for use by patient and healthcare professionals on the ward. It doesn’t take a genius to recognise which would be the most beneficial in raising the standards of patient care. I honestly don’t know what the answer is – to Privatise or not to? Could we allow such a differentiation of care due to income? Should first stop be A&E? Do people consider the cost when not turning up for a GP appointment, or when throwing away a course of antibiotics that are no

longer deemed necessary? I agree that respect is needed for our healthcare system if it is to remain a public service. The panel mentioned the bureaucracy of paperwork that nurses and medics are now consumed by, suggesting that there wasn’t any need for such administration. Regrettably I’m not convinced. Yes it’s incredibly time consuming and a constant struggle between documentation and patient care, however, in my profession if it’s not documented there is no evidence and it ‘has or hasn’t happened’. I know I’m not alone in working on after the end of a shift to make sure all documentation is completed, after all this is my national Registration at stake. Are nurses paid overtime? Let’s not go there shall we? I don’t know any nurse that’s joined this profession for the money.

Twitter @NatCheltStand

12

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

RECRUITMENT Employers looking for new talent more intensively

Helping find the right person for the right job....

To advertise your vacancy call the sales team on

Internal Sales Person Innsworth Technology Park

Salary circa £19 000+ Join a very successful company supplying materials and services to engineering/manufacturing companies.

Precision Profiles is a private limited company, turnover exceeding £40M employing 260 people.

• Join a small, friendly office based sales team promoting and selling by telephone, all products and services supplied by Precision Profiles.

• Training will be provided in all aspects of the business in Bristol before joining the sales team in Innsworth.

• Opportunity for career advancement within the organisation.

• Must be articulate and numerate with a particular aptitude for technically biased information.

Apply by submitting CV to: Martyn Rawlingson

mrawlingson@precisionprofiles.co.uk

Tel. 01452 730335

01242 257019

ACCORDING to a recent study by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), employers are looking for new talent more intensively than they have in 15 years. The two organisations’ Report on Jobs for November found that the number of new vacancies posted by British businesses was higher than it’s been since July 1998.

To summarise, then, the UK’s economy is recovering. In turn, this is encouraging companies to invest – after years of cutbacks – in their workforces.

Kevin Green, chief executive of REC, called the Report on Jobs “fantastic news for British businesses, the UK economy and people looking for work in 2014″.

As employers post an ever greater number of vacancies, the talent pool will shrink – so you’ll need to be more aggressive when it comes to convincing job seekers, temps and contractors that the services you offer are better than anyone else’s. As the market improves, people already in employment will worry less about job security and might start thinking about new opportunities elsewhere. As a result we might expect faster turnovers in 2014 than in previous years. Employers will need to recruit more quickly than in the past. As workers turn nomadic to take advantage of a healthier economy, recruiters may be faced with filling a lot of sudden openings – and clients will expect candidates to be equally as high in quality as they were when business as slower.

2014 should also see social media play a bigger role in the hiring process than it has in the past. Lots of recruiters are already warming up to the benefits it offers, the ability to carry out preemployment checks on candidates’ online profiles, for instance. In addition to this, though, networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are widely recognised as useful places to find prospects who aren’t actively looking for work. As the jobs market improves, there’ll be more potential candidates who fit this description.

Finally, recruitment, like almost every other sector will continue to be shaken up by big data in 2015. Business intelligence will top the priorities of chief information officers through to 2017, so there’s every chance real-time data analysis will hit the mainstream in the meantime. When this happens, organisations will have a powerful new means of determining whether or not each employee makes a valuable contribution to their business.

Promot Promote, Pro o omote, e, Ch Change hange hange e & Im Improve mpro mpr ove o ve S Skills In The e Wo Workplace…

Workpla Workpla o ace a ace… ce… …

rre e trainin tr training ainin ng Open Courses:Courssses:es:Food Fo F o Safety ood Saffety fety

CIEH H Level Level 1 orr 2 2– Novemb berr 11th 2014 & November January 13th 2015 – January course £70pp 1 day course

First Firs st Aid

City & Guilds Guild ds – Level Level 2 – November 18th 2014 & November January 20th 2 January 2015 – 1 day co urse £75pp course

Health & S Safety Saf fety fety

CIEH L evel 2 – 25th Level No vemberr 2014 & November Januar y 27th h 2015 – January 1 day cours e £50pp course

To T o book please please call ourr tteam p e eam on 01242 5 505404 or emai emailil us inf info@re-training.co.uk info@re-tra fo@r @ e-training.co.uk g All cours courses ess will tak take e place at a con convenient venient loca location ation in centr central al Chelt Cheltenham, heltenham, accessible sible parking and light rrefreshments e eshments pr efr provided. ovided.

We can also We allso deliv deliver er cours courses ses in-hous in-house e tto o ssuit yyour ourr busine business ss needs, tto o enq enquire quire please pleas p e call call 01242 505404 50540 04 or email inf info@re-training.co.uk info@ fo@r o@ @re-training.co.u @r @ e-training.co.u g uk re tr re training aining GH GHOLYHU HOLYHUU FRXUV FRXUVHV HV RQ PDQ\ PDQ\ GLNj GLNjHUHQW NjH HUHQW VXEMHFWV ZLW ZLWKLQ WKLQ D Y YDULHW\ DULHW\ RII VVHFWRUV HFWRUUV VXFK as Care, Care, Man Management agement & P Personnel, ersonnell, HR, Hospitality Hospitality, y, Social Socia al Media and man many y mo more…. ore….

www.re-tra www www.re-training.co.uk .re-training.co.uk a

14

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

QUIRKY NEWS

Something a bit different...

MONKEY BUSINESS

Over the top burger

A NEW YORK court is set to decide whether chimpanzees are entitled to “legal personhood” and the protections that go with it. The case, which experts say is the first of its kind, revolves around Tommy the chimp, who is currently being kept by his owner in a cage in upstate New York. Lawyer Steven Wise represents an animal rights group called the “Nonhuman Rights Project” and has been campaigning for decades to extend human rights to other intelligent animals. Its website states: “Our mission is to change the common law status of at least some nonhuman animals from mere 'things', which lack the capacity to possess any legal right, to 'persons', who possess such fundamental rights as bodily integrity and bodily liberty, and those other legal rights to which evolving standards of morality, scientific discovery, and human experience entitle them.”

Wise is seeking a ruling that 26-year-old Tommy has been unlawfully imprisoned and should be cared for in a Florida sanctuary. Previous lawsuits have been thrown out, but Mr Wise has appealed against the decision. If the New York state appeals court rules in his favour it could strengthen the case for extended rights for other high intelligence animals such as dolphins and elephants. The Bostonbased lawyer has also lodged an appeal on behalf of another chimp called Kiko. He is using a legal argument usually

A RESTAURANT in Chelsea has created the world's most expensive burger.

The £1,100 'Glamburger' is available at Honky Tonk, where diners can enjoy a 280g burger patty made from Kobe Wagyu beef and New Zealand venison, seasoned with smoked Himalayan salt, in a bun covered in gold leaf.

Inside the meat patty is a liquid pocket of black truffle brie. A mango and champagne jus is drizzled on top along with grated white truffle, bringing the calorie count up to an eye-watering 2,618. It is reported that the burger, produced in conjunction with the restaurant's affiliate Groupon, took head Chef Chris Large and his team three weeks to create.

deployed by prisoners who feel they have been locked up illegally.

Tommy's owner, Patrick Laverty, has waived his right to make an argument before the court, but has said previously that Tommy actually lives in a state-ofthe-art facility and that he has been on a waiting list for an animal sanctuary for some time.

He told the Albany Times Union newspaper: “He's got a lot of enrichment.

He's got colour TV, cable and a stereo... he likes being by himself.”

Some legal experts such as US Circuit Judge Richard Posner and New York University law professor Richard Epstein have criticised the court case.

According to Reuter’s news agency, both men believe that if animals are afforded the rights traditionally reserved for humans, courts could be overwhelmed by difficult legal questions.

Writer Ian Rankin’s job too dangerous?

CRIME writer Ian Rankin has revealed he was turned down for car insurance - because of his dangerous job. Mr Rankin, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels, tweeted that he “suddenly felt edgy and dangerous”.

Although his books feature more than their fair share of grisly murders, he writes them from the comfort of a study at his Edinburgh home. The revelation prompted a stream of replies from people working in similarly “dangerous” occupations.

Sean Philips wrote: “I got turned down

last year. Apparently drawing is a dangerous job!” Adrian Hunter joked: “I'm an assassin and had dreadful problems when applying for a mortgage.”

Insurance website Money Saving Expert shows that job descriptions do affect insurance premiums. Journalists, exotic dancers, funfair employees and footballers have the worst job titles for car insurance.

However, nurses, coastguards and lollipop ladies are deemed 'safer' and pay less.

VENTING SPLEEN… Local man about town, Tom Thurlow lets loose

P

RAISE THE LORD!! Free will has been saved in our great town once more as this week saw the good folks on the Cheltenham Borough Council thwart a bid to block further lap dancing venues from popping up in this town.

A backward- thinking mob of people wanted to control what type of venue you and I visit and had decided on our behalves that it was sexist for this type of club to exist. In a letter they wrote (which I’m sure was as patronising as it was mindnumbingly boring) stated that more clubs would make this town ‘sleazy’ and would ‘tarnish the image of the town’.

Are they kidding?? We’ve had lap dancing for years. It’s a huge part of race week. We gamble, we drink, we drink some more and then we go to the strip bar.

During the races there are more clubs that host lap dancers over

the course of the week then don’t host them. It raises a mindboggling sum of money for all involved; the clubs, the council, the staff, and most importantly, the girls.

If the Chelt Fems and UofG Feminist Society (who insist on ramming their ideals down other people’s throats) are so against it, quite simply don’t go to the clubs.

And what if the petitioners had got their way and put a stop to all these clubs? Do they have a solution for all these newly unemployed lap dancers?

Perhaps these do-gooders would like to dip into their pockets and give all of these girls’ jobs where clubs like Fantasy are giving them paid

work? Actually scrap that idea.

The girls aren’t even asking for a change. They have to listen tirelessly to these whiners calling for change when no one actually affected is asking for it. I for one love the occasional trip to Fantasy. It’s a laugh. My mates and I (female mates included) get some drinks, have some great banter with the girls in there and then have a lap dance; which is exceptionally impressive by the way. The way those girls shake their bodies up and down, minutes after having an innocent chat about craving a kebab is surreal.

Nobody takes the situation too seriously and everyone there is having a ball.

So whilst we’re feeling alive what are the boring naysayers doing? Probably sat indoors, more than likely with their hen-pecked husbands, watching Corrie and letting their dinner settle. But they’d still strip us (oops, sorry ladies) of our fun and make us do something unsexy and sensible. How droll.

Well we’re having the last laugh now.

They wanted to dictate to us where we can go, how we can spend our money, and whom we can give our money to. They also wanted to dictate to these girls right from wrong; which really grinds me. I truly long to live amongst a free will society. People should be free

to worship any faith, be gay, be fat, smoke cigarettes, watch Hollyoaks; I don’t care. They should also be free to sell themselves in anyway.

If a man or a woman wishes to make a living by stripping or lap dancing it is their choice. There should be no individual or feminist organisiation that takes action to stop them.

By all means, have an opinion.

Call the clubs distasteful, call the men and women who visit these places sleazy, and call for the dancers to stop doing it if you so wish. But don’t ever try and play the role as Gestapo again by erasing areas of society that you simply don’t agree with.

Get more of Tom’s insights by following him on Twitter @thurlow

The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these articles are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of The Cheltenham Standard

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

15

India to get rid of old rules

CoffeeBreak

INDIA is to repeal nearly 300 obscure laws dating back to the British Raj. Among the archaic rules to be scrapped is a decree making it a criminal offence to unearth and keep treasure worth as little as 10 rupees (10p) because it still belongs to the British monarch?

A law from 1838 dictating that property in an area of the former imperial capital Calcutta - now called Kolkata - can only be sold to the East India Company, which laid the foundations of the British Empire but ceased to exist more than 150 years ago, is also set to be chopped.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took up office earlier this year, has made it one of his priorities to weed out 287 obsolete laws, after failed attempts by previous administrations. They are due to be axed during a session of Parliament in November. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is leading the legislative cleanup, said: “Some of the laws on our books are laughable. Others have no place in a

Your Weekly HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 20 – April 18): You’re in a position to broker an agreement or truce between two parties.

Pull this off and they'll be singing your praises for months to come.

modern and democratic India.” Another obscure rule to be scrapped is an act making flying kites or balloons without police permission illegal across India as they are classified as ‘aircraft’.

A World War II decree outlawing the dropping of leaflets from the air in the state of Gujarat will also go.

And motoring laws stating that car inspectors in the state of Andhra Pradesh must have a clean set of teeth and anyone with a “pigeon chest, knock knees, flat foot, hammer toes and fractured limbs” is disqualified from driving will cease to exist too.

The Indian Government hopes that less regulation and faster decision-making will make India a less puzzling place to do business and attract more foreign investment.

TAURUS (April 19 – May 19): It's not every day when something that benefits you winds up benefitting everyone else as well.

It's nice when good fortune makes good karma too.

GEMINI (May 20 – June 20): This would be a good time to go on the charm offensive. You'll put out fires before they even get started.

CANCER (June 21 – July 21): You didn't have much faith in a financial maneuver but it looks like it will work out in your favor. It could even move you out of the red and into the black.

Dog survives being put down by vet A DOG has been renamed Lazarus after surviving a veterinarian's lethal injection.

The mixed-breed pet was left at an Alabama animal shelter in August because his owner was moving and could no longer care for him.

He was already cut and bleeding, with a pad missing on his left rear foot, after surviving a car accident.

Ozark City Animal Shelter decided to put him down after failing to find the dog a home through social media.

Animal control officer Wanda Snell said she saw the black and brown pet go still after being injected with a needle last month. But when Ms Snell arrived for work

StandOKU!

the next day she saw the animal standing in an outside pen, albeit looking unsteady on his paws. Staff are not sure how he survived.

Ozark police Captain Bobby Blankenship, who supervises the city shelter, said: “He was injected with the right amount of medication that should have had him go to sleep. “Unfortunately, or actually fortunately for everybody else, here he was.”

Lazarus, re-named after the biblical character whom Jesus revived from the dead, has since made a full recovery. He now has a new reason to wag his tail: after the shelter posted his story on Facebook, Lazarus found a new home in the Alabama city of Birmingham.

1

2

3

4

5

LEO (July 22 – Aug 21): Just about everything you touch turns to gold today.

Word Ladder Convert the word at the top of the ladder into the word at the bottom of it, using only the four steps in between. Every word must be a valid five-letter word.

6

7

Difficulty rating: Moderate

7 4 1 3

2 1 8 6 7 2 9

9 5 7 8 3 4 4 1 9 4 6 7 5 3 1 5 3 6 3 2 5 4

TARGET

S E T R H O C A R

Make as many words of four letters or more as you can.

Each word must contain the center letter and each letter must only be used once.

Target: 25words good; 35 very good; 50+ excellent.

8 9

10

11

12

13

14

15 16

17

18

19

21

20 22 23

Last week’s solutions (9th October 2014): Across: 7 Eyelid; 8 Repair; 10 Musical; 11 Backs; 12 Wood; 13 Pause; 17 Acorn; 18 More; 22 Photo; 23 Evening; 24 Lonely; 25 Danger.

Down: 1 Sea-mews; 2 Session; 3 Hitch; 4 Verbose; 5 Fancy; 6 Dress; 9 All agreed; 14 Schools; 15 Foliage; 16 Vergers; 19 Apple; 20 Joint; 21 Began.

You've only got 24 hours so make a grab for everything in reach.

VIRGO (Aug 22 – Sept 21): You could really use a change of scene. Time in a different setting will recharge psychic batteries.

LIBRA (Sept 22 – Oct 22): People can't say no to you today. This is great for making requests and asking favors, but don't go overboard. You don't want them resenting you when the spell lifts.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21): Your behind-the-scenes play will make headlines one day. Keep that in mind as you wade through the morass.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 20): Today's Venus/Jupiter sextile shows you receiving an overdue raise, reward, or settlement. It's nice to know that there's such a thing as justice in the universe after all.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 – Jan 18): Today you regain lost ground or recover a missing object. For something that doesn't cost much, it's amazing how faith pays huge dividends.

AQUARIUS (Jan 19 – Feb 17): Win-win situations aren't as rare as all that as you see today when Venus sextiles Jupiter. This turns a rival into an ally.

PISCES (Feb 18 – March 19): You won't lose yourself by joining forces; if anything you'll accomplish more than you ever could have before. Give yourself a few days and you'll see.

WHEAT

TOURS

BREAD

HOUSE

CRYPTIC Crossword ACROSS 1. I’m eating out with Charles I – that’s mysterious! (9) 8. May changes her name (3) 9. News of how the Red Arrows fly (11) 11. Does pie get cooked in one instalment? (7) 12. 1, 11, 0, 1000 is a mathematical statement (5) 13. Change this for the right top (1-5) 15. Party on sea or land (6) 17. I do business – that’s perfect!

(5) 18. Nastier concoction of Greek wine (7) 20. Mail printer produces a textbook (5,6) 22. Some sympathetic article ... (3) 23. ... about the way notes fade when unable to hear (5,4)

DOWN 2. Religious woman starts the Canticle of Simeon (3) 3. Moira’s new man (5) 4. What remains when the estate is divided up? (3-3) 5. Stylish silver ring from a city in Illinois (7) 6. Driving Al’s minicab around the north to find evidence of flesheating (11) 7. A burning desire? (9) 10. Does Adam’s doctor practise alternative medicine? (5,6) 11. Disentangle from a mangled Crete taxi (9) 14. Is concerned with the travels of Laertes (7) 16. The English-speaker has to leave without the band (6) 19. Brief to cut down trees (5) 21. Age of the older generation (3)

16

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

TELEVISION Your one-stop guide to the best tv over the weekend

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

17

CULTURE Tony Robinson in The Hypochondriac BLACKADDER actor and presenter of Channel 4’s Time Team stars in this hilarious and spirited new comedy.

The penny-pinching Argan is healthy and wealthy but completely obsessed by a list of imaginary ailments.

Confusion is piled upon hilarious confusion, as a gang of eccentric quacks and Argan’s treacherous wife endeavour to fleece him of his fortune, while his lovesick daughter, her dashing lover and an astute maid attempt to set him straight.

Richard Bean, the adaptor of the hugely acclaimed One Man, Two Guvnors, brings Moliere’s medicinal comedy bang up to date as a rollicking farce, without losing any of the savagery of the original. Directed by Lindsay Posner, whose recent successes have included Noises Off, Abigail’s Party and Relatively Speaking, this is a spirited new production, not to be missed.

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ Monday 27th October – Saturday 1st November.

Evenings: 7.45pm, Matinees: Thursday & Saturday 2pm. Tickets from £20 available from the Box Office on 01242 572573 or online at www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Folk Star Kate Rusby at Town Hall THE defining voice of contemporary UK folk music, Kate Rusby, will bring her latest tour to Cheltenham Town Hall on Sunday 19 October, as part of the venue’s diverse folk music programme.

In her concert Kate will perform much-loved classics from her impressive back catalogue, stretching over two decades, together with a selection of new songs from her latest album, Ghost. Kate will be joined on stage by talented musicians from the folk/roots genre. Her impressive vocals and engaging Yorkshire wit, combined with the support of her band, result in a unique and memorable concert experience, which has earned her considerable crossover appeal.

‘Everybody loves and respects Kate Rusby, not just

for her lovely voice, but for the way she has moved folk forward while remaining true to tradition…’

SUNDAY TIMES The concert forms part of Cheltenham Town Hall’s annual folk music programme, which in 2014 includes 13 events. The programme ranges from the more traditional, such as Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends (2013 and returning 24 April 2015), to the more contemporary, such as Spiers & Boden (May 2014) and Kate Rusby, and a selection of artists that blend folk with other genres, such as former Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn (11 November 2014.

Tickets from Town Hall 0844 576 2210 www.boxoffice@cheltenham.gov.uk

BookReview

By EVE SEYMOUR

SILENCER By ANDY MCNAB I ENJOY reading ‘blokey’ action adventure thrillers. Weapons, ammo, the fine calibration required to take a shot have always fascinated me. As one might expect from a former soldier in the SAS there’s bags of this in ‘Silencer’.

Authenticity is one of the great hallmarks of McNab’s novels even down to the tiny detail. Where else would you read of a main protagonist fessing up to his boxers stinking a bit after breathlessly crossing the globe with barely a pause to eat and drink! You don’t need a dictionary to grapple with the gritty and risqué prose. You don’t have to concentrate too hard on the plot. Just sit back, absorb the pyrotechnic action and let the high-octane energy propel and power you through. But I’d be doing the author a disservice if I didn’t mention that McNab has come a long way from ‘Bravo Two Zero’, the novel that launched his writing career.

In Nick Stone, we have a guy who now teeters on the edge of family life. If he doesn’t sort out the bad guys, pdq, his partner, Anna, and newborn sickly son face imminent danger.

The story is driven by Stone’s quest to find Anna’s friend, Katya, who has been abducted. Following the trail from Russia to Moldova, to Hong Kong, China and finally Mexico, Stone discovers all you need to know about the extremely lucrative trade in body parts. Like Stone, I’d no idea that selling vital organs was so last century; bone marrow is the name of the game. Predictably, it’s not long before Stone finds himself captive with the prospect of having his entire person harvested. Without inserting a spoiler, blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes, and Stone uncovers a darker, more personal threat, rooted in a past job almost twenty years earlier.

Gutsy and addictive, the book comes with a note of caution.

Once you pick it up, it’s hard not to race right through to the end even if it makes your eyes bleed with strain.

‘Silencer’ is published by Transworld.

Python picks holes in comedy MONTY Python star John Cleese who was at the Literature Festival on Saturday pushing his new autobiography, ‘So Anyway’ has said new television comedy pales into insignificance compared with the greats, such as Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Oliver and Hardy. In a packed theatre the 74-year-old said the amount of “brilliant new stuff” today is “small” and he has seen most of it before.

Cleese added: “When you've been doing comedy for as long as me, you really know most of the jokes.” But he said Bill Bailey and Eddie Izzard had grabbed his attention. “This lights you up because these guys have done something new and brilliant and that's marvellous.” Cleese told his audience that “great old comedy” from Keaton and the Marx Brothers was difficult for new comics to live up to.

“You don't expect anything great, you watch it for a few minutes and you think, 'It's fine, I've seen something like this before and it doesn't excite me,” he added. But the comic actor, who co-created and starred in classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, said other areas of life still made him laugh, notably politicians. “What was happening at the Scottish Referendum was absolutely hilarious,” he said. He also gave a good insight in his formative years and in particular his relationship with this parents which had the audience in fits of laughter. Cleese appeared on The Graham Norton Show last week and made headlines for insulting pop star Taylor Swift's cat as she sat beside him on the chat show sofa. “That's the weirdest cat I've ever seen in my life,” he said.

Eve Seymour is a freelance editorial consultant and the author of seven crime fiction novels. Beautiful Losers will be published by US publisher Midnight Ink early 2016. To see more details of her work visit www.evseymour.co.uk

18

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

PROPERTY&HOME

Apartment 4, Abbotsdene, Cudnall Street, Charlton Kings BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT

Entrance hall, magnificent drawing room, dining room, study, kitchen, master bedroom with en suite bathroom, second bedroom and shower room, communal gardens, off street parking for two. EPC Exempt.

Guide Price ÂŁ395,000 Catherine Anderson

01242 548000 Savills The Quadrangle, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1PZ

Apartment 1, Oakfield, 93 The Park, Cheltenham

A BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED, GRADE II LISTED, DUPLEX APARTMENT WITH AN UNUSUALLY LARGE GARDEN ON THE PARK Communal hall, entrance hall, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, two stores, two double bedrooms, en suite bathroom, shower room. Large garden, garage, parking. EPC Exempt.

Guide Price ÂŁ595,000 Chris Jarrett

01242 548000 Savills The Quadrangle, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1PZ

24

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

MOTORING

best wheels, best deals...

ROADTEST

Bit of a Tardus… the new Renault Twingo

RENAULT'S latest generation Twingo is all back to front: the engine's in the boot and drive goes to the rear wheels. Bit confusing for you?

You shouldn't be, because the French firm's logic is surprisingly sound.

This new Twingo might buck convention in city car circles, but the upshot to everything not being where it should be is a more spacious cabin and improved refinement.

The French firm has a long and largely successful history when it comes to small cars. Right from the start the firstgeneration Twingo nailed it in terms of space, ease of use, affordability and was fun to drive.

With this more polished approach, Renault hopes this third-generation car can do the business some 20-odd years later.

Short but tall is the new black when it comes to city cars these days. The Twingo is no different; its lofty stance yet compact footprint allow it to squeeze into some seriously tight spaces, yet offers occupants a good amount of cabin space and comfort. And then there's the name, don't underestimate the power of the Twingo brand.

There's a reason why the Twingo's engine is in the boot, and it isn't to excite

keen drivers. The rear engine and rearwheel drive layout is there to liberate more cabin space. And it's no gimmick, as Renault's engineers have shaved 10cm off the previous car's length, yet have been able to extend this car's wheelbase by 12cm, ensuring this five-door car is a genuine four-seater.

Furthermore, you can fold the rear seats and, if you pick the right option, fold the front passenger seat forwards to liberate a whopping 2.3m of load space. Try doing that in an average supermini and see how you get on.

With no engine up front, the Twingo's modest fascia is less bulky than normal.

This in turn boosts forward visibility. And

with no front driveshafts present, the car's turning circle is smaller than anything else in its class. What the Twingo is not, is a tailhappy hooligan, as Renault's engineers have set the car up to be refined, benign and easy to drive. The result is a car with a decent ride, slick manual gear change and nicely accurate steering.

Like the car, engine choice is equally compact. The flagship 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol motor also powers the Clio, but for the Twingo, this 90 horsepower motor has been modified so it fits under the boot floor.

The result is a punchy response with ample power, even for modest motorway trips. The engine fitted to all variants apart from the top trim is a 70 horsepower non turbo 1.0-litre unit, which delvers an equally refined performance at low speeds but does need to be pedalled harder out of town.

This latest generation Twingo is no hair shirt econobox, so don't expect bargain basement prices. You're looking at 11-and-

a-bit thousand pounds for the high power model, although this does come with enough kit to embarrass a supermini from the class above.

In reality the more popular 70 horsepower cars strike a better balance of affordability and luxury, with all the safety basics covered plus DAB radio and mid range models adding air-con for a shade under 10 grand.

The new Twingo is unconventional…but in a good way.

If this car was a spaceship, it would a mini tardus…bigger on the inside than the outside!

THE FACTS Renault Twingo Dynamique TCe 90, £11,695 Engine: 0.9-litre petrol engine producing 90bhp and 99lb/ft of torque Transmission: Five-speed manual driving the rear wheels Performance: Top speed 103mph, 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds Economy: 65.7mpg Emissions: 99g/km of CO2

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

ADVERTISING FEATURE

25

B?/C(++ % (: -/D ?& 8: " :? :?'%9/D(-% : -% /-% + 9 D(?& ?/1 C +B - &/( & : - F 9 :(- B' ?/C(++ % % (- ?& : -% /-% "9 - &(: ? (?: $E$ -?9 ( & +? -& ,4 - D& ? F 9 (? & : - "/9 ?& + 9:&(1 D&( & & : +/-% - 9 /%' -(: "/9 ?& 5B +(?F /" (?: 19/ B ?: - B:?/, 9 9 4 1 9 ?(-% ?D/ + 9:&(1: - /- /" ?& 9 8: ,/:? :B ::"B+ (- 1 - -?+F /D- 9 9 ? (+ 9: B?/C(+' + % & : "/B- &B% :B :: D(?& : -% /-% ?& /+ :?

- "/B9?& + 9% :? C &( + , -B" ?B9 9 (- /B?& /9 4 - " ? : + : /" - D - 1' 19/C B: ,/ +: & C :/ :?9/-% ?& ? B?/C(++ % & : /, : -% /-%8: " :? :?' %9/D(-% , (- + 9:&(14 & 9 - "(9:? 99(C (- ?&

(- 0..$ B? (?: /9(%(-: ?9 * <H F 9: ?/ 0.#$4 / F (?: "B?B9 (: ::B9 ?& -*: ?/ ;@ 1 9 -? :? * "9/, /- /" - ( 8: + 9% :? B' ?/,/?(C 19/ B 9:4 : -% /-% ! ?& - , , -: /B + 9 %/- ! & : +D F: :1 ( +(: (- 19/ B (-% $E$: - ?/ F ?& ? +:/ (- +B : : 2:1/9?: B?(+(?F C &( + :3 - : 2,B+?('1B91/: C ' &( + :34 ?: 19/1/:(?(/- (: ?/ /"' " 9 B:?/, 9: 9 + C +B /?& (- ? 9,: /" 19( B? +:/ (?& :(G /" 9 - 5B(1, -? + C +:4 C 9F : -% /-% (: 9 +( + , & -( ++F :?9/-%

- :B1 9 +F B(+?4 & ?8: ,/9 ++ : -% /-% 9: :/+ (- ?& /, D(?& , 9* ?' + (-% "(C 'F 9 +(,(?+ :: ,(+ % D 99 -?F4 -?9/ B (-% & : -% /-% <H?& --(C 9: 9F 1 ( + (' ?(/-: : -% /-% 19 : -? "B+' +F 9 "9 :& 9 -% "/9 AH0$ - D(?& 9 %(:?9 ?(/-: B1 F :/, 0#$ 1 9 -? /- + :?

F 9 (?8: -/D /- /" ?& 8: " :? :?'%9/D(-% , 95B :4 / + 9 ? <H F 9: /" C &( + , -B" ?B9(-% : -% /-% & : (-?9/ B ?D/ :1 ( + +(,(? (?(/-: /- : /(?: 1/1B+ 9 /9 - / 9/::/C 9 - ?& /?& 9 /- ?& E?/- $E$4 *(-% ?& +9 F /,19 ' & -:(C +F 5B(11 E?/- :1 ("( ?(/- ?& :1 ( + <H?& --(C 9: 9F (?(/- : "9/-?

1 9*(-% : -:/9: - + ?9( :B-9//" & ? : ?: "9/-? - 9 9 1/D 9' )B:? + 1 :' : -% 9 : ? : ? - C - (: "(-(:& (- &(%&+F ??9 ' ?(C 9+ &(? (+F , ? ++( 1 (-?4 ?8: C (+ + D(?& (?& 9 :(E':1 , -B + /9 "(C ':1

9 :' -G ' 9/-( B' ?/, ?( ?9 -:,(::(/- - & : 9 ? (+ 19( /" >A# ..# /9 >A; $.# 9 :1 ?(C +F4 : "/9 ?& <H?&' --(C 9: 9F (?(/- /9 - / : /- ?& "/B9'D& +' 9(C

/9 - /

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

- + B-(5B ?/ B?/C(+' + % ++ - D : -% /-% ,/ ' +: 9 B99 -?+F (-% /"" 9 D(?& ?&9 F 9:8 "9 : 9C( ' (-% 2/9 ?&9 : 9C( : D&( &' C 9 /, : ://- 93 D& - 9 %' (:? 9 F 1? , 9 @H AH0$4 &(: (- +B : ?& E?/- - B?/, ?( ,/ ' +: : D ++ : ?& /,, 9' ( +4 B?/C(++ % ! &

8: :? :?

9/D(-%

# 2# / 02y

2 42#9 a / 2 ! #4/ ²ú2 < / !

40 ! 00 : 2 #9 / aúúú 402# /0y 00 9 0 9 ! 0 H # /0yy

: -% /-%

( + 9 B?/C(++ % 8: , - %(-% (' 9 ?/9 B+ /F /,, -?: 6 & 11 + /" : -% /-%8: 19/ B ?: - ?& (9 C +B '"/9' ,/- F 19/1/:(?(/- (: 9(-%(-% 1 /1+ (-?/ /B9 & +? -& , :&/D9//, (- 9/C :4 , - "/9 /?& - D - B: ,/ +: & : - :?/B- (-% :/ D&F -/? & * /B? ?& : -% /-% 9 -% "/9 F/B9: +" :1 ( ++F ?&/: <H?&' --(C 9: 9F ,/ '

/ ä < / : // !2< #! #4/

/0y

: < ##0 ëâ«ñ A n

éúúÛ ½}Û¾ 9« ×òA n¥ 2«ëÓA¥ éÁú 2 -

0»«Óâ ½Û 0nAâ¾a ÝÛaúúú n×a n×n a nZâÓ Z P ën nâA Z

#4/ -/

àsa §ú

!

0 9 à}úú

éú²² ½Ý²¾ nÓZnen× × ën n¥ø 0 éúú ën

! < e â «¥ «¥ ²é} 2 » ëâ« ½- !# # /## Å # ! ¾a

¾a }úaúúú

n×a

nâA Z 0 ñnÓ ñnÓ

ú #4/ -/ à²Ûa§§ú 0 9 à}úú

éú²ú ½Ýú¾ ¥|¥ â äÛ 0 ëâ« -Ón ë -AZ a ²Ûa}úú n×a ëâ«a ¥ nâA Z 0 ñnÓ

0 9 àéaúúú

éúúÛ ½úÛ¾ 9« ×òA n¥ «ó ²Áé ä Óa }}aúúú n×a AâZ PAZ a ¥ /ne

#4/ -/

<×yo HÓ y¨âÓy îy× H¤ 6®Hok ®â yÓ ¨ ⮨ & æ ~8 :j öµæ æ ÜÛ ãöö

#ñnÓ ²úú AÓ× òAô× ¥ 0â«Z y AÓ n×â ¥en»n¥en¥â /nâA nÓ ¥ 2 n ÓnA -AÓâ óZ A¥ n òn Z« n à :n Pëô AÓ× {«Ó

A× y à ¥A¥Zn »AZ A n× â« ×ë â ô«ëÓ Pëe nâ Û Ónn Û Aô Ó ñn òAô ¥×ëÓA¥Zn ä / ä <nAÓ :AÓÓA¥âô

<0

àäaݧú

à²Ýa§§ú

+: 9(%&? & 9 ? B?/C(++ % : -% /-% (- & +? -& ,4 & 9 -% +:/ (- +B : ?&

/9 - / 1/9?: /B + 1( *'B1 - ?& C 9-/B: : C' -': ? B9(:,/ 1 /1+ ' 99( 9 D(?& 19( : :? 9?(-% "9/, /-+F >0; ..#47 B?/C(++ % : -% /-% D* : B9F / D(- / (++ % & +? -& , #0 . 4 H0A$A A$@A$@ DDD4 B?/C(+' + % 4B*4 /,

0 9 àäúú

C y¨âÓy

òòòÁAëâ«ñ A nÁë ÁZ«

:yï y×XçÓñ 6®Hok y ây¨ H¤ & µ ª8 :j öµæ æ æ ã æ ã

HÓ× × ®ï¨ HÓy ®Ó ç×âÓHâ ®¨ »çÓ»®×y× ®¨ ñÁ

Choose from over 6,500 quality used cars online at www.bristolstreet.co.uk 07/57 Audi TT 2.0 FSi 3dr

11/61 Hyundai i10 1.2 Comfort Features include: 5dr • Red

If you choose Bristol Street Motors like us you’ll get...

• Alloy Wheels • Air Conditioning • Low Tax • Low Insurance

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

£4995

PAY NOTHING BUY NOW AND

11/61 Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 8V Features include: 3dr • Upgrade Alloy Wheels • CD Player • Low Miles • One Owner

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

Features include: • Grey • German Sports • Alloy Wheels • Air Conditioning • FSH

11/61 Fiat 500 Abarth 3dr Features include: • Black • Rare Sports • Alloy Wheels • Bluetooth • Air Conditioning • Fiat Prepared

UNTIL EASTER 2015^

£8495

£500 FINANCE

Features include: • Blue • Rare Auto • One Owner • Low Miles • Low Tax

£11995

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

AND

12/12 Fiat 500 Dualogic 3dr

12/12 Volkswagen Golf 2.0 Features include: Diesel 5dr • Silver • Only 27,000 miles • One Owner • FSH • Great Value

DEPOSIT OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

£8995

09/59 Mazda MX5 Roadster Features include: 2dr • Blue • Cabriolet • Alloy Wheels • Hard Top • Air Conditioning

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

£8995

£11995

Golf

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

ALLOWANCE Right now at Bristol Street Motors, you can choose any used car and as part of our fabulous 4 or 5 year repayment plan, we’ll pay your repayments for you until Easter 2015.. Yes, you can drive away a quality used car now and pay absolutely nothing until Easter 2015. Plus, receive £500 Finance Deposit Allowance!

£13495

08/08 Jaguar XF Saloon 4dr Features include: • Black • Diesel • Auto • Prestige Vehicle • Low Miles • Luxury UK Motoring

£13995

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

11/61 Nissan Qashqai 5dr Features include • White • Alloy Wheels • One Owner • Low Miles

10/60 Mazda 6 2.2D Hatch Features include: 5dr • Black

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

• Diesel • Air Conditioning • Ideal Family Car • Prepared by Mazda

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

£9995

£9995

12/62 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Features include: 1.4 TB 5dr • Grey • Automatic • Upgrade Alloy Wheels • Italian Sports

OUR PRICE FROM ONLY

£13995

WHY CHOOSE BRISTOL STREET MOTORS? The UK’s fastest growing motor retailer!

All vehicles Hpi checked

Part Exchange welcome Best prices paid

5

Free 5 days insurance

99

99 Point Safety Check

DAYS

6500 Used Cars in Group Stock

We buy Cars for Cash!

Over 100 dealerships Nationwide

Finance packages to suit your budget

Used Car locator service

Existing Finance settled

Service Plans from £9.99 per month

Cheltenham Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham GL51 9DT

Tel 0844 811 4982 Finance subject to status, finance deposit allowance varies dependant on price of vehicle purchased when taking a four or five year repayment plan. Terms & condition apply. Models shown are for illustration purposes only. ^First payment starts 3rd April 2015.

16.9% APR REPRESENTATIVE

Follow us on

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

27

BRISTOL STREET MOTORS CHELTENHAM JOINS FORCES WITH CHELTENHAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

B

RISTOL Street Motors multibrand site offering Fiat, Alpha Romeo and Mazda in Cheltenham is proud to announce a one year sponsorship deal with Cheltenham Town Football Club.

The Tewkesbury Road dealerships will become the sponsor of the Prestbury Road End Stand at the Robin’s Whaddon Road ground and will have banners placed around the stadium.

General Manager, Paul Pritchard, who is in charge of the multi-brand site has been in the motor industry for 15 years and is supported by Motability Specialist Dean Halford and Service Manager Martin Cox. A comprehensive aftersales department is also available on-site with fully qualified technicians, who are able to offer a full service package on many models. The team is trained in using the

latest vehicle diagnostic technology for all three brands.

The dealership is an approved Motability franchise, with Dean Halford available to assist with any queries.

Familiar with the local area and the needs of Motability customers, Dean is on hand to help customers make the right choice when considering a vehicle purchase. Customers can book an appointment or just drop in for an informal chat seven days a week.

Service Manager Martin Cox oversees all three brands across the site and is assisted by Service Advisor, Helen Baker. Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in the motor service industry and is also Motability accredited.

Martin has worked in the motor industry for more than 22 years and began as an apprentice at the age of 18.

He has experience working in both the

service department and the workshop and is happy to assist with any customer enquiries.

There is a full range of quality new Fiats available at the dealership including the Fiat 500, 500C, 500L, 500L Trekking, 500L MPW, Panda, Panda 4x4, Punto, Bravo, Qubo and Doblo models and a comprehensive stock of used vehicles. The dealership also offers a full range of quality new Alfa Romeo Mito and Giulietta models and a comprehensive stock of used vehicles.

Recently named in Mazda’s top 30 dealerships in the country for customer satisfaction, the Tewkesbury Road dealership offers a full range of quality new Mazda 2, 3, 5, 6, CX-5, MX-5 models and a comprehensive stock of used vehicles.

Paul Pritchard, said: “The Robins are

a very well respected football club with a loyal following and we are proud we could work together.

“Here at Bristol Street Motors Cheltenham we have experienced and knowledgeable colleagues that are able to advise and help customers in choosing a vehicle and find the right model for them.”

The multi-brand dealership, at Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, GL51 9DT is open 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.

Cheltenham Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham GL51 9DT Tel 0844 811 4982

28

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER

SPORT

Local Cricket

England star Edwards presents County awards on night to remember CAM Cricket Club cleaned up at the first ever Gloucestershire Women and Girls Celebration Evening claiming six awards.

The club scooped three team trophies and three individual prizes at the event at the Bristol County Ground.

England captain Charlotte Edwards was

The Charlton Kings team who won the Women’s Development T20 League

the guest of honour, handing out the awards and holding an onstage question and answer session.

Gloucestershire Cricket Board clubs and programmes officer Lisa Pagett, who helped organise the event said: “The evening was a wonderful celebration of the progress that women and girls cricket has made in Gloucestershire over the last 12 months.

“From soft ball Under-11 competitions to senior competitive leagues, there are more opportunities for women and girls to play cricket than ever before and we are seeing the benefits at all levels of the game.

“Having Charlotte Edwards there was the icing on the cake and hopefully she will inspire the players in the room – both young and old – to keep playing and follow in her footsteps.”

Cam Cricket Club were the big winners on the night picking up the Under-13, Under15 and senior Competitive League titles.

Chloe Dolbear won the bowling performance of the year for both junior age groups while Charlotte Pretty took the award for top run scorer in the Women’s Competitive League.

Other winners on the night were Steph Wilson (Old Bristolians Westbury) who had the best figures and the most wickets in the Women’s Competitive League and Katie Simon (Gloucester City Winget) who achieved the same feat in the Development League.

For a full list of award winners see below.

The evening also featured reports on the Under Nine softball festivals, the Lady Taverners cups, the first ever girls indoor competitions and the Cotswold League.

Lisa said: “As well as celebrating the achievements from the 2014 season the evening was also a great opportunity for clubs to share their experiences and discuss what has worked well during the year.

Emma Mollison (Charlton Kings) who was the top run scorer in the Women’s Development T20 League with Charlotte Edwards.

“It is important that our women’s and girls’ teams create a strong community of clubs and feel as though they are connected to the wider Gloucestershire cricket family. I felt the evening did that really well and I hope it becomes an annual event.”

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

29

SPORT

Local Rugby

Patient Pats are too strong for Weston

By MATT EVANS OLD Patesians secured a 22-0 win over National Three South West rivals Westonsuper-Mare at Everest Road in a game heavily influenced by the changing weather conditions.

Weston started off the stronger playing down the slope, with their heavyweight pack causing Old Pats early problems at the scrum.

This led to the first scoring opportunity of the game as Weston were awarded a penalty after another strong scrum, but centre Jack Skelton sent his penalty wide.

Despite the torrential rain, Pats looked to consistently run the ball and it was from one of these breaks that they earned their first scoring opportunity.

Weston killed the ball in the ruck and full back Leo Fielding did what Skelton couldn't, slotting his kick through the posts.

Three minutes later, Pats found themselves in another promising position close the try-line, only for Weston's openside flanker Ben Cox to kill the ball, leaving the referee with no choice but to send Cox to the sin bin for 10 minutes. On this occassion, Fielding failed to kick his penalty.

The heavy rain made handling at speed difficult, with both sides fluffing promising positions to get the first try of the game.

Pats did get on the scoreboard again before half-time, Ben Parker powering his way over from close range, with Fielding adding the extras to put the Pats 10-0 up.

Skelton had the chance to narrow the deficit moments before half-time, but again failed with a relatively simple penalty chance.

As the rain subsided and with the advantage of playing down the slope, Pats really put Weston on the back foot in the second half.

A quick tap penalty and chip through

North undone by deadly Dunlop side Dunlop 42 Cheltenham North 15 AFTER sustained North pressure from kick-off Dunlop were gifted a try when an interception within their 22 allowed them to sprint the length of the field and score under the posts.

North replied soon afterwards with a penalty from Clive Piff, and then, following a powerful surge from Paul Scott, Dan Hewitt barged over the line to score. Piff added the extras.

The visitors were starting to dominate forward exchanges until once again, against the run of play, a

wayward pass was intercepted within Dunlop's 22 resulting in a second try under the posts at the other end of the pitch.

At 14-10 the game was finely balanced, but now Dunlop's ability to survive pressure and come out on top changed the run of play.

North scored another try from a fine powerful run by Scott and could have scored another couple but for poorly timed or directed passes and it was the home side who came out on top scoring six tries in the end, to the visitors' two.

Cheltenham Saracens 36 Bream 7 AS PART of Saracens’ annual celebration of former players, a large crowd turned out to witness a game against last season’s main rivals Bream, who just pipped Saracens to top spot.

Although more successful in the 2013/14 season, Saracens are faring better in the Gloucester Premier, with Bream so far failing to pick up a win.

For the first time this season, Saracens were able to make a selection with almost all players available.

They started strongly, showing patience, and going through the phases for captain James McMahon to crash over.

A try from fly-half Harris extended the lead to 14 points, but Bream were never out of the game, scoring themselves after a series of pick and go rugby just before half-time.

A good half-time talk addressed the major issues and the Saracens came out firing.

Retaining the kick-off, the home team

forced a penalty for Harris to convert.

The in form fly-half then followed with his second try ten minutes later, making a fine solo break straight through the Bram defence.

The frustration of the visitors became evident when a red card was shown for a series of punches thrown after the whistle.

The resulting penalty was put into the corner, for a superb eight-man effort in the maul with returning veteran front rower Nick Hanby to ground.

Despite a couple of yellow cards for repeat breakdown offences, Saracens managed to keep the opposition away from their line and even extend the lead further with an unopposed run to the line for McMahon’s second. * Cheltenham Saracens II claimed a 2510 victory at Berry Hill. Their try scorers were Kyle Thomas, Ryan White, Luke Gould and Connor Anderson.

Old Patesians 22 Weston-super-Mare 0

from George Hughes gave scrum-half Lucas Roy-Smith the chance to score, but he couldn't quite catch-up with the ball to touch down.

They did not have to wait long for a second try as Weston knocked on in their own 22.

The ball was spread to fly-half Jon Coles who scythed through the defensive line before off-loading to centre James Aherne who touched down under the posts. Fielding made no mistake with his conversion.

Pats had several further chances as Weston struggled to even get out of their own half.

Aherne nearly touched down for his second but spilt the ball when just short of the line, while Fielding sent his pass flying out of play when a simple overlap was on.

However the full-back immediately made amends for that error from the resulting line-out.

With Weston missing the presence of

giant second row Ash Russell in the line out, Pats stole the ball.

After a drive from the forwards, the ball was played through midfield until it ended up in the hands of Fielding.

He had the opportunity to play one further pass to his outside, but instead he powered through a gap in the defensive line to add a try to his already impressive points tally, although he did fail to add the conversion.

Weston searched for a consolation try after their long trip, pushing Pats back through a combination of good kicking, strong running and Pats ill-discipline.

But they simply could not break down a resolute defence who looked intent on keeping Weston off the scoresheet.

Louis Spencer saw yellow late on for a similar offence to Cox in the first half, but even with a man advantage, Weston couldn't find a way to the line as Old Pats secured their second win of the season.

Cheltenham shock high-flying Avon with home triumph Cheltenham 23 Avon 17 CHELTENHAM enjoyed a fine home victory over third-placed Avon to ease themselves away from the lower reaches of the table.

Zac Atallah opened the scoring with a penalty after three minutes, but with six minutes played Avon were awarded a penalty for offside and Rob Fitch was on target.

Cheltenham were quickly awarded a second penalty which Atallah kicked for a 6-3 lead.

They then incurred the wrath of referee Steve Proctor, who

showed James Milne a yellow card for a ruck infringement.

It took Avon three minutes to use their numerical advantage with captain Kai Harwood crashing over for a converted try.

Cheltenham regained the lead on 35 minutes with Tom Lait dissecting the Avon defence for a try under the posts with the boot of Atallah adding the extras for a 13-10 lead at half-time.

Cheltenham were soon to be reduced to 14 men for a second time with Richard Athey shown a yellow card.

Jake Dixon crashed over for a

try with Fitch adding the extras to put Avon into a narrow 17-13 lead after 53 minutes.

Cheltenham then forced the visitors onto the back foot and Avon gave away a penalty which Atallah kicked to narrow the deficit to 17-16.

Fitch was shown a yellow card as discipline was lost and within three minutes Avon found themselves down to 13 men with Dixon being shown a yellow card for use of hands in the ruck.

Young replacement Syd Haskayne then scored a try in the corner with Atallah kicking a touchline conversion.

Italy international Bradley rejoins All Golds RUGBY LEAGUE

THE University of Gloucestershire All Golds have announced the re-signing of exciting half back Matt Bradley.

Bradley, who is an Italian international and well-known for his kicking game, joined the All Golds in 2011 on a rugby league scholarship.

At the time he was studying a BA Hons Degree in Business Management and went on to

Matt Bradley

represent the All Golds in their inaugural year.

He signed with the London Skolars at the beginning of the 2014 campaign but returned to the Gloucestershire side

during the season.

Commenting on putting pen to paper, Bradley said: “I am really happy to have re-signed with the University of Gloucestershire All Golds for 2015.

“The club has great ambitions for the future and that has always impressed me.

It is a great environment to develop as a player but also as a coach and I am looking forward to the new challenges ahead of me.”

30

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER

RESULTS GFA COUNTY CUP Painswick Youth U15 6 Bishops Cleeve Colts United U15 1; Stonehouse Town U15 3 FC Lakeside U15 4.

CHELTENHAM YOUTH LEAGUE Under-11 Arthur Stiley Trophy Charlton Rovers Bues 4 Swindon Village Bowmen U11 10; Cheltenham Saracens 1 Tuffley Rovers 0; Churchdown Panthers 0 Bishops Cleeve Colts 2; Leckhampton Rovers Spitfires 1 FC Lakeside Blues 6; Leckhampton Rovers Harriers 11 Leckhampton Rovers Meteors 5; Southside Lions 8 Bishops Cleeve Colts Rovers 1; Southside Panthers 10 Gotherington Juniors 1; St Marks Juniors 8 Churchdown Panthers Colts 2.

Under-13 C&G League Cup Bishops Cleeve Colts United 1 Tuffley Rovers U11; Charlton Rovers Reds 12 Abbeymead Rovers 0; FC Lakeside Blues 1 Shurdington Rovers Wolves 9; Gotherington Juniors 19 FC Lakeside Reds 0; Hardwicke Rangers 3 Cotswold Rangers Yoth 1; Leckhampton Rovers Falcons 0 Quegeley Wanderers 4; Shurdington Rovers 2 FC Oakwood 2.

Under-16 C&G League Cup English Bicknow 2 Churchdown Panthers 10; Wotton Rovers 0 Whitecroft FC 3.

Under-11 Division 2 FC Lakeside Reds 7 Southside Tigers 2.

Under-12 Division 1 Abbeymead Rovers Reds 1 Worcestr Colts 1; Broadwell Amateur Youth 1 Quedgeley Wanderers 1; Cheltenham CS Youth Blues 4 Longlevens Lions 0; Forest Rangers 4 Prestbury Pantoms Spirits 1.

Under-12 Division 2 Bishops Cleeve Colts 4 Leckhampton Rovers Predators 0; Charlton Rovers Reds 3 Cheltenham CS Youth Reds 4; FC Lakeside Whites 3 FC Lakeside Blues 7; Leckhampton Rovers Eagles 3 Abbeymead Rovers Yellows 8; Longlevens Youth 1 Tuffley Rovers 4.

Under-12 Division 3 Churchdown Panthers Reds 3 Bishops Cleeve

Cheltenham Youth Football League Results and Weekend Fixtures Colts Rovers 1; Prestbury Phantoms Falcons 1; Leckhampton Rovers Jets 5; Swindon Village Bowmen 3 Churchdon Panthers Whites 10; Winchcombe Town 6 Charlton Rovers Blues 0.

Under-13 Division 2 Charlton Rovers Blues 2 Cinderford Town 3; Bishops Cleeve Colts Rovers 4 Bishops Cleeve Colts 6.

Under-14 Division Bishops Cleeve Colts 1 Leckhampton Rovers Cheetahs 3; Charlton Rovers Reds 8 Charlton Rovers Blues 2; Cheltenham Spa CS 3 Lydbrook 3; Churchdown Panthers 6 Lydney Town (Youth) 0; FC Lakeside 2 FC Barometrics 5; Gotherington Juniors 0 Leckhampton Rover Sharks 6; Leckhampton Rovers Whites 4 Painswick Youth 1.

Under-15 Division Cashes Green Youth 2 Charlton Rovers Reds 3; Charlton Rovers Blues 4 Cheltenham Saracens 3; Lydney Town (Youth) 0 Leckhampton Rovers Cougars 3; Rodborough Youth 2 Cinderford Town 6.

Under 16 Division 1 Quedgeley Wanderers 0 FC Lakeside 2; Ruardean Hill Rangers 1 Evesham United 4; Tuffley Rovers 1 St Marks Juniors 7.

Under-16 Division 2 Abbeymead Rovers 3 Charlton Rovers 3; Cheltenham Saracens 4 FC Highnam 2; Gotherington Juniors 3 FC Oakwood 2; Painswick Youth 4 Bishops Cleeve Colts 3.

Under-18 Division FC Lakeside 4 Gotherington Juniors 2; Gotherington Juniors 4 Blues Cheltenham CS Youth 2; Southside Galaxy 2 Hucclecote Youth 4; Southside 1 Bishops Cleeve 4; Tewkesbury Town Colts 3 Fintan 3.

Rovers Blues; Lydney Town v Longlevens Infants Lions; Prestbury Phantoms Rovers v Winchcombe Town; Churchdown Panthers United v Bishops Cleeve Colts United; Prestbury Phantoms Tornadoes v FC Lakeside Blues.

Under 10 Development Yellow Bishops Cleeve Colts Rovers v Churchdown Panthers Albion; Leckhampton Rovers Lemurs v Charlton Rovers Reds; Bishops Cleeve Colts v FC Lakeside Reds; FC Lakeside Whites v Gotherington Juniors; Leckhampton Rovers Pirates v Leckhampton Rovers Wolves.

Under-11 Division 1 Cheltenham Saracens v Churchdown Panthers; FC Lakeside Blues v Southside Panthers; Leckhampton Rovers Harriers v St Marks Juiors; Southside Lions v Tuffley Rovers.

Under-11 Division 2 Charlton Rovers Blues v Bishops Cleeve Colts; Churchdown Panthers Colts v Southside Tigers; Gotherington Juniors v Bishops Cleeve Colts Rovers; Leckhampton Rovers Metors v FC Lakeside Reds; Swindon Village Bowmen v Charlton Rovers Reds.

SUNDAY GFA COUNTY CUP Under-13 Boy’s Cup Shurdington Rovers v Kingshill Lions; Abbeymead Rovers Harriers v Tuffley Rovers; Abbeymead Spitfire v Charlton Rovers Blues; Bishops Cleeve Colts Rovers v Hardwicke Rangers ; Cotswold Rangers Youth U13 v Gotherington Juniors; FC Oakwood v FC Lakeside Blues; Fintan v Quedgeley Wanderers Whites; Painswick Youth v Abbeymead Rovers; Quedgeley Wanderers v Kingshill Tigers; Shurdington Rovers Wolves v Charfield Juniors Blues; Slimbridge v Bishops Cleeve Colts United.

(Youth); Nuclear v Leckhampton Rovers Cheetahs.

FIXTURES

Under-14 Boy’s Cup Cheltenham Spa CS v Abbeymead Rovers; Churchdown Panthers v Leckhampton Rovers Whites; FC Barometrics v Cirencester Town; Gotherington Juniors v Newent Town; Leckhampton Rovers Sharks v Lydney Town

Under 18 Division Cheltenham CS Youth v Southside Galaxy; FC Lakeside v Southside; Fintan v Gotherington Juniors Whites; Hucclecote Youth v Tewkesbury Town Colts; Shurdington Rovers v Bishops Cleeve.

SATURDAY CHELTENHAM YOUTH LEAGUE Under-10 Development Red Churchdown Panthers Rovers v Charlton

HEALTH&FITNESS CHELTENHAM-based personal trainer and aspiring fitness model Leah Collins shares her exercise and nutrition tips every week in the Cheltenham Standard EXERCISE OF THE WEEK NUMBER TWO: LEG RAISES

PHOTOS: ALAN FRANKLIN

MANY abdominal exercises only target the upper abs, but leg raises are hugely beneficial because they work all areas, targeting the lower abs.

Start off lying on your back with your hands down beside you.

Slightly raise your feet from the floor keeping your legs straight for the starting position.

Raise your legs up with your toes pointed, lifting them high enough so you are pointing towards the ceiling.

Slowly lower your legs back down just above the floor. The slower you

do this the harder it all be. Try to do four sets of 10 repetitions.

NUTRITION TIP OF THE WEEK: It takes around 20 minutes for your stomach to produce certain hormones that tell you that you are full.

If you eat slowly you'll be able to consume the correct amount to fill you rather than too much. This way you'll prevent putting on weight.

CHELTENHAM YOUTH LEAGUE Under-12 Ted Croker Cup Abbeymead Rovers Yellows v Tuffley Rovers; Bishops Cleeve Colts v Southside Tigers; Charlton Rovers Reds v Abbeymead Rovers Reds; Cheltenham CS Youth Blues v Prestbury Phantoms Spirits; Chletenham CS Youth Reds v Broadwell Amateur Youth; Churchdown Panthers Whites v Winchcombe Town; FC Lakeside Whites v Worcester Colts; Leckhampton Rovers Lions v FC Lakeside Blues.

Under-16 C&G League Cup Churchdown Panthers v Whitecroft FC; Evesham United v Bishops Cleeve Colts; FC Highnam V Charlton Rovers; FC Lakeside v Abbeymead Rovers; Oakwood v Tuffley Rovers; Painswick Youth v Quedgeley Wanderers; St Maks Juniors v Gotherington Juniors.

Under-12 Division 3 Prestbury Phantoms Falcons v Charlton Rovers Blues; Swindon Village Bowmen v Bishops Cleeve Colts Rovers.

Under-13 Division 2 Cinderford Town v Bishops Cleeve Colts United; Northleach Town v FC Lakeside Reds.

Under-14 Division Bishops Cleeve Colts v Charlton Rovers Reds; Charlton Rovers Blues v Painswick Youth; Lydbrook v FC Lakeside.

Under-15 Division Bishops Cleeve Colts United v Lydney Town (Youth); Cinderford Town v Charlton Rovers Reds; Gotherington Juniors FC Lakeside; Leckhampton Rovers Cougars v Charlton Rovers Blues; Southside v Fintan.

Under-16 Division 2 English Bicknor v Harvington CC.

Keeper Benbow secures battling point for Cleeve Bishop’s Cleeve 0 Sholing FC 0 BISHOP’S Cleeve picked up only their third point of the season with a goalless draw against last year’s FA Vase winners Sholing.

Boss Steve Cleal made five changes to the side beaten 4-0 at home by Swindon Supermarine four days earlier, with student Christian Boateng, Connor Sherry, Danny Sherry, James Vercesi and Steve Benbow all starting.

Vercesi had an early opportunity, dragging a shot wide before Connor Sherry and Boateng’s work rate asked questions of Sholing's defence.

Benbow was called into action when defender Craig Hopkins was robbed in possession but a low first-time shot was saved.

The goalkeeper was called upon again moments later bravely at the feet of the onrushing striker and was injured in the process although he was able to continue.

Cleeve had some good chances with Connor Sherry bringing out the best of the Sholing goalkeeper before his brother Danny saw an effort also beaten away.

Cleeve had a golden opportunity when Connor Sherry beat the offside trap and broke down the right, as he drove to the byline he PHOTO: ALAN FRANKLIN

SPORT

had a couple of options and he cut the ball back to John Dodd whose powerful drive was saved.

Sholing came out looking more positive following their half-time team talk, playing a higher line and pushing Cleeve deeper into their half, but Benbow continued the fine form he has shown all season.

Sholing’s goalkeeper then made a fine save to deny Harlie Price from close range when he headed substitute Matt Magee’s free-kick goalwards.

The game became stretched with both sides trying to force the breakthrough but also lacking quality in the final third.

Benbow was called again in the closing stages but neither side could find the breakthrough.

Cleal said: “The lads worked hard, which was pleasing as was the clean sheet but we need to try to find that little bit of quality in the final third if we are to win matches.”

Steve Benbow

* Cleeve were thrashed 9-2 in the Red Insure Cup first round against Redditch United on Monday night. They travel to Fleet Town next Tuesday for their next league fixture.

16 OCTOBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

31

SPORT

Local Football

HAVING both started their league campaigns with victories; Falcons Reserves hosted Fintan in Division Three of the Cheltenham League, sponsored by Bristol Street Motors Cheltenham Ford last weekend.

Falcons’ Greg Hallam put in a man of the match performance, helping himself to a hat-trick, as his team maintained their perfect start to the season with a 50 win. He was joined on the scoresheet by Marc Partridge who bagged a brace.

Brockworth Reserves are Falcons opponents next week.

They have started the season with a draw and a win and will prove a tough challenge for Falcons as they look to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Division One sees a return to league action this weekend after lasts week’s cup matches and the two teams with 100 per cent records, FC Lakeside and Whaddon United, are both in action.

Lakeside host Upton Town who have drawn three and lost one of their opening matches. While they may not be going into the match off the back of a strong start to the season, Upton’s 6-2 win at Shurdington Rovers will be a good confidence boost as they face the table toppers.

Whaddon travel to Hanley Swan, who sit one place and one point behind them although they have played two games more.

Division Two leaders Cheltenham Civil

Right: Michael Parson (Falcons Reserves, yellow) and Tom Potts (Fintan, red and black) Below: Marc Partridge and Greg Hallam celebrate a Falcons goal

Service Reserves face Shurdington Rovers this weekend.

Rovers have had a disappointing start to the season and have recently changed their manager.

New man, Kevin Cole, has a wealth of experience in the local league as a keeper and will be hoping to get their first win of the season against one of his former clubs.

With the top five in the Division in action this weekend, anyone could end the weekend on top. Whaddon United Reserves are poised in second spot but face a tough fixture against a Gloucester Elmleaze team who held leaders Service to a 1-1 in the cup last weekend before losing on penalties.

Northway’s impressive start to life in Division Four continued with a 6-1 win

PLAYER PROFILE OF THE WEEK

relegated back to Division Six. The team have started their league campaign with a 5-1 win over Apperley and Mohan, Meadows and their team mates will be hoping there are many more victories to come.

THIS week we focus on Kris Mohan who plays for Cheltenham United in Division Six of the Cheltenham League.

United were formed by Simon Meadows in the 2012-13 season and got off to an impressive start, achieving promotion from Division Six at the first attempt.

Life in Division Five proved a real challenge and the team ended the season just one place off bottom spot which saw them

Name: Kris Mohan Nickname: Mesut/Mohan Position: Midfield Clubs played for: Oxford United, Eynsham FC, Witney Town, Cheltenham Civil Service, Cheltenham United (current club) Most Memorable match: Scoring eight in an Under-10s match Toughest opposition: Winchcombe Town/Northway Best player at club: Me Team supported: Arsenal FC Favourite player in world: Thierry ‘The King’ Henry

Cheltenham Football League, sponsored by Bristol Street Motors Ford Cheltenham

PHOTOS: ALAN FRANKLIN

Cheltenham League round-up

over local rivals Tewkesbury Town. This included four goals from Steven Allsopp, adding to the four he hit last week against Cheltenham Civil Service III. Winchcombe Town Reserves have the task of stopping Allsopp and his team mate’s this weekend. They currently sit bottom of the league with no points from their opening two matches so face a real challenge if they are to open their account this week.

Andoversford Reserves 5-3 victory against Kingshill Sports last weekend means they have six points from their opening two matches. They host Sherborne Harriers this weekend and will be looking to continue their excellent start to the season.

Second placed Cheltenham Civil Service IV beat local rivals FC Barometrics III last weekend with Billy Greenwood and Jamie Moore grabbing a brace while Matthew Pegrum and Ash Underwood also found the net.

This weekend Service travel to Pittville United Reserves who have one point from their opening two matches following promotion from Division Six last season.

With their first team losing, Fintan Reserves brought success to the club last weekend with a 4-0 win over Cheltenham Saracens III in Division Six. The win saw them build on their opening league victory and leaves them top after two games.

After struggling in their first two seasons, Regency Town appear to have found their feet. Their 5-0 defeat of Gala Wilton IV’s last weekend sees them with six points from their opening two games, a real contrast from previous years when they have been struggling at the foot of the table.

Neither Fintan or Regency are in action this week and with four teams sitting below them on three points there could be a new leader come 5pm on Saturday evening.

Barometrics' unbeaten start ended by Albion FC Barometrics 0 Brockworth Albion 3 BAROMETRICS' unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Chris Burns’ Brockworth Albion at Newlands Park.

From the very first attack of the game the visitors took the lead when a corner was headed in at the near post.

As half-time approached Baros should have been level, but Carl Griffiths failed to make contact from an in-swinging Ben Maguire corner.

Debutant Nick Hill then forced a good save from the goalkeeper, who dived to push the ball around the post.

In an attempt to get back into the game manager Mike Rhodes replaced Jonny Howley with Joey Smith at the break, shortly followed by Danny Gittings for Sonnie Burrows.

But Brockworth went further ahead when a long range shot was deflected past the helpless Rob Sherwood.

The home side pushed to get back into the game, with Kurtis Burrows replacing captain David Lodge, but it was the away team that scored again on 78 minutes as another shot from distance found its way into the bottom corner.

Rhodes said: “It’’s disappointing because we've spoken at length about defending set pieces, but after two minutes we conceded from a corner and were chasing the game.”

Brave Saracens edged out by leaders Ascot Cheltenham Saracens Ascot United

0 1

CHELTENHAM Saracens gave Hellenic League Premier Division leaders Ascot United a real scare before eventually succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at Petersfield Park.

Using a 4-5-1 formation and faced with several injuries and unavailabilities, the reorganised team defended very well.

Marcus Finch started his first match for over a year due to knee problems, sitting in front of the back four and frustrating the visitors’ attackers.

Ascot scored in the 38th minute when Leon Yarnie found himself unmarked from a corner to prod the ball home.

Saracens started to create a few chances in the second half, but were unable to stop the three points going to Ascot.

GOT A LOCAL SPORTS STORY? Contact our Sports Editor via editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

32

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 16 OCTOBER 2014

SPORT Your Busy set for Showcase Trophy

PHOTO: THOUSAND WORD MEDIA

HORSE RACING

Poor run must be wake-up call for Robins – Yates M

ARK Yates says Cheltenham Town’s seven match winless streak in League Two has been a “wakeup call” after their dream start to the season.

The Robins were riding high at the start of September, but last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Shrewsbury Town left them 14th in the table.

Byron Harrison put them ahead in the 48th minute, with debutant Eusebio Bancessi providing the assist after a long pass from goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

But a mistake from substitute Troy Brown gifted James Collins an equaliser two minutes later.

Andy Mangan made it 2-1 to the Shrews in the 55th minute after a poor clearance from Lee

Vaughan and the third was a header from Nathaniel Knight Percival from a corner.

“We pressed the self-destruct button, giving them two goals out of absolutely nothing,” Yates said.

“We were comfortable in the first half, started the second half well and scored, but we allowed them back into the game and then to take control of it with a mad 15 minutes.

“We then chased the game a bit, but I think Wednesday night’s effort (3-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy second round defeat by Bristol City) took its toll and we couldn’t quite muster enough to have a go at the end.

“We have now won four, drawn four and lost four, so it’s been a wake-up call for us and it’s turned

into not the best of starts.”

The main positive for Yates was the impact of Wolves youngster Eusebio, who was making his first Football League appearance.

“I thought he looked a real threat and he had a couple of good strikes,” Yates said.

“He obviously has ability and once he gets to know us and trains with us more we’ll see the best of him.”

Senior central defender Steve Elliott was forced off at half-time with a dead leg, but Yates is confident he will be back in contention for Saturday’s home match against Northampton Town.

Goalkeeper Carson, who has been Cheltenham’s top performer

this season, has demanded they stop the rot against Northampton after their error-strewn display at Greenhous Meadow.

“It went from ecstasy to agony in the space of five minutes,” Carson said. “It’s criminal to take a 1-0 lead away from home and then give away two goals.

“A few home truths came out in the dressing room because we haven't won for a long time now and things aren’t all rosy. I am not here to make friends I am here to be successful.

“It’s time to sort this out and hopefully the lads now know the situation we are in. We need to turn the corner, starting by getting a win against Northampton on Saturday.”

We W eb buy ma many ny cars... cars.... ...and of offer ffer fe er more more money than n you know who. £5,000 to £50,0 £50,000 000 CASH - FINANCE SETTLED TLED - NO ADMIN FEE

4 Vernon on Court Meteor Mete eor Business Park Staverton Staverrton GL2 9QL

01452 713123 713123

IRISH trainer James Nash is hoping to send over Your Busy for the £50,000 Showcase Trophy (3.45pm, 23 entries), one of the highlights on the second day of The Showcase at Cheltenham on Saturday, October 18.

The 11-year-old has been as good as ever during the summer season and was last seen out when making most of the running to land the valuable three-mile Kerry National at Listowel on September 17.

It was a second national success of the year for Your Busy after he took the Killarney equivalent over two and three quarter miles in May. Nash said: “The plan is to run Your Busy in the Showcase Trophy but we will just have to see how much rain they get because he wants nice ground. It would probably have to be good to soft or better for him to take his chance.

“He has been in great form since Listowel. He had been working well in the build-up and he was very lucky to get in because he was only a reserve. He had a lovely racing weight and Katie (Walsh) gave him a lovely ride.

“Although he made a few mistakes at Listowel, he is usually a very good jumper and races prominently so that he can use his jumping. He is just better that way.

“He has run well at Cheltenham before – he was second in a novices’ chase in October three years ago and ran well in the Kim Muir – and I am keen to give him another go.”

Other notable entries for the Showcase Trophy, run over three miles and a furlong, are Champion Court (Martin Keighley), the lightlyraced Le Bec (Emma Lavelle), who fell when still travelling well in last season’s Grade One RSA Chase, and recent Market Rasen victor Mart Lane (Dr Richard Newland).

Gloucestershire’s Glo oucestershire’s

solar so lar powered powered used use ed car dealership

completely comp pletely motoring mo otoring www.completelymotoring.co.uk www .comp pletelymotoring.co.uk