Cotswold Style August 2015 by Cotswold Style Ltd

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COMPETITIONS

WIN tickets to Gatcombe Horse Trials with a Spa Day at Whatley Manor WIN a Month’s Personal Training £2.50

August 2015

Heavenly Herbs at ALVESTON WE MEET PAUL BAKER Reviving the Robins at Cheltenham Town

Thinking of going Blonde? We show you how

RAMBLING AROUND THE COUNTY A Crucial English Heritage

THE COTSWOLDS ON HOLIDAY Beach Looks from Salcombe Cooking on the Coals Coastal Style Interiors Cruising to Cornwall

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beautiful, bespoke handmade kitchens

benchwoodkitchens hand crafted for timeless elegance

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MOVING TO

CHELTENHAM 19 The Courtyard, Montpellier

Benchwood Kitchens Limited 14 Global Business Park, Wilkinson Road, Cirencester, Gloucesteshire, GL7 1YZ

Telephone:

01285 643 071

Open: 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday and 9am – 1pm Saturday

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The Summer Sale 8 ROTUNDA TERRACE, MONTPELLIER STREET, CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL50 1SW TEL: 01242 523331 - STORES NATIONWIDE - andsotobed.co.uk

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Contents

34 52

AUGUST 2015

CONTENTS 10 Out and About

50 Exotic Spices and Island Life

109 Follow the Money

Your guide to the very best events happening in and around the Cotswolds this month

Lucy Garbutt visits idyllic beaches in Zanzibar

On the road of the big gamblers

52 Somewhere for the Weekend?

14 Real Life

Mrs & Mr Jones have discovered Venice

Paul Baker from Cheltenham Town discusses the football club’s future

We meet the allotment maestro, John Sutherland

56 It’s in the Bottle

113 The Lady Guns

The Blonde Boutique at Laura Leigh

Learning to clay pigeon shoot

64 Off to the Beach

114 COMPETITON

Hot Fashion for your holiday

17 Hot Property We feature some of the most beautiful properties that are for sale or to let in and around the Cotswolds

110 Reviving the Robins

29 Don’t Skip It!

The new men’s den for the modern man

Win a VIP day at Gatcombe International Horse Trials with a Spa Day at Whatley Manor

Clive Burling rejuvenates old pine

79 Do you need a Lift?

119 Cruising down the roads We review the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

31 Holiday Roulette

A new face and body clinic for the Cotswolds

88 Choosing Schools

What’s it’s like to have to choose

Club Med or the Lido asks Angela Chancellor

34 Coastal Style Interiors Inspirational looks for your home

40 Herbilicious Camilla Bassett-Smith seeks out heavenly herbs

77 BLAKES

122 Embracing a new school

An Education Report from the private sector

SOCIAL SCENE 93 Cooking on the Coals Clambake recipe to BBQ on the beach

99 Getting into the Convent

47 Castaway Collection

The dreamy, destination to R&R

Simon Speers from the Bottlegreen drinks empire

106 COMPETITON

37 55 58 112 116

The Hollow Bottom Inn The Little Bump Company The Old Stocks Inn Ladies Day Bowden Hall

Win a month of Personal Training COTSWOLD STYLE AUGUST 2015 5

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Style Welcome Partner Mark Cuzner 07917 821577 mark@stylemagazines.co.uk Business Development Manager Ian McRorie 07917 175919 ian@stylemagazines.co.uk Sales Executive Alastair McClare 01242 220239 ali@stylemagazines.co.uk Sales Executive Bethany Lynch 07807 126214 bethany.lynch@stylemagazines.co.uk Office Manager Carley Jones 01242 220239 office@stylemagazines.co.uk Production Consultant Hilary Collier 01242 220239 hilary@stylemagazines.co.uk Editorial Designer Nick Clark 01242 220239 nclark@stylemagazines.co.uk

Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1TA Switchboard: 01242 220239; Fax: 01242 257019; Email: editor@stylemagazines.co.uk or advertising@stylemagazines.co.uk Publisher: Ray Siviter Consultant: Paul Bates Distribution: Pineapple Media, 172 Northern Parade, Portsmouth, Hants, PO2 9LT. Merchandising services: Patrick Farrelly.

@CotswoldStyle Twitter followers

22,118 CotswoldStyleMagazine Facebook fans

5,143

EDITOR’S FOREWORD e’ve headed to the South West this August issue of Cotswold Style to our favourite holiday destination on the English coast. Salcombe in Devon could easily be regarded as Cotswolds-on-Sea at this time of year (see The Cotswold Gent), so Fashion Editor, Yvette Brentnall took her creative team to the beautiful seaside town to shoot holiday scenes depicting the glamorous location and what it has to offer for the family holiday. Claire in the County heads further south to the idyllic St. Mawes in Cornwall and Ed Durley, tests drive a vehicle to get you and your brood all packed up for the journey down the M5, while Interiors Editor, Emeline Watchorn has created some inspirational looks from the coast and Shelle Duffin cooks up a beach BBQ. Locally there is plenty happening outdoors, with a cultural ramble around our local countryside, clay pigeon shooting in Andoversford and Camilla Bassett-Smith met with Jekka McVicar whose herb farm in Alveston introduces us to a whole new ‘herbilicious’ experience. Whilst on the subject of gardening, our Real Life feature this month, is the inspirational John Sutherland, who has been the allotment maestro of Cheltenham for over 50 years! The quality of our children’s education is an never-ending thought process and our MPs have been campaigning in Parliament for extra funding for their constituencies, as Gloucestershire is still one of the lowest funded education authorities in the country. We have profiled some of the county’s leading independent schools for parents who may be making a choice to educate their children privately and Kate Justice talks us through the process of choosing her son’s secondary education. Finally we have some great competitions for you to enter; a month’s worth of Personal Training from Cotswold Style’s fitness expert, Luciano Kydd and a VIP day at the Gatcombe International Horse Trials with a Spa Day at the illustrious Whatley Manor Hotel.

Emma Logan Emma Logan, Editor editor@stylemagazines.co.uk

Cover image: Photography by Stefanie Calleja-Gera www.scg-photography.com Cotswold Style is published monthly by Live 24-Seven Ltd, based at Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, 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, Cotswold Style 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. 1756-6673.

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Out &

t u o ab ENTERTAINMENT

CHELTENHAM DANCE FESTIVAL AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL AND THE IMPERIAL GARDEN BAR Friday 31st July to Sunday 9th August Hosted by Beverly Harwood, this year’s Dance Festival includes a night of Lindy Hop, Friday Night is Dance Night, a glamourous Glitter Ball, fantastic family fun day, Sunday social and much more, all with a mixture of strict tempo, social and sequence dancing, suitable for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced dancers. With lectures and classes led by professional dance teachers, this year’s 24th Cheltenham Dance Festival is set to be spectacular. For further details, see the Cheltenham Dance Festival brochure. Festival ticket: £60. Individual event tickets are also available. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk SUMMER EXHIBITION AT TRINITY HOUSE, BROADWAY Until Sunday 30th August Trinity House is delighted to present an exhibition of paintings by one of the most influential modern British painters of the 20th century, Mary Fedden. For more information, contact 01386 859 329 or art@trinityhousepaintings.com OFF THE WALL EXHIBITION BY ART COUTURE PAINSWICK, PAINSWICK GALLERY Saturday 1st August to Sunday 13th September Painswick is the setting for an exciting collision of fashion and creativity this summer when dazzling creations inspired by art and the body are showcased at the Off the Wall 2015 exhibition. Curated by Art Couture Painswick (ACP), the charity behind Painswick’s renowned festival of wearable art, rare pieces by iconic fashion designers Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy will be on display, promising to inspire and thrill in equal measures. Off the Wall 2015 also

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In association with

with old Style Cotsw

features work by artists including fashion designer Selina Blow and Sophie Ryder, who created the muchphotographed Hare and the Minotaur sculpture on Cheltenham’s Promenade. www.canvasforcreativity.com ARLENE PHILLIPS – STRICTLY HOT GOSSIP (MY LIFE IN DANCE) AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Sunday 2nd August, 7pm

Showbiz legend Arlene Phillips has worked with stars from film and TV, to theatre and arenas, as well as becoming one of Britain’s favourite TV judges. Arlene has been involved in some amazing choreographies, such as Starlight Express, Flashdance and We Will Rock You, as well as iconic music videos for Freddie Mercury, Whitney Houston and Elton John. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see the wonderful Arlene Phillips in person. Tickets: £15 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

NEW BREWERY ARTS CREATIVE WORKSHOP, CIRENCESTER Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th August Stay for two nights at the Kings Head hotel and join Tracey Elphick at the New Brewery Arts Centre in a mixed media workshop. Accommodation for two nights in a spacious classic room including breakfast both mornings plus recreating a lovely street scene in a twoday workshop with Tracey Elphick. Price from £415 based on single occupancy. www.kingshead-hotel.co.uk

‘eat well, enjoy wine, love life’

www.montpellierwinebar.com CHAT WITH THE KINGS HEAD CHEESE CHAMPION, CIRENCESTER Thursday 20th August, 5.30pm Delve into the depths of the Cheese Champion’s knowledge. Enjoy local cheese tasting with matching wines located in the intimate and atmospheric Wine Cellar. Tickets £15 per person. www.kingshead-hotel.co.uk

WESTONS’ CIDER AT THE BIG FEASTIVAL Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August The Big Feastival, hosted by Jamie Oliver and Alex James on the Blur bassist’s Cotswold farm, is a celebration of the hottest music acts and delicious food, courtesy of the country’s top chefs and street food experts. The Westons’ Cider Teepee will be taking centre stage ensuring cider galore for foodies and music lovers. The teepee can be found right next to the main stage and will bring a touch of Westons’ Herefordshire Cider Mill to the festival, complete with a traditional barrel bar and reclaimed wood tables, comfy bean bags and heavenly hammocks.

It will be the ideal place to sit back with a cold refreshing cider and enjoy the soulful tones of Paloma Faith and the cool beats of Groove Armada. Renowned chefs appearing at the festival will include Raymond Blanc, Nathan Outlaw and the Cotswold-based Baker Brothers. This is the first year Westons will be showcasing Henry Westons, Old Rosie and Wyld Wood together under the new ‘Westons Crafted Cider’ umbrella. As an extra treat, Westons will be bringing new limited edition flavours to The Big

SPONSORED BY

www.yorkeconstruction.co.uk

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es m

Yorke Construction Ltd Ingenuity with a History

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Carpet Emporium is truly a family business run by Don D’Ambrosio along with his wife Mary and cousin John who have successfully built up a carpet business with a ‘difference’. We are not your normal carpet business with just lots of pattern books or samples to choose from, we actually probably stock more carpet rolls and large room sized remnants than other carpet business in Gloucestershire. When people think of a carpet remnant they think of a small piece suitable for a small bedroom, but the remnants we stock are big enough to carpet several rooms.

the difference is...

WHY CARPET REMNANTS? We also stock full rolls which will carpet a complete house. Many of these offer our customers a discount of up to 50% off normal retail prices. All remnants are perfect we do not sell factory seconds. We offer budget priced remnants to top quality 80% Wool Twist and 100% Wool Berbers, we also have many wool carpets that are now mothproof. If you cannot find what you are looking for in our extensive stock selection of over 250 rolls, we also have over 500 samples of carpets and rugs from all leading carpet manufactures in the UK and Europe. RUGS We also carry a huge range of rugs all from stock from bargain priced polypropylenes to 100% Wool Natural, plains and patterned. Many of the rugs stocked are discontinued lines which represent a big saving on normal prices. VINYLS Over 250 designs and styles of top quality vinyls available, from marble, wood, tile effect and many contemporary designs. DIVAN BEDS & MATTRESSES We have a large selection of different quality mattresses from budget priced open coil, to high quality 3000 pocket sprung, and also superb quality natural latex options. All beds and mattresses can be delivered direct from stock. WHY PURCHASE FROM CARPET EMPORIUM Carpet Emporium aim to make your carpet buying experience as easy as possible, we offer a measuring and planning service free of charge. We have experienced carpet fitters which we can fully recommend or we can deliver carpets direct to your premises for your own fitter to install. We have been providing flooring and rugs in the Cheltenham area for over 35 years.

Customer satisfaction is crucial to our business and we will always endeavour to bring our customer the best service and most competitive prices we possibly can.

01242 22 88 55

Give us a try before you buy we GUARANTEE value for money!

16-28 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HA Open 9am-5pm Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAYS – 9am-6.30pm

carpetemporium@hotmail.com | www.carpetemporium.co.uk

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Style Interiors

DON’T SKIP IT! Clive Burling has been rejuvenating pine dressers ast month I mentioned how I had noticed that a lot more people were keeping and rejuvenating pieces of furniture, rather than simply replacing with something new. Nothing illustrates this point better than a job I did last week. While visiting some friends recently for a glass of wine or two, this very subject came up. They are in the process of restoring a large Regency house in Gloucester and at the stage where, having completed most of the building work and alterations, colour schemes and furniture are now being, shall we say, ‘debated’. One item that stood out rather was a beautiful pine dresser base (well I thought so!), which was destined for an already full skip outside the front door. This was a classic example of stripped pine, stencil decorated in true 1980’s fashion (we all did it), thanks to Jocasta Innes and ‘Paint Magic’. I can certainly understand their urge to ‘skip it’. It looked tired, rough and battered round the edges and in need of a serious makeover (a bit like me on a Sunday morning!). A few drinks later and decision made, I would collect said dresser base in a few days and see if there is anything I could do with it. I love projects like this because having seen the transformation many times, I know that the finished result is likely to be beyond any expectations the owner may have. These pieces

Before

After were made to last. Obviously wear and tear, small children, dogs and cats all make a mark or two but the shape and style is all there and any repairs are usually quite superficial. Once in the workshop the first job is to remove the dated replacement knobs, fill all the holes, repair the drawers, seal the knots and start painting. I suggested we use some faceted crystal knobs and my friends agreed and left the choice of colour to me. As I usually mix my own colours, using natural earth pigments and china clay paint, I decided to go for a slightly darker than usual ‘Cotswold Stone’ and brighten up the inside of the drawers and cupboards with one of my favourite blues. The before and after effect, is again clear to see. In this case I’ve added a ‘during’ picture

too. The result was extremely well received and the search is on to find a few more pieces that can be saved from the skip! If you’re thinking ‘well actually I quite like the old pine and stencil look’ don’t worry, I’m sure it will be back again at some point! Clive Burling www.cliveburling.com Tel: 07788 257914

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Style Cotswoldia

Cotswoldia HOLIDAY ROULETTE So, says Angela Chancellor, will you gamble on guaranteed good times in the sun or take your chances with a blustery beach in Blighty? We Brits seem to be having a proper summer for once and we shouldn’t have to face 5am check-ins for that charter flight stuffed to the gills with the great unwashed to get a proper tan. Although sadly, my crystal ball didn't tell me that 2 months ago when in a moment of panic, faced with the prospect of another summer holiday spent enduring chilly evenings huddled around the BBQ and in a desperate attempt to enjoy some summer living, I booked a holiday with Club Med which involved getting on said charter flight. My sometimes better and wiser half, gently reminded me of the last time I had travelled charter with him, when I managed to have a spectacularly embarrassing full blown panic attack, involving some attractive hyperventilating and an hour lying down on a decidedly sticky airplane floor trying to calm down. I regained a normal breathing pattern eventually but it was not remotely yogic and I did not achieve mindfulness. It was not a good look overall but luckily we had not been married long and I could do little wrong in my beloveds eyes and there were then no offspring yet to traumatise. Thankfully I can report that charter flights seem to have improved. We had a little legroom and pleather seats in an almost Farrow & Ball shade of grey. I even braved an in-flight toasty, which was 'made to order'. This foolhardy decision was necessary because of course, despite the two hour check-in, the lovely people at soand-so airlines thought it would be much more fun to herd us through endless ropes for over an hour, rather than allow us time to get some breakfast at silly o'clock in the morning. The toasty was actually good-ish and I didn't spend the rest of the flight on the loo regretting my moment of desperation. Thanks to a blissfully uneventful flight, I

was able to get on with some appropriately lowbrow entertainment and an excellent introduction to the summer.... limitless magazines obsessing over celebrity beach bodies. The husband fails to understand that ogling the Teflon torsos of the cast of TOWIE and endless boy bands and that Taylor + Calvin now equals Talvin, is far more soporific than reading about the latest misguided antics of the somewhat self-styled rock star of politics, Yanis Varoufakis and the tragic demise of the Greek economy. Should I have booked a last minute trip to Greece I wonder? I think I would rather take my next batch of tourist sterling to support the fledgling democracy of Tunisia. Well-versed in politics I am not, so back to some light-hearted summer fun. Having managed to tear myself away from the reclining bliss of my sun lounger and fuelled by my probably gazillionth ‘all-

inclusive’ mojito, I am pleased to report. All-inclusive generally means sports, which much to my delight means lots of very buff GO’s, (that abbreviates ‘Genteel Organizers’ to the unitiated), to please the eye. They were of course very gentils and I am sure the intention is that they were there to teach me to waterski (fail), windsurf (double-fail) or try the trapez (not sure hanging upside down above a crowd of enthusiastic onlookers is a good look in your mid-forties having breast fed two children, so didn’t dare go there), however I can report some moderate success with sailing (whoop whoop!!) but they are certainly very easy on the eye. So if any sailing operators on the Cotswold Waterparks want some plugging in this column, you now know that there is a shameless and receptive columnist in your vicinity. Alas, my voyeuristic activities and mojito indulgence soon came to an end as a return to the Cotswolds was nigh. I do hope the weather holds this month, as I will be taking the children off to explore the various Lidos the Cotswolds have to offer. Lido is the Italian word for beach and probably made its way to our shores via returning visitors to the Lido di Venezia where bathing took place from the late 19th century. How I do love Wikipedia! Our very own Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham also gets a mention as ‘notable’, so in my book that makes it a pretty good place to start conducting a hard days research. If you see a tanned blonde, (minus tattoos), with her nose in a mag admiring David Gandy's pandies, again all in the name of research of course, (he has a marketing degree from the University of Gloucestershire), and attempting to order a mojito at the cafe...it could well possibly be me.

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A family affair With 25 years’ experience working for Meyer International (Now IDS) one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of high-quality worktops Nicholas Joiner started Worktops Cheltenham back in 1997. Worktops Cheltenham quickly became market leaders offering the widest selection of high-quality worktops with full machining service and fitting (if required) to both the trades (builders and kitchen fitters) and consumers. A unique combination of skills, experience and personal service paved the way for the introduction of a complete kitchen design and fitting service called Nicholas Joiner Kitchens. In 2003 Nick was joined by his wife Jo and son Sam who proved instrumental in growing Nicholas Joiner Kitchens into a family business dedicated to providing savvy local clients with high-quality hand-made kitchens to rival the high-priced options available in the region’s boutique showrooms but at affordable sensible prices. By remaining at their Kingsditch Industrial Estate location Nicholas Joiner Kitchens has managed to keep overheads down and consequently prices low without compromising quality. Their workshop and showroom and widely-acclaimed personal service has put them firmly on the map as one of the must visit places in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds for high quality hand-made kitchens at affordable prices.

Unit R1 Kingsville Road, Kingsditch Trading Estate, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire T: 01242 519966

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‘West Wittering 4’, £120, by Emeline Watchorn. www.emelinewatchornceramics.com, 01285 821 159. emeline.watchorn@gmail.com. Inspired by the beaches near my mother’s house in West Sussex, these subtle colours and thick paint makes make me think of fresh summer days on an English beach.

INTERIORS STYLE

Compiled and written by Interiors Editor Emeline Watchorn www.emelinewatchornceramics.com

My look this August is fresh British coastal style. Head for the beach to escape the heat in good old Blighty – we have lots of fabulous ones! And after enjoying long, sandy days you can bring the sea home with you, with these lovely products. Why not refresh a tired bathroom and create a coastal scheme with these goodies? How about sprucing up your kitchen with an original oil seascape and some decorative antiques. I have added a splash of retro to keep the look current but most of all, this look is fun, fresh and joyful and can be introduced into any home, regardless of the type and location of the house.

Antique wooden bench, £230, Decorative Country Living. www.decorativecountryliving.com. This heavenly antique bench again could go inside or out. Try a hallway, kitchen or conservatory as well as under a shady tree in the garden. Immediately evocative of fresh seaside living, it’s perfect for recreating that look in your home or garden. Retro Clock, Coastal Blue, £29.50, Pebbles to Sand. www.pebblestosand.co.uk. Check out this fabulous online shop. It has everything coastal that the heart desires and is well priced. I can smell the sea air when I look at their website. I love this clock as it gives a retro twist to coastal style. Pair of Café chairs, £120 per pair, Decorative Country Living. www.decorativecountryliving.com. Try a pair of quirky original vintage metal chairs for inside or out. With a slight retro edge, they give a fresh twist to coastal style. This company is a great place to source those hard to find original vintage or antique pieces.

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Nautical Wooden Seagull, £20, notonthehighstreet, www.notonthe highstreet.com. No coastal interior would be complete without a wooden seabird or two. These lovely birds would look good on a windowsill or fireplace.

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Style Interiors

Rustic Spice Rack, £76.99, Dassie. www.dassie.co.uk. Made using reclaimed wood and by local artisans in South Africa, this handmade beautiful spice rack has beach overtones with its driftwood appearance and cool colour tones. It is 100% Fairtrade and would look great in a kitchen, utility room or bathroom.

Smokey Joe Premium Barbeque, £69.99, Weber. www.weberbbq.co.uk. Head to the beach with this adorable portable BBQ. It’s large enough to feed the family but small enough to carry and it should get the party going this summer. Lucca Gylcine Tumblers, £7, Designers Guild (online shop). www.designersguild.com. Just this little splash of colour in these adorable little tumblers will add a coastal feel to your tables this summer. Well priced and practical, I know I can’t resist them!

Cotton Box cushion in blue stripe, £19.95, Nordic House. www.nordichouse.co.uk. These stylish, deep pad cushions would freshen up any room. You could use them inside or outside on chairs or benches and you would achieve instant fresh coastal style.

Pinch Jugs, £22, Sarah Field Ceramics. www.sarahfieldceramics.com. 01285 821 159. These beautiful little porcelain pinch jugs are hand thrown in porcelain and then glazed in these gorgeous coastal colours. Simple, modern and extremely useful, as they make great serving jugs – milk, gravy, salad dressings, sauces etc, and also look lovely with a bunch of freshly picked flowers from the garden.

Mono Fish Woven Mat, blue, £15, Cath Kidston. These handy mats roll up with a tie so can be transported easily down to the beach or on a picnic. Our coastal theme wouldn’t have been complete without a fish design and we can trust Cath Kidston to come up with a quirky coastal look.

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54 Andover Road, Cheltenham GL50 2TL

Vale Kitchens

01242 224404

established in 1969

Contemporary &

Traditional styles Total project

management

Modifications to

existing kitchens Domestic appliance sales

Opening times: Tuesday to Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday: 9.00am – 4.00pm Closed: Sunday & Monday

info@thevalegroup.com | www.thevalegroup.com 36 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk

Sandra Paul, Hugh Kelly and Emma Logan

John and Julie Finch

Kate Clift, Maddie Walby and Mark Walby

Style Event

The magician wows the kids

Hollow Bottom showcases new premises

Caroline Robson and Tom Arkell

After an extensive refurbishment, The Hollow Bottom Inn in Guiting Power hosted a fun filled evening to showcase all their changes, which include a fantastic beac h bar and decking, fire pit and boules alley in the back garden. Entertainment was provided by talented musician, And rew James Music who really got the part y going! www.hollowbottom.com Photography by Rob Wheatman

Pandora Fowles, Yza Iznasni and Bob Burnt

ney and Katie Domonique, Anna, Angelica, Trelaw

Edie-Grace and Hugh Kelly Nigel Twiston-Davies, Tony Evans, Warre n Marston, Gordon Clarkson and Steve Hunt

Heather Henthorn and Paul Gates

John Disney and Emma Baker

Hugh Kelly and Dee Capling

Hannah Clift, Maddie Walby and Jan Clift

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01242 237241

A F F O R D A B L E L U X U R Y

No 1 SHOWROOM IN THE UK 2013

BATHROOMS FROM £600

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Fairview Road, Cheltenham GL52 2EJ

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Call Matt Bl Blewett lewett of Shuttercraft Shuttercraft Gloucestershire 01242 Gloucesters shire today on 012 242 649592

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Through the Garden Gate This month our media horticulturalist, Camilla Bassett-Smith, takes a trip to the south of the county to meet some heavenly herbs ennis equals Murray, football goes hand in hand (or foot in boot) with Mr Beckham but when it comes to herbs, there’s only one lady at the forefront of her field and that’s South Gloucestershire’s very own Jekka McVicar. Most of us have had a run in with rosemary, a bash with basil or maybe even a tinkling with thyme, but Jekka’s Herb Farm in Alveston introduces us to a whole new herbilicious experience. From a family of cooks, she was surrounded by herbs from a young age and started planting her own organic herbs in 1984. Two years later, Jekka moved with her family to the site where they are still based today, now with a collection of over 300 culinary herbs and a wealth of knowledge on the use of each. There are 40 different mints alone,

40 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

from curly to grapefruit and chocolate to orange. Sage presents itself in tangerine and blackcurrant forms, to name a few. (I recently acquired the tangerine sage and have to say it is a stunner, striking orange red flowers and an unbelievable citric scent plus a willingness to grow with gusto). Not content with just a herb farm, two years ago The Herbetum was created on site. This is an area of raised beds planted with herbs according to their species, name, group or region and is the first of its kind in this country. Wandering around the beds is a real eye and nose-opener - so much choice, so much scent and if accompanied by Jekka on one of her tours, an unforgettable education. ‘Meadowsweet’ – sacred herb of the Druids and a favourite of Raymond Blanc, this is nature’s painkiller: the drug

that was made from it became known as aspirin. Tastes like Germolene, but don’t eat too much! If arthritis is your enemy, then some celery seed tea is just the thing, whilst for a bit of relaxation, catmint waves its hands of whispy foliage in the air! Prepare to both observe and taste as you are guided on your tour. For me, the large pink pompoms of Allium nutans reached out and rooted its onion shoots in my purse, making itself at home and expelling the pound coins needed for purchase like stones rejected from the soil. A striking plant; like a chive that’s had its spinach and is going for gold (or pink in this case). Jekka is not the only lady in this family with an eye for the plant world – her daughter Hannah produces the most exquisite pieces of artwork. It would seem that this family’s veins, in addition

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Jekka McVicar

to flowing with chlorophyll, also flow with a certain amount of ink! For Hannah takes after her Great Grandfather, Thomas Lowinsky, who was a well know artist and has clearly passed on his talents. Now while some of us tut at the snails who play edible twister with our hostas and others wage war on the blackfly that make our broad bean shoots look like caviar coated tips, Jekka has another critter on her mind. Meet the Rosemary Beetle – well I hope you never do – but

just in case she comes knocking at your shed door, here’s why you should ignore her – she’ll strip all of your rosemary, thyme, lavender and mint before she’s as much as introduced herself. Plus once she’s settled in, you’ll never get rid of her, although your best bet according to Jekka is the good old fashioned yellow sticky traps – maybe get them ready as a warning and if she flies by perhaps she’ll keep on going on the M5. (That’s the beetle not Jekka you understand!) While Jekka isn’t busy tending her

plants, re-designing herb gardens for top clients, writing books and winning Gold medals from the RHS, she is keen to breed a new strain of thyme that can withstand heavy rain. Following cross pollination and observing which new plants behave well, any showing promise are propagated and then put to the test. Watch this space – I have a feeling we’re going to see something good, but only thyme will tell! www.jekkasherbfarm.com

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Our flooring speaks for itself!

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Style Culture

Cotswolds Culture Susan Blanchfield Takes Us On a RAMBLE Have we lost our way when it comes to the art of walking for pleasure? Faster and faster we go, swept along by the pressures of practicality into the paths of least resistance. It takes determination to indulge in many of the traditional pleasures of the countryside and walking is the most basic and simple of them all. It’s a quietly unassuming workout that might not Nicholas van get the column inches but Hoogstraten offers a myriad of health benefits - you can do it alone or with friends, and it doesn’t cost a thing. Countryside walking or ‘rambling’ forms a crucial part of our English heritage, springing from a small and often illegal pastime. The history of rambling begins with the remarkable people who campaigned for the right to be able to ‘roam’ across England and Wales. When the industrial revolution took hold, countryside walking offered a welcome relief from a polluted environment and the stress of daily life for the many people now confined to burgeoning towns and cities. Access to the countryside however, was problematic due to the Enclosures Act which allowed private landowners to close off their land. The Ramblers Association and individuals like Tom Stephenson and MP Hugh Dalton campaigned for walkers’ rights, resulting in over 68 years of hard fought battles to get a proper right to roam. The 140,000 miles of public rights of way across England and Wales that we enjoy today, are entirely due to their persistence and dedication. Even now the fight between landowners and walkers can flare up like a bush fire. Whilst most landowners recognise both the rights of walkers and their value to rural tourism, a few resist. They are the

ones who craftily move footpaths to dogleg around their land, fence over styles or allow for strategic placement of bulls or cows with calves adjacent to footpaths. The most notorious of them all, Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, used razor wire, disused refrigerators and corrugated barns to block the public right of way that snaked its way through his land on the South Downs. His dislike of walkers was legendary - he referred to them as “the great unwashed” and “riff raff ”. He was also reported as calling them “herberts” but said he was misquoted: he had really meant to describe them as “perverts”. All of which makes the aforementioned efforts of other landowning miscreants look rather tame in comparison. Assuming you are endowed with the sort of British grit and determination that casually brushes aside the efforts of a convicted killer to inflict army type assaults on your ‘rights to roam’ your next rambling hurdle to be attended to will be your attire. Your walk might be as routine as they come but your outfit doesn't have to be. Those seemingly innocuous ribs, stripes and seams on your Northface or Wanderfreund are meant to connote performance. They aim to awaken a sense of your latent potential in the rambling arena and that psychological effect should not be underestimated. You want to wear something that makes you feel like you can take on any situation you may encounter during your walk and that you are protected and empowered. On the other hand, you don't want to look like a nerd. The clothing choices can be problematic unless of course you decide to follow in the footsteps of rambler Stephen Gough, who recently lost his case at the

European Court of Human Rights, where he had protested about his repeated arrests for insisting on rambling naked throughout the UK. Unsurprisingly his case was summarily dismissed – as Debretts in their guide to countryside etiquette; there is here, an age-old way of doing things in rural Britain and going naked with a backpack simply isn’t one of them. Our gorgeous Cotswolds offer the perfect antidote to our pace of life - a gusty hill-top path; labyrinthine dark forest floors; the feel of different soil, peat and rock; the sight of alternating sunlight and shadow sweeping across vast valleys and all for free. A garrulous, glorious ramble will stretch tired muscles, soothe a mood and burn off some of that summer rose wine you’ve been quaffing throughout the balmy summer evenings. Take a friend or go alone. As Big Feastival organiser and Alex James

rambler enthusiast Alex James said, ‘there is no better way of seeing the world, or yourself, than walking. Many people think it’s boring. Like anything, it’s only as boring as the people you are doing it with, or if you’re alone, as boring as you are’. Susan Blanchfield is a Patron and Trustee of Cheltenham Festivals; she is a postgraduate doctoral researcher at the University of Gloucestershire and has a life long passion for the Arts in Education. Please contact Susan at: editor@stylemagazines.co.uk

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ALEXANDER BURN FUNERAL DIRECTORS Alexander Burn is an independent family business with three offices in the Cheltenham area. COURTEOUS, EFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL 24 hour personal service | Private chapels of rest HM Coroner and NHS Funeral Director for Gloucestershire New Tewkesbury Branch opening August 2015 The firm, which is owned and run by Alexander Burn, has branches already in Cheltenham, Bishop’s Cleeve and Winchcombe, and has a strong reputation for providing the very highest standards in bereavement care. In addition to its funeral directing work, Alexander Burn is the funeral director for the Coroner and the NHS across the whole of Gloucestershire. As an independent family business, they are a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors, and a Charter Member of the Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors, representing the gold standard in funeral directors. The new branch will contain all the facilities of a modern funeral home, and has been subject to a major refurbishment to bring it to the highest standard. As well as providing a 24 hour a day ‘at need’ service’, Alexander Burn also assist with preplanning and prepayment for funerals, though its chosen plan provider Golden Charter. Any enquiries can be directed through 01684 276200, or enquiries@alexanderburn.com. Alternatively, the team will be there 8:30 til 5 each week day to welcome visitors and offer support and guidance. Alexander Burn himself lives in Tewkesbury and has wider family in the town and surrounding area, so it is particularly exciting for him to be able to serve the community which he is a part of. Although none of us like to dwell on our own mortality, perhaps it is of some comfort to know that a professional an caring organisation is there to look after us and our families when we need support the most.

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ASTAWAY Simons Speers is the Managing Director of iconic Cotswold drinks company, Bottlegreen. Best known for their signature Elderflower drinks, Bottlegreen’s delicately crafted cordials, pressés and tonics are a summer staple at many a garden party. Ellie Mainwaring caught up with him in the height of the season which is made with a mixture of family gold dating back many generations. It is something of a guardian, as the times I’ve taken it off, luck didn’t seem to be on my side. I wear it always now. Leave – My father’s gold Omega watch, which was handed down to me. It is worth a little bit of money – not too much but enough for a rainy day. It would bring back memories of my dad and also myself to my family at home, as well as being a great timekeeping item.

Where in the world would you choose to be castaway to and why?

Madeira. It’s a great temperature all year round – never too hot, never too cold – along with the stunning scenery both in land and out across the ocean. There is also plenty of vegetation and food available, making it a smart place to be cast adrift. What item of jewellery or accessory would you take?

Wedding ring aside, my accessory would be golf clubs and a healthy stock of golf balls. You can never perfect the game! I need to work hard at it and being castaway, I’d have plenty of time to improve. The clubs would also come in handy should I need to tame a wild beast.

What would be your luxury item?

You can take the entire works of one musician to your desert island, who will it be and why?

Sir Edward Elgar. His variety of classic concertos would suit the many different moods I’m likely to experience while on my lonesome. His upbeat Pomp and Circumstance and Land of Hope and Glory would bring back memories of home in Britain and be quite rousing at times. Although I’m not a dog owner myself, I would take a Labrador – man’s ultimate best friend.

What animal or pet would you take?

They are always delighted to see you no matter what has happened throughout the day. He or she would probably be good at helping me find my golf balls too. Name one possession you would take and one to leave behind for a loved one.

Take – My signet ring,

My iPad with hopefully a connection to the Internet. With the ample time I would have, I could educate and stimulate myself intellectually. Besides keeping in touch with the outside world. What would be your last supper before departing for your desert island?

As simple as this may sound, Chilli Con Carne. In our household, every Friday night is Chilli night, no matter who comes. It’s a really special evening catching up with friends and family and we always have an open house.

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ZANZIBAR Exotic Island Paradise Self-professed adventuress and Travel Writer Lucy Garbutt explores Zanzibar’s idyllic white sandy beaches and wealth of historical and cultural treasures or over two thousand years the East African coast has lured travellers and traders alike from many distant shores. Zanzibar became the most powerful centre of a rich and lucrative trade route supplying gold, ivory and slaves and serving as the main power base for the Sultans of Oman, as well as a gateway to the African continent for many European explorers such as Speke, Burton and Livingstone. We headed to the exotic Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar following an

The location of the world’s last open slave market beside The Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ

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action-packed safari to the Selous Game Reserve and discovered a perfect slice of paradise and dreamy finale to a perfect get away. Stone Town is an historic trade centre and fusion of the old Indo-Arabian architecture and a modern new world creeping into the mix. My tour of Stone Town and its minarets, carved and studded doorways, fish and spice markets took me through a labyrinth of twisting alleyways and a winding history. I was transported back through the centuries to ancient Persia and tales of Shirazi merchants, Swahili Princesses and Omani Sultans. I saw 19th Century landmarks such as the House of Wonders, a former Sultan’s palace and The Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ. In the church are displayed many fascinating discoveries such as a tribute to Dr David Livingstone in the form of a cross carved from part

of the tree in Zambia, under which the explorer’s heart was buried. The world’s last open slave market is located nearby and I still shudder at how I felt to enter the poisonously oppressive, damp cellars and to think of the cruelty and suffering that took place here. Zanzibar boasts some of the world’s finest beaches, world class cuisine and most stunning boutique hotels. We were lucky enough to circumnavigate the island staying at different resorts and hotels to get a true flavour of this tropical island paradise. One thing remains consistent and that is the powder soft sand and lapping, shimmering, clear water fringed by swaying coconut palms beneath azure blue skies! I loved the beaches of the South East boasting long swathes of gleaming white sand into the horizon. One morning with the tide far out we cycled the length of the beach soaking up the sights as we zipped along, seeing women in brightly coloured bui-buis (Islamic cover-alls) farming sea shells, small fish and seaweed from the white coral sand, children swimming and fishermen busy in the shallows. The watersports facilities are fantastic here too with every sort of seaworthy vessel imaginable – a highlight for me was some exhilarating hobi-cat sailing in bath temperature water and the

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Women fishing for shellfish in the shallows

novelty of not having to wear a wetsuit to keep out the cold! We passed avenues of mango trees laden with ripe orange fruit, equatorial rainforests of towering iridescent leaves and watched the rare Red Colobus monkey munching on unripe fruit. We drove past fields with farmers labouring by-hand with pickaxes and through colourful towns with people busy selling and transporting everything from mattresses on bicycles to produce in wooden carts pulled by oxen. Along one remote stretch of road, a car width of tarmac was taken over by metres of loose

cloves drying in the sun. Eventually the tarmac ran out and we bumped over dusty roads of coral, past picturesque fishing villages with elderly men sitting on their verandas playing bao (a traditional board game), fishermen busy in their dhows and children playing in the water and waving at us. Some of the beaches are so remote and isolated that time has stood still. We were lucky enough to stay beside such a beach with the hotel, a series of traditionally styled round chalets with pitched makuti roofs tucked into the rocks and were treated to a luxurious stay beyond my wildest dreams.

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r M Mrs & s e n o J

Somewhere for the Weekend? Our new short haul travel section, is hosted by our very own Cotswoldia couple, Mrs and Mr Jones. They will be thoroughly investigating destinations ideal for a little trip away. They won’t just reveal vital tips on each glamorous getaway but also provide the inside track to ensure the destination caters for a range of tastes and wallets. From the slickest city hangouts to peaceful boltholes, you won’t waste a moment planning your travels. e girls know that it is ‘The Mrs’ who makes the choice around the weekend destination, or at least drops heavy hints about where she would like to go… therefore we’ve honoured our first lady by dispensing with tradition and placing the Mrs in the front where she belongs… This month we visit the wedding destination of the ‘oh so’ glamorous George and Amal Clooney.

VENICE

Often described as one of the most romantic cities in the world, La Serenissima offers a tantalizing blend of East and West, thanks to its unbroken 1,100 years as an independent empire. From the minute of arrival in Venice, visitors feel they are stepping back into a magical past, or even a giant film set. Narrow, traffic-free streets wind around labyrinthine canals, and Gothic palazzos lie side by side with Oriental mosaics and Byzantine domes. Yet hidden amongst the historical alleys, there’s a contemporary edge to this beautiful city. World-class modern art galleries vie for attention alongside designer shopping, boutique hotels and stylish bars. When the film and biennale art festivals open, Venice truly comes alive. Celebs flock to town to party in grand palazzos and swanky yachts. Here are a few of Mrs and Mr Jones’ highlights: 52 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

Out and about...

Piazza San Marco is the obvious start point for sightseeing. This grandest of squares was described by Napoleon as the ‘finest drawing room in Europe.’ The exquisite 11th century Basilica di San Marco is an architectural masterpiece and well worth a visit. Alongside, sits the imposing Palazzo Ducale (Doges’ Palace). On the ‘Secret Tour’, Mr Jones enjoyed hearing about the scandalous philanderer and prisoner, Casanova. Mrs Jones, meanwhile, was happy to remind him that she wasn’t averse to leaving him behind in the torture chamber and finding her own Casanova for a gondola ride. To avoid the long queues for both sights (and Mr Jones’ grumbles), it’s a good idea to pre-book tickets in advance. Away from the people and pigeons of St Mark’s, the Rialto markets sit below the famous bridge. This is a fabulous place to browse alongside locals for vibrant fruit, flowers, fresh seafood and souvenirs. It’s said there is more art per square mile in Venice, than in any other city. In the arty district of Dorsoduro, Mr Jones headed to the famous Galleria Accademia and the lesser-known Museo del Settecento in a magnificent 17th century palazzo, home to two Canalettos. Being more of a modernist, Mrs Jones loved the Peggy Guggenheim art

museum on the Grand Canal. The famous Biennale art festival (during odd years), sees pop-up galleries appear all over the city. For tiring feet and to live life like a Venetian, hop on a vaporetto (waterbus). Observing Mr Jones’ reluctance to ask for directions after the third time of getting lost, Mrs Jones armed herself with a vaporetti map and a two-day pass (http://www.veneziaunica.it/en), a great option if you’re going to be a frequent user. Keen to follow in the footsteps of James Bond, Mr Jones suggested a vaporetto ride across the lagoon to the island of Murano, remembering the famous glass museum fight. Far from the bustle of St Mark’s Square, Murano has its own Grand Canal but on a much smaller scale. It’s lined with colourful buildings, restaurants and, of course to Mrs Jones’ delight, an array of glass shops perfect for browsing for jewellery and glassware. Be sure to head off the main street, for a glimpse into local life.

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Eating...

Coffee and croissants are the order of the day for breakfast Venetian-style. Yes it’s true, Italians frown upon ordering a cappuccino after 11am. For lunch on the go, the little bars in the streets surrounding St Mark’s display an array of delicious filled focaccia and panini. If you’re keeping an eye on the pennies, steer away from Piazza San Marco itself. But if Mr Jones is happy to splash out, choose a prime table for people watching at the grand old Caffè Quadri (www.alajmo.it) In the arty Dorsoduro district, reasonably priced Risoteca Oniga (www.oniga.it/eng/restaurants-invenice.htm) in Campo San Barnaba is a lovely spot for lunch or dinner. Mrs Jones waxed lyrical about the best caprese (burrata mozzarella and tomato) salad she’d ever had, while Mr Jones imagined himself as Indiana Jones, on his Last Crusade, filmed right there in the Campo. For a mid-range priced dinner near St Mark’s, Osteria da Carla (www.osteria dacarla.it) is a great little find. It has a rustic feel and offers a fabulous selection of tapas, typical Venetian fare and a good selection of wines. For splurging, the romantic Osteria alle Testiere (www.osterialletestiere.it/ Testiere/Welcome.html) near Santa Maria Formosa, serves exceptional seafood and has a great wine list. Book in advance, it’s small and incredibly popular. No trip to Italy would be complete without an obligatory gelato. Look out for artisan gelaterias, who normally make fresh gelato daily. Boutique del Gelato, between the Rialto and St Mark’s is worth searching out. If you’re in Dorsoduro, make a beeline for Gelateria il Doge in Campo Santa Margherita.

It’s a Venetian tradition to enjoy an Aperol spritz before dinner, perhaps accompanied by a selection of cichetti (appetisers). Around the Rialto market, in San Polo, Santa Croce and Cannaregio, look out for bacari, traditional Venetian tapas bars. Sunset is one of the most romantic times to head out with a gondolier along the canals. Mr Jones, keen to keep the price down, accepted the hotel’s offer of a shared ride with other guests. He made up for it afterwards by treating Mrs Jones to a Bellini - the bestknown Venetian cocktail. The most famous location to have this gorgeous mix of white peach juice and prosecco is Harry’s Bar (www.harrysbarvenezia.com), even though it’s one of the pricier options. As darkness falls, head back to Piazza San Marco, and enjoy the music at Caffé Florian (the world’s oldest café) (www.caffeflorian.com/en/) or splash out on a Vesper martini at the Gran Caffé Quadri. One of the most buzzy areas for partying into the night is Campo Santa Margherita, a square of restaurants and bars frequented by students in Dorsoduro.

beautifully furnished rooms and a great buffet breakfast. It’s close to shops and restaurants and offers a fabulous rooftop terrace for a sundowner or late night cocktail. On a budget: The Don Orione Artigianelli Cultural Centre (www.donorione-venezia.it/en/) lies in a quiet street in Dorsoduro, between the Zattere waterfront and the Accademia. This former monastery offers spotless guest rooms and a lovely courtyard for al fresco picnics.

Sleeping...

When to go...

Choose whether to stay in the more central but busier San Marco district, or perhaps further from the crowds in one of the other districts, such as arty Dorsoduro. Splurge: Venice is home to some truly iconic hotels. The Belmond Hotel Cipriani (www.belmond.com/hotelcipriani-venice) is four minutes by private launch from San Marco, and has unrivalled views over the lagoon and Doge’s Palace. Guest rooms are tucked away amongst flowering gardens and it has a wellness centre and Olympic-sized pool. The Hotel Danieli (www.danielihotelvenice.com) occupies a wonderful location on the edge of the lagoon, minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco. It’s an architectural treasure and the rooftop restaurant offers panoramic views of the Grand Canal and the lagoon. Mid range: Hotel a la Commedia (www.commediahotel.com) is located near the Rialto Bridge and within 10 minutes walk of St Mark’s. It offers

Murano

Winters can be cold and summers can get very hot. Flooding is more likely between November and March. Availability is likely to be more tricky in February during Carnevale and the film festival in August/September.

Getting there...

The low cost airlines including easyJet into Marco Polo (www.easyjet.com) and Ryanair into Treviso (www.ryanair.com), fly out of regional airports. For scheduled air consolidation information and real time pricing from a wide range of scheduled operators visit www.skyscanner.com For private jet consolidation information and booking visit www.returnjet.com For alternative accomodation visit www.airbnb.com For up to date listings visit: listings at http://en.turismovenezia.it Compiled by Sara Chardin

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk Petrina Wiltshire and Megan Stone

Style Event

Jacqui Modla, Carley Jones and Sharon Duckworth

Mithra and Eve Fernando Steph, Natalie and Jane Dearing

The Little Bump Company Launch Party

Eve Fernando and Louise Mitchell

THE LITTLE BUMP COMPANY, an exci ting new boutique maternity and nursing specialist in Montpellier, Cheltenham, held their launch party on Tuesday 30th June before officially opening to the pub lic on Saturday 4th July. For the launch, gues ts nibbled on Indian canapĂŠs by Bhoomi restaurant and sipped Prosecco and mocktails whilst listening to Cheltenh am Jazz Festival favourites, The Sugar Siste rs. www.thelittlebumpco.com Photography by Angus Bethune

Philly Fleetwood, Rodrigo and Louis e Rowland

Jo Hawkins, Jan Hall and Louise Forey James Burton and Louise Mitchell

Mithra and Eve Fernando

Sali Green, Jo Donald and Laure Le Clech

LJ and Stella Edwards

Sheryl Oobaloos and Susie Mackie Petrina Wiltshire and Megan Stone

The Sugar Sisters

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Blonde but not as you know it Discover The Blonde Boutique at Laura Leigh Hairdressing et one of our expert colour specialists help you find your perfect shade of blonde. Whether your ideal blonde hair is a natural beige, cool ash or a delicious blend of caramel & toffee tones, learn all about the latest palette of shades available that can be customised by your

colourist to give you your dream blonde. Discover the range of professional services & techniques our expert colourists have at their fingertips, to give you your tailor made look. From Balayage to contouring, to new trends in highlights such as Babylights, the techniques & placement of colour used by

professional colourists is constantly evolving. Explore & decode the difference between them all & be equipped to have a great conversation the next time you visit your salon and learn about our wide range of colour services now to find the inspiration to take the plunge and go blonde!

THE BLONDE BOUTIQUE COLOUR MENU Living the High Life

Not a Bottle Blonde

Ideal for: Those loyal to foil. Calling all loyal blondettes and first time highlighters, get ready to join the modern foil celebration. This new take on classic highlighting techniques offers personalised colour placement that glistens in all the right places and blends seamlessly.

Ideal for: Blonde devotees. Designed for the truly professional blonde, this multi-tonal finish is created by colour matching shades that enhance your hair and complement your skin tone. Bespoke blending and shadowing techniques shade, illuminate and add depth for fuller looking, feature enhancing professional colour results, that simply cannot be bottled!.

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Style Hair Lady Luxe Ideal for: Catwalk colour. Think of this as couture colour - luxury lightening for a truly beautiful, bespoke blonde. Inspired by Balayage, expert freehand techniques are used to merge lighter tones with your natural shades resulting in expensivelooking locks that money really can buy.

Blonde but not as you know it Ideal for: Blonde dabblers. Experience a taste of the blonde life with the uber chic, supermodel worthy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brondeâ&#x20AC;?. A stunning choice for darker hair, it flawlessly merges cool browns and blonde tones and can be made bespoke to flatter skin tone and contour your face. Reveal your inner blonde!

Born again Blonde

As blonde as can be

Ideal for: Natural looking blonde. Were you born with it or was it your colourist? Take a hazy drift back to a childhood blonde with a mix of natural hues to flatter your skin tone and add a touch of blonde suggestion. Colour blurring techniques are used to create an effortless, youthful finish. It's barely-there blonde at its best.

Ideal for: Statement blondes. When you want your blonde to be bold, this service offers platinum perfection with the cleanest and most reflective finish. Using kinder-to-hair professional lighteners, you won't need to compromise the quality of your hair to achieve your ultimate blonde potential.

Call the reception team at Laura Leigh Hairdressing and book a bespoke blonde consultation today. Tel: 01242 530598

Laura Leigh Hairdressing, Lower Ground Floor, 105 The Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1NW, Tel: 01242 530598; www.lauraleighhairdressing.co.uk

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk

The Old Stocks Inn showcases their recent refurbishment The Old Stocks Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold welcomed guests to their recently refurbished premises. The 17th-cen tury coaching inn has been transformed into a luxurious boutique hotel offering a unique experience for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guests. Photography by Rob Wheatman

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^^^ ^PUMPLSKOVZWP[HS JV \R ^PUÃ&#x201E;LSK LUX\PYPLZ'YHTZH` JV \R ramsaycosmeticsurgery ramsaycosmetic

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Mind, Body & Soul We discover some of the new, sensational treatments or products available in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas to recuperate your mind, body and soul. Refresh, revive and invigorate with a deeply relaxing treatment by Jane Mann, The Organic Beautician, tested by Emeline Watchorn. Overwhelmed as we are with claims of organic, fair trade products, in a largely unregulated industry, it’s hard to ascertain who exactly is telling the truth. But a visit to Jane Mann, aka The Organic Beautician left me feeling totally reassured that her products really were as they promised and the results were also impressive. Working from her house in Pitchcombe, she offers several types of treatments from the classic facials, clarifying treatments, facial gymnastics, facial firming treatments, back cleansing, to foot and hand treatments. She works with Dr Hauschka products so is referred to as a Dr. Hauschka Esthetician. Dr. Hauschka was inspired by Dr. Steiner in the 1920’s who talked about rhythm carrying life and went on to develop a new method of farming called Biodynamics. The company that subsequently developed in the 1960’s produces skin care products using organically/bio-dynamically grown or

responsibly wild crafted ingredients and supports fair trade projects in places like Afghanistan. It also uses green transport and green electricity. So the ideology is impressive but do they work? I had opted for a 2-hour classic facial, which starts with a warm footbath and massage, followed by a hand, neck and shoulder massage and then the facial itself. Jane’s easy manner combined with the footbath and consultation, made me feel relaxed and at home. It’s a different type of experience to the hyper styled spa’s that we tend to head to for treatments but I think I preferred it on account of how ridiculously relaxed and calm I felt. By the time the actual facial started, I felt weightless and all tingly and I can’t remember all that much about it other than the sensation my face being brushed with a soft brush. When it sadly came to an end, my skin felt and looked lovely and the lymph massage also meant I felt the treatment went far beyond just my skin. Armed with a bag full of products, I have carried on using them at home, and backed up by several comments from observant girlfriends, can say that my skin

is looking and feeling better. Jane can also offer specialised treatment programmes tackling problems like acne and the effects of aging and with prices starting from £55, I think this is an ethical and affordable way of looking after your skin, mind, body and soul. www.theorgaincbeautician.com 01453 763081, jane@theorganicbeautician.com www.dr.hauschka.de/english James McDiarmid, who has been a qualified doctor for more than 18 years and a consultant plastic surgeon for the last eight, specialises in breast augmentation, rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation and has extensive experience in reconstructive surgery. He is also the Cotswolds’ best kept secret in providing Botox. Working throughout the South West of England and with a discreet practice in the centre of Cheltenham, James has clients visiting him from

throughout the region and London to receive his cosmetic procedures to ensure the naturalist looking wrinkle reduction. He identifies the area above your eyebrows where a lift is needed to help crease out the lines on your forehead and also works delicately around the eyes, if he feels that it will help soften out any crinkles. The results are simply outstanding and definitely one of the best procedures we have witnessed yet. A former NHS consultant surgeon, James focuses on aesthetic surgery, 60 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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Style Health The BRYT range

carrying out an average of ten operations every week and performing more than 10,000 successful operations to date. He will shortly be opening the UK’s first Medispa at the Wood Estate, a Grade I listed country mansion in South Tawton, Devon, where one can receive cosmetic surgery in total privacy and enjoy a worldclass spa break afterwards during recovery. We can’t wait to find out more! The McDiarmid-Hall Clinic 22 Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QZ Tel: 01242 571020 www.mhclinic.co.uk www.woodestate.co.uk Have you come back from holiday feeling a bit blobby or do you need an emergency quick fix eating plan before jetting off, then Diet Chef offers a range of fabulous tasting ready made meals that are delivered to your door. Not one to really advocate tasteless, processed meals in this column, the Diet Chef range was tested by a number of different people all of whom were unanimous in their verdict that they tasted excellent and were highly effective with weight loss. In a nutshell the company sends you breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack for each day of the month and you just add fresh fruit, veg and dairy to ensure you receive optimum nutritional content. You choose from 100 delicious, nutritionally balanced options, which are delivered in a plain box to home or work. The food is cooked sous vide, to seal in the goodness

without preservatives – so there is no need to refrigerate or freeze. www.dietchef.co.uk For a complete collection of products BRYT (pronounced Bright) Skincare has it all organised. They have created a range, which is as suitable for adolescence and young adults (especially if one is prone to acne and blemish breakouts), as it is to those who want to protect their skin from changes in environment, lifestyle, cycles and diet - ensuring you are left with a healthy and glowing complexion. Their range includes a Soft Foaming cleanser, which gently washes away grime (perfect for festival weekends), a selection of Serums for various skin types, the BRYT Day cream with an SPF15 and a nourishing, therapeutic Night cream. They also do a complete range ‘For Him’. All the details can be found on the website at: www.brytskincare.co.uk Your hair colour should look as if you’ve just been to the salon long after you actually have! Providing a rich colour, a glossy shine and a healthy glow, the Schwarzkopf Professional BC Colour Freeze haircare range contains innovative technology for a longer-lasting colour. The results are undeniable: zero fade up and a dazzling colour result for up to 12 washes. This new home haircare regime includes

a new hero product, the BC Color Freeze CC Cream. The BC Colour Freeze range becomes the perfect bodyguard for cut and colour! These products are fantastic if using whilst indulging in swimming pool time or after being on the beach all day and really left the hair silky smooth with a glossy shine. www.schwarzkopf-professional.co.uk Cellulite is the bane of many women’s thighs and through there are hundreds of products on the market, we rate Sisley’s Cellulinov as one of the best. Though costly, after a month of testing using twice a day, it has definitely made an improvement to the look of sleeker looking legs with visibly less dimples and that’s all that matters as far as we’re concerned! Our skin was visibly more beautiful: firmer, incredibly soft, as if like new. www.sisley-paris.com

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Let Blossom

Love Our stunning new collection of handcrafted pieces are now on display.

John Titcombe Fine Jewellery

Ǥ͗ ǡ ǡ ͜ ͘ ̱ ǣ ͔͕͕͛ ͚͕͛͗͘͝͝ Ȉ Ǥ͘ ǡ ǡ ͜ ͘ ̱ ǣ ͔͕͕͛ ͕͛͗͗͛͜͝ No.39 Market Place, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 2NX ~ Tel: 01285 655754

www.johntitcombe.co.uk

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Style Beauty

Amy Hickey’s essential guide to...

SUMMER MAKEUP August the heart of summer has arrived, sun sea and summer holidays. Whether you are jetting to sunnier climates or soaking up the beauty of a ‘staycation’, you don’t want to be wasting that precious fun time getting ready and fussing with application of this that and the other. I have featured some must have time saving products to help you along the way, keeping you feeling and looking a million dollars.

Travel light - travel with an all-in-one colour compact YSL Wildly Gold palette, for paler medium skin tones. With its feline and delicate packaging, this on trend mixture of sensual colours will make getting ready a pure luxury. With essential eye, cheek and lip colours this is the travelling girl’s dream.

For more cover use Laura Mercier secret camouflage concealer. Its oil free matte finish will stay on all day.

Heavy foundation when the sun is beaming down on you is a big NO-NO. Make sure you use something sheer like Nars tinted moisturiser with SPF 30. Its oil free formula covers, protects and leaves the skin hydrated and looking fabulous.

IMAN St Tropez collection for warmer and darker skin tones. Simply beautiful, I adore the elegance of this palette. With amazing pigment, gorgeous colours and glamorous packaging this bronzed goddess palette is simply stunning. Simply create a day time look that’s easily turned into a sultry evening finish.

Let’s not forget our body... lets make up! Double up on your products to save time and that all important space. Using a lip and cheek colour or eye shadow and liner all in one is genius.. Take a look at NUDESTIX; these handy little pencils work as blushers and lip colours or eyeshadow and liners.

Dreading showing off pale, uneven skin or even scarring, pigmentation or cellulite? Fear not, body make up is better than ever. This hydrating water based product tattoos the skin with an extravagant, ultratransparent, non-transfer “iced tea” veil, with no hint of thickness. Lightly spray and rub into the skin for that sun kissed finish.

Vita Liberata the light illuminating skin finish Latte, gives a soft, flawless finish to the skin. This skin perfector is a brilliant way of hiding blemishes and uneven skin tone along and with SPF25 it makes this product a summer essential!

2 Kevyn Aucoin creamy cheek and lip colour is a fabulous way to keep that perfect beach blush and pout, try it in Pravella for that instant wow factor....

This creamy skin perfector instantly provides a quick and easy way to get skirt-ready fast. Transferresistant and nourishing it provides a natural, smooth finish that keeps less obvious skin imperfections at bay.

NEW! Belle Époque. My August musthave product - I have fallen in love with these gorgeous lip balms. Whist hydrating, soothing and feeding the lips with omegas and vitamin e, this beautiful formula leaves a subtle flattering colour. £18 Space Nk.

T: 07733 237767 E: amyhickey.com@gmail.com Twitter: @amy_hickey Facebook.com/amyhickeycom

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DOWN AT THE BEACH Fashion Editor Yvette Brentnall, takes us to the Cotswolds’ favourite beach destination of Salcombe in Devon ASSISTANT FASHION STYLIST: TRACY DOUGHTY PHOTOGRAPHY: STEFANIE CALLEJA-GERA WWW.SCG-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: DAVEY TERRIFIC

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Style Fashion t was a wet and windy morning and we were heading down to shoot in Salcombe, a truly favourite holiday destination of the Cotswolds set, so with cars loaded, we all set off. Typical after the glorious weather we have been experiencing you head to the English coast and get rain but we weren’t going to let anything dampen our spirits! All ten of us - 5 models, make-up artist, 2 stylists and 2 photographers, were all staying in a home within the town kindly provided by Kate Wills who runs a VIP luxury concierge service, Salcombe Finest. She will arrange personalised itineraries from exclusive excursions, private chefs and drivers, boat charters and accommodation in 8 luxurious properties. This was going to be interesting… Our morning shoot was booked at High House, a magnificent property, exquisitely designed to take in the beautiful views across Salcombe town, the estuary creek out to sea and over towards Dartmoor. This is a very impressive superbly appointed rental home with an eclectic feel, private spa facilities and total privacy making it ideal for a house party of friends and family. I chose two brands of men’s clothing, Raging Bull and Howick. Raging Bull although originally designed for the rugby fraternity, has classic lines and an edgy, preppy feel, which suits the look I wanted to achieve and always on trend Howick, complements the style. The girls clothing was a range of designer, a vintage Viviene Westwood jacket and belt, mixed with High Street brands from House of Frazer; Hallhuber, Mango and Miss Selfridge. A firm favourite Cheltenham shop, Monty Smith provided the hat, where one can always find something to add to ones wardrobe and the swimwear used was mostly by Tommy Hilfiger. Early this season, I had found for myself a fantastic well designed, well priced, one-piece from High Street brand H&M and having had a great response I decided to use it, to show that you don't have to spend the earth on beautiful swimwear! Leaving High House and sneaking in a pint, crab sandwich and a bag of salted caramel fudge, we headed >>>

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Style Fashion

on down to the harbour to board our lovely boat ‘Tinushi’, owned by Jon Clift, for our sea fairing look, before my trusted assistant Tracy Doughty and I slipped off to the Ship Inn for a few more sherbets leaving the team to get wet! The final shoot location of the day was a waterside restaurant within the town where we were to have our evening meal, dickandwills. This is a stunning contemporary bar and brasserie with a New England feel and elegantly situated with panoramic views of Salcombe Estuary. It served the best steak and chips al fresco on the terrace, washed down with plenty of good wine - the whole crew strongly recommend this venue to relax and chill-out, especially after a long day on the beach! Exhausted, we returned to our lodgings only to find beds had been bagged so TD and I were left with the glamorous pull down sofa. Pj’s on, red wine and crab sandwiches in hand, we settled in with our gaggle of little beauties and male model Henry, who found it all too boring and disappeared to the pub; returning some time later, slightly merry with an >>>

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injured baby seagull which caused a mixture of squeals and hysteria - Henry reprimanded, took himself to sleep with Sid the seagull in the car! Breakfast was taken at the fabulous beachside cafe, The Winking Prawn a quirky and fun place to hang out, then the sun finally arrived and we completed our shoot. With masses of fun and belly-fulls of laughter we truly had the most magnificent time in beautiful Salcombe. If you’ve never been there, it’s time to pack your bags and go! Our big thanks to Lex Thorley from The Orange Cow, Salcombe Tourist Information Centre and Kate Will’s from Salcombe Finest for all their help in ensuring such a successful Cotswold Style shoot. >>>

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Style Fashion

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CREDITS Fashion Editor: Yvette Brentnall – yvetteb@mif-filters.co.uk – Tel: 07818 405414 Assistant Stylist: Tracy Doughty – tracy.doughty@hotmail.co.uk – Tel: 07817 760251 Photographer: Stephanie Calleja-Gera www.photographybystefanie.co.uk Assistant Photographer: Davey Terrific Models: Olivia Pritchard, Hannah Peake, Henry Doughty, Daisy Ganderton and Rachael Anthony. Make Up Artist: Valentina Calandra – valentina.calandra@hotmail.co.uk – Tel: 07519 053251 Stockists: For Hallhuber, Raging Bull, Howick, Mango and Miss Selfridge: House of Fraser, 32-48 The Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HP www.houseoffraser.co.uk Monty Smith, 2 Ormond Place, Cheltenham, GL50 1JD Tel: 01242 520311 Shot on location in SALCOMBE: Salcombe Tourist Information Centre Market Street, Salcombe,TQ8 8DE. Tel: 01548 843927. www.salcombeinformation.co.uk. Salcombe Finest Concierge Services Tel: 01548 706706, www.salcombefinest.com High House www.salcombefinest.com/luxury-accommodation/high-house dickandwills Fore Street, Salcombe. Tel: 01548 843408. www.dickandwills.co.uk The Winking Prawn Tel: 01548 842326. www.winkingprawn.co.uk Tinushi Boat owned by Jon Clift www.salcombesailingdays.co.uk

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METAL AND STONE Located in Cheltenhams Montpellier shopping district, at 7 Queens Circus, opposite St. Andrews church, you will find Metal and Stone the jewellers. Specialising in exotic gemstones and often producing unique, one off original pieces at prices that are frequently less than comparable mass produced items, the on site gold smith maintains a policy of any metal, any stone and importantly, any budget. The in house workshop, well known for its repair service also remodels exisiting jewellery, as well as making new pieces from customers specifications.

With our beautiful showrooms and stunning gowns from world renowned designers in the gorgeous surroundings of Cheltenham Spa, we aim to make your experience a memory to last a lifetime.

Open Monday through to Saturday from 11am until 6pm

Tel. 01242 570570 metalandstone.co

Appointments are advisable

01242 224965 jane@weddingdaysofcheltenham.co.uk

Transforming the waxing experience for both boys and girls and brining a passion for the ‘hot stuff’ to the town like never before!

Discreet, Meticulous and Fast! Craig Parkinson (actor): “This is the only place that my wife actress ‘Susan Lynch’ will get her bikini line waxed”.

Just

Our new service!

BRAID BAR

£10

Cheltenham’s A-List Waxers HOLLYWOOD, HALF LEG and UNDERARM

Perfect for Festivals, BBQ’s, or just lazy summer days.

£35

Come along with clean, dry hair and we will do the rest!

just with this voucher OPENING HOURS

THE COURTYARD MONTPELLIER STREET | CHELTENHAM | GL50 1SR

01242 269773 74 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

10am - 7pm 10am - 6pm 10am - 7pm 10am - 6pm 9am - 5pm

101 THE PROMENADE (top floor)

01242 244779 carolynwarwicker@hotmail.co.uk

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2 2 M O NTPELLI ER WALK C H E L T E N H A M

blakesmensbarbers

blakes_barbers

www.blakesbarbers.com

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Style Hair

Head above the rest for the boys Emma Logan met with Darrell Blake, owner of Cheltenham’s premier, new men’s den ith over 30 years of expertise in the hair industry, brothers Darrell and Mark Blake have created a sensational, new Barber’s in the heart of Montpellier in Cheltenham. Mark Blake is one of the country’s most prominent Trichologists – a Doctor of hair to the uninitiated who is at the forefront of assisting both men and women in the treatment of hair and scalp disorders as well as performing hair transplants. He works from practices in Cheltenham, Liverpool and at No. 10 Harley Street in London. Darrell is a distinguished hairdresser who runs the highly successful Blushes Hairdresser Salons in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester. Now this ambitious duo have taken another creative step forward to open BLAKES, a traditional Barber’s, especially for ‘the boys’ who don’t enjoy sitting in an effeminate atmosphere at a typical salon. BLAKES was founded on the belief that men’s grooming has now entered a new era and a new type of salon is required; one that successfully blends contemporary fashion, with the best traditional barbering. As the world continues to evolve barbering should not be left behind and held back by tradition. BLAKES defies convention by offering all the services a modern man needs. It is also the ideal environment for teenage boys to have access to a hair service that is masculine enough for their youthful minds surrounded by a fabulous, industrial themed boys retreat of vintage sports equipment, great war memorabilia

such as an Apache tail rotor which was shot by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Sky Sports so as never to miss a ball during The Ashes! BLAKES services range from traditional barbering to beard trimming, skin fades to discreetly camouflaging grey hair - nothing is a problem. You can book online/call or just simply walk in and the Queue Com live link on their website will show you how busy the barber’s is incase you are in a hurry.

BLAKES is open early till late and don’t close early on the weekend. They understand that people are busier than ever and flexibility is key. Blakes 22 Montpellier Walk, Cheltenham Tel: 01242 231008 www.blakesbarbers.com

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Independent Cosmetic Surgery Advice Laser Hair & Tattoo Removal Anti-Wrinkle Treatments Non-Surgical Facelift Lip Fillers Skin Care Contact Emma Beddow, Clinic Director

07795 675 775 Lauriston House Montpellier Street Cheltenham GL50 1SS Or make an enquiry to: http://cotswoldfaceandbodyclinic.co.uk/

01242 573476

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Style Beauty

Do you need a LIFT? Emma Logan met with Emma Beddow, owner of the new Cotswold Face & Body Clinic ased in the heart of Montpellier in Cheltenham, this new state of the art clinic will offer a wide range of aesthetic treatments which are adapted to each individuals personal needs and personal one-to-one independent cosmetic surgery advise; working in association with the largest cosmetic surgery provider in the UK, a top Harley Street surgeon and the Cheltenham Nuffield. The clinic offers a selection of nonsurgical treatments, which Emma will include wrinkle smoothing, dermal fillers, derma roller micro needling, chemical skin peels, thread lift, laser skin rejuvenation, hair and tattoo removal. For over 11 years, Emma Beddow has been in the industry with the largest cosmetic surgery provider Yuliya in the UK and is very knowledgeable about all the different forms of surgery and aesthetic procedures available. Emma offers a hand holding service with you through your patient journey and will advise and recommend the right medical expert for your requirements. Yuliya Culley is a General Nurse with overall experience in emergency, cardiology and dermatology nursing since 1998. Yuliya started her practise in Aesthetic Medicine in 2009 and has performed a large number of nonsurgical procedures such as muscle relaxing injections, dermal fillers, dermal roller and mesotherapy with great results. She has also been working for one of the UK’s leading cosmetic surgery and aesthetic companies in this industry.

Can you tell us more about the Cotswold Face and Body Clinic? We are working with the largest cosmetic surgery company in the UK, which has been established for 40 years. Our clinic

will be up to Care Quality Commission standard which regulates all cosmetic surgery in England to ensure we meet strict national standards of clinical hygiene and care. This means the quality of Cotswold Face and Body Clinic and the treatments you receive is assured. Are your practioners legislated under new GMC conditions? Yuliya is a nurse prescriber, as this is a requirement when prescribing Botox as a licensed drug.

What makes you different from other clinics in the county offering these services? Every patient will be made to feel special and as if they are the only one. We will be offering a 10% loyalty card so for every £10 spent the patient will receive £1 onto their card. We will also be offering interest free finance payment plan options, so it is more affordable. We will be offering 12 monthly treatment plans, so our patients get the best results for optimum maintenance as well as the latest treatments. For those requiring wrinkle smoothing procedures, clients should be aware, that there is actually only one type of Botox®

and we only use genuine FDA approved Botox®. Allergan – the trademark owner and only manufacturer of Botox, supplies to us direct. Other botulinum toxins are available under other brand names but these do not necessarily have the same high potency. In fact, some products use a weaker concentration meaning the final results may not last as long. One-way to always ensure you are receiving genuine Botox® is to check the bottle has a red or purple cap, states Botox® on the label and that the seal is not broken. Why should people consider having procedures and what benefit does it offer them both physically and mentally? Considering any sort of treatment whether it is surgical or non-surgical is a big decision and not to be taken lightly. Most patients have a procedure to help improve their appearance and look rejuvenated, rather than younger. The main benefit is to improve ones confidence and self-esteem. Having worked in the industry for over a decade, it is very rewarding when you see a patient you have helped look so happy! For further information, please contact: Emma Beddow, Clinic Director Lauriston House Montpellier Street Cheltenham GL50 1SS Tel: 07795 675 775 Tel: 01242 573476 www.cotswoldfaceandbodyclinic.co.uk

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Style Pets

STEM CELL THERAPY coming to a surgery near you Animal advice from our friends at Vets on the Park They say every day is a school day and this week at Vets on the Park that turned out to be true. Each year all veterinary surgeons must take part in 35 hours of continuing professional development, such as attending lectures and meetings and so we organised an in-house lecture on an exciting new therapy for dogs with osteoarthritis. It is called ‘AdiShot’ and it is a unique new stem cell therapy that can be used to help relieve pain and disability in oseteoarthtitis and other joint problems in dogs. Using state-of-the-art technology our vets can now isolate and prepare a dog’s own stem cells from a small sample of fat tissue taken from under the skin. This sample of fat is then sent to a special laboratory, alonmg with a small sample of your dog’s blood, where the stem cells found in the fatty tissue are grown until they reach their peak, when a tailor-made stem cell 80 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

therapy is made especially for your dog. We then get this special stem cell therapy sent back to our clinic where it is injected into the affected joints under sedation. The incredible thing about stem cells is that they have the ability to change into a range of different tissue types, including muscle, cartilage and bone. The cells are essentially the body’s own repair kit. They can quickly move the

areas of damaged tissue where they act to reduce inflammation and pain. The effects of the therapy have been shown to improve over time, with the best results achieved two to three months after administration of the stem cells. Treated dogs show reduced levels of pain, improved mobility, reduced lameness and less difficulty in rising. This all leads to an improved quality of life and a reduced dependence on pain medication. If you would like to find out more then please call us on 01242 517199 or send us an email to nurses@vetsonthepark.co.uk and we can send you out our full information pack.

for your pets in your life - your vet for life

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GROWING

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES Profiling a selection of leading companies in the county

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WESTMINSTER IN THE COTSWOLDS Emma Logan has asked the county’s MPs to inform Cotswold Style readers what they will be doing to represent their constituencies both locally and from Westminster. This month most of them have been focusing on Education, Education, Education

Neil Carmichael

NEIL CARMICHAEL, MP FOR STROUD Last month I was elected Chairman of the Education Select Committee. Having served on this committee for the previous five years, formed an ‘All Parliamentary Party Group’ on School Leadership and Governance and repeatedly promoted a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, it was an obvious post for me to seek in the new Parliament. The election process, itself, was interesting and intense. Once the newly elected Parliament met for the first time, the chairs of the twenty-five select committees were allocated on a rough reflection on party representation with some bargaining over preferences. Education was confirmed as a Conservative chair so I proceeded to seek nomination to stand, securing the necessary support from my own and other parties. Two other candidates were also nominated; former Education Minister, Tim Loughton and my colleague on the previous committee, Caroline Nokes both 82 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

stood for election. The electorate was the entire membership of the House of Commons so the two weeks of ‘campaigning’ was all about reaching out to colleagues through internal mail, emails and my preferred style, face-to-face conversations. With all Select Committees needing a chair, some candidates effectively carried over from the last Parliament so these and several other vacancies were uncontested. This left twelve positions where elections took place and Education was obviously, one of these. The alternative vote system is used with the ballot papers consisting of a bundle of twelve papers with two to five candidates for each vacancy being listed. The Speaker of the House of Commons formally announced the election results and details of the voting can be found on the relevant website. The Committee will formally start work in September, interviewing both Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Education and Sir Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Schools at OFSTED. The Committee is likely to hold enquiries in the first year looking at tackling the productivity gap, testing accountability systems for academies and free schools, investigating the role of the new Regional Commissioners and highlighting child protection with a focus on inter-agency

cooperation. Members of the public can submit evidence and further details can be found at the Committee’s website on www.parliament.uk Contact Neil at neil.carmichael.mp @parliament.uk or his constituency office on 01453 751 572

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

GEOFFREY CLIFTON-BROWN, MP FOR COTSWOLDS One of the big issues I have been tackling over recent weeks is that of fairer funding for Gloucestershire Schools. I frequently visit schools across my constituency and hear at first hand the issues they are facing. Gloucestershire is one of the lowest funded education authorities in the country and this puts incredible strain on the operation of those schools. This is an issue, which I have been campaigning on

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Style Politics LAURENCE ROBERTSON, MP FOR TEWKESBURY This year is going by like a flash. It doesn't seem long since we were in the middle of the election campaign, and Parliament is now rising for the recess, to be followed by the Party Conference season. Recess (which is not a holiday!), gives MPs the chance to get round the constituency and meet people more than is possible during term time, when Parliament is actually sitting. This amounts Alex Chalk

for some time and one, which a number of schools have contacted me with concerns about. I have already raised this with the Schools Minister, Sam Gyimah MP and have now done so again. I was delighted that the Prime Minister confirmed that an additional £390 million funding for schools in low funded areas would continue and I hope that a fairer National Funding Formula is not in the too distant future. There was a meeting of the F40 group in Parliament, which is the campaign group on this issue, where the Minister was able to hear the strength of feeling on this issue. He confirmed again at the meeting that the Government remained committed to its Manifesto promise of fairer funding. Of course the big Parliamentary event this month was the first Conservative Budget since 1996, which was a historic moment. It was an excellent budget which delivers security for working people – with our finances under control, the national debt falling, our defences supported, productivity boosted, welfare controlled, income taxes cut and a National Living Wage. This Budget keeps us moving from a low wage, high tax, high welfare economy to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare country. This budget put security first. The economic security of a country that lives within its means. The financial security of lower taxes and a new National Living Wage. The national security of a country that defends itself and its values. I was particularly pleased that the budget committed us to meeting our NATO commitment of spending two per cent of GDP on defence, as this is something I have been calling for some time, especially given the threats we face and the instability that exists in the world. www.geoffreycliftonbrown.co.uk

ALEX CHALK, MP FOR CHELTENHAM For many of us, education is pretty high up on the list of priorities. Our town’s motto, Salubritas et Eruditio, translates as ‘health and education’ and our proud reputation for academic excellence is one of the reasons why Cheltenham is such an attractive place to live. But for the last twenty years or so, Cheltenham’s dedicated local teachers have fought to maintain those high standards in the face of a raw deal on schools funding. Gloucestershire is one of the 37 lowest funded local authorities in the country. That makes a significant difference. Children in the top ten highest funded local authorities receive on average around £6,300 per pupil, whereas those in the bottom ten receive around £4,200. That discrepancy is simply not justified in my view. Cheltenham’s schoolchildren should not be penalised on the basis that they happen to live here. I’ve been raising this issue in Parliament at every opportunity. Aside from highlighting in my maiden speech, I referred specifically to this injustice in a debate in the House of Commons earlier this month. The positive news is that the Government appears to be listening. The Prime Minister has confirmed that the £390 million of extra cash for underfunded education authorities will be incorporated onto baseline funding for future years. That’s good news, but we need to keep up the fight. Over the coming weeks I will be inviting Cheltonians to sign my petition calling for fairer school funding which I will then present in the main Chamber of the House of Commons. www.alexchalk.com

Laurence Robertson

to valuable work because it is crucially important for MPs to hear the views and assess the interests of all their constituents. I will therefore be looking to continue to visit individuals, as well as businesses, charities and public sector organisations in order to do this. The issues continue though, even if Parliament will not be sitting again until 7th September. One change I would like to see introduced is for MPs to still be able to table Parliamentary Questions to Ministers during the recess, as we do when in session, as there is always a need to be able to put points forward and obtains responses from Ministers on various issues. I'll keep pressing for this to happen. During recess, I will also be continuing to promote British business abroad and this will involve a couple of brief trips to far-flung places of the world. Then there's the matter of a honeymoon - I was married on Saturday 7th February and was back at work in London on the Monday and my wife, perhaps not unreasonably, has booked for us to go away together towards the end of August! Anyone wishing to contact me during the recess can still do as normal, at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, or at 22 High Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5AL. I do hope to bump into you during the summer. www.laurencerobertsonmp.com COTSWOLD STYLE AUGUST 2015 83

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Financial Surgery Robert Ward is here every month to guide you through your financial questions

Q. Dear Robert, I’ve just had a letter through from my bank telling me the rates on my ISA are about to be reduced from September. I just assumed all ISA interest rates were the same, but is there an alternative, higher interest rate ISA I can switch to? Lucy, Stroud

Dear Lucy, Your question is one that is asked quite regularly and in many ways is indicative of our banking system. Not knowing you circumstances it would be quite wrong of me to suggest which use of an ISA is correct for you. ISA’s have to date been heavily promoted as a way of receiving a tax free return on your cash savings by banks using what they refer to as a ‘teaser rate’ which usually lasts for a year. Following that first period they reduce the rate quite dramatically hoping that you won’t remove your money and do next year’s at the teaser rate, and so on. It is a method of getting the use of your money at a very low cost to the bank. Clearly they then lend that money to other people at a much higher rate. So what else can you do? Well you can look around for a higher return on cash, but the difference between the highest and the lowest will be not a lot to make up for the time it takes for your money to be moved from one institution to another, unless you look at a small not well known provider where they will pay a small premium for the risk of them not being well known. The alternative is to understand that ISA’s don’t have to just invest in cash. They can invest in all of what are known as standard assets. These are investments that are readily realizable either with a large institution or quoted on a recognizable stock exchange. Spend an hour with any decent IFA who will assess your risk and propensity for loss and will then make a recommendation as to what suits you best.

If you would like to ask Robert a question please email info@bankhousegroup.co.uk Q. Dear Robert, We’re a newly retired couple and own our house worth around £350,000 currently. We want to make sure we leave something for our three children, is there anything we should be preparing for now, with regards to inheritance tax specifically? Andy & Debbie, Tewkesbury Dear Andy and Debbie, Good news and congratulations on owning a home worth £350k, you don’t say if you still have a mortgage but let’s assume that you have paid it off. The good news is that the present IHT rules, again assuming that you qualify, enable people (let’s define as husband and wife) to pass assets from one to the other tax free, and not use up your IHT allowance. Then upon ‘second death’ (I always find that an odd statement, I thought you could only die once) the allowance from both of you is added together to be used in one go. This allowance is subject to change, usually in the chancellor’s budget. It is presently £325k per person so in your case if everything is passed to your surviving spouse then £650k is available. The even better news is that plans have been announced to increase this figure to £1m so if house prices continue to rise you are not sat thinking that the taxman will get it in the end. I am looking forward to the fine print on this one. Q. Dear Robert, I’m self-employed and have a stakeholder pension that I pay into sporadically. Is this pension compliant with Auto Enrolment? What details do I need to check? Greta, Chipping Norton

Dear Greta, A self-employed lady who has control over her life. Auto enrolment will only affect you if you employ people, but if you don’t life is all about you and your loved ones. If you are employing people go onto the HMRC website and type in auto enrolment, you will then see the relevant date for you to have made your arrangements for your staff. Make sure that you take qualified advice from someone who works in this space all the time, not just someone who says ‘I can do that’. I am always reminded at this point of the man who attends his doctor, who diagnoses a need for an appendix operation. The doctor doesn’t say hop up on the couch I will do that for you, he refers you to a specialist who does it all the time. Carry on paying in as often as you can and reduce your tax bill, saving is a good discipline. When you have begun to accumulate a reasonable sum you may want to have a greater input as to where the funds are invested. Any good pension’s specialist or whole of market IFA will be able to look at this for you. You may have a wish to only invest in ethical investments, for instance, there are some first rate companies around that do just that. Bank House Group, 125 The Promenade, Cheltenham, Glos. GL50 1NW. Call 01242 520074 or email info@bankhousegroup.co.uk. Visit www.bankhousegroup.co.uk for more information. Bank House Investments Ltd is registered in England and Wales no.5710191. Bank House Investment Management is approved and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority no. 451839.

COTSWOLD STYLE AUGUST 2015 85

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Beautifully BESPOKE Laura-Jayne Roberts talks to the new owner of Parlour Farm Kitchens, Coe Di Girolamo and reflects on the first year of running the business…. It will come as no great surprise to those following the success of Parlour Farm Kitchens that the last few years have been a real test of strength and integrity for the Cirencester based handmade kitchen company. Parlour Farm began creating stunning, bespoke, handmade kitchens nearly 20 years ago. Along the way they faced many challenges, but none more so than the shocking and untimely death of its founder, Nick Grunfeld, back in 2011. For all their staff, including the team of 10 local cabinetmakers, this time was a real test of their resolve. Coe said: “The sense of being ‘one big family’, who had worked together for up to 10 years, really helped the company through this very difficult time.” It was late in 2014, when Nick’s wife, Naomi, decided that it was finally time to move on and sell the business. Coe describes that time: “Nick was a good friend, so when he fell ill, my husband, vowed to help him with the business. When Nick sadly passed away, he

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continued to help Naomi for some time but ultimately however, she did not want to stay, so we took it on.” Nine months later things are positively growing, for what Coe describes as, “a good honest company, blessed with some incredibly talented cabinet makers and designers.” Having made a significant investment in their beautiful showroom, which has been described by experts in the field as one of the best in the country, they have introduced a ‘choices room’, which displays a range of variations and options for handles, work surfaces and cabinets, which customers can choose from. Coe enthused: “We have invested in new systems and machinery, and have welcomed back three cabinet makers who served their apprenticeships under Nick many years ago. “Parlour Farm is still a must visit destination for anyone considering the purchase of a truly bespoke, handmade kitchen.”

Parlour Farms new website was also launched in May and is proving to be a tremendous success, with space for their customers to leave reviews of their products and services. Visitors to the site can also view the news section, which tells them about the most recent events, including Parlour Farm sponsoring the Kitchen Theatre at this year’s 2015 Marlborough Food and Drink Festival. Speaking about the event, organizer Coe said: “It was a great success and an ideal opportunity for us to meet so many local people who were looking for a new kitchen, several of whom have since invited us into their homes to design stunning new kitchens for them. It was also an ideal opportunity for us to invite our loyal team and their families to participate in seeing Parlour Farm back where it belongs, as a leading company in truly bespoke kitchens. “The display at the show was hand crafted, especially for the event and we received many compliments over the

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weekend, especially from the celebrity chefs who used it for their demonstrations! Chefs such as former quarter finalist of The Great British Bake Off, Cathryn Dresser, Jack Stein, son of Rick Stein, Mark Lloyd, who opened the River Cottage canteen in addition to TV presenter Stefan Gates.” Looking at the design process of the perfect kitchen and producing something truly stunning for the customer is where Coe’s passion lies. “I enjoy the fact that it is so creative,” explains Coe. “Before having children, my background was in interior design, so it has allowed me to get back to doing what I love.” One area of the business, which delights Coe, is seeing the immense satisfaction that customers have for their finished designs and the delight on their faces on completion. She furthered: “Only yesterday I was at a customer’s house for the whole morning enjoying their kitchen with them, taking pictures and chatting, they were truly delighted with what we had created for them.” Sourcing new customers is obviously vital for Parlour Farm Kitchens but they have absolutely no problem when it comes to word of mouth recommendations. “We have such a base of satisfied customers that we always find ourselves being recommended to people interested in getting a new kitchen,” explained Coe. “We also have a lot of repeat customers, perhaps those that have moved house and used us before in a previous home, or those that have purchased second homes. “Our clients are nurtured through the

design process, we want them to have the kitchen of their dreams and our skilled designers are there to help them through every step of the process. They are invited to visit our workshop and meet the craftsmen while their kitchens are being created. They can see for themselves the care and attention to detail that is used. Our guys are very proud of their work!” Coe furthered: “With so many companies entering the kitchen market by importing their products from abroad, it is satisfying that we at Parlour Farm have retained a well established business founded on simple values of creating beautiful handmade kitchens in Britain, using the talents of local craftsmen.” With their first year almost behind them, there appears to be no doubt that the team and business at Parlour Farm Kitchens is going from strength to strength. Looking forward to the coming year and beyond, Coe highlights: “Following the success of the Marlborough Show for us this year, we plan to do more shows. “We would love the business to continue to grow organically over the coming years. When we took over the business we wanted to do Nick justice and get it back to the stage where he would have wanted it to be. Sales have gradually increased over the year and we want to see that continue and make him and ourselves proud.” On October 4th it will be one year

since the new management team took over Parlour Farm. To celebrate they will be hosting cooking demonstrations in association with AGA to mark the occasion, with more details to follow soon! www.parlourfarm.com 12 Wilkinson Road, Love Lane, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1YT

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School

Report

CELEBRATING YOUR SCHOOLS’ SUCCESSES ACROSS GLOUCESTERSHIRE

BEAUDESERT PARK SCHOOL Wellbeing – a hot topic James Womersley, Headmaster at Beaudesert Park School in Minchinhampton, explained Beaudesert’s approach to wellbeing. “Children’s wellbeing is all over the news but here it’s nothing new. Keeping a close eye on how each child is doing - how he or she interacts and how consistent or not their behaviour is – should already be at the centre of a school’s approach. Independent schools often have the advantage of smaller class sizes and longer school days to help us know our pupils.”

“Here, class-based work is balanced out with plenty of time spent outdoors, creativity colours every school day and we believe in sitting down to share good food and conversation at mealtimes. Mobile devices are banned. Most of the children here seem happier climbing trees and making dens anyway! We aren’t averse to new ideas though and recently organised an inspiring ‘mindfulness’ workshop for our older children, to help prepare them for moving on to senior school.”

AIRTHRIE SCHOOL Airthrie School prides itself on the very high standards of care and individual attention provided for every pupil. Highly conscientious teachers plan lessons, carefully ensuring that thought is given to the learning style and capacity of each child. A positive happy approach with constant encouragement means that pupils enjoy school, display motivation and experience a wide spectrum of subjects both in and outside the classroom. An added advantage is regular use of the excellent Ladies College sporting and swimming facilities. It is therefore no surprise that children between 3 and 11 years

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become successful, achieving students by the time that they progress to a variety of senior schools often having gained multiple scholarships and/or Grammar school places. Our last OFSTED inspection confirmed this by awarding 'Outstanding' in all 5 judgements. You are warmly invited to meet both teachers and children whilst touring the school on a working day. Please telephone or email for an appointment. 01242 512837 sarah@airthrieschool.co.uk Airthrie School Christ Church Road, Cheltenham Glos, GL50 2NY

For more information please contact Sarah McCurrich on 01453 832072 or 07932 737 498, or email smccurrich@beaudesert. gloucs.sch.uk.

Beaudesert has started this academic year once again, with a number of school years full. Beaudesert’s next open morning is on Friday 23rd October between 9.30am and 12 noon. All welcome. www.beaudesert.gloucs. sch.uk

Beaudesert Park School is a thriving independent co-ed, weekly boarding, flexiboarding and day prep school for children aged 3-13. Beaudesert Park School, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, GL6 9AF Tel. 01453 832072 www.beaudesert.gloucs. sch.uk

DEAN CLOSE, CHELTENHAM Set on a beautiful 50-acre site, Dean Close is a longstanding co-educational day and boarding school where visitors regularly comment on the atmosphere, saying how warm and friendly they find it. It is felt that this positive environment can be attributed directly to the Christian heart and principles of the School. It is renowned for focusing on individual development of all its children, from ages 318. Small classes, excellent learning facilities plus a 550-seater professional theatre, amphitheatre, 2 floodlit astro-turfs, 25m indoor pool, climbing wall, indoor rifle range, dance studio and fully equipped

gymnasium all help to nurture each child’s strengths and talents. With around 900 pupils in total, Dean Close is small enough to allow everyone to know one another and to feel valued. It also allows everyone to get fully involved in the life of the School. However, it is large enough to have an extremely strong boarding community, vibrant and exciting creative arts, impressive academic results and great sports results across all ages. www.deanclose.org.uk Dean Close School Shelburne Road Cheltenham, Glos GL51 6HE

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Style Education THE KING’S SCHOOL, GLOUCESTER For parents seeking to realise their child’s potential and nurture their talents, The King’s School, Gloucester fulfils that dream. A hidden gem with around 530 girls and boys aged 3-18 years; it is the leading Independent Day School in the area. Offering academic excellence, small class sizes, outstanding pastoral care and a unique ‘Keystones’

programme designed to identify and develop individual talents. Established by Henry VIII in 1541 and set within the Cathedral grounds, the school offers an inspiring setting and provides a special sense of identity and powerful community unlike any other. The Choristers and Choral music are intrinsic to life at King’s, while the school

nurtures and is extremely proud of both its sporting and acting talent. Monday to Friday a varied academic and extracurricular programme including art, drama and music is presented with a vibrant culture of endeavour and scholarship which continues to thrive. The school’s dedicated bus services

RENDCOMB COLLEGE

approach is something that we hope to instil in every pupil at the College, from Nursery through to Senior. It is more important than ever for schools to deliver an outstanding education; one which promotes a love of learning along with the skills and values that young people will require to be successful in the world. Our pupils are preparing for jobs that have yet to be invented and so while exceptional

exam results are required so too is a depth of character to allow them to take their place in a competitive global economy. Our exciting new Sport and Performing Arts developments at the School will ensure that we continue to maintain our excellent educational and cocurricular provision; visit us at work to find out for yourself.

Rendcomb College was founded in 1920 on pioneering ideas of a broad based education where pupils were both challenged and supported ensuring that Rendcomb pupils were given the best possible start in life. Our Founders’ vision remains as relevant today as it ever was and his forward thinking

enable access countywide. The next full school Open Morning is Saturday 3rd October. Come and discover how King’s can develop your child. For further details or to arrange an individual tour, please contact the Registrar Sharon Bird; 01452 337337, registrar@thekingsschool.c o.uk. Alternatively visit www.thekingsschool.co.uk

www.rendcombcollege.org.uk

ST EDWARD’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL On your marks, get set, build! During the summer term, a group of students from St Edward’s Preparatory School entered the Greenpower regional race meeting. The event aims to encourage students to take an interest in Science and Engineering, through the designing, building and racing of battery powered electric cars. This year, St Edward’s entered two teams comprising of Years 5 and 6 pupils. After much hard work and preparation, the teams were ready to put their custom built cars through a series of challenges: The Sprint– to measure the vehicle’s speed, The Slalom – to test its handling and The Circuit – testing speed and driving ability in an exciting knockout race against other cars.

The St Edward’s teams were awarded four prizes, including the Overall Winner 2015, 1st Place in the Sprint, 1st place in the

Circuit and 3rd in the Slalom. The nine young engineers thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to design and race their

own cars and found the whole experience to be an excellent team building exercise. www.stedwards.co.uk

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01242 512 837 | MAIL@AIRTHRIE-SCHOOL.CO.UK AIRTHRIE-SCHOOL.CO.UK WWW.AIRTHRIE-SCHOOL.CO.UK CO.UK 27-29 CHRISTCHURCH ROAD, OAD, CHEL CHELTENHAM, LTENHAM, GL50 2NY Y

Minchinhampton, M inchinhampton, G Gloucestershire loucestershire t: 01453 01453 8 837318 37318 e: enquiries@beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk enquiries@beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk w: www.beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk www.beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk

Open Morning

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Age 3-18

Tel: 01242 258044 www.deanclose.org.uk registrar@deanclose.org.uk

D ay a n d B o a r d i n g

Age 3 - 18

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www.stedwards.co.uk

Friday 25th September 9:30 - 11:30 am Early Years Open Morning Kindergarten and Reception Saturday 26th September 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Open Morning Senior School Monday 28th September 7.00 pm Scholarship Information Evening Senior School Friday 2nd October 9:30 - 11:30 am Open Morning Preparatory School

Believe - Strive - Achieve For boys and girls aged 2 -18

Preparatory School T:01242 538900

Senior School T:01242 538600

Since

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Open Day Saturday 3rd October 2015 10.00am-12.00pm Come and see how we nurture talent. For further details please contact the Registrar Sharon Bird: registrar@thekingsschool.co.uk

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Wonderful responsible fun nanny/child care assistant

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Summer Clambake Shelle Duffin cooks straight from the sea There’s something special about a clambake during the summer months. Very American yes but in Britain with our beautiful beaches and delicious fresh seafood, we can throw one just as well. My first experience of a clambake was during my days at university, which just so happened to be by the sea (and a healthy distance from home). We would pile the beers, Pimms (we are British after all), an exciting assortment of shellfish, blankets, some good tunes and the necessary means to make our own beach barbeque into cars and head for the golden sands of the Cornish coastline. Whether you’re by the sea or not, the

smell of fresh seafood (either straight from the sea or your local fishmonger), is always alluring and there’s no reason you can’t bring the taste of the sea to your backyard during the warm summer months. Alfresco dining is a culinary trend we’re all indulging in - glass of wine, Pimms, a beer, or whatever your tipple may be in hand (make sure you do have one in hand, it is the summer after all), we’ve all taken to our gardens to soak up the summer sun. Why stay inside to dine? Nature can offer the home comforts that are normally found in the dining room. As the sun sets it creates a landscape of colour in the sky. The comforts of central heating are replaced by

its rays of warmth; and as for music, the sweet notes of harmony from the birds as they sing their last songs of the day, shares a natural resemblance to Tchaikovsky’s ‘Bluebird Pas de Deux’. It’s all rather tranquil and romantic and most importantly of all, creates the perfect scene for an idyllic summer dinner party. This dish symbolises for me alfresco dining and is great for a summer dinner party. It’s simple to make (can be done in the oven or on the barby), fresh and utterly delicious with flavour combinations that spark an Italian theme, so it only seems right at this point to stick a bottle of Pinot Grigio on ice to partner this! >>>

Serves 4 (generously)

Ingredients: 1kg fresh clams 600g mixed vine tomatoes 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 lemon, juiced 300ml white wine 40g butter, cut into small cubes Extra-virgin olive oil Bunch of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped Salt & Pepper A loaf of fresh crusty bread

Method: • Preheat the oven to 200°C • Put the tomatoes and garlic into an ovenproof dish, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. • Place in the oven for 15 minutes until the tomatoes soften and the skins are blistered. • In the meantime, clean the clams with cold water, discarding any beards that may still be attached. Any clams that are open, gently tap them and if they don’t immediately close, throw them away immediately. • Remove the tomatoes from the oven and dot the clams around them. • Sprinkle the butter around and pour the

• Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve into bowls with a generous chunk of warm crusty bread and a glass of crisp dry white wine. • For barbeque lovers

wine and lemon juice over the clams. Gently toss all the ingredients, although be careful not to disturb the tomatoes too much. • Season with salt and pepper and return to the oven for 10-14 minutes until nearly all the clams have opened. Dispose of any clams that have failed to.

Cook’s note ~ you’ll be glad to know this dish can be done ‘on the grill’. Simply follow the same instructions (the cooking time shouldn’t differ much, however when cooking the clams, cook until the majority of them have opened, which should be in the same time frame as the oven). Use an oven/barbeque-proof dish and either cover with foil or the lid of the barbeque when cooking the clams.

For more recipe ideas, reviews and articles, check out my blog – myboiledeggsandsoldiers@blogspot.com; or follow me on Twitter – @Shelle_Duffin, Instagram – shelleduffin, Pinterest – shelleduffin

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Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel

UNVEILS REFURBISHMENT

The splendid Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment transforming the listed Georgian hotel.

The hotel, which is set in 12 acres of sweeping parkland, unveiled its new look, following the second phase of its refurbishment, on 1st July, with a special event to launch the new look Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel.

The renova/on includes the transforma/on of the historic hotel’s recep/on area as well as the redesign of the Lakeside Suite, designed speciﬁcally to cater for people looking for a unique wedding or event venue.

The Lakeside Suite reﬂects the natural beauty of its surroundings decorated with so shades of contemporary greys. The elegant ligh/ng and luxurious textures make this stunning new suite the perfect space for dreamy weddings or extra special events, accommoda/ng up to 180 guests.

Guests can delight in the wonderful country views and take advantage of the suite’s own private entrance and bar, as the hotel provides an idyllic roman/c se0ng for their special day. There is also a state of the art sound system, fully aircondi/oned space and private dining available, making for the ideal loca/on for any event.

Upcoming Events at the Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall hotel WEDDING OPEN EVENING

Tuesday 18th August 2015 | 6pm – 8pm At this open evening you will have the chance to see the beau/ful venue, including the brand new Lakeside suite, fully set up for a wedding ceremony and recep/on, have guided tours, and meet a few handpicked local wedding suppliers to provide you with a wealth of ideas for your special day. There will be drinks and nibbles and a great booking incen/ve for deposits paid on the evening

HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY Friday 30th October 2015 £29.50 per person Enjoy a fantas/c three course dinner with coﬀee whilst you ﬂex your amateur sleuthing muscles solving a thrilling Halloween themed Murder Mystery

ABBA TRIBUTE TRIBUTE £35 £35 27th 27th&&28th 28thNovember November ABBA

HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS NIGHTS £29.95 £29.95 4th, 4th,5th, 5th,10th, 10th,11th, 11th,12th, 12th,17th, 17th,18th, 18th, HOLLYWOOD

HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS

CAMERAS! LIGHTS! IT’S HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS

19thand and20th 20thDecember, December,9th 9thJanuary January2016 2016 19th

LAS VEGAS VEGAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS BALL BALL £38 £38 4th 4th&&5th 5thDecember December LAS

NEW YEAR’S YEAR’S EVE EVE GALA GALA DINNER DINNER £75 £75 Black/e Black Tieand andcocktail Cocktaildresses. Dresses NEW

0844 815 9077

Csales.mercuregloucesterbowdenhall@jupiterhotels.co.uk Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane, Upton St Leonards, Gloucester, GL4 8ED

www.mercuregloucester.co.uk

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CHARACTERISTIC COTSWOLD CHARM

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Style Review

R&R A monthly column exploring the perfect location to clear your head and spend quality time with the ‘lovely one’ in your life This month Lucy Garbutt reviews The Convent, South Woodchester I was intrigued by an invitation to stay at The Convent for an escape. Being an exconvent girl I felt a surge of naughtiness pulse through my veins at the irony of it. Perish the thought of our Head Mistress, Sister Anne’s reaction but there was more – not only a romantic night away in such a sanctimonious place but there was to be live music in The Chapel – Sister Paul would turn in her grave! Oh my goodness – the naughtiness of it all, I couldn’t wait. The Convent is not just a heavenly sanctuary in the Cotswolds with four bars and a private members club, it offers a full calendar of live music, literary events and comedy nights in the Chapel and Dirty Habit bar and we were to be entertained by an extraordinary Irish singer, Cara Dillon. Following a morning of shopping in gorgeous villages en route, we headed to our boudoir in South Woodchester along tiny, winding lanes as the mystique mounted, with vineyards above and a towering castellated wall beside us. Through a stone entrance was the imposing 19th Century gothic convent with towering pillars, arched mullions and bell tower with folksy rock music wafting from open leaded windows. We passed the intriguing piano graveyard and I felt like Alice, as I pushed open the giant oak door into a long purple funnel leading to the wonderland of the reception with its flagstone floor and shrine to Blessed Virgin Mary Mother Madonna. To the immediate left, is a grand wood panelled dining room formally set for dinner and disappearing into the distance, cloisters with stripped sandstone and turquoise blue walls leads to The Dirty Habit private members bar. Our tour of the hotel was full of more exciting discoveries including the recording studio suite, the gallery and the Chapel. The Chapel is centre stage as a live music venue. It spans 40m in height with an ornately decorated pointed arched ceiling with intricate cornicing, exquisite stained glass windows and a finely carved limestone reredos to the altar with

elaborate friezes and finials making a most dramatic backdrop. Our suite was enormous, luxurious and chic and yet full of original features, with a huge L-shaped sofa and high tech Apple TV. It had quite possibly the most comfortable super king size bed and the most fabulous bathroom with a freestanding tub overlooking the gardens. We enjoyed exploring the grounds with enchanting grottos, intriguing monuments and the kitchen garden brimming with salads and herbs before relaxing on the lawn indulging in an afternoon tea banquet complete with homemade scones, clotted cream and the most delicious jams (my favourite being Tutti-Fruitie) from award-winning, Artisan Kitchen. After pre-dinner drinks there were still more treats for us as we were not prepared for the palette wow of pre-event supper, compliments of Michelin-rated chef Ryan Bennett. The Convent food is

some of the most delicious and flavoursome we have ever tasted. We were ushered to our romantic table for two in the cloisters, where our small plates included a taste explosion of Duck hash, fried duck egg, duck crackling, sauce soubise and mains a huge whole grilled plaice, Jersey royals, samphire and potted shrimps (£14). We sampled exquisite sides such as shaved fennel, radish and watercress (£4) and for desserts, delights such as St Clement’s pot which was yet another taste sensation. We were then ushered to our seats in The Chapel, which looked fabulous with sensational lighting creating an ethereal atmosphere. A buzz of excitement erupted as one of the founders, Will welcomed the audience – which includes a Netgig audience to gives legions of admirers from around the globe access to the event. Cara Dillon (voice of an angel according to the Husband) appeared with a surge of excitement from the fans. We were then transported through a journey of captivating Irish songs of lost love and emigration. Matt another of the founders joined us for a nightcap as we slumped into leather armchairs. “When I started I knew I wanted something fun and big that would create a thriving community. Having toyed with the idea of becoming a ringmaster, I decided that perhaps being ringmaster of a great big musical circus was the way forward. The Convent is all about theatre, from our wonderful acts to our extraordinary venue. This is not a conventional venue! That said, our business model is deadly serious and our plans for Netgig – a live streaming platform for live gigs – is taking us global – we can reach over 20 million viewers from here.” After the best night’s sleep, the most jaw-droppingly delicious and generous breakfast and a read of the papers in the sunshine we left, longing to return! www.theconvent.net www.netgig.co.uk To Book Tickets: 01453 835138

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Distinctive rooms and suites for large parties and smaller, more intricate celebrations AA rosette cuisine prepared by our own award-winning team of chefs Beautiful gardens for your wedding pictures and plenty of room for a traditional marquee for up to 200 guests Licensed for civil marriage ceremonies for 140 guests New Orangery function suite, for completion May 2015

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WEDDING PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE FROM

£65 PER PERSON

WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAILOR MAKE YOUR SPECIAL DAY

PLEASE CONTACT:

EVENTS@THEFROGMILL.CO.UK FOR FURTHER DETAILS

TEL: 01242 822911 THE FROGMILL HOTEL, SHIPTON OLIFFE ANDOVERSFORD, CHELTENHAM EVENTS@THEFROGMILL.CO.UK

| WWW.THEFROGMILL.CO.UK

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Over, Gloucester, GL2 8DB DB | enquiries@thewharfhouse.co.uk

AWARD-WINNING A WARD -WINNING W WATERSIDE ATERSIDE RES RESTAURANT TAURANT WI WITH TH R ROOMS O MS OO

Summer In Tewkesbury As The Roses is redeveloped, we offer an exciting programme of events at The Watson Hall and Victoria Gardens, in Tewkesbury. THE WHARF HOUSE serves acclaimed modern British and European cuisine with a twist. Booking strongly advised.

Alfresco dining Escape for a while with good food and a relaxing drink on the terrace after a hard day’s work.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mr Holmes PG Fri 7 - Tues 11 Aug

Sun 2 Aug 3pm Victoria Gardens

01452 332 2 900 www.thewharfhouse.co.uk www.thewharfhous se.co.uk

The Watson Hall

Directions: T urn off the A40 at traffic lights lights Turn 250 yds west of Over Roundabout Roundabout about (junction A40/A417). A40/A417). GR SO 816197 16197

All pr profits ofits fr from om The Wharf House will be used for the pr promotion omotion and restoration of the Hereford & Gloucester ester Canal.

The Wind In The Willows

Twelfth Night Tues 11 Aug 7pm

Tues 11 Aug 2.30pm Victoria Gardens

Minions Minio ns U F Fri ri 14 & Thurs 20 Aug

Victoria Gardens

The U Urban rban Folk F olk Quartet Quartet Tues T ues 25 Aug 7.30pm 7.30pm

The W Watson atson Hall

Visit w ww.rosestheatr t e.org ffor or full full inf o on www.rosestheatre.org info e vents, Bo ening times, vvenues enues and events, Boxx Office ope opening parking during The Ros ses’ redevelopment. redevelopment. Roses’

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THE

GREENWAY HOTEL AND SPA

Afternoon Tea at The Greenway Hotel & Spa Midsummer Spa Package Escape the midsummer madness here at Elan spa, relax and unwind in beautiful surroundings with our Midsummer Spa package.

Celebrate the great British tradition of afternoon tea with a truly delicious offer from The Greenway Hotel & Spa.

£55.00 per person

Book a full afternoon tea and get a glass of Veuve Clicquot for £29.00 per person, normally £35.00 per person. Quote: ‘Cotswold Style’ when booking.

Terms & Conditions apply. Subject to availability. Offer valid until 31.08.15

Terms & Conditions apply. Subject to availability. Offer valid until 31.09.15. Pre-booking is essential. Only one glass of Veuve Clicquot per person.

Shurdington, Cheltenham, GL51 4UG T: 01242 862352 E: info@thegreenway.co.uk www.thegreenwayhotelandspa.com /thegreenwayhotel

@greenwayhotel

AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence

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Style Competition

COMPETITION WIN A MONTH OF PERSONAL TRAINING WITH COTSWOLD STYLE’S FITNESS EXPERT,

LUCIANO KYDD PERSONAL TRAINING AT ITS BEST IN THE COTSWOLDS DO YOU... • Want to look and feel younger and be the envy of your friends in social environments? • Want to look and feel stronger than you currently do and have more energy to do daily tasks or have fun with your children and family? • Want to improve your overall health, prevent unwanted health issues such as heart disease, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases? • Want to lose your excess weight, to feel more comfortable with yourself and have a better/healthier self-image? • Want more focus and drive to be able to concentrate better at work? • Want to increase your chances of conceiving or prepare your body for pregnancy?

To enter our competition to win a month’s worth of Personal Training valued at £500, please send your contact details to: editor@stylemagazines.co.uk and enter Kydd Fitness in the subject field.

LUCIANO KYDD // WEIGHT & FAT LOSS SPECIALIST based in Cheltenham is dedicated to helping you see results and achieve your goals. As a coach, his aim is to deliver exceptional results with all his clients whilst bringing about a positive change in mind-set. If you’re serious about getting real results then contact Luciano via mobile: 07737347854 Email: info@kyddfitness.co.uk Website: www.kyddfitness.co.uk

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Style Fitness

Who says your food has to be bland to eat healthy? Cotswold Style’s fitness expert Luciano Kydd, has devised some delicious recipes to combat those pangs of hunger

Here are two quick and easy receipes you can have without losing displicine, when making changes in your dietary habit. The first one being a protein smoothie that can either be used for breakfast or a snack inbetween meals. The second one is a homemade protein bar, for when you need to put those hands in the cookie jar to quench a chocolate urge, along with a healthy blast of protein. Give them a try and send your feedback to: info@kyddfitness.co.uk

Oat Berry Smoothie • 25g vanilla or strawberry flavoured whey or rice protein powder • 70g frozen mixed berries • 15g porridge oats (use gluten-free oats if preferred) • 100ml cold fresh water Put the protein powder, berries and oats into a blender and add half of the water. Blend together, adding more water until you have the desired consistency. Take 5 minutes. Serve 1, PER SERVING: 145 Calories, 14g Carbs, 20g Protein, 1g Fat

Chocolate & Coconut Bark • 80g organic coconut oil • 3 tbsps organic cocoa powder • 1 tsp stevia (or natural sweetener of your choice) • 80g chopped nuts • 50g chocolate flavoured whey or rice protein powder (optional) Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and put in the freezer. Melt the coconut oil gently in a pan over a medium/low heat. Add the cocoa powder and stevia. Stir well to combine. Remove from heat. Stir the nuts and protein powder into the mixture. Add a little cold water so that the consistency is thick but pourable. Remove the baking tray from the freezer and pour the mixture onto the baking paper, spreading evenly to a desired thickness. Put back in the freezer on a level shelf and leave for 20 minutes. Freeze for up to 2 weeks. A low carb treat that tastes truly indulgent and will satisfy any sweet tooth. You can use any type of nuts; hazelnuts, brazils, macademias or pistachios work very well. Chop them roughly to add extra texture. Serve 6, PER SERVING: 222 Calories, 3g Carbs, 9g Protein, 22g Fat.

For more delicious receipes for snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner, checkout my ebook at www.kyddfitness.co.uk where it can be purschased. A hard copy can be bought by contacting me in person. Written by Luciano Kydd a Fat and weightloss coach based in Cheltenham, to get in contact mobile: 077737347854, email at info@kyddfitness.co.uk, website: http://kyddfitness.co.uk. Get in contact now to book your consulation at info@kyddfitness.co.uk

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Style Sport

Follow the MON£Y Betlive Radio’s expert racing pundit Nigel Aplin, takes us on the road of the big gamblers ost people are intrigued by the seemingly shadowy world of betting. Rather like those who chisel away at conspiracy theories, somebody knows something they don’t. As a former Head of Broadcast at William Hill, tapping the nose knowingly, I am expected to know. Come a little closer, sit comfortably, in a whisper, let me begin …. When I first joined Hills I was introduced to ‘Golden Spurs’, the nerve centre of the operation, the war room bunker where bets were observed for twenty four hours, seven days a week. It was structured pyramid fashion where the worker bees at the bottom scrutinised the smaller bets, ascending to the bigger wiggery at the top, which dealt with the substantial bets struck. The day I was there the queen, king actually, bee took a telephone call from a major figure in the English Premier League. Said individual placed a £50,000 win bet on one of the matches that night in the Champions League, a £25,000 double on Barcelona and Bayern Munich also that evening and £30,000 each way on a horse that he was involved in. The prices on all selections remain unaltered. Minutes later the king bee took a similar call from Gee Armytage, AP McCoy’s agent at the time. She wanted £50 each way on a horse running later in the day. She was offered a price of 6/1 which she took and the price was immediately slashed to 7/2. Bookmakers do not always win; indeed annual company reports are often dictated by recent Premiership results in particular. Successive winning Saturdays for bankers like Chelsea and Manchester City, can result in huge losses. Ironically bookmakers can be as vulnerable as the punter, as instanced by a famous story from the Seventies. An Irish former band manager and trainee Jesuit priest-turned gambler, racehorse owner and philanthropist Barney Curley, entered a horse named Yellow Sam in a National Hunt race at the small provincial track of

“In order to ensure his horse went off at generous odds, he had previously run it in a series of races in conditions that could best be described as “unfavourable.” Bellewstown in Ireland. His reasons for targeting that particular course were quite deliberate: at a time long before the advent of mobile phones and email, it was serviced by only one telephone; a public call box. In order to ensure his horse went off at generous odds, he had previously run it in a series of races in conditions that could best be described as “unfavourable.” On race day, an army of Curley’s runners were dispatched to a wide variety of bookmakers with sums of money ranging in size from £50 to £300 which were wagered on the horse in the 10 minutes prior to the beginning of Yellow Sam’s race. As the money piled in, just over £15,000 in total, various bookies began to panic and attempted to contact their representatives at Bellewstown to get them to bet on Yellow Sam. By doing so, his starting price would be slashed and their liabilities would be hugely reduced. Unfortunately, their efforts at self-preservation were scuppered when it

became apparent that the telephone at Bellewstown was, at the time, being hogged by a particularly distraught racegoer who was having one final conversation with an aunt who was dying in hospital. The grieving nephew in question was Benny O’Hanlon, a friend of Curley’s and his dying aunt was a figment of his imagination, unbeknownst to the betting agents standing in the queue waiting to use the phone, he kept tied up until Yellow Sam had won his race by twoand-half lengths at the ridiculously generous odds of 20-1. Curley’s profits on the race amounted to £300,000, which adjusted to current inflation rates amounts to about £1.4m. One piece of advice I will always give is follow the money... Nigel Aplin, formally Head of Broadcast for William Hill, is founder of www.betliveradio.com, which features a daily digest of betting banter.

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It’s time to revive Jon Palmer met with Paul Baker, Chairman of Cheltenham Town Football Club hree months ago, Paul Baker was ready to walk away from Cheltenham Town after 18 years as chairman. A £500,000 loss of income after relegation from the Football League and the prospect of having to lay off staff members and slash the playing budget resulted in sleepless nights. The club appeared to be on a downward spiral and Baker admits at the time it felt like the end of the world but after what he describes as a ‘staggering’ summer break, the smile is very much back on his face ahead of the 2015/16 Vanarama National League campaign. Standing next to a whiteboard with the running total of season tickets sold, it is clear Baker has renewed vigour and enthusiasm for the task in hand: trying to guide the club back into League Two at the first attempt. “We are approaching 1,000 season tickets and if you’d have told me we’d sell more than last season after being relegated and two pretty miserable years, I’d have thought you were mad, but we’ve done it,” he said proudly. “I have been staggered with the support we’ve had in the community, with businesses and fans rallying round in our hour of need. It is very difficult to find any negativity around the place at the moment and I am really looking forward to this season.” Baker has experienced far more highs than lows since becoming chairman in 1997, overseeing the rebuilding of three sides of Whaddon Road, three promotions, an FA Trophy win at Wembley and two play-off victories at the Millennium Stadium. There have also been cup-ties against Newcastle, Sunderland, Tottenham, Everton and West Ham but there have also been dark times. The club recorded a loss of £800,000 after their relegation from League One in 2009 but they have always fought back and Baker is determined to do the same again after their latest setback. “As a business, we had to deal with a situation whereby our income was

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reduced by half a million pounds almost overnight,” he said. “Most would struggle to come to terms with that and we were no different. “I must admit I wanted to hang up my boots at the end of last season but I didn’t think it was the right thing to do because you should bow out at the top, not the bottom. “There was an air of despondency around the club last season and it was crazy really, with managers coming and going and there were times I struggled to want to come to games and I don’t think anybody was enjoying it. “It was a low place to be and while we did our best, it wasn’t good enough and we were always fighting an uphill battle, trying to patch things up in a desperate situation. “Then as a board we had to address how to maintain a full-time football club and look at all areas of expenditure which meant some staff moving on and others having their hours heavily reduced. “The last two years have been harrowing but walking away when things aren’t working is not a great characteristic. I am pleased I have stayed because I realised it was not all doom and gloom and I feel I’ve made a difference in the close season.” Working full-time hours in the office at Whaddon Road, Baker has been influential alongside new commercial executive and ex-Robins skipper John Finnigan and commercial consultant Mark Cuzner in bringing in valuable revenue to help kick-start the fightback. A three-year stadium sponsorship deal

with World of Smile has given Baker a real lift, along with the continued support of stand sponsors Hazlewoods and Thomson and Bancks, while Marchants Coaches have renewed their ‘back of shirt’ sponsorship. The main bar has been given a total facelift, made possible by a £10,000 investment from the 500 Club – a fundraising prize draw run by volunteers. A new member has been added to the board, in Cheltenham based solicitor David Bloxham and fan-elected director Clive Gowing, Chairman of the club’s Supporters Trust, has begun to make his influence felt. “We are on course to better last season’s commercial income, which again is staggering and John Finnigan has been absolutely first class,” Baker said. “Mark Cuzner has been helping out in a purely voluntary role and while it is still a challenging economic climate, it’s all going well.” Even more crucially, team manager Gary Johnson and his new-look team have given Baker the most cause for optimism as the club competes at this level for the first time since 1998/1999. A vastly experienced boss with an impressive track record at Yeovil Town and Bristol City, along with a spell as manager of the Latvian international side, Johnson has seen it all before. Unfazed by the task of helping Cheltenham bounce straight back, Johnson has assembled an exciting group with young, technical talents such as George McLennan and Billy Waters backed up by experienced campaigners like Danny Wright and Kyle Storer. Jack Munns and his former Tottenham academy team mate Jack Barthram lodged with Baker for the pre-season period before moving into their own accommodation and the improved atmosphere in the camp has been clear for the Chairman to see. “I said to Munnsy ‘you’re back in training again today, are you having any days off?’ and he replied ‘no, we’re going to win the league!’ and I thought that was brilliant,” Baker said.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: THOUSAND WORD MEDIA

Style Interview

“I said to Munnsy ‘you’re back in training again today, are you having any days off?’ and he replied ‘no, we’re going to win the league!’ and I thought that was brilliant.”

Paul Baker

“Credit to Gary and his brother Pete who is heavily involved in the recruitment of players because they have built a really competitive squad over the summer and it was a big job. “We have put together a reasonable wage budget but we will not have one of the biggest in the division by any means so we are up against it but we have a very good Manager in place, who we were

fortunate to secure for two years when many League clubs would have gladly signed him up. “Russell Milton as Assistant Manager is excellent and they are a really good bunch of players, who we all hope knit together quickly. There are certainly some characters in the squad and people like Aaron Downes and Harry Pell, who joined us for a day at the Cricket

Festival, are fabulous guys. “While it’s early days of course, I know these players are fully committed to helping Cheltenham Town bounce back to the Football League straight away. “Since relegation we’ve looked forward, not backwards and I am genuinely looking forward to the season. You only have to look at teams like Grimsby, Wrexham and Lincoln, who were established Football League clubs long before we were – they have dropped down and survived, still providing entertainment for their communities. “Bristol Rovers, who are admittedly a bigger club than us, showed bouncing back immediately can be done last season, while Barnet have been promoted and they are definitely a smaller club. “We have the realistic aim of reaching the play-offs or maybe even automatic promotion by winning the title. It is going to be tough of course but it would be huge if we could do it.” www.ctfc.com

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk Karen Evans, Mary Beard andYolanda

Russo

Melissa Lucas and Ellie Mainwaring

Jacqui Coyle, Maxine Nelmes, Chris Fowler, Emma Walton and Caroline Collett

Lisa von Hallwyl, Madeline Jones, Sasha Brown, Sophie Organ and Charlotte Hamilton

Paula Baldwin

Mark Cuzner and Emma Logan

Ladies Day at the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival A glamorous crowd attended Ladies Day at the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cric ket Festival. With the sun shining and plen ty of cricket in action, money was raised to support local charity LINC, which prov ides funding for people suffering with bloo d cancers in The Cotswolds. Photography by Rob Wheatman

Clare Young, Natalie Cottrell, Sasha

Sam Jones and Dylan Blenkinsopp

Dylan Blenkinsopp and Madeline Jones

Kate and Paul Nurden

Mark Pearse and Ed Duley Yvette Brenthall and L.J. Roberts

Deborah Keylock, Lisa Beirne, Terre ssa Bales, Margarett Gifford, Michelle Stuart-Kelso and Lisa Fountain

112 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

Brown and Charlotte Wager

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Style Sport

LADY GUNS Vanessa Powell experienced a thrilling day of Clay Pigeon Shooting at the Ian Coley Shooting School ould you like to spend a day clay pigeon shooting?’ - this was the ‘phone message I picked up a month ago. My only previous experience of Clay Pigeon Shooting was watching Peter Wilson, a farmer’s son from Devon, beating the rest of the world to the Gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. I had watched in awe as he obliterated 188 clays out of 200 and I was left wondering how hard would it would be to hit even one - too right I’d like a go; always one to say yes to any opportunity that might lead to a new adventure, I was eager to snap up the chance. Roll on the 2nd July and after dropping children at school I drove up to Ian Coley’s Shooting School, near Andoversford, 10 minutes out of Cheltenham. The discrete entrance down a long wooded driveway opens up into an impressive site; significant investment has created one of the finest purpose-built clay shooting establishments in the UK. A very warm welcome awaited me at the reception of the shooting school from which I was guided gently past the entrance to the exceptionally well stocked country clothing shop (I’ve always admired country chic) and on to the group of lady guns gathered in a cosy marquee complete with soft leather sofas, fresh coffee and delicious pastries. Our host for the day was Sue Tippett, again of farming stock and an enthusiastic ambassador of country sports, who took up shooting at the age of ten. An impressive lady who not only has an extensive knowledge of all things shooting but who is a LANTRA qualified shotgun coach and is currently Ladies Number 1 in Gloucestershire for four shooting disciplines - go girl! After a friendly introduction to the lady guns we were then briefed on gun safety; having never handled one before I was initially anxious - it’s a real responsibility

- but with Sue’s expert guidance I was soon familiar with having the gun broken and empty of cartridges when not on the stand and being constantly aware of all others around me; then I was guided to my date for the day, a 20 gauge shotgun which would be gentler on recoil than the standard 12 gauge. Finally the least glamorous aspect, the donning of the essential but rather less than sexy safety equipment; wrap around safety glasses and squidgy ear protection. Once on the first stand I watched in admiration as my fellow ladies took their turn to nail their clays one by one. This was one of those moments of my life when I naively flirted with the notion, prior to letting off a single cartridge, that this might be the sport I was born to compete in - I might have a latent natural talent - even though I too have read all the articles on needing 10,000 hours to become an expert in anything. And so it was that after the first 10 cartridges it was glaringly apparent that, like tennis and golf, shooting wasn’t an innate gift of mine but this is where it all got really interesting… Sue had been observing me like a hawk, she had made an assessment of my preferred learning style and with focussed clear instruction she had me hitting on target after clay number 15. She is an intuitive teacher with larger than life character that puts one at ease instantly. There was no shame in being the new girl and I felt only support and enthusiasm from my fellow guns; each time I hit the clay I was cheered and congratulated, camaraderie was the essence of the day. Five stands followed with a varied

array of clays approaching from differing directions, at different speeds and heights; it was exhilarating, physically and mentally challenging and enormously good fun. The time limit of our morning session allowed us to utilise only a few of the 24 stands, each with at least two traps, which comprise the excellent facilities on offer, I would have to wait for another time to experience the thrills of the high towers! The finale to the day was a superb lunch, a fantastic BBQ of locally sourced meat paired with delicious salads. Around the table the lady guns had a chance to chat and what an interesting and diverse group of ladies they were - professionals, small business owners, mums at home – everyone was engaging, enthusiastic and overwhelmingly welcoming. I would recommend a Ladies Day at Ian Coley’s to any of my friends; it is great value for money with access to excellent facilities in a relaxed and supportive environment with no requirement for owning any of the kit. In fact I think I will gather a group together for the next available day - I can’t think of a better opportunity that has potential to lead to a host of new adventures - and don’t forget the country clothing shopping! Beginner ‘Have-A-Go’ Clay Shooting Experiences start from £49 all inclusive. Ian Coley: Gun Shop, Shooting School, Sporting Agency and Country Clothing www.iancoley.co.uk Gun Shop has won the Shooting Industry Awards ‘Best UK Gun Shop 2015’.

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Style Competition

WIN Two free tickets to Gatcombe International Horse Trials and a Spa Day at Whatley Manor

THE PRIZE: This year the Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park will take place over the weekend of 11th/12th/13th September 2015 The popular Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa sponsored event, held annually at the home of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at Gatcombe Park. Starting at 9.00am on both days, Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country phases run throughout. The event attracts many interesting shops, which will include the Gatcombe Collection. At various times during both Saturday and Sunday HRH The Princess Royal will present prizes and awards. Gatcombe Park is situated at Hampton Fields, mid-way between Minchinhampton and Avening; the event will be signposted from both directions. Spectator admission is £6 for a car and all occupants and £4 for a programme. For full information about directions accommodation, timetable and all entries visit the event web site: www.gatcombehorsetrials.co.uk

The lucky winner will receive...

Two free admission tickets. Pass for the VIP car park.

‘

Lunch for two in the exclusive VIP hospitality unit.

Personal hosting through the day.

An exclusive chauffeured tour of the course at some point during the day.

Meet some of the leading riders and officials.

A day pass for two to the Aquarias Spa at Whatley Manor Hotel.

Half day for two at a Land Rover Off Road Driving Centre of your choice.

Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa is situated in: A. Westonbirt B. Easton Grey C. Sherston

Please email your answer to editor@stylemagazines.co.uk before 25th August 2015 and include your name, address and contact telephone number Terms and conditions apply please see www.cotswoldstyle.co.uk

114 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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Claire in the County

Style Local

Claire Thayers takes a nostalgic journey back to Cornwall

re we nearly there yet??” That was my little voice from the back seat, after a mere thirty minutes on the road…. Every year my father drove us down to St Mawes, in Cornwall for a week, always over Easter. They may just be childhood memories but it never rained, the sun always shone and my Easter eggs always melted on the back shelf of the packed car. In the 70’s it used to take us over six hours to drive down (yes I know it’s hard to believe I am that old). There was no A30, so we had to drive through various towns and if there was racing on at Newton Abbot it took even longer! Now getting on the M5 at Cheltenham, I can be pulling off at Bodmin in just over two and a half hours so don’t rule out a long weekend – its not that far! We always had to stop on Bodmin Moor for a picnic and to see the ponies – the photos are hilarious. Red hot pants, quirky sun hat on and dolls lined up with teddies, sat on the picnic blanket and all taken on the latest Polaroid Camera. Having lived on the Roseland for sixteen years, I have to say I loved every minute and the children had a wonderful childhood whilst of course, seeing the sea was never the novelty that it was for me.

“A

As soon as we came down the hill heading towards St Austell on the A38, it was always a game to see who could see the sea first but not for Emily and Lucinda. My first top tip if you are visiting Cornwall this month, is to plan your journey so that you are not travelling down on a Friday night after work – or Saturday morning (the usual change over time for many holiday cottages). So if you do nothing else, PLEASE plan your journey early morning or late at night… to avoid the jams. I hate seeing people sat on the A30 it really becomes a ‘car park’ at peak times, which is not the best start to anyone’s holiday! Put the children into their pyjamas, take their duvet and pillows, avoid sugary drinks and sweets, keep them calm, and encourage them to sleep … at least that way you will avoid the obligatory ‘are we nearly there yet.’ Now don’t tell anyone but I am happy to share a few secret places to visit that are off the beaten track. Though there are amazing beaches there are also fantastic walks on the moors, beautiful lakes and lots of activities for the whole family to enjoy…along with the family dog. www.visitcornwall.com is the perfect place to plan your trip with all the information you need; places to stay,

events and festivals and ideas to inspire kids, parents and grandparents - there really is something for everyone.

To my top ten things to do: 1. Adrenaline Quarry 2. Austells restaurant for supper 3. Truro Cathedral 4. The Scarlet Hotel 5. Llanhydrock 6. Dairyland 7. Veryan pub walk 8. Enjoy the Fal – River Link Ferries and trips up the Fal to Truro 9. Clay museum 10. Eating tour of the Roseland to include Tresanton, Hidden Hut and the Driftwood And as Malcolm Bell, CEO Visit Cornwall says, “In the TV adaptation of Poldark, Ross Poldark’s servant Judd keeps saying, ‘tisn’t right, tisn’t fair, tisn’t proper’. I say tis right, tis the best place for a proper holiday, tis a great place to make life long memories – tis about time you came and enjoyed Cornwall with us.”

Claire Thayers & Associates, Corporate Social Responsibility, South West www.clairethayers.co.uk

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk

New look Mecure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel revealed Guests enjoy the grand unveiling of the newly refurbished Mercure Gloucest er Bowden Hall Hotel. The star of the show was its Lakeside Suite, a stunning spac e for special celebrations and events. Photography by Rob Wheatman

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Style HisWord

The Cotswold Gent Heads off to the splendidness of the English Riviera… It is of course a well understood concept that the glorious season that is the English summer (alright I hear you say, periodically damp and disappointing), gives rise to the most important of considerations – the family summer holiday. This particular holiday, which is of course, after Christmas, the most important of breaks from the drudge of daily life, is to be carefully distinguished from other important sojourns during the course of the year – the autumn half term trip to the Maldives for instance, or indeed the winter warmer trip to the Caribbean at the end of a busy shooting season in early February. For this is the family holiday – and by tradition no effort is to be spared in pursuing its delights with all the vigour one can muster. Accordingly the tradition for many of us blessed with our domestic arrangements located at the heart of this sceptered Isle in the Cotswolds, is to abandon the beautiful countryside that inspired Vaughan Williams and Elgar, load the family together with necessary accoutrements into the trusty Rangey, and lurch at little further to the west of England down to Salcombe, or indeed for the true campaigner as far afield as Cornwall.

This time honoured tactic of pursuing greater exposure to the warm westerly winds that periodically – it's fair to say – dump enormous amounts of rain upon us, is a way of showing our loving families how much we wish to share a convivial experience with one another (apparently some of our fellow Cotswolders even head across the border to Wales – although this is a serious matter requiring some bravery) but wherever we go... West is Best! Who needs the Hamptons and Nantucket when we have Salcombe, Rock and the beautiful Gower so close? Occasionally my delightful off-spring query this last assertion but I am always able to settle their minds and secure their hearts with the comforting knowledge that half of their friends and most of ours will be found holidaying in the same place, so there is no chance of the dreaded ennui setting in. Indeed the proximity of ones nearest and dearest as well as ones favourite chums completely de-risks the entire experience!

Who would want to be in St Tropez on a yacht, or pursuing a Titleist Pro V1 around the Algarve when crabbing in Kingsbridge or beach combing at Bantham offer such sublime alternatives? Seriously, even with the agreeable collapse of the Euro and our Greek friends making ever-stronger overtures to us to come and enjoy a moussaka or two in Lesbos – there can be no more agreeable prospect than a week on the English Riviera. This year by happy coincidence, I have recently learned from the Memsaab that no less than fifty-eight of our ‘close’ friends will be in Salcombe on holiday with us. Which is an intoxicating prospect – in every sense of the word (intoxicating that is!). This eventuality is a new record and I fear will be very tough to top. It is a rare thing indeed to find oneself on holiday (without having to pay for them), with so many of one's chums. As I write these jottings I am fizzing with excitement of the prospect of a sunny week in Salcombe, messing about on boats and enjoying fishy delights washed down with lashings of burgundy...for even if one’s soul in a quiet moment hankers for a bit of la vie Francaise, at least much of that feeling can be tempered with an inexhaustible supply of the trusty Montrachet! Happy Holidays to All! COTSWOLD STYLE AUGUST 2015 117

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Enter Now! Sunday 27th September 2015

A SELECTION FROM OUR CURRENT STOCK 2011/11 Mercedes Benz E220 CDi Blue Efficiency Sport Auto, Diamond White with Anthracite Leather, 29,000k miles, Navigation, Harmon Kardon, 19” AMG, Heated Seats One Owner £16,995

www.cheltenhamhalf.co.uk

2011/61 Mercedes Benz C220 CDi Sport Auto Edition 125 Estate, Obsidian Black with Anthracite 1/2 Leather, 25,000k miles, Comand Nav, 18” AMG Alloys, Parktronic, Xenons One Owner £16,995

2009/09 Mercedes Benz ML320 CDi Sport Auto, 4 Matic, Lasulite Blue with Anthracite Interior, 71,000k miles, Comand Navigation, 20” Alloys, Privacy Glass, Side Steps Two Owners £15,995 2011/11 Mercedes Benz E250 CDi Blue Eff, Avant Auto Estate, Iridium Silver with Anthracite Leather, 91,000k miles, Xenons, 17” Alloys, Heated Seats, Parktronic One Owner £13,695 2010/60 Mercedes Benz CLC 220 CDi Sport Coupe Auto, Iridium Silver with Leather Interior, 38,000k miles, Sports Pack, 18” Alloys, Parktronic, Cruise Control. One Owner £11,995

2008/08 Mercedes Benz C200 CDi Sport Auto Saloon, Iridium Silver with Anthracite Interior, 51,000k miles, 17” Alloys, Cruise Control, Bluetooth Comms One Owner £10,995 2010/10 Mercedes Benz A160 CDi Elegance SE Auto, Steppe Bronze with Cream Interior, 63,000k miles, 16” Alloys, Bluetooth Comms, Parktronic, Cruise Control One Owner £7,995

2008/08 BMW 320 M Sport Diesel Touring Automatic, Black Sapphire with Dakota Leather, 68,000k miles, 17” Alloys, Rear Park Assist, Climate Control, Cruise BMW + One Owner £9,995

MIKE GRIMSBY

Independent Mercedes Sales Specialist

Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5SQ

01452 520806

For more Mercedes cars visit:

www.mikegrimsbycars.co.uk 118 AUGUST 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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Style Motoring

Cruising to the Coast raveling relatively long distances in any vehicle is something that not many people look forward to and a week long holiday with two adults, four children and associated luggage would usually involve a two car procession. Not on this occasion. Being put to the test is Vauxhall’s new shape Zafira Tourer, the model in question being the tech line 2.0 CDTi 170ps Ecoflex. This vehicle can seat seven people across its three rows of seats; the very rear set folding away flat to allow for a good-sized boot space. For this journey, one seat was stowed away flat, enabling all six large pieces of luggage to be stowed away (just!). One point to note, if all seven seats are required, don’t expect much room behind the rear seats, maybe just a few shopping bags. The trip from Cheltenham to North Wales and back down to Devon was extremely comfortable. The Zafira Tourer had plenty of room for us all. This was made easier by all five seats of the front two rows, being individually adjustable back and forth, maximising stowage space depending on the size of each occupant. It was easy to find a good driving position and I liked the slightly elevated position, which gave super all round visibility. Being very tall, I could have done with a deeper leg support to the driver's seat but this is just me being a tad fussy!

Ed Duley Test Drives Vauxhall’s Zafira Tourer

The 1.7 litre turbo diesel engine was effortless and I was surprised by how quickly it picked up pace when fully laden. It was stable at motorway speeds and had good road holding on the twisty, undulating country roads encountered during the holiday. The engine is a little noisy when revved but settles down at a constant speed. There were no road maps required for this holiday as the Zafira is fitted with a good sized Sat Nav with full colour screen. What a simple pleasure it was to use. The display was very clear and the

commands were given in good time. The answer to the often asked question, ‘are we nearly there yet?’ easily dispatched with utter precision! All the controls were well positioned with the exception of the main electric window buttons, which were slightly behind the natural fall of my right hand, making adjustments a bit awkward. I was also surprised that there wasn’t a USB connection for the second row of seating, given that this vehicle is clearly aimed at a family market. There is one USB connection in the centre console below the air con controls. The Zafira Tourer passed the test with flying colours and at £23,890 for our model this is no bargain basement people carrier. It looks good, drives well and offers great comfort for multiple occupants. Whatever your lifestyle demands there is a Vauxhall Zafira Tourer to fit it. From £21,760 each model has everything you’d expect from a premium car and definitely one to consider. www.vauxhall.co.uk

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Style Views

Sandra Paul grits her teeth over the endless parking restrictions in the Cotswolds am not a Cotswold-y person by birth. Having grown up in London I view every stretch of this region with delight. It could be that it is summer but even when it is raining, I feel we live in a beautiful part of the country and I’m very lucky to be here. Last week I was in Tewksbury experiencing another amazing reason why I love living here. Locals and enthusiasts from all over the country, gathered for Europe’s biggest and best medieval festival - which included a reenactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury that took place in 1471. It was wonderful and barmy at the same time. Hundreds of people walking around in costumes which included monks habits mixed with a few medieval milk maids, whilst Hells Angels bikers attempted to roar at 2 miles an hour though the high street. An unbelievable mix of people, traditions, cultures, all celebrating being British with an element of eccentricity. It made me want to drink cider for some reason. In the past couple of weeks I’ve also visited the Brewin Dolphin Cricket Festival in Cheltenham, Cotswold Farm Park, Minchinhampton, Cirencester, and Gloucester town centres. However, I was visiting along with what seemed like millions of other people! Cheltenham in particular has been buzzing with tourists drawn here not just because it is a wonderful example of a spa town but its fabulous festivals. The Jazz and Science events in particular, are drawing an international crowd. I left London because I couldn’t bear the masses of people and yet everywhere in the Cotswolds it seems jam-packed at the moment - with tourists. On the one hand it’s great to see this region as popular as it is, not just overseas tourists but British tourists too taking advantage of the super weather we have had and taking time to visit. But, why can’t the crowds spread themselves throughout the year so it doesn’t feel like a massive sale is on at the very precise time you want to drive

anywhere - the roads are clogged up and every parking spot has been taken. Talking about parking (again), I smirked when I read what they’re doing in Cirencester. The parking issue is being addressed by the launch of a ‘Project Board’ led by ‘Cabinet Members’ supported by the Mayor and councilors who will ‘engage with key local stakeholders’. Seriously, read this next line carefully: “Whilst we have no statutory obligation to provide parking – and we are under no obligation to deliver additional parking as part of the emerging Local Plan we, nevertheless, understand the importance of ensuring that the parking needs of businesses, workers, shoppers, tourists and residents are managed effectively, and we believe that the project route is the best way to tackle this issue.” This is Sir Humphrey at his best. There are a lot of important sounding words strung together and yet it says nothing more than it is looking at the issue. And we all know nothing, practically will change. I will not find it easier to visit and park tomorrow or indeed next year. And why do they have such inflated titles such as ‘Cabinet Members’? This is Cirencester, for goodness sake. Telling the public they are doing us a

favour by looking at the parking needs of now and the future is intended to make us feel looked after and reassured. But surely addressing the needs of the community now and in the future is their job? I guarantee that a bunch of my mates supping coffee (or vino depending on time of day) could get the parking issue sorted in an hour! Stand on the street do a straw poll; that’s stakeholder research done for you. How difficult can it be? It might not be illegal but it is immoral to park in family-allocated spaces. And I don't mind you parking there. It is those uppity cows, which are just worried about parking their expensive cars in a normal space with the rest of us plebs that I object to. Unbelievable! Interestingly, the press release issued by the Council didn’t give deadlines for the Project to end. Neither did it give a commitment to implement whatever the conclusions of the Project recommend. I expect too much. Sandra Paul has been in the communications industry for over twenty years working for Prime Ministers, Presidents and CEOs. Sandra lives and works in Cheltenham. Contact her on sandra@lococomms.com

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This Month with Kate Justice

Starting Secondary School It’s a big year in our family as far as school is concerned… we are embracing a NEW school, says Kate Justice up, the eldest child is about to start his secondary education. The debates, investigations, careful research, random questions and soul searching all happened several months back. After dabbling in everything from figures for private schools (day and boarding), to attending repeated open days and headmaster chats at both big comprehensives in smart towns and small local schools with no onsite 6th forms… we eventually went with the closest school to our house where all his mates are going. It is a big decision this school; it’s staff and pupils, facilities, ethos and approach to life will help to shape and mould our young family for at least the next five year. We will probably have to make friends with the other parents and go to school social events and our children could potentially meet their life partner here before they’re done! I therefore did an enormous amount of research and carefully considered the advantages (and disadvantages) of paying for school in a country where an education is available for free. The pupil : teacher ratio appeals when one pays but the potential, ‘keeping up with the Jones’’ and never being able to go on holiday again were drawbacks. The compromise seemed obvious in the end – my son chose his school. It’s just in the next village, we already know loads of people there and as it provides a good – and free – bus, he won’t be out of the house during the week much longer than he is currently, leaving us to still, possibly have a small iota of potential influence on our child’s attitudes and choices. We’ve done induction week… the staff went to an enormous amount of effort to create a good first impression – it worked and the relief was huge. (I still couldn’t help counting the number of parents with visible tattoos, teenage boys with earrings and teenage girls with rolled up school skirts but I’m going to gloss over that in an effort to stop myself sounding like a jumped up Stepford wife). Will is in the same class as his best mate, Harry and we already know his tutor from previous

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“Clearly much has changed since I went to big school, but I’m pleased to say the basics remain the same: They might have a ‘House Twitter Account’ but they still need paper and pencils for lessons.”

events and the uniform ordering process was almost a joy. By far the biggest surprise though was the cafeteria. I am staggered by the level of catering on offer – admittedly, this is pretty much the first time I have spent any time in a school canteen for about 25 years but the change is almost unfathomable. When I was at school, I was given gruel. GRUEL, I tell you. And we only had water. In tin cups. You know, like Oliver Twist? NOWADAYS, there is a MENU and advertisements; with pictures of the 35 different meal choices available. AND…. there is staff! Uniformed waiters to make sure my 11 year old has everything he needs with his Tuna Nicoise Salad and sugar free 7Up all for “two pounds eighty, but I’ll have three pounds fifty please as I

am going back with Harry and James after lessons to choose something from the ice-cream counter”. Clearly much has changed since I went to big school, but I’m pleased to say the basics remain the same: They might have a ‘House Twitter Account’ but they still need paper and pencils for lessons. If they forget their homework it’s 15 minutes detention, bullies are not tolerated and parents are encouraged to contact the school at any time. I’ll be hovering over the phone come September to pre-order my lunch for the office, does that count?! If you would like to share your stories with Kate Justice, please email the Editor at editor@stylemagazines.co.uk

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We are a Champagne Cocktail Bar specialising in a range of different cocktails, Champagnes and high end spirits. Our aim is to be different in style, design and the environment we want to create for our customers. Come to the Apartment Cheltenham for the homely, warm and relaxing atmosphere and enjoy a classic “Negroni” or a flirty “White lady” with your friends and family.

COMING SOON TO BATH STREET, CHELTENHAM Our website is currently under construction and will be soon be available. You can also contact us via Facebook and Twitter

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