Cotswold Style June 2015

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INTERVIEWS | EVENTS | FASHION | BEAUTY | PROPERTY | BUSINESS | TRAVEL | SPORT

June 2015

The Gold Diggers Guide to the Cotswolds COMPETITION

WIN FAMILY TICKETS TO THE CORNBURY FESTIVAL

NELL GIFFORD ON LIFE AT THE TOP £2.50

We visit beautiful Broadway

The summer season is here!

• Fields of Fashion • Operatic Arias • Beach Beauty • Playing Polo • Real Weddings

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beautiful, bespoke handmade kitchens

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

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

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Contents

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JUNE 2015

CONTENTS 10 Out and About Your guide to the very best events happening in and around the Cotswolds this month

43 The Troubadours of Duchy Opera

102 Westminster in the Cotswolds

Operative performance at Sudeley Castle

The MPs Are Back

105 Financial Surgery Advice 16 Real Life

54 Gardening

Queen of the Big Top, Nell Gifford

Bringing wildlife to your front door

19 Hot Property

66 The Warm Heart of Africa

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

Lucy Garbutt visits Malawi

From the team at Bank House

119 Royal Ascot

71 Cotswolds Culture

Nigel Aplin’s guide to England’s greatest Flat Racing Festival

The misgivings of the world of opera

121 The World Oldest Cricket’s Festival

A visit to the Jewel of the Cotswolds

73 Gold Diggers Guide

The fixtures for the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival

32 The Global Art House

Which events to go to this summer season

127 The Cotswold Gent

We meet Steven Beale from Trinity House Paintings in Broadway

76 Mind, Body & Soul

28 Beautiful Broadway

34 Competition Win a family ticket for four, including camping at the Cornbury Festival

Digging into the man cave Getting your body prepared for the summer

82 Fields of Dreams Ten pages of exquisite fashion from the Polo fields

36 Real Life Wedding The beautiful Carley O’Dea marries Nicholas Jones

93 The Best Tan in Town

SOCIAL SCENE 35 59 98 120

Silver Ball PR Party Launch of Carluccio’s The Grape Escape Launch Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival Launch

We meet the team from Tanique

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Welcome Senior Partner Paul Bates 01242 220239 paul@stylemagazines.co.uk 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: Paul Bates; Distribution: Pineapple Media, 172 Northern Parade, Portsmouth, Hants, PO2 9LT. Merchandising services: Patrick Farrelly.

@CotswoldStyle Twitter followers

21,974 CotswoldStyleMagazine Facebook fans

5,295 Cover image: Stefanie Calleja-Gera www.photographybystefanie.co.uk

EDITOR’S FOREWORD elcome to the beginning of summer and the June edition of Cotswold Style.

First I would like to say a very Happy Father’s Day to all of you wonderful ‘Daddy’s’. I’m sure on 21st June, a great many of you will be looking forward to putting your feet up, perhaps watching the Test match or Grand Prix, enjoying a few cold beers whilst gazing longingly at those fabulous new pairs of socks you’ve been so kindly spoilt with. I could say what’s new? But won’t! I know there really are some amazing, hands-on fathers out there and none more so than my own, so thank you to you all.

We are greatly looking forward to the start of the ‘summer season’ and what could be more fitting than showcasing all that the Cotswolds has to offer from polo to opera.

Cotswold Style is delighted to be the media sponsor of a grand night of opera that is taking placed at Sudeley Castle on Sunday 28th June, at 6.30pm, OPERA@THECASTLE, supporting local cancer charity LINC (please read the feature in this month’s edition). We do hope many of you, your families and friends will be able to join us for a night of famous arias, performed by The Troubadours from Duchy Opera. Please pre-book your tickets for the evening by clicking on to: www.operaatthecastle.eventbrite.co.uk Continuing our operatic theme, Castaway this month meets Lizzie Graham, the founder and Festival Director of the prestigious Longborough Festival Opera, as she prepares for some stunning performances at her home near Moreton-in-Marsh.

Polo being played in fields of dreams is the theme for this month’s fashion feature. Our hugely talented Fashion Editor, Yvette Brentnall along with fashion photographer Stef Calleja-Gera created a fabulous shoot shot at Asthall Farm Polo Club, near Lechlade. Yet again a creative team of models, professional polo players, stylists, hairdresser and not forgetting make-up artist (which Yvette did herself), have produced ten pages of mesmeric fashion.

This month’s Cotswold Style introduces you to our new writer, The Cotswold Gent. He will be regaling you men-folk with his hilarious thoughts on life in the man cave. Cotswoldia’s Angela Chancellor has produced her ‘Gold Diggers Guide To The Season’ and where to meet the eligible hotties in the county. On a more worthwhile note, we are featuring two charitable organisations who are both on bikes (an individual on a motorcycle and a group of ex-rugby players on pedal bikes), hoping to push the boundaries by raising much needed funds for some superb charities.

Finally, we visit beautiful Broadway for a special feature and after a break for last month’s General Election, our popular column, Westminster In The Cotswolds is back and I would like to extend a warm welcome to Cheltenham’s new MP, Alex Chalk. It was a breathtakingly extraordinary and somewhat exciting election – a night I’m sure many of us will never forget!

Best wishes,

W

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

Cotswold Style is published monthly by Cotswold Style 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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t u o ab ENTERTAINMENT

HMS PINAFORE AND COX & BOX AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th June These entertaining classics are presented by the Cotswold Savoyards. www.everymantheatre.org.uk

BREWERY BLUES NIGHT AT THE KINGS HEAD, CIRENCESTER Friday 12th June Doors open 7.45pm Taking place in the Vaulted Cellar and headlined by Soular. Arrive early to guarantee seating. Tickets £10 in advance, £11 on the night Book on 01285 700900 www.kingshead-hotel.co.uk

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO IN SHIPTON MOYNE Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June at 7.30pm Mozart’s famous opera will be performed by Opera a la Carte at Street Farm in the beautiful village of Shipton Moyne, near Tetbury. Tickets will include a donation to the Mulberry Bush School.Tickets from £60 www.smopera.org DEDDINGTON FESTIVAL 2015 Friday 12th to Saturday 20th June This annual festival is a fun-filled eight days of musical, magical and mirthfilled moments, offering a range of music, magic for children and fun from the Cotswold Comedy Club. www.deddingtonfestival.org.uk CROQUET & CHAMPAGNE AFTERNOON TEA AT THE GREENWAY HOTEL, CHELTENHAM Saturday 13th June Embrace the best of British, with a game of croquet and full afternoon tea on the lawn amongst beautiful surroundings. Tickets £29.50 www.thegreenwayhotelandspa.com

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HEADWEAR WITH ATTITUDE WORKSHOP AT TUDOR FARMHOUSE, FOREST OF DEAN Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th June Aspiring milliners are invited to eat, sleep and create ‘Headwear with Attitude’ under the tuition of designer to the stars, Louise Pocock. Ultimately everyone, from novices to old hands, will learn to create and professionally trim their own hat. Double occupancy from £550 including course, dinner and breakfast www.tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk

FRESH AIR 2015, QUENINGTON OLD RECTORY, CIRENCESTER Sunday 14th June to Sunday 5th July 10am to 5pm. The 12th Biennale Quenington Sculpture Exhibition is one of the UK’s leading outdoor contemporary sculpture shows. The exhibition is laid out in the Cotswold setting of a five-acre garden, surrounding the Grade II listed rectory, with the River Coln running through.

95 artists are exhibiting, of which 30 are new to the event, creating a show that will enlighten, provoke and charm the visitor. The excitement of FRESH AIR is the huge diversity of materials exploring a variety of media: from stone to textiles, ceramic to glass, sound to video, mosaic to metals, rubber to resin. £4 adults, children free www.freshairsculpture.com ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA DIRECTED BY JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Thursday 18th June 7.30pm, Julian Lloyd Webber directs two works by his father and four muchloved works by Elgar in this charming concert of English music.

Tickets from £11.50 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

FISHY FRIDAY AT FOODWORKS Friday 19th June From 7 to 9.30pm. Head Chef Dean Chadwick will be taking you through an array of flavoursome fish recipes for

‘eat well, enjoy wine, love life’

www.montpellierwinebar.com you to enjoy and impress your friends at summer dinner parties. There are some quick easy ideas plus some wonderful fish canapés, which will wow all your guests. For further details please contact Harriet 01242 870538. www.foodworkscookeryschool.co.uk MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE Friday 19th to Saturday 27th June Sue Holderness and Christopher Timothy star in the Everyman Theatre’s production of George Bernard Shaw’s insightful period drama. www.everymantheatre.org.uk REGINALD D. HUNTER AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Wednesday 24th June

Photo: Kash Yusaf

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7.30pm. The comedian returns with a brand new tour after a successful year filming and performing internationally.

A well-known face on TV, he is renowned for his distinctive take on subjects including race and sexuality.

His work can be brutally honest, is often considered controversial, but is always meticulously thought out. May contain strong language. Over 18s only.

Tickets £25.50 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

BREWERY JAZZ NIGHT AT THE KINGS HEAD, CIRENCESTER Friday 26th June Doors open 7.45pm. Taking place in the Vaulted Cellar and headlined by Ian Ballamy & The Brewery Jazz Trio.

Arrive early to guarantee seating.

Tickets £10 in advance, £11 on the night. Book on 01285 700900 www.kingshead-hotel.co.uk

SPONSORED BY MONTPELLIER WINE BAR

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‘eat well, enjoy wine, love life’

www.montpellierwinebar.com YOUNG ARTISTS 2015 AT THE PARAGON GALLERY, CHELTENHAM Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June

Senior students from Dean Close School will be showing work across a range of media, styles and subjects.

Students from the school frequently gain places at such celebrated art schools. Private View on Thursday 25th from 6 to 8pm. Contact 01242 233391 or eleanor@paragongallery.co.uk www.paragongallery.co.uk

MONTPELLIER SUMMER FAIR, CHELTENHAM Saturday 27th June 10am to 5pm. This popular event returns to Montpellier Street once again with classic cars, Punch & Judy, street food, market stalls selling a cornucopia of good things, and all the fun of the fair. Many of Montpellier’s ninety independent businesses will have special activities, including the now famous Dog Competition run by Rechercher.

The event will be raising money for Cheltenham’s Cobalt Cancer Charity and for The Montpellier Association.

For more information, please contact Hope Howells at artbydarcy.co.uk or Gavin Thomson at gusto-deli.com DREAMBOATS & MINISKIRTS AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE Monday 29th June to Saturday 4th July The sequel to the smash-hit musical Dreamboats and Petticoats. www.everymantheatre.org.uk

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Your comprehensive guide to what’s going on in The Cotswolds... with Sara Chardin

FAMILY

THE TIMES CHELTENHAM SCIENCE FESTIVAL Tuesday 2nd to Sunday 7th June Experience all the Science Festival has to offer in Cheltenham’s Town Hall and Imperial Gardens, from free interactive science in The Discover Zone and the Explore Zone to informal scientific chat in The Times Cafe and The Talking Point. www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/ science GIFFORDS CIRCUS MOON SONGS May until Saturday 19th September The famous family-run vintage circus is on its summer tour of the Cotswolds.

Their new show, Moon Songs, invites audiences into the world of the Victorian Lunar Park, a fairground run by larger than life illusionist and man of magic and mystery, Odoroff, and his Little Man assistant, David. Giffords Circus, as always, bring a magical cast of jugglers, clowns, acrobats, horses and a much-loved goose. The show opens at Giffords’ new HQ at Fennels Farm in Stroud, before making its way around the Cotswolds. Tickets £14 for children, £22 for adults www.giffordscircus.com

ANNUAL BURGER FESTIVAL AT THE BREWERY, CHELTENHAM Monday 1st to Tuesday 30th June The Brewery is hosting its third annual Burger Festival, this time for the whole month, including burger-related offers, deals and discounts from participating restaurants. There will also be the chance to win family meals, family games of bowling, vouchers and lots more. Visit the Facebook page to vote for your favourite Brewery burger and you could win your burger to enjoy with a friend. www.thebrewerycheltenham.co.uk ROYAL THREE COUNTIES SHOW, MALVERN Friday 12th to Sunday 14th June

The Three Counties Agricultural Society’s signature event, at the Three Counties Showground, will once again celebrate the very best of British farming and its rich heritage, alongside artisan food and thrilling family entertainment.

New for this year is Olympic Gold Medalist, Carl Hester MBE, displaying dressage to music in the Main Arena on Saturday afternoon; a chariot display from top stunt company The Devils Horsemen (as seen in blockbuster movies); Adam Henson on Friday in the new and improved Discovery Zone; the International Orchid Show and a sheepshearing test match. Making a welcome return to the show are the Farming Village, Food & Drink Pavilion and Country Pursuits Village. www.threecounties.co.uk/threecounties

STROUD FESTIVAL OF NATURE Saturday 13th to Sunday 28th June Stroud Festival of Nature is evolving.

Visit Stroud for a fortnight-long celebration of the natural world.

Practical activities, events, talks, exhibitions and walks in and around Stroud are available for all ages. www.stroudnature.co.uk FATHER’S DAY AT THE BREWERY, CHELTENHAM Saturday 20th June Treat your dad to some Father’s Day fun with mouth-watering burger sampling from all burger-related restaurants, costume character

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t u o ab appearances and Hollywood Bowl’s inflatable bowling lane for you to practice your skills. There will be live acoustic music, a bouncy castle and entertainment for all the family. You can even grab a free ice cream – for a small donation to The Brewery’s charity of the year; the Guide Dogs. www.thebrewerycheltenham.co.uk FATHER’S DAY BBQ AT ELLENBOROUGH PARK Sunday 21st June

11.30am to 3pm. Raising money for WellChild, this popular BBQ is back.

Dads can impress with their fearlessness on the zorbing pool and show off their sportsmanship with archery. Meanwhile, Ellenborough Park’s chefs will be grilling, searing and smoking delicious satays, sausages and kofta on a Kamado Joe BBQ, maximising the amazing wood fire flavours. Tickets £25 for adults, £10 for children under 16, under 5s are free Call to book 01242 545419 www.ellenboroughpark.com FATHER’S DAY BBQ AT THE GREENWAY HOTEL, CHELTENHAM Sunday 21st June All Dads love a BBQ! Come along and enjoy a BBQ in the hotel grounds.

Dads will receive a beer on the house. £25 per adult, £10 per child. www.thegreenwayhotelandspa.com FATHER’S DAY LUNCH AT THE KINGS HOTEL, CHIPPING CAMPDEN Sunday 21st June Enjoy a traditional family Sunday

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lunch with a gift for all those hard-working Dads. £25 per person. www.kingscampden.co.uk

CHARITY JUMPIN’ JUNE June Organise a fundraising jumping activity and raise money for Winston’s Wish this June: Jump, Dive, Bounce, Bungee; whatever you like!

Try a trampolining day or sponsored swim at your local pool, take on a hurdle race, go horse jumping, hold a diving competition, organise a silly jumper day at work. Post your best jumping picture on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #JumpinJune and nominate your friends to do the same.

You can also raise money for Winston’s Wish by inviting people to text “JUMP22 £3” to 70070 donating £3 to our work with bereaved children.

For a fundraising pack email: community@winstonswish.org.uk www.winstonswish.org.uk LINC LUNCH CLUB AT MONTY’S BRASSERIE, CHELTENHAM Friday 5th June Enjoy lunch at Monty’s for £14 for two courses including a donation to LINC. For more information and menu choices please call: 0300 4224422 or visit the website: www.lincfund.org

GLOUCESTERSHIRE MOTORSHOW AT HIGHNAM COURT Saturday 6th to Sunday 7th June 10.30am to 5pm. See the hottest new cars from motor dealerships across the county; over 100 classic and vintage cars and motorcycles; Bridgestone’s exciting new interactive driving experience; Ferrari rides and cookery demos throughout the weekend with chefs including Phil Vickery MBE.

‘eat well, enjoy wine, love life’

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There will also be a food village and bar, tented shopping area, live music and children’s golf. Tickets £10 (adults), £5 (children 5 to 16 years) www.piedpiperappeal.co.uk

OPEN GARDEN AT ABLINGTON MANOR, NEAR BIBURY Sunday 28th June 2 to 5.30pm.

This is a rare opportunity for garden lovers to explore these beautiful, quintessential Cotswold manor house gardens in a riverside setting.

Ablington Manor, GL7 5NY, will be opening its gates to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. Homemade teas will be served.

Entrance £5.

SPORT MIDSUMMER SPEED FEST AT PRESCOTT Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June Come and experience the 6th round of the 2015 Midland Hill Climb Championship and the 2nd round of the Prescott Gold Cup. Saturday is practice day and gates open at 8am.

Advance tickets from £10. www.prescott-hillclimb.com/midsummer-speed-fest.aspx GLOUCESTERSHIRE V NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, CHELTENHAM CRICKET FESTIVAL Thursday 9th July 11am to 6pm. Charlton Kings Cricket Club are offering exclusive use of the ‘Old Pats’ marquee with a three-course lunch, afternoon cricket tea, all-day tea and coffee, pitch side viewing area, licensed cash bar, Sky Sports and festival day-ticket entry £55 per person.

Book a single seat or tables of 9 or 11.

Book with Julian Terry 07811 458450 or Julian@terry249.fsnet.co.uk

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REAL LIFE

NELL GIFFORD Ellie Mainwaring met with Nell Gifford, Giffords Circus Founder & Producer s the visionary behind the institution of Giffords Circus, Nell Gifford is one of the Cotswolds’ most exciting personalities. Not only is Nell the founder of the South West’s finest vintage circus, she is also the proud recipient of the Groucho Club Maverick Artist of the Year award, an Oxford University graduate, published author, wife and mother.

Nell was educated at St Edward’s School in Cheltenham before reading English Literature at Oxford University.

It was at the age of 18 during a gap year from studying that Nell was well and truly bitten by the circus bug. She says: “It was here that I experienced a vision of the future – a happy place, cared for and loved, where children and animals played together in sunshine and the workplace a huge candy striped tent, full of music.” After graduating, Nell followed her dream and worked with a variety of international circuses including the Chinese State Circus, Santus Circus, the Bobby Roberts Super Circus and Circus Roncalli, under Yasmine Smart.

After cutting her teeth on the world’s top circuses, Nell returned to home turf in the Cotswolds to create Giffords Circus with her husband Toti.

1999 was a whirlwind year for Nell and Toti; it was in this year that they met, got married and Giffords Circus was born.

When speaking of her vision, Nell said: “I held the jewel of my childhood up to my eye, and through it I saw ponies and a dressing-up box and a tent, and that was Giffords Circus.” Nell is involved with everything from discovering the acts and deciding the show’s theme to the designing of costumes and performing in the shows herself.

Nell and Toti, together with twins Red and Cecil, live in the heart of the Cotswolds at the home of Giffords Circus. It is here that shows are crafted, costumes are designed, staging is constructed, scores are composed, the animals are housed and rehearsals take

A

16 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

place. It is where Giffords Circus comes to life.

Each show begins with four months of training the circus’ signature farmyard animals. The family has a handful of horses of their own, along with 2 lively rescued terriers, Griffin and Hades and of course Brian the goose. Brian’s show stealing role is to waddle in and out of the ring, occasionally escorted by limelight shy Toti, while the horses perform more complex dressage pieces.

Horses have always been integral to Nell’s life and are a core element to each show.

Once the animals are ready, the circus company – including Tweedy the Clown and other firm favourites – bring together their performance in just three weeks before the troupe hit the road.

Nell said: “I love watching the show but I feel responsible for every last thing.

There are always some heart in your mouth moments, which is part of the sheer joy of owning your own circus.”

For most children, the dream of running away with the circus remains exactly that – a dream. For twins, Red

and Cecil, circus is not just for summer, it’s for life. With Giffords Circus jugglers Bibi & Bichu as their godparents and the circus HQ their home, a magical storybook childhood is inevitable. The Moon Songs tour itself is loosely based on Red and Cecil’s godparents’ dream of coming to the UK to perform in a circus coming true.

While touring, Nell, Toti, Red and Cecil live in a restored 1930’s showman’s wagon, towed by a vintage lorry. The wagon was rescued from a roadside ditch and has been restored to its former glory with added mod cons of a TV and fully fitted kitchen to give the family space to enjoy quality time together. Nell said: “Giffords is a big travelling family and while having the twins on tour can be challenging, it’s far more fun. Red and Cecil are our children and children of Giffords Circus. I don’t think that they are the only children that belong to Giffords Circus, or who Giffords Circus belongs to. The responsibility to run a happy show and a happy place intensifies, because this is not simply a show – it is a childhood.”

Nell also founded the UK’s only travelling restaurant, Circus Sauce. In the early days, Nell and Toti catered for all the acts and visitors from their own wagon and soon realised there was a real hunger for a fabulous post-show food and dining experience. Circus Sauce was born and today the restaurant is lead by one of the South West’s most exciting Chefs, Ollie Halas. He brings his rich pedigree of experience from working with the likes of Marco Pierre-White, Made By Bob, Barnsley House and Bibury Court. The restaurant accompanies the circus as it rolls into towns and villages throughout the summer months and is the ultimate gastronomic experience when it comes to bohemian al fresco dining.

Over the years Nell has drawn on her extensive Little Black Book to bring a variety of international talent to collaborate with Giffords Circus. 2015

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Real Life

PHOTO: ANDREW REES

“It was here that I experienced a vision of the future – a happy place, cared for and loved, where children and animals played together in sunshine and the workplace a huge candy striped tent, full of music.”

sees iconic British Milliner Philip Treacy join the ranks. Philip has designed 12 bespoke pieces, which form part of costumes for the 12 members of the company’s Ethiopian troupe. Cal McCrystal has also returned for his fourth year as Director. As a critically acclaimed writer and director his productions are regularly enjoyed worldwide. Cal’s work includes comedy direction of the Royal National Theatre’s West End and Broadway hit, One Man, Two Guvnors, the clown routines in

Cirque du Soleil, the original Mighty Boosh and blockbuster hits including The Dictator, Paddington Bear and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Giffords Circus is also favoured by families, farmers and film stars alike and over the years has seen the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Kate Winslet and Helena Bonham-Carter take a perch to enjoy the show.

Summer 2015 sees Giffords Circus return with an all-new show entitled Moon Songs. Moon Songs invites audiences to enter the world of the

Victorian Luna Park, a fairground run by larger than life illusionist and man of magic and mystery, Odoroff, and his Little Man assistant, David.

Firm favourites and exciting newcomers form the company who once again return with a host of highly skilled acts. Famous jugglers, Bibi and Bichu bring their cousins from Ethiopia, all 12 of them, and magician Odoroff tries and fails to command this giant troupe of dancing gymnasts. Clown Tweedy is shot from a cannon, turns himself into the man in the moon, the bear gallops past on a pony, the carousel horses come to life, the weather in the tent turns wintry, the jugglers are suddenly turned upside down, the little man laughs and chaos reigns in this topsy turvy lunatic world.

For a full list of tour dates, locations and to book tickets, visit the Giffords Circus website at www.giffordscircus.com or call the Box Office on 0845 459 7469. Tickets are priced at £22 for adults and £14 for children. Under 3s are free to all shows if they are sitting on a lap.

Circus Sauce can be booked after the last evening performance. Supper is priced at £25 per adult and £12.50 per child under 14 yrs. Please note, Circus Sauce is not a licensed restaurant and diners are invited to bring their own drinks including alcohol. The entire restaurant is also available for private hire. Rates available on request.

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s

yl e st

s

ty er op pr

Property Style Over the following pages we feature some of the fantastic properties that are on sale or to be let in the Cotswolds

SPONSORED BY

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call:01242 222292 online: www.kingsleyevans.co.uk email: info@kingsleyevans.co.uk David evans Director

Alison Close Associate closea@kingslyevans.co.uk

Shirley Smedley-Brown Associate Director

in

smedleybrowns@kingsleyevans.co.uk

ALDERTON

£1,295,000

An ABSolutely exquiSite home in the heArt of A ChArming AnD viBrAnt villAge. the manor house is part medieval and part georgian, beautifully capturing two eras and as such offering a wealth of features. Set within two acres of glorious land with views and a swimming pool reception hall Drawing room Dining room Sitting room Kitchen/Breakfast room master Bedroom With en Suite guest Suite three further Bedrooms family Bathroom Beautiful formal gardens Paddock garage.

PAINSWICK

£1,150,000

A BeAutiful home Set Within An iDylliC Setting on A PrivAte roAD.

the accommodation is spacious and gardens beautiful. Briefly comprising entrance hall reception hall Drawing room Dining Area Sitting room Kitchen & Breakfast room Cloakroom Study master Bedroom with en Suite three further Bedroom family Bathroom Basement gym Parking & turning Area gardens 0.58 Acres.

SPeCiAliStS in Prime ProPerty

visit: 115 the Promenade, Cheltenham, gl50 1nW

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call:01242 222292 online: www.kingsleyevans.co.uk email: info@kingsleyevans.co.uk David evans Director

£1,675,000

closea@kingslyevans.co.uk

Shirley Smedley-Brown Associate Director

in

WELLINGTON SQUARE

Alison Close Associate

smedleybrowns@kingsleyevans.co.uk

HALES ROAD

£895,000

An exquiSite reSiDenCe overlooKing one of CheltenhAM’S fineSt SquAreS.

An AttrACtive AnD DetACheD viCtoriAn villA on A Sought After roAD.

this magnificent home offers spacious and flexible accommodation over four floors to include reception hall Sitting room Kitchen/ Dining room first floor Drawing room two Bedroom Suites three/four further Bedrooms lower ground floor Comprising: Sitting room Kitchen two Bedrooms Bath and Shower rooms garage & off road Parking garden Store & further Store landscaped rear garden.

St heliers offers beautifully proportioned accommodation and spacious living and benefits om a generous garden Drawing room Sitting room Dining room Study Kitchen/Breakfast room family room Conservatory Cellar rooms Master Bedroom with en Suite Bathroom Six further Bedrooms large level garden off road Parking for numerous Cars.

Pittville

elDon roAD

£650,000

Set BACK froM the roAD AnD APProACheD viA A long AnD PrivAte DrivewAy the CoACh houSe offerS the MoSt iDylliC Setting. this stunning home offers charming gardens and beautifully proportioned accommodation Kitchen/Dining room Sitting room Master Suite with en Suite two further Bedrooms two garages (nB the garage adjacent to the kitchen lends itself to conversion and would make for an ideal Playroom/Study) lovely gardens.

SPeCiAliStS in PriMe ProPerty

£495,000

A BeAutiful exAMPle of A 1930’S BAy fronteD reSiDenCe offering spacious and well-proportioned accommodation on a sought aer road within walking distance to town Kitchen open Plan Dining/family room Sitting room Master Bedroom with en Suite three further Bedrooms Bathroom lovely gardens garage off road Parking.

visit: 115 the Promenade, Cheltenham, gl50 1nw

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Hot Property

Pittville Circus, Cheltenham Setting the scene: A spacious split-level apartment forming part of the raised and lower ground floors of this beautiful Grade II listed detached villa situated on Pittville Circus, a very popular, leafy residential suburb of Pittville.

Why we love it: The apartment is accessed via a smart communal entrance hall. Once inside there is a spacious entrance hall which leads through to the reception rooms. The kitchen is fitted with a range of quality built-in units and offers ample storage and worktop space. The dining table sits in front of the stunning bay window which overlooks the delightful communal lawns. The drawing room is a fabulous room with excellent dimensions, high ceilings and beautiful period features. The view over Pittville Circus from the large floor to ceiling sash window is lovely. Stairs lead from the drawing room down to the bedroom accommodation where there are two large double bedrooms, an en suite shower room to one bedroom and an en suite bathroom to the 2nd bedroom. There is also a useful utility room. Allocated parking and attractive south-west facing communal lawns to the rear.

Guide price ÂŁ335,000 | Hayley.wilks@knightfrank.com | Knight Frank Cheltenham 01242 246959

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Hot Property

The Park, Cheltenham Setting the scene: Oakfield is an imposing Grade II listed detached Regency villa situated in the highly desirable district of The Park.

Why we love it: Apartment 1 has accommodation arranged over 2 floors and can be accessed either via the impressive communal entrance, or via its own private entrance directly into the kitchen. This large, light living space is fitted with a range of modern kitchen units and incorporates a central island to one side, the remainder of the room is open for dining and/or family space with stunning feature bay and door to the south-west facing private garden. The remainder of the downstairs is made up of a modern shower room, utility and linen room and storage cupboard. Upstairs the magnificent drawing room is a particular feature of the apartment with intricate ceiling mouldings, grand open fireplace and bay with original sash offering direct access to the garden. The master bedroom also has direct access into the garden and benefits from a modern en suite bathroom. The 2nd double bedroom is a beautiful room with a double aspect, floor to ceiling sash windows and an attractive fire place. Outside the beautiful private garden is a rare addition to apartment living. There is also a single garage and further parking.

Guide price ÂŁ565,000 | Hayley.wilks@knightfrank.com | Knight Frank Cheltenham 01242 246959 COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 25

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Norton Setting the scene: Driftwood is a detached residence of absolute distinction, exemplifying innovative design and built with luxury and light in mind. The property has been constructed to the highest of standards with the most intricate detail and as such reflects a contemporary home conducive to modern family living.

Why we love it: Exacting standards and attention to detail combine with impressive accommodation perfect for entertaining and the flexibility to use the house as one requires. The spacious accommodation is arranged over two floors, entrance is gained through an impressive reception hall. The ground floor is mainly open plan giving a sense of space and incredible light with beautiful vistas through large glass windows and bi folding doors from both the drawing room and the family/dining room, with great onus placed on brining the outside in. High quality fixtures and fittings play an integral part of this stunning build, the kitchen includes state of the art Gaggeneau appliances including an induction hob, two ovens, two wine coolers and a Lieber fridge/freezer. A study and further sitting room complete the accommodation on this floor. An Oak staircase leads to first floor level, the gallery landing is a stunning feature connecting the bedroom accommodation in a contemporary style and capturing the panoramic outlook. The impressive master suite with en suite and dressing area enjoys the most exquisite views. There is a guest suite with luxury en suite and three further bedrooms served by a family bathroom. The residence is further complimented y lovely gardens, garage and off road parking.

Price: ÂŁ1,200,000; Details: Kingsley Evans, Cheltenham ; Tel: 01242 222292 wisemanj@kingsleyevans.co.uk; www.kingsleyevans.co.uk

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l l a s! r e g y n u i b l l ime a C rst t fi

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01452 657950 quote@tlg.uk.com q uote@tlg.u uk.com thomaslegalgroup.co.uk th omaslegalgroup.cco.u uk

*for *f for first first time time buyers buyers o only nlyy p property ropertyy va value lue u up p tto o £500,000

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The Jewel of the

COTSWOLDS Emma Logan takes a look at beautiful Broadway, one of the Cotswolds’ most famous villages

he gateway to the Cotswolds, the village is nestled at the foot of Fish Hill (where apparently monks used to store fish and the 18th century ‘Fish Inn’ once stood).

Broadway offers the irresistible combination of the peace and tranquility of village life and access to a multitude of places of interest, including an offsite project of the world-famous Ashmolean museum and the Broadway Tower, a Victorian folly offering the best views of the region from the second highest point in Worcestershire. Broadway is a lively and vibrant village and one steeped in history.

Once a major stopping place for stagecoaches travelling between Worcester and London, centuries later Broadway emerged as a centre for the arts, attracting luminaries including JM Barrie, Vaughan Williams, Edward Elgar and American artists Edwin Austin Abbey and John Singer Sargent. Later the village played an integral role in the development of the Arts and Crafts movement. The artistic influence remains today; Broadway is home to numerous artists, several nationally, well regarded

T

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galleries and a thriving arts festival.

The full extent of Broadway's majesty is its wide street, lined with a delightful mix of Tudor, Stuart and Georgian buildings. The village has one of the longest High Streets in England and is the actual "broad way". Surrounded with red chestnut trees, it reflects the varied architectural history from grand buildings to ones of humbler, though quaint beginnings that even reaches back, in places, to the Romans. Thousands of people are drawn to Broadway each year by the pleasant retail experience on offer.

The historic high street and arcades branching off from it, house an eclectic mix of quality shops, boutiques and art galleries, over 90% of which are independently owned.

More practical needs are also well

catered for – the village is served by two supermarkets, a chemist, a library, two banks, a quality butcher, a health centre, a dentist, a post office, churches of various denominations and a tourist information centre.

The village also has a wide selection of eating opportunities with restaurants, hotels, public houses and tea and coffee shops that cater to various budgets and tastes.

Leisure activities such as golf, horse riding and clay pigeon shooting are also available nearby and many cyclists are drawn to the area, enjoying the gently undulating hills as much as the network of quiet minor roads connecting picturesque villages.

Broadway is like stepping back in time but in a wonderful way.

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Villages: Broadway

MEET A FEW BUSINESSES FROM THE VILLAGE...

THE GOLDSMITHY Jewellery is always a special purchase, but having something handmade for you by skilled craftsmen make it particularly rare and totally unique.

The jewellery at The Goldsmithy is designed and handmade by father and son team Terry and Simon Waldron. Most of their beautiful work is crafted in their own workshop and showroom overlooking the Green in Broadway.

They are Members of the National Association of Goldsmiths which was founded way back in 1894. They can also boast being three times winner of De Beers Diamonds International Award which is the most prestigious awards for jewellery design in the industry. No mean feat.

At The Goldsmithy they make jewellery to suit all budgets and tastes; wedding rings to large ornate, dramatic pieces. No challenge is too small or too big. From taking part in the design stage, precious metal choice and gem selection, to seeing the completed article you’ll really feel part of the complete process.

At The Goldsmithy they can also remodel and repair jewellery. Assistance is also given with insurance and replacement advice.

14A The Green, High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7AA Tel: 01386 853297 www.goldsmithy.co.uk

COTSWOLD FINE ART CONSERVATION Cotswold Fine Art Conservation is based in Broadway, Worcestershire. We specialise in the conservation of paintings, both oil and watercolours and we have a number of highly skilled associate craftsmen and women who work with us on a wide range of conservation projects.

Our emphasis is on Conservation .... that concentrates on the long term care of artworks not over restoration that can, if not carried out sympathetically, take the originality and character away from an item.

It is our policy to offer a very personal service and no project is too small. If you have any problem that you wish to discuss, then please call Andrew in the first instance and we will endeavour to solve your conservation problem.

All work is carried out in strictest confidence.

The Design Centre, Kennel Lane Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7DJ Telephone: 01386 247081

THE BROADWAY GUNROOM We predict that The Broadway Gunroom, that's just opened its doors, is set to become the destination for country sports in the Cotswolds. This impressive outlet - a prime 2,500sqft, has undergone a major renovation over the last 5 months by business owner Chris Sugden, who’s left no stone unturned in his pursuit to create the very best Country Store outlet that's a cut above the rest.

Alongside a full gunsmithing service, The Broadway Gunroom stocks everything from custom built handmade shotguns, air rifles and Archery equipment. Of course, you'll also want to look the part so there's also a range of the best country clothing to get suited and booted, not forgetting Masters Dog Food and accessories for mans best friend. It's safe to say that Chris is an expert in his field, with over 14 years experience working with the GB coach Ian Coley. Realising there was a gap in the market for quality-shooting suppliers based in the Cotswolds (and close enough to London)

the concept of The Broadway Gunroom was borne. Chris and his team will offer professional guidance at all levels and should you wish to arrange a country weekend of clay or game shooting, The Broadway Gunroom has established reputable suppliers that can arrange bespoke events for on your behalf.

Kennel Lane, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7DJ www.broadwaygunroom.co.uk

THE PRIORY GALLERY Run by Elizabeth James and her daughter Lucy, The Priory gallery houses an outstanding collection of paintings and sculpture of international acclaim. Elizabeth has promoted quality artists for over 25 years including Tony de Wolf, from Belgium, who studied the techniques of the Flemish 17th century masters to develop his own stunningly unique contemporary style. Bruce Yardley, whose sundrenched interiors transforms us to a sphere of elegant beauty. Jacqueline Williams leads us into a world celebrating nature, beauty and tables. Paul Hedley’s female figures gracefully contemplate, read and play in their charming surroundings. The sculptures, all limited edition bronzes, from the finest artists, some of whom have worked with the Crown Jewellers are the epitome of grace and form.

Benson Landes’ works exemplify his thorough understanding of the female form at rest and dancing, together with a delicate flow of fabrics. Animals from other sculptors inhabit the gallery, each creature possessing their own carefully crafted characters.

34 High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7DT Telephone: 01386 853783 www.priorybroadway.com

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DESIGNING, MAKING & REPAIRING JEWELLERY IN OUR BROADWAY SHOP FOR 35 YEARS

Andrew Finlay

THE GOLDSMITHY B R O A D WAY

Picture Restoration, Oils and Watercolours, Picture Framing and Mounting Restoration of Miscellaneous Artefacts Picture hanging Advice on care and maintenance of art works

14a The Green, High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7AA

Tel: 01386 853297

PRIORY GALLERY D.I.A.

www.goldsmithy.co.uk

N.A.G.

B R O A D W A Y

Art Conservation

The Design Centre, Kennel lane Broadway Worcestershire WR12 7DJ

Tel. 01386 247081 M. 07539221820 e-mail. akrfinlay@gmail.com www.cotswoldfineartconservation.com

Services Offered: • Interest Free Credit, with purchases over £1000 • Restoration • Framing • Shipping • Home appraisals • Valuations • Consultancy for home and business

Our artists never cease to amaze us by continually producing brilliant works of exceptional talent and skill.

Fandango by Benson Landes

Ginger Jar, Bowl and Figs

by Tony De Wolf

Lavender in White Bowl

by Nellie Crawford

34 High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7DT | Tel: 01386 853 783 | Email: info@priorybroadway.com 30 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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O OPEN Wednesday Wednes sday - Saturda Saturday ay

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The Global Art House Emma Logan met with Steven Beale, owner of Trinity House Paintings in Broadway teven Beale opened his first fine art gallery in Broadway in 2006.

This was the start of Trinity House Paintings. The business soon outgrew its original premises, and is now based at 20 High Street, in the heart of the vibrant Cotswolds village centre.

From its hub in Steven Beale Broadway, Trinity House expanded into Mayfair, London’s globally important art market district, in 2009. A third gallery opened in Manhattan, New York in 2011.

In nine years, Steven has successfully established Trinity House as a major player in the UK and global art world.

Here he gives an insight into his thoughts about art and his love of Broadway.

S

What inspired you to become an art dealer?

I’ve been involved in the art industry since I was sixteen. I loved being

32 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

surrounded by such beautiful works and learning about the rich and intriguing history behind them. As I got older my fascination consumed me; I wanted to learn more about the art industry. My passion for art drove me professionally and continues to drive me every day.

What was the inspiration behind Trinity House?

I was meeting collectors, dealers and artists who enjoyed the works of art as much as I did. We shared our passion and they wanted to work more closely with me. I knew that I had a lot more to give. That’s really where the idea for Trinity House was born.

Describe Trinity House in 5 words Genuine, friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, helpful.

What sort of art do you sell?

We have Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern British, 19th Century, Contemporary work and sculpture. We

Broadway Gallery Interior

might have a Monet, Picasso, Damien Hirst and a Willard Wigan micro-sculpture in our collection. We try to keep things fresh, current and exciting.

And what makes you different to other art galleries?

Art is a changing market and we understand that clients don’t just want to be sold to, they want expert, honest, professional advice to help them to make their own informed decisions. Our aim is to make this entire process straightforward and act as guide throughout the international art world.

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Broadway

We offer advice on purchasing and selling fine art, valuations and insurance appraisals, framing, conservation and assistance with lighting and installation.

Why Broadway for your headquarters?

I was living in the area, so I already had good connections here. Art also plays a big part in Broadway’s history, so it seems fitting to follow the footsteps of the many artists who have been inspired by the place.

Who were the artists that came to Broadway?

In the late 1800s, bohemian artists’ colonies began to form in rural Britain.

Groups of artists gravitated to remote places where they could work in picturesque, romantic surroundings, away from the hustle and the bustle of the newly industrialised cities.

Broadway became the idyllic spot for an American artists’ colony, known as the ‘Broadway Group’. The group included John Singer Sargent, Francis Millet, Edwin Abbey, George Boughton and Alfred Parsons, the illustrator of Dickens’ novels.

Other artists and artistic characters that have been drawn here include Claude Monet, Lucien Pissarro, JM Barrie, Oscar Wilde, Edward Elgar and William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement.

What do you like about Broadway?

I come from Birmingham, and as soon as I arrived in Broadway I fell for the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’. I love the unspoiled countryside, the honey-coloured stone

buildings and the lively high street with its boutique shops and cafes.

There is a rich sense of history and culture here and the community spirit of the village still thrives; there is always something going on. I have two young children and I can’t think of a better place to raise a family.

Why the gallery expansion into London and New York?

Broadway is a popular destination for visitors. We meet clients from across the UK and all over the world that have a desire for us to travel to where they are.

We want to become more accessible to these clients. London and New York are pivotal centres for art, so this was a natural first progression for Trinity House.

What advice would you give to somebody that wants to start an art collection?

Begin with a price range that you feel comfortable with and take advice from someone that you trust and can develop a lasting relationship with. If you really like a piece and you feel that the price is fair, go for it. Art is subjective. It’s not just about investment; your collection should be something that you can enjoy every day.

What’s next for Trinity House?

We’re busy preparing to exhibit at Masterpiece 2015 later this month, which is one of London’s finest art and antique fairs. We currently have a Mary Fedden Centenary Exhibition at Trinity House London until 26 June. This exhibition

Clockwise from top left: Landscape of Stratford-upon-Avon

by Lucien Pissarro; The Three Brushes, 2008 by Mary Fedden; Overhauling sails before the heat of the day, “Sea Witch” Hong Kong 1849 by John Steven Dews; Element

by Michael Thacker; Portrait of Madame Helleu in her Yachting dress by Paul César Helleu.

will be open in Broadway from 11 July to 30 August. In our Broadway Gallery, the contemporary works of Neil B. Helyard will be exhibited, opening on 7 September until 30 September. Our Broadway Winter Exhibition opens on 23 November and runs until 17 January.

2016 is going to be a really exciting year, as we will be celebrating our tenth anniversary.

Trinity House, at 20 High Street, Broadway, is open daily, from 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 10.00am-4.00pm Sunday. Any time by appointment.

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 33

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Competition

WIN family tickets with a camping pass to the

CORNBURY FESTIVAL

There is something for everyone at this lovingly crafted, top-notch very English open-air party, tailor-made for the whole family - a fantastic musical line-up over four stages, the Berk’s Nest Comedy Emporium, a magical interactive Kids Zone, a disco in a garden shed, head-to-toe healing in the Therapixie tent, gourmet caterers, a traditional funfair, an exclusive VIP area and beautiful campsites nestled in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds.

Expect an eclectic mix of acts from legendary Welsh soulman Sir Tom Jones to Supertramp founder, vocalist and songwriter Roger Hodgson. Highlights of this year’s line-up include the award-winning R&B star Billy Ocean, Motown queen Martha Reeves, indie rockers Razorlight and The Fratellis, X Factor’s Only the Young, poptastic Blue, UK-country stars Ward Thomas and The Shires, Welsh-folk duo Paper Aeroplanes, rockney legends Chas & Dave, appearances from Dr John Cooper Clarke and Pam Ayres and comedians Katherine Ryan, Joe Lycett and Aisling Bea. Like the best of England, The Cornbury Music Festival is civilised, charming and irresistible – a homespun melting pot where music-lovers share pies and a glass of champagne with superstars, toffs, rockers, crooners, Morris dancers, farmers, urbanites, fashionistas, gourmet chefs and local ladies who make exceptional cakes.

With day and weekend tickets available, and discounts for children and seniors, Cornbury Music Festival is the complete Summer weekend for the whole family.

10th, 11th, 12th July 2015

www.cornburyfestival.com

Win family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) with a camping pass to the Cornbury Festival for the whole weekend of 10th - 11th July To enter simply email your contact details to: editor@stylemagazines.co.uk Competition closes 28th June 2015 and is non cash transferable

34 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk

Style Event Shelle Duffin and Nina de Winter

Dom Cook and John Arkell, from The Donnington Brewery The Silver Ball PR team

Barry and Simone Hancox with Sophie Arkell

Silver Ball PR Summer Party Silver Ball PR hosted their annual sum mer party at The Donnington Brewery near Stow.

Housed in a stunning safari marque e erected and styled by Oasis Events (www.oasisevents.co.uk) sitting on the edge of a picturesque lake, guests enjoyed fish and chips served by the award-winning team from Simpsons (www.simpsonsfishandchip s.co.uk) and whiskey truffles by Matthieu de Gottal (www.mattieudegottal.com). To was h it all down were signature Bottlegreen cock tails and some of the finest Donnington Ales . Business founders Annabel Rayer and Jess Coo k threw the party to thank clients and suppliers for their continued support.

Photography by Robin Bradshaw (www.bullitphotography.co.uk)

Jess Cook, Annabel Rayer and Dickie Butcher

Leigh and Darren Cook from Cheeky

Sparrow

The team from Simspons Fish and Chips

Alice Paisley, from Abercrombie and Kent, and Annabel Gonifas, from Oxford Ski Jess and Dom Cook

Drew Montague, Annabel Rayer, Jess Cook, Josie Hughes, John Arkell and Tom Hughes The Safari Style Marquee supplied by Oasis Events

Matthieu deGottal

Paul Haidon, from Media Waypoint, and Melissa Lucas, from Silver Ball PR Bonnie Richie from Simpsons Fish and Chips

Suzy Hillier, from Three Counties Showground and Jo Mainwaring

Sali Green and Josie Hughes

Rose Hamson, Georgie White and Simone Hancox

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Real Wedding

REAL WEDDING

Nick Jones & Carley O’Dea Hyde Barn, Stow-on-the-Wold Nick and Carley got married at Hyde Barn on Sunday 29th March 2015. Despite the blustering weather the day itself could not be described as anything less than perfect. Surrounded by friends, family and work colleagues, it really was a day that will always be cherished.

After the wedding they travelled to Sri Lanka for an unforgettable honeymoon.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.SHOOTTHEDAY.CO.UK

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Tel.

01285 653513

we t take ake a wr wry ry look look at e people, people, l places places and the oings’ of your your town to ‘doings’ d produce produce fantastic fanta and ited edition edition prints pr limited t reveal reveal e it’s it’s quirky qu that ture. Available Av vailable at nature. he Moss sG aller ry in the Gallery e Suffolks Suff folks area area of The eltenham, dr op in!

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• Weddings

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38 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

moss s gallery galler ry 7 Suffolk Suffo olk Parade Parade Chel Cheltenham tenh ham GL50 2A 2AB 01242 241646 tel 01242 ww.curio ouscityps.c www.curiouscityps.com

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.

Appointments are advisable

01242 224965 jane@weddingdaysofcheltenham.co.uk

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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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‘Still 2’, Original Oil Painting on canvas frame, £350, 75cm by 50cm,

by Emeline Watchorn. www.emelinewatchorn.com, 01285 821 159. emeline.watchorn@gmail.com. I don't think you can beat an original oil painting as a wedding gift. With prices starting from £80, my paintings make heartfelt and unique presents especially bearing in mind that by the time most people get married, they have already set up home and have the basics.

Horse Play Linen Fabric, £49/m,

by Pins and Ribbons at notonthehighstreet. www.notonthehighstreet.com This pretty grey linen would look great in any horse lover’s home.

INTERIORS STYLE

Compiled and written

by Interiors Editor Emeline Watchorn www.emelinewatchornceramics.com

Timeless Wedding Presents Summer is really on its way now we hope and both the wedding and the polo seasons are around the corner. So for June I have created a colour scheme of soft whites, greys and yellows with product inspired by wedding gift ideas and horses. If you love horses and are getting married, then this is the feature for you, or failing both of those, I hope these simply inspire you to invest in your home this June.

Lucy Chair, W79cm x H97cm x D85cm, handmade in the UK, covered in Pale Moss Velvet, made to order in around 8 weeks, £930, Baileys. www.baileyshome.com Based in neighbouring Herefordshire but with a great online shop, Baileys is another of my favourite shops.

Why not get someone vouchers from here for their wedding? The store is also worth a visit this June. It is packed with goodies and an impressive space too. < Italian Campaign Bed, £1,500, Anthropologie. www.anthrolpogie.eu Traditional campaign furniture was designed with durability and grace in order to preserve a semblance of home for 19th century European adventurers.

This sculpted wrought-iron frame evokes the very same craftsmanship and timeless elegance of its Victorian predecessors while also possessing a modern versatility; the sloping arms can be removed and replaced with a set of included finials for a lowerprofile look. It’s a modern classic beauty and would make an impressive wedding gift.

40 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

Large Bronze Horse, £550, OKA, Broadway or www.okadirect.com.

For all horse lovers out there, I love this bronze horse. It has been given an antiqued finish and will look chic in most interiors.

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Interiors Ralph Lauren Home, Pony Cushion Cover, Navy, Material: 100% cotton, Dimensions: 50x50cm, £89, Amara www.amara.com. I couldn’t refer to the Polo without including Ralph Lauren. This gorgeous cushion is a timeless classic.

Yellow Chest of Drawers, Bone Inlay Floral Chest of Drawers in Yellow £1,295.00, Graham and Green. www.grahamandgreen.co.uk. Designed by Jamie Graham, this piece is Hand made in India, with exquisite attention to detail this exclusive piece is a stylish investment for the home.

> Roman Blinds: Plain Linen PLAIN-3 £44/mtr Edged in Plain Dove Plain48 £44/mtr, Flop over frill single door curtain: Leaf Dance DANCE52-38 £48.00/mtr Edged in Plain Charcoal PLAIN-38 £44/mtr, Curtain heading: Stockholm Stripe STOCK-52-48-50 £48.00/mtrSeat Pad: Leaf Dance DANCE-48-38 £48.00/mtr, Self-piped and zipped square cushion: Stockholm Stripe STOCK-52-48-50 £48.00/mtr, from £55.00 Table runner: Stockholm Stripe STOCK-52-48-50 £48.00/mtr www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk.

Based in Gloucestershire, Vanessa Arbuthnott’s fabrics are just heavenly. Inspired by nature and our beautiful surroundings, her look is ‘country’ but not twee. Her ‘made to measure’ service would make a brilliant wedding present for those newly weds setting up home.

< Farmhouse Tough Champagne Flute, £14.95, Villeroy and Boch at House of Fraser. www.houseoffraser weddinglist.co.uk Champagne is clearly synonymous with weddings and the choice of flutes is vast, but personally I love these ones. They look sturdy to me and like they could cope with a lifetime of use! I have also picked House of Fraser as a great place to have your wedding list as they have stores in Cheltenham and Cirencester. So for all the classics, head there for a great all-round wedding list provider.

Echo Mirror, £195, Loaf. www.loaf.com Another hot favourite of mine, Loaf is a relatively new but quickly growing company with a great website and irresistible products. I would be delighted to receive anything they produce as a wedding gift for the home, so have a look – you’ll love it all!

> ‘Time – Lapse Photographs of a Horse Running’ Lampshade from the Bugs & Beasts edit at Surfaceview 700x250mm, £260. www.surfaceview.co.uk.

I love everything about this company so please check out the website! They have a huge library of images that can be turned in to wallpaper, prints, murals, lampshades and much more. They can also use your own image to create these exciting products.

COTSWOLD OPEN STUDIOS

Handmade Stoneware Platter, £65, 53cm long by 21cm wide, by Emeline Watchorn, www.emelinewatchorn.com, 01285 821 159. emeline.watchorn@gmail.com These fabulous platters are beautiful and useful. They were designed to fit down the middle of the table so are perfect for serving all manner of food on from tapas, to fish to bread. A soft grey glazed stoneware, they are tough and dishwasher proof. Another great wedding gift idea.

For three weekends in June, Emeline Watchorn, Sarah Field and Jude Mckenna are taking part in Cotswold Open Studios, an event where artists invite the public into their studios to view their work and working environments. It's a great way to discover artistic talent in and around Cirencester and the work is available to buy.

The dates are 13th/14th June, 20th/21st June and 27th/28th June, times 10am-4pm The address of their studio is: The Barn, Duntisbourne Leer Farm, Duntisbourne Leer, Cirencester, GL7 7AS. Visit www.cotswoldopenstudios.com for more information.

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 41

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BE A PART OF OUR HISTORY

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

42 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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Arts

Opera@theCastle Join Cotswold Style at Sudeley Castle, for a glorious night of operatic music, performed by The Troubadours of Duchy Opera, in aid of LINC adies, coif your hair and attach your cornet; Gentlemen, assemble your doublet and hose and make your stately way to the glorious and golden Tudor ‘Wolf Hall’ of the Cotswolds, Sudeley Castle on Sunday 28th June for Opera@theCastle.

Opera@theCastle is presented by The Troubadours from Duchy Opera, a wellknown and highly respected semi-professional company, based in Cornwall. Opera lovers will delight in an evening highlighting favourite excerpts from Mozart’s Magic Flute and Marriage of Figaro as well as Verdi’s A Masked Ball and other well-known operatic delights.

Opera@theCastle is a cultural collaboration between Winchcombe Business Forum, Winchcombe Radio, Cotswold Style Magazine, Sudeley Castle and The Troubadours of Duchy Opera to raise funds for the Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund (LINC) based at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Mozart’s The Magic Flute, is a profound comedy that celebrates the powers of music, faith, and love whilst his Marriage of Figaro is filled with disguises, secrets and layers of maze-like twists and turns of the plot – with some of the characters knowing their way around the maze better than others! Verdi’s A Masked Ball is an entirely different kettle of fish - a rich theatrical tapestry woven of illicit love, a fortune-teller and a masked ball, vows of vengeance and full of political intrigue.

Since its debut in 1978, Duchy Opera has built an enviable reputation as one of the finest regional semi-professional opera companies in the UK, committed to staging exciting, inventive opera, as well as concerts and galas in village halls, country houses and unusual and inspiring outdoor venues.

Said Paul Drayton, composer, conductor, pianist and musical director of Duchy Opera, “My idea behind The Troubadours was simple - music is good for you! Good for the performers and good for the listeners. Drama too.

Millions of us live on a junk-diet of throwaway music and throwaway drama

L

and we should not be too judgmental about that but why not enrich our spiritual intake with a dose of high-quality music and high-quality drama? In a word – opera.”

Paul continued, “Many regions are still starved of this vital protein but help is at hand. The highly trained crack-force that is The Troubadours stands ready to bring life-giving opera where and when required at any time.”

The Troubadour soloists are a mixture of professional and semi-professional singers from Cornwall and Devon who regularly perform throughout the South West and include Cheryl Brendish, Kay Deeming, Sue Lancaster, John Hobbs, Ben Hoadley, Keith Sparrow and Ken Jaggard.

Opera@theCastle has been organised by the Winchcombe Business Forum to raise awareness and funds for LINC. Claire Thayers, Chair of Winchcombe Business Forum said, “Opera@theCastle is a great way of encouraging people to visit our vibrant and pretty market town and we hope that this exciting evening of music will attract families and opera-lovers alike who will come early to enjoy the delights of Winchcombe before making their way to the castle.” She continued, “We truly hope the legacy for the evening will be that it becomes a regular event in everyone’s diary enabling LINC to continue with their important and inspiring work in the community, something that is very close to the forum’s

heart and that we are passionate about.”

LINC is a local charity supporting leukaemia and other cancer patients from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Worcestershire, and their families. The charity gives financial aid to those in difficulty as a result of their illness, provides equipment and it funds both a clinical psychologist and a PhD leukaemia research student.

Sudeley Castle is a magnificent 15th and 16th century Tudor country house that has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past. Its gardens are world-renowned, providing variety and colour from spring through to autumn as well as the magnificent Baroque ruins where the performance will take place. “Sudeley is delighted to be welcoming opera back to the Castle, and we are even more delighted that it is for such a worthy local cause. It is sure to be a popular event,” said Sian Jocelyn, Visitor Services manager, Sudeley Castle.

This unique and great experience is recommended to anyone who loves music, novices and experienced opera lovers alike! Pack a picnic, grab the fizz and gather friends and family together for a delightful evening of beautiful music, in the Baroque ruins of the magnificent Sudeley Castle and raise money for a worthy cause.

To book tickets at £25 per person for this special inclusive event visit http://operaatthecastle.eventbrite.co.uk

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 43

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CHARACTERISTIC COTSWOLD CHARM

000 Real Wedding Alison Taylor June 15:Layout 1

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Real Wedding

REAL WEDDING

Alison Taylor & Dr Mark Pearce Cheltenham Park Hotel The wedding started at Cheltenham Park Hotel, where 70 friends and family rode by vintage London Bus to Stroud Registry Office, returning to Cheltenham Park Hotel for a big party. Alison and Mark enjoyed a romantic honeymoon in Barcelona.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLOOM TV MELISSA CURTIS

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the heart of your home...

NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN IN CHELTENHAM

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Styling your home Over the following pages we showcase stylish interiors and everything you need to turn your house into a home...

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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.

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

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beautiful bespoke handmade kitchens

benchwoodkitchens bench built for best results

benchwood.co.uk benc hw wood.co.uk

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Interiors

Mad in England Clive Burling gets to the point with Cotswold based artist and designer Nick Grellier Sitting in her traditional Cotswold-stone studio, in the rolling hills of the Slad Valley, a stream quietly running past and a snoring Jack Russell on her lap, artist Nick Grellier of Mad In England, is working on her latest needlepoint design. It’s a one-off design for a charity auction, all sunrays and balloons, celebrating The Cornbury Festival in July. It’s going to be a showstopper, large in scale, full of colour and humour. A Mad in England special!

Nick feels blessed with her environment – her 17th Century mill that she is slowly renovating, is a peaceful oasis and an extremely conducive working environment. Of course this area of the Cotswolds is no stranger to the Arts & Crafts movement, with a well-established tradition in nearby Stroud, more than ever, a hub of creativity, “It’s a very diverting place to live!”

Nick has always been an artist as well as a stitcher. It was while staying with her friend Georgina Holt (and now ‘Mad’ business partner) that they came up with the idea of translating her art into needlepoint cushion kits.

“I’m a painter and collage artist and have always liked my hands to be busy while my head switches off in the evenings. Georgina convinced me that we could start a business making kits of my designs, so in 2011 ‘Mad In England’ was born. The name comes from an old collage of mine.”

The Mad In England designs are notably graphic and modern, the first designs coming directly from her drawings and collages of bulls, deer, wolves and dogs.

There is no doubt that ‘Craft’ is now cool and it’s big business too. Craft Fairs are everywhere, including ‘Handmade Fair’ created

by Kirsty Alsop following the huge success of her eponymous TV show and the Selvedge Fairs in London, Bath and Stroud. Liberty of London now has a whole floor dedicated to sewing and needlepoint. Mad in England are definitely part of this movement.

“We feel our kits are helping to continue the art of needlepoint for a new generation of stitchers as well as giving those more practiced hands a fresh take on this accessible craft.

There are other kits out there but we felt we wanted to create something with a more contemporary, fun and personalised feel.”

“It’s a slow but very therapeutic process, easy to pick up and put down, there’s no mess and the lovely end result is incredibly satisfying.”

“It’s a perfect craft to be passed on and we hope to appeal to a new generation of wouldbe stitchers with our more modern take.”

The Mad kits come in all shapes and sizes.

The most recent addition to the bespoke range, ‘love pillows’, are created using the first wonderful attempts at writing and drawing your children or grandchildren produce. Nick adapts them and turns their precious artwork into a beautiful and lasting keepsake.

“I’m very lucky. I really love what I do! As Creative Director I have to deal with pretty much every aspect of the business but of course, my favourite activity is creating new designs and sewing them. I also enjoy

networking and teaching occasional needlepoint workshops.”

When I asked what’s next for Mad In England, Nick’s enthusiasm spills over. “Its fair to say we are bursting with ideas, new designs, new products. I’m so excited that my two daughters, who are both incredibly creative and currently studying fine art and fashion in London, are already getting involved in growing the Mad in England brand.”

I’m sure that we will be hearing a lot more about ‘Mad in England’, yet another example of an exciting, creative and innovative business blooming in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Prices for Kits start at £19.95 from www.madinengland.com and www.etsy.com www.cornburyfestival.com Contact Clive Burling: Tel : 07788257914 clive.burling@gmail.com

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Interiors

WALL SPACE Interior Designer Kelly James discusses ways your Wall Space can be individual PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHADOWPLAY

Our homes and work places have ‘wall space’ – this space can be left empty, painted an interesting colour, wallpapered or you can hang artwork. Art can come in many different forms - the traditional frames prints, vinyl’s, signs…the list goes on. These can be purely decorative or if in a business it can be a way of promoting your services and company. Art can be something you buy off the shelf, design and make, find or inherited.

In the home you can often find framed family photos, an interesting way of

displaying photos is to group pictures together. This provides a great talking point for friends and family visiting and also reminds you of history and precious moments. Mixing these family photographs with other prints, mirrors and other objects such as hats or frames jewellery can cover a larger wall area and be very individual.

When working with commercial clients wall space may need to provide a practical area for things such as white boards, planners and target charts, however in

meeting rooms, reception and communal areas we can have some fun. I often work with sign writers; design vinyl stickers or select eye catching framed prints. At Shadowplay Design we also provide an artwork package where bespoke art can be made to work with your brand and the interiors design. The wall space is a great way of injecting colour and showing the companies personality.

If you have any questions please contact Kelly on 01242 253700.

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 53

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Bee friendly BBC! Camilla Bassett-Smith is our Cheltenham based media horticulturalist and this June, a peak time for our gardens, Camilla is joining forces with the BBC to bring wildlife to their front door... t's a busy month for me, with many an hour spent on the M5, shared with a mixture of current pop and Gilbert & Sullivan on CD and those conversations we all have with ourselves when we're on our own (until someone pulls up next to you and you then do one of two things - make out that you're talking to a small child in the back and ramp up the conversation and mouth movements just to illustrate that you really are mid-chat or stop short, abrupt like a large rabbit caught in headlights). Anyway

I

54 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

enough, that's way too much car talk, now on to something green and pleasant and my destination of choice over the past few weeks: The BBC Bristol Wildlife Garden.

It's a project that has not only enticed me from the Cotswolds as I co-ordinate the events but has also the gravitas of Gloucestershire designer Paul HerveyBrookes behind it. Hey, we could have shared our car journey - although he's probably had a more peaceful commute without the company of an over theatrical red-head, with a bag of cheese and pine cones (more on that later!).

So what's this all about I hear you shout, or politely and firmly question in a more Cotswold style (see what I did there?? Description and magazine name check all in one!)? It's a partnership project between the BBC and Avon Wildlife Trust to create a public access wildlife garden in the space outside BBC Broadcasting House in Clifton, involving hundreds of school children in its

formation and on-going use. I can't wait to see the area turned into a city centre haven and hope that the young women of Whiteladies Road turn distinctly green as we host our launch event at the end of June.

Hot on the heels of blogging for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival (what a fabulous day out), I turned my attentions to planning a series of activity days for the project, so with diary and coffee in hand and a series of the most impressive charts created by my colleague Jules, I made a start.

Our first dabble with the outdoors came with a Bioblitz (no not some kind of 70s hit by The Sweet) but basically a wildlife survey extraordinaire. Joined by locally based wildlife presenter Mike Dilger, we un-earthed everything from millipedes to pink woodlouse (who knew they came in different colours?). No longer will a white umbrella just keep you dry...tip it up and shake a nearby bush onto it and who knows what you may

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Gardening

find. (Remember to remove said bugs of course before resuming your rain protecting invention to its head covering position or getting wet may be the least of your worries). The 55 children involved were fabulous and left no stone unturned. With Blue Peter filming for a day to be transmitted in early June and Valerie Singleton joining us for a few hours of planting - I feel we are all worthy recipients of a virtual Blue Peter Badge!

Nick Baker was another celebrity wildlife expert to jump on board and we spent a high energy day creating bug hotels to rival Ellenborough Park before turning our attention to birds with TV ornithological expert David Lindo (otherwise known as the Urban Birder).

What fun we had making apple seed hedgehogs - half an apple with sunflower seeds pressed into it; looks like a hedgehog - great for finches and bluetits.

I also found a way to get my love of

cheese into my work by taking pine cones, adding a string and filling them with grated cheddar - I'm sure the lady at the Cheltenham store where I purchased many bags thought I was about to present a giant lasagne to the entire county. (Not that this would happen, I can't even make one for four without burning it!). Hope the little birdies of Bristol don't have bad dreams after consuming copious amounts of my dairy favourite.

The garden is now taking shape, with most of the hard labour completed and plants now taking centre stage ready for the curtain to open at the end of this month, when the bulk of planting will be complete. This will be just the start, as the garden continues to breathe and mature as a living classroom going forward. Fruit trees, herbs, a wildflower meadow and a pond are just a few of the environmentally exciting elements.

From the hundreds of youngsters that

have taken part so far, thankfully they have all seemed pretty happy. South Gloucestershire & Stroud College declaring it "A brilliant day out", in fact two of their students returned in the afternoon to carry on. On the down side, one youngster took an instant dislike to the sweets offered as prizes for the bug quiz. Not one to miss a chance, I offered to eat them for him if he won, sadly he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;Ś This month we welcome Naomi Wilkinson, Tim Warwood and Tom Hart Dyke to name a few, all ready with a trowel and tales of their love of gardening and wildlife. It really is beyond rewarding to be creating a space that will enhance the natural environment around and is inspiring the gardeners of the future. From little acorns mighty oaks grow and from little humans given a trowel and some encouragement, great horticulturalists grow.

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Redefining Classic Kitchens & Bathrooms Whether its traditional or classic, fitted or freestanding, our kitchens and bathrooms are refreshingly different.

Visit our showroom at Moreton in Marsh or register online for a brochure and no obligation home visit.

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk

Prue Cooke-Hurle and Nell Douglas

Miller

Kate Carlton and Don Lemen

Style Event

Helen Smith, Yvette Brentnall and Mayor of Cheltenham Duncan Smith

Sharon Roberts and Susan Blanchfield

Grand Opening of Carluccio’s The Chairman of Carluccio’s, Simon Kossoff, hosted a launch party at their new rest aurant which opened at the Regent’s Arcade, Cheltenham. Guests were treated to delicious canapés and food and plenty of Italia n fizz and cocktails. The restaurant is open from breakfast through to dinner, 7 days-a-w eek and also offers a Deli and picnic bask et service for the summer.

Photography by Angus Bethune

Ed Duberley and Steve Wilson

KB and Nick Brentnall

David & Paula Baldwin and Harriet Hami lton-Orr

Florence Stevenson and Simon Kosso ff

Yvette Brentnall in party spirit Lynne Wilson, Shaun Uthup, Jo Duberley and Bev Uthup

Ian and Claire Teague

Claire Forrest and Kate Morgan

Karen Phelps, Mike Merron and Heather Weyma n

Mira Munraknah and Laura Hepple Martinkova Michelle Bodart, Paul Edgworth, Kaya

and Rick Barnes

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 59

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hand-made

AWARD WINNING TIMBER WINDOWS & DOORS

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imber Windows of Cirencester invite you to visit our showroom to experience first-hand our range of beautiful timber doors, sash windows and casement windows.

Whether your home is a country cottage, a Victorian semi, a modern townhouse or a converted barn, we have a range of traditional and contemporary timber windows and doors that will complement it perfectly. Our products do not stick, warp or twist, require very little maintenance, offer modern standards of security and significant energy savings.

Our showroom provides the perfect environment to see the beautiful products on display, and talk to us about your home. Do come and visit us!

For further information please telephone: Stonehouse Corinium, 17 Global Business Park, Off Wilkinson Road, Love Lane Ind. Estate Cirencester GL7 1YZ

TEL: 01285 653 999 www.timberwindows.com

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Cleeve Hill

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Glebelands 62 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

Tivoli Villas

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The Old Dairy

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MALAWI THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA alawi is one of Africa’s smallest but most stunning and welcoming countries. It is merely a sliver of land and lake wedged between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. However, when it comes to exploration and adventure it has a tremendous amount to offer, making it one of Africa’s most diverse countries.

This slice of Africa has been sculpted by the Great Rift Valley with lush, fertile grasslands, exquisite forests, towering mountaintops, picturesque, unspoilt wildlife parks and the magnificent Lake Malawi at its helm. Consequently this beautiful country boasts an exceptionally wide diversity of wildlife as well as adventurous and cultural attractions.

Malawi’s parks have a particularly exclusive feel to them, particularly Majete Wildlife Reserve which boasts an ‘undiscovered’ feel and makes for a very unique safari in search of the Big 5!

Blantyre offers stunning mountains adorned by tea and tobacco plantations.

Liwonde National Park is arguably the country’s finest and most important wildlife reserve with a wide range of habitat from open savannah to richly vegetated marshes and lagoons. A boat safari here on the Shire River enables you to get close to the wildlife and offers some of the most spectacular birdwatching in southern Africa. Nyika Plateau is a wild and remote high altitude area of rolling grassland and mountain forest and is the only big game Afro-montane area in the region. It is a spectacularly scenic wilderness looking out as far as the plains of Zambia and even as far as the distant mountains of Tanzania.

For me, Malawi’s greatest riches are its people. I absolutely loved witnessing the colour and vibrancy of Malawian life as I travelled throughout the country.

Roadsides are ablaze with flame trees, frangipani and bougainvillea and busy with people bicycling balancing bundles of wood, driving ox and cart and selling piles

M

66 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

Self-professed adventuress Lucy Garbutt is intoxicated with memories of a country full of charm and some of the world’s friendliest people

Lake Malawi is spectacular and its diverse aquatic life and crystal-clear water make it an adventure playground extraordinaire Fisherman at Sunset

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Travel

Nyika Plateau is a spectacularly scenic wilderness looking out as far as the plains of Zambia Pied Kingfisher

Bohm’s Bee-Eater on branch

“A boat safari here on the Shire River enables you to get close to the wildlife and offers some of the most spectacular birdwatching in southern Africa.”

of luscious fruit and vegetables. Villages are quaint and archetypically traditional Africa with ochre roads, traditional thatched roofs, women walking whilst balancing bundles on their heads, men returning from the fields armed with rustic tools, children playing with homemade toys and animals foraging free-range. Cars are a rarity and therefore attract much attention with children tumbling out from everywhere clambering to have a photo taken and hold your hand! The thrill they receive from seeing a picture of themselves on the camera is enchanting.

Everyone is so friendly, beaming with big white smiles.

Lake Malawi is spectacular and its diverse aquatic life and crystal-clear water make it an adventure playground

extraordinaire with every conceivable type of water sport on offer from snorkelling and scuba-diving to kayaking, sailing, swimming and fishing. Tiny, lazy communities on the shores of the lake bustle with action as fishermen go about their daily lives, mending nets, building boats, selling their daily catch and fishing in dugout canoes. Everywhere you hear children’s laughter as they frolic in the water on perfect, white sand beaches and mothers sing as they go about their daily chores. One evening we ate a scrumptious supper on the shores of the lake with grilled chambo fish and delicious local potatoes besides a crackling fire while being serenaded by ‘Jesus’ and his laments of childhood, God and love. He became my husband’s pen-pal and they

wrote for quite some time!

Malawi is the ‘warm heart of Africa’ and definitely one of Africa’s best kept secrets.

If you would like to go to Malawi a journey can be tailor-made for you by World Odyssey – for more information on anything to do with Africa or anywhere else on the planet, please visit www.worldodyssey.com – follow us @World_Odyssey, become a fan on Facebook and/or call one of our travel specialists for advice on: 01905 731373.

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 67

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Promenade P romenade Productions Product tions Proudly Proudly Present Present An amateur prod production uction b byy arrangement arrangement ment with SAMUEL FRE FRENCH NCH LLTD. TD.

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68 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

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Coffee Break

ASTAWAY Lizzie Graham is the founder of Longborough Festival Opera, a headline event in the Cotswold opera calendar. Lizzie started Longborough Festival, together with her husband Martin, in 1992. Each summer the festival takes over their country home and welcomes a variety of the finest national performers and internationally recognised music critics.

Year-on-year an enviable cream of society, flock to soak up the acoustics in Longborough’s stunning setting. Cotswold Style columnist Ellie Mainwaring caught up with Lizzie ahead of the much-anticipated Opera season Where in the world would you choose to be castaway to and why?

Anywhere on the west coast of Ireland – the most beautiful place in the world. It’s something of a hidden secret, as luckily lots of people don’t realise its beauty as it rains so much but that means it will never be overcrowded. It’s my favourite place and is full of very fond memories for me. I originally visited on many family holidays in my early childhood and have since returned with my own 3 children and in the last 4 years, with grandchildren.

The delicious scent of freshly laundered sheets, straight from my garden washing line. It is completely clean and smells of the outdoors, where we don’t spend enough time in our daily lives. There really is nothing quite like sinking into the fresh linen and for me, it epitomises the smell of home. It is a sign that something is going right in your day!.

Lizzie and her husband Martin

Name one possession you would take and one to leave behind for a loved one.

I would take a large bookcase with as many books as I can cram in. They’d be a mix of old favourites like Jane Eyre and ones I’ve always meant to read. This would keep me occupied and the characters would keep me company.

I would leave behind my paintings to be shared amongst my family.

I’d take our dearly loved Collie Labrador cross, Lupy, who sadly died in 2011. As a pet, she lived to be nearly 17 and was a fantastic companion and great walker.

A digital radio, so that I could still be in touch with the outside world even if extremely remote. When at home and in the car I listen to everything, especially Radio 3, 4, 6 and World Service, switching between stations. It would almost feel like a friend while castaway.

I don’t like feeling alone so all my choices are things to trick me into thinking I’m not.

You can take the entire works of one musician to your desert island - who would it be?

What would be your last supper before departing for your desert island?

What would be your luxury item?

What fragrance would you take?

What pet would you take?

Opera is my passion and something that takes over my world each summer. This said I would probably not take it to listen to as a castaway. I think I might prefer something classical, by a composer who wrote a mix of orchestral, choral, chamber and voice. Perhaps the works of Bach or Schubert.

Soba Noodles or ‘Zaru Soba’, a dish that always reminds me of living in Toyko. I was incredibly lucky to spend three wonderful years there in my twenties; the culture is completely fascinating and absorbing. www.lfo.org.uk

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Culture

Cotswolds Culture Columnist Susan Blanchfield confronts the misgivings of the world of opera Longborough House

OPERA HOUSE...

What do football and opera have in common?

As it turns out – more than you might think.

Opera saved football from decline in 1990 when it was a game loathed by politicians, spurned by the middle classes and watched seemingly only by yob types. Three weeks later, attitudes had completely reversed and it was the aria from Turandot, ‘Nessun Dorma’ sung by the indomitable Pavarotti who helped effect that change; his incredible tenor arc concluding “vincero, vincero” “I will win, I win, I win”.

The inspired music choice enhanced the football action, the nobility of the tune matching perfectly with the sport. As Gazza's tears fell to the backdrop of Pavarotti’s soaring voice, people scrambled, snuffling, for the tissues. Suddenly, the drama inherent in football was sharply obvious to the record millions who tuned in and the song sound-tracked a sporting revival and catapulted Pavarotti and opera into popular consciousness.

Drama is the thing that opera does best and it has been making a rather brilliant job of it for the last 400 years or so. The first opera was performed in Florence around 1600 and the combination of dramatic narrative, stagecraft and music, quickly made it the go to choice for the public. As opera evolved, so did the demand for voices that could achieve the impossibly high notes. This resulted in the widespread practice of castrating young boys to preserve their unbroken voice and achieve the combination of high pitch and power.

Successful ‘Castrati’ enjoyed adulation and great wealth; they were today’s pop idols although clearly their commitment to their art extended further than applying a dollop of hair gel and churning out a few rudimentary dance step combos. To the great relief of many, castration was outlawed in the mid-19th century allowing women to step in for the Soprano leads.

Despite being the world’s first multimedia, opera remains a cultural conundrum and the process of putting it on an ivory pedestal has led to a less than accessible reputation. If the word “opera” calls to mind an image of a warbling portly person and sends you scurrying

in the opposite direction, you're missing out; you probably already know more about it than you think. People who say they don’t like opera it turns out, probably haven’t tried it. Or maybe they tried it and didn’t like it the first time. Such avoidance is all the more surprising when you consider that opera populates our everyday life through soundtracking TV, films, sports anthems, and adverts; the music is often used as a shortcut to create a heightened emotional tension at dramatic moments. More often than not it is the music rather than the advert or film segment that is memorable. It is, after all, no coincidence (opera aficionados look away now), that ‘Just One Cornetto’ – aka ‘O Sole Mio’ has been voted the catchiest jingle of all time with 67 percent of adults able to recall and hum along to the tune. The increasing use of opera music as a backdrop for seminal moments in online games, as well as children’s educational games has also created another avenue for opera discovery - rather quashing the sniffy notion that ‘certain’ demographics might not have a clue about it.

And that’s the thing, you don’t need to have a robust knowledge of the form or much more than a scant experience of the work to enjoy it - you just need to get there. The Italians who cheerfully turn up ‘con famiglia’ with a picnic and a clutch of cushions for the 5 euro seats have the right idea; they recognise that opera’s age-old tradition of telling stories about largerthan-life characters dealing with the extreme fates are just as relevant today. When the hit TV series ‘Breaking Bad’ is turned into an opera and is reported on by Perez Hilton the Hollywood gossip columnist, you know that the opera world has it all going on.

Meanwhile, in an effort to increase popular appeal, the innovative Royal Opera House (www.roh.org.uk) will broadcast live shows on screens in Covent Garden as well as 17 other locations across the country throughout the

summer. Closer to home, consider visiting the Longborough Festival Opera. At first glance this looks like your typical opera extravaganza but the owners and organisers of this eclectic and clever affair, Martin and Lizzie Graham, have succeeded in turning a large chicken shed in Gloucestershire into a comfortable theatre, complete with second hand ROH red-velvet seats. Despite its formidable reputation, Longborough retains a wonderful easy festival feel. It actively promotes talented, emerging artists at the beginning of their careers, and although it has an air of grandiosity, its practice of mixing up die hard fans with opera beginners makes it a cool, rather fun venue – where you might take a delicious picnic, quaff wine and have a jolly good time with your friends without feeling terrible if you can’t follow it all. For a list of performances visit www.lfo.org.uk As with all the good things in life, the more you immerse yourself in opera the more rewarding it is; whether you prefer the ceremony of say the ROH, a relaxed screening in a park under summer stars, or even humming gently along to an aria whilst you steal your third car during your game of Grand Theft Auto - opera is quietly taking its rightful place at the forefront of popular culture.

And remember, none of it would have happened without that summer of football.

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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Cotswoldia

Cotswoldia Angela Chancellor’s, ‘Gold Diggers’ guide to The Season If you want to bag yourself a sugar-daddy and your ticket to the fast lane, the season is short here in the land of strawberries and cream, so get your Choos on and get set, GO! Once upon a time … being presented at court, going to balls and dinner dances, Royal Ascot and Goodwood, all whilst wearing gorgeous gowns and dancing till dawn was very exciting and all marvellous fun but let us not forget that the season was devised to provide aristocratic young ladies with the opportunities to ally themselves to suitable young men. Generally, there would be a considerable shortage of such 'suitables' populating the dull lives in the draughty houses on the remote estates they were shipped in from, for their first taste of the glitz and glamour of the nonstop party carousel in and around the nations capital.

The idea of a girl being presented to royalty to mark their 'coming out' into society was inaugurated in 1780, when George III gave a ball to celebrate the birthday of his wife, Queen Charlotte and to raise funds for the London hospital to be founded in her name.

Prior to the dawn of Facebook and Tinder for the less subtle, you could only get an invite if you were presented by a 'sponsor' who herself had also been presented by a 'sponsor'. Nowadays a membership with concierge service 'Quintessentially', will probably do the trick but essentially the rule was, you were only 'in' if you were born 'in' and that was that.

As with all good things, they don't last long because the rest of us chavs and ordinary civilians want a part of the action.

Generations of reckless extravagance will be a strain on the purse strings of even the most blessed aristocratic family and a steady accumulation of wealth by the mercantile class has steadily stretched the rigid guidelines once held so dear. By the 20th century, society matrons still in possession of a good name but low on funds to match, supplemented their income by sponsoring the daughters of anyone who was willing to pay. Court

presentation had become so common by the 1950's that, the late Princess Margaret, high priestess of everything glam and exclusive in British society, remarked, “We had to out a stop to it. Every tart in London was getting in”.

The British summer is short and the modern season has expanded into every conceivable niche imaginable. So unless you are really completely unfussy about where the pursuit of your love interest may take you, it makes sense to start with a bit of prioritising. Is it a rather more classic lifestyle you are after and like your adventures to be a bit more predictable?

Dreaming of a life in the Cotswolds?

Probably best to stick with anything to do with horses.

Can't quite make sense of the dress code at Ascot or don't know how get a ticket for the right bit? Fear not, Cheltenham is more accessible but also the goings on are generally 'racier', especially if you are still standing after that second bottle of Champagne. Even the steadiest of relationships can take a tumble at those hedges and many a dalliance has started behind one. In addition, your competition, the Anastasias and Svetlanas are still busy picking off the best crops in London and have not yet made it here.

Providing the country life is for you, rich pickings can be found here.

If tottering around in heels all day and walking around dressed like the human equivalent of a fruit stall with all your wares on display, is not quite your thing you might be surprised how well you can do at the sartorially more low key equestrian event. Even the grandest grandees like to have a day without their tiaras and pretend to be Jenny from the block on the odd occasion. When our Queen has her annual horse show in her back garden at Windsor, you will see royals literally falling over themselves to look casual and en famille. But don't be fooled by their relaxed appearance, being one of the

inner sanctum here is worth your weight in gold and trumps an invite from Barak Obama to talk about Gulf politics any day of the week. At the end of the day there will always be another POTUS but there is only one Queen Elisabeth and she has been one of the world's movers and shakers for 62 years.

And besides, proper royals love horses.

Whoever is in charge of diaries at the white house on the hill should remember this next time.

On the subject of royals, I can now sneak in a couple of lines about Polo. Who wouldn't want to spend a day sipping fizz, wafting around in a pretty dress or wafting around looking at pretty girls in pretty dresses. Here you have the best of many worlds. Horses to cater for traditional tastes, fashion for the more frivolous, after-parties galore for those who like to mix horses with a bit of clubbing and lets not forget the players. I may not know much about the rules of the game but what does that matter when there are handsome athletic young men charging around on horses in white trousers and tight shirts. Even better if they are royal to boot but I would settle for either of the Hanbury brothers, or both, is that being too greedy? Jilly Cooper did very well for herself writing many successful books on this very subject, so I know I am not alone here and any disapproval will be ignored.

And besides, where there is Polo, there is money (it takes a lot of dosh to run a team) and where there are polo players there are pretty girls and where there are pretty girls, there are wealthy men looking for a bit of arm candy and there are only 4 players in each team so there will always be plenty of girls to go round. Prince William may be off the market but Harry is still up for grabs. So to all you gold diggers out there, get your frocks in order and dust of your wedges, because the chukka to bag the ultimate gold diggers prize is on....

Happy hunting!

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Protects, smoothes, illuminates.

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Complimentary hair and scalp consultations available.

If you would like more information on how to protect your hair this summer, please call:

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Hair

PROTECT, REPAIR, ILLUMINATE During the summer our hair is exposed more than usual to UV light, salt and chlorinated water. A carefully prescribed hair care regime can provide sublime hair protection under the sun.

Follow Laura's easy three step care plan to protect your hair this summer...

Step 1: Protect Kerastase CC Crème (£20.50) is a must have sunscreen for your hair.

A leave-in Complete Correction cream with UV filters, ceramides and Linseed Oil suitable for all hair types, this provides complete care for sun exposed hair to provide ultimate protection and radiance. Before or after sun exposure, apply a pea-sized amount in the hands and massage into lengths and ends of towel-dried hair.

• Hair looks instantly nourished, illuminated and smoothed • Hair feels protected under the sun • Hair feels detangled and soft to the touch Kerastase Aqua-Seal (£20.50) is a must have product if you are a keen swimmer.

Laura Leigh recommends the best summer suitcase essentials for you to take away

A shine-enhancing spray with UV filters for sensitised hair to protect against the sun, salt and chlorinated water: Apply to dry or towel-dried hair. Spray from root to tip and leave in. Re-apply after swimming.

• Hair feels manageable and protected against sun damage • Anti-frizz effect for beautified hairstyle • Natural touch • UV filters and Provitamin B5

Step 3: Treat Masque UV Defense Active (£26.50) This is an amazing anti-damage conditioning masque with UV filters for colour-treated, sun exposed hair. Apply to washed and toweldried hair. Massage through to the lengths and ends. Leave in for 5-10 minutes. Emulsify and rinse thoroughly.

• Hair feels intensely nourished • Hair feels protected • Hair feels more resistant

Step 2: Bathe Bain Après-Soleil (£16.50) Use this daily nourishing shampoo after sun exposure, apply to wet hair, emulsify, massage and rinse.

A shampoo specifically designed for sun-exposed hair with UV filters to protect, repair and beautify.

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If you would like more information on any of our products and services please call the reception team to book a complimentary consultation Tel: 01242 530598 .

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COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 75

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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.

This June, we have started getting you prepared for the summer months ahead To really ensure one is in tip-top condition and able to fully relax before going on holiday or preparing oneself before the onslaught of children breaking up for the long summer break, we highly recommend a treatment called WakeyReiki.

WakeyReiki is a natural form of Japanese healing and stress therapy using a light touch therapy. Sessions are fully clothed and concentrate on relaxing the entire body, treating both mental and physical ailments. Apart from general health and pain relief, Reiki seriously boosts and strengthens the immune system by cleansing internal organs and is highly effective in combatting ailments such as asthma, menopause, chronic fatigue, sleep deprivation, sciatica and arthritis to name a few.

Based in the Cotswolds, Nina Jenkins is a fully qualified Reiki Master who has practiced and taught Reiki for the past 5 years. Nina has worked from many local spas including Chapel Spa, The Long Weekend and Cowley Manor and can now treat people from her home or visit them at theirs if they prefer. She has treated a vast array of people from pregnant women, babies and children or those going through IVF, to stressed-out men and women. She also works with dogs, cats, horses, people with broken limbs and sports injuries and more serious conditions; visiting clients in hospital, those with cancer or have suffered post-surgery or post-miscarriage problems.

As part of her Advanced Reiki Training courses, Nina teaches WakeyReiki 1st Degree where clients learn the art of Reiki to enable them to heal themselves, 76 JUNE 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE

their friends and family and The WakeyReiki 2nd Degree, which allow a student to become a practitioner, so a new career path can be learnt.

For my treatment, I have been finding it very difficult to get to sleep and on finally doing so, have had poor nights due to suffering with heavy night sweats. This I feel is down to an over-stressed mind; constantly worrying about the home, children, work and just getting it all done.

Nina spent an hour gently working on my chakras by using a light pressure at various points over my body. Though one could be sceptical about the effectiveness of such a gentle treatment, I had my best night’s sleep in months that evening – she just needed to cleanse me out from the inside!

So even if it’s just a much needed energy boost to revive ones mind and body, WakeyReiki is the first step in your healing process.

Nina Jenkins: Tel: 01242 700401 or 07903500837 Email: nina@wakeyreiki.co.uk www.facebook.com/WakeyReiki/ www.wakeyreikiriseandshine. wordpress.com/wakeyreikitestimonials/ Whilst at home contemplating the summer ahead, nothing will get you more in the mood than lighting a beautiful scented candle.

Champneys Mediterranean Bliss fragranced candle is made with bergamot, mandarin and neroil, which will drift through your home, transporting you to the Spanish hills or cool blue seas in an instant. Available from Boots £12.00.

Many of us are guilty of not including enough protein into our diet, which we

know is the most effective way to help with weight and fatloss. Though there’s an abundance of choice of protein powdered shakes on the market, we feel Forza Lipowhey Protein is a cut above the rest as it is a fat-free blend of plant sterols to actively lower cholesterol. This product is as ideal for occasional gymgoers as it is for the professional athlete and therefore if you’re starting your ‘beach body’ campaign, this would be a great product to include immediately.

You should have two shakes a day for the first 21 days, before reducing the intake to one shake a day. Just mix the powder with water and hey presto, a guaranteed way of topping up your protein intake whilst shedding a few unwanted pounds.

Available online and from Boots and Amazon £39.99 Before going away, we need to think of hair and body essentials which will make our life easier – there’s no point a holiday being ruined stressing about frizzy hair and sunburnt, dried-up, flaky skin so Cotswold Style recommends the following: ReVeal at Vallenders Salon is a wonder treatment that lasts for months to take the frizz out of your hair, leaving it with a long lasting smoothness. The beauty of the treatment is that it can be done at the same time as your colour enabling you to have a 2-in-1 procedure to save time. We tried Re Charge, which is for coloured and chemically treated hair and it works instantly. This was put-to-test during a

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Health A must have body prep before hitting the sun is Milkshake sun&more Absolute Bronze, a deep tan intensifier gel, that increases tanning even with low sun levels (it contains UV filters). It helps give a faster, intense and long-lasting tan, whilst leaving skin seriously moisturised and soft and silky with a sheen due to the rice and almond oils. The oily carrot extract, recent holiday in Greece and after days spent between the pool and beach, the results were highly impressive. After washing ones hair, no straightening irons or heavy-duty products were needed and it was absolutely frizz-free, despite the evening humidity.

Your hair can be styled as you would normally whether this is wavy or straight – the difference is you wake up every morning with perfect locks.

ReVeal at Vallenders Hair Salon £110 Tel: 01242 261802 www.vallenders.com To cleanse these now perfect locks or if you’re just looking for some lovely new hair products you must try the Tabitha James Kraan organic hair care range, from the salon based in Stow-onthe-Wold. The result is the purest, cleanest, most organic hair products possible that work in harmony with the hair and the scalp. Hair that is treated to the Tabitha James Kraan formula has natural shine and lustre, vibrant colour, smells amazing, blow dries effectively, and stays looking good for days. We used the Golden Citrus Organic Hair Cleanser, followed by the 4 in 1 Golden Citrus Organic Conditioner and then finished with a drop of opulence, the gloriously Scented Organic Hair Oil which can also be used preshampooing as a treatment.

The company also offers a dry shampoo for a choice of hair shades and all products are beautifully packaged and available online. www.tabithajameskraan.com From £22.50

vitamin B1 and vitamin C improve the appearance of dry, flaky skin and the vitamin E’s antioxidant action helps prevent aging. Use in the days before sun exposure to prepare the skin and after sun exposure for a long-lasting tan. The company also stocks a nice range of mini hair products, ideal for travelling. www.milkshakehaircare.co.uk £19.29 Sun exposure has a tendency to particularly dry-out ones legs, which can make the pins look prematurely old and frankly, unappealing. This Works Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil (which you can actually apply anywhere), is a great product in leak proof packaging and designed to tackle dry, rough, unnourished legs. A highly concentrated 100% natural blend of 9 exotic and 7 cold pressed plant oils including anti-ageing Rose Oil, Tuberose, Sandalwood and Evening Primrose, it really does work and we found this as beneficial for bare legs in the British weather as it is in hot sun. www.thisworks.com £39.50 From children, to those with particularly sensitive or mature skin, our tester raved about a delightful product called Chuckling Goat Soothe-Itch Toolkit.

This is a joyous, healing ecosystem in a box, which is lovely for soothing ones itching, especially exacerbated by the sun.

Here you will find a box of soothe-itch bath melts, a soothe-itch cleansing bar

and some soothing magic skin lotion. All these products are handmade on a goat farm in Wales, from the finest natural ingredients and free from any perfumes, dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates or parabens. The cleansers and lotions contain the farm’s own raw goats milk and award-winning live culture kefir.

These products are designed to be used together in a natural healing regime and can be used on the body, hands and face. www.chucklinggoat.co.uk £19.95 Once you get into the sun, stay safe this summer with P20 – the original once a day sun protection brand. Whatever the day holds, P20 makes it easy for all skin types to stay protected.

Active 15 minutes after application, P20 contains both UVA and UVB filters, providing broad-spectrum sun protection for up to 10 hours and uses a unique, alcohol-based formula that sets it apart from traditional cream-type sun products. (Some of you may find this product does make your skin feel dry by the end of the day but the moisturising products above, soon sort that problem out!)

The very water resistant formula is transparent, non-greasy, fragrance and paraben free, to provide the ultimate coverage, in and out of the water.

The original P20 SPF20 sun protection is available in a transparent lotion whilst SPFs 15, 30 and 50+ have been formulated with a lighter weight consistency and a spray format for ease of application.

Available from Boots and stores nationwide from £11.19.

Next month, Cotswold Style will be reviewing the ideal facial products for summer sun as well as some excellent, handy, beauty gadgets.

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Available from Cheltenham, Worcester, Bristol, Bath

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Fashion

Grace&Glamour SHIFTING YOUR STYLE For June, enter The Style Shifter. No, not the usual fashion hybrid or sartorial star we’re all used to watch transform between seasons.

The Style Shifter is so much more - she’s fierce, she’s iconic, she’s June t may be more known for the start of summer but there’s no month like June for pioneering spring fashion. Milder days make for bare shoulders and the longer evenings make a forgotten jacket all the more fun. Spring style really does come into itself with June.

This month sees fashion differently, it’s pretty much the first full month that we can truly sport spring styles. The uncertainty of the dreaded two-sides-ofspring weather is long gone and summer fun is just around the corner. It’s in the air and certainly in sartorial choices.

June brings us maxi dresses and holidays, garden parties and weddings all of which we can finally dress for with conviction. Dressing for practicality takes a bit of a back seat while suitability takes over for a change - and that’s what June is all about. Think of her as your spring style guardian angel.

Think about it, when was the last time you got dressed purely because you wanted to? We don our crisp whites and tailored classic Monday to Friday because it’s expected. Saturdays tend to be a lot less formal and will always revolve around what we’re doing and Sundays - well, a Sunday wouldn’t really be a Sunday without that glorious contrast of your finest followed by

I

sweats and their accompanying sofasnoozing attire.

This month we’ll find ourselves sporting the maxi length like no other and there’s pretty much a maxi for every occasion. Jeans are kind of a thing of the past (well, almost and only for a few months anyway) and it’s perfectly acceptable to bare your pedi morning, noon and night. But what do our style choices really say about us? June knows and she’s basking.

June knows that everything we choose, style and show-off for her month, is usually occasion lead and she loves that. The summer season with events galore, not to mention the start of the holiday season, we’ve all got something to style for this month. And for once, it feels good to wear a maxi with conviction.

There may be this unwritten rule that follows all of your spring summer occasions but do we all really dress that way because we’re expected to or because we just want to feel the part?

For me, it’s always feeling the part and June agrees too. This month,

what are the chances of you dressing for the occasion because it makes you feel good? Pretty high, I’ll guess.

Yes that floral dress might fit in well at the party but we both know you chose it because you feel your very best - the shoes too. You’re wearing the kaftan overseas because as soon as it’s on, you feel the beach is your Victoria’s Secret catwalk and that’s okay. That is what spring dressing should be about.

In winter we cover and in summer we expose, both to feel the part and that’s what June celebrates this month.

It’s the start of that spring summer celebration of dressing because it’s fun, not because you have to. So, when you next riffle through your most loved items for something to throw on, remember to feel the part. You might be surprised by what you’ll come up with and how June got you there.

Grace

@graceoliviap www.dorothyandolive.com

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Our clients love Ombré KIM CYPHER SAXOPHONIST

CALL 01242 261802 EMAIL enquiries@vallendersalon.com 13 Suffolk parade, Cheltenham, GL50 2AB TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEW WEBSITE AND BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE

vallendersalon.com

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Beauty

Here comes the Bride Amy Hickey’s guide for perfect make up on your wedding day You’ve got the dress, booked the venue and sorted the cake. It’s now time to get your make up prepared for your special day. With the correct products, good advice and simple steps, you’ll be confident, rain or shine that you’ll be radiating glamour and that all important wow factor.

MY TIPS...

Go Pro – Hiring a makeup artist on the day can take the weight off your mind and really help you relax the morning of your wedding.

Bridal make up is different and more specialised. You need to take into account that not only do you want it to last the whole day, through your vows, photographs and dancing around the dance floor your make up has to survive many emotions including a few happy tears, warm flushes along with the many kisses on your perfectly blushed cheeks.

Whether you have your make up done professionally or are doing it yourself, trial the makeup. When trialling or practicing make sure you wear white or the colour of your dress as it can make a big difference to the colours and tones of your make up.

Find some pictures of makeup you like or would like to try at your trial. Make sure you take into account that if you have the skin colour and tone of Nicole Kidman then the makeup of Beyoncé may not translate onto you. Also don’t let a makeup artist hijack your look; personally I think a bride should still look and feel like themselves but just an enhanced more perfect self.

Emphasise your eyes, brighten them by using a brightening eye base. You may have lack of sleep running up to the day but nobody needs to know. I suggest By Terry’s Hyaluronic Base. This magic product can be applied on the lid and under the eye to help conceal along with plump any fine lines.

Another must have product is Bobbi Browns Colour Corrector.

Professionally shaped brows give immediate lift to the face. Eyebrows that are enhanced open up the eye area; giving more

definition and makes your eyes look brighter.

If you haven’t had your eyebrows shaped before you need to test-drive this first.

Use individual lashes; these are far more natural than strip lashes. You can get the semi permanent ones from a salon a few days before or get your makeup artist to apply the temporary 24 hour ones along with the makeup on the day. If you prefer to go natural, eyelash curlers are a fantastic way to make your eyes look bigger and lashes longer. My favourite lash curlers are Kevyn Aucoin and Shu Uemura.

Mascara - It’s my number 1 asked question, what’s your favourite mascara? Answer? It depends on the lashes and the look you want to achieve. With bridal make up I suggest waterproof. Most waterproofs seem to me thicker and heavier so I like to use a mascara that will enhance, yet separate the lashes making them look more fluffy than clumpy. I finish by putting a coat of waterproof clear mascara over the top. Try Bare Minerals locked and coated £12.

No need to cake on the make up, its a myth you need to wear a lot more. A more matte look on the T-zone is more beneficial and using a base that hasn’t got flash back will help your make up looking flawless and less reflective. This can be achieved by using a finishing powder. My favourites are By Terry and Laura Mercier.

Lips - Don’t be frightened to go for something a little more colourful as your lips may need a bit more depth when wearing a long white dress. Pale lips can sometimes get lost in the look. I love Lancôme’s lipsticks and particularly the new Frog Prince lipstick by Lipstick Queen teamed with a natural lipliner.

Overview on application - Moisturise the skin, apply primer, buff the foundation into your skin covering all areas including the all important jaw line, apply concealer, this covers where the foundation hasn’t. Add a primer base to the eyes followed by eyeshadows and your chosen liner, add lashes or curl ready for mascara application.

Add bronzer if needed then pop some blusher on and finish with a light sprinkle of finishing powder. Stay away from glitter but sheen is always a great way to add a touch of radiance. Popping a highlighter on the cheekbones or brow bone and really finishes off the perfect bridal look.

Plenty of time is needed. Leave at least 45 minutes for you to complete your make up. I would say an hour so you can completely relax and if you need to correct anywhere you will have time to do so.

Smile, be happy and enjoy the day!

I’m loving this Mineral based bronzer. The innovative formula is a world first self tan bronzer with DHA. With oil free micronised crystals for sheer coverage, it adds a natural glow and smoothes the skin surface for a gorgeous natural finish. Teamed with Vita Liberata Kabuki brush this is a must for summer make. Lets glow girls … and boys!

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

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Fashion

with Yvette Brentnall

POLO PERFECT Cotswold Styleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Editor Yvette Brentnall takes us to Fields of Dreams at Asthall Farm Polo Club, near Lechlade ASSISTANT FASHION STYLIST: TRACY DOUGHTY PHOTOGRAPHY: STEFANIE CALLEJA-GERA WWW.SCG-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: DAVEY TERRIFIC h! The delights of a warm sunny day in the Cotswolds surrounded by polo ponies, polo players and pretty people but alas, no Jilly Cooper.

We found ourselves at Asthall Farm Polo Club, a beautifully located working farm set within 500 acres in the pretty village of Kencot near Lechlade, run by Nigel and Lynda Walker. Having played most of her polo in Malaysia where the polo is fast and furious but extremely friendly, Lynda wanted to create a friendly, competitive club where established players can enjoy their polo at a good level, but newcomers could enjoy the game at a realistic cost. The facilities include a full size polo field, horse walker and an all weather school and stabling in a truly magical setting.

Models, photographers and stylists were all loaded >

A

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into Land Rovers to be taken to the polo field where we found Hazel and Haden, sticks in hand, bashing it out on the field; both experienced polo players.

Hazel Jackson one of our leading, British champion players, had driven up from Surrey for a special guest appearance with the delightful Haden Trueman-Greinke another professional polo player.

There were romantic interludes in the air with Henry and Miss Daisy, two of our models for the day, though Daisy, the ever-townie girl, got hilariously fractious with all the flies and creatures of the country and hay fever threatening to ruin makeup, so ever the gentleman, Henry carried her from field-to-field. My romantic interlude seemed to involve shovelling horse manure most of the day. Where is your assistant when you need her?

Our fashion photographer Stef, once again, along with Davey worked tirelessly pushing boundaries for that ultimate shot. Davey bare to the waist, made some fetching eye candy and we were all in agreement there is something extremely sexy about polo players, male and female. In fact at one stage we all wanted to mount the ponies and have a go. How I would have liked to see my fabulous assistant Tracy in the saddle!

My sincere thanks to Nicci Pestridge from Vallenders Salon in Cheltenham for the stunning hair creations and to The Bell Inn at Langford, a fabulous local pub, for providing some fantastic food and refreshments.

The ladies clothes were sourced from Boutique 3, Bodega and House of Fraser and the menswear also came from House of Fraser. >

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CREDITS FASHION EDITOR Yvette Brentnall yvetteb@mif-filters.com 07818 405414 ASSISTANT STYLIST Tracy Doughty tracy.doughty@hotmail.co.uk 07817 760251 PHOTOGRAPHY Stefanie Calleja-Gera www.scg-photography.com PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT Davey Terrific MODELS Henry Dougherty, Daisy Ganderton, Luca Cappuccini and Ella Newport POLO PLAYERS Hazel Jackson and Haden Trueman-Greinkie HAIR Nicci Prestridge at Vallenders Salon Tel: 01242 261802 www.vallenders.com CLOTHING Boutique 3 in Cheltenham & Cirencester www.boutique3.co.uk Bodega, 34 Suffolk Parade, Cheltenham 01242 300899 House of Fraser of Cheltenham & Cirencester www.houseoffraser.co.uk SHOT ON LOCATION AT Asthall Farm Polo Club Kencot, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3QT Lynda Walker: 07740 200 507 Nigel Walker: 07702 200 979 E: asthallfarmpolo@btinternet.com www.asthallfarm.co.uk REFRESHMENTS The Bell Inn at Langford www.thebellinnlangford.co.uk

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Business

Q&A

THE GOLDEN TAN Emma Logan met with Gemma Miles, Manager of Tanique, Cheltenham’s hottest new tanning salon Gemma Miles has worked in the tanning industry for the past 5 years and has a thorough understanding of being able to provide good customer service. She previously worked for a national tanning company before being asked to set-up, open and manages Tanique, an independent tanning salon giving greater access to some of the best tanning beds available in the UK.

When did Tanique open in Cheltenham?

We opened in October 2014 to provide a more luxurious tanning service than was on offer in the town and to ensure that we provide the utmost care in hygiene and cleanliness.

Historically there has been publicity in the press regarding the dangers of sunbeds causing skin cancer. What is Tanique’s view on this?

We are the only tanning salon in Cheltenham that is compliant with Trading Standards Enforcement legislation, that all beds must be 0.3 compliant. Ergoline, the premier sunbed provider in the UK, supplies our beds.

Skin cancer is caused by UVC from the sun and our beds are a mixture of UVA and UVB omitting any UVC. Everyone puts themselves at risk if they are burnt in natural sunlight and we offer a safe, gradual, responsible, controlled method of tanning at Tanique. This means you already have a base layer of colour before going out to sunbathe; it is when your skin is over exposed and burns that you put yourself at risk. Sunbeds are great in aiding our bodies with Vitamin D production, which helps with healthy bones, fighting depression and S.A.D. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to some pretty serious illnesses such as colon and prostate cancers, so one sunbed a week could really assist in boosting Vitamin D production.

Tell us more about the sunbeds at Tanique?

Our Prestige 1400 is the most popular bed and has a variable lamp spectrum which means the lamps further from your body are stronger, to give you a more even tan. This bed is air conditioned and has an in-built aroma mist, aqua fresh and full body and facial fans whilst being able to listen to an internal playlist of music or plugging in your own from your phone. It also has an option to reduce or switch off the facial tanners.

We also have two, Inspiration 600, premium laydowns. They are wider than normal sunbeds with molded acrylics for body shape, an advanced sound system and again you can turn the facial tanners down or off.

Our fourth bed is the Sunrise Fitness Training system. This unique standup bed has a Vibra Plate (similar to Power Plate), which helps tone and reduces cellulite, increasing blood circulation whilst helping to tan ones legs, which are always the last to go brown. The system is popular amongst men and brides or those wanting to wear a strapless dress, as it gives a great upper torso colour.

All the beds have NFC Connect technology that enables customers to store all of their comfort settings on their customer card so the sunbed can be immediately adjusted to personal preferences when they next visit.

What about the use of tanning creams whilst on a sunbed?

We absolutely encourage our clients to use a tan accelerator cream, as tanning without lotion is like washing your hair without shampoo! We stock a large variety of products with the ‘Australia Gold’ range being our most popular.

The creams help you tan quicker, which means less time your skin is exposed to any UV light and they are beneficial in protecting the skin from premature aging and keeping ones skin hydrated, for a longer lasting colour.

What else do you offer at Tanique?

Unlike other salons, we have a private, dedicated vanity area upstairs where clients can freshen up after their session. We provide a range of necessities such as cleansers, moisturisers and deodorant to ensure when you leave Tanique, you can go straight back to your day-to-day activities.

We are also delighted that Holistic therapist, Julie Hart has opened her Revitalize Therapies clinic at Tanique, offering a range of exceptional services including Reflexology and Deep Tissue, Aromatherapy and Swedish massage.

Do you offer sunbed courses?

We offer a variety of options from a New Customer Tan Taster (£18 for 30 minutes), Pay As You Go (85p per minute), 60 minutes (£38), 100 minutes (£58 or £69.99 for the Prestige sunbed) and for unlimited monthly use (£70).

To find out more, please contact: Tanique 29 Winchcombe Street Cheltenham GL52 2LZ Tel: 01242 228112 www.cheltenhamtanique.com

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For all your

knee problems...

Glouceste Gloucestershire ershire Knee Clini Clinic c is a specialist kknee clinic for diag diagnosis gnosis and mana management agement of all knee kne ee disor disorders ders and injuries. Mr Rob G Gleeson HUK 4Y 9VNLY 9VNLY *SVZL HY L L_ _WLYPLUJLK ZWLJPH HSPZ[ RULL Z\YNLVU UZ ^OV HYL L_WLYPLUJLK ZWLJPHSPZ[ Z\YNLVUZ will asses assess ss and advise you u on the best tr treatment eattment options.

;OL VUL Z[VW RULL JSPUPJ JHU VɈLY! • Locally Performed X-rays, scans and day case surgical procedures • :OVY[ ^HP[ [PTLZ HUK ÅL_PISL HWWVPU[TLU[Z to suit you • Physiotherapy support to aid recovery • Alter G anti-gravity equipment available

Private medical insurance and self-pay options available Please call for more information:

01452 337 276 w w w. w i n f i e l d h o s p i t a l . c o . u k

Te w k e s b u r y R o a d , L o n g f o r d , G l o u c e s t e r G L 2 9 E E

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A PAIN IN THE KNEE? Mr Rob Gleeson and Mr Roger Close, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons at Gloucestershire Knee Clinic based in Winfield Hospital explain knee replacement surgery Knee problems can be a real pain and can cause a real inconvenience in your life. It can stop you from doing those everyday tasks and you may struggle to lead the life you want. You don’t have to put up with knee pain and whilst painkillers and Physiotherapy can help, you may want to consider knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement surgery is usually carried out when arthritis has badly affected the knee or the knee has been injured. The cartilage which covers the bony surfaces of the knee joint become worn away which causes pain. Your GP is the first point of call to discuss whether a knee replacement is the right form of treatment for you. If you sustain an injury, specialist treatment is best sought quickly to ensure a rapid recovery.

When considering surgery you will need to see a specialist surgeon. The Gloucestershire Knee Clinic is a specialised clinic for diagnosis and management of all knee disorders and injuries based out of Winfield Hospital, Gloucester.

Mr Rob Gleeson specialises in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the knee and has a special interest in surgery for knee instability, knee arthritis and patellofemoral dysfunction. Mr Roger Close has a specialist interest in knee replacement surgery for arthritis of the knee, knee ligament reconstruction and arthroscopy. They are very experienced consultants and perform a large number of partial and total knee replacements each year.

Once you have received an appointment at Winfield Hospital, you will receive an initial consultation and here you will meet with the consultant, who will fully assess you. The Gloucestershire Knee Clinic offer a “one stop” clinic so will also be able to offer you access to locally performed X-rays and scans as required. They can also advise on any physiotherapy you may require to support and aid your recovery.

The physiotherapy team works closely with Mr Rob Gleeson and Mr Roger Close and are also based on site at Winfield Hospital. The department has the latest technology including an Alter G anti-gravity treadmill, which was originally designed for NASA’s astronauts. It uses the Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology and has been adapted by Alter G for use in training and rehabilitation.

The Alter G treadmill uses an inflatable bubble to enable users to walk and run in a reduced gravity environment. The effects of training in this environment are lowered impact on the lower body as the treadmill can reduce body weight by up to 80%. Patients find they can return to activity sooner without the pain experienced with full body loading. This equipment can be very beneficial for patients following knee replacement surgery.

Once the consultant has fully explained the diagnosis of your knee condition and

confirmed you need a knee replacement, a surgical appointment can be made quickly and easily for you at Winfield Hospital. Most people find they recover quickly from a knee operation and to once again get back to doing the things they love to do.

Should you wish to find out further information please contact The Gloucestershire Knee Clinic at Winfield Hospital Tel: 01452 337 276 www.winfieldhospital.co.uk winfield.enquiries@ ramsayhealth.co.uk

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With the ‘sneezing season’ on its way our specialist services at the Spire Clinic Cheltenham Spa focus on allergies, pollen and hay fever, and the treatment options available to help manage these conditions.

In alliance with The 3 Counties Allergy Service we provide an integrated clinic for sufferers of allergies including asthma, allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

Consultations are now available at The Spire Clinic with Professor Stephen O’Hickey Consultant Physician, MD FRCP Honorary Professor The National Pollen and Aerobiology Unit The Spire Clinic Cheltenham Spa 5 Ormond Terrace Regent Street, Cheltenham Tel: 01242 504 899 spirecheltenhamclinic@spirehealthcare.com

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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk

Style Event

Sharon Bird with Jane and Deryck Wood -Jenkins Zoe Fisher with Mark and Hayley Wilke s

Sandra Paul, Alex Chalk MP and Johanna Donald

The Grape Escape Launch Party The Grape Escape, a new wine bar and merchant on Bath Road in Cheltenh am held their media and V.I.P launch party on Thursday 21st May, before officially opening to the public. Owners Anthony Davies and Zoe Fisher welcomed guests with a glass of Deu tz Brut Classic NV, which preceded a delicious wine tasting event accompanied by fine meat and cheese platters.

Photography by Angus Bethune Frank Allen

Emma Logan, KB, Frank Allen, Sandr a Paul, Johanna Donald and Clive Burling

s Owners Zoe Fisher and Anthony Davie

Zoe Fisher with Sue and Eddie Robin son

and Francesca Goddard, Jackie Rodgers

Paul Bates

Lovatt Iona and Alistair Morgan with Helen

Lord & Lady Strathclyde with KB

Claire Thayers and Rupert Walters

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GROWING

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES

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A room for all seasons…

Eric Barton glimpses through the window at L & L Installations, Tewkesbury PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUKE JOHNSTON

Most of us can’t stand being cooped-up like battery hens when the weather is foul.

Being able to enjoy either the warmth of our houses or our gardens is paramount to healthy living…whatever the UK weather has to throw at us.

At L&L Installations in Tewkesbury they know that creating a warm and secure environment is both re-assuring and comforting, in and out of the house.

Back in1981 when Prince Charles married Diana Spencer and Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Making Your Mind Up’, L&L was formed, offering a first class service to customers who sought “Value for Money” when replacing their windows and doors. The 33 years since then for the two brothers that started the business has been a journey of discovery and development.

During the early years John and David Lannen would be seen every Wednesday and Saturday with their display unit at the Tewkesbury Market.

This was an opportunity to take the product to the customer and in fact was a very forward-thinking way of doing business at the time. It allowed examples of the products produced by the company to be viewed by prospective customers. It was all about see, touch and feel.

The market exhibitions continued for a number of years until premises adjacent to their own property in Red Lane in Tewkesbury became available and new offices and a showroom were opened. This became the main area of display and the extra office space provided by the larger building offered the brothers the chance they were looking for to expand the business whilst staying in the town they loved.

In 1994 part of the workshops at Red Lane were converted to allow the manufacture of PVCu windows and doors to go ahead. This was a turning

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point in the history of the company as it allowed complete quality control over the products being produced. John Lannen said, ‘’It’s all about quality for us.

If it isn’t good enough for us, it’s certainly not good enough for our customers’’.

John further adds, “Maintaining quality that we can put our name to is key to what we do here. Very simply, our products at L&L have to be up to scratch every time.”

During it's time at Red Lane, the manufacturing department grew to a point where two shifts were required to handle the workload. This problem was eased when new premises were sought and in 2001 the department moved to a purpose-built unit in Kennet Close on the Tewkesbury Business Park.

Even today L&L Installations are very much a local business and don’t seek to create any new business outside a 50 mile radius from Tewkesbury. John further comments, “We want to be able to service the customers we have and staying local to this area is key to that ethos.”

Their Showroom and Head Office in Red Lane has the sales, survey and administration departments based

there and are always keen to warmly welcome visitors for a fridely chat over a ‘cuppa’.

Their beautiful old building retains a wealth of period features and is an ideal setting to see many of their vast range of products.

It’s a World within a World where customers are encouraged to call in and try out their doors, windows and secondary glazing.

At the Kennet Close manufacturing unit where they make their energy LOCK PVCu products, they also highly recommend that customers visit the factory for a guided tour where they can see the trained and experienced technicians at work. Clearly that 1981 see, touch and feel ethos is still very apparent.

L&L’s commitment to the customer doesn’t end once they have installed the products. This is a business where they will give you a comprehensive ten year insurance backed guarantee. And in a remarkable move within the industry they will also offer a ‘window MOT’. John explains, ‘”We will carry out a full inspection on the anniversary of each installation for the full ten years of the

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Business guarantee. We do a check of the handles and hinges, together with the overall condition of the windows. It’s about looking after the customer’s investment and our dedicated Service Department will be there should the unexpected happen’’. Peace of mind indeed.

For John Lannen and his younger brother by ten years David, the L&L resolution is paramount in maintaining the high quality of their products and service that they have given since 1981.

All their PVCu products are manufactured and installed exclusively by their own highly trained craftsmen who are trained to at least NVQ Level 2.

It transpires that John had come from a background in carpentry, so the move into window replacement was a natural progression.

L&L now have 30 employees with very low levels of turnover of staff. They do have several other family members working in the business, so it really is a family affair. Their Surveyor Rob Green has been with them from almost day one and 73 year old bricklayer, Ray Dean who actually retired but loved working with L&L has come back three days a week. That to me says something about the working environment and people.

John Lannen also said, “We take on people who we think have a good view on life. They don’t have to be window fitters, we will train them to our standards’’. He adds, “We buy into the person first, then the skills’’.

At L& L they survived the last recession with the last two years delivering brisk business. John finally says, “We are always looking to the future for new products and colours.

David my brother is the real fire in the belly of the business. He’s a great people person and in fact, sourced our wonderful new Nordic Garden Room products’’. On looking at these Garden rooms it seems you can have the best of both worlds, allowing you to be in your garden whatever the weather, occasion or activity.

So with a new website on the way and about to exhibit at the Three Counties Show this month, things couldn’t be brighter or cosier at L&L Installations.

More information http://www.ll-installations.co.uk/

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WESTMINSTER IN THE COTSWOLDS The column returns after the General Election and we welcome new MP for Cheltenham, Alex Chalk.

Emma Logan has asked each of the county’s MPs to inform Cotswold Style readers what they will be doing to represent their constituencies both locally and from Westminster

Neil Carmichael

NEIL CARMICHAEL, MP FOR STROUD Firstly, thank you to all those who placed their support in me in the General Election last month. It is a great honour to serve again as the MP for the Stroud Valleys and the Vale and I will continue to represent all constituents to the best of my ability. The long awaited referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union formed the centrepiece of the Queen’s Speech opening the newly elected Parliament.

Legislation will be required to enable the vote to happen and such matters as the actual question on the ballot paper will need to be scrutinised.

The case for a referendum is strong.

Firstly and obviously, there is widespread support for one and given the recent track record of using this device to resolve major constitutional issues it is now a ‘fait accompli’. Second, Europe has changed during the last four decades and more importantly it needs to be reformed so the promise of a referendum is, in fact, a much needed catalyst for that reform.

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The 1975 June referendum on the same issue followed a brief review of the terms of entry as negotiated by Edward Heath’s Conservative Government but the principle objective of Harold Wilson’s Labour Government in holding a referendum in 1975 was to overcome a serious internal disagreement about Europe within the Labour Party. This argument was not fully resolved because Michael Foot, Tony Benn and others rejected the referendum outcome and instead, subsequently fought the 1983 general election promising to leave Europe altogether ‘within weeks’.

Today there is a much more considered and mature debate about Europe. At the heart of this is the tension between those who want to reform Europe and those who want to leave at any price. The result of the referendum will help to define the nature of our nation for many decades to come; it is not just about the details of reform but crucially, where we expect or want to be in relation to global developments and international challenges.

Reforms are necessary. Migration, decision-making processes, trade, internal markets and common policy areas are all in need of an overhaul through negotiation with our partners. However, for people ambitious about Britain’s future, confident of our capacity to shape events and determined to enable people

to fulfill lives, the real question is how we develop our membership of the European Union.

Contact Neil at neil.carmichael.mp@parliament.uk or his constituency office on 01453 751 572

Alex Chalk

ALEX CHALK, MP FOR CHELTENHAM I’m absolutely delighted to have been elected as Cheltenham’s MP. It is a huge honour and I’m grateful for all the support I received. It’s been 23 years since the Conservatives last represented our town. The amazing thing is, people still talk fondly about the last Tory MP, Charles Irving. I’ve clearly got big shoes to fill.

Importantly though, I see it as my job to stand up fearlessly for everyone here –

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Politics

for Cheltonians of all political persuasions and none.

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind. Parliament is a quirky place.

Think Hogwarts crossed with Fort Knox.

Down one corridor process men (yes, usually men), in tailcoats. They lead you to a cloakroom where there is not just a hanger for your coat but also a hook for your sword. Some waggish MPs have hung Star Wars-style light sabers from theirs. Meanwhile, down the next corridor march teams of heavily armed police officers looking like extras from a Steven Seagal film.

I’ve got down to delivering on my plan for my first 100 days. First up has been my top priority – Cheltenham General Hospital. I have written to the local NHS trust seeking urgent transparency about the future of CGH, as I have concerns about the commitment to retaining a ‘hot’ (ie acute) hospital here in town. I will be meeting senior figures shortly.

I have also been meeting with local tech entrepreneurs to drive forward my vision of Cheltenham as a tech hub of the future. The response so far has been phenomenal. We have great riches of talent and enthusiasm here. If we harness them, the opportunities for Cheltenham are great. I sense we’re at the beginning of an exciting period in our history.

For my other priorities, and my plan for my first 100 days, do visit: www.alexchalk.com GEOFFREY CLIFTON-BROWN, MP FOR COTSWOLDS In the last month I have been taking up all sorts of issues however, perhaps the most important this month, was the House of Commons debate I led on planning, which is incredibly sensitive in the Cotswolds. I raised a series of important issues during the debate. These included the need to give greater protection to AONBs and ensuring that equal weight is given in the NPPF to environmental and social concerns as is

currently given to economic concerns.

I addressed the issue of infrastructure requirements and the need to ensure that any necessary infrastructure is in place before a new development is completed.

For example I raised the case of the proposed development of 2,350 dwellings in Chesterton and the fact that a new sewer would be required and the impact of new developments in Moreton-in-Marsh on the main road bridge where two HGVs already cannot cross at the same time. The Minister confirmed, “The provision of timely and robust infrastructure is vital to delivering sustainable development”. He went on to confirm that there are provisions for local authorities to deliver that infrastructure.

I also suggested to the Planning Minister, that a mandatory mentoring scheme be developed for councils that have not yet had their local plan adopted.

The Minister promised to consider it further.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

Last year I wrote to all parish and town councils urging them to consider drawing up neighbourhood plans. They give local communities a much greater say over the planning process in their area and where there is a neighbourhood plan in place, the community retains 25 per cent of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

There had been concern that with no local plan in place, neighbourhood plans would simply be ignored and so only a limited number of communities created them. However Brandon Lewis MP, the Planning Minister, was very clear during the debate that even if no local plan is in place, a “made” neighbourhood plan can provide some certainty as to what development will take place. The Minister agreed to write to all leaders of all planning authorities about the importance of neighbourhood plans. www.geoffreycliftonbrown.co.uk

Laurence Robertson

LAURENCE ROBERTSON, MP FOR TEWKESBURY I was very pleased to be returned to Parliament this month. It has been a privilege to have represented the Tewkesbury constituency since 1997 and I am honoured to be asked to serve the people during this Parliament.

Much has been achieved since 2010 and I am looking to help carry this work forward. The economy is being repaired to the extent that over 2 million jobs have been created, unemployment has fallen significantly and over 2 million apprentices have been taken on. Only by improving the economy can we continue to properly fund public services such as hospitals, schools, the police force and care services.

Locally, I will continue to concentrate on ensuring that we have high employment levels in my constituency, to ensure that people have access to excellent public services and I will continue to fight to protect our countryside and villages from inappropriate development. These and other issues are important to people locally.

And then there’s the referendum on our EU membership, which this Government will hold. We can then address issues such as immigration and the endless regulations and directives, which come from the EU, which again people are rightly concerned about. This referendum will be held before the end of 2017 at the latest.

So there’s much to do, and I look forward to continuing to work as hard as I can to serve the interest of the people of the Tewkesbury constituency, regardless of how they voted on 7th May! www.laurencerobertsonmp.com Regrettably, Cotswold Style has not heard back from Richard Graham MP for Gloucester.

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iPipeline UK, Eagle Tower, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1TA, UK.

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Finance

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

Q. I’m 53, and I’ve been paying into my work pension regularly for years, and I earn a decent salary. I was starting to think, is my single work pension, and state pension, going to be enough when I choose to retire? Or should I be putting money into another pension now outside of work?

Daniel, Coberley

Dear Daniel, when ever is enough, enough? This question is the chocolate brownie of financial advisors’ lives. Should it be served alone or with cream or with custard? Or with cream and custard?

Should it only be eaten with a good coffee or will instant do?

You need to do some projections and to look at these honestly as a percentage of your present salary. This will give you a good starting point. When you understand this you will see how much of a gap there is between what you presently expect at retirement and where you are predicted to be. What you don’t say is if you have a mortgage or rent to be considered and also if you have ISA’s or other savings. These items tell us very often that our income today minus the Mortgage is very much closer to your expectations.

There might well be an argument for repaying some or all of the mortgage early from your ISA’s and then increasing your pension savings. If you ask your employer to increase your contributions (which you can at any time) he may well increase his contribution by the NIC (National Insurance Contribution) that is saved.

You need also to take account of future needs and expectations such as repairs to the house or any expectations in a will, these need to be understood even if they are in some cases discounted in the numbers.

Q. Dear Robert, we have two daughters and it’s dawning on us that in the not too distant future they’ll marry. We want to make sure they both have everything they want on their big days and have read that the average wedding

If you would like to ask Robert a question please email info@bankhousegroup.co.uk is around £30,000! Our current savings are in a joint ISA, but we both have a decent salary. Where is best to start with our saving?

Emily & Phillip, Cirencester

Dear Emily and Philip, firstly and most importantly, congratulations on not one but two girls. As a father of two boys I sometimes wonder how different life would have been with girls and not boys!

The answer is to consider maximising your ISA investments. They have just changed to a more generous £15k per person per annum, but be careful to not just leave the money in cash – it rarely pays above inflation and more often than not offers not much beyond a reasonable rate for this year. You really need to tailor make your investments to meet your own risk profile, so find a good local IFA and make sure that the firm offers whole of market unfettered advice and carries out a risk profiler. This will determine the actual level of risk that best suits you and enables the IFA to recommend a method of managing your funds that best match your profile.

Having used your ISA allowance(s) you should use a general investment account designed to create gain, not income. If you create income HMRC says thank you but if you create a gain, before HMRC says thank you, you get to use your annual allowance of £11,500 which is tax free. It is therefore sensible to utilize your ISA allowance and then each year take the gain from your investment account and move it to your ISA. The object being that you move as much into a tax free environment as possible each year. This will enable you to minimize tax deductions and maximize returns whilst always offering you a degree of risk that best suits you.

Q. Dear Robert, with Cheltenham races just gone and Ascot coming up

it’s got me thinking about high return investments. What type of investments are a good bet?

Richard, Cheltenham

I fear that you have been watching too much TV Richard, the never ending apps for betting online are ensnaring a whole raft of society into thinking that high risk is fun and sexy and full of high returns. It just isn’t. Investment and betting are two very different things. Betting is all or nothing simply win or lose. It is just that with some bets you win more but you always lose the same, and that is all of your money! Investment is based around only taking a level of risk that meets your personal situation and profile. Very often that level of risk equates to a level of expected return, so that a cautious person should only expect a moderate return but equally a low expectation of loss should it occur. A more balanced approach perhaps will see an expected average return to be a little higher, but the downside might well be equally higher. Even an adventurous individual would not expect to lose all of his or her money, only a proportion at a given point in time if the investment is encashed at that time. My answer is always take advice from a trusted source on investments but never bet on them – that is for the horses.

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.

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The Unchanging Face of Family Law T

HE most frequently asked question of my Family Team in Cheltenham is “Does my ability to make a Court application have an expiry date?”. The answer will depend on what it is for.

A divorce financial settlement claim remains open until re-marriage or death and can be brought many years after a couple have divorced, perhaps one of them has re-married and both have had more children. Sometimes, a claim can even be brought against a former spouse’s estate following their death leaving difficult claims to be sorted out between a first and second family. It is therefore always important to have a final financial order made at the time of divorce preventing all future claims.

We have a large team of family lawyers (including a qualified family law Arbitrator) in our six offices across the Three Counties, Birmingham and Thames Valley who are experts in dealing with such claims including international cases and high value settlement.

Applications in respect of children can be made by their parents until their child is 18. These can include a Child Arrangements Order asking the Court to determine what period of time a child should live with each parent, a Specific Issue Order such as whether they should remain at or be moved from their school and whether they be allowed to relocate with one parent to live abroad.

Whilst parents can bring applications during their children’s minority, the older the child becomes

however, the more the Court will listen to the child’s voice and wishes. There is no fixed age at which this happens and it is decided on an individual case basis. We have a number of senior Accredited Children Law Specialists who can advise on the best tactical approach to protect your child’s interests should you face these difficult issues.

Child Maintenance applications can also be made in respect of a child during their minority.

Only certain types of orders can now be made to the Court otherwise the application should be to the Child Maintenance Service who will carry out an assessment. The Court will deal with issues such as the payment of school fees, the financial support for a child with special needs, or maintenance payments where one parent lives abroad. The Court can also make an order beyond the age of 18 if it feels that the welfare of the child requires it such as for a child with physical or mental disability which prevents him or her achieving financial independence.

These issues can sometimes be a minefield and we can help you find a direct path through the same.

For further information please contact our team of experienced family lawyers on 01242 246439.

No liability is accepted for the advice given in this article in respect of individual matters. For tailored advice contact Carolyn Green, Partner 01242 246457

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Your local ONE stop shop alternative health centre for all ages from new borns, children and pregnant issues to sports injuries and the aches and pains of ageing.

Cirencester Road, Cheltenham GL53 8EX

01242 221456 | oakwellhealth.com

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Cheltenham’s Original and ONLY Authentic West Indian FAMILY Owned Caribbean Restaurant

Marinades

Caribbean Restaurant Bar & Grill

Authentic and stylish Caribbean cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere

01242 578811 07800 840555 or email info@marinades.co.uk info@marinades.co.uk www.marinades.co.uk 56 High Street, Cheltenham GL50 1EE

Don’t forget to book for our monthly

CARIBBEAN TASTER EVENINGS 24 June | 29 July Just £17.95pp BOOK NOW!

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

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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.

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

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

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JOHN FINNIGAN SAYS...

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YOU LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN SUPPORT CTFC FROM AS LITTLE AS £150 PER SEASON CALL JOHN TO DISCUSS VARIOUS PACKAGES ON 01242 588102 / 07432 602892

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THE FALCON PAINSWICK

Dating back to 1554, The Falcon is a small select hotel and restaurant situated in the beautiful Cotswolds town of Painswick.

The Shires Suite with it’s own courtyard is ideal for small weddings, christenings, celebratory parties and business conferences.

Whether you are looking for stylish accommodation in Painswick for a well deserved break in the Cotswolds or somewhere to pop in for morning coffee, afternoon tea, a delicious freshly prepared meal in our restaurant, or a function venue for a special occasion or a business meeting – you are assured of a warm and welcoming atmosphere at The Falcon.

New Street, Painswick, Gloucester GL6 6UN Telephone: 01452 814222 Fax: 01452 813377 Email: info@falconpainswick.co.uk

www.falconpainswick.co.uk

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Food & Drink

SUMMER LOVING Shelle Duffin whips up a delectable cheesecake June has to be one of my favourite months of the year for many reasons: it means Christmas is only another six months away, it’s my birthday so I get some lovely presents to keep me going until Santa makes his next debut but most importantly of all (being a food lover), there are some delicious ingredients back in season.

This month, we see the return of the strawberry – one of my favourite fruits. As children, on visits to our grandparents and in order to avoid the tedious grown-up chit-chat, my sisters and I would often hide away in Grandpa’s strawberry patch,

only to be discovered hours later redder than red and bellies filled to the brim with these delicious fruits.

One of my cherished childhood memories involves spending many glorious afternoons during the summer holidays out strawberry picking at the local ‘pick your own’. Although, unfortunately to Mum’s embarrassment, we would always return for ‘weigh in’ with near to empty boxes and expressing satisfied looks on our once again redder than red faces. At the time me managed to get away with it, the grower thought our ‘innocent’ beaming smiles were adorable. However,

STRAWBERRY & ELDERFLOWER CHEESECAKE

surface. Chill the base in the fridge for an hour to firm up whilst you make the filling.

Serves 8

Ingredients: For the base 300g digestive biscuits 100g unsalted butter, melted

For the filling 300g full-fat soft cheese 300ml double cream 100g golden caster sugar 300g strawberries (extra for decoration), stalks removed 3 sheets of gelatine 4tbsp elderflower cordial

You will need a.... 25cm/10inch cake tin with removable bottom Method To make the base…

Put the biscuits into a sealed plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin to achieve a breadcrumb consistency. Tip them into a bowl and stir in the melted butter so all the crumbs are coated. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and press down using the back of a spoon to produce an even

To make the filling…

Soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes to allow them to soften. Pour half of the cream into a saucepan and gently bring to the boil.

Remove from the heat and stir in the gelatine leaves, one at a time, shaking off any excess water beforehand.

Stir until all the gelatine has dissolved and set to one side to cool.

Combine the cream cheese and sugar together in a bowl and beat until you reach a smooth and creamy consistency.

Chop the strawberries into chunky pieces and stir them into the cream cheese mixture along with the cream and gelatine.

In a separate bowl, gently whip together the remaining cream with the elderflower cordial to form soft peaks. Gently fold this into the strawberry mixture. Pour the filling into the cake tin and smooth over the surface to create a clean, even finish.

Return the cake tin to the fridge and chill for at least 3 hours, or alternatively, make the day before and chill overnight.

now in my 20’s, I have recently found this to no longer be the case, let alone pulled off quite so easily.

My recipe this month for me represents the taste of summer. An elegant showstopper dessert, at an alfresco themed dinner party or an act of pure indulgence following a sumptuous barbecue with family and friends; this vibrant centrepiece will always go down a treat.

Cook’s note ~ Support local by sourcing your strawberries from your local ‘pick your own’ – it’s a great afternoon out for family and friends!

To serve…

Dip a knife into water and run it around the edge, between the tin and the cheesecake to loosen it. Remove it from the tin and gently remove the base using either a palette knife or a cake slice. Place on a serving plate and decorate with strawberries. Serve with a strawberry coulis and cream, accompanied with an iced cold elderflower pressé.

Cook’s tipple: ‘Summer Loving’: William Chase Elegant Gin with Fevertree Elderflower Tonic, served with frozen blackberries/raspberries and fresh mint.

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 COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 113

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Make the most of midweek catch-ups and enjoy 25% off lunch at The Old Stocks Inn when you dine in the restaurant from Monday to Friday.

The Old Stocks Inn, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1AF 01451 830 666 oldstocksinn.com info@oldstocksinn.com /oldstocksinn

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Pets

HOP TO IT!

Animal advice from our friends at Vets on the Park

If you visit your veterinary practice in the May and June you may discover they have more displays and advice concerning rabbits.

This is because mid-May sees ‘Rabbit Awareness Week’, when vets focus on teaching new and experienced rabbit owners how to better care for their bunnies.

Rabbits are now the third most popular pet in the UK but sadly they are also the pet often kept in the worst conditions due to ignorance and poor education. Rabbit Awareness Week tries to redress this and so improve the health and welfare of rabbits across the country.

A few simple, inexpensive steps can make your rabbit’s life much happier and healthier. One of the most important pieces of advice is that, because rabbits have complex social lives, they

should not be kept on their own as this makes them miserable. However, keeping the wrong pairings together can lead to unwanted babies and fighting. A good combination is a neutered male and a neutered female.

In the wild rabbits have plenty to do to keep them occupied, from foraging for food to jumping, running and digging. Pet rabbits, especially if kept alone in a small hutch, often lack stimulation, which can lead to behavioural problems and poor health. So use your imagination and try to make your rabbits’ home as interesting as possible.

Provide them some earth in a pot to dig in, give them cardboards boxes to hid in a chew, make them tunnels to run though and

hide their food to stimulate their foraging behaviour.

In the wild a rabbit would occupy a territory about the same size as 30 tennis courts and running around this large area keeps them fit and healthy. So locking them up in a tiny hutch all day makes them bored and frustrated.

Rabbits need to right home with plenty of space to run and play. A hutch is simply not enough.

If you need more advice about housing, feeding or health care (including parasite control and vaccinations) then contact your local veterinary practice. At Vets on the Park one of our nurses Julie is specially trained in rabbit health and welfare and can give you free advice. Why not give us a call on 01242 517199 or email us at nurses@vetsonthepark.co.uk

for your pets in your life - your vet for life

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Fitness Tips

HOLIDAY DIETING Fitness Expert Luciano Kydd talks about severe calorie restriction and the long term effects on weight/fat loss

It’s that time of the year when you've decided you want to start dieting for the holiday you’ve just booked or for the summer wedding season and you suddenly realise that it’s only 4-8 weeks away -panic sets in when you think you need to shift 1-2 stone. All your friends are full of advice about diets that worked for them be that drinking calorie restricted shakes or just salad for every meal and they probably suggest you exercise as much as physically possible.

Through this you then convince yourself that going on holiday will be your treat, or after the wedding you will eat what you want. At that time you will pile on all the weight you might have lost and then some more and then you will come back to eating your rabbit food diet when you get back.

You then come back from holiday heavier than before you started dieting and decide to diet again, this time for the long term.

Unfortunately, the worst way to lose weight is also the most common practice amongst individuals when panic station sets in, which is following extreme dietary habits along with extreme training programmes over a long period. My advice to you is “DON’T DO THIS”!

I hear you ask why, so I will outline some of the consequences you can come up against.

Severely restricting your calorie intake will lead to major energy imbalances. This type of restriction can slow down brain functions, which means brain cells operate at sub optimal levels, impairing cognitive

processes, such as memory recall, problem solving, and creative thinking. It can also affect your mood, leading to decreased feeling of wellbeing and increased tension, depression, anxiety, fatigue and increase in your overall stress levels. Stress then weakens your immune systems, which can then damage your digestive system and have a negative impact on your hormones.

During periods of severe energy deficits, either by restricted calories or by very high volumes of training, a female’s reproductive functions will be affected, oestrogen hormone production becomes imbalanced and release becomes very limited. Worryingly this can lead to reduced fertility in some women, as well as irregular periods or the complete stopping of the menstrual cycle as well as a reduced sexual interest. And it’s not just ladies that are affected – a male’s testosterone levels will also take a hit when the body is stressed by low calorie intake.

In active individuals, energy deficits can impair the resynthesis of muscle protein and liver glycogen, as well as the stimulation of protein synthesis. This means that the body doesn't properly repair itself from the exercise you do and is in a constant state of breakdown. You then begin to lose muscle, which was meant to give you that toned look and the less you eat, the more you lose. As you lose muscle, your body not only begins to take on that amorphous ‘skinny fat look’, your metabolism slows down, disrupting your

normal metabolic functions as you’re in an energy deficit. In some studies they found that when dietary intake in females fell below 50% of normal dietary intake, in a little as four days their thyroid function was severely affected or ceased to function properly. All this has an affect on you losing weight and fat in the long term - not good.

Furthermore, your sleep pattern is disrupted which then impacts on things such as your adrenal glands, your blood sugar balance, poor digestion (which limits the amount of food you breakdown and your cells then absorbs), your bone health decreases and your risk of certain disease increases. On external view your skin will become loose and saggy leaving your body looking unhealthy due to your crash diet habits. As you can see, these is just some of the havoc a severe calorie deficit or any extreme amount of physical activity can cause on your once healthy body and mess up your chances of keeping your weight and fatloss sustainable and keeping it off long term. They key is to be slow and steady over a long period, as chances if you do it right the first time you wouldn’t need to do it again and it will be easy to manage in the long term and not mess up your body and health in the long term.

Written by Luciano Kydd - A weight and fatloss coach base in Cheltenham.

Website: www.kyddfitness.co.uk, or email: info@kyddfitness.co.uk, book your free consultation today for a limited time only.

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 117

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Charity

My Way on the Byway for the Wounded From high-powered catering to low-powered trail riding, for charity, Carla McKenzie’s Challenge is to ride a trail bike for over a thousand miles of byways, backroads and dirt tracks from John O'Groats to Land's End – starting on her 51st birthday arla McKenzie is a successful businesswoman who’s set herself a formidable new challenge to raise money for a good cause. In July 2015, she’s going to ride a motorcycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End, in aid of the Dougie Dalzell Memorial Trust and Bike Tours for the Wounded.

Carla is the managing director of MYA Consulting Limited, based in Stroud and she’s had an unusual career path leading up to her current position. She left school at sixteen but had a rapid rise in catering, progressing quickly from waitressing and bar work to become the senior manager of a Hilton hotel at the age of twenty-one.

At twenty-three, she ‘ran away to sea’ to work for P&O, and then ran catering and retail operations for Red Funnel Ferries in Southampton. Carla moved onwards and upwards to become Director of Catering at the Royal Festival Hall and South Bank Centre, and ran major events at Wembley, Lords and the Oval. After a stint running a £7million business at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, she joined her parents, John and Margaret Young, at the then recently founded MYA in 1992, stepping up to managing director in 2006. MYA is well established in the Independent Catering Consultancy Market with many high profile clients.

Carla and her parents share a passion for motorcycles. John was a police motorcyclist for ten years, has owned a succession of high-powered machines down the decades, and has recently bought a brand new Honda CB1100 at the age of 75. Margaret has been riding bikes of all kinds for fifty years and used to carry Carla and her brother all over the country in a Watsonian sidecar attached to a Triumph Bonneville 650, bought new in 1967. Margaret and John currently take it in turns to drive a powerful Suzuki 1800 outfit, in addition to their two-wheelers.

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All three were seen with Chris Evans on The One Show recently and their newly acquired Husqvarna 250 trail bike, with Margaret at the controls of the Suzuki and John in the sidecar.

Carla’s owned a lot of bikes over the years and currently has a stable of seven.

She’s ridden all over Europe on her own, done numerous track days and passed her advanced riding test. She’s also sailed and flown gliders in the past.

Inspired by the story of Lt Dougie Dalzell MC and the charity founded in his name, Carla got involved with Bike Tours for the Wounded (BT4TW) which provides life-changing motorcycle rides for severely injured service personnel.

Since 2011 Carla has done four tours with BT4TW, riding Harley-Davidsons across

the USA with severely injured servicewomen behind her on the pillion seat.

Now she has given herself this new challenge so that ten more wounded service personnel can ride pillion along the famous Route 66. Starting on July 8th 2015, her 51st birthday, Carla’s will be riding a motorcycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End, using road-legal but unpaved ancient tracks and byways as much as possible. Carla had her first motorcycle trail ride in early February 2015 and quickly discovered that three decades of riding on tarmac is no preparation for mud, rocks and roots, “I came quite a cropper on my first time out on the trail and I’m desperately trying to get my dirt-riding skills and my strength and fitness up in time for the big ride – it’s a scary prospect! I have enlisted the help of the Wiltshire branch of the Trail Riders Fellowship, and training has begun in earnest. I’m boosted by the thought that I’m doing it for people who have suffered terribly, and who face far greater challenges than me, every day.”

To make a contribution to support Carla’s ride on behalf of the Dougie Dalzell MC Memorial Trust go to www.justgiving.com/Carla-McKenzie1 Carla McKenzie can be contacted at: Phone: 01453 765 643 Email: byway@mya-consulting.co.uk Twitter: #mywayonthebyway

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ROYAL ASCOT Betlive Radio’s expert racing pundit Nigel Aplin’s guide to the most prestigious flat races in England he Colonel once told me of a rather severe altercation it was to his misfortune to have had, with a rather severe Yeoman Pricker. As a result he has never returned to Royal Ascot and for all I know, neither has the Yeoman Pricker.

You may yourself have fallen victim to these green velveted and top hatted ‘prickers’ who attempt to keep good order at The Royal Meeting, sometimes pedantically overzealous as to where they stick their pricker and yet without them, it is doubtful we would have a Royal Meeting.

Many Regents have enjoyed racing but not all have been popular, amongst them George IV, he of The Royal Pavilion and dangerous liaisons. Old George liked a day at the races but the good burghers of Ascot and the surrounding villages were not always that keen on him. It was however already a long-held tradition that the Royal Family attended Ascot Races and since the 1750s the event was held annually, lasting four days sometime after Easter and usually before July.

Attendances were always greater when it was known that the Royal Family would be there but could equally be quite volatile if an errant young Royal was not in favour.

It was down to a dissolute and thoroughly decadent wag and dandy, Wellesley-Pole who added a much-needed touch of pageantry to the occasion and in so doing, created an infrastructure that protected George and his descendants.

The Royal Procession, inaugurated by Wellesley-Pole 1825, had two dramatic effects – firstly it put the King at his ease to feel that he was partaking in a State Occasion – secondly it appealed to the patriotic fervour of the people. Yes, they may have resented George IV as a profligate wastrel – but the institution of the British Monarchy meant so much more than that and Ascot was neither the time nor the place to undermine it.

On 31st May 1825 his Majesty and a party of distinguished visitors emerged from trees within the Park and began a

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parade down the straight mile section of Ascot’s racecourse. And so, between 1820 and 1830 racing at Ascot and the Royal Family became synonymous as it was transformed into an incredibly wellorganised and massively popular event, one of the few venues where the unloved and extravagant King George IV genuinely felt at ease, protected by the Yeoman Pricker.

So strikingly successful was the Royal appearance in 1825 that it was permanently adopted thereafter. Thus, as early as 1826 ‘Ascot Heath’ was no more and the press hereafter referred to it as the ‘Royal Races’ at Ascot. Now Royal Ascot, it is the most prestigious Flat meeting in Britain, and features the best horses, top trainers and owners competing for some of the biggest prizes over five days in June.

Tuesday 16th June sees The Queen Anne Stakes as the curtain raiser of Royal Ascot and has been won by some of the greatest milers, including Frankel. With the King’s Stand Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, Coventry Stakes, Ascot Stakes and Windsor Castle Stakes on the first day of the 2015 Royal Meeting, it truly is a day to remember.

The Group 1, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, highlights Day Two of Royal Ascot, which is a race for older horses over a mile and a

quarter. Some fantastic racehorses have won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over the years, with the likes of Ouija Board and Dubai Millennium on the prestigious list of winners of this race.

Thursday at Royal Ascot is Gold Cup Day. The Group 1 Gold Cup is the most prestigious race for stayers with endless stamina required to win this race over two and a half miles. The remarkable Aidan O’Brien trained Yeats, won the Gold Cup four times in a row from 2006-2009 and is probably the greatest Gold Cup winner ever. In 2013, Estimate became the first Gold Cup winner to be owned by the Queen, which raised the roof at Ascot on the day known colloquially as Ladies’ Day. The Coronation Stakes is the big race of the fourth day of Royal Ascot raced over a mile for three year old fillies.

Royal Ascot finishes on a Saturday with Diamond Jubilee Stakes Day. The race was renamed in 2012 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Horses to back for this year’s meeting are Tiggy Wiggy, The Grey Gatsby, Forgotten Rules and Muthmir.

Toodle Pip! 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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Style Event

Iain Wain and Tom Barton Peter Jubb, Tom Smith and Craig Miles

Sarah Waldron and Alex Wheeler

Stuart Jones and Jeff Wyatt

Karen Goodger

Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival Launch Party

Henry Barnes and Jamie Bubb-Sack lyn

Cheltenham based Wealth Manager s, Brewin Dolphin and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club hosted a launch party at Hotel du Vin for the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cric ket Festival, which will take place from 8th19th July. The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest cricket festi val will host 12 days of top-class cricket at the Che ltenham College ground. For tickets please visit : www.gloscricket.co.uk Photography by Rob Wheatman

Rex and Wendy Body

Gary Goodger

n Dolphin, Cheltenham (Centre) Edward Mawle, Head of Brewi

Paul Nurden and Dale Williams

Clive and Karen Organ

Halfpenny Angela Edwards, Paul Nurden and Paul

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Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival Large summer crowds are expected, as exciting entertainment plans are unveiled for this year’s Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival At a glance: 2015 Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Festival Fixtures: Date of Match

Duration

Opponents

Tournament

Wednesday 8th July

4 day

Northamptonshire

LV= County Championship

Sunday 12th July

1 day

Kent

NatWest T20 Blast

Monday 13th July

1 day

-

Lord’s Taverners Cricket Day *

Tuesday 14th July

1 day

Hampshire

NatWest T20 Blast

Wednesday 15th July

4 day

Leicestershire

LV= County Championship

Sunday 19th July

1 day

-

Hamish Marshall Benefit Match *

Liam Norwell GCCC, Edward Mawle, Head of Office, Brewin Dolphin, Richard Dawson, Head Coach, GCCC, Paul Nurden, Divisional Director, Brewin Dolphin and Michael Klinger, One Day Captain, GCCC

There’s also a bonus this year for cricket and sporting fans alike. On Monday 13 July the Lord’s Taverners will be hosting a charity cricket tournament. This is a fun day of cricket featuring two star-studded teams including Chris Tarrant, Mike Gatting, Jon Desborough and Andrew Caddick. This “Summer Smash” will culminate in a Charity Sporting Dinner.

The ever-popular Ladies’ Day will once again grace the Festival on Thursday 9 July in aid of LINC. Highlights this year will include a fashion display by Lisa von Hallwyl and Beatrice von Treskow.

Visitors can also enjoy off field activities, which will include free cricket coaching, an inflatable bowling cage, player autograph sessions, a BBQ and Quiz Night and the Band & Bugles of the Rifles.

Gloucestershire Cricket is also delighted to welcome local folk legend Johnny Coppin who will perform live from 7.00pm on Wednesday 15 July in the College Chapel.

Bringing the 2015 Festival to a close, on

* Supplementary charge for charitable tickets

Gloucestershire Cricket is looking forward to its annual Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival, which promises to be bigger and better than ever. Members, hospitality guests and ticket buyers alike will be able to enjoy an exciting programme of events and entertainment to complement the First Class cricket programme.

Brewin Dolphin, who are one of the UK’s largest independently owned private client Wealth Managers, have been the Festival’s principal sponsor since 2012. They have been involved with Gloucestershire Cricket for over 16 years, supporting the Club and its on-going development.

Gloucestershire has been playing First Class Cricket at the iconic Cheltenham College Ground since 1872 – making this the world’s longest running cricket festival to be played at an out ground. The college’s idyllic setting has provided a perfect backdrop for the festival throughout its history and continues to be a great attraction for all cricket fans, both old and new.

This year’s Festival runs from Wednesday 8 July to Sunday 19 July and includes two NatWest T20 Blast matches as well as two LV= County Championship four day games.

Twenty20 cricket is arguably the most exciting form of the game and, with big hits and nonstop action BIG crowds are expected.

Supporters are urged to buy their tickets in advance as T20 matches have a tendency to sell out fast at Cheltenham.

Cricket Fans can also look forward to seeing both centurions from this year’s Australian Big Bash League in action. Hardhitting batsman, Peter Handscomb has joined the Club as its second overseas player for 2015. The 23-year-old, who made a blistering 103* off 64 balls for the Melbourne Stars vs Perth Scorchers, joins the squad that will also boast Michael Klinger, the only other player to make a hundred in the 2014/15 Australian T20 competition.

Match Day Tickets cost from just £15 for adults and £3 for under 19’s when purchased in advance or why not treat yourself to a Cheltenham Festival Pass and see 10 days of First Class Gloucestershire cricket for only £100 (a saving of £60). Under 19’s can enjoy every day of the Festival (plus domestic matches at Bristol) by becoming a Marshall Member for just £20.

Sunday 19 July, is an “Old Boys” T20 cricket match, hosted by Hamish Marshall as part of his Benefit Year. This match will feature former Gloucestershire greats.

Gloucestershire Cricket’s Chief Executive, Will Brown, said: “The 2015 Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival is set to be one of the most exciting festivals ever in its 143 year history. 12 solid days of top-class cricket and off-field entertainment in the stunning setting of the Cheltenham College grounds will provide the perfect backdrop for hospitality guests, cricket fans and families alike.”

Paul Nurden, Divisional Director of Brewin Dolphin, added: “We are thrilled to once again be the principal sponsor of the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival.

This is the fourth year our name has been associated with this most historic and prestigious event in the Gloucestershire sporting calendar. As Wealth Managers we are very pleased to show our continued support of the GCCC and their investment in the future talent of Gloucestershire cricket.”

For full fixture information and big savings on advance tickets please call the Ticket Office on 0117 910 8010 or visit www.gloscricket.co.uk For more information on hospitality including Ladies’ Day – please contact: Cariad Silk Tel: 0117 910 8022 Email: cariad.silk@glosccc.co.uk or Sarah Waldron Tel: 0117 910 8013 Email: sarah.waldron@glosccc.co.uk

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2a Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HR

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Claire in the County

Local

OPERA…. a bit like marmite….

Claire Thayers is ready to try

hen I was little … I hated sprouts, Stilton, eggs and red wine.

In my teens, I hated James Last (my parents had all the ‘LP’s’) and… I hated opera.

BUT as I’ve got older my tastes have changed, so after 40 years of not eating eggs, I tucked into an omelette that a dear friend made last week, as I was too shy to refuse… and LOVED it!

So, we have to keep on trying things, as we may just be surprised.

Obviously I dream of a romantic week away in Verona, with a dollop of opera on top – but in reality, that’s just not going to happen, well, yet anyway.

I have enjoyed Covent Garden and visited Glyndebourne but there is always that nagging worry if I go with opera buffs, that I am going to look a complete and utter dunce. Yes I know those much loved excerpts, as we all do (mainly because we have heard them on television ads) but will I really be able to sit through a whole performance, enjoy every minute and actually know what’s going on …and be able to talk intelligently over dinner the following night? (Not that I ever can, you understand – on any topic, especially after a tipple, or two!)

This year I am going to push myself out of my comfort zone but without having to travel to Verona (OR London), for that matter… let’s try opera in the Cotswolds, and find a lovely hotel too and it will still cost less in time and

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money than a frantic trip to the big smoke.

Do the research, rally the friends, (preferably ones on the same operatic level as yourself) and be brave.

I know there is a great little operatic society in Cirencester (coincidentally, Cirencester Operatic Society), who will have performed ‘Anything Goes’ last month and will be as I write this, preparing for their autumn production of Die Fledermaus (sung in English), which will be performed the week commencing 19 October 2015. The fact that I will actually understand encourages me to go.

Tie this in with a stay at the Kings Head in the main Square in Cirencester and you are on to a winner. I was so lucky to have stayed there last week, and what a special place it is. There has been a major make-over and the interior design is to die for; so much so I wanted to completely change my own house whilst the attention to detail is second to none.

The rooms are sumptuous, the food to die for, but if you want to stay in

October – book now. They are booked up for months, and I can see why!

If you cannot wait till October – come to Opera @ the Castle in Winchcombe on Sunday 28th June (find the feature in this month’s edition), which Cotswold Style is supporting and LINC the chosen charity.

BUT as I write this I can hear some of you shouting at me ‘Don’t forget the Longborough Opera Festival’, so check out their website, as I am planning a visit there too.

Pack the fizz, egg sandwiches (crusts cut off obviously), a decent slab of stilton and a lovely bottle of red… (I wont be packing sprout wraps I hasten to add) and JUST DO IT! P.S. I still HATE Marmite. www.lfo.org.uk www.cirencesteroperaticsociety.co.uk www.sudeleycastle.co.uk or www.operaatthecastle.eventbrite.co.uk Claire Thayers & Associates, Corporate Social Responsibility, South West www.clairethayers.co.uk

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Charity

It’s only Asthma, right?

The Ruck and Rollers’ to take on one of the most gruelling sporting challenges in the world; the Race Across America (RAAM) to raise money for the charity Asthma UK Antonia Thomas was just 10 years old when she died of an Asthma attack.

Antonia was a happy, lively girl who loved life. Although she had been diagnosed with asthma in the past and had recently had a routine check, she’d never experienced an acute asthma attack; yet, on 17th October 2009 she passed away within minutes.

Antonia’s story is tragic but far from an isolated case. Every 10 seconds somebody has a life threatening attack and the number of children that die from Asthma every year could fill a classroom.

Which naturally raises the question. Why is such a severe condition perceived by many as ‘Only Asthma’ and could or should it be taken more seriously?

Since Antonia’s passing, her father Jeff Thomas, a businessman from Corsham, made the courageous decision to begin tackling Asthma head on by helping to raise awareness and much needed funds for research; but more importantly, to build a legacy in his daughter’s name.

Jeff, together with a small group of close friends, began this work with the formation of Antonia’s Riders Club, which undertook a number of fund raising cycling challenges.

“Originally we formed the group out of a general sense of helplessness,” says Jeff.

“There was nothing that we could do to turn the clock back but we knew that we needed to do something to honour Antonia’s life and provide a better outcome for Asthma sufferers today.”

Incredibly, Jeff, his family and friends have raised around £100,000 through their fund raising work and this is just the beginning.

This year will mark the 6th Anniversary of Antonia’s legacy and in just 4 weeks time, Jeff together with some well-known friends and colleagues are taking on their biggest challenge to date.

On June 20th, John Hall, former Bath and England rugby international and close friend of Jeff will be leading a group of 16 riders and 22 crew called ‘The Ruck and Rollers’ to take on one of the most gruelling sporting challenges in the world; the Race Across America (RAAM) to raise money for the charity Asthma UK. RAAM is one the most respected and

oldest endurance sports events in the world.

It is held aloft as the pinnacle of athletic achievement not only amongst the cycling fraternity but in the wider sporting community too.

It also has an interesting history. In 1982 four individuals raced from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Empire State Building in New York City. National television covered the race and it soon captivated the public’s imagination. In 1992 the option to introduce teams was added and this quickly became the most popular and fastest growing element of the race, teams in relay made it accessible to any fit cyclist.

The Ruck and Rollers comprise two teams made up of eight former rugby internationals and eight amateur riders; the rugby internationals are John Hall, Warwick Waugh, Rob Wainwright, Damian Cronin, Alix Popham, Colin Charvis, Denis McBride and Paddy Johns and to add in an extra bit of competition into the mix, they’ve split the teams into the under and over 50’s.

Both teams will have four rugby players each, plus four additional riders who will be supported by a crew of 22 people; all there to make sure that the riders make it from one side of America to the other as safely and quickly as possible.

Their goal will be to cover 3,000 miles in just 7 days and raise much needed awareness

and funds for Asthma UK. On average three people die every day from Asthma in the UK and tragically studies show that two thirds of these deaths could be prevented, clearly demonstrating the need for Asthma to be taken more seriously; better treatments made available and its profile raised.

Jeff and his family have shown immense courage and humility, taking what is clearly a personal tragedy and using their story to help other Asthma sufferers and their families doing something positive and meaningful.

However, there is still a long way to go and as Jeff explains he is just at the beginning of building his life with Antonia since she has passed.

“Antonia was a beautiful, energetic, loving, considerate and enchanting girl and we all miss her every day. Our hope is that her life and now her legacy will serve as an inspiration to others and ensure that Asthma is taken seriously.”

Jeff continues, “Our work and specifically these challenges provides important funds that could one day contribute to finding a cure and in turn change and save many lives.

It is a fitting legacy to our wonderful and much missed daughter”.

If you could like to donate to the Ruck and Rollers or help them with their fund-raising, please visit: www.ruckandrollers.com

COTSWOLD STYLE JUNE 2015 125

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His Word

The Cotswold Gent Cotswold Style’s new columnist exasperates over his attire for the season Upon finishing the unusually satisfactory news section of the Sunday Telegraph this past weekend – which described in some detail the demise of Miliband and chums, my attention was drawn to the weekend section – the front page of which was apparently given over to a rather curious instruction manual as to how to behave/dress/enjoy the operatic festival that is Glyndebourne. I say curious, because the guidance offered appeared to be directed at a group of notional readers who otherwise would have appeared at the opera as bewildered gypsies!

The very mention of this delightful component of our glorious English summer season, immediately triggered an alarming train of thought however and I was forced to extinguish my Cohiba prematurely (smoked in honour of recent political events you understand) and make haste to my dressing room to establish the readiness or otherwise of my essential summer kit. With Glyndebourne hoving... into view... as it were, it could only mean that Henley and Ascot are firmly on the horizon. This year, as a result of a number of rather disappointing wardrobe failures on my part, I had promised my dear wife that I would strive to achieve my sartorial potential.

It is a curious thing and a little known fact not well understood by the fairer sex, that a gentleman’s wardrobe can very often endure mysterious shrinkage year-on-year. That is to say, in my experience, very often I find that my dinner suit/morning coat/Henley blazer often become unaccountably smaller in the winter

months. Though highly alarming it may very well be due indirectly to global warming. I recall reading somewhere that dry cleaning companies were particularly hard hit by the ban on the use of CFCs in the preparation and cleaning of clothes. Accordingly I approached my dressing room with a degree of trepidation!

Now of course the shrinkage of the Henley blazer is of no great concern; every year I see many retired oarsman who struggle into their aforementioned stripy coats, manfully enduring the consequences of shrinkage (which I associate in this case with possible dampness due to the nature of the sport)! It is not at all unusual to observe sleeves that reach just past the elbow, whilst buttons and button holes have long since entered into decree absolute and are parted forever!

This arrangement is of course less acceptable at Ascot, where in recent years since “the great modernisation”, the Royal Enclosure has become overrun with preening dandys. Whilst their attention to detail in sporting 18th century frock coats and slightly lurid waistcoats is frankly remarkable, it is possible to determine the true cut of their gib with a crafty inspection of their headgear. A proper silk top hat is the pinnacle (obviously where else would it sit?) of gentlemanly elegance. These vintage creations are much treasured and very hard to secure. The rather utilitarian alternative of some ghastly baize or faux velvet separates the Gents from the Players! Of course a painful visit to Locke and Co. in St James’ will cure this difficulty but

it will require being separated from a few thousand Champagne tokens – an experience that the aforementioned dandys understandably seek to avoid!

My own investigations into the state of my summer kit once again provided evidence of the dreaded shrinkage. My sense of outrage at the possible cause left me contemplating an expedition to Stroud to have a frank exchange with the dry cleaners – however at this moment my delightful better half wandered into the dressing room and suggested the shrinkage may be due to my continuing to carry my winter conditioning so to speak.

Always a mistress of diplomacy, her remarks immediately tempered my desire to establish whether said dry cleaner had used sufficient CFCs in the preparation of my summer kit.

I glanced across my dressing room at the extremely modern clothes horse – which I have to say bears an uncanny resemblance to a stationary exercise machine and contemplated the true nature of my problem.

Returning my treasured kit to the armoire, I resolved that this would be the year – the year where I would commence the reversal of the shrinkage problem by taking radical steps to counteract this phenomenon with some of my own shrinkage.

As I wandered back downstairs in the direction of the drawing room, filled with determination to see the thing through, my nostrils filled with the delightful aroma of a rib of beef, roasting in the Aga... perhaps a trip to my tailor instead to ease and adjust the stressed fabric may be the way forward after all...

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WORLD W ORLD LD CUP Warm m Up Hatton Court, ourt, Upton St Leonar Leonards Friday 11th h September Join what will be a memorable night as we celebrate the World Cup coming to Gloucestershire with a World Cup winner and a number of rugby stars that have played at the very highest level, whilst raising funds for Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby and Cheltenham Rugby Club Clubhouse Refurbishment Fund.

The evening kicks off with a champagne reception followed by a three course dinner with the evening being rounded off with a live band and dancing.

We can offer you a number of sponsorship opportunities to promote your business at this exclusive event or tickets to enjoy the evening with family or friends.

Tickets are available at £60 per head (£600 for a table of ten) For more information and to book your table at The World Cup Warm Up Ball, please contact either Debz or Helen at: Debz Critchley 0771 363 0098 or debzcritchley@icloud.com Helen Wheeler 07775 607 945 or h.wheeler@hotmail.com

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Sandra Paul reflects on the General Election and…. parking t was the most exciting general election in my memory since 1997, when Labour took the country by storm. This time around, no-one could call it (and as we found out afterwards, many of the electorate changed their minds at the last minute or weren’t entirely truthful with the pollsters). Friday 8th May was electric – I found it hard to break away from the TV with political leaders resigning all over the place and commentators exhausted after 24 hours of manic activity, desperately trying to give sound bites.

As readers will be aware, I am slightly cynical about those in positions of power but I hope the enthusiasm and participation we’ve seen in the electorate

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continues. The only way to achieve this is by our politicians keeping firmly on the straight and narrow, abiding by the promises they make and showing restraint when it comes to claiming expenses, subsidies or allowances they may or may not be entitled to.

For the first time since 1987, the Cotswold region is blue and the Conservative MPs have hit the ground running, especially Alex Chalk, the newly elected Conservative MP for Cheltenham.

Hot on his list of tasks is the future of Cheltenham’s hospital but also in the mix is potholes (my personal bugbear) and parking.

Now the latter subjects may seem trivial to some but they are subjects nonetheless Sandra Paul discusses political issues with Alex Chalk MP for Cheltenham

that cause concern, consternation and much gnashing of teeth to a large number – parents trying to find parking bays near the supermarkets, shoppers attempting to support local businesses but being priced out because town parking is so expensive and rare – if you drive a car in this region you are likely to be frustrated by something.

However, it’s not just the lack of space that is causing some of you headaches, it is inappropriate use of parking spaces!

Apparently, there are some drivers using parking spaces that have been allocated to parents with children, without children actually being present in their car. And it’s upsetting those who follow the rules.

Why are some people so lazy they can’t walk that extra bit further and save these valuable spaces for those who need it? It’s unbelievable.

I must confess I am one of those people. In fact, just yesterday I was driving around a car park searching desperately for a large space to park my car – a normal space is not big enough if I am attempting to park without damaging any car adjacent. Anyhow, it turns out that the parent and kids spaces are huge! Perfect for parking-phobic motorists like myself. And I only use these spaces when I’m really pushed for time I promise. Or when it’s really empty!

And I told myself that since I have a child (although he wasn’t actually present), that in a court of law I could kind of try and persuade the judge that my parking wasn’t unlawful. I swear I am not a prolific user of car parking spaces that are not designed for me. And now it has been pointed out how much it irritates other people (I was going to say people with nothing else to moan about), I will endeavour to stop.

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

Turning the Big 4-0 Kate Justice has been celebrating… in Style ’m now 40. Yes – had the big one in May and I’ll admit to spending a (sensible) amount of time being depressed about it… although now that it’s happened, I’m learning to live with it – and we all know that growing old is the only possible alternative to dying young.

What to actually do to celebrate this ‘life event’ took a considerable amount of debating. My enthusiasm was thin on the run up: I was reluctant to have all my friends together at once and therefore not be able to properly catch up with any of them. I didn’t want to spend a fortune and I was basically just hoping the whole ‘leaving my 30s behind’ moment, might simply go away.

Husband, mother and BFFs were not so lacking in their fervour. Apparently one HAS to do something for a 40th and CANNOT let the milestone pass without festivities. In the end I agreed to a party at the local pub for a small group of people who mostly know each other… with a buffet and some £££ behind the bar.

No. Said Husband. We’ll have it at the house.

At this I panicked slightly – the pre-tidy

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required, made me feel like moving out and the thought of clearing up afterwards had me eyeing up the brandy at 10am.

Anyway, arms were twisted and reassurances were made about fingers and none of mine being lifted and plans were laid. I stuck to a guest list that included people I see regularly so that the pressure to circulate wouldn’t ruin things and so that everyone would feel comfortable helping themselves to drinks.

Isn’t it weird with house parties, when everyone insists on staying in the kitchen?

There was an initial awkward (sober), hour as people were arriving and the lack of bar tender was a little problematic... but once we’d all had a few and everyone knew where top-ups were, things were looking good.

Husband, mother and Scott from next door, worked extremely hard, spent a fortune and actually pulled it off.

Everyone ended up suitably inebriated and for the first time ever, we had a LIVE BAND in the house and disco lights – with lots of dancing – in the living room!

(I was very pleased about this until I saw the state of the carpet the next day).

There is also a pile of empty bottles the

size of a Ford Fiesta outside the back door and my downstairs cloakroom has been redecorated in red wine but other than that I think we got off lightly.

I had almost forgotten the huge bonus about having a party is all the presents you get. I am now the proud owner of a collection of Champagne worthy of royalty and enough flowers to start a florist. I think it would have been cheaper to have it at the pub and let them deal with food purchasing, cooking and clean up… but in fact when you look about and see 60 of your very own nearest and dearest crammed into every corner of your very own kitchen / utility / porch / lounge, you can’t help feeling warm and fuzzy. They were all at my house, for me.

And also… there’s nothing quite like having a disco in the front room to make you feel young again… which, let’s face it, is probably worth a ‘browny-black instead of beige’ carpet.

If you would like to share your stories with Kate Justice, please email the Editor at editor@stylemagazines.co.uk

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