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£2.50 CS
THE COTSWOLDS PREMIER LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER 2015
INTERVIEWS FASHION EVENTS INTERIORS PROPERTY BUSINESS• OCTOBER TRAVEL SPORT THE COTSWOLDS PREMIER LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 2015
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000 Contents November 15:Layout 1
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143
48 76
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12
NOVEMBER 2015
IN THIS ISSUE... 12
Real Life
16 19
The Cotswolds Market Towns
45 48 52 63 67 72 76 90
We meet National Hunt trainers, Nigel Twiston-Davies & Carl Llewellyn
This month we visit Winchcombe
Hot Property We feature some of the most beautiful properties that are for sale or to let in and around the Cotswolds
Mirror Mirror Clive Burling is in a reflective mood
Winter Warmers Perfect interiors for Christmas
The Barnhouse at The Lakes Kate Moss launches her first interiors project
Unbelievable! Looking at the skills of our Military Reservists
Cotswolds Culture Explaining the Legacy of the Letter
101 102 115 118 123 125 129 137 138
Making Memories
143 145 146
The Spectre
Turning selfies into jewellery
Christmas Gift Guide Unusual presents for the festive season
Explain The Market New technology for the farming community
Foraging Your Supper Hunting in the woods for delicious fare
The County Kitchen Restaurant review of award winning cafe
Backing the Happerley Vision The traceability of your meat
Caring for our Farmers Supporting The Addington Fund
The Open Looking at the form for Cheltenham Races
Out and About Your guide to the very best events happening in and around The Cotswolds this month
Castaway Collection This month we meet TV star, Anne Diamond
Mrs & Mr Jones Exploring the eternal city of Rome
London Fashion Week SS 2016 Exclusive interview with Paul Costelloe and we feature Jasper Conran
Test driving Aston Martin’s new DB9 GT
COMPETITION Win WW1 Sporting Heroes Books
The beauty of Autumn Kate Justice admires our local farmers
SOCIAL SCENE: 15 Book Launch 79 Beards Diamond Rush 134 Whatley Manor International Horse Trials COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 5
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000 Editors Welcome November 15:Layout 1
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Style Editor’s Letter Partner Mark Cuzner 07983 179225 mark@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
COTSWOLD STYLE Cotswold Style: Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1TA Switchboard: 01242 220239 Accounts: 01384 410603 Email: office@stylemagazines.co.uk Publisher: Ray Siviter
www.cotswoldstyle.co.uk @CotswoldStyle Twitter followers
22,203 CotswoldStyleMagazine Facebook fans
5,176 Cover image: Kate Moss Interiors at The Lakes by yoo Photography: Mel Yates
Cotswold Style is published monthly by Live 24Seven Ltd, based at Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Glos, 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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Welcome
At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ended. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, bereft of manpower and supplies and faced with imminent invasion, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies. The First World War left nine million soldiers dead, 21 million wounded and at least five million civilians died from disease, starvation, or exposure. 2015 has marked the 70th Anniversary commemorations of VJ Day, when the Japanese surrendered and the Second World War finally ended with over 60 million dead. This November we will ‘Remember’ all that have died for their country and continue to think of our acting service personnel in the military and those who work so tirelessly in our security services, especially in this county. In this month’s edition of Cotswold Style, we read about two memorable sporting history books; moving obituaries to Britain’s international rugby players and first class cricketers who died in action during the First World War and Cotswold Culture writer, Susan Blanchfield explores the letters of comfort that were sent to those in the trenches during this dreadful period. Staying with the military theme, columnist Sandra Paul has been finding out about the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, a local organisation now recruiting Reservists to serve their country and the benefits this brings to their civilian work life. November sees the second biggest racing festival at Cheltenham, The Open. Racing correspondent Nigel Aplin has met with one of the Cotswolds’ most illustrious trainer’s, Nigel Twiston-Davies and his assistant Carl Llewellyn discussing why they have become so successful in National Hunt racing. He also offers his usual thoughts and tips in this month’s racing column dedicated to the November meet. Local farming is under the spotlight. From the new technologies that are available to farmers as detailed by Guy Shone in his Explain The Market column; the traceability of locally reared meat from Happerley Farm and we introduce you to a fabulous charity, The Addington Fund which provides financial assistance to our farmers in times of crises. Cookery writer Shelle Duffin has also been in the great outdoors foraging for her supper in Northleach while Kate Justice commends the hardships her next door-neighbouring farmer has to endure. Cotswold Style’s Fashion Photographer, Stef Calleja-Gera went to London Fashion Week looking at collections from the spring / summer 2016 catwalks. She gained an exclusive interview with leading British designer Paul Costelloe whose clothes are available locally in House of Fraser and at Gloucester Quays. So plenty to read in this month’s Cotswold Style and many thanks to those of you who have contacted me to say how much you are enjoying the new design of the magazine! Best wishes,
Emma Logan, Editor editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 9
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Box Bo x Office: Office: 01684 01684 295074 295074 Sun Str Street, eet, T Tewkesbury, ewkessburyy, Glos. GL20 5NX The Roses is a Registered Register e ed Charity, Charity, no. no. 1051708 1051708 10 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
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COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 11
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REAL LIFE INTERVIEW
NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES & CARL LLEWELLYN Cotswold Style’s Racing Correspondent, Nigel Aplin headed to Grange Hill Farm to meet with the Cotswolds’ great National Hunt trainers PHOTOGRAPHY: ANGUS BETHUNE here is an image I can’t quite get out of my mind. It is quite simply this. In the midst of the Cotswolds there lies a vale, a rather magical vale, as in Middle Earth, difficult to find. As in Middle Earth it is inhabited by a mythical like creature, a Hobbit, unusually shy but nevertheless capable of great courage and amazing feats. So it is with Nigel Twiston-Davies. He is as no other trainer of horses is. He does not talk expansively to the press as to how wonderful his horses are. He does not strut and pose around paddocks flirting with potential owners. He does not indulge in sycophantic platitudes, labels or bottles of Bollinger. He just doesn’t do one of the great National Hunt trainers of his time. For that he is. He has trained over 1000 winners under National Hunt rules including two winners of the Grand National with Earth Summit in 1998 and Bindaree in 2002 and the winner of the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Imperial Commander. Nigel grew up in Herefordshire surrounded by horses. He was a member of his local pony club and also did show jumping and hunting, before becoming an amateur jockey and spending time in stables at Lambourn and Worcestershire. He moved to Naunton thirty four years ago, firstly as a farmer and then, when business took a turn for the worse, turning it into stables and starting his training career in 1989. Earth Summit was ridden by Nigel’s stable jockey of nineteen years, Carl Llewellyn who is now the assistant at Grange Hill Farm and official spokesman for the taciturn Twiston-Davies.
T
Nigel Twiston-Davies
Feigning complete frustration and disdain, for jockeys don’t do flattery, Llewellyn sees well the ‘genius’ underneath the shabby demeanour and duffel coat, “Framed in the office, you’ll see Nigel’s old school reports, he was bloody clever, quite the academic, he’s the same with the horses, he sees things others don’t, he will try out things others don’t, he’s very unconventional but he’ll bring out the best in a horse that hasn’t done anything before.” Llewellyn should know, an accomplished and successful horseman in his own right. He started his riding for his farmer father Eryl, riding in point to points graduating to riding under rules. He began as an amateur with Stan Mellor and Jim Old, his first winner being Stargestic, trained by Roy Robinson, at Wolverhampton on March 14, 1986. He celebrated his first big race victory when landing the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the 1988 Cheltenham Festival on Smart Tar for trainer Mark Wilkinson. The year 1992 was one of great achievement when he partnered Tipping Tim to win the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase at The Festival, before gaining another high-profile victory on >>
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Style Interview board Tipping Tim when taking what is now the Paddy Power Gold Cup, “My greatest day’s racing was winning that day on Tipping Tim, I loved the horse.” Carl's record as a jockey stands the closest scrutiny and with two Grand National wins to his credit, the first on the Nick Gaselee trained giant 18.1 hands Party Politics also in 1992 and the second in 1998 on the Twiston-Davies trained Earth Summit, he can truly be called top class. Carl has had more than his fair share of luck in winning the National twice, as he is the first to admit. On both occasions he was a substitute jockey when regular riders Andy Adams and Tom Jenks suffered serious injuries preventing them from riding. It hasn't always gone Carl's way as he turned down the chance to ride Bindaree in the 2002 National and instead was unseated from Beau, leaving Jim Culloty to ride the winner. “The Grand National was always the race I wanted to win, my first memory being that of Red Rum and Crisp, I supported Liverpool football club from when I was very young so Aintree was close by. I also love Liverpool as a city so the race stood out for me. Of all the races the National is more of a test and a challenge, just to get round but to win it is just the pinnacle.” Like all jockeys, he has practically broken every bone in his body and even returned from a jockeys challenge match in Russia with bruised ribs, lungs, kidneys and a stiff neck but kept bouncing back. He has also broken legs, his left arm, collarbone and dislocated his elbow. His best ever season as a jockey was during the 1997/98 season when he rode 82 winners. He also rode seven Cheltenham Festival winners in all. Llewellyn gives voice to the stable but disagrees that he and Twiston-Davies are poles apart, “We’re very similar really,
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riding wise we always get on very well and working with somebody who is actually a friend makes working an awful lot easier. When I was stable jockey here, we socialised a lot and celebrated all the time, work hard and play very hard. In those days when there was no Sunday racing, we had long Sunday lunches and parties.” The venue for much of the stable’s fun, frolics and frivolity is in nearby Guiting Power at The Hollow Bottom, a racing pub festooned with racing memorabilia and memories, still very much the social hub for the stable and a place to savour the ups and downs of racing fortune. Jockeys have their own modus operandi which is a factor often overlooked by the casual eye. Llewellyn likes to do everything from the front in all aspects of his life but especially when a jockey. “The way Nigel wanted his horses ridden suited the way I rode; one of my greatest weaknesses was that I wasn’t good at holding horses up, I was never one to be posing at the back sitting motionless and that was perfect for Nigel and his horses.” Plotting future campaigns for racehorses is very much part of a stable’s daily strategic planning rather like that a 19th century general, Imperial Commander as in Nigel’s Gold Cup winner. “Nigel and I look at the entry book first thing in the morning, in between morning gallops and if we think a horse is ready, we’ll find an entry for it. Some of them are planned weeks in advance, especially for the better horses who are aimed at the top races.” Interestingly Llewellyn does not see any of their owners as motivated by backing their horses, “It’s very difficult to set a horse up for a race, it’s not what our owners really want, they can have a bet but Nigel specialises in getting the best out of any horse especially if they haven’t been successful elsewhere.”
A few years ago, Nigel Twiston-Davies was close to winding down his training operation and returning to his first love of farming. He has two sons in Sam and Willie, both jockeys, “The boys had given me a fresh incentive to go on and have more winners, the last thing I wanted to do was let them down by easing off. I support them all I can. That’s what fathers do.” At the Cheltenham Festival in 2010, minutes after Imperial Commander had won the Gold Cup, Nigel saddled Baby Run to win the Foxhunters under eldest son Sam, a feat sixteen year old younger brother, Willie, was to repeat on the same horse in the Aintree Foxhunters the following year. According to Llewellyn, Sam has inherited his father’s knack for reading horses, “They both understand horses in the way others don’t, there’s something in their minds that make them think differently, Sam knows exactly what to do with a horse and when to do it.” Clearly Sam is one day destined to be Champion Jockey as he now has the plumb job of stable jockey to Champion National Hunt trainer, Paul Nicholls. In some ways the yard reflects TwistonDavies’s personality but in others not. An old London double decker bus acting as a stand for owners to watch the horses on the gallops is indicative of Nigel’s quirkiness. The outgoing friendliness of the yard is not altogether expected. It is very friendly and every lad and lass will speak to you with warmth and sincerity. There’s Richard ‘Sparky’ Bevis, head lad who started life as an electrician, Jim Old, veteran of National Hunt racing, trainer of Collier Bay who won the Champion Hurdle and rides out every morning. From every box there’s vibrancy, an intuitive beat and pulse, pricked in the ears of horses who know they’re in the hands of a master who reads their every twitch and turn; a reluctant horse whisperer who knows how to win.
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Style Event
Mo Hayder, Helen Maslin, Steve Maslin and Ginny Champion
Maddie Parrott, David Wares and Sarah Adams
Jackie Kabler Sophie Hall and Sarah McKinnon
Emma Logan, KB and Sarah McKinnon
Ellie Barker and Robert Murphy
Jackie Kabler Book Launch Greg Rees, Jackie Kabler and Hazel Cushion
Broadcaster and former GMTV, BBC and ITN reporter Jackie Kabler, launched her debut exciting crime novel, ‘The Dead Dog Day’, set in Cheltenham and London. The launch party was held at Anthology Bookshop in Cheltenham, which was attended by many guests and other well-known authors. Photography by Angus Bethune
Jackie Kabler and Katie Fforde Richard Payne and Gill Hoyle
Sue Corlett, Toby Moate, Sophie and David Hall Jodie Taylor, Nikki Owen and Hazel Cushion
COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 15
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Market towns of the Cotswolds
WINCHCOMBE This month we explore Winchcombe – A Town of History and Celebration WORDS BY ANNA SANDERS AND IMAGES COURTESY OF COTSWOLDS TOURISM
Arts, Shops, a Castle & Time for Tea
Winchcombe has a wonderful timeless quality about it, Cotswold stone cottages enhanced by black and white halftimbered buildings, narrow side streets and charming houses make up the centre of this fabulous Cotswold town, now famous as being a centre for walkers. Set above the River Isbourne, Winchcombe is arguably the hidden jewel in the Cotswold crown. A wander down Castle or Vineyard Street will show you rows of lovely cottages and the beauty of the Cotswolds countryside. One of the loveliest rows of cottages in the country is Dent’s Terrace. These almshouses with their beautiful fronts and gardens are the work of Emma Dent (owner of Sudeley 16 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
Castle from the 1850’s) who forged strong links between the town and the castle and had strong philanthropic values. As well as the town centre, must see places include Sudeley Castle with its 1,000 years of royal history and stunning gardens; St. Peter’s Church which is home to an altar cloth made by Catherine of Aragon and 40 grotesques (which are shaped to look like local characters of the 1460’s) or one of the other town attractions – Winchcombe Pottery, the Folk and Police Museum or the Railway Museum. Sudeley Castle has of course shut down for the winter season but re-opens again in April to show of its garden displays and fascinating historic exhibitions including the recent ‘20
Treasures of Sudeley Exhibition’. Winchcombe has been forging its way forward recently as a centre for walkers with ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status and many lovely footpaths with interesting things to see enroute. You can visit a remote Roman Villa (Spoonley Wood), Belas Knap Long Barrow a Neolithic burial site, as well as climb to the top of the Cotswolds scarp and get fantastic views. Winchcombe is at the meeting point of several longer distance walking routes including The Cotswold Way, The Gloucestershire Way and the recently developed Winchcombe Way. They host an annual walking festival in May which offers a wide variety of walks with local guides.
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Style Towns
What’s On in Winchcombe and nearby: November: 13: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Lunchtime Fish & Chips. Tel: 01242 621405 www.gwsr.com
December: 1: Winchcombe Christmas Festival 5pm – 8pm street stalls, local choirs and music. Tel: 01242 604654 www.winchcombe.co.uk
5 – 6, 12 – 13, 19 – 21 and 23 - 24:
Christmas in the Cotswolds 1st December 5 – 8pm On the 1st December, Winchcombe hosts a Cotswold Christmas Festival brimming with music, festive food, gift stalls and entertainment. Shopkeepers, restauranteurs, and publicans in the charming Cotswold town are inviting visitors to come and celebrate the festive season in style at the popular one-night Festival on Tuesday 1st December. The festival will have around 40 stallholders in the town centre with ideas for Christmas gifts and delicious festive food. The evening will also have an exciting line-up of seasonal, live entertainment. For gift hunters there will
be stalls laden with jewellery, ironwork, sweets, pottery, cakes, preserves, paintings, cards, home ware, glass and decorations. Many of the town’s shops and cafes will also be opening late and serving mulled wine and mince pies to get people into the festive spirit. There will be a whole host of entertainment including a special visit from Father Christmas who will be greeting children in his Guide Hall grotto with a team of excited elves; dancing, singing and a Mummer’s Play by Winchcombe’s Happenstance Border Morris; carols from Winchcombe Church Choirs, Winchcombe Community Choir and young voices from Isbourne Valley Infant School Choir and Winchcombe Hand Bell Ringers and Winchcombe Concert Brass will be performing. Make sure you come along to Winchcombe to get into the festive spirit.
Santa Specials at GWR - visit Santa either from Cheltenham by train and visit Santa in his Grotto or from Toddington with Santa and his elves on board the train. Tel: 01242 621405 www.gwsr.com 12 and 19: Free parking in Winchcombe town centre. 18: Carols at the Castle, Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe 6pm - £5. Tel: 01242 602308 www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 29 – 30: Mixed Traction Christmas Cracker - intensive steam and diesel running. Tel: 01242 621405 www.gwsr.com Winchcombe Tourist Information Centre: T: 01242 602925 Open winter weekends only www.winchcombewelcomes walkers.com www.winchcombe.co.uk For more information on the Cotswolds visit: www.cotswolds.com
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PROPERTY
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Norton, No rton, G Gloucestershire lou ucestershire A ccharming harming p part-thatched art-thatched period period cottage cottage believed believed to to date date b back a k to ac to 11781 781 w with ith newer newer additions giving ad ditions g iving a pleasing pleasing blend blend of of the the old old and and the the new new inside, inside, with with further further scope scope in in the the garden/gym possible annexe. g arden/gym room room ffor or a p ossible a nnexe.
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Hewlett Road, Cheltenham Setting the scene: A superb period town house which has been remodelled and extended to create a stunning family home close to Cheltenham town centre Why we love it: The accommodation is arranged over three floors with a reception hall, cloak room, sitting room (with sash windows and feature fireplace) a superb kitchen/family room with under floor heating and bi folding doors to a generous garden and a separate utility room and cellar. Upstairs, there are four good sized bedrooms, 2 of which have en-suite bath/shower rooms and built in wardrobes and a bathroom.Outside, the house has gravelled frontage and wrought iron railings. The rear contemporary styled gardens are west facing and include a detached garage with electric door and off road parking.EPC rating C. Guide price: ÂŁ650,000 harry.bethell@knightfrank.con knightfrank.co.uk/Cheltenham 01242 246959
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Gretton, Nr. Winchcombe Setting the scene: A delightful 5 bedroom family home within a select development with beautiful gardens and wellappointed and well-proportioned accommodation, all set within the heart of the North Cotswolds. Why we love it: Arranged over two floors and centring around a large galleried reception hall and landing which provides a feeling of space and light throughout the house. The drawing room is a room of particular note with a stone fireplace providing a focal point and triple aspects which floods the room with light. There is access to the rear garden via the French doors. There is a formal dining room towards the front of the house and a study to the rear with further French doors to the garden. The generous kitchen/breakfast room looks out onto the south west facing garden at the rear and has a utility room off. The first floor of the property has well balanced proportions with all of the bedrooms being doubles. The master bedroom has a wellappointed, recently fitted en-suite and some of the best views, looking out over the garden. There is a guest suite, 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom. The garden is very private with rolling lawns, a large patio and ornamental pond. Enclosed by mature hedging and well stocked with a mixture of hardy evergreen shrubs and herbaceous planting. The property is within walking distance of the highly regarded Winchcombe School. To the front there is a double garage and workshop. EPC rating C. Guide price ÂŁ950,000; Knight Frank Cheltenham nick.chivers@knightfrank.com COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 29
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Hot Property
Armstrong Road, Cheltenham Setting the scene: A stunning example of this detached Bloor home, occupying possibly the best plot on the site. Why we love it: Finished to the very highest standard including oak flooring on the ground floor, ceramic tiles in the bathrooms, and a soft water purifying system throughout. A family home ready for a new owner and spread over three floors. The ground floor provides The stunning kitchen / diner with fitted appliances. A WC, utility room and the lounge. The first floor provides three bedrooms, one with walk in wardrobe and en-suite and the family bathroom. The top floor provides the final bedroom with a changing room and another en-suite. There is also a single garage with an additional office space to the rear. Guide Price: ÂŁ430,000 Details: Elliot Oliver, Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 321091 www.elliotoliver.co.uk
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Hot Property
Tilney Road, Cheltenham Setting the scene: Contemporary detached three bedroom designer bungalow hidden behind electric gates. Why we love it: This modern high spec property is located at the end of a secluded cul de sac just off Pittville Gardens and comes furnished. The property consists of three bedrooms, living room with bi-folding doors which allows the low maintenance decking area to become part of the entertaining space, state of the art kitchen with appliances, master bathroom with bath and ceiling waterfall tap system, integrated wall mounted steam resistant tv, shower cubicle with touch control unit, utility room with washing machine and shower cubicle and storage cupboard. This property has had no expense spared and offers: under floor heating, electric door entry system with camera and tv screen, alarm system, built-in speaker system, wall mounted tv in kitchen and bedroom, sliding doors from bedrooms to south facing decking area and off road parking for several cars. Guide Price: ÂŁ1,500 per calendar month Details: Elliot Oliver, Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 321091 www.elliotoliver.co.uk COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 31
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Hot Property
Charlton Kings, Cheltenham Setting the scene: Spitfire presents Roselands, five thoughtfully designed detached houses, each individually designed to a high specification with a southerly aspect, in the heart of Charlton Kings village. LAST 2 REMAINING Why we love it: This development is located on Church Street in the attractive village area of Charlton Kings which is within walking distance of good pubs and amenities. The houses have generous gardens and accommodation that is perfect for families. Balcarras School is a short walk away too. Guide Price: ÂŁ850,000 & ÂŁ865,000 Freehold Details: Hamptons, Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 639414 cheltenham@hamptons-int.com 32 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
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Bisley, Stroud Setting the scene: Bisley is a beautiful picturesque village set high in the Cotswolds. Its church and other buildings date back hundreds of years and are steeped in history. It offers true country living while remaining in close proximity of local towns, four miles from Stroud, twelve miles from Cheltenham, ten miles from Cirencester and with close links to the M5 and M4 motorways. This popular and thriving village has a shop and a post office, two pubs and a primary school. Why we love it: A beautifully presented extended four bedroom family home tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac in the peaceful village of Bisley, near Stroud, comprising of: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms + downstairs WC, 3 reception rooms, utility room and beautiful gardens. This is a rare opportunity to acquire in this village, chain free, a generously proportioned property that still has potential for further growth. An excellent secondary school is approximately two miles away. Bisley really does offer something for everyone. EPC:D. Guide price: ÂŁ500,000 Me And You Estate Agents, Cheltenham 01242 584007 mark@meandyouestateagents.co.uk www.meandyouestateagents.co.uk
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Hot Property
Be the first to view stunning new homes at
REGENCY PLACE If you’re looking to take a step up the property ladder in the beautiful surroundings of Cheltenham, look no further than Regency Place. Nestled beneath Cleeve Hill, one of
proximity to some of the country’s finest schools & colleges, as well as all the nearby amenities, bars and cafes that the town has to offer. Just launched is a collection of
the highest positions in the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is one of England’s most famous Regency Spa towns and is known as the Western Gateway to the Cotswolds, boasting historic architecture such as intricate ironwork balconies and promenades, squares and terraces. Regency Place is an exclusive, private, gated development perfectly located between Winchcombe Street and Albion Street in the heart of Cheltenham. So convenient is the location that if you work in the town, you can enjoy a leisurely walk to work, or meet friends for dinner, or the theatre and stroll home. The development also benefits from excellent transport links, close
three-storey townhouses designed in a style that perfectly complements the existing architecture at Regency Place ideal for young professionals, downsizers and families-alike. On the ground floor is an open-plan kitchen/dining room – perfect for entertaining guests or keeping an eye on the kids while you’re cooking dinner – and for those that work from home, there’s also a study. On the first floor is the generously-sized living room – perfect for relaxing with a glass of wine in the evening – along with the smaller of the three bedrooms and a bathroom. The second floor is home to the master bedroom which has a stunning en-suite, as
well as another large bedroom which has its own terrace overlooking beautiful street views. These homes also include a soughtafter parking space. All homes at the development have been thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of the modern homeowner whilst keeping the elegance and sophistication synonymous with Cheltenham Spa. Enhanced by contemporary finishes and features, Regency Place is a development with the wow-factor and the specification of the interiors are no less impressive. If you’ve got a penchant for dinner parties, the sleek, contemporary kitchens designed by Paula Rosa Manhattan are not to be missed as they come with integrated Bosch appliances and an abundance of storage space. You’ll also be pleased to know that Crest Nicholson is committed to providing environmentally sensitive and well-built, sustainable developments – and Regency Place is no exception. It boasts lowenergy lighting, thermal-efficient windows and energy-efficient heating and hot water systems. All new homes are also four times more energy-efficient than other period properties in Cheltenham and generate over 60% less CO2 emissions so you'll also benefit from lower energy bills. Stunning three bedroom townhouses have just been released with prices starting from £395,000. With the first terrace of houses scheduled to be complete in December, you could be in your new home early in the New Year. The show home, situated on Gloucester Place, will be coming soon so what are you waiting for? Pop in and see us at our Sales & Marketing Suite and register to receive a VIP invite to the show home launch.
For more information about Regency Place and the homes available, visit the on-site sales and marketing suite or contact Crest Nicholson on 01242 504922, email regencyplace@crestnicholson.com www.crestnicholson.com/regencyplace/ or find us on Facebook at:www.facebook.com/CrestNicholsonMidlands. 34 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
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INTERIORS
Building Modern Country Homes
www.yorkeconstruction.co.uk
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Kitchen: Contemporary High Black Gloss handle-less kitchen with touch doors. Be-spoke Black 20mm worktop has been used for the work surface. Black glass splash backs. All Appliances are Stainless Steel from Smeg. Grespania 120x120mm porcelain Grey floor tiles.
Bathroom: Antonio Lupi ILBAGNO basin and unit configuration. The base of the unit is made of a solid wood American Walnut, and the front and open side units are finished in a glossy lacquer, with the top and integrated bowl in marble. Antonio Lupi Polished Chrome wall mounted Timbro brassware. The Luxor bevelled mirror shown above the basin.
41- 47 Fairview Rd, Cheltenham, GL52 2EJ
01242 237241 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5:00pm Saturdays
Sycamore Barn, Bourton Industrial Park, Bourton on the Water GL54 2HQ
01451 414234 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday 9.00am - 4:00pm Saturdays
www.obsidian-interiors.co.uk
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The perfect choice Glevum are one of the largest independent installer of conservatories, doors and windows in the south-west. A family-run firm, we have worked with customers for over 30 years to enhance and protect their homes with our high-quality range of products installed by our experienced team. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and much of our business comes from recommendation. More than 40,000 customers throughout Gloucestershire and beyond now benefit from the security and quality of Glevum doors, windows and conservatories. Exceptional product quality and customer service Whether you are looking for a brand new conservatory, replacement windows or advice on how double-glazing units can help with your energy bills, Glevum has the experienced team to help you. From design through to installation, we treat your home with as much care as if it was our own; our installers tidy up every day and our dedicated aftercare service team are there to advise you on your new uPVC doors and windows. We use only the highest quality product range, made locally which complements Glevum’s experience and reputation for trust and customer service.
Visit www.glevum.co.uk to see our latest special offers.
Call us today on: 0800 33 22 55 Why not visit us online at: www.glevum.co.uk for your instant online quote or come and see us at our showrooms at: Broadoak, Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire GL14 1JF
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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Cirencester Kitchen & Cabinet Maker joins industry Ombudsman Parlour Farm, bepsoke kitchen and cabinet makers, has joined The Furniture Ombudsman. The Furniture Ombudsman specialising in providing Alternative Dispute Resolution solutions for consumers and retailers in the furnture and home improvement industries. It
Parlour Farm joins The Furniture Ombudsman to show its ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction also aims to raise standards, improve services and inpsire consumer confidence. The team at Parlour Farm said: “We’re
delighted to have become members of The Furnture Omdudsman, we take their code of practise very seriously, which we hope will give you even more assuarnce that you are deadling with a proffessional and caring company that truly offers a bespoke kitchen service.” Kevin Grix, Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive of The Furniture Ombudsman, said: “It is always pleasing when a retailer wishes to highlight their responsle business practices, and we are therefore delighted to welcome Parlour farm as members of The Furniture Ombudsman. Our keys aims are to inspire consumer confidence and help raise indusctry standards, and our ability to achieve these increases with each business that becomes a member of our service.” For more information about The Furniture Obudsman, please visit www.the furnitureombudsman.org
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The PERFECT MATCH Intuitive intelligent and ‘all about you’. Bang & Olufsen’s new music system has tamed technology to bring the physical charms of music back into your home “Imagine tecnology as a wild cat, like a tiger or jaguar, that you invite into your home”, says Bang & Olufsen’s creative lead for BeoSound Moment Lyle Clarke, with a lean smile and something of a tigerish glint in his own eye. “We tame the tiger – make it domesticated – so it behaves as it should in the house.” In this exciting era of “Web 3.0’, cloud computing and ‘the Internet of things’, we are welcoming more technology into our homes than ever before. A whole world of entertainment, information and convenience is opening up in our living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and studies. The problem is, all this opportunity and choice can feel a little, well, overwhelming. “Over the whole of Bang & Olufsen’s 90-year history we’ve worked on taming complex, powerful technology for people to make it simpler and easier to live with – from the first ‘one touch’ radios of the 1930s to our automatic CD changers like BeoSound 9000 in the 80s, and everything besides,” explains Clarke. “So as a company we have learnt a wealth of valuable lessons about innovation and interpreting people’s needs progressively, which we use in our research and development work today.” BeoSound Moment is the very latest in a long line of elegantly tamed technological wild cats to be released by Bang & Olufsen over this long history. It’s already trained to perform one task perfectly which is to simplify and organise the huge choice of music we now have at our fingertips, beautifully, intuitively and intelligently, with no distractions. It is also ready to learn more about your unique music tastes from the ultimate expert: you. Simply touch the smooth wooden 40 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
interface to start the music playing. After a few weeks BeoSound Moment’s intelligent algorithms will have learnt what you like to listen to at certain times of day – whether it is breakfast radio shows or classical in the morning; jazz or indie rock in the evening – so you won’t have to think about it at all. Pick up the detachable double sided interface from its base and you can browse through both your music collections and online streaming services, either by artist and album names, or feel your way towards something new to suit the ‘moment’ with the circular, rainbow-coloured ‘MoodWheel’. It all feels and sounds luxuriously simple, but behind this beautifully designed, graceful appearance is an enormously complex body of work. A collaborative network of specialist teams – engineers, designers and concept managers – have channeled intensive research, insight and inspiration into the innovative user interface. Take the development of the MoodWheel element, for instance... “First we were inspired by Geothe – the 18th-century German thinker and writer – who was fascinated with the idea that music, emotion and colour were all somehow one and the same,” explains Clarke with typically upbeat energy.
“While studying emotions we learnt about the theory of the ‘Circumplex Model’ – a way to map emotions in a seamless circle that was developed by JA Russell in the 80s – and the concept for the MoodWheel began to come together very naturally.” “The final part was mapping the exact colour areas to the particular moods. We realised that emotional associations with colour comes from the seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter; growth, relaxation, joy and energy, regret, melancholy and reflection – which flows in a kind of circle. And this mapped perfectly to our range of moods. IT was like a jigsaw puzzle that made itself in a natural, organic way.” Making sense of the puzzling array of music that’s stored invisibly on our hard drives or in ‘the cloud’, so that browsing it feels easy and natural, is what makes using BeoSound Moment feel like such a luxury in our informationoverloaded times.
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That simple pleasure of leafing through the artwork of your LP collection, or choosing your favourite CD cover from the stack, is now contained in one beautiful and tactile system: one that’s got 90 years of Bang & Olufsen’s historic excellence, innovation and experience behind it. Plus, BeoSound Moment is always learning more about what you would like to hear next, without you even thinking about it. Just invite BeoSound Moment into your world. It’s the perfect match.
Based on excerpts from Jens Bang’s book Bang & Olufsen: from Spark to Icon, published in 2005. Peter Bang & Svend Olufsen had much in common. Both were raised in middleclass homes in Denmark at the birth of modernity, as the 19th century powered into the 20th. Both had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, of mechanics in particular, and became qualified engineers at Aarhus University in 1924. Both shared a passionate desire to experiment, and dreamed of following paths in life less trodden. But, with their unique personalities and instinct ways of working, they were very different people. Different in ways that would positively shape the success of their company that celebrates 90 years of operation this year. Peter was an innovator: a child obsessed
with electrical experiments and borrowing his parents’ money for new batteries. He as a young man who believed passionately in innovation at a time when radio was barely a fledgling technology in Europe. Immediately upon graduating he travelled to America – where radio was booming – working as a petrol station attendant to pay his way and also at a radio factory, just to get closer to the booming industry with which he was enchanted. He was, throughout his life, known for being intensely focused on his work. Svend was – even as a child – what we call today a ’people person’. Blessed with charm, charisma and the knack of persuading others to lend him a hand when he needed it. He was often seen as quirky and unconventional: someone who did things his own way. But when it came to the year of his graduation, even his most charming efforts could not persuade
Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen
anyone he knew to help support him with his beloved experiments in radio. It was in 1925 that Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen were introduced by a mutual friend, Simon Petersen, who himself shied away from the ‘eccentric’ tests that Svend was conducting in the secluded tower room of his family’s estate – Quistrup – in Struer, Denmark. Simon also knew of Peter’s recent trip to America, his passion for radio experients and avant-garde engineering. Simon thought that the two men, equally extravagant in their commitment to the radio’s untested technology should meet, and put the two in touch. Peter and Svend met in the tower room and discovered like minds. They immediately settled down to work on the radio receiver they hoped to co-develop. Svend’s mother, Anna, gave the team supporting funds from selling the eggs produced by her chickens, despite her husband’s scepticism of the young men’s ideas. So with the help of a chicken – or an egg – Bang & Olufsen was born.
15 The Courtyard, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SR Tel: 01242 578757 cheltenham@bang-olufsen.co.uk www.bang-olufsen.com/cheltenham
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Carpet Emporium is truly a family business run by Don D’Ambrosio along with his wife Mary and cousin John who have successfully built up a carpet business with a ‘difference’. We are not your normal carpet business with just lots of pattern books or samples to choose from, we actually probably stock more carpet rolls and large room sized remnants than other carpet business in Gloucestershire. When people think of a carpet remnant they think of a small piece suitable for a small bedroom, but the remnants we stock are big enough to carpet several rooms.
the difference is...
WHY CARPET REMNANTS? We also stock full rolls which will carpet a complete house. Many of these offer our customers a discount of up to 50% off normal retail prices. All remnants are perfect we do not sell factory seconds. We offer budget priced remnants to top quality 80% Wool Twist and 100% Wool Berbers, we also have many wool carpets that are now mothproof. If you cannot find what you are looking for in our extensive stock selection of over 250 rolls, we also have over 500 samples of carpets and rugs from all leading carpet manufactures in the UK and Europe. RUGS We also carry a huge range of rugs all from stock from bargain priced polypropylenes to 100% Wool Natural, plains and patterned. Many of the rugs stocked are discontinued lines which represent a big saving on normal prices. VINYLS Over 250 designs and styles of top quality vinyls available, from marble, wood, tile effect and many contemporary designs. DIVAN BEDS & MATTRESSES We have a large selection of different quality mattresses from budget priced open coil, to high quality 3000 pocket sprung, and also superb quality natural latex options. All beds and mattresses can be delivered direct from stock. WHY PURCHASE FROM CARPET EMPORIUM Carpet Emporium aim to make your carpet buying experience as easy as possible, we offer a measuring and planning service free of charge. We have experienced carpet fitters which we can fully recommend or we can deliver carpets direct to your premises for your own fitter to install. We have been providing flooring and rugs in the Cheltenham area for over 35 years.
Customer satisfaction is crucial to our business and we will always endeavour to bring our customer the best service and most competitive prices we possibly can.
01242 22 88 55
Give us a try before you buy we GUARANTEE value for money!
16-28 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HA Open 9am-5pm Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAYS – 9am-6.30pm
carpetemporium@hotmail.com | www.carpetemporium.co.uk
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MIRROR MIRROR! This month Clive Burling is in a reflective mood... irrors have always fascinated me. It probably has something to do with the fact that whenever we look into them we always see a favourite image. Ourselves! Painting them (or rather the frames that surround them) was a natural progression from painting furniture and it's something I can always see myself doing. OK, now we've got all the mirror puns out of the way, let's take a few moments to look at how mirrors have always been an important part of our lives. The first mirrors were pools or pots of still water and not terribly practical, although Narcissus was a big fan. The earliest manufactured mirrors appeared over 8,000 years ago, made of polished stone. Once the Venetians developed a coating using tin and mercury in the 16th century, mirrors became highly desirable, although they were highly toxic and hugely expensive, until the development of the silvered glass mirror in 1835, which has remained largely unchanged and in use today. Now mirrors are used almost everywhere, from telescopes, cameras, optical instruments, televisions, projectors, lasers and solar panels. The use of mirrored glass in architecture can look stunning, although less popular now after several examples of the sun reflecting off these buildings melted parts of cars
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parked nearby and even plastic shopping bags carried by passing pedestrians. One building in Las Vegas was renamed the 'Fryscraper' as a result! Artists have used mirrors too, not just for self-portraits but also within paintings, quite often with impossible reflections being depicted. The use of mirrors in comedy has produced some real classics, my favourite without a doubt being the Groucho/Harpo mirror routine in 'Duck Soup' (a viewing on You Tube is highly recommended!) What's all this got to do with Interiors I hear you ask? Well, having observed that mirrors are everywhere, they are not always used to their full potential. They are much more than mere 'looking glasses' to admire one-self
and can be used to create fantastic visual effects. A correctly positioned mirror can change the mood of a room make a dark space lighter or a short room longer. The most stunning use of mirrors for decorative effect has to be, in my opinion, in La Grande Galerie in the Palace of Versailles, with each of the 17 arched windows opposed by identically sized mirrors. I know this is an extreme example and most budgets are on a slightly different scale but the effect can be just as eye catching! For instance, I'm currently working on a large glass framed triple dressing mirror on a mirrored table on which there will be a large candle. I'll let you know how it goes next month. I spend a lot of my time working on mirror frames and I particularly enjoy rejuvinating the tired, dusty, heavily ornate but rather dated gilt framed examples. Lightening them up with some well-tried paints I've developed and then highlighting and bringing out the lovely detail with a fine brush is always exciting. I often look out for discarded picture frames, restore and decorate them and then have mirror glass cut to fit. Even very boring, plain framed, mirrors can be brought to life with paint, gilt cream, gold or silver leaf and a little imagination. It's great fun. The question is, can you see yourself doing it? The answer is, of course you can! If you'd like more information on how to brighten up your living space with mirrors please contact me. clive.burling@gmail.com 07788257914
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Spring Orchard
Glebelands
Tivoli Villas
Regent Windows, Unit 1 and 2 Malmesbury Road, Kingsditch Trading Estate, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 9PL Tel: 01242 701 193 Email: info@regentwindows.co.uk | www.regentwindows.co.uk 46 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
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The Old Dairy
Painswick
Regent has been Manufacturing and Installing Bespoke windows and doors since 1994. Our emphasis on Durable Materials and an Engineering-Led approach that Focuses on Longevity has lead to Regent being nominated for a RIBA award. Our extensive work with Commercial Design and close relationships with leading Architects mean years of Experience and Know-How can be brought to bear on your Project. We’re Local Family-Run business who employ local people in our Factory, Showroom and Offices in Cheltenham. Everything we do is Fabricated and Installed by our Staff. Now in our 21st year of Fabricating and Installing aluminium, PVC and Glass; our Conservatories, Lantern roofs, Bi-Folding Doors and Windows are found all over Gloucestershire, as well as throughout the UK. We are Partnered with Smarts Systems, whose Hard-Wearing, thermally-broken aluminium can be powder-coated to Your Choice of Colour. We believe in Longevity; not only of the Materials we use, but also in our Relationships with Our Customers. COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 47
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Venetian Four Poster Bed, prices from £6.075, And So To Bed, 0808 144 4343, www.andsotobed.co.uk These stunning beds would certainly make someone happy this Christmas. You could always gift it to yourself if your partners aren’t willing! A piece for life, they are well worth the investment.
INTERIORS STYLE
Compiled and written by Interiors Editor Emeline Watchorn www.emelinewatchorn.com
Cashmere Hot Water Bottle Cover, £109, Brora. www.brora.co.uk 03456 599 944. Who could resist the combination of warmth and cashmere? I’d be delighted if someone bought me one this year!
Scented Candle, Silenzio, £115, Fornasetti at Amara. www.amara.com Always a popular gift, push the boat out with this stunning scented candle.
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Below: ‘Stoneware Bowl’, £110, Oil on Canvas, by Emeline Watchorn. www.emelinewatchorn.com, emeline.watchorn@gmail.com, 07765 576 117. I have started a new series of oil still lives based on all the bowls I love! This one I made myself and eat out of most days. Original paintings make great Christmas presents and these would look fabulous in any interior.
The temperatures are dropping and the nights are closing in and to add insult to injury, Christmas is around the corner! But fear not, this month I am looking at some winter warmers and great gift ideas that will keep the cold out, lift your spirits and get you in the mood for some Christmas shopping.
Crackle Bowls, from £6 each, by Emeline Watchorn. www.emelinewatchorn.com www.notonthehighstreet.com/ partners/artisan/products, emeline.watchorn@gmail.com, 07765 576 117. These beautiful little handmade bowls come in many different shapes, sizes and sets making great gifts this Christmas. The smaller ones are perfect for salt and pepper or condiments whilst the really big ones look fabulous as a centrepiece on a table or as serving dishes.
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Style Interiors Lambswool Texture Weave Blanket, Arctic, £145, Brora. www.brora.co.uk 03456 599 944 I love this blanket. It’s a modern classic and would make a great present to a loved one this Christmas.
Leg base lamps, prices from £840, Large oval feather shade, £384, Temple & Ivy. 07980 892 872, www.templeandivy.com Be original and spoil someone with these delightful lamps.
Orange and Cinnamon Dining Candles, £2.14 for a set of 4, St Eval Candle Company. 01841 540 850 , www.stevalcandle company.co.uk Bring Christmas to your table with these delicious smelling candles.
Below: Handmade Porcelain Tealight Holder, £15, Sarah Field Ceramics. www.notonthehighstreet.com/partners/artisan/products www.sarahfieldceramics.com 01285 821 159. These adorable little tea light holders make brilliant presents that will give a lovely glow on mantle pieces, tables and cosy corners this winter.
Piped Edge Couple’s Initial Cushion, £49.50, Kate Sproston Design @ notonthehighstreet.com, www.notonthehighstreet.com Snuggle up this winter with this great gift idea. They are personalised and come as singles too.
Below: Fire Bowl, £330, Baileys Home and Garden. 01989 561 931, www.baileyshome.com I love this fire basket. A great gift for a man, it’ll add style and warmth to your garden.
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Refreshing the flooring world Tapi Carpets & Floors opens a destination store in Gloucester Tapi Carpets & Floors is the brand new name taking the flooring world by storm, adding a destination store at Gloucester to its growing list of UK locations. The highly experienced Tapi team are passionate about carpets and flooring and committed to offering customers a totally different in-store experience, along with the very best customer care. Tapi aims to refresh the whole world of carpet and flooring retail with a modern and straightforward approach. Their stylish new shopping environment is brimming with inspiration and delights the senses from sight to scent. Team Tapi are passionate about finding the right flooring for their customers’ lifestyle and budget and their stores reflect this ethos, with an extensive range of options to choose from, all displayed in a contemporary, clutter-free store layout. The Tapi showrooms are warm, welcoming and inspiring. They provide a second-to-none customer experience. The flooring choices are naturally tactile, encouraging customers to interact with their new carpet or flooring and providing them with an invitation to feel it, stand on it and test its stain resistant properties for themselves, a ‘try’ before you ‘buy’ opportunity. Every aspect of the Tapi showroom has been designed to help customers on their journey to a new floor. Clear signposting of product categories, each with their own bespoke fixtures create departments and encourage discovery and browsing. You are guaranteed to never pay over the odds for a fabulous floor and fantastic service. They offer the reassurance of an in-depth knowledge of carpets and floors so they can keep costs low and pass those savings on to their customers. Tapi Carpets & Floors is fast becoming the most talked about name in the world of flooring retail. Find your local Tapi Store at St Oswalds Retail Park, Gavel Way, Gloucester GL1 2UE Tel: 01452 221900.
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A MODEL HOME Kate Moss unveils interiors of timeless glamour at The Lakes by yoo PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEL YATES upermodel Kate Moss has showcased her first foray into interior design with the unveiling of “The Barnhouse”, at luxury second homes development, The Lakes by yoo. Set in the heart of The Cotswolds, within its own secluded one acre plot of private woodland, the new five bedroom home which is available to buy, is a retreat away from the bright lights of the city and catwalk scene, where the property’s tranquil setting and open space sits under the protection of leafy tall trees. Inspired by a notion of stumbling across a hidden gem in the midst of the forest, drawing the exterior into its
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interior, a soft palette of earthy tones lies beneath a layer of luxurious comfort and style. The home features a double height reception space, five large bedrooms, a spacious outdoor entertaining deck,
private pool and large retractable doors which truly bring the outdoors inside. It is the ideal family home set within a 650acre estate of rural English countryside, encompassing six lakes. ‘The Barnhouse” is inspired by a traditional English novel and old country home. Hues of earthy undertones are echoed throughout the home, the walls feature three palettes of colour: Earth, Stone and Moon Grey, and embody the Barn’s connection to outside living and natural environment. This is complemented with enticing statement furnishings reflective of the developments’ country roots, a key >> COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 53
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feature: the log burner centrepiece is an exceptional addition in the colder winter months. Kate Moss, established international model and interior designer, who has a great love of The Cotswolds said: “John Hitchcox (chairman of yoo) and I became friends through our love for the English countryside (and the pub)…When he told me about the Barnhouse in the middle of the silver birch wood I was intrigued and
then excited to become part of the design team. We have created a luxurious haven in the woods, a perfect place to escape with family and friends.” Prices for ‘The Barnhouse with interiors by Kate Moss’ start from £2.5 million for the five-bedroom property. www.thelakesbyyoo.com Telephone: 01367 250 066.
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Through the Garden Gate This month our Media Horticulturalist, Camilla Bassett-Smith, takes us on a journey to a garden that is great in both name and nature... f all the late great gardens in the country, there is one that stands out beyond all the others and hence I thought it was time I took you on a little coach trip to the South East. A garden that was the height of fashion as Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens tackled it in the early 20th century but
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grew to fame as owner Christopher Lloyd put his own unique eye-catching stamp on it during his lifetime until his death in 2006. Don’t just take my word for it, Cotswold Garden Flowers in Badsey are so aware of the importance of ‘Great Dixter’ in Sussex that they donate all of
their prizewinning money from shows to this fantastic garden. Its importance is two-fold. It’s a monument to rule breaking in horticulture and proof that you don’t have to have a plan – yellow can sit with pink and a shrub, herbaceous perennial and climber can rub shoulders – no segregation here. Secondly the garden is dedicated to encouraging the young horticulturalists of the future through student placements and the Christopher Lloyd Scholarship. I’ve visited twice this year and the atmosphere is electric – a feeling of being somewhere special – which in horticultural terms it is. Fergus Garrett was Christopher Lloyd’s protégé and now continues the work of his former master in the style that he would have been proud of. Fergus, like Christopher, is a name at the centre of horticultural circles. The variety of plant matter here is vast and it’s a place where people gather to talk stems and leaves over a stem ginger biscuit and cup of tea leaves. Last month, thousands of visitors attended the rare plant fair which ‘Great Dixter’
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Style Gardening
“It’s like a horticultural hide and seek with something to find around each bend..” hosts to offer a showcase for small plant specialists – “Dixter Style” in the words of Fergus Garrett. Cotswold Garden Flowers have been attending the fair for 5 years and it even drew specialists from over the channel. I came away with a new Nerine “Zeal Giant” – a real commanding cultivar. As I said, this garden’s forte is late colour and the famous long mixed border which reaches over 200 feet, is a requiem of regal grasses, dahlias, artichoke seed heads and asters to name a few. Mix of colour is key throughout the garden – Christopher Lloyd put things where he liked them, no convention, no worry of keeping to white borders or schemes. Do what you like is the message here and IT WORKS! The garden is in part a network of many rooms, winding paths, clipped
yew, pampas parading itself from behind a hedge or Cotoneaster horizontalis laying out its red berried branches like a winter tablecloth waiting for the birds to partake of their teatime treats. It’s like a horticultural hide and seek with something to find around each bend. Dead seed heads are not cut until after the Christmas fair, leaving plenty of structural interest and wildlife fodder en masse. The teasels are particularly tantalising and stand proudly, prickly purveying their surrounds. Grasses do
take up a large part of the beds, in every colour and size, wafting their wares in salute as you pass. Christopher Lloyd said that the design of the garden was fluid and never stodgy – exactly the opposite to the large piece of carrot cake sitting currently to my right! Even the old rose garden took on a new twist under the hands of Lloyd/Garrett – filled with exotic plants and turning from Jekyll to jungle with ease and sophistication. There is nothing predictable about Dixter, it is unpredictably unique. COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 59
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Style Views
Unbelievable! Sandra Paul contrasts the skills of our Military Reservists with the shortfall of information pertaining to local cyber threats ast week I was invited to an event held at the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. Organized by Colonel Lance Ranson, a Reservist having previously served as a Grenadier Guard, the event was to increase awareness of the contribution that Reservists make to our forces and the contribution employers make by ‘loaning’ the Reservists. Essentially, more employers need to be aware of what it entails when they agree to take on a Reservist and there are many positives for business owners even if it looks like a costly exercise. The employer has to be happy with their Reservists being away for periods and either has to fill that position with another person, increasing their costs, or leave it vacant, which may also have an impact on costs. The South West recruitment office only opened this year but already has had 18 new Reservists walk through its doors. Reservists and volunteers bring massive experience and leverage their capabilities and transfer their knowledge across – this is hugely invaluable especially in the fields of medicine and IT. Reservists have the chance to develop new skills, gain more civilian qualifications and serve alongside the regular forces. If their employer does not allow them paid leave, they often have to use unpaid leave or holiday time to undertake their reservists’ duties so their commitment should not be underrated. Two important comments I took away: the first from one of the employers who said that the difference he saw with the calibre of Reservists as opposed to his usual employees, was a ‘can-do’ attitude – not the usual ‘um’. This struck a chord with me because I’ve noticed so many times an apathetic, almost ‘flip-you’ attitude, when asking someone for something. The second comment that hit home and also made me want to employ an exmember of the forces immediately - was
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the comment by the young Reservist working for IFA Kellends in Cirencester. “The employer gains the free training that I get from the forces, my management qualifications that I’ve gained and my expertise in advance planning and problem solving. Replace ‘enemy’ with ‘competition’ and that’s why we’re good.” You can see why I smiled – this sounds like the perfect contribution to mainstream business. In support of Reservists, Gloucestershire Police were there and cyber-terrorism and cyber-crime became the topic of discussion. However ‘unbelievable’ it may seem that such a threat could reach us here, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Berry of Gloucestershire Police, reminded us that one of our biggest, most important, national security assets is also potentially at significant risk - and that threat in turn puts at risk the local community. Many of us who have to pass GCHQ, the Government’s security and intelligence site, joke about the James Bond elements of the threat. I think that’s because we don’t quite believe we could be affected. However, we were told that the majority of website hits on the Gloucester police website - came from overseas. I think I can safely speculate that these hits to the police website are not from foreigners checking out our local police force’s community policing policy. Gulp. Technology is complex and the increasing complexity of consumer goods means I’m not alone in being unable to keep up. The moment you begin an online presence you become prey to hackers. I regularly receive emails that look official: a seemingly correct email signature and IP address asking me to input my password to verify the account. I’m aware to a certain extent about cyber crime but this is the tip of the iceberg. In the US, retailer Target, suffered and profits fell sharply after the theft of over 40 million customer credit card details
from the company’s networks. Almost weekly, we are informed about local bank branches closing so it makes sense to make the transition to online but are we protecting ourselves by not having an online presence and refuse online banking, for example? The response from Gloucestershire Police press office when asked for a statement on the threat (or not) to Gloucestershire was disappointing. “We don’t have an expert available. And we don’t have standard statements to offer you.” I gave them a full day to respond. Nor is there anything about cyberterrorism or cyber-crime on their police website – either to explain what it is, or to alleviate fears or offer any ‘staying safe’ information. As guardians of our safety it’s not unreasonable to expect guidance at the very least. It reminds me very much of the employer I referred to earlier who talked about that ‘can-do’ attitude of Reservists and the Forces in general. It’s pretty unbelievable when the top brass are talking about real threats to our community but the staff below are not equipped to disseminate information. For anyone who is interested in searching for top tips on cyber-crime or such like, go to ‘Good Morning Britain’s’ website where I assure you, there are simple, easy to read tips.
PS. Days after I wrote this, TalkTalk revealed it does not know how many of its 4 million customers have been affected by a “significant and sustained” cyberattack which could have compromised credit card and bank details. Unbelievable. For more information about Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association visit: www.wessex-rfca.org.uk 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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Style Cotswoldia
Cotswoldia Is bonfire night going to light up your season, or is heaven a big pink sofa – enquires Angela Chancellor hether you love it or loathe it, view it as commercial tosh, religious paganism any excuse for a party or just a bit of fun for the children, Halloween certainly marks the end of the summer and the beginning of the darker half of the year. Evenings pottering until late in the garden or sharing an after-work glass of wine with friends still enjoying the last of a bit of sunshine gives way to the indoor season. The telly is beckoning chock-ablock with box sets and all one’s favourite series’ vying for our attention after the summer hiatus. Much as I enjoy a good night in, preferably with a cosy log fire and enjoying a renewed appreciation of the darker wines on the red spectrum I was recently persuaded to join a group of friends for a mid-week movie & supper night at the newly revitalised Barnsley House. Despite the initial trepidation of venturing from my beloved sofa, I did for a moment wonder whether I could pass off one of my smarter items of ‘loungewear’ as suitable for public appearances – I decided to give it a go. Included in the £24 ticket was a two-course supper from the ‘movie menu’ at the Village Inn, the movie of the week and plenty of popcorn throughout. Drinks are extra but you could carry on or order more across the road in the screening room at the hotel and all very civilised in proper glasses, no plastic nonsense here. It all felt a bit like a private party and imagine my delight as I beheld the probably most spectacular bubblegum pink leather sofas in the world, I kid you not! They were easily as decadent as Kim Kardashian’s bottom but in a good way, and overall it was most definitely a repeatable night out. I shall dash out and buy some new cushions in a nice autumnal colour for my old faithful, to make amends for the momentary indiscretion. For those who fear that I may fuse with my fauteuil, I can reassure you that I have been very busy conducting research on
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“It all felt a bit like a private party and imagine my delight as I beheld the probably most spectacular bubblegum pink leather sofas in the world, I kid you not!”
mulled wine recipes in preparation for Bonfire night. This type of research is quite prolonged, sooo many choices to sample and perfect and fraught with distractions in the form of sloe gin in particular. It seems I am a little late for the gin so will just have to pop in to my favourite local deli at Upton Smokery and get some of theirs, very handy and avoids the mess. Is it a faux pas to share shop bought during a shoot I wonder? Hopefully no one will ever know - writing under a pseudonym has its advantages after all! Having got myself in the mood for a bit of Guy Fawkes merriment I will be facing the annual dilemma of ‘where to go’? So many choices to consider.... the school bonfire, marvellous if you are lucky enough to have found a gaggle of kindred spirits or the last place on earth you want to be if you want to avoid numbingly polite conversations with dull teachers or
awkwardly bouncing from one side of the field to the other, trying to avoid being glared at by any involved parties of yet another divorcing couple. Hazardous and not fun. Previous years have offered some light celebrity spotting at various Cotswold villages. Go for the affluent ones, more spenny but better sausages and more potentially juicy gossip. Keep abreast of recent, negative headlines, divorces or scandals as this affects celebrity migratory patterns and remember they are shy and don’t like to be photographed snogging in corners. All this contemplation has proved quite exhausting, so I am preparing for a joyful reunion with my favourite piece of furniture this evening. I hope to soften any jealousy with a pair of splendid new velvet cushions from the lovely Jonathan & Jonathan, formerly of boutique hotel Thirty-Two in Cheltenham and now located at the very smart Barnbury Interiors in Winchcombe. They are bordeaux in case you were wondering, just like the wine opening up in my decanter.
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Style Culture
Cotswolds Culture Susan Blanchfield explains The Legacy of the Letter When was the last time you received a long meandering letter from a friend or relative in the post? Chances are, it’s been a while. Nobody writes letters anymore; at least not the rambling sort. We live in a digital age and in the main, we correspond with friends and contemporaries through email; the traditional, slow communication of letter writing is a dying craft. The tools of letters; hand writing, pens and paper are drifting from our lives and the tech savvy amongst us generally use our fingers to tap out a communication that is quick, convenient and efficient. Is it wise for us to entirely trade a centuries old cultural practice for the convenience of text messages and emails? Let's face it - we could all use a little screen-free time these days and the action of sitting down to write makes checking Facebook or texting practically impossible - meaning that for those few minutes, you will live in the moment. Loquacious letters exchanges may be considered irrelevant by many but arguably, their resonance and their power to endure far exceeds that of the email. The undeniably wide reaching impact of letter writing is bought into sharp relief this month by the approach of Remembrance Day; observed to celebrate the end of First World War on the 11th hour of the 11th day, it’s a timely reminder that the most effective weapon against the enemy acknowledged by the British Army during World War 1 wasn’t the shell or the tank; it was morale. And the engine of this was the humble letter. During the War, an extraordinary 12 million letters were sorted and delivered each week. The delivery of post from loved ones at home to soldiers was vital for two reasons; firstly it was one of the few comforts for those at the Front and a welcome distraction from the horrors of war and boredom of the Trenches. Secondly, letters served a propaganda
Left: Division of the Royal Glosters Regiment taken before the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
purpose as everything that soldiers sent back was censored. The Government claimed this was to prevent the enemy finding out secret information but in reality it was to prevent bad news from reaching the home front ensuring that letters from serving soldiers played a powerful role in maintaining popular support for the War. The story of how the General Post Office (GPO) maintained an efficient postal service to soldiers and sailors during this time is one of ingenuity and courage; it was a complex operation involving close monitoring of ships and battalions so each item of mail could be dispatched to the right place, orderlies would sort post at the roadside before wheeling it in carts to the treacherous front line with the objective of delivering letters from home with the evening meal. No matter how tired and hungry the soldiers were, they always read their post before eating. This was a War the soldiers had grown sick of, not just because of the terrifying bombardments but the also the horrors of mud and disease in the trenches and the British Army considered delivering morale boosting letters as important as the provision of rations and ammunition. The letters that survived this time provide us with valuable source for delving into the past via the most democratic of historical text. As personal letters rely on narrative, or storytelling, they offer amongst many other things, a poignant reminder of the
terrifying responsibilities shouldered by inexperienced troops as well as documenting the thought, feelings and daily lives of those left behind on the home front. Their detailed accounts paint a vivid picture of those times and they continue to shape our view of the WW1 to this day whether displayed in a museum or unearthed in a long forgotten personal scrapbook. It’s a humbling but timely reminder, especially in our world of oversimplified communication, when we skim the surface of things via electronic communications so we can finish and move on quickly. Letters protect the memories and accounts of lives in a way that technological communication cannot. They are tangible, personal and real and often handed down through families as keepsakes and histories, even after their senders and receivers are long gone. And opening an envelope personally addressed to you is deeply gratifying, it’s not just about the content either – the paper, the ink, the style of handwriting, maybe the odd doodle - all contribute to the pleasure in receiving a letter. By going to the trouble of physically committing words to paper, the writer shows their investment of time and effort in a relationship. That's why we tend to hang on to personal letters as keepsakes, they may not bear the hallmark of great literary correspondence but to us they are priceless. Sometimes the slow communication can be worth the wait. 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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Style Art
FROM LAWYER TO ART DEALER Emma Logan met with Don Bryson who is running the Artysan Gallery in Moreton-in-Marsh After sixteen years working in the law, solicitor Don Bryson’s ‘midlife rethink’ saw him relocate from Cheltenham to the North Cotswolds market town of Moreton-in-Marsh. Don said, “I knew that I wanted to start my own business in the Cotswolds, which I have always considered my spiritual home, since holidaying here as a child with my parents. I was looking for a business, which reflected my passions in life – either as a dealer in antiques, interior design or a gallery. At the Old Saddlery, I discovered a hugely characterful, rambling building, full of nooks and crannies and ancient timbers – the perfect space to showcase an eclectic selection of contemporary country art.” Inspired by the followers of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement,
who during the last century settled in neighbouring Chipping Campden and surrounding Cotswold villages, Don today sees parallels in an increasing interest in the sympathetic and sustainable use of natural materials in original design and hand crafted objects; a rejection of mass-production. He said, “The concept of Artysan was born. A gallery which feels more like a comfortable Cotswold country home, where customers can browse wonderful contemporary country art, limited edition prints, ceramics and glass in a setting which reflects their own home. “I liked the idea of displaying contemporary ceramics on an antique dresser, mixing up old and new, as a typical customer
may live in a traditional property with a modern decorative scheme and heirloom pieces. Here, customers can better visualise how a piece of artwork might look in their own home. Recently, a lady customer was so delighted with her purchase of a colourful, modern-day landscape painting, hung on a vivid sky blue wall that she intends to paint the feature wall where she will hang the picture in the same hue.” Artysan – celebrating the art of the country. Artysan at Wold Galleries, The Old Saddlery, 3A Oxford Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0LA Tel: 01608 650727
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Tel: +44 (0)1798 815572 Mob: +44 (0)778 2339699 www.decorativecollective.com info@decorativecollective.com
The Decorative Collective, one of the UK’s leading on-line market places which introduces you, and showcases items from various Antique and 20th Century dealers throughout the UK and Europe. It has been helping to style and decorate luxury homes and gardens, country houses, modern apartments and bijou cottages since 2009.
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Style Interiors
Getting to know...
Decorative Collective
So you have probably heard of the antiques site First Dibs based in the USA, well now we have our very own stylish UK version that is so much closer to home. Decorative Collective (fondly known as The DC in the antiques trade), is a little gem of a website for those seeking quality and original Antique, 20th and 21st Century items for both modern and traditional country homes and gardens. Full to brimming with decorative and traditional pieces from as little as a hundred pounds, you can delight in spending thousands on special items created by well known designers from the selection of furniture, lighting, art, mirrors and rugs. Antique shopping heaven. Launched in 2009, this entirely British company represents around 125 professional dealers from the UK and Europe. Their membership and the items on sale definitely have the emphasis on quality rather then quantity making it a pleasure to peruse. Created in 2009 by Jane Walton, a well respected antiques dealer in her own right, today the DC has a reputation as a trustworthy site that takes pride in its stock. They insist their selected dealers provide good photos, reliable information and transparent pricing of their items. Maintaining these high standards has endeared it to many private clients as well as a large international interior design clientele, helping to confirm the DC as the place to go for sourcing high quality antiques and 20th Century pieces.
With this much under one roof, you can save yourself eons of time, asking about an item instantly, with your enquiry going straight to the dealer in question rather than a third party, as happens on many other sites. The dealer then replies directly to you so that a personal relationship is formed. The dealers are always happy to provide more information and pictures, and will invite clients to view their items at their showrooms or may even bring a piece to your home for you to view if this can be arranged. There are tens of thousands of items available at any one time, as stock is added throughout the day, every day and the variety is huge. The site is well designed and allows you to find what you need quickly. There’s a Latest Items page that shows you at a glance and in real time, what pieces have just been
added. Items are broken down into specialist categories and you can also set up a client account so you can follow your favourite dealers and be notified by email daily when they add their latest buys. You can join their mailing list and select to receive their mailshot, weekly, fortnightly or monthly, safe in the knowledge that your details will always remain private. For vintage lovers, The DC also has a sister site called The Hoarde. Launched in 2011 it showcases vintage, retro and more affordable items. The emphasis is on fun and nostalgia for those who enjoy finding something less serious and a little cheeky for their homes. There are some great garden pieces, some wonderful linens, original old reclaimed lighting and funky 70’s and later furniture on there. The fact that you never quite know what you’ll find is all part of the experience. With Christmas on the way, we’d say it’s pretty much the ideal time to start exploring the DC and The Hoarde. Visit www.decorativecollective.com and www.thehoarde.com to find out more. For any other information, email Jane Walton at info@decorativecollective.com or call 01798 815572 or 07782 339699.
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Style Interview
Castaway COLLECTION
Broadcast presenter and journalist Anne Diamond has frequented our TV screens and airways for over 30 years. A stalwart of breakfast television, Anne has anchored some of Britain’s best-loved shows including Good Morning Britain and This Morning. Cotswold Style Columnist Ellie Mainwaring interviews Anne. Where in the world would you choose to be castaway to and why?
What’s your most treasured wardrobe item?
I’d choose to find myself on a little, uninhabited island in the Bahamas called Big Major Cay, better known as Pig Island because a family of swimming feral pigs populates it. These amazing pigs swim every day in the crystal clear waters, spending the rest of the day sunbathing and leading a beach bum lifestyle. Pig Island is blessed with a natural water spring and is sheltered by a string of neighbouring islands that protect it from waves caused by tropical storms, so it wouldn’t be a terrible place to be stranded – and I’d love the company of the pigs. I guess if I got to hungry, I could always eat one!
I have a collection of long waterfall cardigans in a rainbow of different colours that I love. They would be perfect for chilly evenings on the island. Biggest memory item and what’s the story behind it?
A small, wooden jewellery box bought for my birthday by my children when we were all on holiday in Florida about 10 years ago. It was a total surprise and always lives beside my bed. It reminds me of a wonderful holiday, a lovely birthday and my fantastic children, all in one little box.
What item of jewellery or accessory would you take?
Definitely a mirror – just so I could make sure I didn’t go feral with the pigs. A big grand piano to play on the beach, together with a boxful of sheet music. With the piano lid up, it would act as a great sunshade too. What would be your luxury item?
High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly. It would lift me if I ever became sad or lonely. Every song is great to sing along to and many of them great to dance to as well. So I could turn up the volume and dance along the sand. What movie would you take?
If you had a superpower, what would it be and why?
You can take one celebrity companion, dead or alive. Who will it be?
I can’t think of anything worse than being stranded on a desert island with a celebrity. It would be like Big Brother or I’m a Celeb, Get Me Out Of Here, where you’re forced to endure the company of people you’d never otherwise get along with and have nothing in common with. This aside, if I had to name one, I guess it’d be lovely if it were someone gorgeous. Perhaps Pierce Brosnan. However, I don’t think his wife would be terribly thrilled!
The ability to fly. I can’t think of anything more wonderful than to whizz around effortlessly. Flying would be tremendously useful on the island, helping me look for fresh food and water, while keeping an eye on the pigs. What would be your chosen beauty item you would take? be and why?
My Chanel creamy foundation compact. Its high UV factor would help protect me from the worst of the sun, so when I am eventually rescued, at least my face would look reasonably civilised.
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000 Travel Lucy Garbutt November 15:Layout 1
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DIVERSE & UNIQUE ENCOUNTERS
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The Three Sisters From Echo Point, Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales
Self-professed adventuress and Travel Writer Lucy Garbutt explored Australia during a gap year… rather too many years ago and talks about why Australia offers some of the most memorable holidays f you have an adventurous spirit you will relish the energy of Oz with its laid-back vibe, spellbinding wildlife and the unforgettable experiences this beautiful continent provides. My Aussie adventure started and ended in Sydney the highlights of which were climbing the Harbour Bridge, cruising the bay, visiting the Opera House, meeting a koala and spending my last day lazing on Bondi Beach. Next up was ‘bush-walking’ and hiking in The Blue Mountains which boast a vast 2.5 million-acre wilderness of tree-lined canyons and peaks that stretch to the horizon. The bewildering array of fauna and rare amphibians was fascinating. The
I
track passes through pockets of rainforest under hanging swamps, tunnels beneath waterfalls and follows a sheer path revealing fabulous vistas, the finest of which is the Three Sisters rock formation which is three fingers of rock that jut up sky bound. The views were enormous to the valley below, blanketed with trees every shade of green and Mount Solitary in the distance, changing colour from purple to blue as the sun blinked between the clouds. The Daintree Rainforest is a World Heritage Site with remarkable tropical scenery. The distant mountains and sparkling blue waters of the Daintree River contrast dramatically with the lush green of the forest canopy. I explored
the area on horseback which is a wonderful way to cover a great distance and soak up the beauty of the area without having to look down all the time to check where you are walking. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest, most diverse eco-system displaying breathtaking beauty both from above and below the water. It comprises over 350,000 square kilometres of scattered islands, coral reefs and atolls running parallel to Australia’s north-east coast. Rich in marine life and perfect for water sports, the reef offers a magic combination of clear, warm tropical waters, fantastic coral formations and seascapes abundant with life. Some islands are backpacker heaven, others for
The Olgas at Sunset
Wave Rock, near Hyden in Western Australia
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Daintree National Park, Tropical Queensland
Beautiful Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland
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The magical 12 Apostles along part of the Great Ocean Road – one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives
Laughing Kookaburra
well-funded honeymooners only, some are sacred and others are brilliant for birdwatching or botany. I was exceptionally lucky to sail around the Whitsunday archipelago and discovered some very remote islands and pictureperfect beaches on remote islands, which are only accessed by sea or small planes. One of life’s most glorious experiences was snorkelling through coral gardens of purple and pink through darting shoals of busy fish and coming face to face with an apparently harmless but very friendly reef shark! Crossing the Nullarbor Desert to jawdroppingly beautiful Western Australia I was amazed by Albany and the stunning beaches around Esperance with such
names as Hellfire and Lucky Bay boasting the whitest beaches in Australia and such novelties as Wave Rock. Then there is Australia’s golden outback and the fascinating opal mining town of Coober Pedy, famous Alice Springs, climbing Uluru (Ayres Rock) and reaching the summit as the sun rose (sadly tourists are no longer permitted to climb this sacred rock). Cruising Katherine Gorge, absorbing the Aboriginal culture and buffalo catching in Arnhem Land and discovering ancient rock art in Kakadu National Park are all unforgettable adventures. If you fancy brightening up your winter and escaping somewhere warm but don’t have time for the long flight to Australasia
other possible options such as Indochina, The Maldives or Zanzibar are wonderful destinations to visit. If you would like to travel to Australia or anywhere else on the planet, a journey can be tailor-made by World Odyssey – for more information on anything to do with your next holiday please visit www.world-odyssey.com – follow us @World_Odyssey, become a fan on Facebook and/or call one of our travel specialists for advice on: 01905 731373.
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r M & Mrs Jones
Somewhere for the Weekend? Our very own Cotswoldia couple, Mrs and Mr Jones, hosts our short haul travel section. They thoroughly investigate destinations ideal for a little trip away revealing vital tips on a glamorous getaway and also provide the inside track to ensure the destination caters for a range of tastes and wallets. From the slickest city hangouts to peaceful boltholes, you won’t waste a moment planning your travels. This month we visit ROME in Italy.
ROME
Superlatives have been invented to describe Rome. The eternal city - notable for its celebration of ‘La dolce vita’ through fashion, food and fun, is a one off enigma; its importance to Western civilisation is inscribed in its imposing historical sites; crowd pleasers such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain jostle with crumbling ancient mementos to a bygone imperial age, sitting cheek by jewel with the boisterous modern chaos of the city. With the Vatican in town, Easter and
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Christmas are highlights on Rome’s calendar and pilgrims flock to the tiny city-state, to adore Raphael and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes. Out on the streets, Vespas scuttle like ants at breakneck speeds waving in and out of the ceaseless traffic through cobbled streets of dense, vibrant neighbourhoods. Chaotic, frenetic, fabulous - Rome is a world city, on everyone’s radar. Mr Jones was eager to explore although Mrs Jones was keener to linger over her frothy Cappuccino, admire the view from the roof top terrace of the hotel and plot out her shopping map. A
furtive disagreement broke out before order was restored and a compromise reached. Naturally the ‘compromise’ was heavily skewed in Mrs Jones’ favour. ‘Santa Pazienza’; ‘patience’, is considered “holy” in Rome for good reason.
Things to do
Rome has two main sightseeing focal points: the Colosseum to the east and the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill) to the west and you don’t have to stroll more than a few metres between both before stumbling upon an ancient world heritage Roman treasure or something knocked up by Michelangelo. If you are intent on seeing the Colosseum go early. Security is tight and the queues can be long. Rome’s most preserved and ancient building, The Pantheon is a must and within metres of the 18th century Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, enabling a quick flit through the artistic ages in a morning. See artistic treasures at Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a mansion housing a gallery of 15th- 18th-century art (www.doriapamphilj.it) with canvases by Caravaggio. Give your feet a rest by taking the ‘110 Open’ open-top bus from Piazza Venezia (www.trambusopen.com; buy a hop-on, hop-off day ticket). The two-hour tour takes in St Peter’s, Castel Sant’Angelo, Palazzo del Quirinale (jumping off point for the Trevi Fountain), The Colosseum and Forum and Circo Massimo and if you need open space, head for the sublime Parco della Villa Borghese.
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“...you don’t have to stroll more than a few metres between both before stumbling upon an ancient world heritage Roman treasure or something knocked up by Michelangelo”
Shopping
Rome caters for all pockets and the current attractive exchange rate makes purchases all the more satisfying. Leather goods, shoes, bags and belts are all good value. Aside from the swanky Via Condotti; The White Gallery based at Piazzale Guglielmo, Marconi 18, 00146 is an upmarket mall hosting shoes and clothing from top fashion brands. SBU 11, Via Margutta 11, 00187 is Rome’s coolest stop for jeans, and the area around Galleria Alberto Sordi, Piazza Colonna, is good for mainstream brands. Monti, the chic boho district is packed with vintage shops between Via Nazionale and Via Cavour.
Getting about
Unless you plan on leaving the city you would be mad to hire a car. The small metro underground is good but limited to two useful lines, A and B. Rome’s bus network is fairly efficient and extensive. Consider using the hop on and off buses to get about - or a fixed meter official taxi - worth noting that Mr Jones spotted the taxi that took us the long way; check the route first. The best way to see Rome though is by walking - let your feet wander and your eyes roam. This method calls for attitude even on an official pedestrian crossing, so do like Mrs Jones and fix impatient drivers with a lemon-lipped death stare before you stalk purposefully forward.
Eating
Rome is also about the art of life – food is enjoyed with religious zeal in this most sensual of capitals. Colonise a
café in the Campo de’ Fiori; linger longer over rustic pasta in a traditional trattoria. Avoid any joint with pictures of food or tourist menu and remember that if you want good food, eating opposite a monument is frankly bonkers. Here are a few of our favourites;
Budget Don’t be put off by the doubtful 80s décor, Ai Fienaroli is a gem. Via Sardegna, 135/137 Tel: 39 06 4202 0336 (www.aifienaroli.it) Highlights included fried zucchini flowers stuffed with buffalo cheese and anchovies and carpaccio of sea bass with pasta. Asino d’Oro (Via del Boschetto 73); serves up gourmet dishes at reasonable prices. Remo (Piazza Santa Maria Liberatrice 44) has excellent Roman-style, thin and crispy pizzas
Mid range L’Anoteca Antica, Via Del Croce beloved of English journalists and rugby players is
a lively hangout with value for money topnotch food and plenty of atmosphere. For similar try Bar Necci, Via Fanfulla da Lodi 68, +39 06 9760 1552, necci1924.com. Splurge See review of the Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto
Staying
Splurge See review of the Jumeirah Grand Hotel, via Vittoria Veneto, 155, www.jumeirah.com Hotel De Russie, via del Babuino 9, hotelderussie.it offering Michelin-starred restaurant Jardin de Russie, a spa, a cocktail bar, family-friendly facilities and Art Deco and Roman classical design.
Mid range Grand Hotel Flora, via Vittoria Veneto, 191 spacious rooms and a lovely rooftop terrace with views of Parco Borghese. Hotel Piazza Navona offers a rooftop terrace, newly renovated rooms and a restaurant. >> COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 77
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Style Travel Budget Hotel Santa Maria is a family-friendly Rome hotel offering lively surroundings, peaceful interiors, free bikes and a delightful garden, in the Trastevere district.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the busiest tourist seasons, with a peak at Easter as Vatican pilgrims swell visitor numbers. Winter is a great time to come, hotel rates are lower and restaurants are blissfully un-crowded. The most perfect months, weatherwise, are probably April, May and October.
Getting There
Rome has two airports, the major hub Fiumicino (also known as Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci) and Ciampino. Both are operated by Aeroporti di Roma (adr.it). Fiumicino lies 20 miles southwest of central Rome. The train station is right next to the main departures and arrivals hall – there are frequent trains to the city’s main Termini station (Leonardo Express, 35 minutes), while another line, FM1, connects with stations in the southern and eastern suburbs. Check timetables at trenitalia.com. The low cost airlines: including easyJet (easyjet.com); Thomson (thomsonfly.com); Ryanair (ryanair.com) fly out of out of regional airports. Compiled by Susan Blanchfield
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Spotlight on...
Perched near the top of the famous Via Veneto - the setting for Fellini’s film ‘Dolce Vita’ - is the stylish Jumeirah Grand Via Veneto. The Hotel opened in 2009 after a careful seven-year restoration project and the results are apparent - from the Art Deco Ruhlmann inspired handmade Italian furniture to the impressive art collection including works by Picasso and Dali, artfully dotted around the public areas. The Jumeirah Grand exudes the sort of understated quiet luxury you would expect from an established purveyor of five star offerings. As well as 116 well-appointed rooms and suites it hosts the largest spa in Rome. Situated on the lower floor, the traditionally themed marble clad Roman spa boasts a stunning wellness saltwater pool, solarium and numerous Sisley treatment rooms. Extensive views of the city can be found in the swanky rooftop Sky Bar. Stylish Roman ‘grand dames’ all very well but it’s the staff and their attention to detail that elevate a good hotel into a great one. The Jumeirah did not disappoint. Our dinner visit was overseen by the head of the ‘Time’ Bar, Domenici Maura. At the time of writing Domenici is in the running for Italy’s Best Wine and Cocktail bar as well as best bartender. With this in mind we left Domenici to make the wine choices to accompany each course. A passionate advocate of the partnership between food and wine he eschews the more pedestrian of choices and actively sources from smaller specialist producers. His expertise and enthusiasm was inspiring. Mrs Jones started with buffalo mozzarella on grilled zucchini with red and black pepper and the sock eyed salmon with pink grapefruit mayonnaise was melt in the mouth for Mr Jones. The prime course of matriciana style bucatini pasta and the vegetarian style tonnarelli pasta proved that humble ingredients can be transformed into powerful palate pleasers by a great chef..
For the ‘secondi’ Mr Jones chose the Lamb Rack with mint mash potato and mushroom. It was cooked to perfection, the cutlet’s skin was crispy and the meat deep pink; the delicate lamby flavour balanced by the accompaniments. Similarly the Pan Seared Tuna with avocado and wasabi was artfully presented and beautifully flavoured. Mrs Jones professed not to have any room for the pudding but despite her protests a pistachio crème brûlée magically appeared, accompanied by a gloriously rich pudding wine in a tiny crystal glass - it was enough to win her over. The Jumeirah Grand will shortly be opening ‘Magnolia’ a new restaurant in a splendid courtyard setting and it will form the showcase of the Jumeirah offering. With a Michelin star chef and award winning bar manager Domenico overseeing the operation, we are confident the restaurant scene in Rome will be all the richer for it. Jumeirah Grand Hotel, via Vittoria Veneto, 155, www.jumeirah.com
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event
Beards Diamond Rush Beards Jewellers hosted the second ‘Diamond Rush’ luxury treasure hunt on October 17th 2015. Hundreds of people took part and the event raised thousands of pounds for Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Cheltenham. Photography by Angus Bethune
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WWW.KINGSWALK.CO.UK
Specialists in the resale of preloved designer clothing and accessores. Situated in the heart of Montpellier, CHAPTERs is a treasure trove of new and nearly new designer outfits at affordable prices. From Vintage Chic to this seasons must haves... every woman’s weakness!
WARM UP THIS WINTER
Shop the latest trends at King’s Walk this Autumn/Winter. As the sun sneeks away and the leaves start to fall, the only thing to do is ensure your autumnal wardrobe is sorted. Get down to King’s Walk today and treat yourself to some cosy pieces to keep you warm in the coming months.
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FA S H I O N H E A LT H & B E A U T Y The Most Intense Skin Rejuvenation Treatment Yet To find out more about this incredible new advanced skin treatment, please contact the salon for a consultation. Clients are remarking on how amazing their skin is after just one treatment!!!
Tel: 01242 263610 Email: studio19beauty@gmail.com
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anniversary
10
th
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Style Hair
A Landmark Celebration! 2015 marks the 10th Anniversary of Laura Leigh Hair and Beauty, a luxury destination salon offering exclusive hair and beauty treatments for both men and women. Now the team invites you to celebrate in style as they relocate to their new flagship salon at 22 Clarence Street, Cheltenham. The Laura Leigh Hair and Beauty salon opened in 2005 on Cheltenham’s fashionable Promenade. After 10 successful years, Laura and her dedicated, passionate, team of hairdressers has expanded to a brand new salon at 22 Clarence Street in Cheltenham, offering an extensive range of luxury professional hair and beauty treatments for both men and women. Laura Leigh Hair and Beauty specialises in all aspects of hairdressing, including advanced cutting and colouring, techniques, hair extensions and male barbering. The Promenade based salon garnered a reputation for providing fashion forward technical services in hair care, while also providing beauty treatments and wedding packages. Its latest offerings are set to prove even more popular, with Cotswold ladies in particular! Getting all the glamour under one roof, other services include the famous Blowdry Bar, offering lessons in self styling and blow drying and promising ‘amazing hair in just 30 minutes’. Although bookings are advisable, salon visitors can simply walk in and the Blowdry Bar team will recreate any look in just 30 minutes for £20, including a luxury hair wash and dry – those with ‘super thick’ or ‘long hair’ should allow a little extra time and an extra £10. To complement your look you can indulge in the expertise of a resident makeup artist and an array of fabulous beauty treatments:
The New Lash and Brow Bar Creating the perfect brow shape is an art. The specialist Brow-Technicians are trained to design, shape and colour to suit your facial profile and skin tone, using the latest techniques in brow hair removal & tinting.
Artist’s impression of the new salon
stubborn hair as short as 1mm. The brand new elite Lycon waxing bar at Laura Leigh Hair and Beauty offers a choice of Hot Wax, Strip Wax and Lycon’s unique post waxing lotions.
The First Essie Nail Bar
No More Mascara Try semi-permanent eyelash extensions, for longer, thicker, fuller natural looking lashes. Express lashes take only 30 minutes to apply and can last up to two weeks. Call the beauty specialist Leonie for more information 01242 530598.
St Tropez Spray Tanning Room Discover the UK’s number 1 tanning brand to obtain a beautiful glow all year round with St. Tropez, a product specially created to give you the richest, deepest colour infused with Aloe Vera for a longer lasting, even tan.
Be the first to experience the new season nail colours in the brand new Essie Nail Bar. ESSIE has launched a revolutionary gel polish that improves the condition of the nails with added keratin. Their 36 eye-catching gel shades are ready-to-go to enjoy the rich colour and flawless finish of an Essie manicure with the added benefits of a gel system with keratin-care technology. The Laura Leigh philosophy is to provide each client with the best salon experience imaginable while offering the latest hair and beauty treatments within an inspiring environment and to exceed clients’ expectations, combining a unique personalised customer care with expert technical skills.
Lycon Intimate Waxing Bar
For more information or to book an appointment please call the reception team, 01242 530598 or book online 24 hours a day via the website: www.lauraleighhairdressing.co.uk
Using only the finest wax, natural ingredients and aromatherapy oils, Lycon delivers superior performance, removing
Follow Laura Leigh Hair & Beauty on Facebook and Twitter.
Laura Leigh Hairdressing, Lower Ground Floor, 105 The Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1NW, Tel: 01242 530598; www.lauraleighhairdressing.co.uk COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 83
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Available now exclusively in the Cotswolds at
COTSWOLD FACE AESTHETICS CLINIC, CIRENCESTER
One treatment session with no downtime
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER DURING NOV/DEC
£100 OFF HIFU treatment
www.cotswoldfaceaestheticsclinic.co.uk | contact@cotswoldfaceaestheticsclinic.co.uk Bookings – please call Yvonne on
07584 305512
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Exclusive Stockist of Jewellery Andrew Scott Designer Jewellery 9 Promenade | Cheltenham | GL50 1LN
Tel: 01242 524000 www.andrewscottjewellery.co.uk
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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 Bamford Haybarn reviewed by Lisa Channing The Award winning Daylesford Organic Farm, Farmshop and CafĂŠ, which was founded by Carole Bamford now boasts a dedicated Luxury Spa and Wellness Retreat - the Bamford Haybarn. The much larger Day Spa, which started out as just two treatment rooms on the Daylesford site has been transformed into a perfect haven and we are so lucky to have this true gem on our doorstep in the heart of the Cotswolds. The look of the building itself is beautiful limed oak, whitewashed boards complimented with off-white stone inset with the signature Bamford pebble hearts. It is New England calm meets warm Cotswold oak and stone that blend to create a defined peaceful space. This harmonious combination promotes the feeling of comforting relaxation as soon as you walk in. The Haybarn is committed to caring for the mind as well as the body using only organic products and the serene nature promotes tranquility within the Spa itself. The Lavender Room is a striking waiting area - with reclining beds complete with cashmere eye masks and miniature cashmere-clad hot water bottles. You will
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be served an ample choice of specially developed, cold-pressed juices and herbal teas whilst waiting to be collected by your therapist. The therapists themselves have been handpicked by the proprietor, Carole Bamford and bring to the spa a collection of professions such as physiotherapy and reflexology as well as Pilates and yoga instruction. There are two yoga studios and the Haybarn offers group and one-toone instruction in yoga, Pilates and cardiolates. The holistic treatments have been carefully selected - the Haybarn does not offer any torturous maintenance procedures. Bespoke and signature facial and body treatments are offered as well as luxurious manicures and pedicures which are known as Hand and Feet Rituals. The inspiration for the treatments was born out of the founder's conviction for the development of organic, English made, body and skincare products. Carole Bamford and her prolific team have created a range of organic products, which feel beautiful - my facial left my skin glowing and with noticeable lasting results. Bamford Haybarn provides a number of packages, which incorporate a delicious lunch served at the Haybarn Juice Bar. The chefs at Daylesford have produced an
eclectic menu of salads, healing soups and broths and gorgeous energy snacks and detoxifying 'shots' to leave you feeling comfortably replete before departure or between therapies. The Haybarn really is a beautiful and serene destination. If a relaxing holiday is not on your horizon, if you feel you need an escape or if life is a bit too hectic then book yourself in‌ But even if you don't feel 'the need', you will not be disappointed by a little excursion to Daylesford to test out the Bamford way of life. For more information, contact the Bamford Haybarn: Tel. 01608 731 703 or email: haybarn@bamford.co.uk Bamford Haybarn, Daylesford, near Kingham, Gloucestershire, GL56 OYGwww.daylesford.com/hay-barn
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Style Health Fitness Guru, Jax Allen, has been designing exercise programmes for older adults I had mentioned in class recently, that I was updating my ‘Seniors’ qualifications this autumn. One of my clients then asked me what motivates me to continue learning more about health, fitness and wellbeing. "After all" she said, "You've been doing it for over 30 years!" A number likes that hits you; it makes you think. I like this quotation. George Bernard Shaw said: "We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing." Most of the time we don't consider our own mortality; we believe we'll carry on our lives as we always have, staying active and feeling great no matter what age we are. When many of my peers are thinking about slowing down or even retiring I feel good about life. I exercise most days (obviously), vary my diet and generally follow a healthy lifestyle. I love working with Seniors, it's an important part of my coaching week and although I joke that ageing is catching - the longer I work with them, the older I become. I acknowledge the growing need for appealing, safe and effective exercise options for my '40, 50 and Fabulous' clients as well as those retirees that intend to age disgracefully! I remember attending an ageing conference years ago, a so called expert recommended any one over 50 should not exercise with younger age groups as they required easier options and different treatment! I was shocked; the 70-year-old instructor beside me stood up and put him straight. Thank goodness, ageing is understood much better these days and
PERFECT PRODUCTS
active ageing provision is the aim of all health and fitness professionals. Age is no longer a simple number. Walk into any gym and you will see people of all ages joining group exercise classes and working with trainers to ensure they maintain their physical health and wellbeing. So why do I bother continuing my education? C S Lewis reminds us: "You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream." I want to ensure my clients get everything they need to maintain their vibrant, active and healthy lifestyles whatever age they are. Visit: www.superseniorssolutionsuk.com Email: superseniorsuk@gmail.com
Chapel Spa reviewed by Amy Hickey Walking into this beautiful converted church now known as Chapel Spa situated in the heart of Cheltenham, I felt an instant calm and a sense of warmth. This teamed with the receptionist’s big welcoming smile and happy hello, made a great impression. Being taken to one of the beauty rooms,
I was offered a music menu to choose what I would like to listen to whilst opting to try the Elemis Biotec Firm-a-Lift Facial. The treatment claims to help dull, tired and ageing skin and also combats pigmentation, scarring and dehydration. This is a lot, I thought, in one type of facial. Feeling relaxed my skin was cleansed with the stunning cleansing balm, which was followed by a refreshing toner and lavender compress and rose capsules. I was then treated to a rose exfoliation that felt divine on my skin, gently buffing away the dryness and dead cells. Next I received a lifting jowl and chin mask, which gave an instant cooling and lifting feeling (I wish they did a body one too!). Twenty minutes on the microcurrent machine and a good few minutes spent using the Galvanic rollers aim to penetrate the skin much deeper than a manual facial. This is the only spa that offers this particular treatment in the Cotswolds. The whole experience was finished off with a face serum, face cream and eye cream to suit my skin type. Afterwards I relaxed while Emma, my lovely therapist went through what she had used on me, the benefits it would have and why it would help using the products at home. The real results - I'm literally glowing, have tighter pores and feel the skin around my eyes look brighter. I've booked another facial as I do think a course will benefit and help with the tougher, more stubborn concerns like scarring and pigmentation. I feel this is really beneficial to both men and women especially with their offer of buy five treatments and get the sixth free. Chapel Spa, 10 North Place, Cheltenham, GL50 4DW Tel: 01242 518075 www.chapelspa.co.uk
complexions battling both the elements and central heating. It leaves skin silky, is non-greasy and highly recommended. www.murad.co.uk
FOR WINTER Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture. This super-rich and intensely hydrating formula, relieves dehydrated and chapped wintry skins and locks in optimal moisture – perfect for parched
ZEOS for Men have developed the new QU3 Skin Care Range with Resistem™, a 21st century defence system creating a layered resistance to keep the skin’s enemies at bay. The product range is for the modern man who lives with a daily bombardment of pollution and stress and attacked from the inside by convenience food and fast living. The
range includes a face wash, face scrub, face & body moisturiser and hair & body shower gel. www.zeosformen.com
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Next Clearance dress OUTLET
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Osprey London clutch OUTLET
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Perfect presents worth dropping in for
Over 60 outlet stores, restaurants, cafés and a 10-screen cinema
Stock subject to availability. Prices correct at time of print – October 2015.
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FASHION INTERVIEW
PAUL COSTELLOE Cotswold Style’s Fashion Photographer, Stefanie Calleja-Gera caught up with Paul Costelloe after London Fashion Week QUESTIONS & IMAGES: STEFANIE CALLEJA-GERA WWW.SCG-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM
aul Costelloe is an internationally renowned fashion designer; from humble beginnings in Dublin to seeing his collections sold across the world. I was lucky enough to meet him at London Fashion Week where I saw his Private View Runway Show at Hotel Café Royal. I caught up with him again after his recent trip to Vietnam to ask questions about his life, label and more.
P
It was an honour meeting you at LFW and to see your SS16 collection. When we met, “Fresh” and “Fun” were words you used to describe your new collection – tell us a little more about the collection and what inspired it? It’s very much what the Costelloe label is all about; not over extravagant, not following any fashion rules, I keep to what I know I can do well. I think I always I want the girl to look feminine, it appeals to the modern woman; she wants to be noticed! With a lot of fashion on the catwalk at the moment, the outfits are quite long & unless you’re 5’10 and size 8 you’re not able to wear them…. I just
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felt I wanted to go short & very simple…. I lived in Paris in the late 60s, early 70s; that’s remained with me and that’s part of my culture – the great designers like Courreges and Ungaro during that time meant it was a very attractive period in fashion. The fashion world changes so rapidly, now more than ever - what are some of the challenges you as a designer have to face? Trying to be organised and keeping in touch with what the brand stands for - good quality, well cut - and trying to stay in business! There are a lot of sad stories in the UK with some major brands having been taken over by others. It’s a very tough but exciting business; we travel a lot and meet a lot of different people and it changes so rapidly, I’m already looking at Autumn & Winter 2016. Talk us through the process of designing a whole collection – where do you begin? There are between 35-40 outfits and each one has to be different. It’s very much like creating a painting I suppose; you have your background, you have your foreground and your frame and you have your signature at >>
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“It’s very much what the Costelloe label is all about; not over extravagant, not following any fashion rules, I keep to what I know I can do well.” the top instead of at the bottom! Some people can work very quickly whilst others can take months – I’m probably quite a fast worker. Some people change their minds and then they have to go back to the drawing board. I basically work from sketches and make up a toile. I’ve got 2 very good people who make toiles for me – it’s like a muslin fabric, which you then try on your ‘fit’ model and from there you can make your alterations. You change this, change that and then it gets made up into the official fabrics for the catwalk. It’s quite a slow process – from the toile you have to make a pattern, which is then cut out in the fabric you’ve specified, so there’s a lot of people involved. It’s a very extravagant process so they’d better be great garments! Do you have a particular character or type of woman in mind when you’re designing your collections? I think she’s active, reasonably confident, aware-of but not living by the book of fashion. The fashion show doesn’t really reflect what a designer is expressing, it’s more of a fantasy – it’s an expression for the moment. She’s the woman down the road, on the school run, whose working and trying to keep everything spinning; my clothes are for those occasions where she wants to splash out. She goes to Ascot, she goes to polo matches, she has the odd moment of glamour in her life, and I hope I can give her that, at least. ‘Cotswoldians’ always love their tweed! Your AW15 collection contains some fabulous and colourful tweed pieces - in your opinion, is tweed here to stay? It’s here to stay, more so from the point of view of menswear than ladies wear. With heritage jackets for example, in menswear there’s a move back to more traditional fabrics. In terms of ladies wear I think tweed for next winter for sure, after that, who knows?
From tweed to “futuristic fabrics”, the focus for your SS16 collection – tell us a little bit about where your idea came from to utilise these neoprene fabrics? It was more or less by mistake to a certain extent. I was at a street fair in Italy and I walked into a Swiss stand. I wasn’t sure why I was there, the fabrics were so expensive but then I started to think that if I could tailor these fabrics in my factory, they could be quite interesting. I could make it sophisticated rather than sporty; these garments were all for diving, walking and swimming, I just thought I would reproduce them into a formal experience and that’s how it started out. Gradually, as I produced the first then the second piece, I kept ordering more and more colours because I got to really enjoy it. I’m sure our Cotswold readers would be just as interested in your beautiful Homewear collection as they are in your clothing – it seems to have quite an art deco / arts and crafts influence - what inspired you to branch out? It’s only currently available through Dunne Stores (and also online) and it’s very much based on hand crafting that’s why I was recently in Vietnam. I obtained these amazing cut glass vases, bowls and lamps made from driftwood; phenomenal shapes and we need to get these into the UK market very quickly! They’re pretty amazing products and it’s going to be really exciting over the next year. One more question that I just have to ask, what was your inspiration behind your iconic fox motif? A very good question. That came from my family; we used to have horses in our backfields in Dublin where I grew up and I was brought up in a hunting
environment. When I was living in New York, everyone was looking for a logo; Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein had theirs… I went into an old print shop in Mid-Town Manhattan and I found this embossed, red running fox and that’s how it started, a long, long time ago. I’ve stuck with him for better or worse; he goes through unpopular moments, unfortunately relating to hunting but I’ve stood by him and he’s stood the test of time. He’s a particularly nice fox because he’s always moving forwards – somewhat like me! Paul Costelloe has a menswear & tailoring store at Gloucester Quays and a concession at House of Fraser, or you can get in touch via www.paulcostelloe.com for prices and fittings for the new collection, menswear, accessories and more.
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CONRAN WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEFANIE CALLEJA-GERA WWW.SCG-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM e’ve already seen his rich and elegant AW15 collection, which showcased fine cashmere, sumptuous suede and opulent velvet; with his most recent runway show Jasper Conran introduces us to a sea of greens in billowing chiffon & organza, with stylish, wearable comfort being the key. With the SS16 collection Jasper Conran appears to cover all bases from casual to lux. From meandering in Montpellier to a day at the races and eveningwear that transcends seasons to ensure you’re looking glamorous at this year’s Christmas party – there’s no need to keep these hidden in your wardrobe during the colder months! The colours and patterns are familiar yet original; some are artistic and
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abstract, emulating nature in a wonderful array of greens and browns. Others are classic, linear, (some would say) nautical pieces, ideal for looking your glamorous best as you saunter along the beach during those lazy summer days at the coast. Jasper makes sure that ladies are spoilt for choice, with a collection including layered silk-print dresses, balloon dresses, sequinned gowns and shorts, with fabrics ranging from heavier woven yarns to flowing chiffon. His collections can be purchased on the High Street (J by Jasper Conran) or online. Those pictured are bespoke pieces and can be created especially for you.
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Beautifully hand crafted jewellery created by us... just for you!
John Titcombe Fine Jewellery
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FIRED UP... by Amy Hickey
No excuses now ladies, Halloween is over so get glam with these gorgeous products listed below. Cold crisp mornings and dark wintery nights will set your own fireworks off this November and brighten up your look with beautiful make up and accessories... Go on treat yourself, you're worth it! The Sophisticate Eye Kit by Charlotte Tilbury – Looking glam has never been so easy to achieve with this stunning compact along with the thickening mascara and gorgeous eyeliner.
EYE LOVE This is an absolutely beautiful palette designed by Lisa Eldridge and inspired by the streets of Paris. The magical array of 16 shades in 4 finishes lets you bring Paris to you, wherever you go. Pick a chic look for the day, an audacious style for the night, or anything that falls in between.
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Nars’ new range of soft touch coloured pencils are longwearing, easy to apply and perfectly portable. (Code 878447)
EYEBROWS Never underestimate the importance of the brow. Applying structure to your brow can not only make your eyes look bigger and more awake it can take years off you too... time to get practicing ladies! Urban Decay Brow Box - Feel like a professional with this super efficient little kit. Containing two shades of silky brow powder, setting wax, two mini angled brushes and two mirrors (one is magnified). Pop to your nearest counter and get matched to the correct colour. Laura Mercier Brow Definer - This long lasting gel/wax formula lightly holds hairs in place. It adds texture to troubled brows adding fullness whilst coating each hair with colour. By Terry Eyebrow Mascara - This quick, easy eyebrow mascara tints the lashes with one stroke along with taming and sculpting the brows. Its fine, high-precision brush leaves the brows looking naturally fantastic.
Feel sophisticated with these on trend make up bags! Ted Baker Rochel make up bag. Gorgeous easy to clean material, that is small enough to pop in your handbag or big enough to hold all your favourite treasures. Charlotte Tilbury’s make up bag is made with love with the fabulous lip prints. Perfect for on the go. These RawXclusive make up bags are very fitting here in the Cotswolds. Made from lovely, woven printed fabric they are teamed with a waterproof lining which is easy to wipe over and keep clean. A must for all animal lovers out there!
T: 07733 237767 E: amyhickey.com@gmail.com Twitter: @amy_hickey Facebook.com/amyhickeycom
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Contact Emma Beddow, Clinic Director
07795 675 775 / 01242 370350 Lauriston House, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham GL50 1SS
www.cotswoldfabclinic.co.uk
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Cotswold Face & Body Clinic Offers the Latest Face & Body Fixes ere at Cotswold Face & Body Clinic our aim is to offer our patients superlative treatments and the very latest offerings in aesthetic beauty, not yet discovered by other clinics. Firstly, we are now offering Lipotripsy, the next generation in body treatments for cellulite and inch loss results. Secondly, we are delighted to be able to say that we are the first clinic in the UK to offer the new high tech Lutronic CLARITY range of treatments. CLARITY is a multi-treatment device that offers advanced and effective solutions for a variety of skin and antiageing concerns.
inch loss results and the visible signs of cellulite dimpling. Lipotripsy also provides an increase in blood circulation to the skin which leads to increased oxygen levels and an improvement in skin elasticity (tightness of skin). This increased circulation also encourages drainage of the waste in the fat cells. Although the number of treatments required will vary from person to person, we recommend between 8-10 treatments for optimal results and these should be delivered twice a week. By the fourth session you will start to see the slimming and anticellulite results. During the fifth to eighth session you will see a more dramatic effect and this will continue after each subsequent session.
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CLARITY Whether you want smooth, hair free legs for life, to rid yourself of veins or to purge your pigmentation we have a treatment to suit. All procedures are simple and effective due to the built-in Intelligent Cooling Device or air cooling which makes treatments more comfortable, and best of all, they come with almost no down-time. Cotswold Face & Body CLARITY Treatment Menu: Clarity from Hair to Bare Treatment: You are just six treatments away from permanent hair reduction on the face or body. Fade-Away Veins Treatment: Fade away broken capillaries, leg veins and general redness with this highly advanced Fade-Away Veins treatment. Purge Pigmentation Treatment: Achieve a flawless skin tone free of brown pigmentation with this fast and effective pigmentation treatment that gradually fades brown spots over a course of treatments. Age Reverse Treatment: Reverse the visible signs of ageing with new Clarity Age Reverse Treatment. This highly effective treatment firms, tightens and lifts the skin reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. LIPOTRIPSY To get you ready in time for spring and summer, clinically proven Lipotripsy
offers a remedy to the extra weight and cellulite we hide under our clothes over the winter. Start now and you will be ready for next year’s big reveal! The technology used by Lipotripsy has been used for years by the NHS for the treatment of soft tissue injuries and in Urology.
• Lipotripsy offers cellulite and dramatic inch loss results in just four weeks with results seen after just two weeks. • Treats the arms, saddlebags, thighs, hips, love handles and abdomen. • With treatments taking only half an hour per body zone you can easily fit a treatment into your lunch break.
Lipotripsy technology harnesses painless Radial Wave Therapy delivered by a therapist through a small hand piece. As it passes over the skin the Radial Waves reach the fat cells leading to a reduction in fat density which can be noticeable in
To book a consultation contact: Emma Beddow, Clinical Director Lauriston House Montpellier Street Cheltenham GL50 1SS Tel: 07795 675 775 Tel: 01242 573476 www.cotswoldfabclinic.co.uk
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Cosmetic dentistry to brighten your smile Dental implants to restore missing or damaged teeth Dental sedation for nervous anxious patients Why not contact us for a friendly no-obligation chat about how we can help you?
01242 655554
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www.arnicadentalcare.co.uk
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Style Gifts
Memories are made of these Emma Mercer met with Cotswold based photographer, Anne-Marie Randall to find out about her fabulous new business Photogem We may live in an era of selfies and instagram but a contemporary new range of photo jewellery is making old-fashioned lockets ‘cool’ again in the Cotswolds. Photogem is the modern-day version of the traditional locket. Founded by Cotswold portrait photographer, Anne-Marie Randall, the stylish range of jewellery features personalised ‘Photogems’ attached to leather wrap bracelets, pendant necklaces and cufflinks. It may be a contemporary twist on a classic keepsake but the sentiment remains the same. “It’s about the connection you make by wearing these cherished images on your wrists or around your neck,” says Anne-Marie. “I wear my bracelet and necklace every day and often catch myself touching the images of my girls. It makes me feel close to them; I actually feel lost when I don’t wear them.” Anne-Marie came across the inspiration behind Photogem while living and working as a photographer in San Francisco. On returning to her home village of Painswick, she received so many compliments and enquiries about the leather wrap bracelet she was wearing, she decided to pursue the idea for the British market.
Photogem bespoke jewellery is handmade to order using quality British products. Artisans create the jewellery from Birmingham’s famed Jewellery Quarter and is available in a range of metal finishes. The leather is crafted from world-renowned English Sedgwick leather and is available in four different colourways. Each Photogem is resinsealed to make it watertight and durable and products come packaged in a contemporary gift box, making them ideal gifts for Christmas and other occasions. Photogem is now taking Christmas orders – order by 7th December for Christmas delivery.
READER OFFER: Photogem is offering a
“It was the fact that my eldest daughter is starting university next year that spurred me on,” she says. “I feel like she’s slipping through my fingers and Photogem is a way of keeping her close to me for longer.” When developing the range, Anne-Marie was determined that people should be able to create Photogems using their own images. “People have so many pictures now stored on iPhones, it makes sense to use existing photographs,” she says. The process is simple: an image can be uploaded to the website www.photogem.co.uk, where Anne-Marie gives it a little ‘tweak and sparkle’, to make sure it’s the best it can be visually before she creates each Photogem by hand. Since launching last month, she has already received a number of orders. “Requests have come from everyone – people with new babies, people with children
10% DISCOUNT TO COTSWOLD STYLE READERS who order a Photogem bracelet, necklace or cufflinks before 7th December. Visit the website at photogem.co.uk to find out more and start creating your very own Photogem! USE CODE: ‘COTSSTYLE’ TO CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT. To see more of Anne-Marie’s photography, visit amrandall.com
who want gifts for mums or grannies, someone who has lost a loved one and wants to feel close to them. I’ve even produced Photogems of puppies for one client!” Anne-Marie is overwhelmed at how quickly Photogem is capturing the hearts of customers in the Cotswolds. “The response has been incredible,” she says. www.photogem.co.uk
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Patchwork Chicken Cushion. 40cm x 65cm. Linen cushion with a wool tartan applique design. £67.50. www.justfabrics.co.uk Tel: 0845 4989043.
Hamish Cushion. 45cm square. Cushion with a lovely appliqued design of a highland cow. Backed with a cotton velvet. £44.95. www.justfabrics.co.uk Tel: 0845 4989043.
All I want for
CHRISTMAS
Above: The Boomtube is an entertainment speaker which is great for indoor and outdoor use! Boasting 7W of powerful sound, this speaker enables you to wirelessly stream your favourite tracks, listen to FM radio and insert a TF card. www.thepresentfinder.co.uk. £49.99.
Pop one of these on your wish-list to make sure Santa remembers you next month Rouge by Georgie Woolridge. £POA. The Paragon Gallery 4 Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SW Tel: 01242 233391 www.paragongallery.co.uk
Bumbling Along by Jake Winkle. £POA. The Paragon Gallery 4 Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SW Tel: 01242 233391 www.paragongallery.co.uk Capella Hydrangea Footstool. £172.50. Beautiful footstool with a colourful floral design, fabric is a cotton/linen mix. Border fabric 100% wool. www.justfabrics.co.uk Tel: 0845 4989043.
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Style Christmas Baccarat Pop Ring, £255, Andrew Scott Designer Jewellery, 9 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1LN. Tel: 01242 524000
Below: Jasmine Cluster Ring from John Titcombe. Prices start from: £1600. John Titcombe, 39 Market Place, Cirencester, GL7 2NX. Tel: 01285 655 754. www.johntitcombe.co.uk
Silver Swirl Disc Pendant on Snake Chain, £136, Andrew Scott Designer Jewellery, 9 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1LN. Tel: 01242 524000. Also available from the Broadway branch
Below: Silver Interlacing Bangle, £225, Silver with Yellow Gold and Rose Gold Plate, Andrew Scott Designer Jewellery, 9 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1LN. Tel: 01242 524000. Also available from the Broadway branch.
Below: Platinum Sapphire and Diamond Ring, £8250. Bicks, No 5 Montpellier Walk, Cheltenham, Tel: 01242 524 738.
Above: Kiki McDonough Flower Ring, £1900, Beards, 70 The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NA. Tel: 01242 516238. www.beards.co.uk
Right: Beards Eternity Rings, £POA, Beards, 70 The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NA. Tel: 01242 516238. www.beards.co.uk
Above: 18ct Rose & White Gold earrings, featuring 8.80cts of Yellow & White diamonds, £9,850. Promenade Antiques, 18 The Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1LR Tel: 01242 524519. www.promenadeantiques.co.uk
Below: Silver Mo lten Metal Cuffl Andrew Scott inks, £92, Designer Jewe llery, 9 Promen Cheltenham, ade, GL50 1LN. Tel: 01242 524000 Also available . from the Broa dway branch.
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Black Friday S U P E R S AV I N G S B Y R E G E N T A R C A D E
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Meet the Minions
FESTIVE FUN BY REGENT ARCADE S A T U R D AY 2 8 T H & S U N D AY 2 9 T H N O V E M B E R
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DON ’T F O It’s F REE p R G E T ark every Th u r s i n g da f ro m 5:30p y over Chris m tmas
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/H]L `V\ Z\ɈLYLK H ZWVY[PUN PUQ\Y` past or present, that needs attention? ;OL :WVY[Z HUK ,_LYJPZL 4LKPJPUL *SPUPJ H[ >PUÄLSK /VZWP[HS JHU OLSW! • Able to fully assess and treat sporting injuries sustained through sporting activity • With an experienced consultant, on-site Physiotherapists & access to latest equipment including Anti-Gravity Treadmill • Able to manage the prevention of future injuries • Whether your injury is through top level sport or recreational exercise
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B US I N E S S
& EDU CAT I O N
www.ctfc.com
CONFERENCING AND VENUE HIRE AT CHELTENHAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB FROM MEETINGS TO WEDDINGS AT THE STADIUM AND SEASONS TRAINING COMPLEX
Call 01242 588107 or email john.finnigan@ctfc.com
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WESTMINSTER IN THE COTSWOLDS Emma Logan has asked the county’s MPs to inform Cotswold Style readers what they have be doing to represent their constituencies both locally and from Westminster
Neil Carmichael
NEIL CARMICHAEL, MP FOR STROUD In October I joined local schools, Archway and Thomas Keble, on the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tour to the Somme. The First World War Battlefield Tours Programme is a national education programme led by the Institute of Education, which provides a crosscurricular approach to commemorate the First World War Centenary. The programme sets out to enable students to acquire a deeper understanding of the First World War and develop and enhance key work and life skills through research, analysis and teamwork activities. I joined the tour at Ypres before travelling to the Somme with the schools. Students visited various sites, including Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park, London Cemetery, Thiepval Memorial and Ulster Memorial Tower. My great uncle Ernest fought during the First World War and participated in the dreadful battles on the Somme, eventually winning the Military Cross but he also incurred wounds with a lasting impact on the rest of his life. Millions were less lucky and virtually every family 108 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
will be able to draw some connection with this truly awful conflict. A hundred years on, there are various centenaries and associated community activities to mark and recognise the sacrifices of millions of people during the years 1914 to 1918. 2018 will be a time when the relief of the final end of the war can be marked during Remembrance; 11.00am on 11th November will have a special poignancy. Throughout the centenary period there will be many opportunities to learn about the events and course of the war. Making sure young people can gain an understanding of this period is worthwhile so the work of ‘Never Such Innocence’ – taking its name from a line in Philip Larkin’s famous poem MCMXIV – is worth highlighting. It is a national charity dedicated to educating young people about the war, its impact and legacy. You can learn more at http://neversuchinnocence.com Another feature of the war is the role women played. By 1918, the home front was, effectively, dependent on women for the production of food, ammunitions and equipment. They also served near the front in auxiliary positions and of course, in field hospitals. Few remained unscathed by the so-called Great War. Locally, the Five Valleys Great War Researchers will also be exhibiting their research into soldiers of the Stroud Valleys and the Vale during the Great War at the Old Town Hall in Stroud on Friday 13th November.
Neil Carmichael is the Member of Parliament for Stroud and Chair of the Education Select Committee. Contact Neil at neil.carmichael.mp @parliament.uk or his constituency office on 01453 751 572.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
GEOFFREY CLIFTON-BROWN, MP FOR COTSWOLDS One of the many things that have been happening in Westminster that will have a significant impact on my constituents in Gloucestershire is of the passing of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill, which will allow many more powers to be devolved to counties across England. We in Gloucestershire should benefit from this. The ‘We Are Gloucestershire’ bid, produced jointly between Gloucestershire County Council, GFirst, the Clinical Commissioning Group, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the six district councils asks the Government for
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Style Politics considerable more local power over decision making. It also asks for more of the money currently spent in Gloucestershire by Central Government to be accessed directly by local institutions. If approved many decisions affecting Gloucestershire will be made locally including efforts made to drive economic growth, support for businesses, broadband delivery, infrastructure improvements, health services, community safety and policing. I support this move as part of the Government’s continued localism agenda. We should be supporting devolution to local level as no one is in a better position to know what is best for an area than the people that are there every day. They know the conditions and problems Gloucestershire faces and are therefore best qualified to address them and come up with solutions. Gloucestershire’s Devolution Bid does require some adjustments however, with some tweaking, I believe Gloucestershire can put forward a very compelling case for more powers from Central Government. Gloucestershire’s Members of Parliament have met to discuss the issue of devolution and I look forward to providing feedback on the bid to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. This move by the Government signals one of the greatest shifts from central to local government in many years and it should be celebrated. I will continue to watch closely over this process to ensure that devolution benefits my constituents in The Cotswolds and Gloucestershire. www.geoffreycliftonbrown.co.uk
Alex Chalk
ALEX CHALK, MP FOR CHELTENHAM Cheltenham is back. That's the message following John Lewis' decision to open a flagship store in the centre of town.
Cheltenham is a superb retail destination with a rich variety of independent shops. But local rivals have been chipping away over the last decade to try to steal our crown. They've made too much headway for my liking. This announcement shows we're fighting back. On top of new jobs, this investment will help cement our reputation for shopping excellence. It will attract new visitors and increase footfall. That in turn will mean more customers for our brilliant independent retailers. But anyone who thinks we can now afford to relax and lose focus is plain wrong. Competition hasn't gone away. Shoppers can choose from a bewildering number of destinations, from a resurgent Gloucester, to Oxford and Cribbs Causeway. That's why this announcement should not be the end of our efforts; it should be the beginning. Now is the time to press home our advantage and redouble our efforts to make Cheltenham the pre-eminent regional shopping destination. To achieve that we have to do two things: First, we have to make parking cheaper. It is simply not sustainable to have a system where parking in town is significantly more expensive and less flexible than in rival centres. We need to bring the cost down and pilot imaginative schemes to attract visitors. I have proposed my '30-for-30' scheme (30 minutes for 30p) but there are plenty of other proposals that should be considered. I understand the council is now going to review parking. I wish them every success. There's no time to lose. Second, we need to tidy up our town. There are far too many 'grot spots', from unsightly tarmac in-fills in the High Street to derelict buildings and litter-strewn verges. They let the town down. It's why I launched my grot spot campaign, even raising in Parliament the issue of the decaying Springbank Shopping Centre and old Carlton Street Post Office. It's also why earlier this month I was delighted to join the plucky Wombles as they rolled up their sleeves to clear vast amounts of rubbish from the St James' car park grot spot. It was great to see people coming together from all walks of life for the benefit of Cheltenham. It shows that
Cheltonians are do-ers, not talkers. So, let's be proud of Cheltenham and ambitious for our future. Cheltenham is roaring back. But let's make sure we're back for good. www.alexchalk.com
Laurence Robertson
LAURENCE ROBERTSON, MP FOR TEWKESBURY It is a great honour for me and for my constituency that HRH The Princess Royal will be attending the Cheltenham racecourse twice during November. The first occasion, on Friday 13th November, Her Royal Highness will be attending to officially open the redeveloped course, which has had £45 million spent on it recently. I am then hosting a plenary session of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (of which I am co-Chairman) at the racecourse from Sunday 15th November and I’m delighted that the Princess will be attending one of the dinners I’m hosting there. The Royal family has, of course, been instrumental in improving the relations which exist between the UK and Ireland, with the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 2012 and the subsequent visit of the Prince of Wales. The Royal Family are great supporters of horse racing, a sport which is so very important to the heritage and economy of this area. I’m therefore delighted that the Royal Family is gracing a great racing meeting, The Open at Cheltenham, with their presence. I also look forward to working with the racecourse to help them to continue to provide employment opportunities both at the racecourse and in the wider communities for so many people and also to provide outstanding National Hunt racing for many years to come. www.laurencerobertsonmp.com COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 109
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THE BEAUTY
&
VALUE OF YOUR HOME
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Financial Surgery Robert Ward is here every month to guide you through your financial questions
Q. Dear Robert, Great news, we’re pregnant! We want to know what kind of savings accounts we should be setting up now for the future of our new arrival – Bonds? ISAs? Or something else entirely? Something to slowly contribute to now so that when they’re 21 they have something behind them. Rudy & Gemma, Cheltenham
Congratulations Rudy and Gemma on your good news. Saving for a young child is both rewarding and gratifying, offering them independence and security in their future. This question is very often asked as to how is it best to do these things and as per usual in the UK we are driven by our over complicated tax laws. Let’s put down some simple things. If you are investing in the child’s name and want a tax free return, then the tax man says that’s fine, as long as you don’t do too much. He also tells us that a Junior Isa, which can receive from you between £10 and £25 per month, is the limit. If you want to spend more than this you are in a bit of a cleft stick. Years ago, my parents opening a building society account for their Grandchildren and handed the product over to each child as they became 18. This was a great way to do things once upon a time when the account actually offered a reasonable rate of interest. Today most accounts offer a teaser rate in the first year and less than 1% thereafter. This doesn’t help your long term intentions. So what can you do if you don’t want to settle funds (and create a tax return – all of which has to be considered when doing so)? Like a lot of things, it is a matter of a compromise. I get the impression that you do only want to save a modest sum but it wants to end up as meaningful. If you want a reasonable return, you have to look at investing rather than saving – a thought worth considering? Do you use up all of your individual ISA allowances? It has recently risen to a figure above £15,000 per person per
If you would like to ask Robert a question please email info@bankhousegroup.co.uk annum. Do you save over £30,000 a year between you both? If the answer is no then consider increasing what you do save, and consider a percentage as ultimately belonging to each child. Then make the gift as they reach 18, or such age as you want to make the gift. You retain control in all respects, and the fund will grow tax free until you make the gift. The grabbing hand of Inheritance Tax will be looking over your shoulder when you do make the gift, but you surviving this gift by 7 years removes this cost should you die. Please let me know if it is a boy or a girl – it doesn’t make any difference to the advice, I just want to say congratulations when the time comes! Q. Dear Robert, I’m only 25, and I’ve recently read that it’s likely I’ll live until I’m 120! Should I be worried about a pension right now? It seems so unnecessary when I’m struggling with daily finances as it is. Ella, Tewkesbury
Dear Ella, what an exciting yet daunting prospect of living until you are 120! No matter what age you attain, your finances are relative to a number of definable issues. The first truism is that the amount of money that you have at any given point in time is based upon how much you have saved and how much it has grown by. The second truism is that its value is relative to and grossly effected by inflation. The third is that you will need it at that point in your life when you are no longer working. So what does this tell a 25 year old who is struggling financially? I am going to assume that you are employed and therefore you are currently, or will be soon, enrolled in an auto enrolment scheme. This scheme is
designed to get you onto the ladder of adequate pension benefits for those years ahead. At your age you have many years of contributing before you decide to retire, and therefore modest but regular contributions will make a huge difference to the end result. I am going to say that it is highly likely that if you will live until you are 120 then you will probably work until you have passed 80. Long life and regular contributions add up to a less stressful retirement. Now then the difficult bit, should you be worried? If all things in life were equal then absolutely not, so long as you add what you can additionally afford to your contributions as you go along. But life is just not like that. Your earnings will fluctuate, you may have periods without earning, punctuated by the joy of children, then greater or different opportunities later. The real spectre at the feast is our politicians’ propensity to meddle. They keep trying to change our lives to what they think it should look like, so be aware of this. What I suggest that you do is enjoy your life, but be prepared every few years (unless your finances become more complicated, then perhaps more regularly), sit down with a qualified Financial advisor and ask him or her to just re-assure you that everything is going in the right direction. 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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EXPLA N THE MARKET Economist & business expert, Guy Shone who runs Explainthemarket.com discusses Ag-tech, the new digital technology assisting Britain’s farmers new market called ‘Ag-tech’ is bringing the city and the countryside closer than ever before. Agtech businesses use digital technology to help farmers do more with less and the industry is growing fast. Worldwide investment in Ag-tech has already hit £2bn this year and the UK is playing a leading role. This month I’ve been out and about meeting leading Ag-tech experts - many of whom are right on our doorstep Agrii is the largest supplier of advice to farmers in the UK. The Cotswold based business has teams of ‘agronomists’ who walk the fields, conduct research and investigate how best to apply the latest technology. David Langton, Head of R&D & Stewardship at Agrii explained ""We have been helping to develop new technologies to increasing yield, reduce waste and support the environment. In the past the focus has been walking the fields and making recommendations on what we see along with historical knowledge of the fields. Now we can make use of novel sensors with tractor mounted displays and even drones.” One of the most exciting areas of industry innovation is in yield mapping where digital devices give farmers a realtime guide of the best places and times to plant. Professor David Hopkins of the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester told me that digital yield maps learn by processing vast amounts of data. In some cases the information collected stretches back hundreds of years. Experts have been able to convert ancient records of field boundaries from centurys past into digital pictures of what yield to expect now. This all helps farmers make the most of every last corner of land at their disposal. With Global food shortages hitting the headlines, being able to deliver an optimum crop yield is something that helps everyone in society. Professor Hopkins explained the importance of Agtech to our society as well as our economy "In the UK we are not self-sufficient at
A
About Guy...
growing our own food. It’s critical we make use of the latest technology to really empower farmers and drive the country forward.” The more I discover about Agtech, the more I want to support it. The people are smart and straightforward. It’s an industry where people are more interested in problem solving than grandstanding. Every day new businesses are busy figuring out how to apply technology to make things better. Teams right now are creating smart phone apps to keep track of thousands of animals while roboticmilking machines are revolutionising daily tasks. I’ve even discovered ‘bolus sensors’ that somehow manage to transmit continuous health information from inside an animals digestive system. Helping to drive forward the county’s Agricultural Technology agenda Farm491 is the Royal Agricultural University’s centre for the AgTech start-up community. Based in the heart of the Cotswolds Farm 491 is modelled on the highly successful Google Start-Up Campus in London. The idea is to bring together a worldwide group of technologists, farmers and entrepreneurs to create more growth in the UK sector. Nick Hoylake from Farm491 is optimistic about the future “information age students are beginning to influence a new agricultural revolution and benefit the wider food production industry…this is a space where anything is possible.” Getting involved in hi-tech industries can be often be difficult. Breaking into the job market or getting access to training can be tough. However, Ag-tech appears to be an industry actively seeking to recruit and develop a diverse range of
Guy Shone is an economist & business expert who appears regularly on BBC News, BBC Breakfast, BBC World, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s today programme, Sky News and ITV News. Guy is the former City & Business columnist for the Metro newspaper and now runs the research business ExplaintheMarket. Guy spent most of his 17 year career in the City. His previous jobs were the Head of Research for global investment group Old Mutual plc and Research Director for the government backed Money Advice Service. In 2012, he was commissioned by the UK government to produce the largest study ever done into the financial behaviour of UK families. He has recently moved to the Cotswolds with his wife, daughter and dog (called Lollipop).
people. In 2016 the Royal Agricultural University is launching a new Msc in agricultural technology and the staff seem just as keen to promote their wide range of vocational courses. Given the depressing lack of diversity in the financial technology or ‘fin-tech’ sector it’s exciting that Ag-tech desires the skills and experiences of people from different backgrounds and circumstances. The food and agriculture industry in the UK is now worth over £100bn to our economy and Ag-tech is a powerful catalyst for future growth. It’s a developing story that’s enthralling city commuters and countryside investors alike. Our economy needs more of us to get behind these start-up business and pioneering farmers. Investors and supporters of Ag-tech will reap rewards while helping to give the watching world another British success story. Guy can be reached on twitter @GuyShone
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The Edgemoor Inn
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Freehouse & Restaurant
DECEMBER MENU SERVED FROM NOVEMBER 28th TILL 24TH DECEMBER
Starters Spiced butternut squash soup with sundried tomato focaccia Crispy duck and hoisin spring rolls with roasted plum sauce Three cheese soufflé with candied walnuts, & orange salad, honey dressing Breaded fish goujons with citrus and herb mayonnaise, salsa verde
Main Courses Macadamia nut loaf, onion gravy, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables Fillet of salmon in a creamy white wine, prawn and mushroom sauce, served with mangetout, spinach, peas and new potatoes Smoked bacon wrapped turkey escalope with sausage, sage and cranberry stuffing, roast potatoes and vegetable medley Parmesan crusted Rib-eye steak and chips, mushroom and onion rings Mozzarella topped paprika pork loin, tomato and aubergine parmigiana, green beans
Desserts Boozy Christmas pudding and custard Lemon and almond flan, lemoncello ice cream Chocolate fudge pavlova, toffee and chocolate sauce Baileys and nut ice cream parfait, toffee sauce
THREE COURSE MENU @ £24.50 2 COURSE MENU @ £19.50
F ilter Coffee & Mints
Edge, near Stroud, Gloucester GL6 6ND 01452 813 576 | www.edgemoorinn.com | edgemoorinn@gmail.com
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WINING
& DINING
Elliot Oliver Sales and Lettings 101 The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NW 01242 321 091
www.elliotoliver.co.uk
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Forage for your supper Shelle Duffin went hunting in the woods orage for your supper’ – now there’s a cooking method you may not have tried before and one that’s slightly more energetic than a usual stint in the kitchen. However, The Lucky Onion supper club is not your average bangers and mash - with their famous reputation for delivering unique culinary experiences, this is one dining table you will definitely want to be sat at. On this occasion, they were joined by some of the restaurant scene’s culinary A-listers - River Cottage Head Chef Gill Meller, a man who needs little introduction for he often appears on our television screens assisting Hugh with new dishes. Teaming up with Jack Bevan and Matthew Pennington, foraging fanaticsmixologists-self-taught chefs (they’re pretty talented) from the awardwinning The Ethicurean Restaurant in Bristol, you already know you’re not leaving hungry. Gathering together on a sunny afternoon in autumn, you couldn’t ask for a more idyllic setting than The Wheatsheaf in Northleach. One of The Lucky Onion’s most popular haunts (they’re all favourites, but this one’s a country gem), the roaring log fires, cosy armchairs and a swift tipple on one of their famous Bloody Mary’s is the perfect place to start ‘nature’s treasure hunt’ around The Cotswolds. Wellies on and woolly hats sat comfortably on our heads, we were warmly welcomed by our hosts and taken through the afternoon’s logistics - have fun and eat – we’re onto a winner. Issued with a brown-paper ‘party bag’ for all our foraged goodies, we set off, hunter gatherers of The Cotswolds, into the bush (also known as Dowdeswell Woods) armed with one of the specially-prepared ‘foraging revival kits’ consisting of a map, tips on foraging and best of all, chef ’s homemade flapjacks. Whether you’re a foodie or just love ambling around beautiful countryside, foraging is a fantastic way of feeling at one with nature and beats a trip to the supermarket. This was prime time to go with the wild pick ‘n’ mix on offer, including damsons, elderberries, blackberries, wild garlic and water mint, an
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ingredient regularly used by Gill in his sorbet recipe. This is nature’s Waitrose with a shopping list that’s endless and a checkout that’s empty. They say you learn something new everyday, however, after an afternoon out in the woods with these people I soon racked up my yearly quota. As an amateur forager, I thought I had the basics covered… If you’re making sloe gin, never pick sloes until after the first hard frost – tick box. The reason why you should never pick the big juicy blackberries by the roadside is not only the obvious danger in retrieving them but they’re most likely to be seasoned with fumes – tick box (thanks Grandma). However, picking a stinging nettle the right way - I wasn’t aware there was one, other than avoid contact at all costs – credit/copyright/general thanks goes to Matthew! As well as adults, foraging is a great way of inspiring children to learn about nature and that not all ingredients come packaged from the supermarket. And did the little hunter-gatherers have fun on this occasion, showing what they’d found and asking endless questions. For everyone else, it was a great sight to see, watching their eager faces gather round full of intrigue as Matthew explained about mushrooms - ones to pick and very importantly not to pick.
Back at The Wheatsheaf gathered around the table, a Lucky Onion Supper Club not only offers unique culinary experiences, but is also a brilliant way to meet new people, brought together over a love of food. Our foraging feast began with sweet cured mackerel with wild mushroom, anise, horseradish and wild herbs; followed by venison loin and pigeon breast with beetroot, pearl barley, cobnuts, blackberries and wild sorrel; and finished with elder poached pear with rosehip set cream, damson sorbet and walnut crumble washed down with an organic Argentinian 2014 Malbec. Each dish was triumphant in its own right, presenting an excellent display of colour, innovation and flavour that does credit to what Gill, Matthew, Jack and The Lucky Onion each do – inspiring the culinary mind to what a good plate of food is and where it comes from by delivering unique experiences that celebrate a honest love for food. For more information, visit: www.theluckyonion.com
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Shelle Duffin’s Special Foraging Recipe and feast on nature’s delights, and at this moment in time, nature has really come up trumps. This month, we welcome the juicy damson back into bloom. As well as making scrumptious jam, this decadent member of the plum family provides multiple offerings both on a plate and from the bottle. My recipe this month is an autumnal favourite for this time of year. Both celebrating nature’s goodness and the return of the game season it’s a real advocate of eating all things wild and an excuse to throw an indulgent dinner party – not that we ever need one! >>>
Autumn is a magical time of year with nature putting on a magnificent display of both richness and colour. As much as we may crave the warmer climes of the summer months, the smoky aurora that floats through the air from roaring log fires alongside the delicious smells of warms soups and casseroles that now bubble away on our stoves are both alluring substitutes. Teamed with cosy cashmere and a glass of red in hand with the bottle nearby, there are perks during the colder months, many in fact, you just need to know where to find them. For the culinary crusaders and hunter-gatherers
among you, put on your wooly hats and pull on your wellies and let’s go foraging. Celebrity chef, Marco Pierre-White once said that ‘if you aren’t prepared to go out and get it, do you really have the right to eat it?’ Now, even though I think he makes an excellent point, I am not advocating stepping out and slaying a cow or, may I quickly add, expecting you to either. However, nature does offer many delicious treats we can seek in a slightly less drastic fashion. Living in the heart of the Cotswolds, we are not short of captivating walks through woods, along rivers and around fields to forage
The sweet, spicy scents of these little gems works beautifully with partridge, without being too overpowering. This dish is elegant yet simplistic in the making, and is an ideal main course to serve at an autumnal dinner party.
Partridge with Mulled Damsons
Ingredients:
4 oven-ready partridges 8 rashers of smoked streaky bacon 300g damsons 20 juniper berries, crushed 300ml port 200ml beef stock 3tbsp redcurrant jelly 1 cinnamon stick 100g butter A bunch of thyme, stalks removed Salt & Pepper
Method:
• Preheat the oven to 220°C. • Put the damsons into a saucepan with a few tablespoons of water and gently cook for a few minutes until they are tender enough to remove the stones. • Mix the butter, juniper berries and thyme together, and season with salt and pepper. • Rub equal amounts of the herb butter onto each bird, especially the breasts. Cut each rasher of bacon in half so there’s 4 pieces per bird – lay each piece
lengthways across the birds, ensuring it’s completely covered. • Place the birds in a roasting tin and cook for 15 minutes, before removing, setting aside the bacon and returning to the oven to cook for a further 15 minutes. Remove the birds from the roasting tin and cover with foil to keep warm. • Meanwhile, deglaze the roasting tin of all its juices using the port, and then pour this into a saucepan with the redcurrant jelly and cinnamon, and allow to simmer until it’s reduced by half. • Add the stock and bring to the boil
before turning the heat down to medium. Add the damsons and cook until tender. Season to taste.
Serving suggestion:
Serve each partridge on a bed of savoy cabbage accompanied by dauphinoise potatoes and a generous drizzle of the mulled damson sauce. For the dauphinoise, instead of using solely potato, you could add some slices of swede and parsnip also, a sweet variation which works well with the rest of the ingredients in this dish.
For more recipe ideas, reviews and articles, check out my blog – myboiledeggsandsoldiers@blogspot.com; or follow me on Twitter – @Shelle_Duffin, Instagram – shelleduffin, Pinterest – shelleduffin
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Over, O ver, G Gloucester, loucester, er, GL2 GL2 8DB 8DB | enquiries@thewharfhouse.co.uk @thewharfhouse.co.uk
AWARD-WINNING A WARD -WINNING NG WATERSIDE WATERSIDE RESTAURANT REST TAURANT WITH ROOMS ROOMS O
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Christmas at THE WHARF HOUSE The Wharf House serves acclaimed modern British and European cuisine with a twist. Booking strongly advised.
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NOW OPEN 10 Cambray bray Place Cheltenham am, G L50 1JS Cheltenham, GL50 theoxcheltenham.com Tel Tel : 01242 234 779 | theoxcheltenham.com
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Christmas ristmas at Tewkesbury sbury Parkk
Party P arty Drinks FFestive estive Lunc Lunches hes Christmas Br Breaks eakss P Party arty N Nights ights N New ew Y Year’s ear ’s E Eve ve Gala D Dinner
Whether it it’s’s a fam family mily celebr celebration, ation, a catc catchh up with w friends, a works do or an indulgent afternoon tea, we really reallyy do have something for for eeveryone veerryone at T Tewkesbury ewkesburr y P Park ark this t fest festive ive season. Come on in, relax relax and enjoy ttime ime at our family-owned hotel this Ch Christmas hristmas and N New ew Year. Year. Christmas Christm mas Day Lunc Lunchh Selection Sele ection of canapés *** Cream Cr eam of cauliflower soup w with roast roast cchestnut hestnut and coconut conf confetti fetti P Pan an sear seared ed Brixham scallops, crispy c pancetta, gar garden den peas and spearmint armint couliss with pea shoots couli R Refreshing efreshing gguava and mango sorbet *** Sage butter rroasted oasted local tturkey urkeey with T Tewkesbury ewkesburry P Park ark pigs in blank blankets kets and homemade cr cranberry an nberrry and cchestnut hestnut st stuffing uffing Roast R oast duck br breast east with spic spiced ced quince, por port, t, blueberries and a wa warm arm Bramley Br amleey andd macer macerated ated ccherry herrry ssalad alad Wild W ild ld mushr mushroom, h oom, spinac spinachh andd ale l mil mille-feuille, llle-feuille, ll f ll bals bbalsamic l amic vine tomatoes and nd water watercress cress Poached Poached fillet of sea br bream eam with a kaffir lime and basil infused N Niçoise içoise ssalad alad *** Christmas pud pudding ding wit with th mulled berries and br brandy andy ssauce auce Artisan Artisan panettonee with a vanilla crème anglaise Duo of dark cchocolate hocolate and T Tia ia M Maria aria mous mousse se with Baile Baileys eys and white w chocolate chocolate velvet, fi finished with wild strawberries strawberries *** Tea, T ea, coffeee and mini mince pies £54. £54.95 95 per per person, son, £2 £24.95 4.95 ffor or cchildren hildren under 12, fr free ee ffor or under 5s SSpecial pecial dietar dietary ry rrequirements equirements can easily be ac accommodated commodated with advanc advance ce not notice. ice.
FFor or fur further theer details please call 01684 01684 2295405 or email events@tewkesburypark.co.uk events@tewkesbur w b rypark ypark .co.uk 120 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
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Award Winning Cafe in Cheltenham Town Centre Best Independent Cafe in the 2015 Taste of Gloucestershie Food & Farming Awards Fresh, seasonal food using the best ingredients from Gloucestershire.
NEW
Available for private dining hire for 20-32 people
Evening Menu & Wine List on Friday & Saturday from 7pm
The County Kitchen Free glass of wine for all evening bookings in November & December
8 Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2SG
www.thecountykitchen.co.uk
NO N W OPEN NOW C H R I S W H I T E I S A YO YO U N G C H E F W H O IS T AKING THE GASTRONOMIC WORLD TA B Y S TO T O R M . A P R OT OT ÉG É BY BL UMENTHAL, LU
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The County Kitchen Sandra Paul dines at The County Kitchen, an award winning café in Cheltenham The County Kitchen, tucked away on the corner of Grosvenor Street in Cheltenham, is by day a café and coffee shop and though only opening in April, has already attracted a loyal following, enticed by the sumptuous breakfasts, brunches and lunches it offers. Three weeks ago it opened its doors on Thursday and Friday evenings to serve fabulous, locally produced food at extremely reasonable prices. Grosvenor Street is at the start of the High Street, an area not usually known for its eateries. However, over the past few months this end of Cheltenham has seen other bars and cafés opening, such as The Grape Escape and The Apartment, owned and run by people genuinely enthusiastic about their business and the customers who walk through the door. I visited The County Kitchen, owned and run by Richard Warwick, on a Friday evening and the twenty-two covers were full. Popping back an hour later, there was a table free for me and it was still busy. Most of the clientele are regulars who frequent The County Kitchen during the day – it demonstrates that customers are happy with the quality of the food and the price point. I found The County Kitchen refreshingly unpretentious with stripped back decor and minimalist design – one of those rare finds where the surroundings do not dictate the food. Let me get to the kitchen. Head Chef is Chester Henry, who joined The County Kitchen from The Suffolk Kitchen and is a young, enthusiastic talent. We started with crispy squid with harissa aioli, which was perfectly cooked and succulent, rather than chewy and rubbery and a Cornish sardine with salt and pepper bruschetta accompanied by a lemon crème fraîche, which was fresh, simple and bursting with flavour though I
The County Kitchen team
think they could do with more sardine and less bruschetta. I had been wrestling with the idea of pigeon breast on a potato rösti with chargrilled leeks and carrot and cumin puree but at the last moment changed my mind! For the main course my friend had the fillet steak, sourced from Martin’s of Toddington. It was seriously ‘melt in the mouth’ and served with a wild mushroom duxelle and a crayfish beignet – a morsel of crispy batter and crayfish to put a different spin on surf and turf. I had a little taste and I have to say that I could eat the wild mushroom sauce on everything and anything – it was divine. My main course was sea bass fillets, split pea and coconut milk curry with sautéed greens and sweet potato. I love the attention to detail here. Rather than lumps of sweet potato I was given classically prepared, tiny cubes of sweet flesh, sautéed lightly to give a different
edge, rather than traditional rice – the usual accompaniment to ‘curry’. Priced at £16 this, is stunning value and one would be hard pushed to find such quality produce, cooked classically and with passion, for that price. Chester trained at Gloucester College before spending over three years at the Suffolk Kitchen. His food displays influences from the Caribbean and Africa with his use of spices and his preference for fish dishes. Having said that, the menu is equally balanced and there is something for everyone. I couldn’t attempt the puddings, which looked and sounded fabulous because I was, frankly so satisfied! I was seriously tempted by the caramalised pear and apple frangipane tart served with clotted Cotteswold Dairy ice cream and a wild berry compote and lemon caramel shard. The white chocolate and cardamom crème brulee with shortbreads also tickled my fancy - somehow I resisted. However, I am determined to go back soon and maybe this time I will have a starter and dessert – I really do feel I have missed out by not having a sweet. The wine menu is small – only four choices for white and red wines but well chosen and with an affordable price range. This is the ideal place to go if you want an unpretentious venue with warm, welcoming staff, serving fabulous food at reasonable prices that won’t break the bank and in the past week, The County Kitchen has just been awarded Best Independent Cafe for 2015 from the Taste of Gloucestershire Food & Farming Awards. The awards recognise companies who excel within their category using seasonal produce grown or produced within Gloucestershire. Rightly deserved I would say! The County Kitchen 8 Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 2SG Tel: 01242 300100 www.thecountykitchen.co.uk
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FESTIVE DINING Indulge in our tantalising festive menu throughout December and enjoy a contemporary interpretation of the finest seasonal flavours.
FIVE COURSES ÂŁ45.00 PER PERSON I N C LU D I N G A LU X U RY C R AC K E R
To make your reservation, please call 01451 493 310 or visit www.lowerslaughter.co.uk
Our festive menu is available for lunch & dinner, excluding Saturdays, from 1st to 22nd December 2015. (Complementary private room hire available for larger parties)
Lower Slaughter Manor, Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire, GL54 2HP
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Gloucestershire food producers backing Happerley Vision Emma Logan finds out what Cheltenham Telecoms company, Total Limited, or fast growing internet start up, Returnjet.com and many of our pub and restaurants have in common? Their businesses are powered by software developed by a local farmer! As well as running The Software Farm Limited, employing a crack team of some 20 senior developers, Matthew Rymer farms by The Severn at Apperley, just outside Cheltenham. Fusing his passion of problem solving with his passion for farming is his brainchild, Happerley Passports, launching this November. It aims to create one network and one traceability truth for UK producers and consumers. It will achieve this by providing instant produce to plate provenance, enabling much needed transparency, traceability and honesty in the food chain. Producers register for free and set up their own unique Producer Passport. Produce batches leaving the farm are accorded a unique code that is validated at each link in the food chain. It connects the producer directly to the consumer via this unique code, however long the food chain might be. So, for a meat product for example, the consumer will know in an instant: Who reared it? How was it reared? What breed is it? Where and when was it slaughtered? How was it slaughtered? Who butchered it? How far has it travelled? Matthew Rymer explains: “We all believe Happerley has the potential to reduce food fraud, increase premium meat consumption, improve animal welfare, enhance UK producer margins and local sourcing and return confidence to the consumer.”
Matthew Rymer with Lord Vestey
Matthew Rymer with Pedigree Gloucesters
The traceability code concept was originally applied to Pedigree Gloucester Cattle. Matthew set up Gloucester Born Beef Limited with neighbouring farmer, Clifford Freeman, to apply a creed and brand to slow reared Gloucester Cattle, born, purely grass fed and slaughtered all within a few miles of the River Severn. Due to the interest of other producers, Matthew and Clifford set up Happerley to progress the concept into a national scheme. It then attracted government support and collaboration with The University of Aberdeen was signed in March of this year. Forest of Dean MP, Mark Harper, who
Countryfile filming at Willow Hill, Apperley
attended their initial event says: “I applaud what Clifford and Matthew are doing. As Clifford farms in my constituency I was delighted to attend the launch of their Gloucester Beef. They then spoke to a packed pub of local farmers about their ambition to eventually provide a traceability system to support the wider agricultural industry, free for producers. A year on, they appear to be on course to do exactly that.” Local cheesemaker, Charles Martell, of Stinking Bishop fame, adds: “Consumers want a lot more honesty and transparency than they currently get. The truth of any food starts on a farm and that is where it needs to be managed. Not in the supermarkets.” Many producers, butchers and chefs are now actively supporting Happerley, believing it can create the much needed transparency in food sourcing and production. As Tom Beeston, Chief Executive of Rare Breeds Survival Trust says: “In order to trust your food, you have to know your Farmer, that's why Happerley is such a great concept.” For further information about Happerley, please visit: www.happerley.co.uk
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It’s time to care for our farmers Supporting The Addington Fund Exit the M40 at Junction 15 and head for Cirencester. As you come to the end of the Barford Bypass, some lap fencing hides the Barford Exchange. At number 9, a small team of people makes a daily impact on the lives of many farming families in Gloucestershire and other counties across England and Wales. The Addington Fund was established by Reverend Canon Richard Addington to support the pig farming community in East Anglia dealing with the outbreak of Classical Swine Fever in 2000. A year later the Fund answered the call of the then Archbishop of Canterbury for the church to respond to the epidemic of Foot and Mouth Disease, which paralysed our countryside. The Addington Fund continues to respond to events, which are outside of the control of the individual. The Arial photographs taken of Tewksbury Abbey surrounded by floodwater in 2007 became an iconic image; the reality of the flooding had a devastating financial impact on many family businesses farming on the Severn Plain. Coming as it did in the growing season and severely reducing forage stocks for the following winter, feeding farm livestock became a major concern. The Addington Fund managed a Fodder Bank, which sourced hay, silage and straw from other farms and distributed stocks to flood affected farms. This was practical help delivered in an understanding way. The main work of the Addington Fund is to provide appropriate housing for farming families wishing to retire or needing to exit their business where the loss of the family farm, usually tenanted, also means losing the
family home. The overriding aim is to allow a family to retire with dignity. There is a staff of four at Addington; other individuals and organisations are vital to meet the needs of the families they encounter in Gloucestershire. “Our priority is to make sure every donation we receive benefits the farming families for whom it is intended,” says Ian Bell, Chief Executive of the charity. “We do not use any donations to cover our everyday running costs.” His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, has supported the charity since the outset and has made Highgrove available to benefit the Fund. The Countess Bathurst is a VicePatron and has been involved since the days of Foot and Mouth in 2001, when as The Lady Apsley, singlehandedly raised half a million pounds for the charity. Twenty years ago, Gloucestershire farmer Christopher Peachey MBE with some likeminded colleagues, formed Gloucestershire Farming Friends, offering pastoral and practical support to the farming community; the Friends are the ‘eyes and ears’ for Addington in Gloucestershire. Chris was pivotal in the working of the Fodder Bank in 2007 and
continues to serve as a Trustee of the Fund. For many people the image of the farmer is a large house at the end of a long drive with a Range Rover, or two, parked on the gravel; they do exist! Yet there are probably no two farmers in Gloucestershire with the same circumstances and the spectrum is vast. An owner occupier not having to borrow any money is a completely different ball game to a tenant farmer needing to pay a rent and carrying an overdraft; then factor things such as soil type, available buildings, farming on an urban fringe - all have an often negative impact. Farming today is a tough business as the industry copes with the volatility of global prices with pressure on all commodities across the world. Additional pressures of regulation and coping with weather conditions can make life on a family farm very demanding but never, ever underestimate the pride that our farmers take in producing our food. For more information, please visit: www.addingtonfund.org.uk
Cotswold Style will be supporting the Addington Fund at Barnsley House Hotel on Wednesday 25 November at 7pm for a champagne reception followed by a screening of the acclaimed Indie film ‘Addicted to Sheep’. Numbers are very limited; more details on www.addingtonfund.org.uk or call Georgi on 01926 620135.
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000 The Cotswold Gent November 15:Layout 1
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The Cotswold Gent Discovers an intellectual curiosity t is always exciting to receive post (actual letters) that at a first glance, appear to be something other than a demand for money or a reminder that such a demand previously sent has been studiously ignored. A rare event these days as more and more correspondence is conducted via the electronic media but nevertheless a welcome prospect filled with the hopeful possibilities of invitations to parties, or better, news of a huge financial windfall as a result of the departure of a previously unknown but extraordinarily wealthy relative – sadly this particular event has yet to happen. I am happy to be able to share with you that among the recent pearls received by me this month were an invitation to the Cheltenham Literature Festival, as well as a delightful personal note from Mags at the Bugatti Owners Club inviting me to the recent hill climb event at Prescott, as well as an opportunity to view the Aston Martin DB10 as driven by my alter ego in Spectre. Before you all reach for your own emailing devices to object to my editor that clearly I am receiving lavish incentives to write favourable things about local events and that I should be taken to Bulls Cross outside the beautiful historic Cotswold Town of Painswick and flogged, then hanged (I am hoping this will help my plight by saying lovely things about Painswick and its charming residents), I should be completely upfront with you all and say that I am absolutely open to free dinners, hotel stays (nice ones please), free flights on private jets, cases of
I
wine to try – the list is potentially endless! Turning to matters at hand, I find myself seated appropriately enough in the Writers Room at the fabulous Cheltenham Literature Festival. I say fabulous in this case completely unashamedly because it is a truly significant event, which our beautiful Cotswold Spa town of Cheltenham has hosted for a very long time indeed. In fact I believe it is the oldest, most established literature festival in the UK and is a reflection of the vibrancy of Cheltenham that plays host to such a rich diversity of cultural and sporting events. Our year provides us with festivals of Literature, Jazz, Science, Music, Cricket and of course Racing festivals, as well as all the other events you will be familiar with that are close to your own heart. In the past months I have regaled you with tales of high-octane motor sport, shooting, summer holiday delight at the fabulous South Sands Hotel in Salcombe as well as the nuances of family life chez the Cotswold Gent. All wonderfully nurturing experiences that feed the corporal, indulgent element of the soul. The Literature Festival however, also allows one to feed the temporal and spiritual elements of one’s soul by affording us the opportunity to enjoy the widest and richest diversity of talks on subjects ranging from ‘The key to Happiness’ to the fascinating and inspiring memoirs of the former Head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, as well as the life and times of a retired F1 racing driver and the jottings of Bill Bryson and his observations on
Britishness. What breadth of subject matter! It is genuinely a privilege for us to have such a broad, cultural opportunity on our collective doorstep and much gratitude and thanks must be shown to the “not for profit” Cheltenham Festivals for continuing to grow these cultural diversions. All surplus revenue generated by Cheltenham Festivals is invested in projects for schools and young people in Cheltenham and the surrounding area. It is an organisation, which is inspiring in its commitment to widen access to literature, science and music – the cornerstones of our civilisation and culture. The opportunity to leave the pheasants alone for a couple more weeks (obviously so their tails can grow longer and they can fly faster) and indulge (and it really is an indulgence) one’s intellectual curiosity and gather a myriad of perspectives on the complexity of our world is a genuine delight and a welcome punctuation in my diary before the onslaught of racing, shooting , hunting and all the other country pursuits that this great county offers and will commence in earnest in the coming weeks. So having already forgotten the feeble efforts of our national rugby team I have had my cultural soul thoroughly nurtured and I look forward to the autumn season of field sports and hunt balls, mists and mellow fruitfulness these beautiful Cotswold Hills inspire – secure in the knowledge that this beautiful area offers so much in addition to the country pursuits for which it is rightly famous. COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2015 131
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Keeping your pets appy Animal advice from our friends at Vets on the Park They say us Brits are animal lovers, but we have also developed an obsession for our smartphones: 58% of us own one of these gadgets. Now, thanks to device makers and app developers, we can use those smartphones to help care for our beloved pets. Animal lovers can access health information via hundreds of apps related to pet care. Although not designed to replace regular visits to your veterinary surgeon, some apps supply basic medical advice, such as treating burns and cuts or applying bandages. Others include searchable databases to alert owners to poisonous plants or substances. Like their owners, however, many pets today are overweight and need more exercise. Several apps, such as “SlimDoggy” track your pet’s diet (including table scraps) to help you discover hidden calories and avoid duplicate feedings. Other apps monitor exercise to ensure dogs, in particular, get enough running and walking in their day, plus GPS-equipped collars can show you how far your pet has travelled that day. They double as tracker devices 132 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
to help locate your pet should they wander off from home or your garden. There are even apps that replace traditional training tools like whistles and clickers - although you’ll still want to bring along a favourite toy, unless your dog’s mastered your smartphone. At a conference I attended last month in San Diego, I discovered a new app
that monitors your cat’s in-home health. Called ‘tailio’, this app connects to a special weighing sacles that is placed under your cat’s litter box and will records weight, urine output, faecal output and frequency of visits to the litter box. The app then builds up a pattern of ‘normal’ for your cat and then alerts you if things change. At Vets on the Park we use technology to send our clients useful reminders about worm or flea preparations, direct to their smartphones and often get feedback that this service is very useful. Clients can even re-order products at the ‘click’ of a smartphoen button. I often recommend apps to record body weight or respiratory rate (very useful for dogs with heart problems) and I am sure in the future as more and more veterinary apps are developed we will continue to embrace technology to help keep our patients in tip top health.
for your pets in your life - your vet for life
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T M OTO R I N G & S P O RT
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event
Left: Event sponsor Christian Landolt competing with Toblerone NZPH finished 7th in the International** class Below: A hand carved Squirrel that featured on one of the Cross Country fences
Above: The Gatcombe Shop did a roaring trade throughout the weekend
Below: Coral Keen winner of the International* Event receiving the Style Trophy from HRH The Princess Royal
Whatley Manor Hotel International Horse Trials
Above: Bill and Lassban Diamond Lift enjoying their well-deserved Lap of Honour after the Prize Giving
Above: Lucinda Fredericks, representing Australia, with EFS Rambo makes light work of the first water jump
Above: Some of the prizes donated by Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa Below: A group featuring senior officials, the organisation team and the sponsor
The popular Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa International Autumn Horse Trials were, as usual, held at the home of HRH The Princess Royal at Gatcombe Park. The event featured an entry in excess of 700 competitors, with a representative selection of international riders from 14 countries including local favourite Zara Phillips. This year the event was run for the 20th consecutive year. The competition takes place over a course designed by HRH the Princess Royal. Photography by Wye Valley Photography & Lucy Hall
Below: Zara Phillips flying high at the Land Rover Bank
Below: HRH The princess Royal in conversation with some of the event officials
Left: Winner of the International** Event Bill Levett receiving the Guzerat Trophy from HRH The Princess Royal and Christian Landolt owner of Whatley Manor Left: Pattie Biden Organiser of the Horse Trials for 20 years with Sponsor Christian Landolt Below: Johanna Smith (left) winner of the Cotswold Style readers competition enjoying her day at Gatcombe Park with Claire Thayers Cotswold Style Equestrian Correspondent
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FITNESS Q&A Cotswold Style’s Fitness Expert Luciano Kydd, answers some readers questions Is it true that if I am weight/strength training my fat will turn into muscle and if I stop training my muscle will turn into fat? Unless you have been blessed with the philosopher's stone or have the power of an alchemist, it’s impossible to turn fat into muscle and vice versa. In simple terms the way the body gains muscle is through an increase in your dietary intake, coupled with some form of weight training, over a consistent period of time. Losing fat is the reverse, such as a decrease in your dietary intake, along with a sensible weight training programme, together with some form of
aerobic and non-aerobic training on the side. Muscle and fat are two totally different types of tissue; what usually happens is when individuals decide to go off their training programmes they start to lose muscle due to the inactivity, as muscle is quite metabolic, expensive for the body to keep, i.e. use it or lose it. Most individuals will find they start to develop old habits with their diets/nutrition and lifestyle - combine all these facts together and you get the impression that muscle is being turned into fat, when in reality, muscle is being lost and fat is being accumulated. As long as I exercise, can I get away with eating anything? Oh how I wish this was true - we would all be a nation of six-pack, beach body, males and females performing optimally on a daily basis and the health and fitness
industry would cease to exist! In my eyes the food you eat is either providing quality nutrients or not to your body - you cannot have it both ways I’m afraid. In short it all depends on the individual’s goals and what they are trying to achieve. For example, our individual metabolism determines how many calories we burn at rest and while we exercise - if you eat more calories than you burn on a consistent basis, our bodies will start to accumulate those extra calories as fat regardless of the amount of exercise that you do. Usually the people who claim to get away with eating anything, are those 1 percenters who are blessed with very, very good genetic genes, who never seem to meet or exceed the amount of calories that they burn in one day and therefore their weight seems to remain stable or goes down. I’m sure we all have a friend who is like this but then again, this doesn’t mean they are making healthy choices when it comes to their nutrition. My doctor told me I need to reduce my sugar intake but I have heard that sugar goes by other names as well, is this true? It’s true indeed sugar goes by other names. Here is a list of the ones I’m aware of: sucrose, glucose, maltose, fructose, invert sugar, hydrolyzed starch, corn syrup, honey, cane sugar, agave nectar, sugar beets, high fructose corn sweetener,
sweetener, molasses, maple sugar. Be aware of clever marketing tactics such as no added sugar, low in sugar, made from 100% sweetener. What you need to do is start paying close attention to the ingredient list and if any of these other names crop up, the chance is it’s not as it says on the package. If this is the case, try to opt for food that’s close to zero grams as possible. Please contact Luciano Kydd, if you would like to use any of his health and fitness services on: 07737347854, check out website at www.kyddfitness.co.uk or info@kyddfitness.co.uk
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HORACE BARTON & SON Autumn / Winter 2015
Our new Autumn / Winter collection now with us
In store collections include:-
SCHNEIDERS, LAMBOURNE, RM WILLIAMS, LAINE & TAYLOR, MONTFORTIS, VIADESTE, JACK ORTON, SCHOFFEL, BROOK TAVERNER, FREDERICK THEAK, KILLY, MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR, ICEPEAK, PROTEST, SALOMON, TECNICA, ROSSIGNOL AND OAKLEY.
We look forward to seeing you in the near future.
12 Regent Street Cheltenham, GL50 1HE Telephone: 01242 516772 (next to the Everyman Theatre). www.horacebarton.co.uk sales@horacebarton.co.uk CHRISTMAS BALL SATURDAY 19th December
FESTIVE MENU Available from1st-31st Dec (closed Xmas day)
£19.95 per person for 3 Courses Starters
Book now to join in on our Christmas Ball! C £49 per person Includes: C Canapes & Bubbles on arrival C Turkey dinner with Wine C Cheese & Port C DJ & Dancing C A lift home in the Hollow Bottom Bus Please be advised the bus will be running all night however we cannot book time slots – if you are time specific we recommend booking a cab.
£49 payable at the time of booking – 7pm start A night of festive fun guaranteed!
136 NOVEMBER 2015 COTSWOLD STYLE
Curried parsnip soup with a swirl of fresh cream and crusty bread and butter Local game terrine with melba toast and rocket salad Mini brie parcel with cranberry sauce (V)
Mains Roasted turkey, roast potatoes, fresh vegetables, homemade stuffing and gravy Cranberry, sage & nut vegetarian roast with all the trimming and vegetarian gravy (V) Pan fried pheasant breasts with winterberry and red wine jus, new potatoes & fresh vegetables Kiln smoked haddock in a creamy cheese and chive sauce with mashed potato and fresh vegetables
Puds Traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce Warm chocolate brownie sundae with chocolate sauce and chocolate ice cream Apple & Blackberry Crumble with custard A selection of local ice creams
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The UK’s biggest jump meeting this side of Christmas here is a stirring, rustle and even a bustle, amid the crisp leaf fall of a Cotswold autumn. The Colonel reshod, renewed with vigour and hipflask, is rigorously nosing his way into another Cheltenham Open Meeting. For this is the time of year when the tweed and trilby happily reconvene and christen the start in earnest of the new National Hunt season on Countryside Day, Friday 13th November at Prestbury Park, a three day meeting, the highlight of which is the running of the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday 14th November. The Colonel and I will shortly be savouring our first cognac and soda, fireside logged and crackling, as we puzzle and paw at the first major handicap chase of the season. In the last ten years, the ‘Paddy Power’ has been won predominantly by horses aged between five and seven carrying ten stone thirteen pounds plus. Many are having their first run of the season, although of late, some have shown themselves hale and hearty at the Cheltenham Showcase Meeting in October, the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle in early November, or a lesser meeting, to give them a good blow. Generally winners have already won a chase at Cheltenham or run well at The Festival the previous March, are lightly raced, being in their second or third season over fences. Some would argue that the winner emerges from the first three in the betting but I am not so sure that this is a reliable statistic. What is selfevident is that the race is always won by a progressive horse that has already shown ability. Trainers to note are David Pipe, Nigel Twiston Davies and Nicky Henderson. At the time of writing David Pipe's Kings Palace is vying for favouritism, this race probably being the first port of call for the seven-year-old who looked good when winning his first two races at the Prestbury Park track late last year. However, after recovering from a bad mistake to win at Newbury in February, he disappointed in the RSA Chase at the
T
Betlive Radio’s expert racing pundit Nigel Aplin, reviews ‘The Open’ at Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Festival when sixth to Don Poli. He was put away after that and trainer David Pipe reports Kings Palace to be all the better for his break, “He’ll have an entry in the Paddy Power or we may wait for something later on. His season sort of ended at Newbury. He actually won that day but did the splits. We wanted to run him again after Cheltenham but he just wasn’t right, so we put him away”. Another potential Pipe runner is Monetaire who ran a very promising race to be second at The Festival and certainly fits the bill. Present View was favourite for this year and ran a good race back in third. Already seen out at Chepstow he was slightly reluctant but had a warm up race last season and clearly needs sharpening up. A horse I really like the look of is Rebecca Curtis’s Irish Cavalier who won at The Festival last year and ran creditably at Punchestown. If he gets his jumping together he will lay out a serious claim. Second to him at Cheltenham was old
favourite Thomas Crapper who is due a big race and loves it round here. Winner at Chepstow in October, Cocktails At Dawn could be Nicky Henderson’s representative and should not be ignored at each way prices. Splash Of Ginge could be Nigel Twiston Davies’s chief hope and I still think this seven year old is underrated although he didn’t finish last season that well. He may well be better fresh and clearly relishes this course. Last year’s winner Caid Du Berlais has an entry, as does Johns Spirit, the winner the year before that and second last year, a horse Jonjo O’Neil likes to be ready early on in the season and rates highly. An intriguing and veritable cryptic crossword of a race thinks The Colonel. Our three against the field, if they run, are Irish Cavalier, Splash Of Ginge and Thomas Crapper. 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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t u o ab EXCLUSIVE WORKSHOPS AT BAMFORD HAYBARN SPA, DAYLESFORD NEAR KINGHAM November onwards The Bamford Haybarn Spa has launched exciting new workshops with true experts in both psychological and physical fields to build awareness and encourage harmonious living. Carole Bamford has carefully curated the workshops around the world, with many of the therapists only practicing at the Haybarn. Special offer: Enjoy your first yoga class free with Yogi Vettri, Carole Bamford’s personal yoga instructor. www.bamford.co.uk/yogapilates/beginners-yoga LADIES THAT LUNCH – COTSWOLD CHEESE, KINGS HOTEL, CHIPPING CAMPDEN Tuesday 3rd November, 12 noon Enjoy an arrival cocktail, a talk from a local cheese producer, followed by a fabulous twocourse lunch with wine. Tickets: £22.50 per person www.kingscampden.co.uk
AN EVENING WITH SIR ROGER MOORE, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Tuesday 3rd November, 7.30pm Celebrating 70 years in show business, the Hollywood legend and James Bond star chats with biographer Gareth Owen about his extraordinary life and career. There will also be a unique opportunity to put your own questions, live, to Sir Roger at the end of the show. Tickets: £26.50. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk FOREST FORAGING AT TUDOR FARMHOUSE, FOREST OF DEAN Saturday 7th November Enjoy a foraging trip with local expert Raoul Van Den Broucke. Dubbed "the Carluccio of the Wye Valley" Raoul supplies the multi award-winning restaurant with handpicked produce and runs foraging expeditions that take guests off the beaten track. The crop depends on the season, but Raoul will help guests find at least five edible items. Once back at the hotel, guests enjoy a three-course lunch using the foraged ingredients, while owner Colin Fell pairs the finds with wine from his cellar. Private foraging expeditions
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with old Style Cotsw
can be arranged throughout the year. Price: £30 per person (or £50 including lunch) www.tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk
ALAN DAVIES - LITTLE VICTORIES, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Friday 13th November, 7.30pm Alan Davies returns once again with his second show from his Little Victories tour. Much lauded as resident dunderhead on QI (BBC Two), Davies’ virtuosic storytelling and whip-smart funny bones combine to make this one of his best shows yet! Recommended for over 15s only. May contain strong language and adult themes. Tickets: £26.50 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
Photograph: Tony Briggs
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BOTTOMLESS WINTER PICNIC, ELLENBOROUGH PARK Thursday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th November Lady Ellenborough’s Bottomless Picnic is a unique alternative to the traditional afternoon tea. Taking inspiration from the New York trend for bottomless brunches, executive head chef David Kelman has devised a seasonalinspired picnic paired with a delicious unlimited cocktail served in The Great Hall. This winter picnic also includes a decadent Valrhona chocolate fondue as its centerpiece. Price from £35 per person. www.ellenboroughpark.com GASTRONOMIC DINNER AT WHATLEY MANOR, NEAR MALMESBURY Tuesday 17th November, from 6.30pm Whatley Manor has been a member of Relais & Châteaux for ten years and the hotel is celebrating with a gastronomic dinner prepared by its Michelin two-starred chef Martin Burge, with each course matched perfectly by Pommery Champagne, a fellow partner of the Relais & Châteaux association. Viv Menon, Pommery UK Brand Ambassador, will host a short presentation at this celebratory event and guests will discover how Pommery Champagne continues to be a world champion. Tickets: £159 includes Champagne and canapé reception from 6.30pm, and a four-course set menu with Pommery Champagne, wine, coffee and petit fours. www.whatleymanor.com
WHOLE FOODS MARKET AT THE FOODWORKS COOKERY SCHOOL 19th November, 6 to 8pm Foodworks has teamed up with Whole Foods Market to put on a free, festive, fun-packed foodie event with a whole load of ideas and inspiration for Christmas. Loads of freebie tasters with mulled wine/cider, outside and inside stalls (not just food), foodie raffle with Christmas gift vouchers and of course a shed load of twinkly lights and trees. Contact Foodworks to book your FREE tickets. 01242 870538 www.foodworkscookeryschool.co.uk
JOE BROWN, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Sunday 22nd November, 7.30pm Rock and roll legend Joe Brown continues to break box office records and recently received MOJO magazine’s coveted Outstanding Contribution to Music award, as well as a much-deserved MBE. Joe is joined by his five-piece band and the musical styles incorporated into this new show are as unique as the man himself. Packed with timeless classics, rockabilly, gospel, country, folk and rock n roll, all interwoven with effervescent delivery and humorous reminiscences. Tickets: from £24.50 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
POETRY DINNER PARTY AT THE GREENWAY HOTEL, CHELTENHAM Tuesday 24th November, 7pm This poetry dinner party offers you the unique chance to enjoy a delicious meal whilst listening to performances by three legendary bards. Enjoy a glass of prosecco on arrival before Keats leads you into the atmospheric dining room to eat, and feast on fine poetry. The author of such classic poems as Ode to a Nightingale is joined by Christina Rossetti (A Birthday, Goblin Market) and Emily Dickinson (Hope is the Bird with Wings). Tickets: £44.00 per person for 3 courses or £35.00 per person for 2 courses. www.thegreenwayhotelandspa.com WEDDING SHOWCASE – THE PERFECT DRESS AT THE KINGS HOTEL, CHIPPING CAMPDEN Thursday 26th November, from 6pm Arrive from 6pm for cocktails and canapés, chat to wedding professionals and then enjoy a talk from a specialist wedding boutique. Entrance is free. www.kingscampden.co.uk
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Your comprehensive guide to what’s going on in The Cotswolds... with Sara Chardin OXFORD PHILOMUSICA & NICOLA BENEDETTI, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Thursday 26th November, 7.30pm
Violinist Nicola Benedetti joins Oxford Philomusica to perform Glazunov’s lyrically expressive Violin Concerto, laden with expansive melodies and an irrepressible finale. Either side are two absolute gems: Glinka’s sparkling overture to his five-act opera, Ruslan and Ludmila, and the much-loved ‘Enigma’ variations. Tickets: from £12.50. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
MESSIAH BY CHELTENHAM CHORAL SOCIETY, ST MATTHEW’S CHURCH, CHELTENHAM Saturday 28th November, 7.30pm For many people the music of the Christmas season begins with a performance of Handel’s Messiah. This famous oratorio features the well known ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and the beautiful solo ‘I know that my Redeemer Liveth’. The performance will take place at the church on Clarence Street in Cheltenham. Tickets are available on the door and in advance from the Tourist Information Centre at The Wilson. Telephone 01242 237431(op3) or email CheltChoralSoc@mail.com Tickets £15 (under 13s free). www.cheltenhamchoralsociety.org.uk LOOKING FOR LANSBURY, THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, CHELTENHAM Saturday 5th December, 7.45pm We all know her as star of stage and screen, but who is Dame Angela Lansbury? She was a wartime evacuee aged nine, cabaret star at 17, three-time Oscar nominee, star of musical theatre, serious drama and TV, granddaughter of one-time Labour leader George Lansbury and daughter of West End beauty Moyna Magill; Wartime Women's Fiona-Jane Weston looks into the life of this true legend and through words and well-known songs such as Mame, Dear World, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd, tries to understand the events and influences from the past which have created the actress we all love today. Tickets: £14. www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk/whats-on
SPONSORED BY MONTPELLIER WINE BAR
FAMILY FIREWORKS DISPLAY, CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE Saturday 7th November, gates open from 5pm In addition to the magnificent fireworks display in the natural amphitheatre of the racecourse, enjoy the fun fair, food and drink, Bing and Flop from CBeebies and samba drummers. Organised by the Round Table in aid of Midland Air Ambulance and other charities. www.cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk CINDERELLA AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM Friday 27th November to Sunday 10th January
Polish your pumpkins, grab your glass slippers and dust off your ball gowns. The Everyman’s annual, family-friendly pantomime is back – bigger, better and funnier than ever and featuring the return of Tweedy and William Elliott as Cinderella’s mother, Baroness Hardup. Created by the same team, which brought you last year’s record-breaking show, this year it’s the original rags to riches story and everyone’s favourite panto, Cinderella. Will Cinders, played by Ruth Betteridge, get to the Ball? Will she find her Prince Charming or will the wicked stepsisters win the day? Tickets: from £10.50. Box office 01242 572573. www.everymantheatre.org.uk
CHARITY LINC SHOP CHRISTMAS EVENING, BATH ROAD, CHELTENHAM Wednesday 11th November, 4 to 8pm Enjoy an evening of Christmas shopping at the LINC Shop on the Bath Road. Items will include evening and party wear, shoes, accessories, Christmas cards, decorations and gifts. Includes wine and nibbles. 01242 262112. www.lincfund.org
COTSWOLDS POP-UP ART SHOW, GUITING POWER Saturday 21st November, 10am to 4.30pm This inaugural pop-up show takes place on one day only at Church Barn, GL54 5TX, in aid of Kate’s Home Nursing, a vital resource in providing Hospice at Home care in the Cotswolds. A selection of artists, sculptors and ceramicists has been chosen to showcase their latest work in an historic setting. Wellknown names include Nic Fiddian-Green, Lincoln Seligman and Margaret Lovell as well as exciting rising talent. This beautiful barn, next to the church in Guiting Power, is not usually open to the public and provides a striking backdrop for this wonderful exhibition. Artworks range from £75 to £10,000. www.cotswoldsartshow.com
CHRISTMAS SPARKLE AFTERNOON TEA AND FESTIVE SHOPPING, HOTEL DU VIN, CHELTENHAM Wednesday 25th November, 12 to 4pm Raising money for LINC, there will be a whole host of bespoke stalls for an opportunity to get ahead with some Christmas shopping. Tickets include a complimentary glass of fizz and traditional afternoon tea with carol singing from the Wide Valley Singers. Tickets are £22 www.lincfund.org
SPORT GLOUCESTER RUGBY COMEDY NIGHT, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Friday 6th November, 7pm Gloucester Rugby's comedy night is back in the 1873 Ricoh Lounge at Kingsholm Stadium. Tickets: £9 if purchased in advance. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk GLOUCESTER RUGBY V ZEBRE, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Saturday 14th November, kick off 3.15pm Gloucester Rugby take on Zebre in the European Challenge Cup. Tickets: from £15 for adults and £5 for juniors if purchased before 6.30pm on the Thursday before the game. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk
GLOUCESTER RUGBY V BARBARIANS, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Tuesday 17th November, kick off 7.45pm Gloucester Rugby take on the Barbarians in the Aviva Premiership. Tickets: from £15 for adults and £5 for juniors if purchased before 6.30pm on the Thursday before the game. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk
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RECEIVE ONE MONTH FREE OFFICE SPACE AT EAGLE TOWER To celebrate
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Style Pets
Your leading animal chiropracter Paula Fisher-Stokes, a devoted animal practitioner from the Cotswolds is bringing manipulative therapy for the wellbeing of our pets into homes across the county When we have back or joint pain we may visit a chiropractor or osteopath, or if we are recovering from injury or surgery it is often a physiotherapist we will call but what about the other cherished members of our family that don’t have the ability to do just this? Manipulative treatment is growing in popularity and is what our beloved pets may often need for a whole host of reasons, the passionate motivation behind the dedicated home treatment service for the comfort and wellbeing of our animals, which has just been launched in the Cotswolds and Central London by Paula Fisher-Stokes. Paula works with dogs, cats and small animals, using gentle manipulative therapy to support and aid their general musculoskeletal wellbeing and prevent any reoccurring issues, whilst also treating those pets that have specific joint problems and animals in rehabilitation that are perhaps recovering from major operations. Having originally trained as a McTimoney Chiropractor in 1989, Paula became an established practitioner treating people. Since then she progressed to working on small animals as an animal manipulator and has subsequently set up her own business for pets that may be prone to, or have joint, back or arthritic conditions, providing the finest quality of professional care. Paula said: “In addition to working to maintain the musculoskeletal health of my clients animals, I also work with postoperative rehabilitation and arthritic ‘senior pets’, to dogs competing at World championship level in agility, obedience and showing. I treat a variety of problems from congenital; hip, elbow or shoulder dysplasia to rehabilitation treatment post- surgery, including cruciate ligament, hip replacement or spinal surgery.” Despite being based in the Cotswolds, Paula has helped animals from many parts of the country and abroad. Now choosing to focus her time particularly on Central London and the Cotswolds, alongside her existing clinics, Paula will visit homes to treat pets in the comfort of their surroundings,
tailoring each treatment to their specific needs. She said: “The method of treatment is hands on using skilled but extremely gentle manipulation techniques, allowing your pet to feel relaxed, confident and comfortable, whilst incorporating methods such as soft tissue work and Low-level Laser Therapy (LLLT) which may further encourage healing with certain conditions.” The McTimoney technique, which Paula uses on her patients was developed by John McTimoney in the 1950’s. The McTimoney College was established by his students to continue his work and Paula was lucky enough to be trained by some of the original founders of the college. As a result this has given her a great depth and understanding of the principals and philosophy of the technique. This experience and knowledge combined with Paula’s proven track record gives the essential confidence necessary to her clients, which ensure that their pets are receiving the best care possible. Every home visit is tailored to the client and their pets’ needs and includes pre, during and post care from Paula. In addition to the treatments and pre evaluation, when a
thorough history is taken, Paula will contact the client’s veterinary surgeon to ensure their approval is established and the appropriate treatment determined so the pet receives the most suitable and integrated health care possible. Lifestyle advice and exercise regimes may be given by Paula who has a proactive approach and offers a long-term commitment to her clients, not just shown in her follow-up phone and email support, but also in further reports to the client’s vet’s and all round care, meaning her clients know there is consistency and continued help for them. As a pet owner herself, Paula understands how important a family member the animal is to her clients and considers this fundamental to her treatment style. She enthused: “I appreciate that my clients should feel confident their pets will be treated with the utmost care, dedication and commitment and this underlines the whole approach to my work.” For more information or to discuss your pet’s individual needs and arrange an appointment, please contact Paula on 07973 884 737, paula@paulafisherstokes.com, or visit www.paulafisherstokes.com. You will be sent detailed information on what to expect from the treatment and from Paula’s dedicated service, which provides the finest quality of professional care giving your pets the attention they deserve.
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TH E I recently spent a morning living life as an Aston Martin client. This is a sumptuous place where welcoming smiles, cappuccinos, muffins and croissants are plentiful and there is a Bond villain’s lorry parked in the driveway. Yes, you read that correctly. The ‘SPECTRE’ emblazoned beast suggested the bad guys had landed in Cheltenham. The mystery was soon solved when I saw the DB10 parked in the showroom fresh from the eponymous movie behold, Daniel Craig’s new wheels. I thought the DBS in Casino Royale had got Bond’s mojo back (in the car department) but the DB10 sets a new benchmark. It looks more lithe, compact and aggressive than it’s predecessor. It’s flared rear arches suggest massive mechanical grip and the vents and holes all over the bonnet indicate that something in there needs a lot of cool air. Promising. The car sat brooding in the corner, adorned with a few chips and telltale signs that it had been used on set as its maker intended. But sadly being the only car available and being in the middle of a UK tour, its maker didn’t intend for me to use it. Instead those very kind people at Aston Martin had sent a DB9 GT fresh from the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the hands of Steve Tomkins, my works driver for the day. Stepping into an Aston Martin is a journey through some of the finest engineering and craftsmanship in the UK. The DB9 GT immediately impresses with it’s new AMi II infotainment system taking Aston into the NASA age with an array of intuitive touch controls relayed to an LCD screen atop the dash, revealing everything from the road number you are on to how much torque is on tap. Steve gave me a tour of the cockpit functions, most of which are wrapped in the beautiful Cuprum Carbon (think carbon fibre with a coppery hue) centre console, itself flanked in exquisitely handstitched leather trim. Although seemingly perfect to the naked eye, apparently it is still possible for the Aston craftsmen to identify the idiosyncrasies of each other’s stitch work. As with most cars in this
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGUS BETHUNE
Gordon McCulloch relived life as 007 whilst test driving the new Aston Martin DB9 GT
stratosphere the options are endless. Aston had chosen a mix of colours and trim that juxtaposed the traditional (cinnamon coloured detailing, fluted perforated leather seats) with the modern (iridescent duotone leather door inserts and piano lacquer door handles) all to stunning effect. The audio system was also otherworldly, with tweeters rising like noisy meerkats from the dash, delivering mind-boggling sound. By volume level 3, the 1,000-watt B&O system imitated a Vulcan bomber detouring through the cockpit. Being a traditionalist my preferred soundtrack in a car is an engine, so I clicked the audio off and the tweeters retreated. A firm press and hold of the key and we were serenaded by the nice low burble of a 540bhp, front mounted V12, harnessed via a 6 speed ZF Touchtronic gearbox with drive by wire paddles. It was instantly clear how tractable and usable the car was at low revs as we rolled smoothly out onto the road. With peak
power at 6,750 rpm, the car is fantastically smooth in the low part of the rev range, perfect for town driving. Open roads allowed us to explore performance a little more and the Aston truly impresses. The Touchtronic changes are super fast, with reassuringly big barks from the exhaust reminding you that gear changes are actually happening. As a driver the DB9 GT ticked all boxes. The driving position was perfect, the steering quick and provided lots of feedback whilst the car has a truly great soundtrack. Then, with a push of two buttons (Sport, Dampers) the DB9 flipped from a cocooning super GT to a roaring sports car. I loved this set up, with the car giving great feedback through the steering wheel and the drivers seat, reflecting a ride that was beautifully flat and confidence inspiring. All too soon it was time to rejoin the real world. A final chat with Paul Carvell, Brand Ambassador for HR Owen Aston Martin allowed some reminiscing on Aston Martins of the past and a clear sense from Paul that the people who work for the company are hugely proud of the product range. With cars like the DB9 GT taking the challenge to Stuttgart and Maranello and Bond saving the world in a DB10, so they should be. www.hrowen.co.uk
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Claire in the County Claire Thayer remembers the happy days of being in a country club aking some time to reflect as the nights draw in, I remember with affection spending time at the Winchcombe Young Farmers meetings listening to some fascinating speakers - I did this every year, dreading the dark nights and trying to think of something useful to do to fill the time. In all honesty, its only now that I realise that the best years of my life were not those spent at Pates Grammar School (sorry Miss Mary M Moon, our then Headmistress) but those spent as a member of Young Farmers (YFC). I also realise that all those evenings spent with Clive Parker, a local farmer, coaching us on our debating and public speaking, were well spent. I never thought that those skills would impact on my life – but they so did. I joined a design agency called Fisher Ling and Bennion as a little (well not so little, rather tubby if I am honest), shy (yes really), 20-year-old, in the role of ‘girl Friday’ and how my role changed during the 11 years I worked there. All down to the confidence gained through taking part in various competitions run in the county through the YFC - and although the clubs sometimes get bad press - it really wasn’t all about discos, drinking, boys and snogging – mostly…but not entirely! We had a ball and literally, the Snow Ball at the Town
T
Hall was a highlight in our year. Christmas Eve was always a fun time. We used to pile into old Landrovers, horseboxes, in fact any old truck that could be filled to the gunnels with beer and teenagers would do! We would drive from farm-to-farm carol singing and all end up in Winchcombe Church for the midnight service. The poor congregation was taken over by Guernsey, Puffa wearing, young farmers, smelling of beer, singing too loud and sending clockwork mice down the aisle. Our simple humour consisted of putting holly onto the pew in front, suitably placed under the derrière of a rather large, older lady for maximum effect (high pitched screams always sound louder in church)... on the whole totally harmless.
“…but for me, the highlight was always who you would end up with, at the end of the night, dancing slowly to Nights in White Satin…”
Our annual rally was held every May at Cheltenham Racecourse – we took part in all sorts of things. I remember representing the club in cake decorating (way before Bake Off), flower arranging, even meat identification. Always a giggle and although we didn’t realise it then, we learnt the basic skills for employment – working as a team, respect, time management and of course a most important skill for the boys, how to hold their drink! The evening disco was always the best bit – dancing like there was no tomorrow (especially when Hi Ho Silver lining was played) the excitement of which club would win... but for me, the highlight was always who you would end up with, at the end of the night, dancing slowly to Nights in White Satin (yes I really am showing my age). So far from being about cows, mud and tractors – Young Farmers has so much to offer any young person living in a rural community. Work skills yes but also for the romantic liaisons that we had; fairly innocent at the time but how else would people living in rural communities meet anyone… it was true and still is I believe – YFC is a great marriage bureau! My sorrow is the farming community is struggling and many youngsters in the ‘sticks’ won’t join YFC, because they don’t think there is anything in it for them. With more and more teenagers hiding behind their laptops, X Boxes and mobiles, nothing can replace clubs like Young Farmers; friendships are made for life and so much learnt whilst having fun. My greatest sadness is the lack of an OFC (Old Farmers Club), to have the chance to catch up once a week with friends, learn from interesting speakers, have some fun and take part in a few more public speaker competitions. Perhaps I should start one… although I am sure many might perceive ‘OFC’ as standing for something completely different! Claire Thayers & Associates, Corporate Social Responsibility, South West www.clairethayers.co.uk
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INTO TOUCH & FINAL WICKET First World War Sporting Heroes - Remembered Born in London in 1953, Nigel McCrery travelled extensively during his childhood as his father was a Sergeant in the RAF. They eventually settled in Toton, Nottingham and in 1978 Nigel joined the Nottinghamshire Constabulary but had to retire in 1987 due to an injury. He then became a student at Trinity College, Cambridge reading History. Armed with a degree, he was accepted onto the BBC graduate entry course. In 1992 he moved to the BBC drama department and since then has written or been responsible for a number of highly successful BBC series and films including Silent Witness and New Tricks. Nigel has since turned his writing skills to military and sporting history, publishing the bestselling, Into Touch in 2014 and his latest release, Final Wicket in 2015. In Final Wicket the author has researched the lives, sporting careers and deaths of 275 top class cricketers who made the ultimate sacrifice between August 1914 and the end of 1918. Among them was Private John Nathaniel Williams who made four first class appearances for Gloucestershire, whose Commanding Officer said of him after he died: 'He was killed leading and setting a most gallant example to the men in the forefront of the Battalion, and all of the officers, NCOs and men of the company speak of him in the highest terms of admiration and affection.' Into Touch proved to be popular with sporting and military history enthusiasts alike, making it a bestseller. It was dedicated to the memory of the Rugby Internationals that fell in the Great War. Not just a tribute to their memory, this book also shows that their
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea of celebrities going to war would seem strange today, which helps put the men in these books into perspectiveâ&#x20AC;?
COMPETITION Cotswold Style has two copies of each book, Final Wicket and Into Touch published by Pen & Sword Books (www.pen-and-sword.co.uk) to giveaway. Please send contact details to: editor@stylemagazines.co.uk using Final Wicket in the subject field. Competition closes 30th November 2015 and no cash prize alternative. physical strength, fitness, prowess and courage made these heroes no less vulnerable to enemy bullets, shells and mines than their less celebrated comrades-in-arms. The First World War was the beginning of a new kind of warfare in which nothing more than blind luck was often the difference between life and death. While both cricket and rugby remain hugely popular with all age groups today, at the beginning of the twentieth century, cricket was the national game and Rugby Union was arguable bigger than soccer is today. Many players became national icons just as some football players are today. These were men whose names were common currency in almost every household in Britain; men who were widely admired and emulated. The idea of celebrities going to war would seem
strange today, which helps put the men in these books into perspective. Quite a few of them were well known and or came from privileged backgrounds but they still fought and died alongside all the other young men of that brave generation. So many men with extraordinary stories are recounted in both these books and the enormity of the horror and scale of wholesale loss of life during the Great War is well demonstrated by these succinct but moving obituaries, which are accompanied by images of the individuals concerned. Many died in the mud of the Western Front but others in the air and at sea across the world. All are mentioned here, men from counties across the UK, with different backgrounds and holding different ranks, but who all died for the same cause.
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This Month with Kate Justice
The beauty of Autumn before winter sets-in Kate Justice admires our local farmers utumn is gorgeous here isn’t it? I don’t think anywhere else in the world compares at this time of year. Sunny, crisp days are obviously the best and amazingly (probably to make up for the generally unreliable British summers) they seem to be plentiful. However, there are some downsides the imminence of mud, rain and winter, for example. These conditions have different implications for different people. For many it means dragging out the winter wardrobe… possibly a delicious new coat (makes living in this climate SO much more exciting), higher heating bills, less gardening, taking wellies to school and maybe feeling Christmassy. But if you live in the countryside or are in any way involved in the outdoors and farming, it can mean lengthening your average workday by about ten hours. I live next door to a beef farmer and although it seems scientifically impossible for him to lengthen his day from what he does already, we all know that somehow he will. Animals that live outside all summer have to come into the barns and fed daily – and cleaned out. Some can stay out, if fields are good draining or sandy soil but in the dead of winter that can face us with frozen water drinkers and then the need for endless bowser trips up hills, across spinneys and through gateway after gateway, field after field. Two years ago, we suffered one of the wettest winters on record in the UK, which considering this island's reputation weather wise must have been one heck of a soggy season. Granted we were blessed with very few frost and ice dramas but where soil is heavy in clay and things had to be put out or brought in for the animals, actual basic walking proved rather tricky. At worst it was downright impossible and at best it was... well... comical. The phrase coined for the gait adopted in such conditions, was ‘that of a constipated duck’. Losing your boots in the mud never became so common among
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“I live next door to a beef farmer and although it seems scientifically impossible for him to lengthen his day from what he does already, we all know that somehow he will” adults. (Sober ones anyway.) Despite the impending festive season and having the stress and long hours of the harvest behind them, farmers can't help feel a small (albeit brief) shudder of dread as the leaves turn and the country becomes bathed in that low, startling sunshine that we only seem to get in autumn. It's that beauty of the season though, that keeps the doom and gloom at bay. I take solace in the fact that winter doesn't really seem to really raise its head until after Christmas and by then, there are only a few weeks (about 15), to go until spring. We'll have lambs by then and the all night shifts will continue. I suspect many farmers love to work.
First out the door and last to come in, farmers will just keep going until everything's done. And everything will never be done, so they'll just keep going. I should take a leaf out of their book, even just for the laundry. For now, what I will do is this: Buy British and support farmers with my shopping choices and attempt a less frivolous approach to insignificant weather related setbacks; no moaning when my washing gets rained on. If you would like to share your stories with Kate Justice, please email the Editor at editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
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Elegance is an attitude Kate Winslet
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