Life in the Village - Cotswold Edge - Autumn 2017 by Lisa Lambon

COTSWOLD EDGE Autumn 2 0 17 FREE lifeinthevillage.co.uk

Life in the

Eat the Season

Win!

Belle House Cauliflower Soup with Beignets

One of 25 pairs of tickets to the Festive Gift Fair at the NEC

Playing with Scale How to add height to your home

And

One of two family tickets to Sleeping Beauty at The Roses

In Balance

Why flexible working means win-win for all

Dog Diabetes

A pro-active approach to prevention

Autumn Hair

Aveda inspired colour solutions

A guide to fungi

Spotting HO MES

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G ARDENS

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FO O D

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DRI NK

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WEL LBEI NG

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The evening glowâ&#x20AC;Ś

that settles across the fields and filters through the leaves of our walnut tree is my favourite thing about September. Just as the nights are beginning to draw in, signalling the close of another all too brief summer, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reminder that warmth in all its forms will sustain us in the colder months ahead. There are lots of ways we can bring light into our lives this autumn, despite the darkness outside. By rearranging things just a little at home - setting up lamps, adding rugs and throws, carving jack lanterns, making a nightly fire, stringing up fairy lights and burning candles at every meal - we can recreate something of that precious energy. Living here, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to enjoy all that Nature has to offer so why not try going on a fungi foray, eat the season with our soup recipe from Belle House, or get involved with a brand new project recording the history of local farmsteads. Remember you can access Life in the Village wherever you are by following us on twitter @lisalambon or visiting www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk where you will find our four magazines in digital form, two new festive competitions and a great range of money saving vouchers. Until next time, enjoy the season.

Editor Lisa Lambon

01684 773135 07776 340736 lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk @lisalambon

Contents Autumn 2017

Enter our two new competitions online Local Life

Competitions & Offers 9 Competition Win one of 25 pairs of tickets to the Festive Gift Fair at the NEC 61 Competition Win one of two family tickets to the opening night of Sleeping Beauty at The Roses, Tewkesbury 63 Money Saving Vouchers Choose from a range of offers

19 Playing with Scale with Craig Siller 24 Design Personalised with Anthea Garley 27 Tales from the Audition Room with Caroline Lawrence 29 Flexible Working with Kirsten Cluer 37 Popping Up with Sally McFadden 41 Heritage Vale with Steve Owens 44 Reaching Out with Helen Griffee 49 Built to Last with Colin Meadows 50 Recording the Past for the Future with Alan Wadwsorth

Regulars 6 Welcome 10 Fantastic Fungi with local wildlife expert Wendy Carter 17 Aveda Inspired Autumn

Colour with Graham West 21 Local Property with Evesham based Jon James 23 Celebrate the Festive Season at National Trust Coughton Court with Abi Cole 34 Safe & Sound with John Lannen 39 Lost & Found with Spencer Holliday 43 Preventing Diabetes with Registered Vet Nurse Jo Lewis 55 Policing South Worcestershire with Superintendant Kevin Purcell 56 Cauliflower Soup with Beignets with Michelin trained chef Steve Waites 58 Life in the Village on twitter 65 Index Front cover image: ÂŠ www.Shutterstock.com/casanisa This page, left to right, Anthea Garley, Kitchen Designer at Vale Group, Evesham; Patient Carole Major enjoying a Living Well session at St Richardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospice; HR Consultant & Business Owner Kirsten Cluer

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WIN 1 OF 25 PAIRS OF TICKETS FOR THE FESTIVE GIFT FAIR AT THE NEC 16th-19th NOVEMBER It’s easy! Just visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk by Friday 27th October 2017 and enter your details as requested. More to see, try, touch, taste, enjoy and buy

Discover all the Christmas presents you need under one roof and complete your shopping in a single trip as the Festive Gift Fair returns to the NEC for four days, 16th-19th November, 9.30am to 5.00pm daily. 25 winners will receive a pair of tickets valid for any day of the Fair. For our 22nd year we have 350 stalls crammed with decorations and affordable gift ideas for all ages including home accessories, gifts for the chaps, crafts and artisan food and drink that you won't find on the high street. When your bags are full, you can drop them off at the present crèche or stop to eat in one of four sparkly dining areas with a great lineup of live musical acts. So easy to visit, it’s all in one hall, all on one level and there’s even a courtesy shuttle service to and from Birmingham International station. For full show information visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk Advance adult tickets are priced from just £9.00. Book now by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 581 0808/0809. Or online at www.theticketfactory.com (£2.50 fulfilment fee for postal bookings, £1.50 for E-tickets, per transaction not per ticket).

How to enter

Visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk and enter your details. Terms & Conditions: One entry per household. Competition closes on Friday 27th October 2017. A pair of tickets, valid for any day of the Fair, will be posted out first class to the 25 winners by Friday 3rd November. Judges decision is final. Prize not redeemable for cash. No correspondence will be entered into. By entering this competition you agree to be contacted in future by Life in the Village. Your information will not be shared with any third party. You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an email headed ‘Unsubscribe’ to unsubscribe@lifeinthevillage.co.uk

PHOTO: Fairy ring of trooping funnel in Tiddesley Wood, near Pershore. Martin Addison

PHOTO: Clouded funnel John Bingham

Fantastic Fungi With dozens of species creating spectacular displays in woodlands and along verges, autumn is a great time to go fungi spotting. Wendy Carter of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust offers a local guide. A couple of years ago, conditions were perfect for fungi. They appeared everywhere and I became obsessed with photographing as many different species as I could from all sorts of different angles. It was only when I began to download the photos and started to work out what was what that I realised how foolhardy I had been. Fungi, it transpires, are notoriously difficult to identify! With over 15,000 types of fungi in the UK alone, it’s not always as simple as looking and saying “that’s a .....” Often you 10

need to consider shape, structure, spores and gill patterns as well as taking account of the smell. Fortunately, there are some real beauties out there but don’t get hung up about identifying each one; just resolve to take a closer look and find out more about this fascinating kingdom. What is fungus? Before we get started on what to look out for, it’s time for some myth-busting. There is no difference between toadstools and mushrooms – they are all fungi. This explains why I was never able to get to the bottom of the story I was told as a child that mushrooms were edible but

toadstools were poisonous! Strangely, fungi are neither plant nor animal yet they are vital to our planet, one of nature’s greatest recyclers, feeding off dead organic nutrients (or sometimes living organisms) and returning all the goodness back to the soil, enriched by fungal activity. Certain plants rely on their relationship with fungi in the earth in order to grow, the wild orchids on Bredon Hill being a good example. Many trees also benefit from such a partnership, forming symbiotic relationships with fungi that help them take up nutrients from the soil. Follow this line of thinking through and

PHOTO: Fly agaric Wendy Carter

Fungi spotting Any time during October and November is ideal for a fungi foray - in damp weather especially, the fruits should be relatively easy to find. Check out dead or fallen timber, look closely amongst the leaf litter under trees then, once all the leaves have fallen, look up and scan the trunks of trees where you may spot huge bracket fungi decorating the bark.

suddenly appear in your lawn. Myths and folklore dating back through history and across several cultures offer a host of explanations for them but almost all suggest they symbolise the presence of magic. The idea of it being perilous for humans to trespass inside them is often alluded to; do so and you risk being danced to exhaustion, madness or even death by the fairies, elves and goblins who live within. There is, of course, a more scientific explanation for pixie rings and it comes back to those underground threads of fungi – they radiate outwards from a central point and the fungi fruits on the actively-growing outside edge. Even so...would you dare to step inside?

Elves and pixies Surely the most enchanting thing that fungi offers us is the phenomenon of fairy rings those naturally occurring arcs of mushrooms which often pop up in woodlands but may also

Fairy ring fungi Several species of fungi can be found growing in fairy rings. The one you’re most likely to find in Worcestershire woods is the clouded funnel (Clitocybe nebularis), so called because of

“

Myths and folklore dating back through history and across several cultures offer a host of explanations for fairy rings... almost all suggest they symbolise the presence of magic. The idea of it being perilous for humans to trespass inside them is often alluded to; do so and you risk being danced to exhaustion, madness or even death.

“

you come to realise that mushrooms are actually the seasonal fruit of a vast hidden underground network of threads of fungi (called hyphae). How incredible that organisms usually invisible to us can flourish with such colour and abundance as the flowers fade.

PHOTO: Earth star emitting spores Les Clarke

the cloud-like colour of its cap that becomes funnel-like as it ages. In older parks grasslands or parks it may be possible to find these beautiful circles created by the fairy ring champignon (Marasmius oreade) also known as ‘resurrection mushrooms.’ These fungi have a habit of completely drying up during hot weather, as if they have died, then regaining their form and colour, as if coming back to life, once soaked by rain. In truth, this is no magical ability but because they are made up of a high concentration of the sugar trehalose which prevents catastrophic cell damage when the fruiting bodies dry out. The fairy toadstool When it comes to vibrant species, the fly agaric is the fairytale fungi. The distinct red cap and white spots make it stand out from the crowd and this vivid fungus can easily be found in woodlands or woodland edges with birch and conifer 12

PHOTO: Earth stars Les Clarke

trees. Whilst it’s typically found on more acidic soils than you’d find in south Worcestershire, it isn’t uncommon here at all, especially in parks or areas with mature birch specimens. Fly agaric contains a compound called muscimol that can cause hallucinations (and violent stomach cramps). Infusions of it are used in several parts of the world as a ritual drink and there are many myths and legends about its uses. One of my favourite tales relates to the Sami shamen of Siberia, who were said to wear red coats and trousers trimmed with white fur to go gathering enough fly agaric to make their ritual drink. On their return to camp, with sacks filled with fly agaric, they would magically enter their lavvu (a tent like a North American tipi) through the tiny smoke hole in the roof. Myths and legends invariably get embellished over time – a sack full of fly agaric would be more than enough for a tribe to make an infusion of tea – but it’s

interesting to note how parallels can be found between this story and a certain red-clothedDecember- present-bringer we know of closer to home. Alien spaceships Earthstars are one of the most alien-looking fungi. The family contains about 64 species which range in size from three to ten centimetres. They are related to the more familiar puffball which many of us will have ‘puffed’ as children, kicking them high so that they expanded and shot their spores into the air. The fruit of earthstars peel open with rayed arms, giving them their name; imagine a star emerging from the earth. Good places to search for them are in woods or amongst leaf litter under yew trees in churchyards. Amazingly, an earthstar new to science was discovered in a churchyard in Herefordshire recently, so look closely and who knows what you might find on your trundles around the county!

PHOTO: Amethyst deceiver Bob Tunstall

PHOTO: Chicken-of-the-woods Wendy Carter

Amethyst deceiver The deep violet of this beautiful mushroom (pictured overleaf) helps to distinguish it from other fungi but its name hints that it really isn’t simple or straightforward – it can be a threat to health as it looks similar to several other species which are poisonous, particularly when old or dried. Found amongst leaf litter in deciduous and coniferous woodlands (but especially under beech trees) this mushroom is a stunning deep purple colour. When wet, it can turn such an intense shade that you may pass it by; it’s much more likely to catch your eye when contrasted against vivid green moss. Tree shelves Two fungi that grow as brackets or shelves from trees have names that describe exactly what they look like. Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) grows as a bracket on trees and also close to ground level. It’s a thin plate-like fungus 14

with flesh that, when fresh, has coloured bands that resemble a turkey’s tail. The tones of it can vary from dull browns to warm cinnamons and even blue greens; the wavy edge, however, is always a creamy white. Turkeytail usually grows in good numbers, creating a spectacle as it layers up and around its host. Look out for it in woodlands on dead trees where it accelerates the rotting process. When fresh, chicken-of-thewoods (or Sulphur polypore) is a beautiful vibrant orange-yellow colour. It’s name reflects the view of some that it can be eaten as a chicken substitute, although others have reported experiencing a mild allergic reaction to it. It is thought that there may be several sub-species, some of which are poisonous, especially if they grow on yew. Chicken-of-the-woods flourishes on both living and decaying trees – often oak but also sweet chestnut, willow and poplar – usually a metre or more above ground level. The brackets

can be vast, up to 60cm in diameter, and some have been found to weigh over 40kg. It’s an obvious fungus to look out for in woods in south Worcestershire and may be found on trees on Bredon Hill. However, please remember mushrooms can be deadly so stay safe and always leave them in situ for future generations to enjoy. Find out more For more details about fungi please visit our website and browse our Species Explorer under the Reserves and Wildlife tab. Click on Plants and Fungi and our fungi section will help you identify a range of species. www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/ wildlife/species-explorer/fungi How to encourage fungi You can encourage fungi by having log piles and dead wood in a wildlife area of your garden. Please download our free wildlife gardening factsheets at www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/ gardening-factsheets

PHOTO: Chicken-of-the-woods Wendy Carter

WWT autumn events include:  Wed 20th Sept 7.30pm – Work of Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre by Martin Brooks. Bishop Allenby Hall, Worcester. £2.50  Sat 30th Sept & Sun 1st Oct 10am-1pm – Log sales at Tiddesley Wood  Thur 5th Oct 7.30pm – The Migration of Birds by Paul Stancliffe. Lyttleton Rooms, Malvern. £2.50  Tue 10th Oct 7.30pm – Apples & Orchards of Worcestershire by Wade Muggleton. Wulstans Hall, Pershore. £2.50  Sat 14th Oct 10.30am – Fungus Foray at Monkwood with Diana Parsons, £3 adults,

PHOTO: Turkeytail Brian Eversham

£1.50children. Booking essential. Please email george_groves@btopenworld .com  Sun 15th Oct 10am-1pm – Join the Log Lobbers volunteer session, Tiddesley Wood, Pershore, free. Please book on 01905 754919  Wed 25th Oct 2-4pm – Autumn Adventures at Lower Smite Farm. £3.50 children. Booking essential 01905 754919  Sat 28th & Sun 29th Oct 10am-1pm Log Sales at Tiddesley Wood  Tue 14th Nov 7.30pm – The Enclosure Acts & the Countryside by Richard Churchley. Wulstans Hall, Pershore. £2.50

Get Three Months’ Membership Free! Join Worcestershire Wildlife Trust before 28/02/18 & get 15 months’ membership for the price of 12! Please call and quote ‘Life in the Village’.

 Sat 18th Nov 10am-4pm – Craft Fair at Lower Smite Farm. Free.  Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd Dec 10am-1pm – Log Sales at Tiddesley Wood For full details of events visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/ whats-on

To find out more about Worcestershire’s wildlife, becoming a member, volunteering or our programme of events visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/whats-on Call us on 01905 754919 @WorcsWT

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et your festive season off to a great start by planning a trip to beautiful Coughton Court where you can enjoy the house dressed for the holiday, browse a Christmas market or bundle up warm and take a stroll around the stunning landscape. Even seasoned visitors can explore the house afresh as we open our doors for nine days of merriment and cheer. Discover how the Throckmorton family celebrate Christmas surrounded by handmade decorations and traditional foliage and relax in the saloon where you’ll find a floor to ceiling Christmas tree plus local schools and choirs singing carols in front of the fire on weekdays. Outside in the stable yard the Coach House Shop will be selling seasonal gifts and treats whilst Christmas lunches, mulled wine

Diary Dates and mince pies will be available from the Kitchen Café. Our popular Christmas market returns on the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December when a range of festive stalls will offer food, drink and gifts in the stable yard; perfect for filling up your cupboards with treats and gifts. Bring the little ones along to meet Father Christmas who will be waiting to receive visitors, dressed in traditional green robes. Coughton will also be open after hours for an exclusive candlelit event. Enjoy a traditional three-course Christmas meal, stroll through the decorated rooms and relax in the saloon whilst the piano plays by a fire.

For opening hours please call 01789 400777 or visit: www.nationaltr ust.org.uk/coughtoncour t www.facebook.com/CoughtonCourt

Hallowe’en Spooky Outdoor Trail Sat 21 Oct – Sun 29 Oct on open days, 11am-3.30pm £2.50 per trail. Fawkes Feast Sat 4 Nov, 6pm-11pm Exclusive black tie champagne reception, private tour, seven-course dinner & speaker. Tickets £150pp. Booking essential 01789 400777 opt. 2 Christmas at Coughton Sat 25 Nov–Sun 3 Dec, please check opening times. Festive shopping, traditional decorations, Christmas lunches & at weekends a Christmas Market. NB At peak times we run a timed ticket system for the house; during busy periods tickets may run out. To enjoy the house at its best we recommend you visit on a weekday. Please book advance tickets online. Candlelight Coughton Wed 29 Nov & Thu 30 Nov, 6-9.30pm Traditional three-course Christmas meal & candlelit stroll. Tickets £35pp Booking essential 01789 400777 opt 2 Wassail - Sat 9 Dec & Sun 10 Dec, 4.30pm & 7.30pm. Stories and carols from Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre incl mulled wine, fire and mince pies. Tickets adult £27, Child £11 Booking essential 0344 249 1895

Design Personalised With over 28 years’ experience at Evesham based Vale Kitchens, Kitchen Designer Anthea Garley has in-depth product knowledge and a range of clever solutions at hand to maximise your space. What’s the advantage of using a kitchen design service? Installing a new kitchen is a big investment and unless handled properly can be disruptive. With up-to-date knowledge of the best products available and proven design solutions at their fingertips, a designer will ensure you achieve a great result whilst taking care of all the planning needed right up until you put the first roast in the oven. Where do I start with all the decisions that have to be made on such a project? Many elements have to come together to achieve a kitchen that is both functional and beautiful. Most 24

people only buy one or two kitchens in their lifetime so the process can seem daunting but a designer will take time to understand what you’d like to achieve and guide you through all the options. What type of kitchen do you recommend? We work with everyone from traditional UK cabinet makers to leading design manufacturers in Germany. We have a long standing partnership with Rational who offer one of the most comprehensive ranges of contemporary kitchens and other partners include Prentice, Bauformat, Burger and Mackintosh. It means Vale offer

a great choice of traditional and contemporary kitchens to suit a wide range of budgets. When it comes to appliances we offer Bosch, Siemens, Hotpoint, Beko, Fisher & Paykel and our prices are nationally competitive. We’re also a Miele Centre, a Neff Accredited Appliance Centre and a Rangemaster Design Centre. What does your design service include? It extends to anything remotely connected to your kitchen. We’ll advise on the latest technology in worktops, sinks and taps, areas of the kitchen which are constantly evolving. We can help with

Company Promotion

FREE DISHWASHER from Neff, Bosch or Siemens with every new kitchen designed and fitted by Vale ordered by 30/11/17

flooring in Karndean, porcelain, ceramic or stone. Lighting is also an important aspect of kitchen design - you need sufficient bright light for cooking but also to be able to create an ambience. What’s the typical process when you’re working on a new kitchen? Initially, we ask clients to come in to the showroom for a meeting. This enables us to understand their needs, budget and time frame, and to give an estimate of the likely cost. We then visit them at home to take room measurements and produce a detailed plan and quotation. Installation takes place within six

to ten weeks, depending on the range chosen. I would find it difficult to take time off to supervise building works – is that a problem? Not at all. Our designers project manage each kitchen right through from design to completion. We ensure that all items are ordered and delivered in time for the fit, and that all fitters turn up promptly and in the right order. We have a trusted team with whom we have worked for many years so clients can be certain that work will be done efficiently, to the highest standards, on time and to budget.

To find out more please pop into our friendly Evesham showroom at 54 Cheltenham Road, Evesham, open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Saturday 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please call ahead or email us if you would like to arrange an appointment with one of our designers. Looking for ideas? Please visit our website or follow us on social media to view projects and access customer testimonials. Discover why you can be assured of the best sales advice, project management and personal service.

Meet our Evesham based experts...

Anthea Garley Kitchen Designer

James Deen Kitchen Designer

Call us on 01386 765959

Bob Moss Bedroom Designer

Lettie Edwards Appliance Sales

www.thevalegroup.com

Find our showroom at 54 Cheltenham Road, Evesham WR11 2JZ

FREE DESIGN & GIFT on completion of construction phase. T’s & C’s apply. Ends 30/11/17

The panto class of 2017: Top Lucy Jane Adcock, Sue Appleby, Alexandra Da Silva, Zak Derler Bottom Ben Eagle, Simon Spencer-Hyde, Michael Watson-Gray

Tales From The Audition Room With Caroline Lawrence from The Roses in Tewkesbury For the last decade, summer for me has meant not beaches and sunscreen, but the full scale commencement of festive pantomime planning. This year, I was asked along by our panto director, Ben Crocker, to audition our professional panto cast over the course of a few days in London in July. It was an eyeopening, fun experience and gave me an interesting glimpse into the competitive world of casting. During my time in the audition room I was struck by a couple of things. Firstly, just how little time actors have to impress - just fifteen minutes is allocated for each audition and during that time auditionees must both sing and act a scene from the script.

Secondly, I was surprised at just how quickly I had a feeling for whether or not an actor would be a fit for our pantomime - sometimes just a few seconds in I had either been given goosebumps or been turned off completely. Those goosebump moments were really quite magical and I’m delighted that we successfully cast many of the actors that delivered them. With up to twenty-five actors to see each day it was an intense process, but I found that meeting such a variety of people was energising and often very entertaining. Knowing that such a short window of time was available to make an impression, some of our actors certainly did - and not always for entirely the right reasons. One notable example was a baddie so terrifying that at one point poor Ben found himself pinned against the

wall during the scene read through - a wonderful actress, but perhaps a little too scary for our younger audiences! With our cast now confirmed we won’t see them again until November, when the whole production company of cast, crew and theatre employees all assemble and meet each other before an intense 16 day rehearsal period begins. Then, once again, the spirit of Christmas will descend on Tewkesbury and we will transport over 16,000 of you to a mystical world of magic and mayhem. Sleeping Beauty runs at The Roses Theatre from Saturday 2 to Sunday 31 December. I hope to see you there.

Contact The Roses’ Box Office on 01684 295074 or visit www.rosestheatre.org 27

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Flexible working

With Kirsten Cluer

esearch shows that flexible working is a big motivator for most of us. It’s not just salary or the role we occupy that brings job satisfaction but how well we can fit our work into our lives. For this reason the introduction of flexible practices into a workplace will almost always create a win-win situation for employee and employer. Experience shows that employees who are trusted to fit a gym visit, a dental appointment or significant life events sensibly around their work diary are more likely to feel positive, valued and fulfilled. When people are treated with trust and respect, and empowered to manage their workload around their other commitments, they perform at their best. Not only will they be more productive and efficient but the goodwill shown to them tends to be returned; loyalty, business continuity and teamwork improve plus there’s an increased likelihood of retaining talented individuals long-term. Given the time, money and effort invested in

Read our blog and see what our clients say about us

recruiting and training each team member, plus the potential for savings on travel and other overheads, it makes sound business sense on every level. There are lots of quick, easy ways for an organisation to introduce flexible working practices and a good time to start is at the point of recruitment. Is a new role best filled by a full-time person or is there scope for two part-time contracts or a jobshare? Does the business really need someone to be present at their desk 9-5 or is flexi-time an option? Is it possible to set up systems which can be accessed remotely when a team member is on the move or feels they could get more done working at home? There will always be roles where the needs of the business genuinely preclude flexible working but in many cases, the key thing that is needed is a cultural shift towards outcomes. Supporting flexible working will

open up a whole new pool of talent. If you’d like a free initial consultation on introducing flexible working or need HR advice and ongoing support we’d love to hear from you. Please call on 01386 751740 or email info@cluerhrsolutions.co.uk

Guiding businesses through the challenges of employment and helping them to grow through their people. Meet the team...

Suzanne

Dawn

Clare

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Call on 01386 751 740 www.cluerhrsolutions.co.uk Stockton’s Courtyard, Overbury, Tewkesbury GL20 7NT

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q e

Kemerton Christmas Fayre Saturday 11th November at Kemerton Village Hall 12.00 - 4.00pm Come and do your Christmas shopping and enjoy soup and roll, tea, coffee and cakes!

Stalls include Crafts, Toys, Books, Vintage Clothes, Gifts, Plants, Decorations, Tombola, Raffle and face painting for the children. Free entry but donations welcome!

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SAFE & Sound

From a heritage building to a modern apartment, secondary glazing brings style, warmth and noise reduction suggests John Lannen.

riginal windows define historic buildings denoting irreplaceable style and character so owners of period and listed properties often want to conserve them as a given. Managing ongoing repairs

can become a way of life as can facing the annual challenge of a winter marred by cold, draughts and condensation. In the past, coping with such discomfort and the bills that accompany it might have felt like part and parcel of living in a period property but todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secondary glazing, if carefully

* 34 Based on research by Chiltern Dynamics commissioned by Granada Glazing.

designed and installed, offers a superb solution in terms of balancing comfort and conservation. It can be installed within Conservation Areas and on both Grade I & II listed buildings, enabling the retention of the historic fabric whilst increasing thermal efficiency by up to 65%* and reducing bills.

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BOOK A FREE SURVEY Call today for advice on upgrading your home

Secondary glazing consists of a fully independent internal glazed unit, fitted on the room side of an existing primary window, which is invisible from outside. With fixed, horizontal or vertical sliding units available, made from slimline aluminium coated in one of 200 colours, it’s easy to match the style and colour of the new unit to the original. Having integral locks, it increases security by adding a second barrier to entry. The creation of an insulating layer of air is as important to the retention of energy as the fitment and seals. For thermal insulation, coated low-E glass is often the best choice as it has been designed and engineered to provide the best single glazing insulation with maximum energy conservation. It is also extremely discreet, environmentally friendly, and offers an affordable investment with quick returns.

In properties both old and new, secondary glazing offers the most effective noise insulation available, significantly outperforming double glazing. From noisy roads to noisy kids, it can reduce pollution levels by up to 80%* (50 decibels), enough to quieten a rumbling motorway or the busiest railway line. In town or areas of high traffic noise, secondary glazing with thicker acoustic glass, fitted with a 150-200mm air gap between the primary and secondary units, can result in improved concentration, relaxation and sleep for homeowners, greatly enhancing quality of life. Like all our products, our secondary glazing is covered by a ten year guarantee and free annual inspection. Our experienced team combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology for an instant finish with superb results.

A family company established for over 35 years, the L&L team believes in delivering high quality products and impeccable service at an affordable price. Why not visit our Tewkesbury showroom with functioning displays and free parking; you can talk to us about the options for your home and experience our extensive range of products. Alternatively, please call us on 01684 295038 to arrange a free home survey.

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bereavementsupport SOUTHWORCESTERSHIRE Children, young people and family bereavement support in South Worcestershire

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Please visit our website to view our many client testimonials

Popping up Sally McFadden, Associate Solicitor at Thomson & Bancks on the legal issues for pop-up ventures.

riginally an underground concept, operated from unusual premises without proper licensing, pop-up restaurants have now gone mainstream. With their potential as a showcase for chefs and a novel experience for customers it’s easy to see why. Pop-up shops are also now commonplace, often used by retailers to maximise seasonal trade or test products on a local market in a unit that is otherwise vacant. These type of businesses often hook into current trends so it’s important for all parties, including their advisors, to act quickly. Location is also critical

to success, whether it’s a container unit, cellar, empty shop or a box suspended from a crane! A unique location may attract publicity but will it be fit for purpose? Although not part of the original underground concept, a shrewd operator must ensure their operation is legal in all regards and their risks are adequately covered as follows:  Lease Pop-ups should run under a short lease or licensing arrangement and the parties should consider including a mutual break clause giving either an easy get-out if the arrangement does not work.  Fit–out Fitting-out a unit is expensive, however many catering suppliers provide flexible contract terms and may supply stand-alone or slot-in catering facilities for unequipped premises. Beware when entering into any supply contract to ensure the terms match the planned life of the pop-up.  Planning Changes to planning

law may allow flexible pop-up uses for up to two years and in some circumstances, if the use doesn’t continue for more than 28 days in any 12 month period, there may be no planning requirements at all.  Licensing A license may be required if the pop-up serves alcohol.  Insurance Comprehensive cover can now be purchased on a very short term basis.  Environmental Health and Safety requirements must be observed in their entirety.  Bookkeeping Operators should keep proper accounts and tax records so as not to be caught cooking the books! Setting up a pop-up can seem temptingly easy but be aware, however captivating the location and profit margin, if an operator breaches these simple regulatory requirements the whole venture is at risk of failure.

Autumn

Fencing Offer 10% off

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Stunning Sandstone & so much more... end 30/11/17 or Compare Our Prices Offers while stocks last Sensational Sandstone Autumn, Light Grey & Raj Blend Collected £14.00 m2 + VAT Delivered £16.50 m2 + VAT Camel Collected £14.95 m2 + VAT 2 Delivered £17.00 m + VAT Fossil Mint Collected £16.50 m2 + VAT Delivered £17.50 m2 + VAT Sawn 6 Sides Honed Grey & Raj Delivered £29.50m2 + VAT mixed size patio packs

Yellow Limestone Collected £19.00 m2 + VAT Delivered £21.00 m2 + VAT Tumbled Yellow Limestone Collected £22.75 m2 + VAT Delivered £27.00 m2 + VAT Garden Sleepers Softwood 8'x8"x4"£14 + VAT New Oak 8'x8"x4"£26.00 + VAT Prices apply to full packs only

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Company Promotion

Lost & Found Tracking down misplaced pensions will make it easier to plan your retirement, but moving them into a single pot could leave you better off.

hese days, most of us change jobs quite often. On average, people will work for at least six different companies over a lifetime, suggesting that the traditional idea of a ‘job for life’ is a thing of the past.1 Moving jobs can mean moving from pension scheme to pension scheme so it’s common to build up a collection of different pension pots, making it difficult to keep track. A study by Aegon found that, of the 62% of people who have multiple pensions, 21% have lost track of one or all of them; that’s over six million people who have misplaced some of their pension pots. 39% of those with multiple pensions don’t know the total value of their retirement savings.2 It’s very hard to plan your retirement without a full view of your savings so it’s important to gain a clear idea of how much your pension is worth, and what your State Pension entitlement is likely to be. Tracking down a lost pension can be as simple as ensuring any old pension providers have your 1

Spencer Holliday of Irongate Wealth Management

current address. You should write to each pension company, clarify your address and ask for a statement. If you want to track down a lost workplace pension, you could first try contacting the company you used to work for. However, if your old employer doesn’t exist anymore, or you’re trying to trace an old personal pension and you don’t have any contact details, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has a pension tracing service that can help you. Once you have found all your different pension pots, it might be a good idea to consolidate, bringing them together so that all your pension savings are in one place. There can be benefits to this, as many older-style pensions are unlikely to offer access to the new range of pension freedoms. It could also be a good idea if one or more pension pots has an inappropriate level of equity exposure or is languishing in a poorly performing fund. Consolidating can make it easier to review how your investments are performing and give you a clear idea of how much income you will have in retirement. However, it will not

The Association of Accounting Technicians, November 2015.

Aegon, October 2016

be suitable or even available to everyone and any decision to consolidate should not be taken lightly. It’s possible that you would lose valuable and sometimes guaranteed benefits if you were to transfer out of some schemes. This is an extremely complex area and it is essential that professional advice is taken to understand fully the benefits and risks before considering a transfer. It’s an area in which professional financial advice will really add value. The value of a pension with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested. To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management, Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Spencer Holliday, Chartered Financial Planner at Irongate Wealth Management on 01386 291020 or 07896 020803 or by email spencer.holliday@sjpp.co.uk Visit www.irongatewm.co.uk www.linkedin.com/in/spencerholliday-1726761 39

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Book today for the winter issue

Call Today 01684 773135

07776 340736

www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk 40

Heritage Vale

Nurturing local resources brings long term rewards suggests Steve Owens, MD at Buzz Electrical.

he team at Buzz is thrilled to be involved in an historic Cotswolds project after winning a large contract to provide technical skills, electrical solutions and a reliable service at the new Broadway station being built by Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR). Work began in August and the station will be operational by March 2018. GWSR is a volunteer operated heritage railway which runs steam and diesel train trips between Cheltenham Racecourse and Buckland, passing through some of our most spectacular local scenery. The railway is in the process of being extended to Broadway and the new station there will follow the design of the 1903 original. Last year, the line carried over 100,000 passengers so it’s a huge asset to the area and one we are proud to be associated with. The project also reflects our commitment to Company Promotion

developing local talent and using our skills and expertise for the benefit of the local community. As well as employing experienced electricians, Buzz is continually training up new recruits so that we can ‘grow our own’ talent within the business. We’ve be taking on apprentices for 16 years and usually recruit annually. It’s an ethos that works well for us, ensuring we retain a team of high quality technicians, maximise efficiency and minimise staff turnover whilst giving something back to the community that supports us. Our company scheme sees trainees attend technical college to complement their training ‘on the tools.’ Since Buzz was founded in 1999, we have nurtured eighteen school leavers who have gone on to become fully qualified electricians. We believe this has been integral to the constant growth of our first class team who are able to tackle the most complex projects.

Buzz Electrical’s team of sixteen fully qualified electricians, approved by the NICEIC, offers exceptional personal service locally. Look out for our bright red vans across the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds. For advice or further details of our apprenticeship scheme please call us on 01386 423600, visit www.buzzelectrical.co.uk or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Excellent NICEIC approved electricians at a competitive rate

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Caring for your pets

Registered Veterinary Nurse Jo Lewis of Folly Gardens, Tewkesbury and Bishop’s Cleeve on preventing diabetes in cats and dogs.

iabetes in cats and dogs is a common condition which often goes undiagnosed. In some cases, with early intervention, it is entirely reversible so it’s well worth being aware of the symptoms. The main signs to be looking out for are excessive drinking, increased urination, weight loss, a change in appetite, a reluctance to exercise, deteriorating coat condition and depression. The animals at greatest risk of diabetes are over six years old and overweight. Un-spayed bitches seem to be more commonly affected and certain dog breeds including Australian Terriers, Bichon Frises, Cairn Terriers, Fox Terriers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Keeshonden, Poodles (toy, miniature and standard), Pugs, Samoyeds and Schnauzers are at increased risk. In terms of prevention, the most effective approach you can take is to pro-actively ensure that your pet remains at a healthy weight throughout their life. Just as with humans, diabetes Company Promotion

develops when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to meet an animal’s needs, or no longer responds to insulin properly. Insulin is the hormone that helps convert sugar in the blood stream into energy. If a pet does not produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels can become dangerously high, leading to the symptoms described. Untreated, it can be life-threatening. Fortunately, once diagnosed, diabetes can be managed and your pet can go on to lead a full and active life. Treatment does however require considerable commitment including a suitable diet, regular mealtimes, daily exercise and insulin injections. Weight management and the early diagnosis of diabetes are key to a good outcome so if you would like your pet’s weight assessed please bring them in to see a nurse. Or if you are concerned your pet may be affected, please book in to see a vet. For pet advice on any issue please call our friendly team at Tewkesbury 01684 292244 or Bishop’s Cleeve 01242 679880.

All consultations by appointment Walton Cardiff, Tewkesbury Mon-Fri 8-6.30 & Sat 8-12.30 Bishop’s Cleeve Mon & Fri 8-7.30 Tues-Thurs 8-6.30 & Sat 8-4.30 12 Columbine Rd Walton Cardiff Tewkesbury GL20 7SP No.1 Folly Gardens Barton Road Tewkesbury GL20 5QP 2 Church Road Bishop’s Cleeve GL52 8LR

01684 292244

As above 01242 679880

Folly Gardens Vets

info@follygardens.com

www.follygardens.com 43

PHOTO: Patient Carole Major enjoying a Living Well session

PHOTO: Finbar Ferguson with hospice physiotherapist

Reaching Out St Richard’s Hospice offers specialist care to patients with all kinds of life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones. Could you or someone you know benefit asks Communications Manager Helen Griffee.

lthough St Richard’s Hospice was established as a local Worcestershire charity more than 30 years ago and many people will recognise its name and logo, the care it offers has grown hugely over that time. The hospice recently undertook market research in the county to measure what the public currently do, and do not know, about our free care and support. This has helped us to identify where and with whom 44

we can highlight areas of our work so local people can learn about how they can benefit from hospice care. Improving rural access One of the findings of the market research is that rural communities have lower awareness of St Richard’s care so we are now looking at different ways to raise awareness to ensure people know when and how the free support can be accessed. We have also

identified the need to reach more men in the area to increase awareness of hospice care. St Richard’s Community Engagement Officer, Alice Spearing has been meeting parish councils to discuss opportunities in their local area. Alice would like to hear from you and discuss any ideas of raising awareness in the community. For example, hospice articles in parish magazines, hospice literature in your local shop, newsagent or

Open Afternoon Visit the hospice to find out more on Sunday 15th October 12-3pm

Open Day There is also an opportunity to find out more about the hospice on Sunday 15th October when it is opening the doors and welcoming the community to a free open afternoon at the hospice building at Wildwood Drive, Worcester between 12 and 3pm. The open afternoon is an opportunity to meet hospice teams, learn more about the free care and hear about upcoming events and volunteering – plus enjoy tea and cake. Reserve your space online here www.strichardsopenafternoon. eventbrite.co.uk/ or call Isobel

Mathews on 01905 763963. Did you know? St Richard’s Hospice is an independent registered charity providing free specialist care for adult patients living with lifelimiting illnesses and their loved ones in Worcestershire. Not just cancer care Specialist hospice teams and a network of volunteers care for patients living with degenerative nervous system diseases including motor-neurone disease, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis; and cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases in addition to cancer – helping the patients to live life as independently as they can, for as long as they can. The hospice in Worcester Each year St Richard’s support 3,000 patients, family members,

“

One of the findings of the market research is that rural communities have a lower awareness of St. Richard’s care so the hospice is looking at ways to ensure people know how and when free support can be accessed...we also need to reach more men.

“

notice board, presence at community events or a guest speaker at a community group. Please contact Alice Spearing on 01905 763963 or email aspearing@strichards.org.uk for further information.

PHOTO: Rooms at St Richard’s in-patient unit overlook the tranquil garden

PHOTO: June Patel, Chief Executive and members of Men’s Space patient group

carers and the bereaved. It was founded in 1984 in the home of Dr Jenny Bulman in Droitwich Spa, then moved to Worcester. In 2006 we opened a purpose-built building on the current site at Wildwood Drive. The hospice building has seventeen specialist beds for pain and symptom control and care in the final days of life, a range of day services supporting patients along their illness journey and support for loved ones. However, most care is delivered in people’s homes across the community. Hospice care in the community Patients in the community are cared for by St Richard’s Nurse Specialists, Staff Nurses and the Hospice at Home team. Highly experienced Nurse Specialists help manage patient’s symptoms, offer emotional support and assist in making informed choices. The Hospice at Home team provides short-term care when patients are most in need – when they are very ill and in the final stages of their illness. St Richard’s nurses, providing 46

PHOTO: Jacky Smith engaged in Tai Chi

care in the community, are employed and funded by St Richard’s Hospice. They do not receive any funding from Macmillan Cancer Support, however the job they do is identical. Support for loved ones Alongside caring for adult patients, it is important loved ones and carers feel supported and reassured. St Richard’s Hospice has a Family Support team made up of specialist social workers, bereavement counsellors and financial advisors. The Family Support team provide a wide range of support pre and post bereavement through group work, one-to-one counselling and on the telephone, depending on personal preference. All care is free of charge All-encompassing care and support to patients and their loved ones is provided free of charge. This is made possible by the generosity of our donors and supporters who fund three

quarters of our income. The remainder comes from the NHS. How to support the hospice There are many ways you can support St Richard’s, including donating and purchasing goods in local hospice shops, taking part in fundraising events, making a gift in your Will or a one off donation. How you can get help Referrals to St Richard’s can be made by a GP, consultant at the hospital, district nurse or healthcare professionals. Patients, or a person close to them, can also speak to our Gateway referral team themselves for information or advice. Please contact our Gateway Team on 01905 763963. www.strichards.org.uk

REG. CHARITY NO 515668

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NEW!

Timber Cutting service available at our Tewkesbury branch

Built to Last Significant investment and expansion at independent builders merchant BPS Tewkesbury sees a range of new products and specialist services available locally. We caught up with manager Colin Meadows.

What’s new in the showroom this autumn? This summer has seen a revamp of our showroom, enabling us to stock a larger selection of core building supplies like paint, silicon and essential fittings. With a freshly designed reception area we’ve brought all our dedicated specialists into one place at the front and centre of the store so they can be of maximum help to customers looking for guidance. With an experienced team of ten here, three more branches in the region, and dedicated in-house specialists in categories like timber and bathrooms, we aim to make every project easy. What else has changed? We’ve improved our bathroom display,

reconfigured the yard and expanded the warehouse directly behind our unit enabling us to stock a wide range of wood, structural timbers and sheet materials like plywood and plasterboard. With brand new timber cutting facilities also on site the improvements are being well received. What guidance can you offer with bathroom design? Our bathroom specialist Jon Haines can help you plan your project, talk you through our displays, supply brochures with detailed product information and steer you towards a list of local tradesman. Once you’ve chosen your goods we can deliver them direct to you using our familiar fleet of yellow lorries or smaller vehicles for sites with difficult access. To find out more please pop in to our showroom at Sigma Close or call on 01684 275545.

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Recording the Past for the Future

Alan Wadsworth, Leader of Worcestershire Farmsteads Project invites you to join a new initiative recording and researching historic farm buildings.

armsteads are very much part of the English landscape and this is particularly true in Worcestershire. A project undertaken in 2010 to map the historic farms in the county showed that 81% of them still retained some part or all of their old buildings. However, there are enormous pressures on farming and historic farm buildings are being lost. In many cases, they no longer meet the needs of modern agriculture and they are expensive to maintain. The result is that many are being converted to other sustainable uses or are simply falling down. To help preserve precious history, a project has been set up to record and research Worcestershireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farmsteads, initially in the south-east of the county. Using photographs and 50

written descriptions of their architectural features, the farms will be recorded building-bybuilding. Research will be undertaken at The Hive in Worcester and at the National Archives in Kew to investigate the history of each farm, in order to understand how it has developed over time. Using a nationally-developed approach which has been used in other counties, the recording and research will be brought together into a single report for each farm, a copy of which will be placed in the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Historic Environment Record (HER) for access by future generations of researchers. The evidence obtained and the conclusions drawn will be valuable to those interested in agricultural change, local history, historic buildings and

conservation matters. This information may also be helpful in the preparation of Stewardship Scheme applications. Further, the project will extend the recording already undertaken elsewhere in the country, so that the national development of farmsteads can be understood more fully. Currently, the project needs volunteers. If you are interested in your local environment, local buildings or local history, then you could join the project as a volunteer and help to create a more detailed record of the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farmsteads for the future. You need no previous experience or particular knowledge: training will be provided in building recording and research. Those with expertise in photography and report writing are also welcome.

Volunteers will receive an information pack to help to get them started and guidance will be provided along the way. Working as part of a small group, you would record your first farms with an experienced volunteer. The project is also looking for farms to record. To thank farmers for allowing us to do this, they would receive a copy of the final report, free of charge. If you would like the project to come along and record your farm or if you are interested in finding out more, then please contact us. For further details please visit our website www.worcsfarmsteadsproject.org.uk The project is supported by the British Agricultural History Society (BAHS), visit www.bahs.org.uk For all enquiries please contact Alan Wadsworth on 01386 832331 or worcs.farmsteads@gmail.com PHOTOS: Far page, left: Derelict farm building in the English countryside, Shutterstock/wolfman67. Far right: Remains of an old barn slightly overgrown with wild flowers, Shutterstock/ David Peter Robinson. Top: Old English granary, Worcestershire, Shutterstock/Andrew Roland. Middle: Old farm with hay barn & granary, Shutterstock/Andrew Roland Bottom: Detail of old oak framed building showing carpenterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pegs and brick infill, Shutterstock/Linda George

“a chance to share stories, to laugh, to support and be supported”

Sometimes in the midst of hospital appointments, health concerns and treatments you may feel you need some time out, some space. Men’s Space offers the opportunity for men, under the care of St Richard’s, to take some time to relax, share experiences and, if you wish, use some of our other services such as complementary therapies, therapies, benefits advice and counselling. You can also talk to specialist nurses and doctors. For further information, please contact us on

01905 763963

How does it work? Each Thursday, you are welcome to come and join us. You can be as active or as inactive as you wish. There are no forced activities or group discussion. This is an opportunity for you to come and meet men who are in a similar situation to you. Should you choose to, you can be involved in some light gardening, maybe planting some hanging baskets, raised beds or cultivating our small garden. Our volunteer gardeners will be available to give any help and guidance needed. If you would rather sit and watch others garden then that’s fine too: we can supply tea, coffee and people to talk to. We also go on outings and have speakers talk about topics of interest to us.

How do I join? To join Men’s Space you must be referred to St Richard’s Hospice. Anyone can refer, including patients themselves. However, we will always speak to a patient’s GP as they are central to patients’ overall care. For referral to be accepted you must: Have a south Worcestershire GP Have a confirmed life-limiting diagnosis Have needs that can’t be met by other services available to you such as your doctor or district nurse.

Who do I contact? The Gateway Team, St Richard’s Hospice, Wildwood Drive, Worcester WR5 2QT.

Tel: 01905

763963. www.strichards.org.uk

Registered charity no. 515668

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Building all kinds of ponds & water features from the smallest garden focal point to an en�re lake... PLEASE CALL TODAY FOR ADVICE Having trained at Pershore College 20 years ago, been awarded an RHS Chelsea Gold Medal and undertaken many projects, both domes�c and commercial, I oﬀer a complete design service from a new pa�o, pergola or fence to a comprehensive garden makeover. I only construct one project at a �me and will always be on site myself. Whatever the size or scope of your project, call today for your FREE Consulta�on.

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Policing South Worcestershire

With Policing Commander for South Worcestershire, Supt. Kevin Purcell.

his summer frontline officers across South Worcestershire were issued with new Body Worn Video (BWV) cameras. This follows an initial roll-out to officers Malvern during April which was met with immediate, wholehearted support. Body worn video provides us with a significant new tool in the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour. It forms part in our vision for a reformed, reassured and safer West Mercia representing an investment of ÂŁ2.5million in new technology over the next three years. It also fits with our goal to become fully modernised in our policing, equipping officers with a range of tools to perform their role as effectively as possible. The original plan was for all cameras to be rolled out by January 2018 but the success of the initiative has been such that the timeline has been brought forward. By the end of 2017 devices will have been issued to around 2,200 officers across West Mercia and Warwickshire. The main purpose of the camera, which is attached to the officer's uniform on the chest, is to best capture video and audio evidence. This helps us support vulnerable victims, secure convictions in court and to

Finalist for the International ConnectedCOPS Awards for work on social media #TopCop

demonstrate transparency around police activity. Specialist officers, such as those in firearms, will use a body worn video device and an additional camera which attaches to their headwear. Nationally, the use of body worn video has shown that officers attending incidents gather better quality evidence. Officers have to deal with challenging circumstances every day, the subtleties of which are often difficult to put into words; video captures events in a way that cannot be represented in written statements, provides clarity and a new perspective. This clarity helps us offer victims the best possible service and provides the highest chance of securing a conviction in court. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particularly useful in cases of disorder or drunken behaviour where previously, there may have been a prolonged debate about exactly what happened. Now, the video recording speaks for itself meaning courts and those advising suspects have a stronger base for decisionmaking. It means officers spend less time completing witness statements or giving evidence and more time in the community. The level of complaints against officers is also reduced.

Although the cameras are easy to use, officers must pass mandatory training to understand legal and procedural issues associated with their use before they are issued. It is already clear that the increased transparency which they provide is reassuring both the public and officers, giving our communities greater confidence in the police.

Get In Touch... Contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101 or dial 999 in an emergency. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to report information anonymously. Visit our website and use our easy postcode finder to keep up with news relevant to you www.westmercia.police.uk Follow us on twitter @SuptKevPurcell @SWorcs Cops @PershoreCops @EveshamCops @MalvernCops

Cauliflower Soup with Beignets A simple starter or supper dish, this delicate soup is easy to make ahead. Serve with garlic croutons or beignets, delicious golden morsels of fried choux pastry, as a garnish. INGREDIENTS MIREPOIX (Base for soups) 4 banana shallots 1 leek 4 sticks of celery 1 garlic clove INGREDIENTS CAULIFLOWER SOUP 500ml milk 500ml cream (double) Soup Mirepoix (pre-prepared) 2 small/medium cauliflower heads 2 garlic cloves Salt and pepper Butter – couple of knobs Olive oil for sautéing INGREDIENTS FOR 25 BEIGNETS ¼ pint/142ml water 1/4lb/114g butter pinch salt 1/4lb/114g plain flour 4 eggs (approx.) whisked Flavouring suggestions: Grated parmesan and herbs, cooked bacon, blue cheese or prawn & chive Serves 4

METHOD MIREPOIX  Wash and chop finely METHOD CAULIFLOWER SOUP  Shred the cauliflower. Heat the milk and cream until boiling then add the shredded cauliflower.  In a separate pan, slowly sauté off the mirepoix (with olive oil and butter) until translucent.  Once the cauliflower is cooked add this mixture to the other vegetables to combine then cook them together for a few minutes  Once all the ingredients are cooked and soft, blend until smooth and adjust the seasoning. METHOD BEIGNETS  Boil water with butter and salt in a pan.  Take off the stove and add the flour, stirring until the mixture comes away from the sides.  Add the mixture to a food processor or use a hand mixer to beat until cool.  Add the eggs gradually then add a handful of flavouring of your choice and season well.  Shape into balls about the size of a 50p piece and deep fry at 350 degrees until golden brown on the outside.  Remove, drain on kitchen paper and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Steve Waites, Michelin trained chef and proprietor of Belle House Restaurant & Bar, Bridge Street, Pershore, WR10 1AJ. www.belle-house.co.uk 57

Life in the Village ...in print, online, on twitter

Stay in touch with regular twitter updates offering you a slice of country life, locally. Inspiring Local Folk...

ith over 5,000 of us now interacting, joining us on twitter is a great way to keep up with country living locally. Our daily updates will help you stay up to speed with seasonal events, competitions and offers, homes and gardens, nature and wildlife, rural issues, recipes and more. If you’re new to twitter you could start by following these inspiring local folk:  @AlexGregoryGB Alex Gregory MBE, five time world champion and two time Olympic gold medallist in rowing, polar rower (and former pupil of @PrinceHenrys Evesham) who recently retired from competitive sport and is sharing his experiences of overcoming adversity and constantly striving to find ways to be the best. Check out the incredible story of @thepolarrow - a pioneering Polar rowing expedition which broke eleven world records, exploring some of the coldest waters on earth. If you missed up, be sure to look

up the infamous photograph of Alex’s battered hands.  @Dolly2racer Mel Nicholls, GB Para cyclist and athlete, adventurer, speaker and Honorary Patron of @RosesTheatre Tewkesbury who got into sport after suffering the effects of three strokes.  @MrJamieMcDonald Gloucester based adventurer, author and motivational speaker. Co-founder of Superhero Foundation @SuperheroFdn which empowers local superheroes to change and save lives. Book out now detailing his 5,000 mile run across Canada with all royalties to charity. Visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk for daily updates via twitter on    

Local events Country living Rural issues Local producers

   

Local business Nature & Wildlife Photography And much more...

Photos we share including top; Early morning on Eckington Bridge; right; recipes for Blackberry Jam & below; Luxury Fish Pie from Belle House

Visit us online for… Daily updates on local events, products and services, country living, rural issues, nature and wildlife, travel, competitions, recipes, photography and more. www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk

Join us on twitter. It’s easy:  Go to www.twitter.com/signup  Enter your name, email and a password  Select a username  Click Create my account  Then, to follow, search for @lisalambon  Click Follow… all done!

Please Follow Us

www.

@LisaLambon

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Stay in touch ... Enjoy all the content you see in print and much more from wherever you are on your pc, tablet or mobile • get daily updates via twi�er • access our digital magazines • enter compe��ons online • print money saving vouchers • explore useful local links • bookmark your favourites • share on facebook or twi�er

Find out more: 01684 773135 @LisaLambon

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Win!

A family ticket to the opening p g night g of

Saturday 2 - Sunday 31 December 2017 Written & directed by Ben Crocker Sponsored by Peter Ball & Co

The Roses in Tewkesbury is offering two lucky readers the chance to be the first to see its latest spectacular pantomime by giving away two wo familyy tickets c e s (2 ( adults du s + 2 children) c d e ) for o thee eagerly e ge y awaited opening night on Saturday 2 December at 7pm. The Rosesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; annual panto has a solid reputation for being one of the best around, and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tale of gallant heroism and good over evil will be no different. Sleeping Beauty is produced by the same team as in previous years, and will once again transport you to a magical world of music, mystery and mayhem! Sleeping Beauty runs at The Roses from Saturday 2 December to Sunday 31 December. Call 01684 295074 or visit rosestheatre.org for full details, dates, times and prices.

How To Enter To enter, visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk and complete the details on the entry form. Closing date Friday 17 November. Winners will be contacted by Tuesday 21 November. Terms and Conditions Subject to availability. One entry per household. By entering g this competition you agree to be contacted by Life in the Village and The Roses in the future. You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an email to unsubscribe@lifeinthevillage.co.uk and stating the competition you entered. 61 61

Would you like to get paid to keep fit?

We are looking for distributors to join our growing team. We enjoy working with people who are:  Reliable, honest and polite  Fit and healthy with a practical disposition  Like walking and being in the countryside

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*Ends 30/11/17. Offers cannot be combined. T’s & C’s apply.

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For new customers of Beauty Beyond until 30/11/17. Please present voucher at reception. Offers cannot be combined. T’s & C’s apply. The Coach House, 2a Bull Lane, Winchcombe Glos GL54 5HY 01242 604 017 www.beautybeyondwinchcombe.co.uk

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WORCESTERSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST 63

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CHOOSE FROM 5 MASSAGES AT REDUCED RATES*

FREE SCOTCHGARD WITH EVERY CARPET CLEAN

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FREE GARDEN DESIGN & GIFT*

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New Customers only when you book an annual package. Not valid with other offers. 01684 773135 /07776 340736 lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk

LIFE IN THE VILLAGE

Offers are one way to grow your business but we have lots of others ways to help... Our four magazines, website and twitter updates offer a slice of country life, locally. Our readers are based in the villages around Bredon Hill, the Vale of Evesham and beyond and through our online and social media activity we also reach a wider group, further afield. We have a proven history of generating growth for a wide range of local organisations since 2005. To find out more or discuss your options please contact Lisa on 01684 773135.

01684 773135 lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk 64

Index Page 1

Index Page 2

The Roses, Tewkesbury

The Roses offers a huge selection of live shows, films and activities to enjoy and take part in almost every day of the year.

Season Highlights Blake: The 10 Year Tour • Sun 8 Oct Counterfeit Stones: SATIS-FiCTION Fri 13 Oct Paul Chowdhry: Live Innit Wed 18 Oct The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde • Fri 20 Oct Fastlove: A Tribute To George Michael • Sat 21 Oct

The Nutcracker • Sun 12 Nov Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers Tues 14 Nov Vampires Rock • Fri 17 Nov The Roses’ Christmas Market Sat 18 Nov 9.30am 9 30am - 4.30pm 4 30pm 0pm

Ballet Cymru: The Light Princess Sat 28 Oct Motionhouse: Charge • Tues 31 Oct Stick Man • Wed 8 Nov The ELO Experience • Thur 9 Nov Sat 2 - Sun 31 Dec

The Roses’ annual pantomime

See www.rosestheatre.org for full programme of events and films

Image: Ballet Cymrru’s The Light P Princes i ss

LET A VALE BATHROOM WELCOME YOU HOME  Large display of traditional and contemporary bathroom suites  Long term relationships with reliable suppliers including Lakes, Claygate, Ideal Standard, Heritage, Tavistock & Novellini  Expert design and installation service including building and electrical services  Styles to suit all tastes and budgets  Designer radiators & towel rails  Great range of accessories from Miller, Samuel Heath and Roper Rhodes  Gas Safe & OFTRC reg’d, NICEIC approved

Visit our showroom at the rear of Pershore High Street or call us on 01386 556585 and discover our fabulous range of traditional and contemporary bathrooms. Trading for over 20 years, we have acquired significant expertise in design & installation. Our team is fully qualified for an expert fitting, guaranteed. Vale Heating & Plumbing

Unit 5A, Rear of 79 High Street, Pershore, Worcs, WR10 1EU lifeinthevillage.co.uk

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@LisaLambon

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