December 2009

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EXCLUSIVE HOMES

LincolnshirePride Christmas

ENGLISH GARDENS

LINCOLNSHIRE NEWS A LA CARTE DINING

LUXURY MOTORING FASHION & BEAUTY

M A G A Z I N E

HIGH SOCIETY EVENTS

T H E

H I G H

S O C I E T Y

IF YOU’RE PROUD OF LINCOLNSHIRE, READ LINCOLNSHIRE PRIDE

DECEMBER ISSUE 89

LincolnshirePride - The High Society Magazine - December 2009 - Issue 89

Wishes For him for her for them

Seasonal Style

Gorgeous gifts and fabulous food

£3.50

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13 Lincolnshire’s best properties.

27 Medieval magic in Boston as the Stump celebrates 700 years.

Welcome...

37 An artist with a heart of glass, and an innovative craft.

...to a very special Christmas edition of Lincolnshire Pride, and very best wishes for the season to all of our readers!

This month we’ve all you need to finalise your Christmas preparations, from last minute gift and table ideas, to ideas for gentlemen, luxury gifts from the county’s jewellers and exceptional Christmas lunch ideas from our chef-in-residence.

76 Fashion - little black dresses and warm country clothing.

We this month attend the finest Society Events, including Lincoln Minster Round Table’s recent Chapter Dinner, and a preview evening of Grantham based Union’s Patrick Lichfield Retrospective, attended by supermodels Jodie and Jemma Kidd.

For extra inspiration for Christmas parties, we also feature the best ‘little black dresses’ on our fashion pages.

150 High Society - the best events from across the county.

Also this month, we preview a new independent film starring Skegness, preview Mercedes Benz’s forthcoming models and enjoy a visit to Boston in the midst of celebrations for the Stump’s 700th birthday.

All that remains is to wish our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

ROB DAVIS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

69 Christmas - last minute gifts and beautiful table ideas.

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LINCOLNSHIRE NEWS INDEPENDENT FILM BOSTON AT CHRISTMAS WHAT’S ON ARTS & ANTIQUES WELCOME HOME HEATING IN THE GARDEN KITCHEN GARDEN

128 Christmas Lunch made easy - with Food Editor John Clark.

69 76 92 102 109 118 128 143 150

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FASHION AND COSMETICS SHOES AND HANDBAGS JEWELLERY WEDDINGS EATING OUT, EATING IN CHRISTMAS RECIPE MOTORS HIGH SOCIETY

WRITE TO US AT Lincolnshire Pride Magazine, Whitespace Publishers Ltd, Elm Grange Studios, East Heckington, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3QF. Tel: 01529 469977 Fax: 01529 469978 Web: www.lincolnshirepride.co.uk By placing an advertisement in Lincolnshire Pride you are agreeing to our full terms and conditions, which can be found on our website.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROB DAVIS FEATURES EDITOR EMILY CASSWELL GARDENING PAUL GRAY AND LORRAINE BELLIS FARMING BARRY POSTON EQUESTRIAN SARAH PAYNE FOOD JOHN CLARK WINE BEN STRAW SALES MANAGER CATHY DAVIES OFFICE MANAGER CHLOE WATSON ACCOUNTS MANAGER SUE BANNISTER GRAPHIC DESIGNER MANDY BRAY WEBSITE EDITOR SIMON PEARCE PUBLISHER & MANAGING DIRECTOR JULIAN WILKINSON

Pass on Lincolnshire Pride for others to enjoy or take it along to your local doctors’ or dentists’ reception area. After everyone has enjoyed the magazine, please ensure it is recycled!

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The best of

both worlds he only private hospital facility in Lincolnshire, where profits are returned to the NHS for the benefit of all local NHS patients. Patients enjoy privacy and individual attention whilst having the reassurance that The Bostonian is adjacent to the sophisticated services of The Pilgrim Hospital, with its expert diagnostic and emergency medical and surgical facilities.

T

H Award Winning Sleep Apnoea Service Please visit our website to view the full range of services we offer

www.the-bostonian.co.uk Comfort & Peace of Mind The Bostonian is the private wing of Pilgrim Hospital and is set in its own grounds and gardens. There are 19 en-suite single rooms with digital TVs and telephone. Our dedicated housekeeping team ensure continually high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Professional Expertise Almost any condition can be treated at The Bostonian by our dedicated team of professionals – most of our Consultants live only minutes away.

We welcome self referral and provide 24 hour medical cover.

Range of Payment Options Available We deal with all the major insurance companies and also offer Fixed Price packages for the uninsured.

The Bostonian Private Wing, Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 9QS Telephone: 01205 360606 / Facsimile: 01205 311442 www.the-bostonian.co.uk • ISO 9001:2008 accredited

Pilgrim Hospital’s Private Wing

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COUNTY NEWS News from across the county, every month in Lincolnshire Pride - The High Society Magazine

A Lincolnshire Christmas at the National Trust

In Brief...

• Shoppers in Scunthorpe will find themselves in a winter wonderland as Pride goes to press, when the town centre gains an open-air ice skating rink.

The rink will be located on Cole Street from 26th November until 6th December.

The National Trust is celebrating Christmas with a series of event at its Tattershall Castle and Belton House properties.

A medieval banquet, Father Christmas, a candlelit procession and carol service and two nights of choir concerts will be setting the scene for the season of goodwill at Tattershall Castle, which is usually closed for conservation work during the winter months but will open especially for Christmas.

The Banovallum Singers will host a Christmas Concert on 11th and 12th December from 7.30pm10.30pm, whilst the weekends of 5th/6th Dec, 12th-13th Dec and 19th/20th Dec will see a Christmas at Tattershall Castle event with medieval banquet and Santa Claus in attendence.

Meanwhile, Belton House will host a Jane Austen Christmas as Pride goes to press on 27th November, and Christmas at Belton on 5th/6th Dec, 12th/13th Dec and 19th/20th Dec where visitors can discover about Yuletide traditions and Christmas past, enjoy the decorations in the Stableyard and drop into the Discovery Centre to make Christmas decorations.

For more information see www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Stop Press...

The anticipated opening date for the new multimillion pound Meridian Leisure Centre in Louth has been confirmed as January 2nd, 2010.

The £12m Leisure Centre boasts state of the art facilities of a regional standard and will open its doors to the community for the first time.

Spa’s Christmas Gift Lincolnshire spa launches Christmas offers and makes the short list for the professional beauty day spa of the year 2010 As the counties newest Spa The Grange Spa at Pointon has received fantastic acclaim from other spa industry professionals and against all odds has made it through as one of 6 strong finalists of the professional beauty awards 2010 day spa of the year awards.

Matt and Emma of the grange spa are very grateful to all of their already loyal clients and have arranged a special night to showcase their fantastic range of Christmas gifts and winter offers for those wishing to escape seasonal stress this month.

“We are so thrilled to be nominated, especially as we are a small family-run business going

up against some of the spa industry’s giants.” says Matt.

The spa is offering special bespoke packages in the form of letters for those seeking Christmas gifts, starting from just £50 for a half-day experience. In addition, the spa has created special Christmas gifts featuring products from Thalgo, Jessica and Aromatherapy Associates... the same brands used in their treatments, available from just £36.

The results of the awards will be announced in March 2010.

For more information see www.thegrangespa.co.uk or call 01778 440511.

Send your Lincolnshire News to: Lincolnshire Pride, Elm Grange Studios, East Heckington, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3QF 6

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Plans to give Spalding’s Red Lion Street a new lease of life are now in full swing after the food centre development was granted planning permission.

The site, which has been derelict for many years, will see demolition taking place as Pride goes to press. The development will completely regenerate the town centre location.

as well as attract people from outside the area. This can only benefit the local economy”.

The building will include a food hall, restaurant and office space for start-up businesses, and has been funded by Lincolnshire County Council, South Holland Distric Council, Boston College and EMDA.

Council spokesperson Paul Przyszlak said: “We’re thrilled that the project can finally move forward. This area has been derelict for far too long.

The re-development will revitalise Spalding Town Centre,

Rock On Tommy; City Lights Up Courtesy of Cannon & Ball Comedy stars Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball will light up Lincoln as Pride goes to press as part of the city’s Christmas celebrations.

As special guests of the Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor David Gratrick, the comedy duo will switch on Lincoln’s newly erected Christmas Lights as part of an extra special night of family fun on Thursday 19th November.

The City of Lincoln Council, which organises the big switch on and installs & repairs the lights, invested £70,000 in 2008 to bring new lights to the city.

An additional £10,000 was contributed by Lincoln Business Improvement Group.

David said: “Christmas in Lincoln is always a wonderful time and we are delighted to have such a fun duo to help get proceedings underway.

We’d like to thank all at the Theatre Royal who have helped us to get Tommy and Bobby here for the big switch on. We hope everyone who comes along enjoys the Christmas spirit which is unique to our proud city.”

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Spalding’s New £6.5m Development Go-Ahead

Joanna was delighted to exhibit new work by two local artists; Maggie Campbell and Andrew Smith

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Bottesford Gallery’s First Anniversary Celebrations A Lincolnshire gallery recently celebrated its first anniversary with a well-attended private view of its winter work.

As well as new work from regular artists across the country Joanna was delighted to exhibit new work by two local artists; Maggie Campbell who paints thought-provoking images in oils on paper and sculptor Andrew Smith whose tactile figures also show the natural qualities of the different stone he works with.

“I’ve been amazed at the response we’ve had in the first year and am always delighted to see both new visitors to the gallery and familiar faces return.” Says Joanna.

The gallery also has a variety of original ceramic, glass and jewellery on offer, and is open Wednesday to Saturday 10.30-5.00 with free admission.

For more information visit the Bottesford gallery on Queen Street, call 01949 843466 or visit their website at www.joannajonesgallery.co.uk.

The Duo is performing in Jack & the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal from 12th December to 16th January.

Alternatively, telephone us on 01529 46 99 77 or send your news by e-mail to: editor@lincolnshirepride.co.uk.

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COUNTY NEWS News from across the county, every month in Lincolnshire Pride - The High Society Magazine

TV star Vito is New Lincolnshire Food Ambassador

Lincoln restaurateur Vito Cataffo has added another string to his bow, after being ‘headhunted’ to champion top Italian produce - in England.

Now, as well as serving fish & chips and roast beef & Yorkshire pudding to his diners in Bologna, Vito is also spreading the word about Southern Puglia’s fantastic wines, olives and other produce, over here.

Puglia claims to produce more wine than any other Italian region. It is also a major olive-growing area. Other crops include wheat, fig, almonds, melons and vegetables.

Vito owns Ginos and Zucchinis in Lincoln and Via Italiano in Newark, along with Passion in Bologna.

~

Impressed by his entrepreneurial approach in the Channel Four documentary – Dolce Vito – where Vito tracked down premises in Bologna for his new venture Passion, which serves his favourite Lincolnshire dishes growers in Puglia have made Vito an ambassador for their own fine food and drink.

The show raised an impressive £1,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support

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Fashion Show Success for Skegness’s Camille & Togs Sandcastle location for fashion show saw over 100 winter outfits previewed Skegness’s Sandcastle was last month’s venue for a superb fashion show hosted by Skegness retailers Togs and Camille on the town’s Rutland Road.

Owner Sue Foye and Hazel Crane organised the show, which featured over 100 outfits plus entertaining dance routines at the venue. The show raised and impressive £1,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support, which improves the lives of

people affected by cancer by providing practical, medical and financial support.

The show featured outfits from Joseph Ribkoff, Gerry Weber, Frank Walder and Gold, plus Gina Bacconi, Personal Choice and Micheala Louise, all of which are stocked by the retailer.

For more information call 01754 763258 or see www.camille-skegness.co.uk.

Send your Lincolnshire News to: Lincolnshire Pride, Elm Grange Studios, East Heckington, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3QF 8

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‘Best Agency’ Award for Lincoln’s Mundys Mundys in Lincoln has been named the Best Estate Agency in Lincolnshire for the second year running after winning five stars in the prestigious Daily Mail UK Property Awards.

Partners from the agency joined leading property professionals from across the UK at a gala dinner in London's Grosvenor Square recently, where they received their five-star award.

agencies are awarded the coveted five-star award each year.

Senior Partner Philip Barnatt said: “We're really delighted to have won this award for the second year running. It's a wonderful accolade for the firm.”

The Daily Mail UK Property Awards are open to every estate agent in the UK and form the industry’s most prestigious competition.

Only a handful of UK estate

Country Crafts for Creative Types to Enjoy over Christmas A rural Lincolnshire hideaway near Horncastle, Manor House Stables, is offering locals and guests a chance to learn traditional country crafts as well as pick-up some ideas on preparing homegrown, home cooked food at a series of one-day workshops.

From learning how to make birch and hazel brooms the traditional way, to picking up tips on making your own corn dolly Christmas decorations, the series of day-long workshops and courses cost from £35 £55 – including all materials plus homemade lunch and wine.

The courses and workshops are being held in part of the

restored stable block and among those scheduled for December are a series of Christmas-themed events including creating home made sauces and chutneys, making wreaths from your garden or knitting a woolly scarf and producing home made lotions and potions from natural plant oils.

Courses include Willow Wreaths (2nd December), Making Lotions and Potions (6th December) and Decorate Your Christmas Cake (13th December).

Call 01526 378 717 or visit www.manorhousestables.co.uk for further details.

Call 01529 46 99 77 or e-mail: editor@lincolnshirepride.co.uk.

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HOMES

&GARDENS

This Month...

• Beautiful Wagtail Barn - December’s Cosy Featured Property.

• Heating & Lighting - Ways to Warm-up Your Home This Season.

• Kitchen Gardening with Lorraine Bellis, In The Garden with Paul Gray.

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The Old Rectory, Roughton

ÂŁ725,000

A FINE GRADE II LISTED FORMER RECTORY SITUATED WITHIN A QUIET VILLAGE SETTING WITHIN GROUNDS AND PADDOCKS OF APPROXIMATELY 4 ACRES. Entrance Porch, Entrance Hall, Sitting Room, Through Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Rear Hallway, Boiler Room, Utility, Fitted Kitchen Breakfast Room, Cellar, First Floor Landing, 5 Bedrooms (3 with En-Suite Bathrooms), Family Shower Room, Second Floor Attic Room.

Outside Garages with Store and Further Separate Garage Building with Tack Room and Stable, Delightful Gardens, Well Established Trees and Shrubs, Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool, Large Garden Lake, Paddock.

Email: lincoln@chestertonhumberts.com 2 Eastgate, Lincoln LN2 1QA Telephone: 01522 546444 www.chestertonhumberts.com

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Weavers, Weavers, Tealby Tealby

£625,000 £625,000

VILLAGE VILLAGE OF TEALBY OF TEALBY AND OCCUPYING AND OCCUPYING ATTRACTIVE ATTRACTIVE GARDENS GARDENS AND PADDOCKS AND PADDOCKS OF APPROXIMATELY OF APPROXIMATELY 3 ACRES 3 ACRES (TO BE(TO CONFIRMED).

BE CONFIRMED).

Entrance Entrance Hall, Cloakroom, Hall, Cloakroom, Sitting Sitting Room,Room, Beautifully Beautifully Appointed Appointed KitchenKitchen Breakfast Breakfast Room Room with Dining with Dining Area, Utility Area, Room.

Utility Room.

First Floor First4Floor 4 (Master(Master with En-Suite), with En-Suite), Family Family Bathroom Bathroom / Shower / Shower Room,Room, In / OutInGravelled / Out Gravelled Driveway, Driveway, Attached Attached DoubleDouble Garage, Garage, FurtherFurther Bedrooms Bedrooms 3 fenced 3 fenced paddocks paddocks with Open with Views, Open Views, Field Shelter, Field Shelter, Gravelled Gravelled Car Standing, Car Standing, Lawned Lawned Gardens, Gardens, MatureMature Trees and Trees Shrubs, and Shrubs, Workshop, Workshop, 3 Timber 3 Timber StablesStables and 2 Further and 2 Further TimberTimber Stores.Stores.

Email:Email: lincoln@chestertonhumberts.com lincoln@chestertonhumberts.com 2 Eastgate, 2 Eastgate, Lincoln Lincoln LN2 1QA LN2 1QA Telephone: Telephone: 0152201522 546444 546444 www.chestertonhumberts.com www.chestertonhumberts.com

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www.robert-bell.org

The Old Vicarage, West Ashby

ÂŁ625,000

The Old Vicarage enjoys a delightful position on the edge of the Wolds village of West Ashby, approached along a sweeping gravel driveway and standing in beautifully presented grounds of approximately 2 acres (sts). Built in 1868 in an attractive Victorian red brick with decorative dentil corbelling under a slate roof, the house is not listed and boasts a fine selection of original character features including original fireplaces and panelled doors, deep moulded cornices, shutters, high wooden skirting boards and original box sash windows in good condition.

Contact: Robert Bell & Company Old Bank Chambers, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 5HY Tel: 01507 522222 Fax: 01507 524444 Email: horncastle@robert-bell.org

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www.robert-bell.org

Crossways Crossways Cottage, Cottage, Woodhall Woodhall SpaSpa Crossways Crossways Cottage Cottage is the is quintessential the quintessential EnglishEnglish country country cottage, cottage, fully extended fully extended and renovated and renovated over recent over recent years years to provide to provide modern modern living within living within an enchanting an enchanting setting. setting.

This cottage This cottage boastsboasts many many character character features features including including three staircases, three staircases, exposed exposed timbers, timbers, cast iron caststove iron stove and latch and doors. latch doors.

The property The property standsstands in good in sized good grounds sized grounds over looking over looking open countryside, open countryside, yet yet being being a shorta drive short from drivethe from centre the centre of thisofmost this sought most sought after ofafter Lincolnshire of Lincolnshire villagesvillages with itswith wide its range wide range of shopping, of shopping, social social and educational and educational facilities. facilities.

A formal A formal viewing viewing of thisofcharming this charming property property is highly is highly recommended. recommended.

Contact: Contact: Robert Robert Bell &Bell Company & Company Old Bank Old Chambers, Bank Chambers, Horncastle, Horncastle, Lincs.Lincs.

LN9 5HY LN9 5HY Tel: 01507 Tel: 01507 522222 522222 Fax: 01507 Fax: 01507 524444 524444 Email:Email: horncastle@robert-bell.org horncastle@robert-bell.org

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savills.co.uk

Keepers Cottage, Longhedge Lane, Syerston 5 bedroom residence set in approx 0.78 acres • orangery • breakfast kitchen • inner hallway • dining room • cloakroom • sitting room • 3 first floor bedrooms • 3 en suites • bathroom • 2/3 ground floor bedrooms • further kitchen • sitting room/gymnasium - en suite • triple garage • private gardens & set in approx 0.78 acres

Contact: Lincoln Office Olympic House, Doddington Road, Lincoln, LN6 3SE Telephone: 01522 508900 Email: lincoln@savills.com

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savills.co.uk

The The Lindens, Lindens, Chapel Chapel Lane, Lane, Ludborough Ludborough 4 bedroom 4 bedroom house house with 1 with bedroom 1 bedroom coachcoach house house • reception • reception hallwayhallway • lounge • lounge • dining • dining room •room family • room family •room kitchen • kitchen • breakfast • breakfast room room – 1 en–suite 1 en•suite bathroom • bathroom • shower • shower room room • study• •study cloakroom • cloakroom • 4 bedrooms • 4 bedrooms • triple•garage triple garage • gardens • gardens • 1 bedroom • 1 bedroom coachcoach house house

Contact: Contact: Lincoln Lincoln OfficeOffice Olympic Olympic House, House, Doddington Doddington Road,Road, Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 3SE LN6 3SE Telephone: Telephone: 0152201522 508900 508900 Email:Email: lincoln@savills.com lincoln@savills.com

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GRANTHAM OFFICE 69 High Street, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6NR Tel: 01476 584164 Fax: 01476 591901

Nightingale House, Aisby Nightingale House sits in approximately 11/4 acres and is finished to a high standard throughout with well proportioned accommodation.

There is an annexe with planning permission to join it to the main house. The front entrance hall is spacious and imposing, with full height windows overlooking the garden and patio. The drawing room and dining room are "open plan" into the hall, giving a feeling of even more space. The bespoke oak staircase leads to the first floor with galleried landing. The main house accommodation comprises: 4 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen/breakfast, utility, cloakroom, conservatory. The annexe has a bedsit with en-suite shower room and dressing room, large games room/bedroom (above the double garage), cloakroom with shower and two storage areas.

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GRANTHAM OFFICE 69 High Street, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6NR Tel: 01476 584164 Fax: 01476 591901

Harpham Harpham House, House, Beckingham Beckingham Harpham Harpham House House was built was with built reclaimed with reclaimed bricks by bricks a local by abuilder local builder for the for present the present owner owner and has and been hasfinished been finished to a high to standard a high standard throughout throughout with solid withoak solid floors, oak doors floors, and doors staircase. and staircase.

An attractive An attractive cottagecottage porch, porch, with half with glazed half glazed front door, frontleads door,into leads a bright into a and bright and spacious spacious hall withhall downstairs with downstairs cloakroom, cloakroom, 2 storage 2 storage cupboards cupboards (one housing (one housing the megaflow the megaflow boiler) and boiler) has and solid hasoak solid flooring oak flooring throughout. throughout.

A fully carpeted A fully carpeted bespoke bespoke oak staircase oak staircase leads toleads the first to the floor. first floor.

• Cloakroom • Cloakroom • Study• •Study Sitting• Room Sitting Room • Dining • Dining Room Room • Kitchen • Kitchen • Four •Bedrooms Four Bedrooms • Family • Family Bathroom Bathroom

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Stirring Role A gritty new independent film that received incredible renown at its recent international preview stars Ian Hart, talented newcomer Kyle Ward, and...

Skegness. The seaside town was chosen as a superb location in which to set the touching new coming-of-age drama. This month, we talk to Director Brian Percival to find out how Skegness inspired the phenomenally emotional film Words: Rob Davis.

When you’re drowning, they say your life passes before your eyes. With those words begins a powerful new coming-of-age drama from independent filmmakers Made Up North.

November saw the film’s international debut to an impressed audience, and alongside actor Ian Hart and young star Kyle Ward, Lincolnshire’s seaside town took a starring role as one of the film’s key locations.

Whilst the county’s most auspicious locations of Burghley House and Lincoln Cathedral are used to being used as locations for period dramas and big-budget films like the Da Vinci Code, A Boy Called Dad, the film-maker’s new drama, is an entirely different type of film. With a low-budget, independent production house the film with quality acting, a good script and emotional plot to allow it to hold its own in cinemas when it comes to Lincolnshire early in 2010.

“I founded Made Up North Productions after 10 years in TV advertising.” says Director Brian Percival. “My first film was written by Julie Rutterford, entitled About a Girl. Without expecting it, the film had become very successful, and when it was completed, people suddenly started asking me ‘what next’... if I was honest I really didn’t know, until, working with writer Julie Rutterford, we came up with the idea behind A Boy Called Dad.”

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Brian and Julie were initially intrigued by the fact that the film’s subject matter, teenage pregnancy, were always tackled from the perspective of the young mother, and decided, instead to create a film that saw the issue from a father’s perspective, which also facilitates the film’s coming-of-age angle and offered the opportunity for a unique and original screenplay of Julie’s story.

However, the pair were also concerned that the film should be overwhelmingly positive and entertaining, unlike the usual ‘miserable’ gritty British dramas.

“I was tired of seeing gritty, northern worthy films; why does something with an important point have to be painful to watch?” says Brian. “I just wanted to produce an honest, heartfelt and warm film that looked at the issue from a different perspective.”

The producers were conscious that

British independent films are gritty and ‘miserable’... instead, they wanted to create, a heartfelt, warm and overwhelmingly positive film...

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Below: Young Kyle Ward delivers a searing performance as troubled youngster Robbie.

The movie was filmed in Skegness, Nottingham, Liverpool and Wales, with Skegness appearing as the seaside haunt to which Robbie runs away with his young son.

good humoured and uplifting elsewhere, with a tense but rewarding ending which sees Robbie reach maturity and embrace his responsibilities as a young father.

Financed by East Midlands Media, and Northwest Playing his estranged father is Ian Hart, who has Vision, the film received its Premiere appeared in Harry Potter and the at the Edinburgh Film Festival in July Philosopher’s Stone, This Year’s Love BAFTA award winning before being shown for the first time at and as John Lennon in the Beatles writer Julie Rutterford the Rome International Film Festival in biopic Backbeat. has worked on TV October. The producers acquired a “What interested me about the film was distributor, Kaleidoscope Films, and series Shameless and the writer and director.” says Ian. “They will begin showing the film nationally in retro drama series have an honest, straightforward the first quarter of 2010. approach to film-making and they never Life on Mars & Ashes “Making a film is always hard.” says lose sight of the story they want to tell.” to Ashes, Teachers lead Ian. “But the crew really helped BAFTA award winning writer Julie and Jimmy to make this a smooth and hugely Rutterford has worked on TV series enjoyable experience... the set was McGovern’s Shameless and retro drama series Life the calmest and happiest I can ever The Lakes. on Mars & Ashes to Ashes, Teachers remember.” and Jimmy McGovern’s The Lakes.

Already courting a good deal of success on the As such, the film’s pedigree is sound, and Brian International Independent Film circuit, A Boy Called himself won two BAFTAs most notably in 2005 for Dad is set to be one of the most successful British the BBC Shakespeare adaptation of Much Ado films of next year, and if you look closely, you’ll be About Nothing. A Boy Called Dad is certainly able to spot Skegness appearing alongside both Ian different, but proves a great vehicle for the film’s and Kyle, Lincolnshire’s inauspicious, yet brilliant plot, which is emotional and intense in places, but location for future film-makers. n

WHEN YOU’RE DROWNING... soon realises ‘mature’ in this case meant controlling, angry and violent.

Robbie reacts to the news that he’s a father like most teenage lads do – he doesn’t want any involvement or the responsibilities of being a parent.

A Boy Called Dad tells the story of troubled Robbie who becomes a father at 14 and struggles to cope with his own failed relationship with his father.

Fourteen-year-old Robbie lives in Liverpool, across from the River Mersey with his mum, Lynda and sister, Katie.

Ever since his dad, Joe, walked out when Robbie was just four-years-old, Robbie is a boy defined by the absence of a father. Ten years on, Robbie still feels hurt, angry and lost.

Robbie’s teenage girlfriend Leanne becomes pregnant by Robbie and nine months later, gives birth to Elliott – Robbie’s son.

Leanne soon begins to live with an older teenager, Stevie who seemed more mature. However, Leanne

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However, a chance meeting with his estranged dad, Joe, makes Robbie begin to see things differently. Maybe he should have some involvement with Elliott.

Initially delighted by the reunion with his father, Joe fails to turn up as arranged to see Robbie, who feels let down again, Joe makes it up to Robbie by teaching him to drive in his battered old van – in front of Robbie’s mates who look on, impressed. Joe’s won Robbie over.

Robbie begins to bond with the dad he hasn’t seen for ten years.

He hopes his dad won’t go back to Ireland where he’s lived these past ten years. When, Joe disappears again, Robbie discovers that his father has, in fact, been living in Liverpool for the past decade… all this time his dad’s been a few miles away. Ten years of pent up anger and frustration builds in Robbie, and when he sees Stevie, Leanne’s violent boyfriend,

mistreating Elliott, He hurriedly picks up Elliott and bundles him in to Stevie’s car, running away to the coast.

Thanks to Joe, Robbie now knows how to drive and he takes off without a clue where he’s going.

Robbie’s mum Lynda is distraught when she hears Robbie has abducted Elliott… she has a feeling Joe has something to do with all this. Joe of course, is in denial; it was just a bit of a misunderstanding, that’s all.

Joe has a feeling he knows where Robbie may have headed for with Elliott. Robbie had shown him a photo he’d kept since his dad left taken on the day at Holyhead.

Joe’s paternal instincts kick in for the first time.

Robbie is struggling to cope with his new role as a father – nothing has prepared him for the contents of his son’s nappies. Elliott won’t stop crying. Robbie hasn’t a clue what to do and feels out of depth.

Joe finally finds Robbie on a coastal clifftop, and the film reaches a dramatic climax as the two men reconcile their differences and face fatherhood together.

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Image: Keith Biggadyke.

Words: Emily Casswell.

Boston at Christmas Boston has really treasured its heritage in 2009 with historical re-enactment groups and a series of events designed to celebrate the church’s 700th anniversary!

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Reaching for the skies Built in 1309, St Botolph’s is the oldest church in Lincolnshire, and celebrating its 700th birthday this year. Princess Anne dropped in to celebrate the church’s anniversary which was marked by a year long party.

“We’ve had a huge flower festival, one of the biggest to ever hit Lincolnshire, choir concerts, Songs of Praise, art galleries, recitals, bishops, wind bands, organists and the Magna Carta here to celebrate.” says Vicar Robin Whitehead.

They even joined in the fun across the pond, with the Stump’s sister church from Boston, Massachusetts flying over with a commemorative 20 inch stone plaque now proudly placed in the chancel. Currently the church is raising the funds to restore the ancient library’s religious manuscripts which have taken abode in St Botolph’s Church for centuries. The regeneration plan will allow the valuable texts to remain a prized asset of Boston’s parish church.

It is Abbot Botolph we have to thank for the naming of Boston; little is known about the man himself, except that he was “A man of remarkable life and learning.” At a young age he travelled to Germany with his brother Adulf, and returned a widely revered man.

St Botolph’s influence was so great that the town where he resided came to be known as Botolph’s town, or Botulph’s ‘tun’, which later shortened to the Boston we know today.

Christmas Cheer Blackfriars, the centre of Boston’s art and culture scene in the newly created Cultural Quarter, is presenting Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp as this year’s pantomime.

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The tradition plans to take the family on an enchanting journey to Pekin and back from 11th December to 3rd January.

Following the playhouse’s first anniversary under new management the old seats in the auditorium are being replaced. They are asking patrons to sponsor a chair in return for an engraved plaque.

Fighting Talk The Knights of Skirbeck have a hectic diary this winter too... “We’ve been racing all over the country this year.” explained the group’s Lady Caroline.

The medieval re-enactment volunteer group have been rushed off their feet, travelling all over the place. “We completed a huge show in North Wales one weekend, and then, the next weekend, we found ourselves back on our doorsteps a fete in Boston!”

The future is looking even busier with a Children in Need venture taking place as Pride goes to press. Caroline explained: “A local taxi firm has organised it all, so we’re visiting the town’s Haven High School in full regalia to put on a couple of displays and show the kids the weaponry.”

The Knights is made up of volunteers, many of which balance full-time jobs and families as well as finding the time. Lady Caroline, aka Caroline Puddy, is part of the 24-strong group that re-enacts late medieval life.

Locals win a Mammoth prize Boston’s somewhat unusual family of bale mammoths won a national competition this October.

By shredding the competition the straw elephantidae family won the £5,000 prize provided by the cereal company Weetabix.

Main: Historical re-enactments at Boston Stump’s 700th anniversary celebrations.

Left: Sluice Bridge, which will play a key part in the Fens’s waterways redevelopment.

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The family of mammoths, Daddy and Mummy accompanied by Baby mammoth, were the hard work of Paul Grant of R G Farms and his brother-in-law David Sharper. “The response from everyone has been fantastic.” explained Paul.

The competition by the Weetabix Wheat Art Competition was in conjunction with the Nation Farmers Union to encourage farmers to celebrate harvest. “The sculpture of the family of mammoths really stood out, capturing the spirit of the competition perfectly!” said a spokesperson for the company.

Waterway Development The Fens Waterways are in 2010 the subject of huge new regeneration plans. The Borough Council aims to give the Boston waters a new scope for navigation, recreation and regeneration.

The initiative intends to generate links to the Witham and Nene waterways to welcome more waterborne tourists. Lincolnshire County Council has pledged £9.7m to the project, with more funding being sought from European authorities on the continent.

If this project succeeds there is a possibility that the council will develop a marina to

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further boost the economy of Boston businesses.

Publican of the Year “I was really shocked, surprised and absolutely elated...!” That was the reaction of Kim, the sole operator of a pub in the town’s Main Ridge. The landlady of the Coach and Horses was named as the Bateman’s Publican of the Year in the Brewery’s annual Rewarding Success ceremony.

Boston’s waterways redevelopment will give the town a new direction and real scope as a tourist destination...

“It was traditionally a ‘man’s pub’ and I needed to find a way to encourage more ladies in, and once that happened, a lot of my regulars started bringing their wives in as well.” Rob Jones commented that since her arrival at the pub two years ago; “Kim has created a little gem at the Coach and Horses.”

History under the Hammer Carved stone figures which were recently removed from the Lord Nelson pub in Woodville Road and are estimated to fetch £20,000 when they are auctioned this month.

The two stone figures are 67ins high and as auctioneer James Ryland explained; “They are nice historic architectural pieces, that are no longer required on the building.” n

Image: Knight time the Knights of Skirbeck, Boston’s own historical re-enactment group.

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Cammacks

Est 1919

FURNITURE & INTERIOR FURNISHINGS Celebrating 90 years of Simply Stunning Furniture

Wide Bargate, Boston, Lincs PE21 6RU T: 01205 362300 www.cammacks.co.uk Visit our two other stores CAMMACKS, PEN STREET, BOSTON & CAMMACKS BED STUDIO, GROVE STREET WEST, BOSTON

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THEATRE & ARTS Your Monthly Round-Up of Productions and Shows from Arts Centres and Theatres Across Lincolnshire

The children become friendly with Perks, the station porter, who is eventually able to help prove their father's innocence, and the family is reunited.

Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston Tel: 01205 363108 www.blackfriarsarts centre.co.uk

Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham

11th December - 3rd January: Aladdin & Friends Enjoy a traditional pantomime...

Aladdin. Fun for all the family and takes audiences on an enchanting journey back to Peking in China with Aladdin and all his friends.

Tel: 01476 406158 www.guildhallartscentre.com 11th December: ValeFest Christmas Showcase ValeFest presents an evening of great Christmas entertainment featuring Charlie's Ant, Identity Crisis, The Lost Cause, Nigel Truman, Becca O’Hara, & Ruff ‘n’ Ready plus the Irish Dancers from Grantham School of Dance.

Drill Hall, Lincoln Tel: 01522 873891 www.lincolndrillhall.com 8th December: ViVA Schools Project Final Performance Tonight is the culmination of the Drill Hall’s third schools’ composition project run by the Derby based chamber orchestra, ViVA. Children from Monks Abbey, Nettleham Juniors and the Priory Academy have been working with musicians and a composer to create a unique musical score which will receive its world premiere tonight!

15th - 31st December: Sleeping Beauty and The Dragon Of Fury The perfect Christmas treat for boys and girls of all ages!

No ‘celebrities’, just a hugely talented professional cast of faces old and new including, Ian Angus Wilkie, Matthew Hewitt, Jane Flanagan and Lincoln favourite Julie Fox.

Sleeping Beauty, Drill Hall.

Embassy Centre, Skegness Tel: 01754 897672 www.embassytheatre.co.uk 9th December: Rotary Club Join the Rotary Club for their annual Christmas Celebrations.

A fantastic family evening of Christmas entertainment and Carols, featuring many local school Bonne Nöel... at Stamford’s Arts Centre.

children and other local performers. Help support the Rotary Club in the amazing work they do providing aid for those in need all over the world.

Louth Playgoers’s Riverhead Theatre

The evening will be recorded live and broadcast by Gravity FM & 103 The Eye and is supported by the Grantham Journal and Melton Times. ValeFest: “Just what the Vale of Belvoir needs!”

Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby

Tel: 01507 600350 www.louthplaygoers.co.uk

Tel: 0844 8472426 www.grimsbyauditorium. org.uk

7th - 12th December: The Railway Children The 1906 Edith Nesbit children’s tale comes to Louth.

A family move to a house near the railway after their father is falsely accused of selling state secrets. Roberta, Peter and Phyllis find amusement in watching the trains on the nearby railway line and waving to the passengers.

1st - 5th December: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Dust off your corsets, strap on your suspenders & fish out those fabulous feather boas as The Rocky Horror Show returns with a bang. Let Frankie rose tint your world all over again as Richard O’Brien’s frolickingly fabulous classic returns... the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical!

Send your Lincolnshire Events to: Lincolnshire Pride, Elm Grange Studios, East Heckington, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3QF 32

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DECEMBER

South Holland Centre Tel: 01775 764777 www.southholland centre.co.uk 10th - 31st December: Peter Pan Polka Dot proudly presents Peter Pan, a star-studded family musical full of fun and festive cheer. Fly away with the South Holland Centre this Christmas as we take you on a spectacular journey of wonder and excitement into the magical world of Neverland.

Stamford Arts Centre Tel: 01780 763203 www.stamfordartscentre.com 1st December: Blithe Spirit Happily married, successful author, Charles Condomine, calls in local medium, Madame Arcati, to help him in his research for a new novel. During a séance Charles’ first wife, Elvira, who died

tragically young, materialises but she is only visible to Charles. As the two wives battle it out for Charles’ affection, the ensuing imbroglio ensnares the whole Condomine household, as well as the local doctor and his wife.

Set in the 1930’s, Blithe Spirit contains all Noël Coward’s immaculate style and wit wrapped up in a delightful ‘improbable farce.’

Theatre Royal, Lincoln Tel: 01522 519999. www.theatreroyallincoln.co.uk.

12th - 31st December: Jack & The Beanstalk A fantastically funny Christmas panto starring Cannon & Ball.

Written and directed by Chris Moreno, with a special appearance by Pudsey Bear!

Also starring James Goodman, Rachael Holoway and Nick Bayly.

A rip-roaring funny family pantomime in the heart of Lincoln!

Cannon & Ball, Theatre Royal, Lincoln

Call 01529 46 99 77 or e-mail editor@lincolnshirepride.co.uk.

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A LUSTRE FOR LIFE THERE’S LITTLE THAT KIRTON IN LINDSEY BASED FRENCH POLISHERS RICHARD AND PAULA BARSTOW DON’T KNOW ABOUT RESTORING FURNITURE. AS WE DISCOVERED ON A RECENT VISIT, HAVING YOUR HEIRLOOMS PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED WILL MAKE SURE THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL FOR GENERATIONS The old phrase ‘they don’t make ‘em like that any more’ consistently rings true with Kirton in Lindsey based French Polishers Richard and Paula Barstow. The pair completes anything up to three commissions per week, restoring furniture and putting the lustre back into lifeless objects, using amongst other things, the wonders of French Polishing techniques… and the outlook for business has never been shinier.

“Wood can look really beautiful.” Says Richard. “Each piece of furniture is completely different with individual natural variations, its own patina and its own history.”

It’s a wonder, then, that so many pieces fall into a tatty or worn looking state but as the couple points out, furniture is made to be used, not admired. So what can be done when a furniture catastrophe results in the type of bangs, scratches and burns that typical family use throws up?

For a start, no commission is ever the same, since no two pieces of furniture are identical, but also, customers’ wishes vary too. Conventional wisdom suggest French Polishers are responsible for taking tatty furniture and making them look brand new, but often customers want to preserve the aged look – known as the furniture’s patina – rather than opting for an immaculate finish.

In addition to the piece’s finish, though, the couple can also repair or replace sections of missing furniture, restore leather and specialise in veneering and marquetry too.

Any commission begins with a thorough cleaning of the wood, using a mixture of linseed oil to feed the timber itself, vinegar to remove the top layer of wax, and methylated spirit to clean the top layer of polish before the process of French Polishing can begin.

It’s a misconception that French Polishing is French in origin… in fact the craft originated in India, and was adopted by the French, envied by the English who initially could not perfect the process of application due to the technique being vastly different to current practices. The main ingredient of the polish is shellac flakes produced

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from secretions from the Lac beetle. This is also supplied in button form which is dissolved in spirits, before being applied to the piece using a ‘rubber’ - a wad of cotton that’s balled up and wrapped in a polishing cloth.

The secret is lots of elbow grease and the application of just the right amount of pressure… amateurs, and those who embark on DIY French Polishing after reading about the craft on the internet or from a book quickly become unstuck, resulting in a gooey mess that covers their piece and never looks quite right.

“More and more people are purchasing furniture from antique fairs with the proliferation of TV programmes about antiques and home makeovers.” Says Paula. “Even after factoring in the cost of professional restoration you can end up with a piece that has lots of character and is beautiful and remains comparable in price or even cheaper than High Street furniture.”

Pricing works out at roughly £25 an hour, making French Polishing something of a bargain if it turns a tatty looking piece into something really beautiful, and the couple find themselves working both on older pieces that require restoration or repair after accidental damage, as well as newer pieces for owners that want to change the colour of a piece to more accurately blend with their other furniture.

The couple operates from their brilliant Grade II listed property on Kirton in Lindsey’s railway line - the building, the line’s former station, is packed with beautifully maintained period furniture. Having returned to Lincolnshire just a couple of years ago to be nearer both sets of parents, the couple already find themselves in high demand for their services and both delight in restoring pieces to their former glory.

“The transformation from tatty to terrific is always very rewarding.” Says Paula. “We love what we do and work brilliantly together, it’s really rewarding and our customers are always really pleased with the end result… there’s little else you could ask for from a career.” n

Main: Husband and wife team Richard and Paula Barstow work as professional French Polishers from their Kirton in Lindsey base.

The husband and wife team trades as Gallant Antiques, and can be contacted on 01652 640407 or via www.restorers.org.uk

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Quality Ornamental Ironwork (DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL)

• Installation of Gates with Electric & Remote Control Operators • Gates & Railings • Handrails & Balustrade • Fencing • Security Bar / Roller Shutters • Decorative Garden Furniture • General Light Fabrication • Rose Arches & Pergolas • Staircases & Fire Escapes • Bespoke or Standard Designs in a Variety of Colour Finishes

01522 795000 www.lincolnmetalcraft.co.uk Unit 2, Branston Business Park, 115 Lincoln Road, Branston, Lincoln LN4 1NT

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Above: Architectural glass artist Katie Tucker with one of her pieces.

THE ART OF GLASS FOR NEWARK ARTIST KATIE TUCKER, WORKING IN 2D JUST ISN’T ENOUGH...

INSTEAD, THE 24 YEAR OLD PROFESSIONAL ARTIST LOVES WORKING IN HER CHOSEN 3D MEDIUM OF GLASS... BUT WORKING WITH THE MATERIAL IS TRICKY TO SAY THE LEAST, AS KATIE THIS MONTH REVEALS AS WE JOIN HER IN THE STUDIO AS SHE CREATES ONE OF HER LATEST ARCHITECTURAL PIECES For many artist, issues of scale, colour and composition are the be all and end all of their work, but for Katie Tucker, a 24 year old professional glass artist from Newark, there are also a host of technical issues affecting the artist’s work too.

Glass is notoriously tricky to work with, and even to the seasoned professional like Katie, an imperfection in a stock of glass or slight drop in temperature can render an entire piece completely ruined.

“There’s lots of trial and error involved when using glass.” says Katie, who began working in her business, Pure Glass Design, a year ago. “And each artist has their own preference in terms of temperature for firings, the make of materials they use and the techniques they employ in their individual designs. As such, there are no hard and fast rules.”

Whilst glass is a difficult medium in which to work, it’s also remarkably rewarding, and if properly prepared before firing, the glossy, shiny piece that emerges from the kiln simply shimmers and has a brilliance and vibrance that few mediums can match. Katie’s clients obviously agree too - the artist makes square and round bowls, lattice bowls, cufflinks, architectural commissions and around this time of year, Christmas decorations too, all of which are exceptionally well-received.

The bowls are especially impressive, up to half a metre in diameter, with streaks of colour throughout them, known as stringers, or specks of colour from granules known as frit, and bubbles in varying sizes for texture throughout the piece.

Each piece is fired three or four times, at incredible temperatures of up to 850°c, and Katie works from a dedicated studio at the home of parents Tony and Linda Tucker, with a huge kiln capable of producing architectural commissions of up to 1.5m x 1.2m in size... Katie is currently producing bespoke kitchen and bathroom splashbacks and tiles, to customers’ specific designs and colours.

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AT JUST OVER A YEAR OLD, KATIE’S RELATIVELY NEW STUDIO IS ALREADY RECEIVING A NUMBER OF COMMISSIONS... HER PIECES RETAIL FOR ANYWHERE FROM £290 TO £350 AND TAKE THE FORM OF ROUND AND SQUARE BOWLS AND LATTICE BOWLS, BUT KATIE ALSO DESIGNS AND MAKES CUFFLINKS AND ARCHITECTURAL PIECES, AS WELL AS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS...

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

Each piece begins life as one, two or three single sheets of glass cut to size - with just a few millimetres added on to compensate for a bowl’s curvature during the moulding process. Solid coloured glass is used for the underside of the bowl, and Katie’s preferred brand is Bullseye, which she says is higher in quality and comes in practically any colour.

“Here’s where the natural variations in terms of the material comes into play.” says Katie. “Each piece features variations in terms of the exact shade of glass, where the bubbles sit in the glass and how large these are... as such each piece is truly unique.”

Because Katie uses coloured glass rather than glass to which pigment is added later, the depth and lustre of the colour in Katie’s work is extraordinary, and really does bring out the contrasting stringers or grains of frit used to create Katie’s designs.

A final layer of clear glass is added, and the whole piece is polished using vinegar to give a smooth, glossy finish. Each piece is fired three or four times, initially for 12 hours, to temperatures between 500°c and 800°c, then cooled systematically.

The latter is absolutely crucial, since glass can easily shatter if it’s cooled too violently.

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This process is known as annealing, and results in the fusing of each layer of glass before a further firing at around 650-750°c to smooth the finish and allow the insertion of more frit or stringers. A final firing takes place at a slightly lower temperature over a powdered plaster of Paris mould, in which the soft glass sinks over the mould creating the finished piece’s shape.

In addition to producing her commissions, which sell for between £290 and £350, Katie also teaches the art of glass craft from her studio and on adult education courses in Leicestershire. Originally from London, the artist moved to Southwell as a young girl, and was educated at Southwell Minster before attending University of Sunderland, a specialist University for glass craftspeople and home of the National Glass Centre.

Having begun trading as Pure Glass Design just a year ago, the artist is already receiving a number of commissions and has been surprised herself by the diversity of project her customers have commissioned... and by the popularity of her Christmas decorations, which she was busy designing and creating during our visit.

“It’s an amazing medium to work in.”

Katie says. “Technically tricky but very rewarding... I couldn’t work in any other medium!” n

Above: Putting the finishing touches to one of her lattice bowls. Using Frit to create sprinkles of colour.

Main: Artist Katie runs glasscraft classes from her Balderton studio.

For more information on Katie’s work, see www.pureglass design.co.uk

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Barn Wagtail

With impressive proportions and a wealth of natural light and space, Skillington’s Wagtail Barn is naturally beautiful...

i Wagtail Barn, Skillington

The Coach House, Carlton Scroop Owners: Nick and Anna Tuck.

Style: Beautifully crafted modern barn constructed in 2002 designed to utilise as much natural light as possible.

Receptions: Four, currently arranged as lounge, dining room, snug and garden room.

Bedrooms: Four, one with en-suite.

Other Features: Double height ceilings.

Limestone and pantile construction, galleried double height landing.

Price: £525,000.

Agent: Chesterton Humberts.

Find Out More: 01476 514514. or see www.chestertonhumberts.com.

For Nick and Anna Tuck, designing their perfect home was a long-held ambition that came to fruition when the Thames Valley couple moved to Lincolnshire in 1999.

“We were seeking a true working rural village.” says Nick.

“Too many villages down south have turned into commuter villages... what really appealed to us about this place is that the village is still a working community... you even get sheep being driven through the village and muddy tractors trickling up and down the main road.”

The couple were seeking a rural idyll that still had good commuter links, particulary to London and Nottingham, where Nick worked designing and managing the construction of furniture for major retailers.

“We had never designed a property before and at that time, home improvement shows didn’t really exist - Grand Designs has only just screened its first episode, so the public hadn’t yet been bitten by the new-home building bug.” The couple acquired the site in 1999 and began construction in Spring that year, completing the build and moving in a year later.

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The property is constructed of Clipsham limestone and vibrant pantiles, and the whole house is flooded with natural light from windows that soar the whole height of the property’s main aspect.

Despite a lack of prior knowledge or understanding, the project went brilliantly, and having briefed their local architect, the end result was Wagtail Barn. The property is a clean, traditional looking barn, constructed on the previously derelict site of creamy Clipsham limestone and vibrant pantiles.

A double height aspect to the building has resulted in soaring ceilings and a wealth of natural light flooding into the main reception rooms. These are a substantial drawing room with log burner purchased from Boston’s Sack Store, with a full height glazed aspect, and a smaller, more intimate garden room.

This was added to the property just 18 months ago to render the terrace smaller and more enclosed, and provide a cosy, intimate reception room for the winter months.

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Main Image: The main living room features a wood burning fire and full height glazing.

Left: The property’s modern, oak kitchen with its polished slate floor and Atrascan work surface.

The kitchen, meanwhile, is a tour de force of cheerful, sleek family-friendly design and features polished slate flooring, natural oak doors and solid worktop made of durable Atrascan material.

With quality appliances from names like AEG and hand-made crackle-finished blue tiles, as well as a hidden utility room and breakfast bar area, the kitchen cost a total of £13,000, but the quality of workmanship proves that the investment was worthwhile, and Nick says that he would definitely use supplier Jackson’s Building Centres again; “I can still remember the service a decade later.” says Nick. “It was exceptional, actually, and the advice they offered was excellent.”

The company also provided Ideal Standard fittings in both the master bathrooms,

downstairs cloakroom and en-suite to the master bedroom.

Three further bedrooms feature generous proportions and the upstairs also features a study area overlooking the garden area and galleried landing.

Outside the property is a mature, well-stocked garden with geometric kitchen beds and herb garden. Anna is a keen kitchen gardener and loves to grow tomatoes, potatoes, onions and carrots in the sunken kitchen garden beds, which are lined with reclaimed timber.

The whole garden is well-stocked with box hedging and evergreen, and since our photographer attended the property, even once the garden has been pruned back, it’s a wealth of greenery even in the autumn and winter months.

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The property has a beautiful galleried landing area with a full height window to allow light to flood into the property.

The full height living room creates a feeling of space and freedom, whilst French doors leading to the terrace blur the distinction between the living areas and the garden beyond...

Undertaking the design and construction of Wagtail Barn has proved an enormous success for the couple, but they admit that a renovation is not for the faint hearted.

“The public are more aware now of what it’s like to embark on such a project.” says Nick.

“We were lucky as ours went without a hitch and the result was a property that we absolutely love.”

i Inspired Buys

Nick says that the couple has now decided to embark on a new project, constructing smaller, market entry properties in the village nearby that fit their ethos of village-friendly, architecturally faithful homes.

The couple is looking to downsize and have put the property on the market with Chesterton Humberts, with a view to beginning a new project which will also provide the equity to begin their semi-retirement as property developers.

However, leaving Wagtail Barn will prove difficult. It’s a superb home, well constructed in natural materials, architecturally relevant and well-specified with plenty of living space.

“We entertain a lot, and I can tell you it’s a superb party-house.” says Nick. “We love music - Anna plays the piano and I have a quality hi-fi system so it’s a really great property for entertaining.” n Wagtail Barn is on the market with Chesterton Humberts for £525,000.

For more information call 01476 514514.

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Candle; £30 House of Fraser. www.houseof fraser.co.uk.

Cath Kidson Strawberries; £21.99 Gifted Penguin www.giftedpenguin.co.uk. Coffee Table; Halo Living www.halo living.co.uk. Fireplace by Broseley; www.broseleyfires.com.

Chinese screen; www.bakerfurniture.com. Sofa by Duresta; Barker & Stonehouse www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk.

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Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms of Distinction...

Hand-crafted in Lincolnshire to create a quality home that will last for generations...

Is your kitchen looking tired?

Why go to the trouble and expense of having a new one when we can just refurbish what you already have.

New doors, worktops, sinks, appliances etc give the instant feel of a whole new kitchen at a fraction of the cost and we can supply you with them all!

Burgh le Marsh, Skegness.

Tel: 01754 890560. www.davidtwiggjoinery.co.uk

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Warm Up Your Winter Our selection of super stoves will ensure you’ve somewhere to hang your stockings for Santa...

COMPACT AND STYLISH FOR COSY SNUGS

MODERN STOVE FOR CONTEMPORARY HOMES

Aarrow’s Acorn Five is ideally suited to medium sized rooms. It has all the features you would expect from an Aarrow stove; multifuel riddling grate, airwash and secondary burn, and is supplied in a smaller pre-stressed curved steel body, with a 5kw heat output rating.

Designed and hand-built in the UK. Firebelly’s FB2 features a contemporary design with huge glass window to give flames more visual prominence, and an airshield system designed to keep the stove’s window clear. Heat output of 12kw, for larger living rooms.

CREATE A COSY NOOK IN YOUR HOME

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED

Traditionally-styled Inglenook is the essence of country chic.

With a dramatic canopy and charming double doors, it’s a real charmer. But beneath the traditional façade is a modern stove.

With a maximum output of 7Kw, the Inglenook features Cleanburn, for a clean, efficient performance.

Small but beautifully styled with a large viewing window, the Hawk Four from Hunter Stoves is extremely popular and is now available with traditional or contemporary door design. Available in stylish black, green or blue, it’s the designer choice for medium sized rooms with a heat output of 5kw.

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HOTTING UP...

This month, Paul Grimwood of Flamecraft Fireplaces, based at Spalding’s Baytree Garden Centre, offers his advice for choosing a superb stove for hanging up your stocking ready for Santa...!

Asking the Experts Over 25 years ago, John Grimwood was asked to build a fireplace at Baytree Garden Centre, now due to John’s retirement Paul has rekindled the business link with Baytrees since 2007, and has now created a new woodburning stove and fireplace showroom.

Which he has built up over the last two years. Paul and John have a good reputation for excellence over a quarter a century providing excellent customer service and sound advice on both the style and technical qualities of their fireplaces.

SLIMLINE MODEL FOR COMPACT ENCLOSURES For those who need the power of a 5kw fire with large, double doors, but need the convenience of a unit that fits snugly within a smaller enclosure. Available in three colours, with flat and low/high canopy tops.

Essential Advice Paul recommends you take professional advice when seeking a new stove. It’s also important to understand a few of the underlying technical aspects too - for instance, the maximum heat output, measured in kilowatts or Kw. It’s important, however, to examine this figure in relation to the size of room in which the fire will be placed.

Be aware, too, that outputs alter according to whether the unit will provide heating for the individual room, central heating, or central heating with provision to heat water too.

Wood Burners or Multi-Fuel Multi-fuel stoves feature grates to burn either coal or wood, whilst dedicated wood burners lack grating as the wood they burn sits on a bed of ash. Coal burns at a higher temperature and so cleans the chimney using convection.

Optional Extras Optional extras you need when purchasing your stove - single or double doors, low or high canopies or alternative paint finishes can all enhance the enjoyment of your stove.

Good Chimney Hygiene...

If you’ve renovating or moving into a new property, speak to Flamecraft to discuss a stove MOT or have your chimney swept.

This will clear debris and remove deposits of creosote which can catch light and cause a chimney fire.

Every few months, however, using a chimney sweeping log, also available from Flamecraft, which uses a catalytic action to provide interim cleaning of your chimney, will help to maintain a healthy chimney and gradually render brittle any creosote deposits.

FIREPOD, FOR THE iPOD GENERATION Stylish and contemporary, the all-new Firepod offers modern styling and an astonishing view of the flames within with its huge stay-clean glass window. Available in both wood and multi-fuel, with two different height pedestals.

HETAS HETAS is the official body recognised by government to approve solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services. Its work in approving products and services covers boilers, cookers, open fires and stoves and room heaters. Always use a HETAS approved product and installer. n All products featured here are available from Paul Grimwood’s Flamecraft, based at Baytree Garden Centre, Spalding, Lincs PE12 6JU. Call 01406 373600 or see www.flamecraft.co.uk.

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Colin Luesby i n t e r i o r s Established 1960

Kitchens • Bedrooms • Bathrooms Personal service from conception to completion.

Market Place, Swineshead, Boston, Lincs PE20 3LJ Tel: 01205 820215 www.colinluesby.com

Elaborate range of kitchens and cookers...

The Stables • Market Stainton • Nr. Horncastle/Louth • Lincolnshire

Tel: 01507 343543 www.habitkitchens.co.uk

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BESPOKE CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY

KITCHENS MANUFACTURED TO LAST & DESIGNED TO IMPRESS...

COME SEE OUR SHOWROOM AT Cherryholt Road, Bourne, PE10 9LA

01778 393160 www.intonedesign.co.uk Established 26 Years • Family Run Business

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Light Up Your Life Funky designer lighting to ensure your winter is lighter and brighter than ever before...

SOFT LIGHTING FOR BEDROOMS

LIGHTING OF BIBLICAL PROPORTION

An LED task light solution ideal for creating soft lighting in bedrooms; Light Punkt is shown here as a reading light in the bedroom. Its modern clean lines make it equally at home in an office, library or any other situation where a wall fitted task light is needed.

Biblio spot is a task light which blends understatement with excellent functionality. Three directionally-adjustable LED lights are built-into an arm which can be retracted when not in use.

Perfectly designed for bookcases and studies where space is at a premium.

THE FUTURE OF LIGHTING

DESIGNER LIGHTING FROM GERMANY

Future: the name says it all for this extremely elegant desk task light, in matt anodised metal finish. Future incorporates LED technology for a clear, bright and neutrally coloured light without flicker. Ideal for minimising eye-strain whilst working, especially in a home study!

If you’ve a contemporary home, Roche Light’s range is perfect.

Beautiful, stylish lighting in a bright finish to create a very special interior look and meet the practical lighting needs from a variety of wall, ceiling, desk and floor-standing task lighting.

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CHOOSING LIGHTING Task lighting, ambient lighting... halogen and LED; lighting has become incredibly versatile and easy to incorporate into your room scheme!

A Light Bulb Moment for Energy Efficiency...

The traditional light bulb has not changed for over a hundred years since Edison and Swan - the time of Queen Victoria - and these bulbs waste 95% of electricity as heat.

The Government and the Energy Saving Trust have been working with all major retailers who sell light bulbs, the lighting industry and UK energy suppliers to phase out traditional energy guzzling bulbs, replacing them with energy efficient light bulbs. This activity is known as the UK Voluntary Retailers Phase Out initiative.

FUNKY DESIGNS FOR CONTEMPORARY HOMES Rainbow (top) and Chilli (above) are examples of Hull Lighting’s most imaginative architectural designs the company can offer.

Featuring flush fitting chrome construction and coloured glass with halogen fittings for a bright, neutrally coloured light.

Under the voluntary initiative most major UK retailers have ceased to replace their stock of bulbs over 75W since January of this year. From next month, the voluntary initiative will expand to include bulbs of 60W and over, and from January 2011 40W bulbs plus 40 & 60W candles will be included.

That means this month is the ideal time to replace your old lighting with new, energy efficient fittings and bulbs.

Ambient versus Task Lighting Task lighting is lighting which is focused on a specific area to make the completion of visual tasks easier. It is differentiated from area and mood lighting, which are designed simply to illuminate various regions of a space, sometimes creating specific desired effects.

Lighting in the Home Add ‘quick’ lighting to your home as well as standard fittings to light ‘task’ areas; table top lamps or free-standing lamps that you can situate in room corners.

Illuminate foyers, dining rooms and hallways with chandeliers that provide decorative lighting with an eye-catching touch, from formal crystal designs to domed art deco styles.

Keep bathroom areas well-illuminated by installing vanity strip lighting above sinks and mirrors. Featuring shiny chrome, brushed nickel or brass to co-ordinate with bathroom fixtures, vanity lights provide adequate front lighting for applying makeup or shaving, for example.

LED or Halogen?

With the redundancy of traditional incandescent light bulbs, which can no longer be sold after 2011, LED Light Bulbs last longer than even the CFL lights, up to 60,000 hours and considerably longer times are expected soon. LED Light Bulbs are quite expensive, but over a lifespan are comparable with the prices of incandescent, halogen and fluorescent bulbs.

ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING FOR DESIGN EFFECT Shine is the recessed ceiling fitting in this contemporary bedroom; one of a wide range of recessed task lights on display at Hull Lighting. The wash of light around the curtains in this picture is created by LED strips also available from the retailer.

Hull Lighting Hull Lighting is one of the north’s leading lighting showrooms, with over 10,000ft2 of lighting on display and thousands of fittings in stock, ready to take home. n For more information or advice, see www.hull-lighting.co.uk or call 01482 320864.

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Unsurpassed Quality, Affordable Craftsmanship Bespoke Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms - full project management and free quotations

Peter Jackson Cabinet Makers Ltd Devereux Way, Horncastle LN9 6AU

Tel: 01507 527113 Web: www.peterjacksoncabinetmakers.co.uk

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The Heart of the Home A perfect kitchen is more than just cabinets, worktops and appliances.

It’s a room that reflects your personality and lifestyle - a living room, in fact.

We at The Lincolnshire Kitchen Company pride ourselves on quality and value for money.

We offer over 20 years of kitchen experience to our customers.

Why not call into our Lincoln or Kirton showrooms.

For the complete service: Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms • Quality & value for money • Free quotation and design service • All major brands of appliances available

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF QUALITY & VALUE

MARKET PLACE KIRTON IN LINDSEY TEL: 01652 640780

84 HIGH STREET LINCOLN TEL: 01522 533051 55

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Black & White Normally quite liberal when it comes to nature, Paul Gray, National Trust gardener at Spilsby’s Gunby Hall, this month sees the issue in black and white terms as he deals with a family of ASBO-wielding badgers, wrecking havok in the garden of the stately home

Words & Images: Paul Gray and Rob Davis.

I have written in this column before about our very close and sometimes too intimate relationship with nature.

The fact that we share our small part of creation with rabbits, cats, pheasants, rats, various dogs, squirrels, moles and even muntjac deer has been a source of wonder and ‘joy’ over many years. I believe it is a privilege to work in a place where these animals are common and often seen.

Most of the time, whilst being slightly irritating in their culinary tastes and their need to dig strange things up for no apparent reason, we can live together in - if not harmony, then in neighbourly tolerance.

I have never got, as some do, to the point where I actively feed these visitors but I let the message percolate out that if you do not do

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too much damage, I will turn a blind eye to the odd worm, nut or apple.

I remember when I was a boy I was taught road safety by Tufty the Squirrel - it must have worked well as up to this moment I have not been run over. There was also a character with a west country accent called Sergeant Badger who was always on the scene to uphold the law, so I suppose I had a mental image of badgers being law-abiding upright citizens.

That is, until they became the latest creature to want a relationship with my garden. We arrived one Monday morning to find sweetcorn plants all down the footpath, the crop flattened and various holes all over.

An inspection of the area found one dahlia dug out of the ground and much fruit pulled off low branches and chewed. We then discovered that the tennis court had been pot-holed and some large droppings, deposited in some of the holes.

We had been visited by a family of badgers and they had left a calling card. We have been aware of these nocturnal visits before but had never suffered this vandalism.

I think it was due to the very dry conditions through September leading to a shortage of slugs and worms which form a great deal of

The dry conditions throughout September lead to a shortage of slugs and worms, which is one possible cause for our badger investation...!

Take Five: Jobs for December 1. Rake away the fallen leaves that provide shelter for slugs and snails.

2. Slugs can still threaten your bulbs and herbaceous plants; controls are still necessary now.

3. Prune tall-growing bush roses by half to prevent wind-rock.

4. Shorten branches on standard roses.

5. Turning over beds in winter exposes soil pests to frost and bird predators. The frost will help improve soil structure.

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Gift for Gardeners...

Baytree Garden Centre: Weston, Spading Gift ideas for all gardeners at Baytree Garden Centre. Coffee shop and ample, free parking. Christmas Floral Demonstration on December 1st - tickets only.

Tea with Santa. December 4th, 11th and 18th. Late Night Christmas Shopping on December 3rd, 10th & 17th See www.baytree-gardencentre.com for more information or call 01406 370242.

Johnson’s Garden Centre: Boston Clothing and giftware, and Christmas grotto open throughout December.

Farm shop for seasonal produce.

See www.johnsonsgardencentre.co.uk or call 01205 363 408.

Brigg Garden Centre: Brigg One of Lincolnshire’s largest garden centres, with extensive home and gift department. Christmas Shop and giftware open in December.

Call 01652 408256 for further details.

DECEMBER IN THE GARDEN - IN BRIEF Plant of the Month: Iris stylosa (syn.(I. unguicularis) This fascinating little Iris often surprises with it’s lovely blue flowers in the deepest part of the winter. Grow in a sheltered position where the rhizomes will not get baked in the summer sun. The rhizomes prefer to sit above ground level. Leaves are evergreen.

It is very hardy but the flowers are damaged if badly frosted. To propagate divide gently in late summer or they will germinate successfully from seed.

The Kitchen Garden Harvest root vegetables, brussel sprouts after the first frost and winter cabbge.

Watch Out For...

Keep a careful eye out for breaking pots after a winter frost. Rake up leaves to prevent them harbouring pests.

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Secateurs are the main tool for rose pruning; it is important to keep

them clean and sharp. Plant material can build up on the blades forcing them apart - they then tear rather than cut. Add some disinfectant to cleaning water to make sure you do not spread disease their diet. It is perhaps a blessing that we do not have elephants wild in Lincolnshire, if we did I know where they would end up!

As we approach another Christmas it is worth looking around the garden for material to make natural seasonal decorations.

Aside from the usual holly and ivy, chinese lanterns (Physalis franchetii), honesty seed cases, cones, teasels, eryngiums, poppy ‘pepper pots’, rose hips and spotted laurel will all look very good.

Spray seed head types with silver or gold colour or artificial snow. Another good idea is to make an alternative tree from twisted willow or hazel.

Cut a branch of the correct size and spray silver or gold. Place this in a large pot of soil and then hang with the normal trimmings or natural cones.

Also think about using different small conifer trees instead of the usual fir types.

In the greenhouse most plants, except those actually in flower, must be kept fairly dry, but don't allow them to dry out to the extent that the compost begins to shrink from the sides of the pot.

Yellowing and drooping leaves are a sign of either over - or under-watering. Check this by taking the plant out of the pot and inspecting the roots.

Remember that plants growing inside still need protection from frost if they’re kept on a window sill

Continue to prune roses, fruit trees and shrubs; try use the correct tool. There are three main tools; secateurs, loppers and saws.

Often it is tempting to try to hack through material with too small an implement. This leads to ruined secateurs and badly wounded plants. If it is difficult to make an easy cut go to the next sized tool up.

As a general rule up to 1 cm with secateurs, 4-5 cms with loppers any thicker with a pruning saw.

I use a little, folding saw which will cut most shrub wood. Often it will fit into small gaps where lopper handles will not open properly.

As secateurs are the main tool for rose pruning it is important to keep them clean and sharp. Plant material can build up on the blades forcing them

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apart, they then tear rather than cut. I use steel wool to shine the blade and anvil. Add some disinfectant to cleaning water to make sure you do not spread disease. Oil lightly when dry.

When so treated, a good pair of secateurs will last many years.

If the rootball is saturated, place it on a pile of newspapers before returning it to the pot and the newspapers will absorb a very large percentage of the moisture.

It is always easier to rescue an under-watered plant than one which has ‘drowned’.

Plants growing in a centrally heated house need protection from frost if left in a window sill.

When the curtains are drawn a cold area is formed between window and curtain. Remember to turn plants a few degrees every day or they will grow towards the light.

If you are ordering seed for next season it is often a good idea to join a local garden club.

Many seed companies make generous discounts for the bulk buying these clubs can do. The club may well be pleased with your order as it might take them to the next discount level!

Have a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Gardening Year! n

Prune, Plant and Pick...

Prune Prune roses using sharpened and oiled secateurs; clean and disinfect afterwards.

Pick Root vegetables and winter cabbages like Savoy.

Plant Plant spring flowering tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.

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THE FIVE MINUTE GUIDE TO...

Clearing Away Leaves

Is it really worth it?

With leaves falling as soon as you clear the previous backlog of garden waste, is it really a worthwhile use of your time in the garden or just a futile endeavour?

Simply put, it’s definitely worth the hassle. Leaves can harbour and feed garden pests, prevent nutrients reaching your grass and get into your gutters and paths where they rot and leave a sticky mess.

Small Lawns and Terraces For small areas like tight areas of lawn and patios, a spring-tine rake and decent-sized yard brush will prove sufficient.

i

Inspired Buys: Winter Warmers

Larger Areas and Lawns Using man-power for large areas is a real false economy. Opt for a hand-held leaf vacuum. Avoid blowers as these move the problem around rather than tackling it directly. Leaf vacuums not only gather but collect the leaves and shred them, meaning less volume of waste, and easier recycling.

Purchase a petrol, rather than an electric, unit with a collection bag that straps onto your back.

Larger models such as the one pictured above (Toro; www.toro.com), feature larger wheeled collection bags.

For even bigger areas, wheeled lawn vacs are available with 250 litre collection bags, and self-propulsion. Their walk-behind design also makes them easier to use. Opt for a model which also has a wander hose for tighter areas & borders and a shredding impeller.

Collection and Disposal Use collapsible bags which fold down and stand upright unsupported, unlike fiddly bin bags.

These canvas bags are strong and durable, but easy to transport.

Garden hat £24.95 www.forherfromyou.co.uk.

Garden apron Amaroni www.amaroni.com or 01205 260 384. Duchy tool set £64.95 www.GettingPersonal.co.uk.

Sork anti-mole bulbs £12.95 www.gardenoasis.co.uk.

Fallen Leaves wellies £29.99 www.amaroni.com or 01205 260 384.

There’s nothing more satisfying than a bonfire, but leaves can blow around when alight, and shredded leaves make great composting materials so, instead, begin a composting habit and enjoy a wealth of rich nutritious fertiliser in your garden in 2010 instead. n

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LincolnshirePride’s Kitchen Garden

Month

4

Nature’s Gold!

This month, kitchen gardener Lorraine Bellis waxes lyrical on the joys of compost, and plans her 2010 gardening calendar... already anticipating the fruition of her kitchen garden efforts...!

Never mind Christmas… seed catalogues and garden plans are the stuff of December. I love to spend time in the evenings marvelling at the seductive pictures of perfect fruit and vegetables in the seed catalogues and then dreaming about how many different varieties of everything I can grow in my garden and just how perfect my crops will be.

Stop Dreaming... Start Growing...

Dreaming aside, this is the time of year to plan and order the seeds that you intend to grow to ensure a head start in the spring.

This year at Damson Cottage, we are undertaking every job for the first time and so, of course, every task has a forerunner to it.

But here at Damson Cottage, I have a poly tunnel to fill and an allotment site, as well as ambitious plans to raise some cut flowers.

Putting the greenhouse to full use makes sense. There are so many different varieties to grow, so, I will be trying Month four in to raise a selection of each plant and look forward to sampling Lincolnshire Pride’s them next year and picking some favourites.

Kitchen Garden, owned

and maintained by gardening instructor Lorraine Bellis

In the case of using the greenhouse for raising our valuable seeds, we have decided that it must have a basic heated propagating bench installed. This will ensure that seeds will be given the best possible chance of germination and hopefully, great yields from our plot.

This doesn’t have to be an expensive piece of kit... once more, my amazing husband is stepping into the breach and will build a heated propagating bench, and as usual he will try to use as many materials as we can find here on site to ensure that we are recycling as much as possible.

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In my previous garden space was limited and I didn’t have a greenhouse, but my south facing dining room windows doubled up as a greenhouse in the spring.

A Useful Plant...

When we moved here, there was a crop of Jerusalem artichokes growing. Although I have read about the crop before, I had not seen it growing and so it took a little while to indentify.

The giveaway signs were that it does look like the family it belongs to – sunflowers.

Standing two or three metres high and producing a yellow flower, it is quite an imposing plant. It also has the good grace to grow almost anywhere, making it a useful windbreak in a kitchen garden or ideal as a screen.

As the autumn goes on, the leaves die back and the tubers can be dug up and eaten.

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Lorraine intends to spend this month leafing through seed catalogues and planning the 2010 season.

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LincolnshirePride’s Kitchen Garden

Month

4 Lorraine is hoping to begin hosting a series of kitchen garden workshops over the new year... but for now, she intends to spend all of December leafing through seed catalogues and planning next year’s gardening...

The plants can be left over winter in the ground, so you can dig the tubers as you wish to eat them making it a very useful crop for the winter months.

Leaving some tubers in the ground will ensure another crop next year – it couldn’t be easier.

I have made wonderful soup combining carrots and artichokes. I would recommend trying them if you haven’t already.

lawn. It has been growing since our arrival, and now presents a huge heap that from time to time the hens take great pleasure in spreading across the garden.

With such a big pile, containerisation and control is called for. The plan is to build two containers, one to fill and then when full turn into the empty one to finish its composting process. Again using materials here at the site, Paul will build these containers over the winter.

Compost - Not Just a Load of Old Rubbish...

Compost is a great material and it is something Once completed we can turn the compost as we that I have always made. My last composter was a move it into the new containers and hopefully by the wooden container, built by Paul and my kitchen and spring we will have lots of black gold to add to the garden waste went into it. Vegetable peelings, garden. shredded newspaper, grass cuttings, these were the main components. To make life as easy as Getting your Growing, Going... possible I would peel and prepare Brassicas, or broccoli in my case; these vegetables on newspaper and then are situated in a little plot alongside wrap them up (like old fashioned fish Lorraine the Jerusalem artichokes and just and chips); the parcel was then inside the kitchen garden I have appreciates the deposited in the composter. planted both broccoli and chard. abundance of quality From time to time I would add the However, the broccoli needs to be contents of plant pots and the composting material... ‘earthed up’ around the roots, pruning from the garden, always nature’s black gold is adding stability to the plant and being very careful not to add any ensuring it will be firmly anchored in an essential for any perennial weeds as I have the ground over the months to come. experienced weed growth when gardener! the compost has been added back into I have put netting over the plants to the garden. discourage pigeons from helping themselves. Ruby Chard looks wonderful in the Recycling kitchen and garden waste in this way is winter, its bright red stems stand out and I will the simplest way of starting your own green certainly grow much more next year. It makes great revolution. It also creates a food for your garden salad when picked as baby leaves and looks lovely that improves its fertility and condition, which in as a mature plant just before you pick the larger turn improves the plants. In fact I have been a leaves to cook as greens. compost-making convert for a long time.

Coming Soon: Garden Workshops...

As the worms move in and chop their way through it Over the Christmas holidays I will be planning the adding to the rotting that it does, the black gold development of some workshops here at Damson appears; fresh sweet smelling compost ready for Cottage and trying not to get overwhelmed by the using in the garden. work ahead. All that remains is for me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a successful The compost heap here at Damson Cottage is an New Year of growing! n uncontained mound, in the corner of the Pine Tree

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Jobs for December Allotment Providing the weather stays warm, digging the allotment and preparing it for the spring can go on over the winter months.

Brassicas If you have Brassicas in the ground ‘earth up’ around the base of the plant to ensure its stability over the winter.

Tool Maintenance A service for your equipment; sharpen tools, clean out pots and make the most of the time to prepare for the spring.

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FIVE MINUTE FACTS PRUNING BLACKCURRANTS

Here in the kitchen garden we are lucky to have inherited two blackcurrant bushes.

This year they produced lots of lovely fruit and I want to make sure that continues to be the case.

At this time of the year, the leaves are not obscuring the view of the plant and it is much easier to see the old and new stems.

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Blackcurrants fruit on the new and old wood, so pruning each year is keeps a balance between the two. The aim of the exercise is to keep the bush open at the base, growing as a clump (stool) with a balance of new and old wood.

The Lincolnshire Pride Kitchen Garden Plot size two acres.

East-facing, with loam/sand soil.

1.

2.

5.

3.

6.

4.

7.

8.

There is plenty of room for more fruit in the kitchen garden and so I will be exploring other varieties of blackcurrant for fruiting earlier and later in the season.

Bellis Perennis Lorraine runs Bellis Perennis, a business aimed at introducing people to kitchen gardening.

12.

A professional kitchen garden consultant, Lorraine visits clients’ gardens to advise and set up anything from free standing pots and planters to full kitchen gardens.

from when pond was dug out.

Will contain fruit trees.

6. Hen Houses.

7/8. Lawned Area/Cottage Garden.

9. Trees: Leylandii providing shelter.

10. Garage and hard-standing.

11. Kitchen Garden: Four 2m2 beds and additional strips for vegetables.

Map not to scale.

12. Patio & Pond.

Once established Lorraine can visit frequently to assist clients in maintaining their kitchen garden or can leave instructions and allow clients to manage their own plot.

10.

11.

9.

1. Pig Arks: Lorraine will house pigs to produce natural fertiliser.

2. Pond: Presently derelict but due to be reinstated to attract wildlife.

3. Polytunnel: Essential for a ‘head start’ when growing all year round.

4. Compost Heap: Producing rich, high-grade fertiliser all year round.

5. Plot: Currently a mound of earth

As with lots of pruning tasks about a third of the plant is removed each year, this keeps the plant vigorous in its growth. When it is completed, I will mulch well, with more of the manure on site making sure it doesn’t touch the stems of the plant.

In the spring she will be offering courses and workshops at Damson Cottage for groups to take part in.

For more information call 07841 372 118 or see www.bellisperennis.co.uk.

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FARMING MATTERS After one of the driest September and October periods in memory, most Lincolnshire farmers had completed their land work by the middle of November and now have ample time for winter maintenance to their farms and machinery.

The exceptionally dry autumn was not without its problems.

Most potato growers were doing their utmost to avoid damaging their potatoes. This consisted of regular, sometimes hourly, testing for telltale black bruising just below the surface of the skin.

Those farmers that could were irrigating in front of the harvester to soften the clods in the ridges. Particular attention was given to slow web speeds on the machine and minimum number of drops as the potatoes proceeded along the conveyors to the elevator.

A considerable number of farmers now store in one ton wooden boxes and particular care must be given when filling them.

There is no doubt that there is a good crop of potatoes throughout the country and buyers can afford to be very selective when purchasing their crops, prices can vary by up to £100 per tonne between good and bad samples.

Most wheat and rape crops that were sown in the dry cloddy soils were slow to emerge and very patchy when they first came through, which made spray timing very difficult. However the rain that came in mid-October has helped the slower parts to catch up and the crops now look a lot fuller.

Sugar Beet lifting continued throughout the autumn with increasing sugar percentages which are now showing over 20%. This greatly helps to increase the yield of adjusted tonnes and consequently the return per acre. Most farmers will exceed their quota, and produce ‘C-Quota’ sugar beet, this is paid for at a much lower price and the British Sugar Corporation will make a larger profit on this sugar beet... I gather the bioethenol plant at King’s Lynn is fully operational and this cheaper beet will help that operation.

The vegetable growers in the South of the county are continuing to harvest good crops of calabrese, cauliflower and sprouts.

Unfortunately the good quality produced is not being matched by good prices.

Livestock producers are seeing a slight drop in their prices for beef, sheep and pigs. The beef producer especially.

The man who buys his stores to fatten into beef is finding the prices for the stores exceptionally high and consequently greatly reducing his final profit.

The countryside reduction of dairy cow herds continues to take place, however one hears of the possible establishment of a large dairy unit in the Lincoln area. Let us all hope they have a market for the milk produced before it is finally set up. n Read Barry’s Farming Matters column each month only in Lincolnshire Pride.

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Up Warm W This

inter...

Don’t just leap excitedly into the arena next season... warm up with some exercises first to ensure your horse is supple, calm and disciplined.

Do you arrive at a show knowing exactly what you are doing and all things go according to plan for both you and your horse? If so you’re very lucky!

What tends to happen for a large proportion of riders is having prepared well all week for the big day, upon arriving at the show either they get nervous and forget everything or their horse gets nervous and begins to behave out of character.

Before you can formulate a warm-up plan you have to know what your horse’s optimum warm up time is. Horses vary greatly in this area. Added to this you should take into consideration the way your horse behaves in the show environment.

focused. Horses that are very laid back will not usually benefit from this type of routine as they will just go through the motions knowing what they are doing next; for these types, it is better to ‘mix it up’ a little.

THREE OF THE BEST...

TURN OUT RUGS Left: Masta Suede Fleece Rug; £21.75.

That way he will not know what is coming and will have to focus on you to know what you are going to ask for next.

For example a fizzy excitable horse may Don’t repeatedly ride your dressage take more time to settle down than a test in the warm-up or your horse laid-back type. It is difficult to will start to anticipate in the test A fizzy, accurately assess how long this arena. Ride some of the will be without being in the excitable horse may movements in isolation as busy show environment, take longer to settle down part of your warm up and however you can experiment focus on getting him moving at home and then adjust than a laid back type. freely forward and into a according to your type of nice contact.

Adjust your type of horse at a show.

For those jumping, do not horse and train him A very useful exercise is to hire keep jumping your horse a local arena/venue for an hour accordingly. over the practice jump again and go through a 'mock-up' of and again. You know he can jump... preparing, travelling and arriving at a rather, focus on warming your horse’s place that is away from home and working in. muscles up and loosening his body for the exertion ahead. That way he will be Once you know how long you need to warm more likely to perform well and with less up you can then go forward and decide how risk of injury. to warm up. For those excitable horses (and riders!) a set routine is helpful in that it is Talk to your trainer about a warm up plan, something that the horse recognises and they will be more than happy to help you can focus on as he knows what to expect with this. But most importantly do enjoy (especially in a strange environment), it is your day! n also useful for riders to ensure they are

Right Masta Purple Fleece Rug; £45.50.

Left: Masta 340g £78.50.

Each of the above are available at Sheepgate Tack & Togs; www.sheepgatetackandtogs.co.uk or telephone 01205 870236.

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SALES • SERVICE • AFTERCARE • HIRE 66

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Gift Subscriptions The perfect gift for a friend or family member Just £29.50, with free delivery!

The equivalent of two issues free of charge!

A Lincolnshire Pride Gift Subscription lasts for a whole year, which means your friend or relative will receive your gift every single month throughout 2010!

Call 01529 469977 with your credit or debit card, or subscribe online at www.lincolnshirepride.co.uk.

That’s all it takes to give the gift of Lincolnshire ....a gift that will last the whole year!

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Call 01529 469977 with your credit or debit card. That’s all it takes to give the gift of Lincolnshire... a gift that will last the whole year...

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Merry Christmas Spalding’s Hills Department Store wants to wish all of its customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year... so here, they’ve selected the very best gifts for gentlemen and ladies, plus a wealth of ideas for your table and ways to make your Christmas cookery a little easier...

Words and Images: Rob Davis.

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Your Christmas Kitchen...

Making Your Cooking Easier: Nutmeg Grater; £3. Pestle & Mortar in cast iron by Typhoon; £12.99. Christmas Cookie Cutters; £1ea. Mason Kitchen Classics in cream; Jug £5, Bowl £3.25. Trio of Wooden Spoons in Le Cruset dish; £3.50. Typhoon Retro Scales; £12. Le Creuset Baking Dish; £11. Candlesticks by Tipperary; 14” £19.99, £24.99/3 from Fusion Range. Silicone Spatula; £4. Mason Cream Rolling Pin; £13.

Cream Cookbook Stand; £38.99. Christmas Tea Towel; £3.99. Chefmate Whistling Kettle; £25. Ruby Wine Glass; £5/ea, Fusion Wine Glass; £39.99/6. Chefmate Fry Pan 24cm; £10. Your Christmas Table: Christmas Tree Decoration; £7.50. Christmas Plate, Shimmer by Royal Doulton; £50 20pc/4 places. Peggy Wilkins White/Silver Runner; £15. Silver Plate Candelabra; £80. Gravy Boat; £17. Tulip Candle Holders; £34/pair. Mini Cheese Knives; £26. Chrome Wine Bottle Stoppers; £34. Viners 18pc Angel Cutlery; £25. Arthur Price Silver Plate Carving Set £14.99. Christmas Decorations; £10.50/ea. Peggy Wilkins Napkins £11/4. Culinary Concepts Napkin Rings £27.50. Smoke wine glass £5/ea.

Fusion wine glass £39.99/6. Chrome Wine Bottle Stand £35. Wax Lyrical Infuser/Winter Morning Scent £30. Lifestyle Placemats and Coasters; £14.99/6. n All products are available at Hills Department Store of Spalding; 01775 767155, www.hillsdepartmentstore.co.uk.

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Gifts for Him, Gifts for Her

Gifts for Him: Diesel Aftershave/Shower Gel £36.50. Drummer Man Wine Holder; £12.99. Aeroplane Desk Ornament; £42. Chrome Shaving Set; £29.50. Grooming Kit; £16. Ties/Cufflinks Box; £17.50. Grumpy Old Man Mug; £7.50. Flask/Whisky Set; £18. Wine Puzzle/Bottle; £20.

Dr Lewins Cosmetics; Shaving Cream £15, Face Scrub £19.50, Moisturiser £29.50. Fountain Pen/Rollerball Set; £16.50. Lacoste Shower Gel/Aftershave; £18, £36. TV/Movie Trivia; £10. Pocket Puzzles; £3/ea. Treasure Hunt/Workplace Sticky Notes £3.50. Scarf; £15.

Gifts For Her: Black Beads; Necklace £18, Bracelet £10. Pia Rossini Scarf; £15. Box Handbag; £85. Dior Poison 50ml; £45. Retro Oval Watch; £25. Thorntons Milan Chocolates; £11.99. Wax Lyrical Candles; Christmas Eve £18, Snowman £8.50. Anaii Red Bracelet Watch £25.

Black Leather Gloves; £35. Estée Lauder Treasures Fragrances; £27. Crown; Manicure Set £6, Makeup Bag £3. Mirror Compact; £10.

Black Crocodile Leather Purse; £12. Beaded Multi Colour Necklace; £18. n All products are available at Hills Department Store of Spalding; 01775 767155, www.hillsdepartmentstore.co.uk.

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s m a h a r G of

LOUTH Ladies, spoil HIM this Christmas, come to GRAHAMS for that SPECIAL GIFT

Young at Heart!

Traditional to Outrageous Men’s Fashion to Suit You • Individual • Colourful • Fun

Years of experience giving personal service

23-25 UPGATE, LOUTH LINCS LN11 9ER • TEL: (01507) 600530 75

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SGeason’s reetings...

Send season’s greetings at the county’s best society events, and dinner parties... This month, we present a host of ‘little black dresses’ inspired by Coco Chanel in the 1930s... perfect if you’re looking to add extra warmth and glamour to the season no matter what the weather outside!

Images selected by: Mandy Bray.

Ispirato

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Gold sequin shift dress by Dusk... wear with chunky jewellery and shawl to remain warm and glamorous all winter long.

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Black and silver strapless and halterneck dresses

by Dynasty.

Ideal when paired with silver jewellery or diamonds, clutch bag, and strappy sandals.

i For suppliers in Lincolnshire see our Directory on page 160.

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Daring silk and mesh strapless dress by Alberta Ferretti. Team with pixie boots or glamorous heels.

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V-neck Linea Raffaelli dress in black with pewter raw silk trim and sequins.

Wear with pewter wrap, chunky neck jewellery and silk corsage.

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Cocktail dress by John Charles in black with silk, sequin trim and mesh.

i For suppliers in Lincolnshire see our Directory on page 160.

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Country Clothing

by Schoffel and Le Chameau For men, for women, for work and play in the countryside...

Spalding Road, Sutterton, Telephone: 01205 460466 Web: www.burdens.com.

Email: sales@burdens.com.

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Le Chameau Selkirk and Beaumont jackets in Teflon treated fabric.

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Wrap up Warm Whether you work or play in the countryside, it’s essential to wrap up warm and remain safe and dry this winter... that’s why we’ve asked Sutterton’s Burdens Countrywear for their advice when choosing performance clothing for a snug, warm winter. Here, we profile two of countrywear’s most formidable brands and provide fashionable alternatives to the traditional wax jacket...

Words: Rob Davis.

A great deal more thought, science and technical design goes into producing outdoor clothing these days.

With countrywear marketed alongside phrases like ‘technical’ fibres and sharing technologies such as Goretex and Cordura, it’s practically impossible to determine which countrywear will best suit heavy use on the farm, or rainy days spent shooting. n Ask the Experts...

We’ve asked Sutterton’s Burdens to advise - and the company’s expertise ‘in the field’ is well-proven; in addition to stocking all sizes of farm machinery, and groundscare equipment, Burdens can also provide fashionable and functional countrywear from their Sutterton based store, no matter what your needs, no matter what your countryside passion. n Material World...

The four fabrics most commonly used in today’s countrywear are Goretex, Cordura, Tweed and Wax coated fabric.

Goretex is windproof and waterproof but breathable, making it ideal for wet conditions. The fabrics is also quiet when moving around, with no rustling, making it ideal for wildlife photography etc. It doesn’t, however, function well when dirty, as the porous structure of the fabric can be blocked. Cordura, on the other hand, is more hard-wearing and durable, making it a better option for those who work in the

field. It’s also used in military accessories and motorcycle clothing.

Tweed, a traditional material, is usually a mix of wools, treated with Teflon to provide a strain resistant finish. It’s lighter, warmer and is machine washable creating comfortable, fashionable shooting clothing.

Finally, wax jackets remain a staple of your countryside wardrobe... warm, exceptionally waterproof but noisy, unsuitable for deer hunting.

Happily, wax garments can also be repaired and re-waxed by specialists and tend to last for decades.

For more information see Burdens’s Countrywear selection in the company’s Sutterton branch.

Alternatively call 01205 460466 or see www.burdens.com for more information.

The wax jacket is still a staple of your countryside clothing wardrobe... rugged, waterproof, and often lasting for decades...

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Schรถffel Cottesmore Fleece.

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Le Chameau Elena and Cerisy Thermal Pro fleeces.

i For suppliers in Lincolnshire see our Directory on page 160.

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Ladies Ptarmigan coat in tweed with Teflon treated Goretex.

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Le Chameau Balmoral and St Andrews tweed waistcoat, jacket and breeks in mustard. Alcantara trim and satin lining for comfort.

i For suppliers in Lincolnshire see our Directory on page 160.

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Exclusive Menswear Formal and Casual Clothes of Distinction Also Formal Hire

Hugo’s of pa S l l dha Woo Station Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire LN10 6QL Telephone: 01526 354725 90

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Seasonal Sandals...

Beautiful sandals in sparkling seasonal black, silver and gold by Moda in Pellé. the ultimate shoes to pair with party dresses to create a glamorous look For more information see our Directory on page 160.

Mexico Cross-Strap rouch sandal: £80

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Sakis Diamante Trim sandal with bow: £130

Leonah Open Toe metallic sandal: £60

Jazz Sequinned shoe with patent flower detail: £80

Sorela Multi-Strap sandal: £95

Minah Bow-Trim platform heel: £65

Salsa Knot-Trim diamante sandal: £120

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outure CA mour

Lincolnshire’s newest lingerie retailer promises beautiful, tasteful lingerie that’s comfortable and stylish... this month we meet Helen Long whose stylish shop in Louth offers discerning customers the very best designer names and exceptional service...

Words: Emily Casswell. Images: Rob Davis.

Helen Long opened her first lingerie shop 25 years ago, and now, she’s back in Louth selling beautiful lingerie to discerning customers from Lincolnshire’s newest boutique.

“It was a different type of lingerie we were selling back then, and I’ve always wanted to focus on lingerie, which is not only high quality, but luxurious to wear and often innovative in design with the emphasis on fit and quality of fabrics and laces that are used.”

“Our new shop has opened on exactly the same site, what has changed is the name and the product ranges that we are stocking. To complement the lingerie we have included swimwear, hosiery, costume jewellery featuring bra straps with Swarovski crystals and fragrances by La Perla, to name but a few.

“With Christmas on the way we will be providing a gift wrapping service. We are currently designing and creating a selection of different themed Christmas boxes to help make Christmas shopping easier for gentlemen.”

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Couture Amour is also pushing the lingerie boundaries, developing a personal portfolio on each of their customers.

“Obviously, with their permission, we are recording our customers’ details along with notes on the styles and brands they like – a wish list so to speak. So that when the husband or partner comes in we are able to make their shopping trip a lot easier ensuring that the purchase is tailored to the lady in question.”

Some men can find shopping for lingerie awkward at times, often feeling rather exposed in a large store but not at Couture Amour. All the staff have a relaxed and friendly manner which helps enormously.

They all have considerable retail experience and are well known and liked in the town “ All of our staff are trained in bra fitting, and their aim is to make the experience of visiting Couture Amour as comfortable and relaxed as possible. People should feel special when they are buying lingerie, not just when they are wearing it!”

Although the business is in its’ infancy Couture Amour is moving fast, “We are

Main: Helen in the Eastgate shop.

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Below: The pretty shop has been beautifully refurbished.

Bottom: Staff are friendly and approachable, always on hand to offer advice.

in talks with a Breast Cancer care nurse with a view to offering the best post surgery, bra fitting advice that we can, because we want to be able to cater for all ladies, no matter what they’ve been through. This service should come on stream in the new year.

“We haven’t been open long and already people are showing a lot of interest, so the whole thing is very exciting” explains Helen, “but as always, there will always be room to grow.” n Helen’s Couture Amour is based at 132 Eastgate in Louth, call 01507 355723.

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X

HANDBAGS WITH THE

X-FACTOR With the TV talent show reaching its climax this month we audition seven glamorous bags that claim to have the X-Factor, all chosen by the Simon Cowell of ladies’ accessories in Lincolnshire, Frances Shippey, owner of The Bag Shop in Lincoln and Stamford...

Words and Images: Frances Shippey.

Guess Lulin Pink Box Bag Take her breath away with this ultra feminine box bag. £115

Guess Mini Evening Bag The mini black patent clutch.

Perfect gift territory! £59

Grey Herringbone Pod Clutch Classic herringbone makes a timeless statement and an excellent stocking filler. £25

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Guess Lulin Shoulder Hedge your bets. Black, grey and cream. See the versatility? £170

Torba Roses Roses for a rose, say it with flowers. £39

Ameko Grab Charcoal The Ultimate in butter soft to die for leather. Because she's worth it! £poa

i

Bags available from The Bag Shop, 4 Cheyne Lane, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2AX. 01780 754794 & also at 46 Steep Hill, Lincoln, 01522 522565 www.thebagshopstamford.co.uk.

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FAME AND FORTUNE Despite having two left feet themselves, Sleaford husband and wife team Gill and Keith Clarke are dancing for joy as their dancewear business Dancing in the Street is proving a huge success!

In business, you need to work hard… and sometimes, you need a little luck too.

Fortunately for Sleaford couple Gill and Keith Clarke, their hard work and commitment to developing one of Lincolnshire’s lesser known business success stories has been accompanied by a stroke of good fortune too, with the release of the film Fame and TV series like Strictly Come Dancing.

Gill and Keith run Starlite and Dancing in the Street, nationally acclaimed dancewear retailer and dance fashion design business, and trade is better than ever for the business, which sells dancewear for anything from ballet and ballroom to salsa, tap and hiphop. The couple stocks shoes, outfits, accessories and specialist items that have ended up on the stages of large productions right across the UK and have been seen on the most well-heeled celebrity dancers.

Brands stocked include Capezio, Bloch, Katz, Pineapple and a new range, Freddy,

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that features extensively in the new Fame film, which has caused a great deal of excitement in the industry and huge interest in dance. Regular buying trips to international dance shows keeps ranges fresh, and the company now employs an impressive 19 people with over 16,000sq ft of space.

“It’s a great industry!” says Keith. “Dance and fitness are inextricably linked and people derive terrific joy from dancing. It’s a happy, fast-paced industry to work in, and one we both really enjoy.”

The couple, originally from North London, had extensive business experience, working for several large supermarkets as a Senior Stores Director in Keith’s case, and as a Senior Pharmaceuticals buyer in Gill’s case, before coming to the county.

“We were working all the hours that god sends.” Says Keith. “We had no work/life balance and we wanted out of the rat race...

Lincolnshire was the perfect place.”

The couple came to Lincolnshire 21 years ago, and moved into a barn near Culverthorpe that they began renovating. Seeking a new career, they also purchased a small mail order dancewear business… but here’s the thing… neither of them knew anything about the business. A fresh start, or folly? As it happened, a brilliant idea.

“It sounds odd to begin a business in a sector you know nothing about, but that was quite deliberate.” Says Keith. “We wanted an industry that neither of us knew anything about so neither of us would overshadow the other.”

The couple’s business sense, alongside the fact that they didn’t have prior interests or biases, meant that the business, known as Starlite, became very successful very quickly, moving premises 18 months after the business began and then again five

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Main: Dancing In The Street’s Sleaford based showroom.

years later to base themselves on Sleaford Business Park, before moving a final time to their current purpose premises opposite their previous position.

An interesting aside is that, frustrated by an inability to find just the right level of stock and in just the designs she was seeing, Gill began a new career as a dancewear fashion designer, and now creates her very own ranges manufactured exclusively for the company… the company stocks a very specific 18,506 products in total.

Also in 2001, the couple began Dancing in the Street, the retail division of Starlite, which, with the addition of an online shop, is now a runaway success. Just lately, interest in dancing has skyrocketed, with TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing and the re-release of 1980s dance movie Fame causing more and more youngsters to take an interest in dance. In addition, salsa classes are increasingly popular in towns

and cities across the country.

“It really has been a great year, and our customers have become really diverse.”

Says Gill. “We’ve everything from young girls discovering dance for the first time to professional dancers requiring technically in-depth fitting of new shoes and older couples seeking dancewear for ballroom dancing.”

With the business putting both feet forward, you’d be surprised to hear that neither Gill nor Keith dance themselves, claiming to have two left feet. Yet, with a business that’s doing so well and scores of satisfied customers pirouetting whether on stage or in dance classes, it’s no wonder that both Keith and Gill are practically dancing for joy!

Dancing in the Street has an extensive showroom on Sleaford’s Business Park.

For more information on the company see www.dancinginthestreet.com or call 01529 415662.

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A CLOSE SHAVE FOR

CHRISTMAS STUCK FOR SEASONAL STOCKING FILLERS FOR THE GENTLEMAN IN YOUR LIFE THIS CHRISTMAS? NO PROBLEM... WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH MALE GROOMING SPECIALISTS CARTER & BOND SO YOU CAN PROVIDE HIM WITH EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS... THE PERFECT SHAVE! Words and Image: Rob Davis.

If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for a gentleman this season, no matter. We’ve some excellent suggestions here in the form of gents cosmetics designed to provide the perfect shave.

A renaissance in male grooming has meant that a disposable razor and cheap shaving foam will no longer suffice. In particular, gentlemen are looking to traditional products such as our cut-throat razor, badger hair brush and wooden bowl based shaving soap to turn their grooming into a ritual or pleasure rather than obligation. n A luxurious shaving set should include a shaving brush and cut-throat folding razor or a ‘proper’ razor with stand and brush that takes disposable shaving heads like Gillette’s Fusion. n Before shaving your gentleman should use a good cleanser/face wash - this will remove the oil and sweat that prevents hair shafts absorbing water. n Your gentleman should always shave after a shower - two minutes in a hot shower opens pores for effective cleansing and softens the hairs to reduce razor drag by 70%. n Moisturisers are now considered essential for all men. Shaving robs the skin of its oil so a good moisturiser should soothe.

With most manufacturers providing a complete range of products from shaving creams to shower gels, select a good quality brand and pay a premium... the difference will be obvious!

Finally, don’t forget to select a good after-shave or cologne for your gentleman; Geo F Trumper’s Eucris or Floris’s 89 were preferred scents of James Bond himself! n

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1. Baxter of California Invigorating Body Wash Bergamot & Pear £12.50. 2. Oxford Blue shaving mug with soap £48. 3. Baxter Night Cream with AHA £24. 4. Geo F Trumper cutthroat razor £poa. 5. Baxter Daily Moisturising Conditioner and shampoo (11) £14. 6. Zirh Shave Cream with Aloe Vera £13. 7. Ivory effect Shaving Set with badger hair brush and Carter & Bond £135 with Gillette Mach 3 head razor as shown (also available with Gillette Fusion head £175). 8. Baxter Super Shape moisturiser. 9. Geo F Trumper sandalwood shaving soap in hand-turned bowl £17.50. 10. Baxter Black Candle, Cassis Noir £40. 11. Baxter Daily Protein Shampoo £13. 12. Geo F Trumper Eucris EDT £38. 13. Zirh Glycolic Acid body bar soap £13. 14. Baxter Under Eye serum £18. 15. Geo F Trumper Hair Styling Pomade £17.50. 16. Baxter Bravado Cologne £65.

The above products are available by mail order from Carter & Bond - call 0870 11 29 547 www.carterandbond.com, or Geo F Trumper - call 020 7499 1850 or see www.trumpers.com.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

A STELLA RANGE OF

BESPOKE JEWELLERY AND CLOTHING

One Holbeach family is currently working really hard to produce a range of bespoke retro clothing and jewellery that’s both bespoke and beautiful. Inspired by the fashions of the 1930s and 1940s, we this month meet Relumbratelier, Lincolnshire’s newest bespoke brand...

Words and Images: Rob Davis.

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Relumbratelier, Lincolnshire’s newest bespoke fashion and jewellery brand, is definitely a family affair. Mum & Dad, Stella and Nicholas Moon met over 20 years ago and have for the last 6 months been producing beautiful bespoke fashions and jewellery from their Holbeach home which is, itself a shrine to vintage style.

“My grandmother was a fashion designer.”

Says Stella. “I inherited a jacket that she’d designed, and for a long while it sat in my wardrobe until one day I wore it, and instantly fell in love with it.”

semi-precious stones. Priced up to £50, they’re colourful, imaginative one-off pieces that easily co-ordinate with Stella’s jackets.

the jackets are presented with a spare button, pomander and a hanger in a box wrapped in tissue and tied with ribbon.

Each of the family from Stella and Nicholas to Abby and April create their own pieces for the brand, which results in both a varied range of designs and greater number of designs to choose from to ensure the brand maintains a fresh look with diverse appeal.

Each piece of jewellery is a one off design.

Each jacket, scarf and piece of jewellery has the Relumbratelier logo attached in the form of a branded metal disc.

Stella’s grandmother worked from Tottenham, designing dresses and jackets for Presentation is everything to the family, and sophisticated ladies in the 1930s and 1940s. with only independent retailers like StamHer love of all things retro and a ford’s Sly on St Mary’s Passage, Navenby self-confessed affinity for hoarding meant Antiques Centre who hold their Christmas she retained her grandmother’s jacket, “We love to produce them and have no set Open Evening on 4th December, Horncasalbeit unused, but when she began wearing working hours.” Says Nick. “Instead, we tle's Gallery On The Bridge, Bridge Street it, she instantly fell in love with its versatility, work when we feel inspired so the designs and Long Sutton’s Emporium stocking the and discovered that it could be dressed up products, exclusivity is guaranor down according to the occateed both in terms of the prodsion, and could be worn as a uct, the presentation and the blouse in summer or over a t“MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A FASHION DESIGNER.” selected retailers stocking the shirt in the winter months. products.

SAYS STELLA. “I INHERITED A JACKET THAT “It was so adaptable, and was The couple’s next venture is SHE’D DESIGNED, AND FOR A WHILE IT SAT really well-made.” Says Stella. to produce more of their “We love vintage furnishings IN MY WARDROBE UNTIL ONE DAY I WORE hand--knitted scarves in and clothing anyway, but we recotton, silk, mohair and IT, AND INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.” ally did discover an affinity for merino, the design of which is old fashioned and long-forgotten inspired by the Mediterranean values such as workmanship origins of Stella’s Italian grandfather. There are always enthusiastically produced, and quality.” is also a new collection being designed never laboured.” made from vintage fabrics.

The jackets are produced to a pattern closely The company avoids plastic and always resembling the original with buttons sourced “We love the products and really love designs with an open-mind, creating a from antiques fairs, dealers and auction producing them. They’re always exceptionally range of bespoke jewellery that’s sites like Ebay. Each garment is individually well-received.” Says Stella. “We’re really completely unique and absolutely beautiful, created as a one-off design using vintage hoping that now we’ve a new website at similar in style to composable jewellery but material, customers love the versatility of the www.relumbratelier.com we’ll be able to considerably less expensive with a bespoke, bespoke jackets. reach more and more people.” n upmarket feel.

This year, the family also launched its range For more information on the brand call Jewellery comes with a short, personal note of jewellery, again bespoke and created 01406 490 630. from the designers in a pomander bag whilst entirely from European lampwork beads and

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Merry Christmas

Newark jeweller Andrew Michael’s has some beautiful gift ideas for Christmas, from luxurious watches to crystal and luxury giftware... this month, we go shopping for exquisite gifts with one of the area’s leading independent jewellers...

For many jewellers, Christmas is a occasion to provide beautiful jewellery to celebrate the season. Newark based jeweller Andrew Michael’s, on the town’s Stodman Street, also has an enviable range of luxurious gifts, however, that sees the shop becoming extremely popular with discerning customers seeking beautiful presents for loved ones.

showing their beauty in pieces from a few hundred pounds to over £10,000 as breathtaking gifts that will last a lifetime and prove the ultimate expression of love.

“Hearts on Fire diamonds are cut and polished at 10 times the industry standard.” says Andrew. “The company provides craftsmanship that’s second to none... it really is beautiful jewellery.”

In addition to a range of beautiful jewellery The company is also one of the area’s from names like Hearts on Fire and most well-regarded stockists of Leo Wittwer, the shop stocks Mont Blanc luxury giftwear. beautiful giftware from names The Newark like Mont Blanc, decanters The company offers jeweller was first and crystalware for your luxurious writing Christmas day table, and instruments from established in 1981 and luxury timepieces from rollerballs to fountain pens has become extremely names like Breitling and finished in platinum and Bell & Ross, Tag Heuer gold, as well as leather well regarded in the and Chopard. goods and accessories in town as specialists trademark black and silver.

“We’re renowned for the

in watches selection of quality watches Beautiful examples include our we have in stock for both ladies cufflinks and fountain pen shown and gentlemen.” says Andrew. opposite, as well as purses, filofaxes “Our preferred brands, Breitling and Chopard and business bags, personal gifts that will represent the finest watches on the market, also prove thoughtful and useful day-to-day. and with Breitling’s reputation as being “Mont Blanc gifts are always well-received.” instruments for professionals, we’re proud says Andrew. “I think people appreciate a to offer customers quality pieces that will gift that will be used every day, and when really stand the test of time.” you need to create a good impression, the In addition, Andrew Michael’s Jewellers also style and quality of a Mont Blanc products stocks Hearts on Fire, renowned as being is abundantly obvious and guaranteed to the world’s most perfectly cut diamonds and impress.

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i Andrew Michael’s Jewellers, Newark Established: Andrew has been trading on the town’s Stodman Street for over three decades, having expanded to double his retail space a decade ago.

Exclusive: Brands stocked include timepieces by Breitling, Chopard, and Bell & Ross, giftwear by Mont Blanc and diamonds by Leo Wittwer and Hearts on Fire.

Enjoy: Find out more by visiting the jeweller at 38/39 Stodman Street, Newark or by calling 01636 679638. Alternatively, click on www.andrewmichaelsjewellers.co.uk.

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LUXURIOUS GIFTS THIS MONTH WE PRESENT OUR FAVOURITE LUXURY GIFTS COURTESY OF THE STODMAN STREET JEWELLER

Right: Mont Blanc platinum tip fountain pen and reservoir £405.

Below: Mont Blanc designer Cufflinks £200.

Left: Royal Selangor hunting flask in pewter £49.

Below: Mont Blanc Designer Cufflinks £180.

Sarah Nickless and Heather Longden at Andrew Michael’s Jewellers with a selection of beautiful Christmas gifts.

Specialising in luxury timepieces and giftwear, if you’ve a loved one who deserves something special this season, a personal consultation with Andrew Michael’s jewellers is a must.

Right: Mont Blanc leather filofax £250 and purse £110.

The retailer is offering gift wrapping and will store gifts ready for collection closer to Christmas and are happy to provide customers with advice and assistance in choosing gifts that are practical, exclusive or just plain beautiful.

Born in Derbyshire and having run the business with wife Suzanne for 30 years, Andrew and his team are looking forward to an exceptional season providing customers with beautiful gifts that will really make their recipient’s Christmas. n

Left: Gentlemen’s Chrono Edition watch by Breitling £10,250 and Lady Cockpit watch by Breitling £3,840.

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49 Market Place, Boston, Lincs, PE21 6NF Telephone: 01205 362087

S. T. HOPPER LTD Jewellers of Lincolnshire

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The

Wedding Album

Of Kirsty Victoria Leach & Mark Steven Warsap

December’s groom thought all of his Christmases had come at once when he met his Christmas Angel in tragic circumstances‌ now, the couple are both looking forward to a very happy new year indeed.

Images: Furlong Photography, Louth. 01507 354136 www.furlongphotography.moonfruit.co.uk

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The Coach House, Carlton Scroop

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Bride’s Name: Kirsty Victoria Leach Groom’s Name: Mark Steven Warsap Ceremony: St Mary's Church Manby Reception: Manby House, Manby Best Man: Kevin Appleby Bridesmaids: Megan Warsap and Charlotte Warsap Pageboy & Ushers: Thomas Dunkin, James Leach and Stephen Dunkin Bride’s Parents: Mr James Leach and Mrs Linda Leach Groom’s Parents: Mr Terry & Mrs Jean Warsap

When/how did you first meet?

Bride’s View: In August 2004, Mark had been to the funeral of a good friend who had recently died. He was next to me at the bar at a pub in Louth and we began talking. He looked so upset and lost. We talked for a while and got on really well so exchanged numbers. He text me whilst he was walking home and that was it!

Groom’s View: Kirsty was like my Angel, she was so kind and comforting on what was an otherwise really awful day. To tell the truth, I had seen her around a lot and always quite fancied her… I thought all my Christmases had come at once.

When in the relationship did he ‘pop the question?’ How did he propose?

Groom’s View: Only six months into the relationship, I had chosen a ring at a jewellers in our home town of Louth and proposed on the day I picked it up… it was meant to be for a Christmas proposal… but I couldn't wait.

What were the first things that you decided on?

That we wanted get married at my mother’s house. It was perfect, with fabulous grounds and a walkway to the church from the house… it felt so personal. It also meant that we had the freedom to have the day we wanted, no time restrictions, no number limits. The house has so much history too, it was an honour. King George VI is believed to have stayed there in his RAF days… and if it was

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good enough for him, it was to be good enough for us!

Was planning your big day fraught or enjoyable? Did you both contribute ideas with equal enthusiasm?

Planning our wedding felt a little fraught at the time but when we look back now we would do it again in a heartbeat. The only thing that made it difficult was that we didn't have a lot of time (we only decided to marry this year in January) and working full time made planning the day difficult.

Any pre-wedding nerves?

Bride’s View: I was at my mother’s house with my entourage, so it was quite stressful at times, but I took some time out on my own to go to my step-brother Jak's salon to have my hair styled. Just that time out of the house in the morning to get my thoughts together was golden… Jak really chilled me out and we had a giggle, which was just what I needed on an otherwise stressful morning.

He also did a fantastic job on my hair and I left the salon feeling a million dollars. I did, however, break down as soon as I returned to the house because whilst I was gone, my bridesmaids, Megan and Charlotte, Mark's daughters, had their hair done and looked absolutely beautiful. These were the only tears I shed all morning but they just took my breath away.

Groom’s View: I couldn't wait… at least, until I got into the Helicopter, of course!

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How did it feel to walk down the aisle and take your vows?

Bride’s View: This was the best part for me… we had spent so long planning the reception I had no idea how magical that part was going to be. It was a fantastic service and Rev Turner was wonderful.

Groom’s View: Seeing her walk down the aisle blew me away, she looked amazing.

Who did you choose for attendants and why?

Bride’s View: Mark's girls Megan and Charlotte were my first and only choice.

Groom’s View: Kevin Appleby was my Best Man, the only man for the job and my best friend. I can always rely on him and he’s like family to me… as such it was an easy decision.

Kirsty's brother James and my very good friend Stephen Dunkin were my Ushers and Stephen’s son Thomas was our Page Boy, they all did a fabulous job and Thomas was an absolute star.

What made you choose your dress, and can you describe it?

My dress was, astonishingly, the first one I pulled out! I visited Belle and Bouquet at Wellingore with my mother and we always said if she cried we would know that was the one. It was an Ian Stuart ivory dupion silk gown with a fabulous beaded bodice with sweetheart neckline and a beautiful full skirt with bow detail. I loved it, the whole experience. Fiona at Belle and Bouquet made myself (and my mother) feel so special, and Simone did a first class job completing the alterations.

Where was your reception held?

Manby House, my mum’s house, was the venue for our reception. It was the most beautiful setting and the photographs look fabulous. We installed a marquee in the grounds… it was 100ft long!

Did anything funny or particularly memorable happen, highlights of speeches, special things you said to each other etc?

Mark had chosen a ring at a jewellers in the couple’s home town of Louth and proposed on the day he picked it up… a Christmas proposal was intended… but he couldn't wait!

Images: Furlong Photography, Louth. 01507 354136 www.furlongphotography. moonfruit.co.uk

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For me the most memorable part was arriving in a helicopter!

I had always joked about arriving in one and so my mother in law, my new wife and my best man all got together and arranged it for me, I couldn't believe it!

Bride’s View: For me the most memorable moment was walking down the aisle, of course. My father was really proud and I was so happy.

Groom’s View: For me the most memorable part was arriving in a helicopter! I had always joked about arriving in one and so my mother in law, my new wife and my best man all got together and arranged it for me, I couldn't believe it! It was very windy and so it was a bit scary but was such a great experience.

Any friends or family you'd like to thank or recognise?

Everyone really! My mother Linda allowed us to use the house and provided my dress, Mark's mother Jean created the most beautiful wedding cake and helped with our flowers, my Dad gave us the wedding of our dreams, whilst Megan and Charlotte worked so hard setting the day up, Brenda Gait provided beautiful flowers in the Church and our very good friends Julie, Becky, Lynne, Ed and Steph all helped on the Friday before… we couldn't have done it without you. All of our friends were spectacular through the whole thing.

Anyone you particularly want to recommend?

Damian Furlong of Furlong Photography provided fantastic photographs, whilst Spirit

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Event Services provided excellent Bar and Catering Equipment. The bar looked so great… it was so hard to believe it was all mobile.

Reinvention By Jak Bakewell styled my hair, and other superb suppliers included Betts Marquees, JB Flower Design of Alford, Frances Brindle of Sitting Pretty for the bridal make-up. Finally, Belle and Bouquet at Wellingore Hall, provided an experience we will cherish forever... thankyou!

How are you finding married life?

Bride’s View: I really loved the day… I am so happy.

Groom’s View: We are so lucky to have found each other. n

i And finally, do you have any top tips that you can give for future brides?

Try and enjoy everything! It's over so quickly so don't worry too much about the small stuff… just remember how lucky you are.

For more wedding tips visit www.ukbride.co.uk - the national site for the local bride.

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WEDDING ALBUM SUPPLIER

&

Belle Bouquet

...offering you Lincolnshire’s widest choice of the finest gowns, at the best possible prices in the most beautiful & friendly surroundings.

Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Veils, Tiaras, Shoes & Jewellery 01522 811122

www.belleandbouquet.co.uk The Bridal Suite, Wellingore Hall, Wellingore, Lincoln LN5 0HX

Appointments preferred but not always necessary

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HAIR DESIGN at Streaks Ahead

“Happy Christmas to all of our customers... book now for a hair makeover in time for this season’s parties!”

Mandy Heath, Owner & Head Stylist

1 Tattershall Road Woodhall Spa, Lincs

01526 353757

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Agnieszka Janek and Luke Smith recently married at St John the Baptist, Londonthorpe.

The bridesmaids were Rachel Smith, Hanna & Sophie De’Bouk.

Claire Ward and Adam Langley recently held their wedding and reception at The White Hart Hotel in Lincoln. A honeymoon in Edinburgh followed.

Photographer: Buttercross Photography, Bingham.

01949 839 368. www.buttercrossphotography.co.uk

Photographer: A Davey Photographic, Lincoln.

01522 813852. www.radaveyphotographic.co.uk

Emma Sanderson and Sean Stevenson were recently married at Hemswell Court where a reception followed afterwards too.

Sarah Grant and Tom Elderkin were recently married at St Mary's Church, Old Leake, followed by a marquee reception at Sarah's family home.

Photographer: Aurora Studio, Market Rasen.

01673 844519. www.aurorastudio.co.uk

Photographer: Dave Stewart Photography, Stamford.

01780 751141. www.davestewartphotography.co.uk

Congratulations to all couples marrying in the county this month - to have your wedding featured here, e-mail weddings@lincolnshirepride.co.uk or ask your photographer to contact us directly on 01529 469977

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THE WEDDING PLANNER HOW TO HAVE YOUR CAKE… AND EAT IT! No wedding is complete without some kind of wedding cake. It’s traditional for the bride and groom to cut the cake thus symbolising the couple’s fertility as well as being a good luck charm for a long and happy marriage.

It also normally takes pride of place alongside your top table and is the first task performed jointly as husband and wife. This month, wedding planner Valerie Tall advises how to have your cake… and eat it.

The cake has been part of the wedding ceremony since medieval times. Going back nearly 2000 years, the Romans began baking wheat and salt into a small cake to be eaten. During the ceremony, the groom would eat part of the loaf and break the remainder over his bride’s head! The guests would try to obtain a crumb as they too believed they would share in the good fortune and prosperity of the couple.

The white wedding cake first appeared in Victorian times, symbolising purity. Prior to this, the only way to get white icing was to have the finest, refined sugar. This was expensive, so the whiter the cake the wealthier the family. Nowadays whatever colour scheme has been chosen by the bride will often be reflected in the cake.

Marlen Delling and Adam Wallhead were recently married at St Peter in Eastgate Church and a recption took place afterwards at the Washingborough Hall Hotel.

Photographer: Aurora Studio, Market Rasen.

01673 844519. www.aurorastudio.co.uk

Unlike in previous times, they are now traditionally made from fruit, but trends are still changing as many brides want at least one of the tiers to be made from sponge, be it vanilla, chocolate or whatever.

Carrot cake is not unheard of either. Becoming more popular are mini cakes. These are small, individual cakes all put together to form a large decoration. The beauty of this is that you can have different flavours and cater for all tastes.

Another popular type is the croquembouche. It is a traditional French celebration cake and literally translated means ‘crack in the mouth’ which describes beautifully the wonderful combination of toffee-crisp caramel and cream-filled choux pastry. Although it has been demonstrated on television, it’s not easy and you need a mould, so go to those who are the experts. For an additional fee they will deliver it – well worth it on a hot, sunny day, unless, of course, you want your croquembouche in one big heap!

Designs also vary tremendously. Gone are the days of the traditional three-tier round or square version with each tier supported by pillars on the one below. Now the sky really is the limit and is only controlled by the medium from which they are made and the ability of the cake designer.

When ordering your cake, do think seriously about the number of guests you need to cater for and what you want to do with any that is left over. You may want to use it as your dessert, especially if it is the croquembouche as this is very similar to profiteroles. Many couples will save perhaps the top tier and bring it out on their first anniversary or the christening of their first baby. n

Tara and Kevin Middleton were recently married at Stamford Registry Office, a reception at Deeping St James Rugby Club followed Photographer: Catherine Carter Photography, Spalding.

01406 425628. www.catherinecarterphotography.co.uk

i

Valerie Tall is a wedding consultant based in The Lawn, Lincoln and School Court, Brigg. For more information see www.valerietall.co.uk or call 01522 546161.

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White Christmas

With a new casual dining menu and plenty of space for weary shoppers’ bags, the White Hart offers excellent respite for those shopping in Lincoln this Christmas… and with a plush cocktail bar, it’s also a great venue to celebrate the season too! This month, we rediscover one of the city’s most popular eating out venues.

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

Dating back to the 1370, Lincoln’s White Hart is one of the city’s oldest hotels. It’s certainly a majestic building and looks great in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral nestled between Castle Square and the Bailgate. But a refurbishment in 2007 has given the hotel an altogether more modern feel, thankfully one which hasn’t detracted from the ambience of the restaurant.

August saw control of the restaurant, named Grille, return to the White Hart itself after five years under the ownership of larger hotel chain Contemporary Hotel, which has resulted in a newly revamped casual dining menu. Under the chain, menus were centrally dictated, to retain consistency, but now Head Chef Michael House and his brigade have free reign to produce dishes that really will appeal to Lincolnshire diners in the 70 cover restaurant.

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With the restaurant now able to provide sophisticated evening entertainment for those seeking a drink away from Lincoln’s louder, brasher student-oriented bars, the White Hart can now boast a popular and much-enjoyed cocktail bar...

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Seasonal diners can enjoy a break from Christmas shopping with one course lunches from £6.95, but the hotel can also provide luxurious à la carte dining in one of Lincoln’s oldest coaching inns, nestled between the Cathedral and Castle on Lincoln’s Bailgate...

Traditionally, hotel dining hasn’t managed to meet the standards of a dedicated restaurant, but thankfully, the White Hart bucks the trend by ensuring its dining room and hotel elements take equal precedent and offer an equally high quality service.

Dark wood furnishings and oak floor, mirrors and feature lighting plus dedicated private dining rooms and a dedicated bar area separate from the hotel’s main cocktail bar create a comfortable, modern environment, with contemporary easy listening music, candles on the table, and a choice of two menus.

The White Hart is certainly quirky in its design, blending a traditional building with some beautiful architecture and period details with modern furnishings, but the juxtaposition works really well and the venue is beautifully styled, with a large traditional revolving door that makes a smooth introduction to the cocktail bar beyond.

Lighter dining such as that which Christmas shoppers will enjoy means opting for the Super Seven menu.

Diners can enjoy one, two or three courses for £6.95, £9.95 or £13.50, with a choice of four starters, main courses and three desserts. Side dishes are optional, but portions of each dishes are generous enough at stand alone, and with white meat, red meat, fish and vegetarian main course choices available, diners really want for nothing.

Whilst Lincoln has plenty of bars aimed at the student population, and as a wealth of comfortable pubs the White Hart offers something different to the city in the form of a plush, sophisticated cocktail bar known as Room offering a choice of 20 different cocktails and the same extensive wine list that also features in the restaurant, 15 wines from which are available by the glass.

It’s a comfortable, plush environment that proves extremely popular at the weekend with those seeking a more sophisticated ambience for a fashionable drink away from the student bustle of the rest of the city’s nightlife, but it’s also an ideal venue for pre-dinner drinks.

The hotel’s dining room used to be located towards the back of the hotel, and was the same room used for weddings and other functions. Following the hotel’s relaunch in 2007 though, the provision of a new dining room at the front of the hotel not only facilitated dedicated conferencing rooms, but provides a smart, modern room for diners with plush furnishings, a dedicated entrance and views of Bailgate.

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“We’ve ensured that it’s possible to browse the menu, order, and finish your meal comfortably within 45 minutes.” says General Manager Bryan Williams. “That makes us a great venue for those choosing to dine in their lunch hour. But we’ve also ensured that quality remains consistent with the standards set by our à la carte grill menu, and we’re really looking forward to launching new winter menus that make the most of local ingredients and suppliers.”

The lighter menu is available from 12-3pm and 5pm-7pm for early evening diners throughout the week, and 12-7pm Saturday & Sunday, and changes weekly. After 7pm though, diners can opt to order from the restaurant’s main à la carte grill menu. Options available as starters include Moules Mariniere, Smoked Duck Breast with Pear Chutney and our Deep Fried Goat’s Cheese with Tomato & Apple Chutney. Main course dining, meanwhile, includes Salmon and Haddock Fishcakes, Lamb Rump and our choice of Roast Corn Fed Chicken.

Main: Mixed Berry Crumble with Chantilly Cream and Almond Gratin.

Right: Room Bar and the Grille Restaurant.

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i A dessert of Mixed Berry Crumble with Chantilly Cream and Almond Gratin was deliciously wintry and proved an exceptional way to complete a meal.

The restaurant also features 15 red and 15 white wines to choose from plus two dessert wines and ports. There are wines to suit all tastes right up to a £69 Domaine Grillot French red and Roederer Cristal champagne at £215.

With superb Christmas menus, seasonal shopping and a wealth of parties ahead, the hotel is set to prove even more popular in December.

Offering exceptional service, and quality of food and wine that will appeal to all diners, this month is definitely the perfect opportunity to reacquaint yourself with the White Hart. A very old coaching inn with very modern values and a very strong reputation. n

Grille at The White Hart, Lincoln Cuisine: Modern English with continental twist and grill menu.

Environment: Coaching inn dating back to 1370 that’s been brought right up to date with a substantial renovation in 2007. Modern environment and casual dining room for relaxed dining.

Menus: Super Seven menu with dining from a measly £6.95 during lunchtime and early evening service, main à la carte menu with grill menu served from 7pm. Sunday Lunch menu with two or three course set menu from £9.95.

Don’t Miss: Plush cocktail bar with choice of 20 cocktails that’s away from Lincoln’s student bars and provides a more sophisticated night out.

Prices: Super Seven menu with 1, 2 or 3 courses for £6.95, £9.95, and £13.50 respectively. À la carte grill menu starters from £4.50 to £6.95, main courses £8.50 to £17.95 and desserts from £4.50 to £6.95.

Contact: Booking recommended by calling 01522 563 299.

For more information visit www.whitehart-lincoln.co.uk.

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Christmas Fayre • Sausage Rolls • Brandy Butter Mince Pies • Dundee Cakes • Luxury Christmas Cakes • Handmade Chocolate Logs • Battenberg • Myers Lincolnshire Tea Loaf • Myers Famous Lincolnshire Plum Loaf • Full range of traditional breads

Bespoke Christmas hamper service now available from our deli, prices start at £10.00

HORNCASTLE To place your Christmas order please call:

01507 522234 www.myersbakery.co.uk

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Talking Turkey...

As Christmas approaches, butchers like Sleaford’s Gary Simpson are set to become extremely busy serving customers with fresh, high quality Lincolnshire produce... and to get the most from the turkey on your table this season, we sought the advice of Gary and his team on how to select, store, and serve the perfect bird...

Ten million. That’s the number of turkeys consumed each Christmas, and supplying the public with the highest quality birds are family butchers like Heckington and Sleaford butcher Gary Simpson.

Having just opened his second premises in Sleaford’s Four Seasons Garden Centre’s new Farm Shop, Gary is looking forward to supplying his customers with top quality turkeys this season, along with Lincolnshire sausages prepared freshly in house, as well as home made pies, bacon, and the very best ham and beef.

One of the benefits of using a family butcher is the wealth of advice you can call upon from a supplier who knows how to get the best from their produce, so this month, we asked Gary for the answers to his customers’ most common questions for creating a perfect Christmas lunch...

If you still have reservations, text 64446 with the weight of your bird in kg, and the British Turkey Information Service will helpfully provide you with an instant reply with a text stating defrosting and cooking times for your turkey... For example, to get portion information, defrosting and cooking times for a 5.5kg turkey, text ‘turkey 5.5’ to 64446. n How can I make sure my turkey remains as moist as possible?: Turkey will remain moist as long as you don’t overcook it. When roasting your turkey, try putting it upside down on its breast so the juices from the back and legs run down to the breast keeping it moist. Cooking the turkey uncovered and upside down will reduce the cooking time - check 30-40 minutes before the end of cooking time.

We asked Sleaford butcher Gary Simpson for his top tips for making the most of n How do I know when my your Christmas turkey’s properly cooked?: To ensure your turkey is turkey... completely cooked, use a clean

n How should I defrost my turkey?: The turkey should be thawed either in a fridge or a cool room. When thawing in a fridge (4°C), allow 8-12 hours per kg.

If thawing in a cool room (17.5°C) - allow 3-4 hours per kg. If thawing at room temperature (20°C), allow two hours per kg. After thawing take out giblets and store separately.

skewer or knitting needle, inserted into the thickest part of the thigh.

Leave for at least one minute, if the juices run clear the turkey is cooked, if they run pinkish, return to the oven and cook for a little longer. Allow to rest (which makes the meat easier to carve), lightly covered in a warm place for at least 20-30 minutes before carving and serving.

Store lightly covered on a deep plate or dish (to prevent any of the juices dripping onto other foods in the fridge) towards the base of the fridge.

n How long should I leave my turkey to stand after cooking?: After cooking, you should always allow a turkey to stand for around 20 minutes.

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Sizes and Times Portions: For five people, choose a bird of 2.5kg. For eight people, select a 4kg bird. For 12 people opt for a 5.5kg bird and if you’ve 15 people for Christmas lunch, aim for a 7.5kg turkey.

Cooking Times: If a bird is under 4kg, allow 20 minutes her kg plus an additional 70 minutes. For birds over 4kg, allow an additional 20 minutes.

Cook at 190°c, gas mark 5.

Aga Cooking: Cook in the Roasting Oven for up to one hour then tent loosely with foil before cooking for the following: 3.6-5.4kg; 1½ - 2½ hours, 5.4-7.25kg; 2½ - 3½ hours, 7.25-9.0kg; 3½ - 4½ hours 910.8kg; 4½ - 5½ hours, 10.8– 12.6kg; 5½ - 6½ hours.

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CUTTING EDGE

CARVING THERE’S A REAL KNACK TO ENSURING GOOD, CLEAN CUTS OF MEAT FROM YOUR BIRD, SO WE ASKED BUTCHER GARY SIMPSON FOR HIS ADVICE ON HOW TO PRESENT YOUR TURKEY ONCE IT’S PROPERLY COOKED

Lincolnshire restaurants carve anything up to five huge turkeys a day throughout December.

We’ve asked Gary for his top tips for cutting edge carving... the methods described here may take a little longer, but the results should be perfect...

Step One: With a sharp knife, cut the skin between leg and breast. Bend leg outwards and cut straight through the joint, removing the whole leg.

Repeat on the other side. If the turkey is properly cooked, the legs will fall away easily.

Do the same with each wing, leaving the breast meat intact.

Thanks to Gary Simpson for his advice.

The family butcher has shops on Cameron Street, Heckington and at Four Seasons new garden centre on London Road, Sleaford. For more information call 01529 460403.

n How can I produce home made stuffing quickly and easily?: Sweat an onion in a teaspoon of vegetable oil, with a teaspoon of finely chopped sage and 80g of breadcrumbs. Add a beaten egg slowly to bind together... lovely! n How do I choose a good turkey?: Simply, buy your turkey from a reputable Lincolnshire butcher... you can be assured they’ll be freshly sourced and locally derived as Lincolnshire butchers purchase them in smaller quantities than supermarkets.

You can also ask about the methods of production to ensure you’ve a turkey that has enjoyed a healthy, happy life!

A good family butcher will also be able to provide goose fat for your roast potatoes, stuffing, and Lincolnshire sausages & bacon for ‘pigs in blankets’! n

Step Two: With the legs removed, slice horizontally at the base of the breast until your knife reaches the carcass.

Do this on both sides of the bird. Then, slice downwards in neat, even slices.

Step Three: Slice the dark meat off the legs (hold the drumstick with a piece of kitchen paper if this makes it easier).

Arrange round the edge of the serving platter. Pile the slices of white meat in the centre and carry into the dining room.

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BSite ized...

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Make a meal into a celebration this month with cute, imaginative and stylish canapés... sweet or savory, as sophisticated pre-dinner aperitifs or with coffee after your meal. We this month present our chefs’ most innovative canapés and truffles created to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of their seasonal diners...

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Main: Selection of Canapés from Barnsdale Lodge, Rutland. 1: Scallops and Chorizo with Sweetcorn and Pepper Salsa at The George Hotel of Stamford. 2: Selection of Canapés at The Bustard Inn, South Rauceby - Smoked Salmon with Avocado Mayonnaise & Quail Egg En Croute, Roast Chicken & Stuffing Terrine, Prawn Sesame Toast, and Tomato Relish & Mozzarella En Croute. 3: Smoked Salmon on Cucumber and Mint Jelly with Crème Fraiche at The George Hotel of Stamford. 4: Canapés at Hambleton Hall, Rutland. 5: Ham Hock Canapé at Stapleford Park.

6: Cote Hill Blue Cheese and Lemon Mini Cheesecake with Rocket Pesto at The Old Bakery, Lincoln. 7: Ham with Mustard Mayonnaise and Gherkin at The George Hotel of Stamford. 8: Stilton Mousse, Shepherd’s Pie and Salmon Spoons at The Lincoln Hotel. 9: Smoked Salmon and Caviar with Blinis at Winteringham Fields, Scunthorpe. n For our featured restaurants’ contact details see our Directory on p160.

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CHRISTMAS LUNCH... MADE EASY...

WITH FOOD EDITOR JOHN CLARK

S anta C laus SANTA CLAUS Fit ForFIT FOR A LUNCH

Words: John Clark. Images: Rob Davis.

Christmas is always a happy time at The Queen’s Head and begins very early for us. Our Christmas starts at the end of November and carries on right through to the New Year.

It’s an exhausting time indeed for my team and myself, but the festive atmosphere, jubilant and cheerful customers and lots of smiling faces seem to make a very heavy workload seem comfortable.

It’s great to celebrate all that’s wonderful about Christmas, in particular, by getting together with family & friends and enjoying Christmas Lunch.

Make sure you don’t spend all of Christmas Day in the kitchen by preparing as much as possible well in advance.

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No one wants to spend all day in the kitchen, firstly cooking, then enduring a mountain of pots and dishes to wash... believe me, I know that from experience!

England… To top it all off; a rich, dark and moist traditional Christmas pudding with lashings of brandy sauce.

A traditional Lincolnshire Christmas for me uses all that is good from across the county, incorporating locally shot game, a good Lincolnshire bronze turkey, tasting of how turkey tasted from my childhood, flavoursome and imaginably cooked, vegetables from the garden of

The menu I have chosen is traditional, straightforward, and has been tweaked with my experience in the kitchen to ensure much of the preparation can be done in advance leaving for less than an hour in the kitchen on Christmas Day! All that remains is to enjoy! n

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FIRST COURSE: YOUR CHRISTMAS STARTER

LINCOLNSHIRE GAME TERRINE WITH TOASTED WALNUT BREAD AND SEASONAL SALAD Serves 4 Use a selection of lean game meat, about 1kg which could include: Breasts of Pheasant, Breasts of Pigeon, Breasts of duck or other Wild Fowl, Saddle and hindquarters of one Rabbit, boned Lean strips of Venison (from the leg or fillet).

For the Forcemeat: 500g Good Lincolnshire Sausage Meat, Livers from the Game, finely chopped; 50g Fresh White Breadcrumbs

1 Egg 3 Tbsp Parsley, finely chopped Few Sprigs of Thyme Leaves, removed and chopped 5-6 Juniper Berries, crushed in pestle and mortar 2 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped Splash of Brandy Splash of Red Wine Salt and Pepper

Line a medium sized terrine with the streaky bacon, flatten and spread the bacon with the back of a knife.

of the forcemeat. Fold the exposed strips of bacon over the top of the terrine and cover well with kitchen foil. If your terrine dish has a lid on it, so much the better.

Place the terrine dish in a roasting tin half-filled with hot water. Cook in the oven at 160C/325F/Gas 3 for approximately 1½-2 hours. Test with a skewer to see if it is cooked, if the skewer does not come out of the terrine piping hot, it’s not ready.

In a large mixing bowl combine the sausage meat and the chopped livers from the game, add the breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, thyme, juniper berries and garlic.

Then add the wine and brandy, season with the salt and pepper and mix everything together thoroughly, preferably with your hands.

Cut the game meat into strips, roughly of the same-size, about two fingers thick. In a heavy-based frying pan, heat the oil and fry the game pieces for two minutes until brown.

Add to the prepared terrine a layer of forcemeat followed by a layer of game meat, then a layer of forcemeat followed by another layer of game meat. If you wish, you can put the same kind of meat in each layer; for instance, a layer of rabbit, a layer of pigeon and then a layer of pheasant.

However many layers you make - I usually opt for three - be sure to finish with a layer

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For the best possible texture and easy slicing, your terrine should be pressed as it cools. Find a piece of wood or plastic that fits snugly inside the terrine dish and weigh it down with a brick or two. Another similar size dish or loaf tin with a brick inside often does the trick, but wrap it in cling film if you're using a tin.

Leave until completely cold for several hours or overnight. To serve, slice thickly with a very sharp knife, put on a plate with a small salad of lightly dressed green leaves and a blob of onion marmalade.

Serve with hot walnut toast. n

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CHRISTMAS LUNCH

MADE EASY Follow Lincolnshire Pride’s Food Editor John Clark’s recipe for success... our timetable assumes you’ll be sitting down for Christmas Lunch at 2.30pm

One Month In Advance: Prepare the Christmas pudding Three Days in Advance: Prepare the game terrine and keep refrigerated Christmas Eve: Make the walnut bread and cook the red cabbage.

Prepare the chestnut stuffing.

Prep the vegetables and potatoes.

Christmas Day: 9am: Stuff the turkey with the chestnut stuffing, weigh the stuffed bird and calculate the cooking time.

9.30am: Place the bird in the oven.

Place the Christmas pudding in a steamer and commence steaming slowly.

10.30am: Baste the turkey.

11.30am: Baste the turkey a second time.

12pm: Add chipolata/bacon rolls, and cook around the turkey.

12.30 - 1pm: Remove the turkey from the oven and check it’s cooked through.

Wrap with foil and allow to rest.

Place the roast potatoes in the oven.

1.30pm: Cook the vegetables and make the gravy. Turn the potatoes.

1.45pm: Plate up the game terrine.

2pm: Toast the walnut bread and serve the starter.

2.15pm: Reheat the red cabbage and finish the vegetables, reheat the gravy.

Transfer the turkey on to a platter, garnish with potatoes, chipolatas and the bacon & parsley. Serve with vegetable accompaniments. n

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A MAIN COURSE OF TRADITIONAL TURKEY

LINCOLNSHIRE BRONZE TURKEY

WITH TRADITIONAL CHESTNUT FORCEMEAT STUFFING Serves 4

The Turkey: 5kg Lincolnshire Bronze Turkey, no giblets.

One Lemon, Quartered 50g Butter, at room temperature 16 Lincolnshire Chipolata Sausages 10 Rashers Streaky Bacon Parsley Sprigs, to garnish The Stuffing: 500g Lincolnshire sausage meat A large 440g tin chestnut puree A large onion, chopped 150g roughly chopped fresh chestnuts either shelled and skinned or vacuum packed The Gravy: 500ml Chicken stock 1tbsp Corn flour

1 tbsp Soy Sauce Cooking juices from the turkey (fat removed) For the Foremeat: 500g Good Lincolnshire sausage meat Livers from all the Game, finely chopped; 50g Fresh White Breadcrumbs 1 Egg 3 Tbsp Parsley, finely chopped Few Sprigs of Thyme Leaves, removed and chopped 5-6 Juniper Berries, crushed in pestle and mortar 2 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped Splash of Brandy Splash of Red Wine Salt and Pepper

Preheat the oven to 190/375F/Gas 5.

Wash the turkey inside and out and pat dry. Put the lemon quarters into the cavity.

Prepare the stuffing by mixing all the stuffing ingredients in a large bowl (clean hands are the best tool for this!) Season with salt and pepper.

Baste the turkey every hour. One hour before the end of cooking, remove the foil and drain off the excess fat. 30 minutes before the end of cooking, put the sausages around the turkey (if room) or in a separate lightly oiled tin.

Place the stuffing in the neck end pushing it upwards towards the breast (don’t pull the neck skin too tightly, as the stuffing will expand during cooking).

To test whether the turkey is cooked, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - the juices should run clear.

If they are pinkish, cook for 15 minutes more, then test again.

Secure the skin with wooden or metal skewers crossways, then tie the turkey legs together at the top of the drumsticks for a good shape.

Weigh the turkey and calculate the cooking time at 20 minutes per 500g. Grease a large roasting tin with a little of the butter.

Smear the rest over the turkey skin and season well, then put in the tin.

Loosely cover with foil and roast for the calculated time. Meanwhile, halve the bacon rashers, stretch slightly and wrap half around each sausage.

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Transfer the turkey and sausages to a platter, tightly cover with foil and allow to rest for up to 30 minutes before carving.

Remove excess fat from the roasting tin and add the chicken stock and soy sauce.

Place on top of the stove and bring to boil.

Thicken with the corn flour mixed with a little water. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Serve surrounded by roast potatoes and garnished with parsley. n

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Maple Syrup and Mustard Roast Parsnips 1kg Parsnips peeled & quartered 1tbls Maple Syrup 2tsp Grain Mustard 2tbls Vegetable Oil Salt & Pepper Pour the oil into a roasting tin and place into a preheated oven 180c/350f/Gas Mark 4. Place the cut parsnips into a bowl and add the honey, mustard, salt and pepper. Toss the parsnips until well covered with mustard & honey. Remove the hot roasting tin from the oven and add the parsnips, toss in the hot oil and return to the oven. After 10 minutes toss again in the oil. After around 25-30 minutes the parsnips will be cooked, golden brown and shiny. Be aware that parsnips have high sugar content and burn very easily, especially with the maple syrup incorporated!

Brussels Sprouts with Pine Nuts, Pancetta & Lemon 150g Pancetta 50g Toasted Pine Nuts 800g Brussels Sprouts Zest & juice of 1 Lemon 25g Butter Salt & Pepper Salt Water for cooking Cook your Brussels in the normal way but make sure they are crisp & bright.

Drain in a colander and place the butter in a saucepan, add the pancetta and lightly cook until crispy. Add the Brussels sprouts, lemon zest & juice, butter & pine nut. Toss well, season and serve as soon as possible.

Christmas Red Cabbage 1 Large Red Cabbage 25g Butter 2 Large Red Onions finely sliced Finely grated zest and juice one Orange 1 Cinnamon Stick 150ml Port 1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar Peel off the outer leaves of the cabbage, then cut into quarters and slice out the core. Use a sharp knife or the slicing attachment of a food processor to thinly slice the cabbage. Heat the butter in a large saucepan, then tip in the onions and gently fry until softened, about five minutes. Add the orange zest to the pan along with the cinnamon stick, then cook for a minute more. Add the shredded cabbage, then pour over the port, red wine vinegar, orange juice and 150ml water. Bring up to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for 45-60 mins hour until the cabbage is softened. n

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AND FINALLY; A TRADITIONAL DESSERT

DARK CHRISTMAS

PUDDING Serves 4 For the Pudding: 225g Raisins 225g Currants 225g Shredded Suet 100g Soft White Breadcrumbs 2tbsp Black Treacle 100g Dark Brown Sugar 75g Plain Flour 50g Candied Peel Grated rind & juice of a Lemon Grated rind & juice of an Orange 100g Mixed Shelled Nuts (optional) Half tsp Ground Nutmeg Half tsp Mixed Spice 4 Eggs beaten A Double Brandy 50ml 4tbls Brandy to serve Pinch Salt For the Brandy Butter: 125g/4oz Unsalted Butter, softened 125g/4oz Icing Sugar 2 tbsp Boiling Water 3 tbsp Brandy

This recipe makes a beautiful, rich, moist & dark Christmas pudding, less firm than the traditional Christmas puddings, and very nice with lashings of cream or brandy sauce.

Butter a 1.5 litre pudding basin and set aside.

Mix all the ingredients together apart from the eggs and brandy in a very large bowl.

When these items are very thoroughly mixed, stir in the eggs and the brandy.

Put the mixture into the prepared pudding basin and cover with foil and steam for at least six hours.

The tradition of putting a coin into a Christmas Pudding should definitely be avoided... some of them are cupro-nickel based, and the acid in the fruit and the heat, can cause them to react, and taint the food; this was never the case with traditional silver or gold coins!

On Christmas day re-steam for 3-4 hours. Turn out on to a hot plate and garnish with holly.

To set fire to your pudding, pour a cup or two of rum or brandy over the pudding and strike a long match or fireplace lighter.

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Touch the flame to the base of the pudding.

As soon as the low blue flame covers the pudding, carry the pudding into the diners and put on the heatproof pad.

As soon as the flames die down, spoon some hard sauce onto the pudding. It will melt down the sides.

If you wish to create brandy butter using the ingredients above, Cream together the butter and the icing sugar then beat in the boiling water and brandy until smooth. Finally, chill until needed and serve with your Christmas Pudding or mince pies!

I do hope you all have a fantastic time this Christmas and wish you all a brilliant and prosperous new year, and remember, you can enjoy your kitchen this Christmas! n Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and, as always, enjoy good eating.

John Clark.

John Clark is Chef Patron of The Queen’s Head, Kirkby La Thorpe, Sleaford. Call 01529 305743 for reservations.

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Locally Produced Food Restaurant • Farm Shop • Butchery • Bakery

A46, A17, A1 Roundabout, Winthorpe, Newark NG24 2NY Tel: 01636 612461 www.friendlyfarmer.co.uk

Exclusive LincolnshirePride reader offer

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WORTH £220 WHEN YOU DINE WITH US IN JANUARY

1 Silver Street, Winteringham North Lincolnshire DN15 9ND

Voted Restaurant of the Year 2008/2009 by the Journal and also Restaurant of the Year by the Lincolnshire Telegraph

Tel: 01724 733096 Web: www.winteringhamfields.com Email: wintfields@aol.com

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Valid from 8th January until 29th January 2010. Terms and conditions apply please contact us for further details. Pre-booking essential, one voucher per couple.

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PRET A PORT-ER As the nights draw in, there’s no better time to think about port in all its varied forms. Nothing is more enjoyable than a good glass of port after Christmas lunch, or perhaps just on it’s own in front of an open log fire on a cold winter evening…

Lincolnshire Pride’s wine expert Ben Straw has some sterling suggestions!

A small caveat before we begin... by EU law, in order to be called Port a fortified wine must be vinified and bottled in Portugal.

All others are mere imitations. However, I will admit there are some New World producers who are most definitely getting the hang of it!

Port comes in three styles: white, tawny and ruby. Suffice to say white port is an excellent chilled aperitif, but here, I’m concerned chiefly with the red varieties. Both ruby and tawny begin life in the same way. It’s only at the time of ageing that differences take hold.

Ruby ports are bottled early (after two years for vintage port) and then continue their ageing in bottle. This produces a dark ruby coloured, fruit driven style of port that is fresh, young and approachable.

Tawny ports spend longer in their barrels (‘pipes’) before bottling. This can be anywhere upwards of three and a half years.

Tawny ports are lighter in colour than their ruby cousins. They have flavours of dried fruit, figs and nuts. They also exhibit softer tannins.

This month, I’ve selected a pick of my favourite tipples... and a couple of New Worlders do manage to sneak in! Enjoy! n

Niepoort Late Bottle Vintage 2004 – £16.50 You will not find a better LBV than this. Dirk Niepoort excels every year.

Lively aromas of fresh dark plums, cherries and a hint of chocolate.

Leads to fresh dark fruits with a mellow spirity finish.

1

Quinta do Passadouro Ruby Reserva - £ 11.95 This Ruby from Passadouro has good colour and a nose with lots of deep plums. The palate is full of round fruit that opens out well. Quite dry on the finish.

2

Niepoort Colheita 1995 - £33.50 Colheitas are Tawny Ports from a single vintage, aged in wood for at least seven years before being bottled. Niepoort’s Colheita is wonderful From staron its own after a good feed! Delightful board to port aromas of dried from £11.95 fruits. Shows great £38.50.

3

freshness along with subdued dried apricots and figs, and a lengthy finish.

Quady Vineyards Starboard Batch 88 - £13.95 Andrew Quady excels at the quirky and this Californian ‘port’ is no exception. Using traditional Portuguese grape varieties this is fruity and full bodied. Matures earlier than port and has a riper more voluptuous flavour.

The blend is smooth and soft with a chocolate raisin character. Great alternative to traditional ruby port.

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Niepoort Secundum Vintage 1999 - £38.50 This is no second wine, merely an alternative, more affordable bottling for Niepoort fans who can’t obtain the regular Vintage Port. It is a proper Vintage Port, but made in a year considered not classic enough to be a Vintage. The fruit is seductive and the flavours enticing, with a firm but fine structure. Can be enjoyed now but can keep well beyond 2020 too. It is a must for Vintage Port buyers and represents great value.

5

Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny - £16.50 The Burges have been winemaking in Barossa since 1855.

This is made from a typical Barossa blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Shiraz. It is rich and complex with fresh fruit characters and excellent integration of spirit. The palate is sweet and mellow but finishes quite dry. A joy to drink on its own or with a good cheese board. n

6 i

Featured wines are available at Steep Hill Wines, Lincoln.

Call 01522 544737 or see www.steephillwines.com.

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The Mill 148 Spilsby Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 9QN Telephone 01205 352874 www.themillboston.co.uk We are here 7 days a week serving food at both Lunch and Dinner, we source the majority of the products we use locally, believing in the fresher the better and always use what is in season. We have a selection of menus on offer, there’s always a range of specials on the board and we can cater for any special requirements with notice. Email: info@themillboston.co.uk

The Cley Hall Hotel 22 High Street, Spalding, Lincs PE11 1TX

Telephone 01775 725157 Christmas season at the Cley Hall Hotel, a special time to share with friends and family in luxurious and welcoming surroundings.

• Party Nights • Christmas Day Lunch with Champagne • Boxing Day ‘Jazz’ Brunch • New Year Gala Dinner www.cleyhallspalding.co.uk

Farndon Boathouse Riverside, Farndon, Newark, Notts NG24 3SX Telephone 01636 676578 www.farndonboathouse.co.uk The bar and restaurant is situated in a stunning location with great river views and sun sets. Serving fresh modern food, using local produce with a selection of real ales, fine wines and continental beers. The boathouse offers an ‘Early bird menu’ daily and has live music every Sunday evening along with a packed list of events throughout the year. Please visit our website for more information.

Southern & Thorpe Butchers of Distinction

3 High Street, Ruskington, Sleaford

The Queen’s Head Kirkby-La-Thorpe, Sleaford

Telephone 01529 305743 Ever changing à la carte menu together with chalkboard specials, alongside a less formal & reasonably priced lunchtime menu, all served by professional attentive staff. Dishes are prepared on the premises including homemade breads, using locally sourced fresh produce.

We have an excellent range of cask & keg conditioned beers together with an extensive wine list. Proud winners of several awards recently including the Taste of Excellence ‘Best Pub Restaurant Award’ for best pub restaurant food in Lincolnshire. Thursday Evening Steak Supper, Sunday Evening Supper, Early Bird Special Served 6pm-7pm Tues & Wed, Lunchtime Specials from 12pm – 2.30pm Tues–Sat. Now open Mondays. www.thequeensheadinn.com

The Houblon Inn Oasby, Grantham, NG32 3NB

Telephone 01529 455215 A grade ll listed country inn built C1650.

Period beams, low ceilings & log fire help make it a wonderful place, especially at Christmastime.

The blackboard menu utilizes seasonal locally sourced, freshly prepared ingredients or for groups of 10 or more a special Party Menu can be pre-ordered.

(Please see our website).

Tel: 01526 834359 Winner 2008-9 Lincolnshire Poacher Competition for Pork Pie and Haslet. Gold award for Bacon and Sausage Rolls.

Silver award for Lincolnshire Sausages and Speciality Pies.

Supplier of pork pies, meat pies, sausages etc to Chatsworth farm shop Derbyshire. Windsor farm shop & Harvey Nichols London

Located in the lovely Wold village of Tealby, The Olde Barn Inn is a warm and welcoming place to Dine.

Serving locally sourced produce, meals are cooked to order and served by friendly attentive staff. Our Menu is enhanced by the Black Rock Grill which is a unique Dining experience.

We are now a licensed venue for Civil Weddings, Civil Partnershops, Renewal of Vows, Naming Ceremonies and other Celebratory Services. We can offer set packages or a tailor made package to suit your needs and will be happy to discuss your requirements.

RESERVATIONS ADVISABLE

Look out for our promotions over November Christmastime and into the New Year.

We look forward to meeting you.

Closed all day Monday

The Olde Barn Inn Cow Lane, Tealby, Market Rasen LN8 3YB

www.houblon-inn.co.uk

Tel: 01673 838304

H. E. Wilkinson & Son H I G H C L A S S F A M I LY B U T C H E R

Only best quality meats bought and sold Finest quality fresh turkeys, geese, ducks, capons and game available for Christmas as well as beef, lamb, pork and our award winning sausages too 7 The Parade, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln, LN3 4JL Tel: 01522 751120

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Our readers appreciate good food.

So, if you’re a quality restaurant, marketing your business in Lincolnshire Pride means reaching the county’s regular restaurant diners. ...now that’s food for thought.

To advertise on our Eating Out pages, call our marketing experts today, on

01529 46 99 77

LincolnshirePride

THE HIGH SOCIETY MAGAZINE

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Welcome t o

Woody’s...

Woody’s Bar and Lakeview Restaurant, incorporating The Malden Function Suite...

Traditional English à la carte dining.

Steak night Wednesday evenings from £13.

Weddings, conferences and functions catered for.

Senior Citizens lunchtime dining from just £7.75 for three courses from Mon to Thurs.

BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR CHRISTMAS PARTIES AND CHRISTMAS LUNCHES.

SATURDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2009 70’s Night featuring The Platforms.

Tickets £15 each including basket meal and a pint or glass of wine. – Doors open @ 7.30pm

Woodland Waters, Willoughby Road, Ancaster, Grantham NG32 3RT

Tel: 01400 230552 Email: info@woodysbar.co.uk

www.woodlandwaters.co.uk

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MOTORING NEWS Model launches and news from dealerships across Lincolnshire Coming Soon December: Aston Martin Rapide Jaguar XJ SWB/LWB January: Mercedes SLS AMG Vauxhall Astra Volvo S60 February: Peugeot RC Z Volvo C70

Special Edition for New 2010 Range Rover Sport • Autobiography Sport limited to just 500 units.

• V8 Diesel or 5.0V8 Supercharged units available.

• Prices in excess of £65,000, order taken from Jan. Land Rover’s sales are up 11.6% on the same period last year, thanks to the release of its new Discovery 4, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models.

To celebrate, the firm is releasing

BMW and Mini have partnered with the Energy Saving Trust to provide a fleet of cars to support its ‘Smarter Driving’ programme, courses that, for just £25 per person, lets organisations put teach exployees the skills needed to drive more efficiently.

The courses are an ideal match for the Smarter Driving programme as each car contains a suite of EfficientDynamics technologies, including Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and Optimum Shift Indicators.

This ensures that the cars donated by the BMW Group emit between 104g/km and 128g/km whilst providing up to 72.4mpg on the combined cycle.

an Autobiography limited edition varient of its Range Rover Sport limited to just 500 examples.

Range Rover will also gain the option of independent, electrically adjustable rear seats.

SLS Gullwing ready for Launch Mercedes’s SLR replacement, the £150,000 Gullwing is ready for its Spring launch and will retain the

BMWs In Frugal Driving Courses

same style of doors as its 300SL predecessor from the 1950s.

The model will reach 0-60mph in less tha four seconds and will be limited to 155mph.

The tourer will be a retro-styled two seater will feature a 6.3 V8 engine and F1 style instrumentation.

The SLR will continue in production but will start from £300,000, with 722 varients costing around £400,000.

In Brief...

• UK Car sales increased by 10 per cent last month, compared with the same month in 2008. The awardwinning Ford Fiesta again led the UK market, passing 100,000 sales for the year.

Nissan’s Success with superb Qashquai 4x4 Production at Nissan’s Sunderland plant is up 40% and it’s no surprise... the company’s Qashquai 4x4 is experiencing real popularity in the sales charts alongside the Pathfinder and Navara.

With the firm’s 4x4 portfolio on the up, the company last month created a new website designed to help buyers identify the perfect 4x4 for them.

Log-on to Nissan’s www.which4x4areyou.co.uk for more details.

This Month in Motors: Mercedes Benz’s new executive, 4x4 and sports ranges for 2010.

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Round Benz The

With a host of new models swelling the number of new Mercedes Benz motors available to buyers in 2010, we this month ask if Mercedes can still claim to be the manufacturer of the best portfolio of executive motor cars on the market Words: Rob Davis.

Particularly with regard to its flagship S-Class model, Mercedes Benz really is an important motoring marque. Features that initially appeared on its range-topping models such as Power Steering, ABS and Airbags are now standard in practically every new car. Where Mercedes Benz leads, other manufacturers follow, and thankfully, Mercedes leads particularly in terms of making our cars safer to drive.

In recent years, the company’s portfolio of models has become more fragmented as the company tries to enter new markets - launching a coupé executive, Focus-sized family cars and a people carrier that’s also a semi-4x4.

The company’s model denominations are utterly illogical, with SLS, CLS, CLK, SL, SLK and CLC designations offering the consumer absolutely no explicit clues as to where each vehicle fits into the range. One would expect a K within the acronym to represent a convertible, as in the SLK

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Main: Mercedes’s E-Class saloon is now available in coupé form.

lineup, yet the SL is also a convertible... and whilst the CLK, CL and CLC are comparable in size to the company’s C-Class, the CLS is significantly larger and pricier...

Furthermore, the numeral in a Mercedes model used to represent its engine size - as with the 5.0 SL500 and 2.0 C200... unfortunately, with the 1.5 A160 and 3.0 ML350 confusing matters, figuring out exactly which Mercedes is right for you is somewhat confusing.

That’s why, this month, we’re introducing Mercedes’s newest models and providing a précis of the company’s portfolio. Whilst the company’s models still provide excellent driving dynamics, a wealth of luxury and superb German build quality, it’s still worth taking a look at the company’s lineup even though many motorists consider BMW and Audi’s models on a par with, rather than lacking in comparison to, the finest vehicles Stuttgart can produce.

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Mercedes’s range will

soon include the impressive retro SLS model with gullwing doors just like the company’s 1950s 300SL...

Easy as A, B, C...

Uncharacteristically, Mercedes decided to launch a family car alongside its executive motors in 1997, and unveiled the A-Class, a three or five door small car which makes Mercedes quality available from under £15,000.

Engines available range from the 1.5 A160 to the 1.7 A180, with range topping five door A180 petrol models coming in at just under £20,000.

Main: Mercedes’s new Gullwing SLS is a niche premium sports tourer, and takes its inspiration and gullwing doors - from the company’s 1950s model!

Below/Right: Mercedes’s S-Class is considered the best executive model on the market.

Right: The firm’s ML off-roader proves the company’s remit goes beyond sports and executive saloons.

For that money there are plenty of large, well-specified family cars available, with Mondeos and Insignias lacking the prestigious badge but offering more space and equipment than the A-Class, in which CD changer, sat-nav, climate control and cruise control remain options.

Nonetheless, the model has sold well, as distinct from its larger B-Class. Billed as a sports tourer - the model is an MPV that only seats five, a 4x4 without the four wheel drive, and a C-Class that’s not quite as large as a C-Class, making it somewhat directionless, and a market contrast to its larger sibling, which has a longer pedigree and has always been highly regarded as the smaller Mercedes model which reflects the brand’s prestigious reputation.

The C-Class was revamped in 2007 and now features four trim levels, SE, Elegance, Sport and AMG, with engines from the tiny 1.6 C180 which reaches 60mph in 9.5 seconds and has a top speed of 143mph despite returning a brilliant 44mpg at the pumps on a combined cycle... to the C63AMG at the other end of the lineup, which features a 6.2 engine and

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sub-five second 0-60mph time, not to mention an unsufferable economy figure of just 18mpg in town.

The C-Class is undoubtedly a class above the unusual repmobiles in the sector, and whilst those who prefer a harder, sportier drive favour the ride of BMW 3-Series arch-rival, those seeking pure luxury and a more conservative package love the stalwart C-Class, available both in saloon and estate form.

E Class and CLS Mercedes’s saloon and estate E-Class and half-saloon-half-coupé SLS models represent mid-sized models in the company’s lineup.

A brand new E-Class went on sale just a month or so ago in June with the £30,000 E250CDi providing 47mpg and minimal CO2 emissions, aimed fairly and squarely at company car drivers.

This month sees the release of the company’s estate variant of the E-Class, and an AMG E-Class with blistering performance due to launch in 2010 and pitted firmly against BMW’s forthcoming M5 GT.

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MERCEDES BENZ IN 2010 A-Class Three and five door models, from £14,250 to £19,270. Engines from 1.5 - 2.0.

B-Class Five door models, from £18,424 to £22,070.

Engines from 1.5 - 2.0.

S-Class Luxury Sitting at the top of Mercedes’s executive lineup is the S-Class, with prices up to a breathtaking £150,000 and two wheelbases, a stretched variant of which provides limo-like comfort and huge performance.

The model has always showcased the brand’s latest technology, with the previous incarnation introducing Adaptive Cruise Control and today’s S-Class adding night vision and electronic parking space measurement to rather more frivolous specification including a fridge behind the rear armrest, heated, massaging rear seats and digital TV. 4x4 Fun Many know of Mercedes’s ML 4x4, which competes against Land Rover’s Freelander, but the model has a larger Discovery-sized sibling in the form of the seven seater GL too, and the company provision of 4x4s doesn’t stop there.

The company’s R-Class is a people carrier/4x4 hybrid, with room for seven and plenty of luxury.

Sports Cars Here’s where Mercedes’s model designations become really confusing. Alongside the C-Class, Mercedes’s lineup features the CLC (small) Coupé, CL (larger) Coupé and CLK convertible models.

The above models feature four seats, and run alongside the two-seater SLK and SL models.

For the super-rich, Mercedes also provides an F1 inspired SLR McLaren for those with the necessary £400,000.

Launching next year is the SLS - a new roadster with impressive gullwing doors just like the firm’s legendary SL300 from the 1950s!

Mercedes in Lincolnshire Mercedes Benz offers dealerships in Boston, Grimsby and Lincoln with an extensive selection of new and used models, champagne welcome to new customers and complimentary 30 minute safety checks for existing customers this winter all demonstrating the company’s commitment to making safer, happier drivers. n

C-Class Four door saloon and five door estate vatriants. From £22,530 to £51,569.

Engines from 1.6 - 6.2V8.

E-Class Four door saloon and five door estate variants, two door coupé launches November.

From £26,325 - £47,010. Engines from 1.8 5.5V8.

S-Class Four door saloon, short and long wheelbases.

From £55,895 - £150,090. Engines from 3.0 - 6.0V12.

ML-Class Five door 4x4. From £38,905 - £72,822.

Engines from 3.0 - 6.2V8.

GL-Class Five door 4x4. From £53,495 - 67,485.

Engines from 3.0 - 5.5V8.

R-Class Five door SUV 4x4. From £38,780 - £42,910.

Engines from 3.0V6 diesel.

SLK-Class/SL-Class/SLR Two 2-door styles. From £29,445 - £400,000.

Engines from 1.8 - 6.0V12.

For more information call 01522 696016 or www.mercedes-benzhullandlincolnshire.co.uk.

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4 - Pride DEC 89:Layout 2 09/11/2009 15:59 Page 151

High Society

Union of Grantham’s Patrick Lichfield Retrospective Home furnishings and art retailer Union of Grantham recently hosted a VIP evening celebrating its Patrick Lichfield retrospective. In attendence were supermodels Jemma and Jodie Kidd (left), along with a host of VIPs and, of course, Lincolnshire Pride...

THIS IS JUST A SELECTION OF IMAGES FROM THIS EVENT View and download all of the images from this event at www.lincolnshirepride.co.uk!

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High Society Union of Grantham

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High Society

Lincoln Minster Round Table Dinner Lincoln Minster’s Round Table recently hosted its chapter dinner at the EPIC Centre, with a casino theme, roulette wheel, and best of all, dodgem cars... all of these guaranteed a great night for over 450 attendees!

THIS IS JUST A SELECTION OF IMAGES FROM THIS EVENT View and download all of the images from this event at www.lincolnshirepride.co.uk!

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High Society Lincoln Round Table

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THE DIRECTORY To advertise with us, call 01529 46 99 77 By placing an advertisement in Lincolnshire Pride you are agreeing to our full terms and conditions, which can be found on our website.

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4 - Pride DEC 89:Layout 2 06/11/2009 15:04 Page 160

911 Sport Achurch Road, Boston Road Ind Estate, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6SA Tel: 01507 527911

Bridge McFarland Haddon Owen 3-9 Tentercroft Street, Lincoln, Lincs LN5 7DB Tel: 01522 518888

Farndon Boathouse Riverside, Farndon, Newark, Notts NG24 3SX Tel: 01636 676578

A1 Garden Buildings Corner House Farm, Hawton Lane, Newark, Notts, NG24 3SD Tel: 01636 611125

Burdens Mower Centre Spalding Road, Boston, Lincs PE20 2ET Tel: 01205 460466

Fenland Briquettes The Poplars, Anwick Fen, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 9SY Tel: 08454 503159

Alberta Ferretti www.albertaferretti.com

Bush Tyres 92 Horncastle Road, Woodhall Spa, Horncastle, Lincs LN10 6UX Tel: 01507 522444

Fitmykitchen Moulton Chantry House, Southfields, Boston, Lincs PE22 9LP Tel: 08009 561781

Cammacks 30 Wide Bargate, Boston, Lincs PE21 6RU Tel: 01205 362300

Flame Craft Baytree Garden Centre, Spalding, Lincs PE12 6JU Tel: 01406 373600

Carter and Bond 0207 727 3141 www.carterandbond.com

G Simpson Butchers 11 Cameron Street, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 9RW Tel: 01529 460403

Amba Photography 78 Doddington Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN6 7EU Tel: 01522 807191 Andrew Michael's Jewellers Limited 38/39 Stodman Street, Newark, Notts NG24 1AW Tel: 01636 679638 Anita Page Accountancy Services 36 Torrington Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN2 2DP Tel: 01522 859318 Anthony Durrance Jeweller 3 Church Lane, Boston, Lincs PE21 6ND Tel: 01205 366299 AP Homestyle 6-7 Victor Way, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PT Tel: 01778 424200 Asher Swimpool Lincoln Road, Fulbeck, Grantham, Lincs NG32 3JW Tel: 01400 272583 Avant Garde Bridal Emporium Showroom 15 High Street, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 5HP Tel: 01507 525200

Chattertons Solicitors 30 Avenue Road, Grantham, Lincs NG31 6TH Tel: 01636 673731 Chris Sharp Cabinets Tillbridge Lane, Lincoln, Lincs LN1 2SX Tel: 01522 504506 Cley Hall Hotel 22 High Street, Spalding, Lincs PE11 1TX Tel: 01775 725157 Colin Luesby Interiors Market Place, Swineshead, Boston, Lincs PE20 3LJ Tel: 01205 820215 Colin Parker Masonry 58 Bridge Road, Long Sutton, Spalding, Lincs PE12 9EF Tel: 01406 365200

Aztec Driveways The Farmhouse, Cowbridge, Boston, Lincs PE22 7DJ Tel: 01205 360450

Couture Amour 35 Queen Street, Louth, Lincs LN11 9BJ Tel: 01507 601925

Baker Street The Barn, 38 Main Street, Newark, Nottingham, NG22 8EA Tel: 01623 882288

Cropleys Coaches Main Road, Fosdyke, Boston, Lincs PE20 2BH Tel: 01205 260226

Barley Mow Sea Lane, Friskney, Boston, Lincs PE22 8SD Tel: 01754 820883

Crystal of Boston Boardsides, Boston, Lincs PE21 7NU Tel: 01205 366677

Barnsdale Lodge The Avenue, Rutland Water, Oakham, Leics LE15 8AH Tel: 01572 724678 Baytree Nurseries High Road, Weston, Spalding, Lincs PE12 6JU Tel: 01406 370242 Belle and Bouquet Bridal Suite, Wellingore Suite, Lincoln, Lincs LN5 0HX Tel: 01522 811122 Billinghay Sawmill First Hurn Drove, Billinghay, Lincoln, Lincs LN4 4BL Tel: 01526 860902

Darren Bell Photography 4 Leghorn Road, London SE18 1SZ Tel: 07828 669158 David Twigg Joinery Ashlands, Station Yard, Skegness, Lincs PE24 5EZ Tel: 01754 890560 DKJ Resolutions 28 Winthorpe Grove, Lincoln, Lincs LN6 3PL Tel: 07962 217927 Duncan & Toplis 5 Resolution Close, Endeavour Park, Boston, Lincs PE21 7TT Tel: 01205 310250 Dusk Fashions www.wolfordboutiquelondon.com

THE DIRECTORY

Boston Audi Marsh Lane, Boston, Lincs PE21 7QS Tel: 01205 315400

To advertise with us, call 01529 46 99 77

Boston Borough Council Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8QR Tel: 01205 314200

Eric A Bird 1 St Mary's Street, Lincoln, Lincs LN5 7EQ Tel: 01522 520977

By placing an advertisement in Lincolnshire Pride you are agreeing to our full terms and conditions, which can be found on our website.

Boston Heating Centre Church Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 0LG Tel: 01205 310327

Eternal Growth 1a Alpha Court, Kingsley Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN6 3TA Tel: 01522 540555

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Dynasty Fashions www.dynastyoccasions.com

Gente Bella Unit 11, Buttermarket Shopping Centre, Chain Lane, Newark, Lincs NG24 1BF Tel: 01636 643733 Glen-Eden Medical Aesthetics The Market Cross Surgery, The Market Place, Grantham, Lincs NG33 4NH Tel: 01476 550056 Grahams of Louth 23-25 Upgate, Louth, Lincs LN11 9ER Tel: 01507 600530 H E Wilkinson & Son 7 The Parade, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln, Lincs LN3 4JL Tel: 01522 751120 Habit Kitchens The Stables, Market Stainton, Market Rasen, Lincs LN8 5LJ Tel: 01507 343543 Hambleton Hall Hambleton, Oakham, Rutland, Lincs LE15 8TH Tel: 01572 768145 Hart Nottingham Standard Hill, Park Row, Nottingham, Notts NG1 6GN Tel: 01159 881900 High Heels and Tiaras 13 Piccard Drive, Spalding, Lincs PE11 2GP Tel: 07702 627791 Hills Department Store 18/19 Broad Street, Spalding, Lincs PE11 1TB Tel: 01775 767155 HITS LTD Island Carr Road, Island Carr Ind Estate, Brigg, North Lincs DN20 8PD Tel: 01652 659965 Houblon Inn Oasby, Lincs NG32 3NB Tel: 01529 455215 Hugo's of Woodhall Spa Station Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincs LN10 6QL Tel: 01526 354725 Hull Lighting Identity House, Baker Street, Hull, South Yorkshire, HU2 8HE Tel: 01482 226429 Ispirato www.ispirato.co.uk Intone Designs Unit 3, Britannia Ind.Est., Bourne, Lincs PE10 9LA Tel: 01778 393160

4 - Pride DEC 89:Layout 2 06/11/2009 15:05 Page 161

J & D Betts 40 Saundergate Lane, Boston, Lincs PE21 7BZ Tel: 01205 311407

Merrick & Day Redbourne Road, Gainsborough, North Lincs DN21 4TG Tel: 01652 648814

Scott Trailers 33, West End, Walcott, Lincoln, Lincs LN4 3ST Tel: 01526 860317

The George of Stamford High Street St Martins, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2LB Tel: 01780 75075

Jackson Building Centres Pelham House, Canwick Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN5 8HG Tel: 01522 511115

Millcraft Interiors 38 Queen Street, Market Rasen, Lincs LN8 3EN Tel: 01673 844439

See-saw Day Nursery Boston West Business Park, Sleaford Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 8EG Tel: 0808 1080250

The Grange Spa Millthorpe Road, Pointon, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 0NF Tel: 01778 440511

John Charles Fashions www.frankusher.co.uk

Millhouse Restaurant Covenham St. Bartholomew, Louth, Lincs LN11 0PB Tel: 01507 363652

Sheepgate Tack & Togs Sheepgate, Leverton, Boston, Lincs PE22 0AS Tel: 01205 870236

The Lincolnshire Kitchen Company Market Place, Market Rasen, North Lincs DN21 4LZ Tel: 01522 533051

Moda In Pelle www.modainpelle.com

Schoffel www.schoffel.co.uk

Jon Hickson Motors Carlton le Moorland, Lincoln, Lincs LN5 9HR Tel: 01522 788363

Moody's Glass R/O 40 Alexander Road, Skegness, Lincs PE25 3RE Tel: 01754 764419

Simpsons Limited Branston Hall, Lincoln Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN4 1PD Tel: 01522 797989

The Little Chocolatier Goose Lodge, Orby Road, Skegness, Lincs PE24 5JD Tel: 01754 811598

Keith Dolby Jewellers 8 Bristol Arcade, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7ST Tel: 01529 303945

Moore and Scrupps 7 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JR Tel: 01636 704488

Soper of Lincoln Roman Way, South Hykeham, Lincoln, Lincs LN6 9UH Tel: 01522 688889

Kenwick Park Country Hotel Kenwick Park, Louth, Lincs LN11 8NY Tel: 01507 353091

Myers Bakery The Bull Ring, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 5HU Tel: 01507 525871

John Cussell Jewellers 84 Westgate, Grantham, Lincs NG31 6LE Tel: 01476 571721

La Foundouk Avalon, 15 Brick Yard, Great Limber, North Lincs DN37 8JU Tel: 01469 560383 La Vie en Rose 39, Sea View Street, Cleethorpes, Lincs DN35 8EU Tel: 01472 695432 Le Chameau www.le-chameau-clothing.co.uk Lincoln Hotel Eastgate, Lincoln, Lincs LN2 1PN Tel: 01522 520348 Lincoln Metalcraft Unit 2 Branston Business Park, 115 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN4 1NT Tel: 01522 795000 Lincolnshire Showground Grange-de-Lings, Lincoln, Lincs LN2 2NA Tel: 01522 524240 Lincolnshire Tourist Guide The Haven, 46 Broadgate, Spalding, Lincs PE12 6HY Tel: 01406 373122

Newark Glass Group Oak Tree House, Brunel Drive, Newark, Notts NG24 2EG Tel: 01636 610088 Old Court Acupuncture Old Court and Police Station, Victoria Street, Wragby, Lincs LN8 5PF Tel: 01673 857412 Olde Barn Inn Cow Lane, Tealby, Market Rasen, Lincs LN8 3YB Tel: 01673 838304 Oldrids 11 Strait Bargate, Boston, Lincs PE21 6UF Tel: 01205 361251 Parkwood Hardwood, Newdown Road, Southpark, Scunthorpe, Lincs DN17 2TX Tel: 01724 847181 Peter Jackson Cabinet Makers 1 Deveraux Way, Boston Road Ind Estate, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6AU Tel: 01507 527113

The Mill 148 Spilsby Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 9QN Tel: 01205 352874 The Old Bakery Burton Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN1 3LB Tel: 01522 576057

Southern & Thorpe Butchers 3 High Street, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 9DY Tel: 01526 834359

The Queen's Head Boston Road, Kirkby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 9NW Tel: 01529 305743

Spalding Air Conditioning 10 Snowdrop Place, Spalding, Lincs PE11 3FW Tel: 01775 714097

The Red Lion High Street, Grantham, Lincs NG32 3DN Tel: 01400 272632

Speedframe (Lincoln) Limited 140 High Street, Lincoln, Lincs LN5 7PJ Tel: 01522 531177

Tongs Cookshop E.J. Tong & Sons (Retail), 1 High Street, Spilsby, Lincs PE23 5JH Tel: 01790 752548

ST Hopper Ltd Market Place, Boston, Lincs PE21 6EQ Tel: 01205 362087 Stapleford Park Country House Hotel Stapleford, Melton Mowbray, Leics, LE14 2EF Tel: 01572 787522 Starglaze Windows & Conservatories Tritton Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN6 7RY Tel: 01522 512020

Turnbull & Co. Ltd 95 South Gate, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7RQ Tel: 01529 303025 Union of Grantham Union Street, Grantham Lincs NG31 6NZ Tel:01476 593388

Steep Hill Wines 25 Steep Hill, Lincoln, Lincs LN2 1LU Tel: 01522 544737

Valerie Tall Wedding Studio 10 School Court, Brigg, South Humberside, DN20 8JW Tel: 01652 657744

Streaks Ahead 1 Tattershall Road, Woodhall Spa, Woodhall Spa, Lincs LN10 6TT Tel: 01526 353757

Victorian Fireplaces 9 Bishops Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN2 4JZ Tel: 01522 536373

Supreme Inns Bicker Bar, Boston, Lincs PE20 3AN Tel: 01205 822804

Wellbet Bridal Gowns Wellbet Farm, Collingham Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN6 9JB Tel: 01522 868469

Linea Raffaelli Fashions www.linearaffaelli.com

Petwood Hotel Woodhall Spa, Lincs LN10 6QF Tel: 01526 352411

Lucette 5 Gordon Road, Bailgate, Lincoln, Lincs LN1 3AJ Tel: 01522 548296

Premier Kitchens & Bedrooms 4 Phorpres Close, Cygnet Park, Peterborough, Cambs PE7 8FZ Tel: 01733 340471

The Bag Shop 4 Cheyne Lane, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2AX Tel: 01780 754794

M & M Antiques 17A The Crescent, Spalding, Lincs PE11 1AF Tel: 01775 766125

Pure Glass Design 107 Main Street, Newark, Notts NG24 3NN Tel: 07854 012356

The Bostonian Private Wing Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 9QS Tel: 01205 360606

Mark Harris Commercials The Old Stables, Sudbrooke Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN2 2UZ Tel: 01673 860360

Relumbratelier 62 Spalding Road, Holbeach, Lincs PE12 7HH Tel: 01406 490630

The Bustard Inn 44 Main Street, South Rauceby, Lincs NG34 8QG Tel: 01529 488250

Marshall Land Rover Lincoln Lincoln Land Rover, Kingsley Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN6 3TA Tel: 08443 349040

Royle Plant and Groundwork 1c Chequergate House, Chequergate, Louth, Lincs LN11 0LH Tel: 01507 600423

The Falconer Welton Manor Golf Centre, Hackthorn Road, Lincoln, Lincs LN2 3PA Tel: 01673 861888

Wilkinson Joinery Lincs Ltd 115 Penshurst Road, Cleethorpes, North East Lincs DN35 9ES Tel: 07902 945658

Maudes the Jewellers 22 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8QH Tel: 01205 367959

Ruskington Dental Practice 37 High Street, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 9DY Tel: 01526 832922

The Friendly Farmer The A46, A17, A1 Roundabout, Newark, Notts NG24 2NY Tel: 01636 612461

Winteringham Fields Silver Street, Winteringham, Scunthorpe, North Lincs DN15 9ND Tel: 01724 733096

McKinnell 17- 23 West Parade, Lincoln, Lincs LN1 1NW Tel: 01522 541181

Sack Store Emporium Redstone Industrial Estate, Boston, Lincs PE21 8EA Tel: 01205 310101

The Generous Briton High Street, Brant Broughton, Lincs LN5 0RZ Tel: 01400 272119

Woodland Water Willoughby Road, Ancaster, Grantham, Lincs NG32 3RT Tel: 01400 230056

Westlands 19B West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8QE Tel: 01205 364850 What Box 81, Rectory Road, Ruskington, Lincs NG34 9AE Tel: 01526 830687 White Hart Hotel Bailgate, Lincoln, Lincs LN1 3AR Tel: 01522 526222

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Lincolnshire swimmer Melanie Marshall was ranked number one in the world when she competed in 2004, and has retired at the age of 27. But, in 2009, the swimmer is dedicating more and more time to helping children across the world using her sporting connections...

What do you do and what inspires you about your job?

I retired from professional swimming in 2008 and have since been working as a swimming coach in Derby. I visited Africa for the first time in 2008 and from that moment, longed to work on improving education and medical facilities out there, particularly for children with HIV and AIDS. I publicised my interest upon my return and was this year taken on by Sport in Africa to raise funds for improving the lives of young children in the developing world. My time is mostly taken up my full time job, but I’m hoping to spend much more time out there next year.

Whereabouts in the county do you live?

I miss Lincolnshire enormously, particularly my home and my mum... I’m now living in the City of Derby, which is lovely, but rather different from Lincolnshire. Fortunately, I’m around five miles out of the city and there’s still plenty of opportunity for long dog walks in the grounds of a nearby castle.

What are your most vehemently held likes and dislikes?

I like people who stand by their morals and show strength of character... conversely, my dislikes are people who stagnate or waste opportunities.

My visit to Africa have introduced me to children who love their school and have to be

forced out of the door when the day finishes. We really don’t know how lucky we are to have education and healthcare so readily available to us and we should all appreciate what we have.

How do you spend your free time?

I still swim, albeit for pleasure rather than professionally. 27 seems a young age to retire but after 20 years of intense training, I was exhausted. Training took place seven days a week and dominated every aspect of your life, it’s lovely to swim for pleasure. Elsewhere, I love putting my feet up and watching X-Factor! It’s a real guilty pleasure!

~

Melanie Marshall, Olympic Swimmer

Were you born and raised in Lincolnshire?

I’m a real country girl at heart. I was born in Boston but have lived in Wrangle all my life; the place is great for walking my two Jack Russells and I love the flat, marshy landscape.

I hope my epitaph will read ‘she gave her all, to everything’...

~

Whereabouts in the county should our readers go to relax?

I love the Lincolnshire coast’s marshes for long, leisurely dog walks, and Tattershall with its castle, and country park.

Name your favourite book, film and music?

At the moment I’m reading Lance Armstrong’s autobiography - he’s a real hero of mine. He won the Tour de France a record-breaking seven times, and survived a cancer that metastasized to his brain and lungs, returning to his sport this year. It’s a truly inspirational story. Musically, I’m a real fan of Paolo Nutini - I love songs with good lyrics, songs that tell a story. And finally, this Christmas I’ll be watching Anne of Green Gables... it was traditionally a film that mum and I would watch each Christmas, a real tradition in our household!

What will your epitaph read?

I hope it’ll read something along the lines of ‘she gave her all, to everything’.

Finally tell us something good?

When life’s low and offers nowhere to go, take peace in knowing that live has more to offer than one bad day... and support Sport in Action... we do great work and I’m really looking forward to my future involvement with the charity. n For more information see www.sportinaction.org.zm.

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Officially chronometer-certified by the COSC.