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August 2010
Lifestyle | Community | Business
Norton The Leigh Twigworth Down Hatherley Sandhurst Highnam Over Maisemore Hartpury
Artistic Licence We uncover the local creative talent
Try Something New Meditate your way to positive thinking
The Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough Part Two of our History Feature
WIN !
New! Deli Heaven Meet Sarah Lemon of ‘Lots of Lemons’ Deli
A Riverford Cookbook worth £9.99 – 5 to give away!
We review The BoatHouse at Tewkesbury Ashleworth Hasfield Apperley Deerhurst Coombe Hill Knightsbridge Boddington Staverton
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ALL WELCOME! Trade & Retail
Staverton Building Supplies
DECKING
38mm quality Per metre:
INDIAN SANDSTONE
5" £1.79+VAT 6" £2.09+VAT
Paving Fossil Mint – 15sqm packs ONLY
£15.95+VAT per sq. metre
Delivery within 10 mile radius included
i Building Supplroes a n v t e o r S t o v o e t y of ne r l F ements under o ding requir for all your buil
HERE TO
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Stockists of: Cement, Ballast (25kg & bulk bags), Fence Posts, Fence Panels, Doors, Paints & Varnishes, Clothing & Footwear, Hardware, Tools & Power Tools, Sand & Cement, Paving, Bricks & Blocks, Sawn Timber, Ironmongery, Plumbing, Landscaping Materials & much more!
CEMENT ~ Collected 25kg bag = £2.95+VAT (£3.47 including VAT)
BUILDING MATERIALS DIY MATERIALS GARDEN MATERIALS
Ronseal Fence Life 5-litre = £6.99 inc. VAT
STAVERTON BUILDING SUPPLIES
Jupiter Court, Meteor Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester GL2 9QL (on B4063 behind new Mitsubishi Car showroom)
Telephone: 01452 712108
email: mark@stavertonbuildingsupplies.co.uk
Open: Monday - Friday: 7.30am - 5.00pm & Saturdays 8.00am-12.00pm
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3 size beautiful Ashbourne Patio Feature Kit From £14.50+VAT per sqm
610 x 610 Buff Riven Slabs £2.88+VAT (£3.38 inc. VAT) 450 x 450 Buff Riven Slabs £1.59+VAT (£1.87 inc. VAT) All offers subject to availability
www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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Contents 4
Welcome to August
5-7
Village News & Diary
8-9
Artistic Licence We uncover the local creative talent
12-13
ARTISTIC LICENCE 8
Try Something New Meditation with Steve Brisk
15
Six of the Best... Leisure & Activity Centres
16-17
Business Profile – Naylor Powell Estate Agents
19-20
The History of... The Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough
22
Restaurant Review – The BoatHouse Tewkesbury
25
Sue Gibson School of Gardening
27
Riverford Organics Recipe
29
Deli Heaven: Sarah Lemon from ‘Lots of Lemons’
TRY SOMETHING NEW 12
RESTAURANT REVIEW 22
Companion Dog Show in aid of German Shepherd Rescue. Sun 5th September at The Plant Centre, Uckington on the Tewkesbury Rd. Free Entry. £1 per class. Featuring Novelty Classes, Pedigree Classes, cash prizes and winner’s cups and rosettes. Plus Dog Agility and Obedience. Contact Anne Masling 01242 680052 for more info.
DIARY DATE
Cover Photograph courtesy of Hytch Photography / Soft Furnishings: Home Style by Mary Bennion
Where Can You Find Village Living? Severn Village Living Magazine is delivered to 5,000 homes and businesses across over 20 villages. Find us in Norton, The Leigh, Twigworth, Down Hatherley, Sandhurst, Highnam, Over, Maisemore, Hartpury, Ashleworth, Hasfield, Apperley, Deerhurst, Coombe Hill, knightsbridge, Boddington, Staverton; as well as selected outlets in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham. We are increasing our circulation every month, so if you didn’t receive a copy through your letterbox, you will do very shortly. Severn Village Living is published monthly by Miss T A Bailey t/a Village Living Magazine 3 Springhill Court Sandhurst Lane, Sandhurst Glos GL2 9NX 01452 730023 www.severnvillageliving.co.uk
Editorial & advertising enquiries Tina Bailey 07969 807110 tina@severnvillageliving.co.uk Production Toni Barrington The Magazine Production Company 01273 467579 production@villageliving.biz © 2010 Village Living Severn Village Living is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor or of Severn Village Living magazine.
www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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Welcome to August
A
ugust always makes me think we are in the height of summer yet it also seems so close to the onset of autumn. You may find that a little depressing but I love the autumn. New season, new school terms, new wardrobe, another birthday. And although I am still living life to the full and getting the best out of our lovely English summer – certainly plenty to do in our Severn villages – I begin to plan for my own personal ‘new term’. That’s why August is a good month to reflect on the year so far and revisit plans for the remainder of the year ahead. This month I am forcing myself to slow down and unwind and what better way to clear my mind and revitalise my body than with a little meditation and relaxation. Steve Brisk of Meditation in Gloucestershire helps me to get in touch with my inner self as I Try Something New and learn to meditate for the first time. Find out how I got on – pages 8 and 9. I am also delighted to introduce our new columnist this month, Sarah Lemon, from Lots of Lemons; your new and delicious delicatessen in Bishops Cleeve.
She will be with us for the next three months with all sorts of great recommendations for food and drink to tantalise the taste buds. Turn to page 29 to learn all about her and the new business. A bit of a different review this month in the shape of a rooms review at The Wharf House. Are those new bedrooms that were seven years in the making as fabulous as they look? Find out on page 11. And we meet the man behind Naylor Powell Estate Agents as Richard Powell tells us why his property business is the local choice for Gloucestershire. Page 16/17.
Tina x
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www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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5 • NEWS & EVENTS
Cooking up a competition with Riverford Organics WIN! A Riverford Farm Cookbook. We have 5 to give away! The lovely Marc Fowler of Riverford Home Delivery has kindly offered Severn Village Living Magazine 5 of the beautifully written and presented Riverford Farm Cookbook worth £9.99. “This book won two Guild of Food Writers Awards in 2009: the Best First Book and best Work on British Food. Try some irresistible recipes; from Spinach and Crab Frittata, Wet and Wild Garlic Risotto and New Potatoes Baked in Parchment, to Chocolate Courgette Cake, Beetroot Haters’ Soup and Raspberry Brown Butter Tart. Discover why dirt is a good thing, why organic food isn’t just for the middle classes and which carrot varieties are tastiest.” To win one of these books and enjoy Riverford Recipes simply answer the following question... Potatoes require huge amounts of water to grow. How many millimetres of water are required by a potato crop per week? (Tip: Read Riverford’s August Column!) And send your answer to tina@severnvillageliving.co.uk or write to Severn Village Living, 3 Springhill Court, Sandhurst Lane, Sandhurst, Glos, GL2 9NX.
Charities break Gloucestershire’s piggy bank!
The Old Spot Trust – Gloucestershire’s piggy bank to benefit local charities and good causes is set to donate over £10,000 in grants to 25 Gloucestershire charities. The awards ceremony was held at Over Farm Market, Gloucester, on the 7th July. The trust was set up in 2007 by directors of three local companies and an independent trustee with the aim to help make Gloucestershire an even better place to live, work and learn. The Old Spot Trust offers financial support in the
form of grants to groups who help the county’s people, animals, wildlife or environment. The money has been raised through activities such as Frightmare and the infamous Haunted Hayride as well as The Old Spot Trust cookbook which features more than 100 recipes from well-known Gloucestershire people. ‘‘The charities that we have selected to receive a grant are extremely worthy causes,’’ said Rob Ayland, Trustee and Managing Director of Completely Motoring. Rob added ‘‘It’s really great to be able to give something back to the local community and to support charities that may otherwise get over looked.’’ For more information about The Old Spot Trust, about applying for grants next year or for ways to get involved in the fundraising visit www.oldspottrust.co.uk Issued by Vivid. For further details please contact Lauren Jones on 01684 854408 or email lauren@thevividconsultancy.com.
CONCERT MAKES OVER £2000 FOR HELP FOR HEROES John Squires has kindly sent an update on the Help for Heroes concert held at Highnam last month. He is delighted to announce that the concert was outstanding and Help for Heroes made over £2,200. Many thanks to all involved and to all who attended. SARAH’S BACK! Sarah Turner left her home in Longlevens and went to work for nearly a year in Afghanistan. She is currently home in Sandhurst for a break and she is coming to David & Angela Godwin’s Coffee Morning on Saturday 21st August 10.00am to 12.30pm, to talk about her life in Afghanistan and work with the Afghan widows and children and to raise funds for another year. Meet at David and Angela Godwin’s house, Mews Two, Wallsworth (behind Nature in Art – with the red garage door!) £1 at the door to raise funds for the cause. Bring & Buy, Raffle, etc. You’ll be most welcome.
Well done to Ian Gardner of Down Hatherley and Mike Dill of Norton who won themselves a round of golf at Sherdons Golf Centre, Tredington by entering June’s competition. www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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6 • NEWS & EVENTS
PONIES FOR HIRE! Jemma Cyphus-Jones of Sandhurst has hit upon a great idea that kids are going to love. Rupert the Pony and his slightly larger friend are available for hire for pony rides at fetes, shows, and festivals or at any time of the year. Jemma also provides pony experiences for children’s parties, birthday Christmas or any special occasion. For more information please contact Jemma on 01452 731437 or 07969 178701
Meet Sam of Hartpury Upholstery
A
little mention this month for Sam Prentice at Hartpury Upholstery whom I met last month at his shop on the Hartpury Post Office site. The area is undergoing some exciting new developments presently with the newly relocated Pets Barn Veterinary Centre in situ from 31st July & Stacey at Hartpury Saddlery promoting her new website and product ranges. Hartpury Upholstery is a little shop with big skills! Don’t change your furniture, re-upholster or restore it! Sam can work his magic on any piece of furniture or soft furnishing from an antique chair to your favourite cushions on your favourite three piece suite. Drop in and see what he is all about or call 01452 700004.
Gloucester Three Choirs Festival 7-15th August 2010
Photography by Derek Foxton
T
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he Three Choirs Festival, held each year since the early eighteenth century, and rotating between the three great cathedral cities of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford is one of the world’s oldest classical choral music festivals. The centre-piece within this week-long festival is the concert each evening in the city cathedral, with programmes that combine established favourites of the British classical choral tradition with works drawn from a broader, more international musical canvas, and supported by daytime programmes of chamber music, opera, theatre, organ recitals, talks, exhibitions and other events. New Artistic Director, Adrian Partington, introducing the 2010 festival (the video of this introduction and all further information can be seen on the website www.3choirs.org) said “Now that I am Director of Music at Gloucester, I have the opportunity to put my ideals, plus 40 years of Three Choirs experience, to good use! We are busy putting together a spectacular programme for 2010, one which I hope will capture everybody’s imagination. It will include some exciting, but traditional programmes... and some surprises! I think I can promise that 2010 will be a vintage year...” www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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7 • VILLAGE DIARY
Village Diary Severn Village Living would like to list village events from your local village so if you would like your event listed – be it a play, jumble sale, play group, beer festival, boot fair, Young Farmers party, Youth Club disco or simply a coffee morning at your local church or parish hall, please get in touch. Charity & not for profit events are listed free of charge. A small charge applies for commercial listings. Deadline for entry into the magazine is the 9th of every month.
What’s on... AUGUST 2010 Norton School are still collecting Sainsbury’s and Tesco vouchers – should you wish to donate, please drop any into school reception. Croquet on the lawns of Hatherley Manor Hotel Each Monday from 2nd August Come and have a go at Croquet (by kind permission of Hatherley Manor Hotel) Coach klim Seabright will be there from 10.00am to 1.00pm and will teach you the basics of both Golf and Association Croquet. Simply drop in and join a session. £5.00pp. All you need are a pair of flat soled shoes and a shower proof top (we don’t stop for light rain). Have some gentle exercise, good company, keep that brain stimulated but, above all... have some fun! Remember... “Croquet is Ok”! More details: 01242 512933 or patseabright@yahoo.com Leadon Vale Bassett Hounds Fun Ride Sunday 8th August 10am start – last horse 1pm Haw Bridge Inn, Haw Bridge, Tirley £15 Adult / £10 Child/ £5 walkers Ride or walk or run or bike – dogs on leads welcome. 10+ miles of open countryside, very little roadwork, stunning scenery, spectacular views! Shorter route also available. Optional Jumps. For further info ring Ian Jones 07831 332226 or Sally Perks 07845 121610 Hempsted Motorcycle Show Weekend of the 14th & 15th of August This will be the 2nd year the Hempsted Motorcycle Show has been run by Gloucester City Council. It will be held over the at the Hempsted Meadows ground adjacent to the Bristol road bypass. This year’s event promises to be bigger & better than last year with more sponsors, traders & groups present. For more information please contact: Sheila McDaid – Tel: 01452 505747 Email: Sheila.McDaid@gloucester.gov.uk The Importance of Being Earnest Saturday 14th August Rain or Shine Theatre Company performs Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners, morals and morality on Sandhurst Village Green. Very popular so book early! 6.30pm 5pm for picnics. Bring own seating. Tickets £8 (£6 conc). Get your tickets by calling 01452 731489 or through www.ticketweb.co.uk
The 109th Annual Berkeley Show Monday 30th August at The Castle Meadows, Berkeley The show also includes the Annual Horticultural Show and promises to be a fantastic day with something for everyone from horses to horticulture, cattle and crops to classic cakes. Call for more info on 01453 543335 or email bhas.berkeleyshow@btinternet.com Taurus Crafts, Lydney, GL15 6BU, 01594 844841 Great School Holiday Activities throughout August from mask & jewellery making to pizza making. Find out more and check out dates and events by logging on to www.tauruscrafts.co.uk or emailing enquire@tauruscrafts.co.uk Charity Car Boot Sale. Saturday 21st August 12 – 3pm Leigh Farm, The Leigh, Off the A38. Booters £5. In aid of the Air Ambulance
August Fête Reminders Norton, Leigh & District 63rd Horticultural Show Saturday 14th August Norton Village Hall from 2.30pm Sue Phelps 01452 731280 The Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt Pony Club Summer Show Saturday 14th August Deerhurst Walton. Donations to RDA. Caroline Gilder 07812 411474 Maisemore Fête Bank Holiday Monday 30th August Maisemore Village Hall 2-5pm www.maisemorefete2010.info Sandhurst Village Summer Fête Bank Holiday Monday 30th August Sandhurst Village Hall and Cricket Ground starting at 1pm Bob Machim 01452 731489 Deerhurst Flower Festival, The Priory Church of St Marys August Bank Holiday 28th – 30th 10am to 5.30pm www.deerhurstflowerfestival.co.uk
To all those interested in watching tennis, live, at The Championships, Wimbledon 2011 (20 June - 3 July), did you know you can enter the Public Ballot? Send, from 1 August 2010, a self-addressed, stamped envelope (DL size - 220mm x 110mm) to: AELTC, PO Box 98, LONDON, SW19 5AE. Good Luck! www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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8 • ARTISTIC LICENCE
Artistic Licence Where can you go to have a vintage style wedding dress made especially for you, have your kitchen decorated with gold leaf or re-cover your bedspread in hand-painted Chinese silk? Knightsbridge? Paris? Milan? You would think so, but look no further than Kingsholm, The Leigh and Hartpury. This month I meet three local ladies with three very creative talents and learn why the beautiful products they make are not to be coveted but accessible to anyone who wants a little bit of bespoke luxury in their life.
Sarah Faulkner
Decorative Artist – The Leigh
Sarah Faulkner has decorated everything from a kitchen in a stately home to a council estate wall. She has been in Richard Branson’s bedroom and worked for the legendary Ozzy Osbourne. Originally born in Gloucestershire, Sarah began her education with a Fine Art Degree at Newcastle University. After graduation and living in London, Sarah started work as a tutor and began painting murals with kids from community centres and the unemployed on the council estates of Brixton and Lambeth. In fact, she painted the Lambeth Walk mural which is still there today. During the property boom of the early nineties, Sarah found herself in demand and worked from her London studio for companies such as Conran Designs, learning valuable new skills in decorative finishes such as marbling and graining. Finishes like this were very much ‘in vogue’ at the time and she quickly moved into working on decorative finishes for top of the range kitchen companies which led to private commissions for murals in country houses and London
residences. Whilst living in Brighton in 1993, the recession hit, but by this time Sarah and her husband were working for Virgin Atlantic painting murals for their First Class Airport Lounges across the world. Eventually the pull to return home to raise their family in Gloucestershire became too strong and Sarah left her beloved Brighton and returned to The Leigh and to her roots; part time teaching in Adult Education and other educational establishments in the community. Alongside her teaching, she was commissioned for long term decorative art projects for prominent Gloucestershire business people in the Cotswolds and locally in Highnam. Her most recent work has focused on 18thC murals and historical, heavily-researched projects such as ballrooms. Although this work is on a large scale, Sarah has just as much love for the smaller, more personal projects such as hand painted walls and goldleafing. Hand painted rooms are her great passion and her ambition is to design and decorate her own range of wallpaper. But she has not forgotten the skills that got her to his point and as well as large scale projects Sarah is just as happy to paint new kitchens to give them personality and give a new lease of life to old kitchens, bathrooms and any type of furniture. Magnolia accepted and gold leaf optional!
Sarah’s Contact Details and Info:
Selinna’s Contact Details and Info:
Mary’s Contact Details and Info:
Sarah can also run art workshops for your community group, local school, after-school club or art class – in fact, for anyone who is interested in getting some people together and learning a new skill. The best place to find out more about Sarah Faulkner is at her website: www.decorative-artist.com or email her on sarahfaulknerdecart@ live.co.uk or simply call Sarah on 01242 680183. She is always happy to discuss your requirements (however small or humble!).
Places to find Selinna: Bowden Hall Wedding Fayre 12 September 2010 or Pitville Pump Rooms on 3rd October 2010. The new collections will be launched on the catwalk at both of these venues.
Telephone Mary for a free home consultation and quote on 01452 700064 / 07876 272628 or see lots of examples of her work at www.homestylebymarybennion.com
Call her on 01452 537795 or email her on bridal@alissiacouture.co.uk Fancy having a go yourself? Try an A’lissia Couture Workshop in Corsetry, Bra-Making or Fascinators. £180 for a 2 day course or £350 for a 4 day course.
All enquiries welcome from single blinds to larger commercial projects and visits to her studio welcome.
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Her email: bymarybennion@aol.com
The soft furnishing in the cover picture is a beautiful example of Mary’s work.
www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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Selinna Simms Juke – A’lissia Couture – Kingsholm Selinna is an ambitious woman who has turned her passion for theatrical design into a successful business. Today she is a maker of couture corsets and wedding dresses. Selinna grew up around sewing watching her Mum sew at home and then own a shop off Barton Street where she made and sold her own designs. Selinna started at The kent Institute of Art and Design learning skills such as pattern cutting & design. The most significant thing to come out of this course was a love of theatrical costume design which led Selinna to take a course in costume design at Wimbledon School of Art where she found her flair for corsetry and wig making. Two years at Bournemouth Arts Institute put the finishing touches to her design skills and during this time she found costume work experience in small theatres and fell in love with working with luxurious fabrics. One of the highlights
Mary Bennion
of her burgeoning career was time spent at a company in Cardiff who made costumes for drag queens! After setting up on her own in 2008, Selinna made and sold her corsets through word of mouth and started to build up a following of regular customers. Corsetry then led to wedding dresses which was the perfect combination of the intricate boning and fitting of a corset and indulging her love of fabrics. Most excitingly, Selinna is launching a range of bespoke Hollywood Glamour Wedding Dresses called ‘Era’ by A’lissia Couture with an emphasis on tailoring for a ‘real’ woman’s figure, which means emphasising gorgeous curves and nipping in the waist. Think Marilyn Monroe! Did you know wedding dresses need to be worn one size bigger because of the boning and the layers? There will be eight dresses in her new collection ranging from a size 12 to a size 20, with four 1940’s inspired dresses and four in a 1950’s style. Each dress will be a bespoke design but will also be available as ready to wear. For a couture dress, brides should allow for 6-12 months for their dress to be made from start to finish and budget upwards of £1000 – although payments can be made in instalments.
Homestyle by Mary Bennion – Hartpury
Mary trained in Fashion and Design at the Cheltenham & Gloucester Art College in the 1970’s as well as going on to gain a City & Guilds in Soft Furnishings. Her work experience took her to local boutiques where she learnt much of the commercial side for her business. When Mary started a family she did all her soft furnishings and curtain making from home until the time came to venture back into the market place. Mary was working with a company making loose covers and curtains and learnt new skills that had become popular during the time Mary worked from home. A move to a new home in Hartpury in 2002 meant spending more and more time project managing the renovations and planning the interiors, this led her to realise that she wanted to start her own business. And she did exactly that. Her good eye for colours, fabrics and design earned her a reputation for sourcing just the right fabrics whilst building good client relationships. Word of mouth spread and the business quickly grew
over the next two years. Today Mary works from her lovely studio over looking the Gloucestershire countryside making everything from curtains and blinds to covers and bedspreads, plus headboard covers and drapes for fourposter beds. Her speciality in making Roman blinds has taken her far and wide. Mary considers the time spent listening to clients and getting to know their likes and dislikes plus understanding their lifestyles makes her work unique. She always takes many samples and ideas to her consultations and from the client’s brief puts together a free no-obligation quote to include all fabrics, linings, tracks, poles and fitting. (incidentally fitted by her team of dedicated professional fitters) Her fabrics are sourced from many of the worlds leading fabric houses including hand embroidered silks from Asia and finest linens from South Africa. She also sources from local suppliers such as Cotswold based Lewis & Wood. Mary’s work with small country house hotels is taking her into this new niche market. However, she gets just as much pleasure from making a single blind or a pair of curtains for a neighbour knowing they will be delighted with a bespoke addition to their home. There is something for everyone with a huge range of lovely fabrics, all reasonably priced.
www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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McTimoney Chiropractic Clinic, Unit 12 Twigworth Court Business Centre, Tewkesbury Rd, Glos. GL2 9PG
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11 • rooms review
The Wharf House at Over
M
arketing itself as Gloucester’s waterside restaurant with rooms, The Wharf House at Over has recently opened seven bedrooms born out of seven years in the making, all planned and developed entirely by volunteers of the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust. I had already taken a sneaky peak in March so when I was invited to try one of them out on an overnight stay with breakfast I jumped at the chance. On a Monday night in July the Other Half and I checked in and were shown up to our room. It was at the top of the building, a luxury king room called The Maisemore. The rooms are named after places located along the line of the canal, fitting as our room had a lovely view of both the River and the newly restored Canal Basin. Having worked in the hospitality industry for many years it is fair to say I have stayed in a lot of hotels some good, some bad; but what many have in common is the lack of thought as to the practicalities of the guest’s stay. Take plugs, for example. Often the plug points are so far away from the kettle you have to move it or you can’t use the hairdryer and plug the iron in at the same time. Body wash is not within reach of the shower, getting some toilet paper requires contortionist training and the chair stops the wardrobe door from opening. Well, I am very pleased to say that our room was beautifully considered in its layout and none of the above was an issue. The enclosed shelves are low level with automatic lighting and plenty of storage space in addition to a full length
The rooms are named after places located along the line of the canal, fitting as our room had a lovely view of both the River and the newly restored Canal Basin wardrobe. There was a double leather sofa in the corner of the room, a nice finishing touch and blocking nothing of use – hooray! The TV was a big wall mounted flat screen and perfectly positioned and I was delighted to note an individual cafetiere alongside a proper tea pot and nice big cups. Décor is understated and warm in browns, reds and creams with lots of lovely natural wood used throughout. As I critiqued the bedroom, Andy made a beeline for the bathroom, the domain of men. He returned reporting, with schoolboy excitement, that the bath was a whirlpool bath complete with lights and the shower was a smart flat square set directly into the ceiling. I was also informed that there were mini shaving kits and travel toothpaste and toothbrush! Very thoughtful. We went downstairs to make the most of our peaceful few hours alone, found a table on the terrace and ordered a couple of nice big glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite the fact we had only come from Sandhurst, we felt as if we were on a mini- holiday and relaxed and chatted for a couple of
hours, listening to the buzz of the busy restaurant. The lure of the whirlpool bath saw us heading back up to our room and we decided to have a soak before bedtime. And guess what? The bath lights change colour! And yes, the bath is a perfect fit for two. The beds are incredibly comfortable with feather and down duvets and pillows so when the alarm went off for breakfast, we seriously did not want to get up. But breakfast was worth it. Full English featuring local sausages for Andy and a yummy heap of salmon and scrambled egg on granary toast for me. Sadly it was then time to leave and back to a working day and a full on toddler. As we checked out we were politely asked if we had taken anything from the minibar. Mini-bar?! We never even noticed a mini-bar! That’s what having kids does for you, when given the run of a luxury hotel room for the night, all we do is have a bath and go to bed. Not very rock and roll but it worked for us.
What did it cost? The room we stayed in was £115 per room per night but rooms start at £85 – including breakfast.
Who would love it? Couples on a romantic break (or a sneaky overnighter away from the kids) and those visiting family in the area who don’t have the extra guest room space.
Where can I book? www.thewharfhouse.co.uk or call 01452 332900
www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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12 • TRY SOMETHING NEW
Meditation What better time than copy deadline week to try and relieve my stress by Trying Something New and meditating with Steve Brisk of Meditation in Gloucestershire.
P
rior to writing this, I knew nothing about Steve Brisk and nothing about meditation for that matter. He was recommended to me by a friend who thought it might make a good feature for the magazine. So when I was met at the door by a man in a ‘Quit Your Jibba Jabba’ T-shirt waving a cane in the air expansively welcoming me to Woodmancote, I knew I was in for a very interesting couple of hours. It wasn’t a great start for my stress levels when I got all the way out of the village to realise I had left my purse at home – not ideal when my appointment following Steve was the bank manager. Stress levels rising by 9.30am and at risk of being late (which I hate) the journey was spent worrying about all the things I had to do before tomorrow and how for a good part of my morning I would
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be lying on the floor trying to clear my mind. Fat chance! So when I was invited in and the first question Steve asked me was “On a scale of 1-10, where would you say your stress levels are right now?” I lied and answered 7, when really I meant 9 but didn’t want to seem neurotic. We started with a general chat about Steve and how he came to run his meditation courses and, as I expected, he has made an interesting and painful journey to this point both emotionally and physically. His career started out with Clarks Shoes as a highly ambitious and successful Sales Manager. High pressured and demanding the role took Steve the length and breadth of the country; and he loved it. But on one trip to Head Office in Somerset, Steve experienced a frightening incident.
The cars on the opposite side of the carriageway seemed to be veering across the road into his path. Despite having brand new spectacles that week, his eyes were playing tricks on him. He immediately got an appointment with an optician who in turn referred him to a neurologist. Believing he simply needed his new glasses adjusted, Steve was dismissive of the referral and after some tests it seemed there was indeed nothing of concern to be found. During his time in hospital he met a fellow patient, an MS sufferer who warned Steve of the pressures of his work and advised he took on a less stressful role before things caught up with him. Smiling politely, Steve thanked him, returned to work and did just the opposite. He threw himself back into his job with renewed vigour and quickly earned himself a promotion. Over the next five years Steve continued to work at a relentless pace, still enjoying every minute of his job until one Saturday, whilst taking his two young boys to the sweet shop, he got out of his car and collapsed. Another round of tests confirmed his fears – he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Clarks Shoes were extremely supportive and found him a role at the Somerset Head Office to accommodate his illness but for Steve, despite giving his all to the job, it wasn’t ‘him’ – a people person, a leader. So when the opportunity to retire presented itself, Steve took it thinking his problems would be over. In fact, they had just begun. His drive to succeed had left Steve isolated with no friends, no hobbies and no community network. He spiralled into a bout of suicidal depression from which friends and family feared he would not recover. A friend of his wife started to visit Steve regularly and gave him a poem about living for today. This touched something in Steve and shortly after receiving this poem he heard a programme on the radio talking about meditation. He felt interested enough to find out more
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Do you need to alleviate some stress in your life? Enrol on one of Steve’s Meditation courses. The next one starts on the 21st September 2010, Tuesday evenings at Bishops Cleeve Primary School. The courses are 10 weeks long with a break for Half Term. Sessions last two hours and class sizes are around 18 people, so as well as learning a new skill you can make new friends too. A 10 week course costs just £40 per person or £35 per person per couple – bring your spouse, friend or family member. And there is a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! If you feel you have made no progress from your initial evaluation by the end of the course you will be refunded in full. And in case you were wondering – Steve has not refunded a student in 30 years, because it works! Find out more by calling Steve for a chat on 01242 674006 or emailing him at brisk@blueyonder.co.uk or at www.meditation-in-gloucestershire.co.uk and went straight to the bookshop and purchased a book on the subject. He then set about teaching himself how to meditate and over the course of 2 to 3 months things started to change for Steve. He felt more positive, enough in fact to join a meditation class. Over time, the teacher became extremely busy and asked Steve if he would take over the teaching of the class for him and he did so for several years. When the family moved to Cheltenham, Steve set up classes in the area, took a course with the British School of Yoga and became qualified to teach meditation; the first person in Gloucestershire to do so. That was almost thirty years ago and now it is my turn to benefit from Steve’s experience and meditate for the very first time. Our session begins with me lying on the floor, legs apart level with my shoulders and arms relaxed by my side. Steve asks me to close my eyes and envisage each part of my body relaxing starting from my big toe and finishing with my face. Up one side of the body and down the other, we continue until I feel relaxed and receptive. This is called Progressive Relaxation and each session starts with this twenty minute exercise. We then progress to the meditation section of the session. I start by sitting upright in a chair, palms resting on thighs, feet flat to the floor, eyes closed. Steve starts to talk me through the session by firstly asking me to count ten breaths out. This continues for a few minutes and I am instructed to simply acknowledge thoughts that float into
my mind but not to dwell on them. I can’t help it but I think of my deadlines and what I need to tell the bank manager but I try to keep breathing and concentrate. Meditation, I quickly learn, is all about concentration. You can’t just simply clear your mind. It takes time and practice. Our next exercise is to continue breathing but count ten cycles of in-takes of breath. I realise I am now recalling good memories such as our family trip to Canada and the things I am worrying about seem to fade away. The third stage is the hardest I am told. This time I must count and also “watch” my breath as I inhale and exhale at a point just beneath my nostrils. This involves great concentration and I find myself falling into a bit of a wobbly state. My body feels as if it is sliding sideways and I fight the urge to right myself on the chair as I know this is just my mind. I am aware that I can no longer feel my palms on my thighs and that my thighs feel hollow and tingly. After some time in this, I guess, meditative state Steve starts to speak gently bringing the meditation to a close. Then the process of ‘grounding’ begins. For me, this means a vigorous rubbing of hands followed by a slow opening of the eyes, stretching and yawning and a quiet few minutes just sitting so my brain tells my body normal service has resumed. Steve asks me how I felt and I tell him about my thought processes during my meditation. In spite of his warning that it was inevitable that thoughts
would arise, I had felt that too many thoughts were fighting their way in. I am told that this is very common in a first meditation and it happens to nearly everyone. I do redeem myself, however, when I explain about the feeling of ‘nothingness’ in the third session. This is apparently excellent for a beginner. And so to the result: “Where would you say your stress levels are now on a scale of 1 to 10?” asks Steve. “4”, I answer and this time I am telling the truth. Sadly no amount of meditation will eliminate the fear of the bank manager but I am significantly less stressed than when I arrived. Meditation is very much about being in the moment and I can see how the practice of this art – for it is an art as much as it is a science – helped Steve overcome adversities that many of us can only imagine. Like anything worth doing, it requires time, effort and discipline but I can understand how it eventually becomes second nature and very much part of your life. The poem given to Steve at his lowest ebb formed the foundation stone of his philosophy and he gives it to every student who attends his classes, an extract of which has stuck in my mind and left me feeling a little more positive than I felt this morning; “Look well to this day for it is life”... “For yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow is only a vision but if well lived, makes every yesterday a memory of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope…”
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15 • SIX OF THE BEST... LEISURE & ACTIVITY CENTRES
Six of the Best… Leisure & Activity Centres
Virgin Active, Centre Severn, Barnwood, Gloucester As one of 72 state-of-the-art health clubs in the Uk, Virgin Active offers a stylish, super-spacious, and truly dynamic exercise environment. There is a wide range of innovative aerobics classes including the popular Power-plate, toning circuits, swimming pool, luxurious spa facilities, personal training, and more. Relax and unwind in the V-Cafe or surf the net after your workout in our large interactive zone. There is free parking and flexible membership options. Work out the best options for you at www.virginactive.co.uk or call 01452 34400.
Riverside Sports & Leisure, St Oswald’s Road, Gloucester. A warm friendly club with purpose built gym suites, swimming pool, fitness studio, squash courts, tennis courts, children’s facilities, and relaxing bar area, Riverside Sports & Leisure Club offers a great selection of activities for all to enjoy. Try Riverside Sports & Leisure Club with a no obligation Free Trial visit, experience the facilities at your leisure, and let one of Riverside’s experienced instructors introduce you to exercise, whatever level of fitness you may be. Call 01452 413214, visit www.riversidesports.co.uk, or email admin@riversidesports.co.uk for further information, details on membership, and to book your free trial visit.
Cascades Leisure Centre, Tewkesbury The swimming facilities and excellent extensive swimming lesson programme for all ages and abilities is well known locally. Swimming lessons are BOOkING NOW. The centre also includes a Health Suite that has a Gym, Sauna, Steam and Spa and Fast Tan sun-beds. The holiday session programme will operate in the Summer Holidays – Monday 26th July 2010 to Tuesday 31st August 2010 inclusive. Monthly Membership is now available with no contract and no joining fee! More details are available by calling the Hotline on 01684 293740 or at www.tewkesbury.gov.uk.
Climbing Warehouse, Gloucester Docks Housed in a huge Victorian Warehouse near Gloucester’s Historic Docks, The Warehouse Climbing Centre has recently completed Phase One of a fabulous £1/2 million transformation. Spread over five floors the centre offers a wide range of climbing zones suited to all ages. Whether you’re an experienced climber, complete novice or looking to organise a corporate event, family get-together or birthday party, you’ll be sure of a great time at the best climbing facility in the area… and a brilliantly different way to keep fit too! www.the-warehouse.co.uk, 01452 302351.
LA Fitness, Uckington, Cheltenham This well established and popular club offers a pool, sauna, steam, fully equipped air conditioned gym, spin studio, free weights mats. It’s not all about being energetic – choose to relax with a calming yoga class or enjoy a fun family swim. There are lots of great membership options to include chosen club membership or any club membership. Log onto www.lafitness.co.uk to see what might be right for you and to download a list of all the classes from Body Pump to Boxercise. 01242 682000.
GL1, your local Pay and Play Leisure Centre, Gloucester The leisure centre operates on a ‘pay and play’ basis and is open throughout the year. GL1 has a magnificent complex of four pools with a variety of sessions from beginners and splashers to serious swimmers. GL1 is the ideal venue for a wide range of indoor sports. Whether you want to take part as an individual or part of a team, have coaching or just spectate, GL1 has the sport for you. The centre has a very informative and easy to use website www.aspiretrust.org.uk/gl1 or call for more help on 0845 643 4203. www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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16 • BUSINESS PROFILE
Naylor Powell
This month we go behind the scenes at one of Gloucester’s most prominent estate agents, Naylor Powell.
C
hances are you will have seen a Naylor Powell For Sale board on your way to work or on the school run today. In fact, if you are local to the area, you probably think of Naylor Powell whenever you think of local estate agents. The distinctive red and black Naylor Powell logo is a fixture in many of our villages and towns and with a third Gloucestershire office due to open as I write this, what better time to meet Mr Richard Powell himself to learn more about this established and well respected property business. Richard Powell is one half of the founding partners of Naylor Powell Estate Agency. Richard is a Gloucester man through and through and is proud that Naylor Powell remains independently owned today. He started his property career in Cardiff in 1967 and moved in 1975 to Coles, knapp & kennedy, covering the Ross and Gloucester area. When the agency moved away from selling in the Gloucestershire area, Richard and Michael Naylor, set up Naylor Powell in 1982. It was their express intention to create an estate agency with a difference; to provide a personal, professional and pro-active service to everyone they dealt with, with honesty, trust and integrity at its core. This mission statement has not changed in the last 28 years and I ask Richard how he makes these words become a reality.
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“Originally we wanted to promote ourselves as an agency that filled a gap in the market at the time”, Richard tells me. “There were well established agents such as Bruton knowles and Sandoes who covered the whole spectrum of residential agency and we wanted to offer an alternative opportunity for people dealing with residential property. “Then, at the end of the eighties, most of the large independent agents sold out to the banks and building societies but we held on to our privately owned status which became a unique element to our business, and this is how we remain today.” I quiz Richard on why he thinks Naylor Powell have seemingly cornered the Gloucester market especially in the Severn villages. He says “I live and work in Gloucester; my children went to school here and as a family we are immersed in village life and regular supporters of events in the City. In addition, our team members are local and some have been with us for twenty years and counting! This is fantastic for our clients. If they need to be near a good junior school, we can advise them. If they want to cycle to work, we know the best routes and how long it takes. We can even tell them which are the best pubs and the best places to shop! I think that goes a long way toward building a great relationship.”
Currently the business has two branches, one in the centre of Newent and one at Gloucester Docks. Naylor Powell relocated to the Docks office about two and a half years ago and it has been a great success for them. The previous branch on the corner of Clarence Street had no parking and was not as accessible as Richard would have liked. The area was becoming quieter so when the Docks office opportunity presented itself, Richard snapped up the site and has never looked back. “You can see how well our location works simply by looking at the amount of finger prints on the glass as people stop to look at the window display!” laughs Richard. As I am trying to sell my flat at present I am particularly interested in Richard’s opinion of the current state of the property market. “There is nothing wrong with the property market right now” says a confident Richard “and you can quote me on that!” He goes on to say that the past twelve months have seen a great improvement compared to the same time last year. Naylor Powell also manage a lettings portfolio and Richard is pleased to report that the lettings market is also more buoyant than it used to be as people sell up then rent happily with little intention of buying again in the near future. If you are thinking of selling your property, how do you decide on an agent to instruct? Richard’s advice is to
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Michael Naylor
Richard Powell
James Birt
Elizabeth Lacy
invest a little time in getting to know your agent. Don’t just go for the one offering the lowest fees. You should know who is selling your property and be confident they know you too and how to meet your needs. It is clear that Richard is very proud of his team as he tells me “they all work hard to provide an excellent level of personal service. This job is great because most of the time we are giving people good news. There are, of course, times when things go wrong and when that happens every member of the team will rise to the challenge and work to rectify the problem.”
So with house sales increasing and lettings a popular option, what more can Richard expect from his business in the future? James Birt has now joined the partnership and he is keen to help develop and expand the business. There is a third branch due to open as you read this. The new office will serve South Gloucestershire and bring another dimension to the agency with plans to generally increase their property portfolio across the county. “The whole team is pretty visionary” says Richard, “so it is wonderful to see everyone involved and embracing the future of Naylor Powell together.” As I thank Richard for his time, I can’t help wishing there was a branch of Naylor Powell in Devon so I could instruct them to sell my flat for me – anyone want a one bed top floor flat in Exeter city centre? Come on Richard, I’ll cut you in on the commission!
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SHERDONS GOLF CENTRE BEST CLUB IN CENTRAL ENGLAND & WALES Sherdons Golf Centre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire is ranked the best club in the Central England & Wales Region at the first inaugural Golf Club of the Year Awards 2010. The Awards are unique in the industry because, unlike others which judge course quality, the Golf Club of the Year Awards measures the complete golf experience as voted for by the people who play the courses as members, guests and societies. Richard Chatham, Co-owner and Manager of family-run Sherdons said “We are delighted to achieve this prestigious award. It is most gratifying to receive this exciting recognition from our own members and guests.” Simon Brown, Managing Director of Awards for Business who runs the scheme explains, “Playing at a well presented and managed golf club is what a great golf experience is all about. It’s not just the quality of the course that makes the experience good, it’s everything from the first point of contact on the phone, the greeting in the pro shop, quality of changing facilities, hospitality in the club house and much more besides. I wanted to find out which clubs really were providing the best golf experience and what better way to find out than
asking the players who play at the clubs week in week out.” “It’s obvious from the votes that came in for Sherdons that they provide a particularly high level golf experience for members and guests. It’s refreshing to see that a relatively new club can compete with more established ones in the area”. Richard added “We give a warm welcome to all and operate what we call a No Fear attitude to golf. All are welcome from 5 year olds to 95, from beginners to Professionals and we have a mixture of all these people who enjoy our facilities whether they wish to learn the game, play golf on the course or just use the bar and restaurant facilities of our wonderful Clubhouse. Golf is such an inclusive game and it so important to make everyone welcome and to give everyone a chance to “have a go” whilst maintaining the etiquette and ambience of the sport. On behalf of all our staff, I wish to thank those who gave their support to enable us to achieve this recognition”.
If you’d like to visit, review or play the course or receive more information contact either Richard Chatham on 01684 274782 or Chris Pearson on 07932 625589 www.sherdons.co.uk / www.golfcluboftheyearawards.com
Award winning golf Learn from our 3 resident professionals Practice in our 26-bay floodlit Driving Range Play the mature 9-hole Manor Course Enjoy a meal in our stunning bar/restaurant
WHAT’S ON
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Excellent value, bookable tee times, club hire available. Open to all, whether golfer or not – no membership required.
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Village Living Severn 4 0810.indd 18
01684 274782
VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME
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Image: Jack Boskett
19 • the history of... the mayor of tewkesbury Borough part 2
Image: Posers Photographic
The Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough
I
n the second part of my interview with Mark Williams, past Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough and his wife Sally, past Mayoress; I find out more about the role of the Mayor and Mayoress and the kind of events and occasions they have attended and enjoyed during their 12 months in office. As Mayor and Mayoress there are over 200 engagements throughout the year to attend. Naturally they are not expected to attend every one but Mark and Sally tried to attend as
many as possible. The presence of the Mayor is always well-received and adds a certain level of kudos to the event. The constant engagements are those of a more official nature, such as the full council meeting held several times throughout the year. Here the Mayor must chair the meeting, the first of which always takes place on a Tuesday a week after the Mayor Making in May. The councillors of the Borough attend and Prayers are said by the Mayor’s Chaplain. Another major engagement is the Civic Service; a religious service held annually and hosted by the Mayor. Last year the Civic Service was held in Sandhurst Church and attended by many of Mark’s fellow councillors, the Sherriff of Gloucester and Laurence Robertson MP for Tewkesbury. It was also very well supported by local people. The other two most official events for the Mayor are the annual Mayor’s Ball and the opening of the Tewkesbury Mop Fair in October. Throughout the year the Mayor and Mayoress might find themselves at events such as the
Annual Young Farmers County Show or presenting long service awards. They would also attend all manner of prizegiving’s – very popular in May and June and held around the county at venues such as Hartpury College, Gloucester College or the Cathedral. However, it is not the most official and ceremonial engagements that make the best memories. I ask which events have been particularly memorable and they tell me “The Remembrance Parade at Brockworth School always stands out in our mind. The children were justifiably proud and looked the part in their red and black uniforms and displaying the Back Badge on their hats. The Army and Airforce cadets performed a March Past and we were asked to inspect the troops!” Mark remembers another school occasion that he very much enjoyed; “The Leavers’ Service at Queen Margaret’s Primary School in Priors Park, Tewkesbury, was lovely. The children put on a wonderful service and it was clear how sad they were to leave the school and each other. But it was also nice to hear how they looked forward to the future and starting on the next stage of their education.” Mark and Sally also recall the Mitton Playgroup Nativity Play at The Watson Memorial Hall. “They were delightful children and it was obvious there had been enormous effort in putting together the Christmas Play. What a brilliant afternoon!” Children are big fans of the Mayor and always want to touch the Mayoral Chain and feel how heavy it is. At the Mayor Making ceremony, the Chain is given to both the incoming Mayor by the past Mayor who is then presented with a Badge of Office as a memento of his service. The Chain and Badge of Office date back to 1974 and were designed and wrought by Marples and Beasley Limited, Gold and Silversmiths of Birmingham. The Chain was presented to the Borough by Sir George Dowty. The decorative Chain is
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20 • THE HISTORY OF... THE MAYOR OF TEWkESBURY BOROUGH PART 2
made up of forty eight semi – circular gold links. The ends of the Chain are joined by a large disc on which is set a sun, a symbol of constant prosperity. In the centre of the sun is a red and white Tudor Rose symbolic of the historic link of the Borough with the Wars of the Roses. The large gold Badge hangs from the large sun disc and is worn as a pendant to the chain. And the question every child asks? “What is the Chain worth?”! But Mark cannot answer this question as no one really knows. Sally and Mark tell me they adapted well to their lives of Mayor and Mayoress. They loved their time in office and made many friends and met some fantastic people from all walks of life. Many of the friends they speak of are those in the intriguingly named ‘Chain Gang’. No criminal implications here though! The Chain Gang is the nickname for dignitaries such The Mayors and Chairmen of other towns,
Sally and Mark tell me they adapted well to their lives of Mayor and Mayoress. They loved their time in office and made many friends and met some fantastic people from all walks of life. cities and boroughs who wear a chain of some description. “There is a great camaraderie between us all”, says Mark, “and we all support each other and attend each others town events. Sometimes we are all invited to the same event, especially if it is of great
significance such as the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.” I ask Mark what the most important skill a man can have as Mayor. “Definitely the ability to connect with people and show genuine interest in their event, town, village or personal circumstance. Speech making is a big part of the role but although there are people available to help write speeches I found the best way was to simply talk to the person involved, learn about them and their cause and then speak from the heart with the knowledge you have gained from the person, not the internet.” As we finish our chat, I ask Mark and Sally what their favourite moment of all has been. They are unanimous in their answer – The Mayor Making Ceremony. “What a special event that is”, remembers Mark “I never thought I would even meet a Mayor, let alone become one. Not bad for a dairy farmer from Gloucester!”
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22 • READER’S RESTAURANT REVIEW
The BoatHouse Restaurant Tewkesbury Reviewed by Sarah Youdan & her family
J
on, Charlotte, Emily and I have just returned home having enjoyed an early evening meal on the terrace at the newly refurbished BoatHouse Restaurant. The building has been recently acquired by Michael and Wendy, who also own The Gardener’s Arms at Alderton. The property is set in a picturesque location on the edge of Tewkesbury town centre right on the water’s edge. When we first walked into the restaurant, we were greeted by Saul, the manager. He was very keen to show us the improvements that had been made; new fresh light colours and clean lines giving an airy and relaxed feel completed with wood finishes, perfect for a waterside venue. He also told us of his future plans for the function room upstairs which accommodates 100 people and is called the Quarter Deck Champagne Bar. We enjoyed a drink at the bar before dinner. There is a large selection of draught lagers, ciders and cream flow bitter, which are all competitively priced from £2.85 - £3.80. Jon chose a pint of Cobra and I asked for a large glass of Merlot (£5.35). The wine list is extensive and has something August 2010 • Severn Village Living
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for everyone and for every occasion. Whether it be a bottle of house Pinotage or Chenin Blanc priced at £9.99 up to a bottle of Italian Barolo or Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc both priced at £42.00. The girls went for the normal J2O! Our children were very happy when we were asked if we would like to eat outside on the upper terrace over looking the canal. They spent most of the time watching the ducks, swans and boats travelling up and down the canal. The main menu is varied with a choice of ‘Light Bites’, meats from ‘The Grill’, House Specialities, salads, many vegetarian options, gourmet burgers and the carvery. The children were given their own menu, which is presented on the reverse of an activity booklet. These are intended to keep the children occupied whilst waiting for the
food to arrive but they were far more interested in the canal! To start, we chose the Golden Whitebait served with lemon tartare (£4.65), Pan-fried Chorizo on ciabatta (£5.29) and Garlic Bread (£2.99), which the four of us shared. The three dishes complemented each other, tasted delicious and disappeared in just a couple of minutes! For our main meal, Charlotte (7) chose the fish and chips. The batter was light and crispy and not at all greasy. Emily (4) chose to eat from the carvery. I was slightly concerned as carverys have a tendency to offer dried up meat and vegetables, which have been sitting under the heat lamps for hours and are not at all appealing. So what a lovely surprise to see freshly prepared vegetables including broccoli, baton carrots, cauliflower cheese, peas and
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New fresh light colours and clean lines giving an airy and relaxed feel completed with wood finishes, perfect for a waterside venue. sweet corn and a variety of different styles of potatoes. Emily is a big fan of Yorkshire puddings, these did not disappoint and are enormous – no frozen Yorkshires served here! The roast meats available were beef, turkey crown, gammon and a homemade pie. The gammon was well cooked and very tasty. The children’s meals are priced at £4.95 for one course, which includes a choice of drink – a good price for fresh, homemade food. Jon chose one of the house specialities
– Bacon Wrapped, Stuffed Chicken Supreme (£10.95). The chicken was filled with sun dried tomatoes and rocket, served with a white wine cream sauce, vegetables and a choice of potato; Jon opted for daupinoise potatoes. He enjoyed his meal and, as is the norm when the two of us go out, we tasted each other’s meals. I decided on a dish from the daily specials, Red Mullet with crushed potatoes, green beans and a tomato salsa (£12.95). The fish was beautifully cooked, the beans cooked al dente, which I like, and the tomato salsa finished the dish perfectly. Meats and fresh fish are locally sourced as are many of the ingredients on the menu. When it came to dessert, unfortunately none of us could manage another thing. We shall have to make a return visit and remember not to have any appetisers so we can enjoy pudding instead.
g n i s s e r hair d
The BoatHouse is open Mon-Sat 10.00am till late, Sun 11.30am till late Find them at Mythe Road, King John’s Island, Tewkesbury GL20 6EB / 01684 275 714 You can download all the menus – Autumn menu coming soon – at www.theboathousetewkesbury.co.uk Do you want to be the next Michael Winner and review a restaurant for Severn Village Living?’ Write to us and tell us why in 50 words or less for your chance to be a food reviewer.
VIVIENNE THEYER
With a smart, modern salon next to her home in the peaceful village of The Leigh, Vivienne proves that you don’t have to put up with the hassle of a city centre to enjoy hairdressing in style.
To arrange an appointment or discuss your style
Telephone 01242 680197
Little Holborn, Church Lane,The Leigh, GL19 4AF www.viviennetheyer.co.uk
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Mind Body School& of Gardening
25 • gardening
Following a successful Open Day, Sue is making preparations for her last summer workshop and is busy planning for a new term in September. If you would like to learn how to design your own garden but you are a complete beginner, you are Sue’s perfect candidate for her September course!
O
pen Day has come and gone, the First and SecondYear Design students have completed their courses and the one-day Workshops are drawing to an end. We can all now take a well-earned break and reflect on what has been achieved in the last year. And what a successful year it has been. The First-Year students have designed each other’s gardens, forged ahead with learning plant names and produced some excellent garden graphics. The Second-Years have designed a small city garden, a village garden and a large rural garden on three levels which required a WOW! factor design – and what WOW! designs they produced! Our first Open Day on 3rd July was very well attended. It was a pleasure to see so many visitors exploring the garden in the sunshine, enjoying tea and coffee-drizzle cake on the swing seat and inspecting students’ work in the classroom. This was greatly admired and congratulations go to all the students who have worked so hard, created some inspiring designs and at the same time brought much laughter into May Cottage and the Gardening School. It has been a pleasure to teach you all! We have one more workshop this summer on Growing and Training Fruit in Small Spaces on Saturday 31st July. We are all being urged to grow our own food and this is a good opportunity to learn the many different ways you can grow fruit. No matter how small your garden, there is usually room to grow at least one fruit tree. They can be trained into a fence, making a productive yet attractive boundary. They flourish as fans, espaliers or cordons against walls and Morello cherries, redcurrants and loganberries will even grow on a north-facing wall. You can also train an apple into a table top! All this is unexpectedly straightforward to do, so do come along and learn a new and unusual skill.
Summer is racing ahead and we are now planning for the new course year starting in September. The next YearOne Design your own Garden 3-term course starts on Wednesday evening, 8th September from 7.00 to 9.00pm (please note date change from last month’s issue of Severn Village Living). This course is for groups of no more than six people and no previous knowledge is required. The SecondYear Students’ Garden Design and Management course will be on Thursdays from 9th September. This will include working in the students’ own gardens as well as discovering the fascinating world of garden history. In 2011 I shall once again be holding one-day Workshops on Pruning Shrubs and Roses, Designing Borders, Growing and Training Fruit in Small Spaces and visiting a garden. In addition there will be a new workshop on Gardening for Beginners. If you have an idea for a new course, or would like a one-to-one or a garden consultation, please let me know. Gift Vouchers are also available. Have a great garden summer! Best wishes.
www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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The Sprinters Guide to print jargon Every business has its jargon and design and print is no exception, here are just few words that might help you to sound convincing.
Paul and Sprinters are part of Severnprint one of Gloucester’s finest quality printers and if he can’t answer your question he has lots of others behind him who can! Just ask.
The spec: The plan of how the job will be printed including everything down to the delivery.The brief: usually the design brief if we are to create something it might be good to know what you want to achieve. The typespec: not designer sunglasses from specsavers, but the font that we are to use, the size and the type, because that is what it is: type The font: the type you want to use. Typography: the art of using fonts and type. Centred, like this. ranged left or right, when the type starts from the left or right,
*
justified when the type makes is made to go to the end of each line and appears like a block. leading: the spaces between the lines of type ( yes, they used to use lead when type was metal! ) Run around: when the text runs around an image. There are many more typographical terms but you can probably bluff your way with these. Image, illustration, graphic. Can be a photo, drawing or painting and graphic usually refers to a logo. If you don’t know what a logo is, where have you been? pdf: portable document file.A file you can make on your pc or mac to supply artwork to use in a format that we can use. Quark and In design: design software, our preferred formats. If you use In design, package the artwork with the fonts and support files. Support files: all the graphic originals that you have used, put in a folder. Proof: a copy of the final print that we ask for you to sign-off, proof that you are getting what you want. Plates: we make these to print in full colour, one for each of the colours Press, what we put the plates on! Generally a very large litho press. Make ready: there’s a clue in the name, it’s the time it takes to get the machine ready to print. Pantone colour: an internationally recognized system of matching colour when we print. Digital print: an alternative method of print where we can print in full colour in small amounts, ask us about it. Finishing: when the print is on the paper we might score, fold or stitch it, so that you get exactly the finished printed product you want.
For all you need to know about print call Paul*on 01452 300158 or take a look at www.sprintersprint.co.uk
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27 • riverford organics
Riverford Organics With Marc Fowler of Riverford Home Delivery
T
he weather has been dominating our lives this year, from ridiculous snow fall early in the year through dry and pleasant early spring to a scorching summer. Notice how everybody is still loathe to call it summer for fear of it ending! Although the schools breaking up will no doubt see to that for us I imagine. Weather is probably the Farmer’s best and worst enemy, completely reliant upon it for the success of crops and indeed livestock the never ending rollercoaster provides some real tests of skill and patience. The farming year starts for most in September when the fields are cleared of straw and new crops are sown, arable farmers utilise the end of summer weather conditions to full effect to bring the wheat and barley crops along while vegetable producers need to keep the fields covered (cover crops such as clover and mustard are used) to prevent valuable nutrients being leached (washed) away by autumn and winter rainfall. Come spring and vegetable crops are being planted at a great rate.
The main vegetable crops grown locally are potatoes, planted in April they quickly come up in their protective rows and the green haulms cover the bare soil. Weeding is not often required as the cover prevents any weeds establishing. Potatoes require huge amounts of water however and the large water cannons you see working away are trying to provide around 40mm of water required by the crop per week. In organic systems this water requirement is no different however the spraying requirements vary wildly. Potatoes suffer from blight, this disease is vicious in warm and moist conditions i.e. a normal wet British summer! In dry conditions the crop is afforded some respite but with water being added artificially and a hot sun heating the canopy below the leaves the disease can again be prominent. Organic potatoes are not protected from blight with the same aggressive spray programme as non-organic but rely much more on plant breeding and crop planning. This year the new potatoes from Jersey have had the
worst year on record, hit by frosts in the spring (virtually unheard of) they then suffered from blight at an alarming rate. The current dry weather is also affecting our crops, new season carrots are not freely available as they require more water than is available so have stopped growing – when sold in fresh bunches this means that we have to reduce the planned availability accordingly. Other crops flourish meanwhile as the hot sun plays right into their hands and the salad crops can literally be seen growing in front of your very eyes! To top it all, last week we had to stop selling large chickens – the free running organic chickens with ample space had stopped eating because they were just too hot and as such were not gaining weight. They were still sold as small chickens however and tasted just as good but it caused a bit of head scratching.
Carrot salad with beetroot and sesame A more unusual salad recipe this time to liven up your summer meals; Serves 6 Preparation time: 15 mins Ingredients: 4 carrots coarsely grated 3 beetroot, peeled and coarsely grated Juice and zest of 2 oranges 2 tbsp sesame seeds, lightly toasted in a frying pan 2 tsp honey 1 garlic clove, crushed to a paste with a little salt 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp coriander, chopped
Mix the grated carrot and beetroot together in a large bowl. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix well. Check the seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, honey or orange juice if needed.
Sea salt and black pepper
If you want to give us a try or have any queries just give us a call on 01242 587246 www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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Severn Village Living •August 2010
16/7/10 13:41:03
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Severn Village Living Magazine goes straight through the letterboxes of 5000 homes & businesses in 20 villages. A great way of bringing your business to the rural communities of the River Severn. No artwork? We can design your ad for you for as little as £10. Get in touch to book your space 01452 730023 / 07969 807110 tina@severnvillageliving.co.uk
16/7/10 13:41:04
29 • DELI HEAVEN
Deli Heaven Sarah Lemon – Lots of Lemons Delicatessen, Bishops Cleeve
Delice des Cremier This month we are very excited to welcome our new columnist Sarah Lemon of Lots of Lemons Delicatessen in Bishops Cleeve. This new and delicious sounding venture is a wonderful addition to the area and Sarah is here to tell us all about why we should be visiting her!
L
ast year I spent a pleasurable couple of hours in the Cotswold Village of Broadway and wandered into the local delicatessen run by the wonderful Louise and Alan. My husband had recently developed a taste for cheese and I was keen to nurture this new, if somewhat late, development. ‘Delice des Cremier’ was my purchase that day and it was love at first taste of this triple crème cheese made in Bourgogne, fantastic with a large glass of merlot. So the monthly pilgrimage to Broadway started and one sunny day whilst meandering back through the country, feeling a little guilty at driving thirty minutes to buy two hundred grams of cheese, we suddenly had an epiphany! We should open our own delicatessen closer to home to save ourselves the journey. Shortly afterwards I accidently happened upon a small unit for rent tucked away in Tarlings
Courtyard, just off Church Road in Bishops Cleeve and it seemed the perfect spot for a small deli and so ‘Lots of Lemons Delicatessen’ was born. Starting the deli has been so rewarding and dare I say it ‘fun’. Many wonderful hours were spent looking for small quality producers both within the Cotswolds and nationally. It was like entering another world, one were everyone is passionate about what they do and love their jobs. Instead of titles like Marketing Manager you have the ‘Tea Guru’ at the Tea Pigs or ‘Wonderful Olively person’ at Olives et al and when I phoned ‘Cotswold Gold’ to enquire about their virgin rapeseed oil I caught them out in the field checking their crop. The award winning Hobbs House Bakery wished to meet me before agreeing to supply the Deli and wanted to ensure we would not intrude on their existing suppliers and much to my relief we passed the test.
A FEW OF OUR SUPPLIERS:
TEA PIGS / GRUMPY MULE COFFEE / FINE SPICE & OIL COMPANY `OLIVES ET AL / KITCHEN GARDEN PRESERVES / BRAMLEY & CAGE / HOBBS HOUSE BAKERY / NUDO PESTO & PASTAS / COSTWOLD MERINGUES / COTSWOLD GOLD / JAMNASTICS
All these enthusiastic people and the lovely customers who have now started wandering through our door all have so much in common. They are passionate about good quality slow food, they care for the environment and support ethical, fair production and believe in not letting the small independent shops and local producers die out. Most importantly, they all take the time to sit and enjoy some fantastically produced food and beverages with friends and family in what is often a chaotic and very busy world. We are so proud to have our very own deli now and be part of this world, and although we still have so much to do and learn we will continue to love every minute of it. P.S. After all this I forgot to place an order for Delice des Cremier but am happy to report to my husband, and everyone else, that I now have it in stock!
Sarah
www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023
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Severn Village Living •August 2010
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01452 398010 Gloucester and Surrounding Areas 01531 828970 Newent and West Gloucestershire
Hartpury
£485,000
An individual detached house set well back in its own grounds off Over Old Road in the village of Hartpury. Views across open farmland to the rear. The property provides: Porch, hall, cloakroom, sitting room, dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, 4 bedrooms, bathroom, en suite shower room, garage and gardens.
Hartpury
£375,000
A charming and most interesting three bedroom detached cottage which occupies a large rectangular plot backing onto fields located on the western outskirts of this popular village, sitting room with Inglenook, horseshoe driveway providing parking for several vehicles, private, mature and well stocked gardens with chicken run.
Hartpury
£349,750
A charming and spacious stone built detached cottage set in a large garden. Completely renovated over recent years to provide character accommodation with the benefit of modern kitchen & bathroom fittings. Living room with sitting room and study areas, well fitted kitchen/breakfast room, family room, utility, cloakroom, 3 beds, bath/shower room, double garage, workshop and store. Level gardens laid mainly to lawn with shrubbery beds & borders.
All available properties listed in detail online www.naylorpowell.com
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