Severn Village Living 6 1010

SEVERN

Village LIVING

Free

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October 2010

Lifestyle | Community | business

norton The Leigh Twigworth Down hatherley Sandhurst highnam Over maisemore hartpury

In Praise of the Perry Pear with the hartpury heritage Trust

Try Something New Reiki Healing

by Serene Soul

ashleworth memorial hall Looking back but moving forward

best of the autumn Fests apple Days & Fright nights

Nature in Art October events listing pg7 Cotswold Vale Pony Club report!

ashleworth hasfield apperley Deerhurst Coombe hill Knightsbridge boddington Staverton

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ALL EL W COME! 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

£16.95+VAT per sq. metre

Delivery within 10 mile radius included

li Building Supp roes a n v t e o r S t o v o e t of ne r Fly ements under o ding requir for all your buil

HERE TO

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6,000

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

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Contents 4

Welcome to October

5-7

Village news & Diary

8-9

hartpury heritage Trust & Hartpury Orchard Centre

harTPurY heriTaGe TruST 8

12-13

Local business inspiration – Edward Upholstery

16-17

Try Something new – Reiki Healing

20-21

The history of... Ashleworth Memorial Hall

22-23

Local business inspiration –

TrY SOmeThinG neW 16

Tansy’s Pet and Equine Services 25

riverford Organics recipe

26

best of the autumn Fests – Apple Days & Fright Nights

29

Deli heaven: Sarah Lemon from ‘Lots of Lemons’

30-31

Local business inspiration – Sprinters

The hiSTOrY OF... 20

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 October

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absolutely love autumn and feel invigorated when I feel that nip in the air of an October morning.

Hannah and I have been out looking for conkers and autumn leaves and are making an autumn box of things to study and keep. October is a great month for pears so I thought it was the perfect time to chat to Jim Chapman of the Hartpury Heritage trust to learn more about the work of the trust in promoting orchard crafts and preserving our rural orchards. I enjoyed a very interesting tour around the Hartpury Orchard Centre and learnt all about the Perry Pear.

My high octane try something new experience of last month is replaced by an altogether calmer and more relaxing topic as Daniella warner of serene soul performs Reiki Healing on me. Our History Of… feature is timely this month as Ashleworth Memorial Hall opens for business after it’s major refurbishment.

Our local businesses just keep on being inspiring – we have three to introduce you to in October!

Don’t forget to make your way to the Cheltenham Literature Festival 8th-17th October. there are

some inspirational guests this year from stephen Hawking to nigella Lawson. And for more autumn events turn to page 26 to check out the Best of the Autumn Fests.

Lots to keep you interested I hope! As the magazine grows in its success I would like increase my distribution to more villages – but I am out of time and resources! therefore, I am also looking for local distributors. If you would like to distribute in your village… and get paid for it… please get in touch.

Tina x

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     

  

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       

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       

www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023

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5 • news & events

norton, Leigh & District horticultural Show 2010 report...

t

he show took place on saturday 14 August and there was yet another increase in the number of exhibits – up by a further 50 this year! Congratulations to Janet Broughton who was awarded the President’s Cup and Ladies’ Cup for being placed Overall winner with 70.5 points. Other winners included: Chairman’s Rose Bowl (flower arranging) – Jackie Gilleland, Mrs C e Price Memorial Cup (bowl of mixed roses) – Deb warren, Davies Cup (cut flowers and pot plants) – Janet Broughton, Frank Bridge Memorial Cup (collection of 6 kinds of vegetables) and C e Hadley Memorial Cup (onions grown from sets) – Harry wilks – Challenge Cup (cookery) – Jo Robson, Miss Finlay Children’s Cup (under 7s) – Maddie williams, Joy Perkin Cup (8-12 years) – Jack tyrer, young Persons 13-16 years – Jessica Beeson. All classes are open to everyone so why not have “a go” next year! Many thanks to Jo Robson for the report.

Afghanistan Talk raises over £400

A

big thank you from Canon David and Angela Godwin to those who came to their Coffee Morning for sarah turner as mentioned in the August severn village Living Magazine. It was well attended and sarah gave an illustrated talk about her life in Afghanistan over the past year, which was very informative. A total in excess of £400 was raised, and the fund is still growing, so many thanks to all who came and all who gave in support of sarah’s courageous work.

Overall Winner, Janet broughton

harvest Family Fun

s

t Matthews Church [twigworth with Longford] are having a fun evening to celebrate the gathering and bringing home of the harvest, at Longford village Hall, with a delicious buffet supper, a “Harvest Dessert” and a glass of locally produced cider [or wine/soft drinks].

Followed by cover entertainment by John Muir. All are most welcome to join in, bring friends and maybe make new ones. To be sure of a place you are advised to book. To do so, or enquire, please ring annie or Dave on 01452 381642.

Children 13 - 16 years, 4 decorated Cupcakes – Winner: Jessica beeson

Congrats to Riverford Farm Cookbook August competition winners: Cathy Heard of Apperley, Mrs McCullen of Innsworth, Mrs Mansfield of Tewkesbury, Mrs Osburn of Cheltenham and Mrs Carless of Churchdown. www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023

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6 • news & events

Sandhurst Village Fête

T

his year’s Sandhurst Village Fête held on August Bank Holiday Monday, enjoyed lovely weather (lots of wasps!) and a large number of visitors from the village and surrounding areas. Stalls included the very competitive coconut shy and golf game, the bottle stall, plant stalls, lucky dip, a mystery raffle, the ever popular tea and cakes and Simon Middle’s burgers, roast beef and sausages (in the picture). Pony rides were a great crowd pleaser. Pony ride organiser Jemma CyphusJones and her willing ponies made the fête for some pony mad children including 15 month old Hannah Carless who looked quite at home on board little pony, Rupert (left). Thanks to the organisers for another fantastic village event.

The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2010 8 - 17 October

T

his year’s Literature Festival is already shaping up to be a huge event – and as well as the stars of the literary world, the Festival will be welcoming some experts of the kitchen in October! So if you’re fan of gourmet gurus, don’t miss some of the events in the Bitesize strand: Antonio Carluccio, joining the Festival on 13 October at 8.45pm, will be sharing his philosophy of Simple Cooking; Popular TV chef Rachel Allen will be performing a live demonstration of some delectable family food recipes on 14 October at 4.30pm, together with Hardeep Singh Kohli; Olly Smith, presenter of Iron Chef and

Saturday Kitchen regular, shows how to achieve taste heaven with food that’s great to drink with on 14 October at 8.45pm. And Nigella Lawson will be joining the line up on 15 October at 6.30pm, to discuss her passion for food and cooking – and the ethos behind her new book and TV series, Kitchen. There are lots more great events in the Bitesize strand too – do check out the full programme. To get your tickets, you can either book online, go in person to Cheltenham Town Hall, or call Box Office on 0844 576 7979.

19th October - 14th November Nature in Art: Twigworth: 01452 731422 www.nature-in-art.org.uk

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unique selection of cartoons from the Cartoon Museum, London which, like Nature in Art, is the first Museum of its type in the UK. Cartoons have been an integral part of our culture and history. This exhibition of work by some of the best known cartoonists, focuses on animals, the environment and nature. Great cartoonists from the past such as John Leech, William Heath Robinson and Norman Thelwell will be exhibited alongside some of the funniest cartoonists working today including Tony Husband, Ken Pyne, Andy Riley, Mike Williams, Simon Bond, Neil Bennett, Chris Riddell and many more.

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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... October 2010 Triumph Sports Six Club Members meet at The Swan at Coombe Hill on the 3rd Monday of every month from 8pm – new members always welcome – just turn up!

Friday 1st October – 9.30am until 11.30am. ashleworth baby & Toddler Group relaunches at ashleworth memorial hal Ages 0-5 years, run by a friendly group of mums. Usually £2 admission but for this October event it is free! Come along on the day.

Sunday 3rd October STaVerTOn anD bODDinGTOn LOCaL hiSTOrY aT bODDinGTOn manOr (off A4019 Cheltenham to tewkesbury Road) view historical documents and old photographs relating to staverton and Boddington. there will be an opportunity for you to add your own notes and put names to the faces in the pictures! 2 p.m. until 4.30 p.m £2 ADMIssIOn tO GROUnDs / teAs / CARDs AnD BOOKs In aid of staverton and Boddington Parish Churches Sun 3 October 2-4pm Friends Of naunton Park apple event naunton Park, naunton Lane, Cheltenham.

More info: Meyrick Brentnall 01242 581314 Friday 8th October harvest Supper at ashleworth memorial hall 7.30pm for 8pm. Magical entertainment. tickets £12 available from the village shop. Please bring your own drinks.

September 18th until October 24th DO nOT GO baCK TO SLeeP – an exhibition of recent paintings by marian hvass At taurus Crafts, Lydney, Glos, GL15 6BU. 01594 844841/ www.tauruscrafts.co.uk For more information and examples of Marianne’s work check out – www.hvasskure.dk an early date for the diary: Jo robson’s Christmas Crafts: Sunday 21st november Come and see our range of locally made gifts, produce and Christmas cards at the Barn, Daniel’s Orchard, the Leigh, GL19 4AG. 10-100% of all every item sold goes towards the Cheltenham Cobalt Breast Cancer Fund and the County Air Ambulance trust. we will be reminding readers again in the november edition.

nature in art events 01452 731422 or visit www.nature-in-art.org.uk for bookings.

Wallsworth evenings tickets need to be booked in advance on 01452 731422.

Unless otherwise indicated, doors open 7pm.

Finger buffet at 7.30pm. event c.8.10pm Wednesday October 13th £8 illustrated talk & apple tasting with martin hayes Hear a real apple enthusiast and expert present an informal talk on orchards and the work that happens in them. with a tasting of Orchard related produce such as juice, cider and perry, apples and pears. An entertaining and informative evening!

Children’s art activities Tuesday 26th October Clothing re-cycling Any age, cost £5 Learn how other countries re-use everyday materials. we will have items for you to see such as shoes made from tyres!

Bring along an item of clothing you no longer wear; an old t-shirt, shirt or jeans. Using creative techniques we will recycle your old clothing into something new.

Wednesday 27th October Shadow puppet theatre Any age, cost £5 take part in your very own shadow puppet theatre. Have a look at the cartoon exhibition & choose what your play will be about, perhaps climate change, recycling or habitats?

Create jointed human puppets out of card to star in your play & make your own shadow theatre so your puppets have a stage to perform on at home.

art Courses Courses are one to three days long. £33 per day for Friends of Nature in Art and £39 per day for Non members.

2nd-3rd Oct: Botanical Art in Coloured and Graphite Pencils: Marilyn Hughes 9th-10th Oct: Drawing in Graphite, Colour or Pastel: Andrew Forkner 14th-15th Oct: Botanical Water colour: Alison Cooper 16th-17th Oct: Colour and Painting for the Petrified: Richard Box 21st-22nd Oct: Beginners and Improvers Drawing: Jackie Garner 23rd Oct: Card Craft with Jennifer Smith These activities all need to be booked, please call 01452 731422 or visit www.nature-in-art.org.uk

www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023

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8 • The Hartpury Heritage Trust

Jim Chapman

The Hartpury Heritage Trust & Hartpury Orchard Centre

I

t’s pear season so I thought a trip to the Hartpury Orchard Centre was in order. I was also intrigued to learn a little more about pears and perry.

Apples and cider always get the big press stories and I wondered if the ancient perry pear could live up to it’s more commercial rival. Jim Chapman, founder of the Hartpury Orchard Centre, met me on a gloriously September morning to show me around and tell me more about this fruity project that he describes as his ‘baby’.

The Hartpury Heritage Trust was set up to preserve the traditional pear orchards that were in real danger October 2010 • Severn Village Living

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of decline. The pear has a hugely significant place in the history of the Severn villages, especially Hartpury.

In 1662, one of the earliest recorded perry pears associated with a specific locality was “the Harpary Green pear”.

The actual village name of Hartpury was derived from the Saxon word Hardepiridge – the hard pear tree.

Orchards existed in Gloucestershire as far back as the Roman era and a drink called “pyrry” was produced in early medieval times. The ancestors of the “classic” perry pear derive from a cross between the native British wild pear and the cultivated pear

brought in by the Romans. Perry pears are now found almost exclusively in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and, to a limited extent, Monmouthshire and Worcestershire.

By the 18th century, the three main “fruit-liquor” districts were “that of Hereford and Gloucester shires, or the May-hill district”. Gloucestershire also became the key centre for the production of cider and perry (known as “Vinetum Britannicum”). So, over 400 years ago, under May Hill, Huguenot glassmakers established a glasshouse with a coal-fired furnace which led to the production of stronger glass for bottle production. At the same time cider and perry makers started to control the mysteries of secondary in-bottle fermentation, producing “a sparkle and eruption of bubbles when the cork is drawn”. Much later this technique was exploited by French wine producers for the production of “Champagne”.

Today the Hartpury Orchard contains the Hartpury National Collection of Perry Pears. Although the orchards are only five years old, Jim and his experts are already budding and grafting over 120 different varieties onto the trees. Two trees of each kind have been planted to preserve them for the future. The Orchard Centre, together with the surrounding Hartpury Perry Park will, as it develops, provide a model of best practice in local food and drink production, traditional orchard and wetland management, conservation, sustainable development and environmental protection. Jim Chapman, a former solicitor and founder of the Shambles Museum in Newent, originally owned the 25 acres of orchard and wetland. He donated it to the Hartpury Heritage Trust in 2005 with the idea of creating a centre for orchard preservation and development.

He then set about developing the centre through lottery funding and grants from bodies including the Gloucestershire

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environmental trust and Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance. Because the focus is on perry pears rather than apples these institutions were very interested in the project and funding was readily granted. the first course took place in 2008, before the actual centre was completed, and 2009 saw the first full season of the course programme. the courses run at the centre are extremely popular, mostly due to Peter Mitchell, the centre’s resident lecturer. Peter is a highly qualified and internationally recognised expert and authority in cider and perry making with over 25 years of experience and an award-winning producer in his own right. Courses focusing on the commercial aspects of producing cider and perry and have been ‘phenomenally successful’. In fact, Jim tells me there have been visitors from as far afield as the Australia, UsA, eastern europe.

Recently, a visitor from new Delhi flew in just for a one day course! this, to me, is intriguing – why such a global interest in a product we typically associate with sleepy english villages? Jim explains that these countries have rapidly growing cider markets and canny business people have seen a gap in the market. Often their countries, and this is especially true of eastern europe, are seeing a glut of apples and pears – more than they can export – and they don’t know what to do with the excess. so instead of letting them go to waste

they are looking to set up their own industries.

Courses can be one day courses, more specifically aimed at the amateur who has a general interest in learning how to make cider or perry from their own orchard; up to four and five day courses for the more serious student. training courses for employees of companies such as Bulmer’s and Heineken are also very popular.

Certificates gained from completion of these courses are recognised by the national Association of Cider Makers.

Peter’s reputation is world renowned. so if a British cider or perry maker wanted to take his expertise to the American orchards of Oregon; as a graduate of a Peter Mitchell course he would be warmly welcomed. the Hartpury Heritage trust does not only support the Hartpury Orchard Centre, it was created by Jim to raise awareness and help restore many historical buildings in Hartpury. the trust restored the old Dominican chapel

by Hartpury church ten years ago and the famous Bee shelter was moved to the church from the college. Although the charity started life as the Hartpury Historic Buildings trust, it has since expanded its interest to other projects such as the Hartpury Orchard Centre and has recently been renamed as the Hartpury Heritage trust. so what can the centre offer for us ordinary folk who are not planning

to take over the world with our perry production? I asked Jim what he would like the Hartpury Orchard Centre to mean to the people of the Hartpury and surrounding villages. “I want them to use the space as their own”, says Jim. “there is a little kissing gate to the left of the main entrance which is open at any time for people to walk round the wetlands trail where they can see wading birds and might even get a glimpse of our recently discovered otter family!” well, I can safely say I really didn’t know anything about the perry pear until today and from now on, thanks to Jim, I shall treat pears with rather more respect than just chucking them in a crumble!

Interested in learning more about the history of the perry pear?

Why not sign up for a course or come along to an event? The best place to find out about all the courses held at the centre and information on opening times and the wetlands trail is at www.tasteandexplore.co.uk.

Visit the centre at Blackwells End, Hartpury. If the Hartpury Heritage Trust is of particular interest you can look them up at www.hartpuryhistoric.org

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The Cotswold Vale Farmers’ Hunt Pony Club held their Fun Horse and Dog Summer Show recently – in the pouring rain!!!

C    

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aroline Gilder, Show Secretary, said ‘We were pleased so many people came to the show considering the inclement weather and even more delighted with the fact we have raised about £2000 for Branch funds.’

Joint Organiser Pip Morris said ‘It is largely due to the generosity of all our sponsors and supporters that we have been able to raise such a huge amount of money – we are truly grateful to them all. We have bought a lot of equipment recently, including some cross country jumps and number bibs, so the funds are welcomed.’

The Cotswold Vale Farmer’s Hunt Pony Club Branch had a very successful day with many wins for their members.Mathilda

Darling won the opening jumping class on the rescued pony Spats whilst Abigail Farrell and Diesel had a win and a 3rd, as did Immogen Morris on Jason and Chico. The fastest round of the day probably belongs to James Allen on Plymswood Melody May who sped around to win the popular 3ft class convincingly!

Sister Immogen Morris on Chico beat brother Dominic on Alf into second place in the 3ft Accumulator. Immogen only took over the ride on Chico from Dominic a few months ago.

Alice Mayo and Abbey finished off a good season by securing 2 seconds and a win in the bigger classes.

Victoria Wheeler on Buddy won both the 2 most popular classes in the Novice Jumping, the 2ft 3ins and the 2ft 3ins Accumulator.

Molly Albutt on Lettie Confetti won the cross poles lead rein jumping whilst Haidee Field won 3 assisted classes.

3-year-old Isabelle Wilson won the most popular class in the showing ring on the veteran pony Gypsy.

Working Hunter and Dressage classes were introduced for the first time, with the Walk and Trot test being fully subscribed. This was one of Amelia Williams’ 3 wins on the versatile Katie who has also recently finished 8th in the Cricklands Championships.

Report from Caroline Gilder, Show Secretary 07812 411474 www.cotswoldvaleponyclub.co.uk

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16/09/2010 15:26

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12 • LOCAL BUsIness InsPIRAtIOn

Edward Upholstery of Cheltenham Sometimes well meaning parents don’t always get it right when they try to help their children. Luckily for Ken Edward his Mum and Dad got it very right. I met Ken at his workshop to find out how he went from nearly losing his life to becoming a skilled furniture upholsterer and designer.

e

dward Upholstery is currently based in the Knightsbridge Business Park but as we shoehorn ourselves into two comfy armchairs between the piles of furniture, I am not at all surprised when he informs me he will be moving to a bigger workshop at the end of the month. “the business has really taken off this year,” says Ken. “we are now in a position to really show off our work. the new workshop, just a few doors down from here, will be a working showroom so people can come and see our work in progress.”

I am not really sure what your typical upholsterer looks like but I am sure he doesn’t look like Ken, who would look more at home playing for Gloucester Rugby. this is why my first question is to ask how he became an upholsterer.

Ken tells me he started the business six years ago after completing a five year apprenticeship on a government youth training scheme (which Ken actually completed in two and a half years). An odd choice for a teenage schoolboy, I October 2010 • Severn Village Living

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comment. “yes, it wasn’t something I ever thought I would choose but my parents could see I was struggling to find my niche at school so Mum took the decision to get me a place on any apprenticeship scheme available and upholstery was it!”

Ken then went on to train under stephen Perkins of Cirencester integrating his traditional upholstery skills into stephen’s new furniture making and design business. shortly after, tragedy struck for Ken when he was so seriously injured in a car crash the doctors gave him only a 20% chance of survival. Clearly made of stronger stuff, Ken went on to make a full recovery in just six months. During that time his parents proposed to Ken that he set up his own upholstery business. One 12x12 shed in the back garden later and edward Upholstery was born. stephen Perkins remained incredibly supportive and passed Ken some traditional upholstery work and word of mouth started to spread.

Remarkably, the garden shed is where Ken stayed until a year ago.

Ken’s business is derived from a mixture of antique dealers, interior designers, commercial businesses and the general public. so, with the onslaught of the mass market furniture giants in recent years, is it right to think this business a dying art? “not at all”, says Ken. “Many people love their existing furniture and can’t find the perfect replacement. the sensible solution is to have it re-upholstered and breathe new life into it.” In the workshop I can see some very interesting looking pieces; some clearly antique and some new and unusual. they have been designed by Ken. “I have a great love for the restoration element of my craft but the design of new furniture really excites me. this is a part of the business I am looking forward to developing” he says. “Can customers design a piece of furniture for you to make?” I ask. “Oh yes”, replies Ken, “this is a big part of my business.

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Designing your furniture is like buying a tailored suit. the customer chooses the style, the frame, the size; the fabric, the stuffing and the finishes. when they are happy with their design, I send the spec to my frame makers in London who handcraft the frame of the piece. these pieces of furniture are designed to last a lifetime. you are effectively buying antiques of the future.”

Ken believes that “you get what you pay for” and for this kind of craftsmanship you would expect to pay a lot. However, designing your own furniture can be very affordable indeed. Features can be modified to suit the furniture and your budget without losing quality and the cost is often similar to buying a new piece of furniture. to price a job Ken needs to see the furniture in question and is always happy to visit your home for a free no obligation quote. He will take away the item for you and re-deliver it back to you. For upholstering,

restoration or newly designed furniture the whole process from enquiry to final delivery takes 6-8 weeks but your furniture is actually only away from you for a maximum of seven to ten days. working with a bespoke upholsterer or furniture designer directly can actually save you money and you receive a unique and personal service too. the Open weekend to celebrate the move to the new premises is taking place on the 23 and 24th October from 10am to 4pm. Ken is excited to be launching a new interior design service on the day. Pieces of furniture from a sofa to a cello doubling up as wine rack will be on display to pique the imagination; plus carpets, rugs, lighting and clocks. no invitation is needed. Just turn up and say hello.

Ken edward has certainly come a long way but he insists there is more to his story than just hard work and determination. His family have been incredibly supportive, particularly his

parents without whom Ken is adamant he would not be where he is today.

His greatest success is being able to show them how right they were in signing him up for that apprenticeship and to continually grow and evolve his business. well, he has upgraded from the garden shed to a workshop to a showroom in the last six years. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Contact Details: Edward Upholstery 2 Knightsbridge Business Park (moving from No.7 at the end of the month) Tewkesbury Road Cheltenham 01242 680493 www.edwardupholstery.co.uk / info@edwardupholstery.co.uk

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16 • tRy sOMetHInG new

Reiki Healing with Daniella Warner of Serene Soul

I

wouldn’t say I was a sceptic when it comes to holistic treatments but I do have my doubts about the effectiveness of some. Reiki is one such treatment. As a huge fan of massage and ‘contact’ treatments, I was doubtful that healing of the body could be done simply by minimal or no touch. I have several friends who find Reiki really works for them. so would it work for me? I met Daniella warner, owner and founder of serene soul, to find out. we meet in Daniella’s clinic in Corse. A peaceful place surrounded by fields in the middle of the countryside. we start the session as if I was a regular client with a short consultation about my health and well being. Daniella begins by health dowsing me. Health dowsing involves a crystal pendulum that Daniella focuses on the person and asks the crystal pendulum questions about

October 2010 • Severn Village Living

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that person. It swings left or right for yes and no answers. she asks if my chakras are in balance. Chakras are energy centres in the body. there are seven including the heart, head and abdomen each relating to different emotions. each time she asks the crystal pendulum if my chakra is balanced it answers ‘yes’ until we get to the heart chakra, which is apparently a bit out of kilter. the heart chakra deals with love and relationships.

Daniella asks me if I have had any arguments with my partner today. I haven’t; so I give some more thought to the fact that I am a bit ‘unbalanced’ (no jokes please). I can’t really pinpoint anything specific though. the good news is that the rest of me is in perfect spiritual health; no negative energies to block the Reiki treatment. Health Dowsing complete, we move onto the Reiki session.

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high we are more capable of being happy and healthy. the word Reiki is made up of two Japanese words - Rei which means “God’s wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. so Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.” while Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and practitioners of Reiki claim it will work whether you believe in it or not. Daniella is a Reiki Master which means she has trained to a high level of Reiki Healing and during treatment serves as a vessel that supplies healing energies where they are most needed. Reiki’s ki-energies will flow out of her body through the palms of the hands while they are touching my body.

I lay on the couch, fully clothed but without specs, jewellery and shoes.

Before we start, Daniella explains the process and what I might feel or visualise. she tells me she will start at my head and work her way down one side of body and then move to the other side. I may feel a tingling sensation in some areas, in other parts of the body I may feel warmth, even heat and sometimes cold. there may be

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involuntary movements of the limbs or vibrations felt as she touches a particular area. This could mean there is pain in the area, an old injury or blocked energy that needs to be released. I could see colours and visualise images. However, none of the above needs to be experienced for the Reiki to work. Each individual’s experience is different and it is very dependant on your need at the time.

You should ask the Reiki to heal you in the way you require. We begin with a relaxation exercise visualising my body relaxing and then imagining a golden light filling my body. Daniella starts the Reiki healing with my head and ears. I start to see lots of lilac swirling in front of my eyes and my head feels warm.

As she moves to my ears the warmth turns to heat and the colours become stronger. When she moves away towards to my arms and chest the lilac fades and the heat disperses. The colours I see are now green and a little yellow. I can feel Daniella’s touch on my elbow and hand, I think. It is so light it is difficult to tell. My fingers make an involuntary jump.

I fall into that semi-conscious state where you aren’t aware of falling asleep but your body wakes you up with a little jolt.

This occurred a couple of times and I prayed I wasn’t snoring! I don’t think I saw any more colours, I had moved i nto a deeper level of relaxation. The hour long session passed in a flash and Daniella brought me round slowly and we started to talk about what I had experienced.

The lilac colours I saw when she was at my head and ears are representative of the head chakra so very much in context.

The heat I felt was related directly to the fact that Daniella said my head was like “a bees nest...absolutely buzzing.”

The green colours are associated with the heart and the yellow with the solar plexus. The movements I experienced in my limbs were likely to be the unblocking of trapped energy. All in all, I am told that I have had a very successful session and am now in total balance.

The word Reiki is made up of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”

She does warn me that I may feel a little ‘out of sorts’ for the next couple of days.

The end result however will be a more positive and energised ‘me’.

Back on the sofa it is my turn to ask Daniella a little about her background.

Daniella worked as a P.A for many years in a high pressured corporate environment and during that time became a fan of complementary therapy, often having a regular treatment. She went for an Indian head massage for the first time and after the treatment asked what all the colours were that she experienced. The practitioner talked of chakras and mentioned Reiki. A curious Daniella went for a Reiki session and the experience led her to really consider how she could achieve a better work/ life balance. So she studied Reiki and attended many intensive courses learning to practice treatments such as Release Therapy for extreme stress and anxiety, Hopi Ear Candling, Health Dowsing and Oriental Massage. Seven years ago she left her full time job and set up Serene Soul. Daniella now has clinics in Corse and Malvern and in addition to her holistic treatments offers beauty treatments such as sugaring and she also practices Reiki on animals.

Daniella tells me that holistic therapy of any kind is ‘no quick fix’. “People have to learn to help themselves”, she says, “and by the time they come to me they know they have a problem, whether it is lack of direction and clouded thoughts – perfect candidates for Reiki – or

something more deep rooted for which they need to seek a deeper connection to themselves.” Clients like me may need an occasional session to re-balance the chakras every few months. Those that have suffered personal loss or are facing seemingly insurmountable problems in their life will need to commit to a more long term programme of treatment. “Holistic treatments are not to replace traditional medicine. No one is suggesting these treatments are cures for serious illnesses; mental or physical” explains Daniella “but it does complement and support the process of healing and the benefits are huge.”

I really enjoyed my Reiki session and I would consider maintaining my spiritual balance every few months with another treatment. I am also going to ask for a natural face lift massage for my birthday treat next month – apparently results can be seen after the first treatment. Never mind the Reiki, looking a few years younger would most definitely put me in a positive frame of mind.

To experience Reiki Healing visit Daniella at one of her clinics – Corse: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays until 7pm and the Wheel of Life, Great Malvern on Friday afternoons. It costs £35 for a Reiki session and the first session includes a 15 minute free consultation in addition to your one hour treatment. If you want to try any other treatment or therapy that Serene Soul has to offer you will find all details and prices on the website www.serenesoul.co.uk or call Daniella for an initial chat about your needs on 07801 498519 or email on daniella@serenesoul.co.uk

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Village Living Severn 6 1010.indd 18

CHRISTMAS IS COMING TIME TO BOOK YOUR AD! THIS QUARTER PAGE ADVERT £85+VAT FOR 2 MONTHS NOVEMBER & DECEMBER EDITIONS 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.

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16/09/2010 15:26

20 • tHe HIstORy OF... AsHLewORtH MeMORIAL HALL

Ashleworth Memorial Hall As you read this article Ashleworth Memorial Hall will be officially opening its doors to the parish, seven years after plans to renovate it for the first time since 1969. Projects like this are the lifeblood of a local community but they cost money and take up a great deal of time and dedication. I met with Humphrey Chamberlayne and Adrian Mitra, together a driving force behind this challenging development.

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he first mention of Ashleworth Parish Hall appeared in the Committee minute book on the 21st november 1921. Miss strickland of Lords Hill made a provisional and conditional offer of £100 to begin construction of the proposed parish hall. From this date forward the Committee focused all their efforts on fundraising for the hall and looked for a suitable site in earnest. eventually, after considering 3 other sites, including the village Green, Mr & Mrs taylor of nupend offered a piece of land on which to build the hall. It was entirely free of charge and without condition. the Committee accepted, with great thanks, this ‘splendid offer’. six years later, following an intense period of fundraising, planning and negotiation and a final price tag of over £1000, the Ashleworth Parish Hall was opened

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on May 17th 1928 by Colonel and Mrs Calvert of Foscombe. there was a dance attended by 143 people and the Banjo Club provided the entertainment. there was great celebration for the long awaited arrival of this new community building that was destined for many years of dances, rummage sales, children’s parties, whist drives and cookery classes. In 1929 a grand piano was purchased for the princely sum of £27. It came with a two year guarantee and cost 12 shillings per annum to keep it tuned! strangely, the hall was planned and referred to as a parish hall yet opened as a memorial hall despite there being no memorial in Ashleworth itself. A memorial stone was placed at the front of the building and dedicated to all those who lost their lives in wwI. this stone still stands as the central feature if the hall today.

the hall successfully continued as a meeting place in the heart of the community for many years until the late 1960’s when a badly needed refurbishment took place introducing new toilets, improved facilities and the installation of a proper kitchen. Once re-launched in 1970, the hall remained fully functional right up until 2003 when its rather tired appearance raised concerns from the villagers as to its future. One suggestion was to build a completely new facility to combine the functions of the Memorial Hall and the woodpeckers Club at the sportsground.

In 2005 this idea was revived and a feasibility study carried out. the two proposals were put forward to the Ashleworth community. 1: relocate the hall to the woodpeckers sports Ground and create one new sport and community building or 2: Leave

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the woodpeckers Club alone and completely renovate the hall as it stood in its original position. the village felt strongly that the hall should remain where it was as its central position was important to the village as was the memorial to the young men of wwI. therefore the hall should be renovated as a memorial hall. so in 2007, wheels were set in motion to secure funding for the project.

Humphrey Chamberlayne has been a member of the Committee since 1969 and is now the Chair of the Committee.

His role in the redevelopment of the hall has been integral and unwavering yet he tells me the project would not have got off the ground without the expertise of Adrian Mitra, vice Chairman of the Committee and ‘the man who does the bids’. Adrian’s background in writing official proposals has been an invaluable support to the project. £177,000 of funding has come from the Big Lottery Fund but the process in securing this grant required great research, time and tenacity. the rest of the money needed was donated by tewkesbury Borough Council: £50,000, the Parish Council: £3,500 and the summerfield trust: £2000 for the new kitchen. the remaining £28,500 was raised by the community through imaginative fundraising activities. Adrian tells me his favourite part was the final £4,000 that was raised through holding Christmas

A memorial stone was placed at the front of the building and dedicated to all those who lost their lives in WWI. This stone still stands as the central feature if the hall today. pantomimes over the last couple of years. the whole village got involved and out of 500 residents in Ashleworth, 300 tickets were sold each year which shows the level of community commitment to the project. £250,000 worth of refurbishment later and the Ashleworth Memorial Hall will be enjoying its grand opening ceremony as you read this. At the time of going to press the plan for the day is that on september 25th the hall will be opened officially and the ribbon cut

by Jim Morris, local farmer, Committee member and long standing trustee.

Reverend Rob Merchant will carry out the ceremony and re-dedicate the memorial hall in memory of the men from the parish that lost their lives in

wwI/II. the difference from the 1929 dedication will be the addition of two brothers to the list of names. Frederick John Brotheridge and George Hawkins Brotheridge of Colways will be now be included along with Peter Roebuck Gillepsy of Ashleworth who lost his life in wwII. there will be standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and fourteen children from the parish will step forward to lay a rose to represent each of the fourteen lives lost. while the villagers of Ashleworth rightly remember the past they can also look forward to a bright future for this fantastic new building on which so many people have worked tirelessly for seven long years. the local school will use it as their gymnasium; the Ashleworth toddler Group will welcome new mums and their children. the PtFA will use it for their fundraising events and the w.I will enjoy it as a permanent home for their meetings. From the 13th October the first Ashleworth Lunch Club will be launched, gathering together members of the community who might not otherwise have a place to meet and socialise. the Craft Club will meet on wednesday mornings and village events such as the Harvest supper and Christmas Panto will take place within its now warm and welcoming four walls - with the added benefit of a brand new kitchen, disabled facilities and the Committee meeting room. Although it seems those who remember the old hall from years past will be most excited about the new (reliable) heating system! It seems that a heated community venue in Ashleworth has been no less than 81 years in the making. well, after my tour of the new hall I can assure the village that Ashleworth Memorial Hall 2010 has definitely been worth the wait.

Enquiries about the hire of the hall should be directed to Hall Booking Secretary, Florence Spencer on 01452 700832.

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Severn Village Living • October 2010

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22 • LOCAL BUsIness InsPIRAtIOn

Tansy’s Pet and Equine Services If a dog is a man’s best friend, Amy Johnson is a dog’s best friend (and a cat’s and a horse and all manner of pets) and with the nights drawing in, the temperature dropping and dog walking on dark, rainy mornings becoming less appealing by the minute; she could soon be your best friend too.

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ast month, Amy took some time out of her busy schedule to chat to me about how she has followed her dream to set up her own business and now spends her days walking dogs, feeding horses, playing with cats and being an all-round eliza Doolittle. tansy’s Pet and equine services has just enjoyed a buoyant summer season as the county’s pet owners jetted off to sunnier climes during the school holidays. this is great if you have a mobile pet that can join you on your adventures but if you have a horse it might be a little more difficult to persuade the hotel he is a ‘small, well behaved pet’! Likewise, dogs and planes don’t mix and cats in suitcases are not recommended. Most pet owners don’t like the idea of leaving their pet in the care of a kennel or cattery but, in the absence of willing family and friends to call upon, what other options are there? introducing eliza, sorry, amy…

Amy Johnson is a true animal lover who has owned and looked after a variety of animals from childhood from horses and dogs to cats and a range of small October 2010 • Severn Village Living

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animals. she also has an animal based Bsc Honours degree from Hartpury College. when Amy set up tansy’s Pet and equine services her vision was to create a flexible, friendly and professional pet care service serving Gloucestershire and south Herefordshire.

However, the idea was not to be a kennels or cattery. the service should be personal, a home from home for the animals, be it in their own home or visiting hers, and peace of mind for the owners. so how did she make that vision a reality? “Dogs love sofas and in our house our sofa is their sofa”. “In fact”, laughs Amy, “the husband and I often find ourselves sitting on the floor of an evening whilst three dogs stretch out on the furniture!” Amy tells me her own dogs love having guests to stay. “I encourage prospective clients to come and visit my home so they can see the set up and introduce their dogs to ours. Booking in advance is always encouraged as dates get booked up quickly as I only board one client’s dog at a time”. Instead of boarding cats, who hate leaving their own environment, Amy visits them in their own home

which ensures they can follow their day to day routine with minimal stress. If you need to be away from home for just a day or a fortnight, Amy guarantees your pet the attention, care and exercise as if you were there caring for it yourself.

Amy’s advice for peace of mind when it comes to your pet’s personal care is to plan well ahead. “Don’t forget” and she has the good grace to look a bit sheepish when she says this, “the next holiday season is Christmas and your family will be starting to make plans for a get together; so it is a good time to be making your own plans for your pet; or before you know it you might be taking a an unhappy cat on a seven hour trip to scotland!”. tansy’s Pet and equine services is not just about pet care during holiday times. with the nights drawing in and the weather on the turn, even the most dedicated pet owner can be forgiven for having a little groan at the thought of the early morning dog walk or evening stables. As much as we want to be there for our animals, the reality is that work commitments can sometimes take over.

Doggy Day Care is the perfect solution if

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your dog doesn’t like being on its own for long periods of time. your dog can join Amy and her dogs for the day and enjoy good company, cuddles and long walks in the fields behind her house and in the local woods. she can even come and pick up your pet and drop it back to your home. Amy also visits dogs in their own home and walks them, feeds them and plays with them so they have a sufficient break in the day.

As a horse owner of many years, I know the difficulties of juggling winter routines with a full time job and a family.

Many a time I have begged a friend to bring in the horses, chuck a rug on when the weather suddenly takes a nasty turn or feed because I am stuck at work. Amy is an experienced horse woman who can do all of these things and more. It doesn’t matter if it is a regular or occasional need or a last minute emergency.

Like any business there are certain marks of quality by which to set standards. Of course, it is as much about the carer as the qualification but it is reassuring to know that a business is recognised by a professional body. tansy’s Pet and equine services is fully licensed under the Animal Boarding establishments Act, professionally insured and registered with the national Association of Petsitters with an enhanced CRB certificate.

Additional services offered by Amy include Pet Minding for sick or recuperating pets that need constant care and a ‘Pet to vet’ taxi operated from her secure and air conditioned 4x4 complete with fully fitted safety cage.

If you would like a free no obligation consultation from Amy she would be delighted to come and visit your home and your pet, or why not bring your pet to meet her and see what tansy’s Pet and

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equine services has to offer? Prices are tailored to suit your needs and that of your pet. Don’t forget to ask about the discounts and special offers too. As we wind up our chat, I ask Amy what makes her pet services stand out from any similar business. “simple”, she replies, “tansy’s Pet and equine services treats your pet as if it were our own. If we have your pet as a guest in our home, we welcome it as part of our family and that’s the way it stays until it is returned to you. Mi Casa es su Casa… which includes the sofa!”

Tansy’s Pet and Equine Services 01452 751143 / 07882 017567 info@tansyspetandequine.co.uk www.tansyspetandequine.co.uk

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   

 

                   

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27 • riverford organics

Riverford Organics With Marc Fowler of Riverford Home Delivery

A

s the rain fell last week I resorted to the television for some entertainment, luckily there were two excellent programmes on, one about food waste and the other about E-numbers. Both were equally frightening!

As you may have gathered by now I am not the biggest fan of supermarkets, particularly the blue and white one, although they are pretty much all as bad as each other. The food waste programme for those that didn’t see it was basically a challenge to cook a meal for around 60 guests cooked by four top chefs (Angela Hartnett, Simon Rimmer from ‘Something for the Weekend’, Richard Corrigan and Matt Tebbutt). The twist was that the food all had to be sourced from waste food i.e. bins outside supermarkets, packhouses, peoples fridges and farmers fields.

The food had to be strictly waste i.e. discarded, rejected or deemed unsuitable for sale. I must point out that strict food hygiene laws were followed with regards the meat used (and all ingredients for that matter).

The menu therefore took on a fantastic twist, the meals prepared were

stunning and the 60 guests would have been hard pushed to know that they were effectively eating a meal from a bin! Literally!

The main sources of the ingredients were from outside supermarkets, huge bins filled each day with perfectly edible and useable food simply thrown away.

It then moved to restaurants and other businesses that had stock which was not going to be used and so was given to the team i.e. a bakery had a top side of beef that was going out of date and would not be used in time. The produce then came from retailers such as a meat and fish retailer who had scraps left at the end of the round, a fisherman whose catch was not large enough in size for the consumer to want (but perfectly edible) and then farmers and processors who had items that were too large or misshapen. 20,000 lettuce head were being ploughed back in on one farm for simply being too large – ludicrous.

So what has all this got to do with you, well, firstly perhaps the realisation that the supermarkets dictate the standards required from producers which influences what we buy. What is

wrong with a slightly wonky carrot?

To this end, millions of tonnes of food are simply thrown away before the shelf for being the wrong size or shape.

Secondly, the cost of this wasted food per household is around £680 per year – imagine the instant pay rise you could be giving yourself by cutting down food waste!

Food is too cheap, it encourages waste and it encourages us to devalue what we buy and disregard taste and quality. Supermarkets encourage us to buy more than we need with offers, promotions and clever product placement – money which is being wasted. We all waste food I know, we do, it is a fact of life. Our family wastes very little though which is probably because we get a veg box delivered. It really will cut down the amount of food you buy in supermarkets and also your food waste so effectively saves you money AND tastes better, lasts longer and supports a local family business and small committed producers and farmers.

Spring onion & chilli cheese omelette Don’t leave the last spring onion in the fridge, use it to make a spicy omelette for lunch or a quick supper. Throw in a few cooked broccoli florets or green beans if you have any.

In a bowl season the beaten eggs with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a small frying pan. Add the spring onion and chilli and fry for a few seconds.

Add the eggs and keep them moving with a fork around the pan until they are cooked. Sprinkle over the cheese. Carefully fold the omelette over with a palette or spatula. Serve with a green salad.

Serves 1 Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 3 mins Ingredients: 1 spring onion finely chopped 2 eggs, beaten 1 tbsp sunflower oil (or other light oil for frying) ½ small fresh red chilli, deseeded & chopped or ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes 25g Greens of Glastonbury (or other) cheddar, grated Salt and pepper Green salad to serve (optional)

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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16/09/2010 15:26

26 • Best OF tHe AUtUMn Fests

Best of the Autumn Fests Tewkesbury Mop Fair Friday 8 to Saturday 9 October 2010 Officially opened by the Mayor of tewkesbury on the 8th October this two day festival is fun filled evenings of family entertainment. However, the fair was not traditionally a place for celebration. the tewkesbury Fair society explains that the fair, since the 12thC, was held annually for workman, tradesmen, servants and craftsmen seeking employment. the employment year ran from October to October so those seeking a new job in the autumn would attend the fair and ‘parade their trade’. those who did not have a specific instrument of their craft to display help mop heads in the air to signify the domestic nature of their ‘Cv’ and hope a future employer would give them a job. nelson street is the venue for this now celebratory street party and the time is 6pm start on 8th October and 9th October. there will be stalls, games, fun fair rides, food and drink. entry is free. You can find out more at www.cotswolds.com/site/whats-on/tewkesbury-mopfair-p707833 or www.tewkesburyfairsociety.co.uk or call 01684 855040

Cheltenham Literature Festival Friday 8 to Sunday 17 October 2010 there are so many highlights at the times Cheltenham Literature Festival that it is hard to choose recommendations. severn village Living Magazine has picked out the foodie events for you in the news and events section of this month’s magazine but you should log on to www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/ for the full programme. there are ten days of superb events from workshops to debates and interviews. Children will love the Book It! events for young readers and adults will be torn between living legends such as stephen Hawking and stephen Fry. the theme this year is Dreams and nightmares taking in ‘vampires, angels, gods and monsters’. Donna Renney, Chief executive urges you to ‘join us for a spine tingling voyage into gothic horror, utopian dreams and dizzying future fiction’. Download a brochure and book tickets online.

Joe Meek Festival in Newent Saturday 16 October 2010 Last year Joe Meek was celebrated in concert. this year, newent’s favourite resident will be honoured in a one day event that will be the start of an annual concert in tribute to this legendary songwriter and record producer. the event will be hosted at newent Community school and will feature the Flames, rock and roll band; singer John Leyton (who’s hit single, Johnny Remember Me was produced by Meek) and solent City sound DJ. Joe Meek suffered a controversial death in 1967 but his legend lives on and he is most acclaimed for his groundbreaking use of electronic sounds, producing the tornados hit ‘telstar’ and the fact he was reportedly tone deaf! Daytime events take place from 10am until 3pm and the evening event kicks off at 7pm. entry is free but there is a £12 fee for the evening (£10 in advance). Call 01531 820245 for more information or check out www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Joe-meek-festival.../article.html

October 2010 • Severn Village Living

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Apple Juicing Day at Westley Farm Sunday 24 October 2010 2010 sees the second westley Farm Apple Juicing Day and the farm will be inviting visitors from far and wide to participate in the preparation and pressing of apples and pears. For just 40p visitors can produce a litre of their very own fruit juice. westley Farm website says “the press we used last year is a mobile hydraulic press developed by Andy Charters of stroud. Fed up with seeing so many apples and pears left to rot each year, Andy Charters has developed his own mobile press and plans to revive the old tradition of visiting individual and group orchards around stroud so people can press their own.” And for those who have a glut of apples and pears at home that are crying out to be used, the day is a perfect opportunity to help sustain the orchards of Gloucestershire. Organiser and owner of westley Farm, Hege Usborne, sees the project as a sort of land/fruit share concept. ‘Appleshare’ helps link up people without trees who would like to pick fruit with tree owners who need help harvesting their crop. the owner and pickers can then share the juice they produce. the team will be washing, crushing and squeezing apples and pears all day for only 40p per litre! Phone ahead on 01285 760262 to book your slot. Westley Farm, Chalford, Stroud, GL6 8hP. 10am to 4pm entry is free of charge. www.westleyfarm.co.uk/apples.htm

Crescendo Big Band Concerts at Gupshill Manor Sunday 26 Sept – Sunday 28 Nov 2010 Based in Gloucestershire, the Crescendo Big Band is a 16 piece band with a full line up of musicians playing saxophones, trumpets, trombones and Rhythm section, managed and presented by Bob Lee. the band plays the best of swing and Jazz from the past to the present, so alongside brand new arrangements specially written for the band to perform. well known ‘classic’ arrangements as played by Count Basie, Duke ellington, Glenn Miller etc. are in the band’s repertoire and included in the programme and the concerts are directed by well known and very talented local musician, tony sheppard. Admission is £8 on the door and the concerts, which run on over a series of sundays from 26th september to 28th november, start at 8pm.

Visit the band’s website for more details at www.crescendoband.co.uk or call Gupshill manor 01684 292278.

Halloween Frightmare at Over Farm Market Saturday 23rd – Sunday 31st October 2010 Over Farm Market’s popular Frightmare events make a spooky return this October. Frightfully Funny activities are for families and children to participate in during the day and include the popular trailer Ride to the Pumpkin Patch, spooky’s Ghost Hunt, Quad Bike Rides, Inflatable’s and children’s roundabouts. For those looking for something with a bit more ‘bite’, Frightfully scary 2010 promises to be the wildest Frightmare ever as vampires descend on the farm looking for fresh victims. take a ride on the wild side and jump on board the Haunted Hayride. Are you brave enough to take the Journey to vampsylvania! not scary enough? Go and visit the Lair of the vampire Haunted House to find out where a real oddball set of vampires live in this ‘no-holds barred horror walkthrough’. Frightmare 2010 runs from saturday 23rd – sunday 31st October. tickets are on sale nOw for the evening attractions. tickets for the daytime trailer Ride to the Pumpkin Patch can be purchased on the day.

All other attractions are payable on the day. Visit www.frightmare.co.uk for more frightfully useful information or call into Over Farm market and ask for details.

www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023

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                   

             

      

       

 



 

   



Village Living Severn 6 1010.indd 28

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29 • DeLI HeAven

Deli Heaven Sarah Lemon – Lots of Lemons Delicatessen, Bishops Cleeve

Local Liquid Gold w

hen looking for local suppliers for the deli I came across Cotswold Gold, a new company producing a great quality rapeseed oil, so decided to try it out.

Finding them was easy enough, thank you internet, and I placed our first order by mobile phone with Lawrence, one of the owners, who was actually out in the fields at the time checking their crop.

Regrettably I was out when the first order arrived. I say regrettably because I later heard from more than a few lady customers that the two young men who sold it were rather gorgeous!

It is a lovely product, beautifully packaged with a simplistic but bold logo, clear cut gold and black labels and the liquid gold of the rapeseed oil within. It has an impressive list of health benefits, like half the saturated fats (come on girls that’s got to be a winner) and a much higher burning temperature than olive oil, therefore great for frying or roasting potatoes.

I met up with Charlie, the other part of the dynamic duo, at the family farm where he had been born to get the run down on the company. Invited into the cosy family kitchen I got to say ‘hi’ to his Mom before she dashed out, and briefly met his sister before she was

commandeered by her Dad to act as chauffeur. On the counter was an array of small infused tester oils that the family are experimenting with prior to their launch; and Charlie’s Mom said that the ‘basil and dill’ was divine on salmon. everywhere you looked was evidence of Cotswold Gold – a bottle by the stove, a half box on the kitchen island and some leaflets sitting on the sideboard.

Charlie recounted how one day, in preparation for a fair, they had stacked the kitchen table with bottles ready to pack into boxes when there was an almighty crack. Rushing through they found the table had collapsed down the centre and bottles lay everywhere, amazingly they lost only one from the four hundred.

Charlie and Lawrence met at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and the idea for the company had been born during their final year. they are passionate about their product, from the growing of the rape right through to the recycled packaging they use. wherever possible they have used local companies and materials. the harvesting of their second crop has just finished and they already have a good selling base in Devon (where Lawrence is from) and of course, in the Cotswolds. Charlie is

quick to point out how much help they have got from their families and friends getting the business up and running, with both mothers especially being real champions.

Cotswold Gold is now a staple ingredient in our own kitchen. I use it, not just because of its health and cooking benefits, but also because it is an opportunity to support a locally based, new independent business.

A business started by two young entrepreneurs, who have taken a risk in a difficult economic climate, to do something which I have no doubt will pay off in the long run.

Sarah

p.s.

Wash and quarter some Maris Piper Potatoes and place in a roasting pan with whole gloves of peeled garlic, fresh or dried rosemary, freshly milled black pepper and Cornish sea salt. Pour over a liberal amount of Cotswold Gold, toss and bake in over for about twenty-five minutes at gas mark 7, turn as necessary.

Serve with grilled lamb chops and fresh garden peas – delicious!

www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023

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30 • LOCAL BUsIness InsPIRAtIOn

Start-up businesses will find the Sprinters Starter Packs the ideal way to get their paperwork looking good at an affordable price.

Sprinters a new printing best friend to the local small business “

w

e love all the unusual jobs. we get a real kick out of them” declares Paul Davies over the hypnotic hum of printing presses as we tour the impressive printing company at severnprint HQ. I notice the thousands of sheets destined for bank booklets and training manuals and wonder if these are classed as ‘unusual’ by Paul. “Oh no”, he says, “this is the big commercial stuff that our big brother, severnprint, handles. I manage sprinters; the more specialised arm of the business aimed at small businesses and bespoke print jobs.” A good example of this work is the stunning exhibition brochure sprinters has recently printed for the Crucible exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral. Do sprinters print books too? “Absolutely” says Paul “we can do as few as one book but 50 might be more affordable than you might think.

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so if you have a book ready to send to a publisher why not try self-publishing first? If readers like it and you sell your book, publishers are more likely to sit up and pay attention.” ten minutes in and we have already discussed the merits of self publishing, our thoughts on sculpture and had an interesting chat about Christmas cards (yes, they print them too so if you have a ‘holiday card’ featuring the beloved, the brood and the family dog, you know where to come). Paul is definitely a people person and he confirms his position as front man of the outfit with George Malfiggiani, the other half of the sprinters team. Paul has an advertising and design background so he knows a lot about how things should look and understands what the customer is trying to achieve with their print. He ran his own small business for many years previous to joining sprinters. He was

working as a professional cartoonist from home when David Pealing, one of the three brothers who own and manage severnprint, approached Paul about his new idea. David wanted to add another dimension to the business.

As second generation businessmen who had taken over severnprint from their father, Ken Pealing, who started the company from scratch thirty years ago; David, nigel and simon identified a gap in the market. the growth of high street printers meant they were losing business because of peoples’ misguided perception that a large established printer would not be interested in a short run of leaflets or the business cards of a start up company. However, the brothers knew that small businesses grow and so would their need for print work. In response to this, they set up sprinters specifically designed to support the small business in its infancy. to head up this business they needed someone who understood the struggles of managing a small business and could really identify with what clients were trying to achieve through their design and marketing. Paul seemed to be the man for the job and he has been the face of sprinters for nine years and counting, giving it a new all yellow look ( spot the yellow van! ) and it’s own website: www.sprintersprint.co.uk and marketing presence. whilst severnprint is a national and international printing company, sprinters likes to look after the locals. they work with clients within a thirty mile radius of Gloucester. Paul will come and visit

www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023

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31 • tALK MOney

you to discuss your requirements. Many small businesses are start ups, working from home and often in rural locations and anything that saves time and money is welcomed. After thirty years selfemployed Paul knows that better than anyone. If you are a local artist, deep into producing work for an exhibition, the last thing on your mind might be a trip to the city printers to arrange invitations to a viewing. In this situation, Paul could come to you, see your work and explain how your painting could be translated from canvas to print. “we are all about advice first and then a price” says Paul, “and if I don’t know the answer to a print problem here I have all the experienced staff at severnprint to ask”.

Another thing you are unlikely to find in a high street printer is numerous environmental awards and a printing company run entirely on renewable

energy. severnprint was the very first commercial business in the UK to sign up to ecotricity. In fact 2010 celebrates the 20th Anniversary of severnprint and sprinters commitment to the environment and environmental printing methods. what was considered as a ‘bit eco-warrior’ twenty years ago is now at the forefront of business today and severnprint has been leading the way. start-up businesses will find the sprinters starter Packs the ideal way to get their paperwork looking good at an affordable price. they offer a starter Package that includes letterheads and business cards for just £99. Most importantly, sprinters is a local company who works for local businesses so you can be assured that Paul will make every effort to understand your business and how your print run can work best for you. they work for a very wide range of clients from those spending just a few

pounds on greetings cards and wedding invites to the bigger ones like the wiltshire wildlife trust and others with slightly bigger budgets. “we like our customers to come and see us and it’s always a pleasure to show them around what it actually the biggest printers in Gloucester and we think the best” says Paul. “Alternatively I am always happy to visit customers at their place in the little yellow sprintermobile.

I’ve never been known to lose it in a car park!”

Call him to arrange a meeting on 01452 300158. Sprinters Print is located at 8-10 Ashville Trading Estate on the Bristol Road, Gloucester or email Paul or George at sprinters@severnprint.co.uk More info on the website www.sprintersprint.co.uk

www.severnvillageliving.co.uk | tel: 01452 730023

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01452 398010 Gloucester and Surrounding Areas 01531 828970 Newent and West Gloucestershire 

01453 794820 Stonehouse and Surrounding Areas 

Upleadon

£485,000

A most appealing four bedroom detached cottage situated in an unspoilt rural location to the south-east of the village of Upleadon offering well appointed and versatile accommodation and standing in half an acre of mature gardens enjoying far reaching views to the front and rear across open countryside.



Sandhurst

£418,000

An individually designed detached house set in most pleasant garden overlooking open farmland.

The property enjoys easy access to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the M5 motorway and provides; Porch, hall, cloakroom, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility, 4 bedrooms, en suite shower room, bathroom, double garage and most impressive mature gardens. 

Newent

£395,000



A substantial three bedroom red brick detached house, with the advantage of a one bedroom annex, situated on the edge of this market town.

The property enjoys good access to the centres of Ross-on-Wye, Gloucester and the M5 and M50 motorways and benefits from a single garage, an additional allocated parking space and pleasant gardens. 

All available properties listed in detail online www.naylorpowell.com

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