Edge Magazine May 2015 Edition (Volume 32)

Edge Magazine May 2015

(Volume 32) FREE EDITION

Warwickshire, Worcestershire, West Midlands and North Cotswolds

Food & Drink | Culture | Business | Fashion | Lifestyle

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME NOTHING MAKES SENSE SPECIALIST FAMILY LAW SOLICITORS

Your marriage/relationship has ended and right now nothing makes sense. The world carries on as if nothing has happened but for you it’s as if time stands still.

It is bad enough that you feel an emotional wreck but, at a time when you are least able to think let alone rationally, huge decisions are being forced upon you – does the house have to be sold and, if so, where am I going to live? If I have to move where do the children go to School? How do I make ends meet if there are two households to fund? What will happen to my pension? What happens to the money I brought into the marriage?

L L

There may be a third party involved and that may make the situation worse. What if your partner threatens to take you to court. How will you deal with that situation?

Tracy Lowe. LLB

All of the above can cause real fear and anxiety and then there are the children to consider. How will the children come to terms with the separation of their parents and what if your partner’s demands are unreasonable? What if your partner does not allow you to see the children or your partner does not understand that the children are finding it difficult to adjust to the chance in the family dynamics and that, their needs are paramount – they love you both and all that they really want is for Mum and Dad to get back together.

I cannot remove the pain or the fear, only time can do that.

But what I can do is ease the problems.

For many years I have helped countless people just like you.

Together we can deal with the issues confronting you, never forgetting that your problems are the most important because they affect you.

You are just a phone call away from again being able to make sense of it all. With my help you will be able to stand tall and face the future with confidence.

TEL: 01905 610888 Restdale House 32-33 Foregate Street Worcester WR1 1EE

www.lowes-solicitors.co.uk

Editor’s Note

Michael Abu-Zalaf Editor-in-Chief

S

o, here we are in May already. How did that happen? Does anyone else ever get the feeling that you close your eyes for a minute and a whole month has flown by?

I must say, that this is one of my favourite times of year, when you can start to see the beginnings of summer; lighter nights, warmer weather and sunshine! With that in mind, we’ve got some great warm weather features in this edition. May 1st officially kicks off British Strawberry Season and we divulge our favourite ways of tucking in, we review Audi’s A5 cabriolet- perfect for catching those extra rays and look at a selection of fresh, sparkling wines from England and New Zealand, ideal for an early summer evening.

We’ve also got a spotlight from Sidbury to the Cathedral in Worcester this month and Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire, be sure to check those out and make sure to drop in to some of the business that you may not have known were there or pass by regularly but never have the time to stop and have a look around.

We have an interesting article for any of you who have recently thought about drawing your pension down and buying a Lambourghini from Tom Ware and we delve a little more into the history of Fellows auctioneers, giving you an insight into how one of the oldest auction houses in the country first came about and how they have gone from strength to strength, plus much more.

All in all, a very busy month here at Edge Magazine! From me and all of the team, thank you so much for reading, we hope that you enjoy it and look forward to seeing you next month.

If you like what you see in Edge Magazine, please show your support by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter, as well as checking out our website at: www.edgemagazine.org

We’ve been to review a long lost play last performed in the 1630’s, revived by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Swan Theatre after an X Factor style competition to find a historic gem that had been forgotten about, show you how to make perfect scotch eggs at home with a runny yolk and Karl Strawbridge discusses how to brighten up your garden at this time of year.

May 2015

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Contents PRODUCTION

Fellows Auctioneers

Editorial

From Sidbury to the Cathedral

14

Stanbrook Abbey

22

Battle of the bubbles

24

Michael Abu-Zalaf - Editor in Chief @ZalafAbu michael@edgemagazine.org Tel:07809 702 992

8

Love's Sacrifice 11

Coolsculpting 28 Henley in Arden

30

Lucinda Bunn - Copy Editor @lucindabunn lucinda@edgemagazine.org

Stoneaged 34

Megan Ace - Content Editor @Megannelsey Megan@edgemagazine.org

The Local Kitchen

41

Strawberry Season

45

Breaking Ground

48

Make your own scotch egg

36

Superfoods 38

Kopella Boutique 50

Sales

Individual Tailoring

53

Charlie O’Neill - Warwickshire Sales @EdgeMag_Charlie charlie@edgemagazine.org Tel: 07834 538 284

A Splash of Paint

55

Escape the Chains

57

Hanging Baskets

60

A day at the races

63

Steve Picker - Worcestershire Sales @EdgeMag_Steve steve@edgemagazine.org Tel:07515 493 703

A hole in one

64

Lucie Abu-Zalaf - West Midlands Sales @LucieLincolnLew lucie@edgemagazine.org Tel:07714 490 943

Lambourghinis for all

74

David Arnold Interview

76

Midnight in Siberia

78

Evesham Country Park

79

Pop of Culture

80

Stratford Butterfly Farm

81

Giving back 66 Audi A5 Cabriolet

69

Dogs Trust 72

What's on 82

CONTRIBUTORS Laura Clay Karl Strawbridge Tom Ware Mel Taffs Lucie Abu-Zalaf David Hatton Michael Abu-Zalaf

WRITE TO US MLP Publishing Ltd 9 Salters Court Galton Way Hadzor Droitwich Worcestershire WR9 7EZ

info@edgemagazine.org 4

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Meet the TV Antiques Experts

Paul Hayes, Eric Knowles, Tom Keane For a FREE Valuation on your valuables And enjoy a glass of champagne whilst the experts assess your assets FRIDAY 15 MAY 11AM UNTIL 4PM 19 CORPORATION STREET, BIRMINGHAM B2 4LP

SUTTONS & ROBERTSONS, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SWAN AT TETSWORTH, INVITE ENTRIES INTO OUR NEXT AUCTION. NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY. CALL 084 4692 4994* FOR MORE DETAILS.

Unlock the value of your assets. We buy, we sell, we loan, we auction. www.suttonsandrobertsons.com *CALLS TO THESE NUMBERS MAY BE CHARGED. ** IF YOU PAWN YOUR ITEM YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A PAWNBROKING AGREEMENT WHERE YOUR ASSET WILL BE TAKEN AS SECURITY FOR THE LOAN. ALL CUSTOMERS MUST BE OVER 18. WE LOAN AGAINST JEWELLERY, WATCHES, FINE ART AND ANTIQUES – OTHER ITEMS OF VALUE WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED. PLEASE NOTE, YOU RISK LOSING YOUR ITEMS SHOULD YOU FAIL TO REPAY YOUR LOAN ON TIME. May 2015 SUTTONS & ROBERTSONS IS A TRADING NAME OF T.M. SUTTON LTD, REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES UNDER COMPANY NUMBER 283556. REGISTERED OFFICE: 6 BEVIS MARKS, LONDON, EC3A 7BA

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Everhot Cookers - The Electric Range

ChaseHeatingAd Jul14WV_Layout 1 23/06/2014 17:18 Page 1

Main Features Fellows Auctioneers A look at what they do

CHASE Heating We are now suppliers of Everhot Cookers

Visit our showroom to see working models on display or “Warming the heart of the since 1969” call community now to request a brochure…

333 Plan now and start saving01386 money on555 your fuel bills 8

NEW

STOCKISTS for summer of top brands

Esse Firestone Charnwood Rayburn outdoor Morso ·wood Aga burning· Aarrow oven Parkray

From Sidbury to the Cathedral A shopping destination 14

and more, all Good Food FANTASTIC available to see Hotshowroom Baths PIZZA OVEN! at our Warm Home ROAST • BAKE • BRAISE in Pershore

Everhot Cookers - The Electric Rayburn Cookers on display including workingRange models HETAS Reg number 1981

Henley-in Arden A Fabulous place

Installation available from our qualified We are now suppliers of HETAS engineers EverhotChase Cookers Like us on Facebook Heating Ltd

Visit our showroom to see Chase Heating Ltd working models on display or Racecourse Road, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2EY call now to request a brochure…

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Tel: +44 (0)1386 555 333 Fax: +44 (0)1386 552 269 01386 555 333 E-mail: sales@chaseheating.co.uk www.chaseheating.co.uk

STOCKISTS of top brands

Make your own Scotch Egg Delicious treats

36

Charnwood Morso · Aga Parkray · Aarrow and more, all available to see at our showroom in Pershore

Rayburn Cookers on display including working models

Escape the chains The Worcester Bedroom Collection

57

HETAS Reg number 1981

Installation available from our qualified HETAS engineers Like us on Facebook Chase Heating Ltd

Chase Heating Ltd Racecourse Road, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2EY

Tel: +44 (0)1386 555 333 Fax: +44 (0)1386 552 269 E-mail: sales@chaseheating.co.uk www.chaseheating.co.uk

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May 2015

7

FELLOWS AUCTIONS

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W

hether you’re an old hand in the saleroom or a complete novice, nothing quite beats being part of an auction at Fellows From Bicycles to Auction House Jewels Established in 1876, Fellows & Sons Ltd is one of the oldest and most respected firms of Auctioneers and Valuers in the UK, with their head office and saleroom based in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter.

The company’s origin can be traced back to the collapse of an order for bicycles.

When William Henry Fellows was left with the unwanted order he decided to sell the bicycles by auction along with his wife Louisa, who was a Pawnbroker and used auctions to sell uncollected pledges.

It was in the 1920s that the auction house grew when William’s son, Francis, sold items on behalf of refugees escaping the ravages of the Russian Revolution.

In the 1930s people escaping the Nazi persecution were able to smuggle out some of their wealth and sell it during sales at Fellows. Auctions during this period also included lost property from the Royal Mail.

Launching a new watch sale at Fellows The move to its current location at Augusta House in the Jewellery Quarter took place in 1990, and coupled with their Mayfair London office, Fellows are ideally suited to offer a range of expert services across the UK. By this time, Fellows had built up a reputation specialising in Jewellery auctions and also set up a fine Art & Furniture department. Since the ‘90s, the company has expanded from 5 to over seventy staff, holding more than 100 sales a year.

A recent addition to the Fellows’ repertoire is the specialist ‘Watch Sale’, which launched earlier this year and continues to be a tremendous success for both watch vendors and buyers alike who visit the monthly sale.

Whilst still holding over 50 Jewellery sales a year, which range from fortnightly

jewellery sales to the glittering monthly Antique & Modern Jewellery auctions, a series of niche sales in markets such as coins, vintage jewellery, and silver still take place. The continuing change in inventory at Fellows means that the Auction House is surrounded by a hub of excitement for lovers of antiques, watches and jewellery all year round; visit the website to see the calendar of all upcoming auctions.

Weekly auctions at Fellows The Fellows Antique and Modern Jewellery sales are held monthly and show off the most alluring jewels, with many lots featuring designer and period pieces.

This auction is perfect to find something that is bound to set apart your ensemble.

Fortnightly jewellery auctions are a fantastic first port of call and a great way to find high quality and one-off pieces which cannot be found on the high street – and often for a price far less than you would usually pay too.

Vintage trinkets can be picked up at the auction of Vintage Jewellery & Accessories, which takes place 8 times a year and is packed with designer pieces ranging from under £100.

“What’s it worth?” Free valuations Fellows have built up long-term relationships with clients by providing unrivalled customer service to meet the needs of each individual; whether they are searching for a piece of wedding jewellery or calling in to the saleroom on a Wednesday for an antiques valuation.

Buying and selling items at Fellows could not be simpler, along with the helpful team, the firm has top quality salerooms and developed technology for online bidding, allowing customers to navigate all aspects of the auction without ever attending one in person!

If you are a collector, vendor, or someone who is curious about the world of auctions, you can participate with complete confidence at Fellows. Visit www.fellows. co.uk to view auction catalogues for sales coming up over the next few weeks, or call 0121 212 2131 to arrange a free valuation appointment.

May 2015

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Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches

The Watch Sale Tuesday 26th May at 11am For more information and to view the full auction catalogue, visit www.fellows.co.uk

0121 212 2131 Jewellery Quarter Head Office & Saleroom 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham B18 6JA Mayfair London Office 2nd Floor, 3 Queen Street, London W1J 5PA 10

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fellowsauctions

Love’s Sacrifice A revival after 400 years by the Royal Shakespeare Company Megan Ace and Lucie Abu-Zalaf

T

his lesser known and largely forgotten Love’s Sacrifice is a tragic love story, originally first published around 1633 and is the first professional revival since it’s publication. It came about when the RSC challenged a group of academics in an X-factor style competition to come up with a 17th century play that could still appeal to modern audiences.

After whittling down the selection to a final sixteen, Love’s Sacrifice was eventually chosen as the winner and is running at the Swan Theatre from April until June, alongside the RSC’s bill of well known box office hits.

Phillippo Caraffa, Duke of Pavia, has accidentally caught sight of a beautiful young woman named Bianca, the daughter of a Milanese gentleman, while he was hunting. Caraffa falls in love with her, and marries her. Yet the Duke's close friend Fernando, recently returned from his travels around Europe, also falls in love with the new duchess; she rejects him at first, but eventually acknowledges similar feelings for him.

Fiormonda, the widowed sister of Caraffa, has long suffered an unrequited passion for Fernando; she perceives the attraction between Fernando and Bianca, and informs her brother.

Through her sycophant, the Machiavellian villain D'Avolos, she works upon her brother's feelings of jealousy and outrage until he precipitates the final scene's violence that leaves both lovers dead, the term lovers must be thought of fairly loosely here as

their affair was never consummated physically. Caraffa joins them by taking his own life after the gravity of the situation and his actions become too much for him to bear.

Love's Sacrifice, like most of Ford's plays, employs a threelevel plot structure. The secondary plot yields a serio-comic treatment of the romances of Ferentes, a profligate courtier, who by the end of the first half has managed to impregnate three separate ladies of the court, leading to his downfall. The comic third-level subplot concerns the character Mauruccio, and provides a mirror-image portrayal of love as sham and pretense and adds a great injection of humour to lighten the play somewhat.

There is a definite influence from Shakespeare's Othello in Ford's play. D'Avolos is a version of Iago and Bianca champions the cause of a courtier named Roselli, as Desdemona champions Cassio We thought this production of John Ford’s Love’s Sacrifice was an absolute triumph.

This play is accessible, it’s not one of those ones where you don’t dare switch off or lose yourself for a split second, or you’ll wind up having totally lost the plot. If you like well executed and musically stimulating plays you’ll love this.

May 2015

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The set, designed by Anna Fleischle, is one of the first things to draw attention in this striking production. Softening and seemingly extending the set of the Swan Theatre, it draws you in with receding arches, expertly lit from within to reflect the differing tones of the scenes.

This highly charged and emotionallyexhausting play, based on the true story of Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, who murdered his first wife Maria D'Avolos after catching her with her lover, is expertly played out. The half opens with rather genius, if not slightly bonkers tableaux, setting a hectic, yet slick manner. Characters are introduced clearly, each actor submerged in their roles and evidently dedicated to their parts.

Mauraccio played by Matthew Kelly enters with glorious pomp and his wit and comic timing is received with a slight relief from the otherwise serious and intense scenes.

Alexander Balanescu’s musical score opening the second half, immediately sets a rather uncomfortable and fractious tone for what’s about to come. There are scenes in this half, which make you gasp in shock. You can hear the audience wince, during the Duke of Pavia’s brutal and violent murder of Bianca.

Yet the scene’s not crass but rather chillingly unpleasant. Again, played out exhaustingly well.

This play does exactly what it sets out to do.

It is a thrilling revenge tragedy powered by the destructive force of unrequited love. I for one, would see it again and again and I’m sure one would find themselves more and more submerged in the tragedy.

Images courtesy of Helen Maybanks

For more information call the ticket hotline on: 0844 800 1110 10am-6pm, Mon-Sat Royal Shakespeare Company Royal Shakespeare Theatre Waterside Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 6BB www.rsc.org.uk/sacrifice

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[ BE INSPIRED ]

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Midfurn - One of the regions premier furniture retailers From traditional to cutting edge contemporary designed furniture, there is something for every home and style at Midfurn - all beautifully displayed in our stylish luxururious showrooms - all at excellent prices!

The home of quality furniture Unit 8, Arden Business Centre, Arden Rd, Alcester, Warks B49 6HW www.midfurn.co.uk Open 7 days a week Tel: 01789 765 123

From the Cathedral to Sidbury Just a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Worcester city centre lay the historic landmarks of Worcester Cathedral leading down to the Commandery, which is situated within the busy area of Sidbury.

Between these two famous landmarks there are a multitude of independent shops and businesses which offer a wide variety of services, ranging from places to relax, to lots of places where you can eat and drink, as well as hairdressers, beauty salons and well being therapists, a florists, estate agents, a bike shop, a music shop, an antique shop, a tattooist and a printer.

The only way to find out just how much there is on offer in this little gem of a shopping destination is to go there for yourself, so what are you waiting for?

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Music 47

Worcesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest musical instrument store is located in the heart of Sidbury. We provide a vast quantity of instruments ranging from over 150 Guitars to a large brass and woodwind section. The shop is clearly divided into sections for different needs including a Sheet music section containing over 2,500 different titles and pieces ,one of the largest in the surrounding area. Occupied by Knowledgeable and friendly staff that are always here to help with any musical queries.

31 Sidbury Worcester WR1 2HT 01905 22958 www.music47.com

Fisher German

Nationally recognised in many fields, Fisher German are leading estate agents and property consultants with unparalleled expertise and experience in identifying business opportunities for their clients. Our highly motivated teams are entrepreneurial and innovative, supporting clients across our 16 offices.

The Worcester office sells quality houses and apartments in the city, complimenting the rural sales operation across the region from our prime central office. Drop in to pick up our latest in house magazine Source or call us if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thinking of selling.

Fishergerman.co.uk Contact us on 01905 726220

Bygones

In the shadow of the Cathedral and opposite Elgar's statue in the Faithful City of Worcester you will find Bygones, the County's oldest established Antique business. We specialize in Antique Diamond and Gem set Jewellery, Worcester porcelain, Silver, Furniture, Paintings and Eccentricities, from the 17th to the 21st centuries. ...And we are always interested in buying quality items...Call soon, our variety will intrigue you!

Deansway Cathedral Square Worcester WR1 2JD 01905 25 388 www.bygonesofworcester.co.uk May 2015

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Charlie's Cafe

Charlie’s Cafe Bar; a family run business for 30 years, housed in one of Worcester’s oldest timber framed buildings in historic Sidbury. At Charlie’s, our breakfasts are served until we close! We also have gluten/ wheat free and vegan options available.

Fridays are gluten/ wheat free pastie day, made fresh on the premises (pre-orders taken). Pop in for a cuppa and choose from our selection of gluten/ wheat free or vegan cakes and biscuits.

57 Sidbury Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 612 167 www.charliescafebar.co.uk

Creations Salon

Creations was established in April 1982 and is still owned and managed but its founder Kevin Clee. We are a small, friendly salon with a relaxed atmosphere where our clients come to unwind and meet with their friends over a coffee, a chat and a hairdo! The clientele range from 9 months to 102 years young! We have three stylists, Kevin and Romy both having 30 years plus experience and our young fully qualified up and coming stylist Ellis. All the usual services offered - something for everyone. Call today to make an appointment or find out about special offers with Ellis. Senior citizen days Tues & Weds.

87 Sidbury, Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 356 555

The Kings Head

The Kings Head is just a stone throw away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, its an ideal retreat to put your feet up, accompanied with a pint of craft lager or glass of sparkling Prosseco and if that doesn’t take your fancy, I’m sure a smooth latte & homemade sticky toffee pudding will With an extensive new look full of fresh quirky designs, it makes it modern, but no love is lost from the warmth you feel as you walk through the front door Open from 9am Monday-Saturday & 10am Sunday food is served all day everyday, with a great choice of dishes and offers. Breakfast with locally sourced produce and a Mediterranean influenced lunch & evening menu, the variety means there literally is something for everyone! With gluten free & vegetarian dishes aplenty, nothing is too much for the friendly staff that can cater for all your needs.

67 Sidbury, Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 726025 www.kingsheadsidbury.co.uk

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Floral Roundabout

Floral Roundabout is a long established florist of high repute.

We occupy a beautiful 16th century shop in the shadow of the famous Worcester Cathedral.

Our team are all professional trained and highly skilled florists.

We provide inspirational beautiful bridal designs, imaginative floral gifts, and sympathetic floral tributes.

Our flowers are the freshest and best quality available and our service is impeccable. We deliver upto 12 miles from Worcester, including Pershore.

Beautiful Flowers - Lovingly Presented.

59 Sidbury Worcester WR12HU 01905 24613 May 2015

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Healing Touch

One Stop Shop for all your Complementary and Alternative healthcare needs.

•Therapeutic massage •Cognitive behavioural therapy •Reflexology

•Aromatherapy Healing touch Worcester Est 1995 has •Angelic reiki healing city parking downstairs treatment room.

•Cranial sacral therapy We provide; •Concession where applicable •Therapeutic counselling •Traditional acupuncture •Clinical hypnotherapy •Classical osteopathy •McTimoney chiropractic •Classical homeopathy

Bindles

Bindles Bar and Brasserie is a relaxed daytime and evening venue offering locally sourced food, fine wines and exceptional cocktails. During the daytime offering a range of salads, sandwiches, light lunches and café quality coffee; perfect for a casual snack or a quick business lunch. By night, their a la carte menu boasts a range of inspiring and interesting dishes, making the most of what the county has to offer seasonally. Within a few minutes walk of the city centre, their dining room offers fantastic views of Worcester Cathedral at night as well as a courtyard dining area for some al fresco socialising. Friday nights are a must with featured cocktails at two for £10 and £15 bottles of Prosecco.

Weekend brunch also comes highly recommended as featured in our previous issue. Bindles is also the only restaurant in the city centre to be featured in the Michelin guide for over 3 years, assuring you of a quality experience. As their tag line suggests, Bindles really is a place to ‘Eat. Drink.

Relax’ Bindles 55 Sidbury Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 611120

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Contact rita@healingtouchworcester.co.uk our website www.healingtouchworcester. co.uk call 01905 763481 24 hr answer machine.

Healing Touch Complementary Healthcare Centre, 4 Bath Road Worcester WR5 3EJ

Cookies Custom Tattooing

Cookies Custom Tattooing is a friendly custom tattoo studio. We will design your tattoo to your specifications but also have other available designs. Our artists are Cookie, Sarah and Tom. Award winning with over 40 years tattooing experience between them. Cookie and Sarah have also worked internationally.

We will tackle any style within reason. We have our own specialities ranging from Japanese, Neotraditional, Celtic and fine line work. Cover ups and re-working also done.

101 Sidbury Worcester WR1 2HU 01905 359395 May 2015

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Allan Morris

Allan Morris is an independent estate agent with an established, successful track record offering straight forward and friendly advice. The office is run by Partners Helen Taylor and Paul Jones, who have many years of experience in the property market earning a great reputation which has resulted in a fantastic level of repeat business. If you would like a free Market Appraisal, please call the office to arrange an appointment.

Allan Morris Worcestershire Sidbury House 32 Sidbury Worcester WR1 2HZ 01905 612266

Duplikate

Located at 2 Bath Road, Duplikate offer a solution to all of your print needs. We can help with all forms of business stationary, from business cards to invoicing sets to exhibition displays, tickets, raffle tickets, posters, business or personal invitations, orders of service for funerals and weddings, printing for T-Shirts and canvas. We offer affordable print solutions with flexible and friendly service. We do large volume copying and photocopying and we offer same day printing. We are also happy to advise and work with you to ensure all of your print needs are met and are correct, first time..

2 Bath Road, Worcester WR5 3EJ 01905 764777 www.duplikate.co.uk

Worcester Cycle Centre

Worcester Cycle Centre is your local knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic bike shop. Based on College Street opposite the Cathedral since 1998, they offer quality new and used bikes from brands such as Specialized, Cannondale and Trek.

With a fully equipped workshop with trained, skilled mechanics, a large clothing, helmet and accessories department, they really are the one stop shop for all your cycling needs in the city.

Call them on 01905 611123 or just pop in" www.worcestercyclecentre.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Benedictos Italian

Benedictos is an Italian experience, deliciously affordable in the heart of Worcester. Based close to the Cathedral and a short walk from the town centre, we offer a delicious menu of traditional and innovative Italian dishes. The restaurant is in a charming, contemporary setting with a unique Italian atmosphere! We have something for everyone, be it for lunch or dinner; from pizza to pasta, seafood to steak, all freshly prepared on the premises. Buonissimo! www.benedictos.com We are open: Mon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thurs 12-2pm/5.30-10pm, Fri - Sat 12-10pm and Sun 12 - 8pm Tel 01905 21444

May 2015

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The height of luxury Get into the sleep habit at Stanbrook Abbey

F

riday 17th April 2015 saw Stanbrook Abbey open the main building for overnight stays with the introduction of 52 luxury bedrooms.

The multi-million refurbishment has taken 2 years and has included knocking the tiny nun cells into larger bedrooms, installing central heating and plumbing throughout the new suites. All traces of the previous inhabitants have not been lost as there are design touches throughout, which tip the wimple at the building’s former use. Prices for an overnight stay including breakfast start from £135 per room.

For an even more luxurious visit, guests can stay in the cardinal suite, the largest suite in the abbey, which has a king size bed, chez long, private lounge area and a balcony with views over the surrounding grounds.

The abbey boasts four elegant dining rooms, perfect for a more intimate dining experience, as well as two spectacular banqueting halls which are ideal for large feasts. The head chef; Sean Byrne serves culinary delights including his famous 24 hour slow cooked beef, and the full abbey dining experience is available from £45 per person.

New to the menu this year is the Mousey cheese board, named after artist and carpenter Mousey Thompson who engraved a mouse into each of his wood carvings, will be an alternative dessert of local cheeses from the Cotswolds served with homemade chutneys on a locally carved board.

For a lighter bite, afternoon tea will start from £25 per person, which includes a selection of finger sandwiches, fruit scones with lashings of clotted cream and jam and homemade marshmallows with dipping chocolate. Guests can wash it all down with loose leaf teas or freshly brewed coffee, and top off their experience with a tour of the abbey.

“We are very excited to now offer our guests overnight accommodation in the historic abbey building at Stanbrook Abbey. The opening of the luxury bedrooms marks an important point in the development of the property and gives more guests the chance to experience the magic and heritage of the venue”, says AmaZing Venues founder and chairman Mike Clare.

Built in 1625, the abbey is nestled in 21 acres of Worcestershire countryside, offering the perfect place for weddings and corporate events to those looking for a location with a difference. The venue’s 400 years of history is completed with a Bell Tower, private lake and orchard.

For more information visit www.amazingvenues.co.uk or call 0330 333 7200 Stanbrook Abbey, Callow End, Worcester WR24TY 22

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May 2015

23

Battle of the bubbles Just in time for English wine week Laura Clay

F

or those of you still depressed by how comprehensively England were thrashed by New Zealand in the cricket World Cup back in February, the following tale may offer some cheer.

On the same day as the cricket, a blind tasting took place in both Wellington and London that pitched some of the best English sparkling wines against the best from New Zealand. In New Zealand, where most of the judges were Kiwis, or honorary Kiwis, the result was a tie. In London, where most of the judges were English and were in no mood for sportsmanship, the English cruised to a comprehensive victory.

The Teams New Zealand Wines

English Wines

No.1 Family Estate Cuvée Blanc de Blancs Marlborough NV

Wiston South Downs Blance de Blancs NV

Tohu Rewa Blanc de Blancs Marlborough 2011

Coates & Seely Blanc de Blancs NV

Deutz Marlborough Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2010

Bluebell Hindlieap Blanc de Blancs 2010

Daniel Le Brun Blanc de Blancs Marlborough NV

Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2007

Hunter’s MiruMiru Marlborough NV

Plumpton The Dean Brut NV

Osawa Prestige Collection Méthode Traditionelle Central Otago 2009

Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV

Huia Brut Marlborough 2009 Quartz Reef Méthode Traditionelle Central Otago 2009

Sugrue Pierre South Downs 2011 Wyfold Brut 2010 Henners Brut Reserve 2010

Seresin Moana Blanc Marlborough 2009 Lindauer special Reserve Brut Cuvée Nautilus Cuvée Brut Marlborough NV Akarua Rosé Brut Central Otago NV

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Ambrielk English Reserve Demi Sec NV Camel Valley White Pinot 2010 Hush Heath Blafour Brut Rosé 2010

Man of the Match Now, I know nothing about cricket but I’m reasonably well-versed in sparkling wines and I found much to enjoy in the New Zealand team (wines not cricketers) with some of the wines delivering seamless balance. I was stumped by a wine in the middle order as it scored well in New Zealand but was definitely a dead ball here – I wonder if I should have asked for the opinion of a third umpire, or a replacement bottle. I was, however, bowled over by the Quartz Reef and thought the Huia Brut Marlborough 2009 was well on strike; the Seresin Moana Blanc Marlborough 2009 was a runner, too. And Nautilus was a peach. The New Zealand team was varied in style and skill but showed that the country can produce sparkling wines with substance.

The second innings opened with Wiston South Downs Blanc de Blancs NV for England which scored a ton, well, a lot anyway, and was Man of the Match for me. In fact the English team all scored well, the Hambledon knocking most of the English judges for six and in fact bat the highest score of the day. The Balfour Rosé, even as twelfth man, delivered a beamer with all its fruit-salad appeal and first-class elegance.

The English wines smashed powerful, complex wines with each one contributing above average scores and deserving of its place in the team.

A couple of things worth noting was that no one was caught out by which team was which even though the wines were served blind. English sparkling wines definitely have a typicity and identity. And lots of character. On a personal and more serious note, I find that the wines with greater balance and style are, at the moment, those which are multi-vintage, or NV as they are labelled. As English wine production grows, more will be available for blending delivering ever more thrilling wines.

Exciting times.

It should be mentioned that making sparkling wine is not particularly New Zealand’s sport where England is most definitely regarded as a significant player. I wouldn’t like to think about the outcome of a Sauvignon Skirmish, a Clash of Cabernets or a Pinot Parley! Probably rather more like the cricket result.

Incidentally, English Wine week is 23rd to 31st May 2015.

For the chance to win a bottle of each of Nautilus Cuvée Brut NV from New Zealand and Coates & Seeley Blanc de Blancs NV from England Answer the following question: In which month is English wine week?

Send your answer to wine@ edgemagazine.org by 31st May 2015.

You must be over 18 to enter. Terms and conditions apply For wine advice, tastings and courses email laura@bywine.co.uk or visit the website www.bywine.to.uk May 2015

25

NO

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Results have shown that a single one hour treatment reduction of fat in the are visible from 30 days with full results at 90 days.

To arrange your Complimenatary Consultation with Dr Oliver (BDS) call 0845 519 5377 or hello@airaesthetics.co.uk or visit www.airaesthetics.co.uk Air Aesthetics has clinics in Henley in Arden and Edgbaston.

CoolSculpting® is the only FDA cleared treatment in the UK.

Air Aesthetics Putting Coolsculpting to the test Lucie Abu-Zalaf

N

ot many people are 100% happy with every last inch of their body and I can say that I fall easily into the ‘particularly unhappy’ category. I’m not the size of whale no, although I did come pretty close to it. My husband even suggested that he may have to call Greenpeace out to hose me down in the final weeks of my pregnancy during a very hot summer. In no more than nine months, I went from a relatively content size 8, to a wibbly wobbly 16. Sophia weighed 7lbs, so unfortunately, most of this excess cannot be attributed to her; it was more a new found love for pudding, cake and all things sweet that had got me into this predicament.

In the year following her birth, I managed to lose a couple of stone through diet and exercise but the other couple were proving really hard to shift and it was really getting me down.

So when I was approached by Air Aesthetics to see if I would like to do a review of their CoolSculpting treatment, I jumped at the chance. A non invasive way of removing body fat with no down time? Sounded too good to be true, but I was willing to try anything at this point!

Off I toddled to bare all and discuss my problem areas and how the process worked. So, stripped down to a beautiful pair of paper shorts I was snapped and then hopped onto the couch to begin the treatment. The process works by sucking your fat bits into a vacuum where plates freeze the fat inside. Fat cells are far less tolerant of cold than skin cells, meaning that your skin does get very chilled but is not damaged, but the fat cells are, causing them to be broken down by your body over the coming weeks. I was assured that it may be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but wasn’t going to hurt, which was the truth. It’s a fairly lengthy process with each area taking an hour but in all honesty as soon as the machine was up and running I fell asleep.

Four hours later, despite my skin feeling a little chilly I was on my way home in no real discomfort at all. Later that evening I did experience a bit of swelling which lasted for a few days and it did get pretty uncomfortable once everything had ‘defrosted’ but it wasn’t pain as such and in all honesty, if it hadn’t hurt at all I would have doubted it was doing anything.

The full results take 90 days to show as your body needs time to breakdown and remove the damaged fat cells, so you’ll have to wait until next month for my final pictures, but I can already see there seems to be a difference!

Dr Claire Oliver BDS

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The starting point...

Air Aesthetics Russell House Doctors Lane (near 50 High Street) Henley-in-Arden B95 5AW 0845 519 5377 hello@airaesthetics.co.uk

www.airaesthetics.co.uk 0845 519 5377

A REVOLUTIONARY HEARING AID THAT CAN HEAR LIKE YOUR EARS DO Lyric, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first and only 100% invisible, 24/7 wearable, showerproof* hearing device is now avaliable at your local Worcester Hearing Centre NO BATTERIES TO CHANGE NO DAILY INSERTION REMOVAL REQUIRED SHOWERPROOF* CLEAR NATURAL SOUND QUALITY *Lyric is water resistant, not waterproof, and should not be completely submerged underwater.

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29 May 2015 Worcester Hearing Centre, 5 Cornmarket, Worcester WR1 2DR

Henley-in-Arden

A picturesque location full of hidden gems Henley in Arden first was laid out as a town in the 13th century and is most famously known for its stunning buildings and the historical mount where the Beaudesert castle once stood.

Now the mile long High Street is home to an array of independent retailers including boutiques, salons, restaurants and bars.

Henley has something for everyone whether it be a family day out with the kids or maybe an evening to dine in luxury with a selection of bars to enjoy a cocktail or two.

Henley has a selection of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion, Bridal, Antiques and interiors, food and drink and its very own Spa. A part of Warwickshire that you must visit offering a fantastic experience for all with plenty to enjoy. You can also visit some of the surrounding villages including Wootton Wawen and Claverdon if you are looking for a scenic country walk.

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May 2015

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Sans Oriental Restaurant If you're looking for a classy oriental restaurant with excellent food, friendly staff and a great welcoming atmosphere, then look no further than Sans Restaurant on the High Street; the perfect place to treat yourself to lunch or dinner as you relax with friends and family.

Serving delicious home cooked food in a warm and inviting atmosphere, Sans is extremely popular with local residents and those who travel miles to enjoy the unique combination of flavours that have made Sans such a popular destination.

Thanks to London restaurateur Dennis Yau, Henley in Arden has a new and revitalised Chinese restaurant. Find out what makes this such a special venue – for lunch, dinner or an occasion to remember and with a brand new menu.

Sans is also well known for its authentic Cantonese and Asian Fusion style which makes this oriental restaurant stand out. The menu is extensive with lots to choose from.

You are sure to be spoilt for choice. Health is one of Sans main focuses, using as little as possible fresh vegetable oil in order to produce the most healthy dishes for their customers.

There’s everything you'd expect . . . and some extra special dishes to challenge the palettes of the most enthusiastic devotee of oriental food. Come along and try one of our new signature dishes. You can view and download the full menu from our website to get the mouth watering and also offered a special Lunch Box menu to takeaway, perfect for a quick and tasty lunch that can be enjoyed anywhere and only £6 for two courses and a side dish.

Opening Hours: Tues to Sun 12pm until 2:00pm and 5:30pm until 11:00 pm.

Closed on Monday (apart from Bank Holidays) 71A High St Henley-in-Arden B95 5AT 01564 792104 sansrestaurants@gmail.com www.sansrestaurants.co.uk

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R.S. Mills Butchers and Delicatessen R.S. Mills are a well established, family run butchers and delicatessen. Meat supplied by RS Mills is locally sourced and reared to ensure the very best cuts and selection and everything sold is 100% traceable from farm to fork.

Also stocking a wide range of cheese, olives and other delicious tit bits at the delicatessen and don’t forget the fish counter too!

With BBQ season rapidly approaching, head down to see their large selection of home-made sausages, burgers and even for some hints, tips or inspiration on what else is perfect for cooking al fresco.

106 High Street Henley in Arden 01564 792681

Henley Vintage and Interiors The premier vintage destination set in the Old Bakery in Henley in Arden. Two floors of treasures both old and new featuring: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ and Fabric (Also running courses to learn how to bring back to life a piece of furniture by using paint techniques) Painted and Traditional furniture Jewellery and handbags Industrial and Traditional Lighting

Homewares and accessories Glass and Enamelware Authentic Vintage China Garden Accessories Greeting Cards & Giftware 92 High Street, Henley in Arden, B95 5BY Open 10am – 5pm Mon-Sat, Sundays 11am-4pm Tel No: 01564 795979

Anthony Michael French Polishing & Furniture Restoration Anthony's business has been established for 25 years and started his trade as an antique restorer.

work has involved re-polishing work for The Arden Hotel in Stratford upon Avon.

Through the years Anthony has learnt many aspects of furniture restoration regarding woodwork, wood finishing, a specialist in polishing and paint effects.

His restoration skills also extend to floors, panelling, staircases, pianos, paint effects, restaurant and kitchen refurbishment . Combining modern and traditional techniques for the restoration of timbers and antique furniture.

Also offers a furniture showroom in Henley in Arden which has unique pieces.

Anthony also undertakes work on large Manors and estates. Recent restoration

Offering advice and sympathetic restoration service at competitive prices. Anthony has created a large client base with both new and regular customers.

07791 675 161 anthony-michael@hotmail.co.uk 90-92 Welch House, High Street, Henley in Arden B95 5BY May 2015

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STONEAGED

M

At the White Swan

mouthful will be as hot as it is tasty. The steaks come out presented on the stone and are the removed onto a plate, to allow you to cook the steak just to your liking and ensure that nothing is over-done. Because there is no need to add any oil or fat in the cooking process, it also remains one So, what exactly is stone dining and what of the healthiest forms of cooking around. can you expect? The White Swan will be The pizzas are baked on lava stones in focusing on top quality steaks sourced from the stone oven within the kitchen and the Devon and Cornwall, pizza and pasta dishes. pasta will be served in the stone bowls, You can choose from five different cuts of bringing the STONEAGED treatment to a steak, including chateaubriand. Steaks variety of dishes, enough to take anyone’s will be presented on stone (lava rock), your fancy, although with the pizzas and pasta pizza will be stone baked and pasta will be the lava stone is just designed to keep presented in stone bowls. Your steaks, fish your food piping hot, rather than cooking it or vegetarian dish will be accompanied by further. Nigel and Maria are also offering flavour infused Welsh butters and the finest a complimentary side order and glass of quality steak knives we’ve ever seen! Using STONEAGED Sauvignon Blanc or Merlot hot lava stones, which have been proved with every steak stone meal ordered. to retain their heat better than granite, as The White Swan have had a complete a method for cooking food is one of the kitchen refit and their new state-of-the-art oldest methods of food preparation known kitchen has been especially designed to to man. The dry heat while cooking a juicy steak sears in the flavour and the lava rocks enable the lava stones to be preheated to temperatures of between 280˚C and 350˚C, hold their heat so well that even the last aria and Nigel at The White Swan are very excited and proud to be bringing this new social eating phenomenon to Henley-in-Arden. The concept is all about stone dining, in a relaxed, friendly and informal atmosphere.

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so make sure you keep your hands off them when they come out! For more information on STONAGED check out www. stoneaged.com from the end of May. The White Swan Hotel also boasts an intimate and welcoming bar with open log fire. A fine selection of cask ales (Cask Marque Accredited), keg bitters, lagers, ciders are always available, along with an extensive selection of excellent wines and spirits and even has it’s own little cocktail bar, elegant and timeless which is open Fridays and Saturday nights and a beautiful secret garden for summer drinks.

There are also 8 welcoming guest bedrooms, some of the rooms are over 600 years old – but you will be pleased to note that the décor has changed along the way and all rooms have been tastefully furnished and decorated recently with a mix of contemporary and traditional features, should you wish to make a night of it and then explore the rest of this delightful village and surrounding areas in the morning. www.thewhiteswanhotel.com The White Swan Hotel Henley-in-Arden B95 5BY 01564 792 623

May 2015

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Scotch Egg

Make your own perfectly semi-soft giant scotch egg Method

P

lace the eggs in a pot, then cover by 1 inch with water that’s been mixed with 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; as soon as it is boiling, cover the pot and remove from heat. Allow to sit for 4 minutes in the hot water, then carefully transfer to a bowl of ice water; allow to cool, about 5 minutes. Carefully peel the eggs.

Combine the sausage meat, bacon, black pudding, parsley, chilli and pepper, mixing together with your hands, you may want to keep your hands slightly wet for this so the mixture doesn’t stick. Divide the sausage mixture into 6 portions, then spread each one out into an oval shape. Add an egg to the sausage, then gently form the sausage around the egg as evenly as possible. Dip in eggwashand roll through breadcrumbs.

Warm your cooking fat to 180ºC in a skillet, then add an egg or two. When first adding the eggs, be sure to gently roll them back and forth to allow the sausage to cook evenly and retain a round shape. Allow the crumb to colour to golden, we suggest about 3 minutes. When they are evenly coloured, remove from fat and place on a baking tray and bake in a pre heated over for 10/12 minutes.

Tips and Tricks Peeling soft-boiled eggs is not easy.

Consider medium-boiling your eggs to make for easier peeling; allow them to sit in hot water for 6 minutes instead of the 4 indicated in step #1.

If you can’t find quality loose sausage, you can always remove the meat from your favorite sausage links and use that instead.

This is just enough sausage for six eggs, but due to the nature of soft-boiled eggs and the fact that the sausage will shrink when cooked, the eggs may slip out of their sausage “blanket” while cooking. They’ll still taste delicious, but if you really want to have nice presentation, consider using only four eggs per 1 lb of sausage.

The first time you make these, consider cooking only one egg at a time to make sure you get the technique down. Once you feel comfortable with the process, add another egg to the mix. Personally, I cook two eggs at a time.

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6 Eggs 1lb sausage meat 1lb minced bacon Chopped black pudding (to taste) 1 desert spoon of fresh chopped parsley 1 tea spoon of chilli flakes 1 tea spoon of black pepper Enough egg wash and breadcrumbs to coat

Recipe provided by

Mr Ron Lines If youwould like to try one for yourself visit The Secret Mess where we have a range of The Secret Mess giant scoth eggs including: 20 Church Street The Original Giant The Breakfast Bomb

Upton upon Severn

The Black Beauty

WR8 OHT

The Chilli Bomb

07836 646 093

Garlic Heaven

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Ingredients

B R I N G Y O U R PA R T Y T O O U R PA R T Y !

in

& at Nailcote Hall Hotel MAY

Sat 9th Thu 14th Sat 16th Sat 30th

Fri 5th Sat 13th Thu 18th Fri 19th Sat 20th

‘MOTOWN’ LEGENDS PARTY with SOUL LEGEND

Enjoy all the moves, the smooth vocals and dance to the hits from Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye & more with ‘Soul Legend’.

You won’t be able to stay off the dance floor. Plus after show Disco.

£32.50

CELEBRITY CHARITY GOLF & LASER CLAY SHOOTING with BRIEFCASE BLUES SOUL BROTHERS

Join our celebrity friends for a great day of par 3 golf and laser clay pigeon shooting Teams of four play 18 holes on Nailcote Hall’s Par 3 Cromwell Course and team up for a laser clay pigeon shoot and evening presentation dinner. (please call for details & prices)

‘MAMMA MIA’ PARTY with ‘SENSATION’ AN ABBA TRIBUTE

Enjoy a great party with our tribute to ABBA. Sensation perform ABBA’s greatest hits including ‘Mamma Mia, Waterloo, Dancing Queen, Thank You For The Music’ and many more.

THE SOUL & MOTOWN HITS PARTY with DIVAS OF SOUL

With wonderful Vocal Harmonies, dazzling costumes and choreographed dance moves our ‘Divas of Soul’ perform the great Motown songs: Respect, I’m coming out, Dancing in the street, We are family, Keep me hanging on and many more.

£37.50 £32.50

JUNE

DISCO THROUGH THE DECADES with DJ IAN ROGERS

Over the last 18 years Ian has been performing as a local DJ and has a unique ability to entertain any crowd across a vast spectrum of music genres.

‘THE ‘BEE GEES’ SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER PARTY with STAYIN’ ALIVE

The No. 1 tribute to ‘The Brothers Gibb’ covering all the hits from all the decades of the fabulous ‘Bee Gees’. You should be dancing!.

ROYAL ASCOT ‘LADIES’ DAY in THE MARQUEE

£27.50 £37.50

Enjoy a Champagne reception, buffet lunch & live big screen TV coverage of The Races, followed by afternoon tea!

After the races sing-a-long & disco with DJ Franco..

£79.50

CHARITY ROYAL ASCOT DAY with ADDICTED TO 80’s

£69.50

A Enjoy a Champagne reception, buffet lunch & live big screen TV coverage of The Races, followed by afternoon tea!

End of races Sing-a-long with West End star David Lawrence and party with Briefcase Blues - A great day out, helping a great cause.

‘MIDSUMMER BALL’ with THE BROTHERS OF SOUL

Enjoy a tribute to the greatest hits, the move, the smooth vocals and toe-tapping tunes of the Temptations and other Motown legends.

£49.50

JULY

Sat 4th Sat 25th

‘AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PARTY’ with BRIEFCASE BLUES SOUL BROTHERS

Celebrate a great July 4th by dancing the night away with non-stop movie hits with our sensational American duo, party with all the hits such as ‘Can’t Turn you Loose’, ‘Gimme some lovin’ and ‘Soul Man’.

THE HOT SUMMER PARTY with ‘TAKE@THAT’

One of UK’s leading tributes to the greatest British man band of our generation. With all the hits and choreographed dance routines, replicating a perfect likeness to the real Take That.

£32.50 £37.50

AUGUST 11th - 14th

THE FARMFOODS BRITISH PAR 3 CHAMPIONSHIP for more details: www.britishpar3.com

TICKET PRICES INCLUDE 4 COURSE MEAL - WE WILL CATER FOR ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

FOR MORE DETAILS OF THE EVENTS IN RICKS BAR & THE MARQUEE VISIT

www.nailcotehall.co.uk

BOOKING HOTLINE CALL: 02476 466174 info@nailcotehall.co.uk Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Warwickshire CV7 7DE May 2015

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Super Foods Metabolism Boosting Foods Mel Taffs

I

t may sound to good too be true but there are foods that really spike your metabolism. These trigger hormones that release fat and eliminate toxins that make it hard for your body to shed unwanted pounds. In order for these foods to work they must be consumed as part of a clean diet, you can't expect to fill up on a junk filled day and then eat a few fat burning kale chips and expect that to work.

Whey protein

The list below are foods that boost metabolism and can be incorporated into your everyday diet.

Turkey

Blueberries Antioxidant seems to be the new buzz word this decade.

Everyone needs more antioxidants and everyone buys foods with antioxidants in them. But why?

Oxidation is a chemical process within your body whereby electrons are taken off a substance via a chemical reaction. When your body undergoes oxidative stress, such as when you're sick, have a disease or after a workout the product from this oxidation is known as a free radical. When free radicals start to build up in your body because they are not cleared they start to damage cells which can lead to inhibited muscle growth, fat loss or even cause disease. It's a good thing we have Blueberries as these help prevent this oxidation.

Almonds

This is the best form of protein and provides the body with the building blocks to produce amino acids that are used for building muscle tissue. This protein massively strengthens your immune system and for people who exercise this will result in consistent muscle building and fat loss.

Naturally low in fat and a five ounce serving will provide you with your daily allowance of folic acid, vitamins B, B6, B1, zinc and potassium. These nutrients will keep cholesterol down, aid in nerve function, boost immunity, regulate blood pressure and as it is high in protein this will help build muscle and lose fat.

Oatmeal Just to clarify I am not talking about the sugar laden, single sachet servings of instant oatmeal, I'm talking about plain boring slow cooked rolled oats. It's a great source of insoluble and soluble fibre. Insoluble fibres cancer fighting properties are due to the fact that it attacks certain bile acids reducing their toxicity. Soluble fibre lowers cholesterol and both fibres together provide you with many nutrients such as vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and also protein.

Green tea

These are truly one of natures miracle foods. First of all they are nutritionally dense and this means that a small serving you can get a large amount of macronutrients, plus vitamin E and fibre. The protein content will keep you fuller for longer and they also lower bad cholesterol.

Salmon Although it's higher in calories than most white fish, it's lower in saturated fat yet high in protein and omega 3 essential fatty acid. Salmon is also an excellent source of selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, phosphorus and magnesium.

Spinach By eating spinach it not only boosts metabolism but you will be protecting yourself against osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer and arthritis. You will also gain more brain power......

My daily beverage and originated from China. It has very much caught on almost everywhere now and comes in a range of different flavours. The polyphenols have antioxidants that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. It has also been linked to weight loss.

Be warned it contains caffeine so limit yourself to 3 cups a day.

Water Almost 2/3 of our body weight is water weight. When we don't drink enough our body cannot function properly as we are depriving it of an essential nutrient. Just eight glasses a day will improve your energy, increase your mental and physical performance, remove toxins and waste from the body, clears skin, helps keep weight down as it fills you up and improves digestion.

Need help with weight loss: food intolerance: exercise tips: Call Melanie 07792421080 or Email melanietaffs7@gmail.com

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Peopleton Ɣ Pershore Ɣ WR10 2EE Ɣ 01905 840 222 www.crowninnpeopleton.co.uk

1st Annual Beer, Cider & Music Festival Friday 29th & Saturday 30th May 2015 We will be hosting our 1st ever beer festival at The Crown offering an exciting array of local & National real ales & ciders. Starting from 7pm on Friday we will offer live music & bbq on both evenings with a more family orientated daytime on the Saturday with bouncy castle & face painting. Free entry with prizes to be won in our raffle, donations & raffle tickets in aid of West Midlands Air Ambulance and Peopleton Defibrillator Fund.

Please come and show your support!

@CrownPeopleton

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/thecrowninnpeopleton

The Local Kitchen Everything that’s cooking in the four counties

Foodie date for your diary

Don’t forget to put Saturday May 16th in your diary! This is the day that the sixth Spring Alcester and Forest of Arden Food Festival takes place in Alcester, Warwickshire from 9:00am until 5:00pm.

The Wild Oven

The Wild Oven are unique event caterers based on a farm in the North Cotswolds.

They produce a variety of amazing food, cooked with fire, and served up with theatre and style in a quintessentially British way. James from the company says “We aim to provide something really different in terms of party or wedding catering, utilising the best ingredients from our own farm and other around us and combining this with a unique heritage theme”. to find out more email danni@thewildoven.co.uk or follow their adventures on Instagram or Twitter @thewildoven

Bodega, Worcester

You’ll find Bodega Worcester on Foregate Street we’re an independent fresh, vibrant South American restaurant and cocktail bar. Serving authentic street food, nachos, burritos, tacos and quesdaillas - just as you’d find in Mexico or Brazil alongside fresh Mahi Mahi, homemade beef chilli and veggie happy options.

Behind the bar we’re serving a range of beers, wines and handcrafted cocktails - going beyond the classics with a section of creative drinks and twists – try the White Chocolate and Passion Fruit Mojito!

Serving lunch and dinner for couples, groups, families and offering a takeout service of our hearty burritos! www.bodegacantina.co.uk

Over 100 stalls selling quality, mainly local, food and drink will be on the High Street, Church Street and Henley Street in the centre of the town. Last May saw approximately 20,000 visitors during the day and this year is set to be equally, if not more, successful.

This is an ideal day out for all foodies and families. The produce available ranges from award –winning breads and cheeses to quality local meat, wines and beers.

There is no entrance fee and the Park and Ride – also free – guarantees worry free parking.

The Food Festival is again organising a competition. This year it is for a Festival Pâté to be judged at 1:00pm outside the Three Tuns public house.

Entry forms and recipe are available from the Three Tuns.

We also hope to hold children’s cookery classes again in Church House. So, all budding chefs can have a go.

Alcester Court Leet will be holding their ceremonial and colourful miniassizes to judge the quality of the meat, fish and beer on sale.

Visit our website www.alcesterfoodfestival.org.uk

for details.

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Bistro 1847 launch Spring Menu

Located in the historic Great Western Arcade, Bistro 1847 is known for pushing the boundaries of vegetarian cuisine, winning best vegetarian restaurant outside London in 2014. With dishes that are driven by nature, the food is not typically vegetarian, nor does it want it to be, using modern cooking technique to offer a unique dining experience, as is demonstrated in the new Spring menu. With dishes that include goats curd with salt baked beetroot, curried root vegetable and smoked tofu kedgeree, and the classic beer-battered halloumi, Bistro 1847 showcases nature at its best. Get two courses for £19 or get three course for £25 and try the cucumber sponge with gin sorbet. Book a table online at www.by1847.com.

Digbeth Dining Club

Digbeth Dining Club is the multi award winning street food event that has become a hit in Birmingham and leading the alternative food scene.

Operating every Friday night and the last Saturday every month, DDC always does a series of big shows, festivals and other exciting events throughout the year.

The Plough and Harrow Launch Spring Menu

The Plough and Harrow at Malvern presents a range of sumptuous homemade ice-creams this summer: vanilla, double chocolate, raspberry and meringue, apple and cinnamon and Battenburg - indulge yourself!

Tel: 01684 310 453 www.ploughandharrowatmalvern.co.uk

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Goddess cheese at Paxton and Whitfield

A delicious semi-soft, washed rind cheese, Goddess is made by Peter Humphries and Roger Longman at White Lake Cheese in Somerset.

They have worked with cheese entrepreneur and ex-Blur bassist Alex James to create this cheese made from rich Guernsey cows’ milk.

During maturation the curds are washed in Temperley Somerset Cider Brandy which gives it a wonderful, silky golden hue. After eight to ten weeks maturation the cheese has a creamy, buttery and indulgent flavour.

It’s the perfect cheese to eat at this time of year. Available to order from Paxton & Whitfield’s Stratford upon Avon shop. www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

THE DOORS ARE OPEN AND YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US

FINE DINING WITH JAZZ

Friday 29th May and Friday 26th June 2015

Join us for a sumptuous 5 Course Dinner in our traditional wood panelled Restaurant Whilst enjoying delightful music from Jazz Band Joe Montague £49.50 per person Why not make a night of it for only £199 including Dinner, Jazz and Breakfast the following morning

WEDDING OPEN EVENING

Thursday 18th June 2015 – 6.00pm – 9.00pm In partnership with Elegant Additions, visit The Wood Norton for a chance to see the venue dressed for a wedding.

Meet our preferred recommended suppliers and discuss your individual requirements with a member of our team.

Also see our exciting summer outdoor exhibitors set up as well.

FATHER’S DAY

Sunday 21st June 2015 Treat your dad to something special this Father’s Day with a Traditional 3 Course Lunch at The Wood Norton with all the trimmings £22.95 per person (£11.95 per child)

For For more information on either of our events please contact Naomi at the hotel who will be delighted to assist you.

Also available on our website is our full Calendar of Events April - October 2015

Events@thewoodnorton.com | 01386 765 611 Worcester Road, Wood Norton, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4YB

Droitwich Spa

Food and Drink Festival Saturday 20 June 10am – 4.30pm Town Centre

• 120 Local quality food and drink producer stands • Demonstration kitchen featuring local chefs • Official opening by Tom Parker-Bowles (Food writer and critic) and Charles Campion (Food critic and BBC MasterChef) • Droitwich Junior Bake Off competition • Food trail for children • Kids food zone • Street entertainment and live music • Droitwich Best Pie competition • Win a hamper • Community stalls • Catering village • Real ale and cider bars If you have good taste – come and eat and drink your way round our award winning festival!

@Droitwichfest

Droitwich Spa Festivals

For further information contact Patrick Davis, Food and Drink Festival Organiser T: 07796 681518 | E: droitwichfestival@btinternet.com

www.droitwichspafestival.co.uk Event organised by Droitwich Spa Food and Drink Festival Committee supported by

Strawberry Season How will you eat yours

A

re there many more signs that summer is here than the arrival of British Strawberries on the shelves of your local supermarket and the signs that seem to pop up out of nowhere pointing you to fields where you can stroll up and down and ‘PYO’, munching on the occasional one on the way around!

As May 1st signals the official start to British strawberry season, we thought it only right to embrace these berries and the arrival of summer and how better to do so than to share a few of our favourite ways of enjoying them.

Firstly, and most importantly always store and serve at room temperature to make sure that you don’t lose any of the mouth watering taste!

Charlie Traditional strawberries and cream. Enough said.

Megan’s Favourite Dipped in milk chocolate or straight out of the punnet, unadulterated with a large glass of Rioja.

Michael’s Favourite Sliced, diced and in a glass topped up with ice cold champagne. Works perfectly with miniature alpine strawberries too.

Steve’s Favourite Served with clotted cream, with a little dash of amaretto poured over. A twist on the classic.

Lucie’s Favourite Whizzed up with some ice, rum and a little bit of caster sugarhome made daiquiri.

And as well as tasting delicious, they’re also incredibly good for you. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and K as well as providing a good dose of fibre, folic acid, manganese and potassium. They also contain significant amounts of phytonutrients and flavanoids giving strawberries their bright red colour. This is also due to large amounts of anthocyanidin, which also means they contain powerful antioxidants and are thought to protect against inflammation, cancer and heart disease. Medicinally, they have been used throughout history to help with digestive ailments, teeth whitening and skin irritations. Their fibre and fructose content may also help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing digestion and the fibre has a satiating effect. You can even use the leaves, eat them raw or make tea with them.

What more excuse do you need to go out and get picking? Or pick some up from the shop at least.

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King’s Hawford Learning opportunities outside the classroom

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ot all schools are the same. At King’s Hawford you will find a school with a clear focus on creating strong foundations for life.

King’s Hawford is one of the two Junior Schools of The King’s School, Worcester. Located on the outskirts of Worcester, to the north of the city, King’s Hawford sits in a beautiful, greenfield site which houses expansive sports pitches, a Forest School, a state of the art playground and an indoor swimming pool. Opening in January 2016 will be a brand new Sports Hall which will further enhance the wonderful facilities offered by this superb school.

We believe that in the early years of a child’s education it is important to offer a breadth of opportunity and a quality of experience that will develop a love of learning and a desire to be involved. We want our children to enjoy school and to look forward to each day with a strong desire to give of their best.

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IA SCHOLA REG

We recognise that all of our children have differing talents and we want them to appreciate that hard work will assist them to make the most of these talents. In striving for academic excellence and for achievement in their school activities we believe that our children will best be able to develop a real appreciation of the world around them.

Independent co-education for ages 2 to 11 King’s Hawford Open Morning Saturday 13 June 9.30am - 12.30pm Activities throughout the morning Telephone: 01905 451292

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When they leave us as well rounded, confident individuals they will be able to grasp the opportunities that life will present in the future. Showing consideration, respecting yourself and others, valuing good manners, seeking involvement and being ready to commit fully to every activity, are the qualities which will take them far.

King's Hawford Junior School Hawford Lock Lane, Claines Worcester WR3 7SD 01905 451292 E-mail: hawford@ksw.org.uk www.ksw.org.uk/Hawford

FATHER'S DAY BBQ... FLAMIN' GOOD IDEA!

West 12 Bar & Grill's special offer for Father's Day on June 21st.

28th. Gourmet barbeque served on our fantastic terrace, homemade salads and desserts selection, BBQ grilled burgers, sausages and chicken, not forgetting the corn on the cob! Competition for all dads to enter also on the day, Winner will receive a complimentary voucher for dinner for two in our West 12 Restaurant Adults £18.50 Children £8.50, under 4s eat free Call 0121 452 1144 and speak to one of our hotel team, or book online at bookatable.com search for 'West 12 Restaurant and Bar'

BIRMINGHAM MARRIOTT HOTEL @MARRIOTTBIRM

Subject to Availability, prize winners to be announced on the day, T&Cs apply

BIRMINGHAM MARRIOTT HOTEL 12 Hagley Road Birmingham, B16 8SJ 0121-452-1144

Audley CEO, Nick Sanderson, breaks ground on new luxury retirement village in Edgbaston Celebration marks start of development of 95 luxury apartments and cottages for over 55s New village set to create up to 50 jobs in the local community

About Audley Founded in 1991, Audley has since established itself as a pioneer in the provision of high quality retirement living. The first Audley village was built fifteen years ago in Kent and today Audley owns a portfolio of twelve across the country. Audley owners buy their own house or apartment on a 125 year lease with access to the Audley Club facilities and flexible care if needed, enabling them to live an independent and healthy life. Audley is an accredited provider of homecare and a founder member of The Associated Retirement Community Operators, ARCO.

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Breaking Ground Celebrations as construction gets underway at Audley St George’s Place

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ick Sanderson, CEO of Audley, was joined by local businesses and officials, including Gisela Stuart, former MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, to officially break ground on the Audley St George’s Place luxury retirement village. This marks the first step in renovating the Royal School for the Deaf and the building of 95 new properties for the over 55s. The new village is set to create up to 50 new jobs in the local community, ranging from sales staff and chefs, through to restaurant staff and gardeners.

Nick Sanderson, CEO of Audley, said: “We are excited to get this new development underway and are encouraged by both the reception and enthusiasm from the local community. Audley’s proposition is based, first and foremost, on what our customers want: ensuring they can live independently and on their own terms. We plan to continue to provide high quality, luxury living for those in later life, while working with the local community and restoring a stunning historic property to create our Audley Club.”

Gisela Stuart, former MP, said: “I am thrilled to mark a new chapter for Edgbaston and Audley as we break ground on this new development. I’d like to welcome Nick Sanderson and the Audley team to our vibrant and bustling community and am excited that Audley is beginning to create a new one.”

Located in the heart of Edgbaston, Audley St George’s Place will offer a high quality mix of 95 apartments and cottages for over 55s. It will also give owners the chance to live close to a vibrant and bustling town centre, while offering beautiful and secure living in retirement.

The development will be centred around the Audley Club – the renovated Royal School for the Deaf. It will offer facilities to rival any boutique hotel, including a swimming pool, restaurant, bar/bistro and spa, which will be accessible to both owners and the neighbouring communities. Work on the development will be complete by the end of 2016.

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Kopella Boutique Party planning business and luxury showroom with a difference

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ucy Wharred’s Party Planning business, Kopella has recently opened up a new boutique showroom. Having launched the business from home two years’ ago and following rapid growth, Lucy has successfully expanded and has recently moved into a new showroom in Burcot near Bromsgrove, where you can purchase a range of boutique style clothing, handbags, jewellery and home wares you won’t find anywhere on the High Street.

To celebrate the launch of her new store, Lucy held a party at the Hilton Hotel in Bromsgrove which was attended by friends, family and lots of potential new party planners. Guests spent the evening browsing the products and enjoying the atmosphere, not to mention the nibbles.

Kopella is a party planning business with a difference. At Kopella Boutique, as well as viewing the items on sale, clients and party planners can view the range of products on offer in a friendly and relaxed setting.

Lucy is constantly updating the range of items on offer, giving both the party planners and customers fresh new choices of what is in season. They are currently looking for additional party planners to join the team and help to expand the business into the surrounding area.

If you want to become one of our party planners please contact Lucy on 01527 759 123 or 07527 0222 44 the showroom is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.

Saturdays by appointment only.

UNIT 6 THE OLD FORGE, BURCOT B60 1BH kopella@outlook.com

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Boutique style clothing, handbags, jewellery and homeware

Kopella Boutique is a party plan style business run by agents, the idea being bring a boutique to you on girls night in/ladies events, etc.

There is no one else that offers this, we have quick stock turnaround, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t often repeat products so it ensures our clients always get experience boutique style.

You can buy direct from or our showroom at Burcot Open Monday to Friday 10-4 and by appt only on Saturday.

01527 759 123 or 07527 0222 44 UNIT 6 THE OLD FORGE, BURCOT B60 1BH kopella@outlook.com

Kopella May 2015

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THE HATTERY Original Handmade Hats & Fascinators.

Bespoke & Ready to wear for all Occasions

BRING SOME COLOUR INTO YOUR HOME THIS SPRING

FLOORING FLOO F G PAINTS P AIN A NTS & PAPERS N PAP S BLINDSS BLIN

EXCLUSIVE TO KSH: THE NEW CLICKTEX FLOORING SYSTEM

Introducing the first textile floor that simply clicks together. Quiet and warm with funky and classic designs. Easy to install with a great modern finish. Call in to find out more.

Visit our showroom or call us today on 01527 880778 Over 35 years experience Â&#x201E; Full measuring service Â&#x201E; No-obligation quotations Exceptional quality, competitive prices Â&#x201E; Professional installation Â&#x201E; Insurance work

Find us every Friday @ The Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury, Nr Bromsgrove B60 4BU email: thehattery.info@gmail.com Tel: 07974 969 467

Mon to Fri: 9am-5pm Sat: 9am-4pm 18 Worcester Rd Bromsgrove B61 7AE

kshflooring.co.uk

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At Good Cheer we offer our expertise and experience within the hospitality industry to help you improve your restaurant, pub or cafe, whether you are starting up or an existing business.

We believe that by asking you the right questions you'll be able to tell us what you want to achieve. We do this by completing a Good Cheer Audit.

We will then put together a plan of action/report of our findings. Whether you just want the ideas, or help to implement the plan, that's your call.

To arrange an initial meeting or just have a quick chat, contact me on: Phone: 077925 93313 or E-mail: matthew.welsh@good-cheer.co.uk www.good-cheer.co.uk

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Suits You, Sir! Individual Tailoring celebrates 50 years in the business

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elcome to Individual Tailoring LTD. The business has been operating for 50 years as a tailoring company who produce high quality, made to measure suits and clothing in Worcester. We also offer off-the-peg garments, tailored to fit, and alterations to both men’s and women’s clothing via a dedicated service department.

The emporium sells suits from The Label and London based Gibson, jackets and trousers from Scott, pure cotton non iron shirts from Seidensticker and pure silk Posh & Dandy ties, classic Panamas and Harris tweed caps.

You are invited to join us on Saturday 16th May for our open day 9am-5:30pm To celebrate our anniversary, we are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend with us. Simply visit our Facebook page, Individual Tailoring Ltd, like us and leave us a comment. We’ll pick a winner at random and announce it on the page at the end of May. Contact us for more information t. 01905 28375 16 The Foregate, Worcester, WR1 3QD

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A splash of paint At Hatton and Harding Interiors

T

David Hatton

he warmer weather is the perfect time to take advantage of having the windows open to help dry a freshly painted room. A new colour is the easiest way to update and freshen up a space.

We've sold Zoffany paints for a while in store.

Zoffany offer brand confidence and are one of the largest producers of designer paint, renowned for their quality of pigment and light. The colour range was released to work cohesively with their extensive and beautiful range of wallcoverings and now extends to 128 beautiful shades! All paints are produced in the UK from eco-friendly ingredients and give a superb coverage and great finish. We also use Little Greene, Fired Earth, Farrow & Ball and the Paint & Paper Library in our clients homes....so choosing the right paint can understandably become a mindfield!

For a start there are various finishes. Flat Emulsion which is suitable for internal walls and ceilings, with a matt finish, it gives depth to colours. Many companies now have advanced emulsions, designed with high frequency areas in mind... hallways, kitchens, childrens rooms etc. These have a water based finish, are washable and stain resistant whilst still achieving the lowest sheen aesthetic as possible - which is what many clients ask us for. Zoffany Elite Emulsion is a great example. Acrylic eggshell is water based with a low sheen, ideal for interior ceilings, walls and interior and exterior primed wood and metalwork. This is very hardwearing. Oil Eggshell, works on the same surfaces as the Acrylic and great for areas where cleaning is expected and resistant to steam and condensation in kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories.

There are some simple ways to choose the perfect paint shade. Often it's easier to eliminate what you don't like about certain shades. It's important to consider the transition of colour from room to room, so choose the same undertones for adjacent spaces.

If the colour in the adjacent room doesn't appear to have a strong undertone, try bringing a lamp close to the wall or look at the wall during different times of the day but in natural light. If nothing still jumps out then the undertone is likely to be neutral.

Pinterest and other tools have become fantastic resources that enable you to see specific paint colours on walls and in a room space. Neutral is still a much thumbed section of the paint chart but definitely now the greyer tones rather than the yellow & pink ones. You can still inject colour with

accents of bold darks or teamed with neon pastels.

Soft, cool colours and neutrals usually create a quieter feeling while stronger colours give drama.

Once you have started to get an idea on the color it's time to get the paint charts. Go at least 3 shades beyond your original colour choice. Companies such as Zoffany & Little Greene also do shades of the same scale in colour families. It's important to look at the charts in the room you're painting, in it's original lighting. Lay the colour options out with the most neutral undertones in the middle, these will be your safest options. From this point, continue to eliminate definite 'No's' From the colours left that appeal to you, determine whether you want a light or dark shade. If you want light eliminate dark and vice versa. There are many thoughts when choosing a shade but generally we follow the rule that for lighter shades, go one darker and for darker shades go one lighter.

By this stage you should be left with 1-3 options and the final decision should have become obvious.

Finally always trial with a tester pot, this allows you to see the actual colour on your own walls with your natural light. So what are you waiting for...brushes at the ready. In if all else fails, here's our top 10 favourites!

1) Smoke - Zoffany 2) Dowager - Fired Earth 3) Pearl - Little Greene 4) Charleston Grey - Farrow & Ball 5) Silver - Zoffany 6) Paris Grey - Zoffany 7) French Grey Dark - Little Greene 8) Victorian Purple - Zoffany 9) Charcoal - Fired Earth 10) Fossil - Zoffany Hatton & Harding 13a Old Square, Warwick, CV34 4RV Tel 01926 408892 Follow us on Twitter@HattonHarding5, Facebook Hatton&Harding, Instagram Hatton_Harding, Pintrest@hattonharding

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Worcester THE

BEDROOM

COLLECTION

Bedrooms | Kitchens | Studies | Bathrooms Designed with care Built by craftsmen Installed by professionals

Tel: 01905 24357 07949 534 388 07713 027 071 56

www.edgemagazine.org

Worcester Bedrooms Ltd Unit 4B St Martins Quarter Worcester WR1 2DD

Escape the chains The Worcester Bedroom Collection

W

ith so many stores specialising in flat pack furniture and one suits all, it can be hard to know where to head if you want something more tailored and unique to you. Now, in the heart of Worcester’s bustling St Martin’s quarters The Worcester Bedroom Collection does just that.

Having many years of experience behind them, operating from a manufacturing facility based in Birmingham and working with clients from all over the midlands, Alan and his business partner Robert, decided that Worcester would be the perfect place to open their flagship store due to the high demand for their products in the city and the surrounding areas.

In addition to the extensive choice of fully fitted bedrooms offered,The Worcester Bedroom collection also manufacture and fit full kitchens, kitchen makeovers, bathroom furniture and fully fitted home offices. Working with high level brands such as Aspire, Duo and Lifestyle to ensure first rate materials, up to the minute style and full installation; designed with care, built by craftsmen and installed by professionals.

Because Worcester Bedroom Collection work with you from inception to completion, everything created is to fit around you and your home. This means that whether your house is old or new, everything can be manufactured to fit perfectly, and they work closely with you to determine budget and needs. All fittings are bespoke to you and are manufactured at their Birmingham factory. They can also supply just the fixtures and fittings for you, to install yourself, should you wish.

Come down and visit the showroom where you can get a feel for what they can offer, with a comprehensive display of doors, fixtures and fittings .They are open 7 days a week and hold over 340 samples in stock for you to browse through.

Most installation projects would start with a site survey.

During which the designer will liaise with the client and create a wish list. Using 3D design software the designer will then prepare a set of drawings and call the customer back into the showroom to present them along with a quotation. “ The Home of Made to Measure Fitted Furniture “ Worcester Bedrooms Ltd Unit 4B St Martins Quarter Worcester WR1 2DD Tel 01905 24357 07949 534 388 May 2015

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Heating your home

Taltrees Stoves and Fireplaces

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altrees Stoves and Fireplaces has been established in the stove business since the 1970s and has developed into one of the most comprehensive stove and fireplace businesses in Central England. All installation work is carried out by our own engineers and craftsmen (not subcontracted) and our surveyors are employed by us and salaried, they are not on a commission, so there is no need to inflate price to get a bigger bonus, unlike others.

We open up inglenook fireplaces and bring them back to life – if there is no inglenook we can construct any sort of dummy fireplace to suit your individual requirements.

Our showroom has many working stove models on show – wood burning and multi fuel stoves, natural and LP gas stoves with log or coal effect fires, realistic electric fires and stoves, plus a host of fireplace mantels in stone and marble.

Our showroom is HETAS approved, our engineers are HETAS, Gas Safe and OFTEC registered. We have a vast stock of log baskets and fireside accessories for you to choose from. Taltrees is a family run business and still controlled by the original founder of the business.

Taltrees Centre Worcester Road Tenbury Wells WR15 8JA Showroom opening times: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm Sunday 10am – 12:45pm & 2:15pm – 4:30 pm Visit our website for further information www.taltreesstoves.com enquiries@taltreesstoves.com

Taltrees Stoves and Fireplaces Taltrees Stoves and Fireplaces make and build beautiful fireplaces for wood-burning stoves, gas stoves and inset fireplaces

All our work is carried out by our own trained craftsmen and engineers Established for over 50 years HETAS and GAS SAFE registered Stockists of most leading makes including ACR Heat Products, Stovax, Gazco, Yeoman, Dovre, Hunter, Franco Belge and Nordpeis and most other leading makes Marble, Stone and Wood Mantels Inglenook fireplaces constructed

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Visit our large showroom with many working models to view or ask for a home survey visit without obligation.

We cover Central England and most parts of Wales.

Showroom open everyday

01584 781 361 enquiries@taltreesstoves.com

Taltrees Stoves and Fire Places Worcester Road, Tenbury Wells Worcestershire WR15 8JA

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UNIT 2 | EVESHAM TRADE CENTRE | ST RICHARDS ROAD | EVESHAM | WR11 1XG May 2015

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Hanging Baskets

Be the envy of your street

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cascading basket of summer plants is a great way to add a splash of colour outside your home. They look beautiful, smell lovely and can be planted with a variety of plants that will give you a stunning display that will last through till the autumn.

May is the month for planting up your hanging baskets and for you to put out after the frosts have ended. They are not difficult to do itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit like a theatre production, you need a centre star for the show, maybe a zonal geranium for height in the middle or a spiky cordyline, then the supporting acts around the sides.

A couple of SurďŹ na petunias to dramatically cascade down the sides, certainly a trailing Fuchsia and an ivy leaf geranium then two or three basket plants depending on the size of your basket.

I always recommend a 14â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; basket for it will retain the moisture well and will have enough variety of plants to give a stunning summer show.

When choosing your plants choose either cool pinks, whites and purples together or the hotter reds, oranges and yellow combinations, they will complement one another and give a balanced look to the basket, alternatively use only a single specimen plant such as surďŹ nas, million bells, geraniums or fuchsias for that classic look.

Begonias are perfect for the whole basket but they can grow huge so choose the right location carefully. Whatever you choose always use a good brand of basket compost and a little slow release granular fertiliser also perhaps some water retaining gel.

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Plant your basket up and keep it in a bright but protected place till all frosts have passed then hang it out. A good selection of readymade baskets will be available in most garden centres and at the Jinney ring craft centre.

To be the envy of the street feed your basket with a little liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks and most importantly water your basket every day, moisture is the key for once they dry out they are very difficult to rehydrate.

Remember your basket is relying on you for all its water and nutrient during the summertime. If looked after, you will be rewarded with a huge basket of colour that may cascade like the theatre curtain all the way to the floor.

Wagonhouse Gardens

Vale Gardens Ltd

Tel:01386 831000

The Jinney Ring Craft Centre Hanbury Road Hanbury Worcestershire B60 4BU

www.valegardens.co.uk May 2015

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17853 BIRMINGHAM AUDI Q3 ADVERT 126 x 180mm.qxp_Layout 1 17/03/2015 16:19 Page 1

Big changes to our smallest SUV. With the addition of design features like the 3D grille, chrome-plated tailpipe and optional LED headlights, the new Audi Q3 is now even more eye-catching. Inside, Audi drive select and front Sports seats with electric lumbar support mean that it’s not only beautiful to look at, it’s also comfortable to drive.

To experience the new Audi Q3 for yourself, speak to a member of our team.

Listers.co.uk/Audi Official fuel consumption figures for the Q3 range in mpg (V 100km) from: Urban 33.6 (8.4) - 53.3 (5.3), Extra Urban 44.8 (6.3)- 68.9 (4.1). Combined 40.4 (7.0|)- 61.4 (4.6).

CO2 emissions: 119 - 161g/km. Standard EU Test figures for comparable purposes and may not relfect real driving results.

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Warwick Races Family fun day filled days

P

irates and princesses is the fun theme of a family day out at the races at Warwick on the first bank holiday of May.

The fancy dress stakes will be high with young racegoers being encouraged to enter into the spirit of the day on Monday, May 4 by transforming themselves into their favourite pirate or princess character.

The family fun day, with free admission and free entertainment for children aged 17 years and under, is the first of two race meetings being held at Warwick Racecourse during the early May bank holiday week.

It will be followed by a carnival atmosphere for the Mardi Gras Party Night, Warwick’s only evening fixture of this season’s racing calendar, which will take place on Saturday, May 9.

Come dressed in full Mardi Gras colours, purple, green, and yellow, and get a free drink voucher!

The Mardi Gras Party Night, featuring entertainment from a live carnival band, gets underway when the gates open at 3.25pm. The first race will be at 5.25pm and the last at 8.25pm.

Advance admission for adults is £18, with group rates available in advance for £15 per person. A special Mardi Gras package for £62.50 per person includes admission, racecard and hospitality in the Paddock Pavilion.

The season will draw to a close with Warwick’s most glamorous day, The Ardencote Ladies Day, on Wednesday, May 20. The day will feature fashion shows, a best dressed competition as well as plenty of exciting racing!

Admission tickets are available from £13.50 or treat yourself to our Ladies Pavilion hospitality which includes a champagne reception, buffet lunch, Ardencote goody bag and spa bar!

“It will get off to a great start with our hugely popular family fun day on the early May bank holiday and this year’s theme of pirates and princesses is sure to inspire some wonderful children’s costumes.

“And then it will be the turn of the adults to enter into the Mardi Gras spirit with a carnival party atmosphere for our evening race meeting on the Saturday.

“We have a great line-up of entertainment for both fixtures to complement the quality racing, and each could attract a crowd of around 3,000.”

Mayday’s Pirates and Princesses family fun day will feature a host of children’s entertainment in the course enclosure including a fancy dress competition, inflatable attractions, pony rides, pole jousting, archery and face painting.

Gates will open at 10.45am with the first race at 12.45pm and the last at 4.05pm.

A family package is available only in advance for £30. It includes two adult tickets for the main and course enclosures, two adult racecard vouchers and two children’s racecard vouchers. Single adult course enclosure tickets are available in advance from £11.

Full details on admission and all packages available for racedays at Warwick can be found at http://warwick. thejockeyclub.co.uk Warwick Racecourse Hampton Street Warwick CV34 6HN Tel: 01926 405560

Huw Williams, general manager of Warwick Racecourse, said: “May is our busiest month of this racing calendar and it promises to be a fantastic finale to our first season as an alljumps track, which concludes with Ladies Day on the 20th.

May 2015

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Hole in One Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship 2015

A

August 11-14

s a cornerstone of the English sporting calendar, the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship is now the third largest annual golfing event in the country. Since its humble beginnings in Torquay back in 1933, the tournament has made a remarkable journey to its modern day home on the picturesque and everchallenging Cromwell Course at Warwickshire’s Nailcote Hall.

After years of relative decline the tournament was revived in 1998 by Rick Cressman and the late, great Sid Mouland, who brought it to Nailcote Hall and oversaw its renaissance. Today the Championship is as well-respected by elite golf professionals as it is loved by the celebrities it brings back year after year – and that’s to say nothing of the thousands of spectators who flock to the Hall every August.

The 2015 Championship will be hosted for the seventh successive year by two-time major winner and the most successful Ryder Cup captain of all-time, Tony Jacklin CBE, who competes on all four days of the events, giving golf fans the opportunity to witness a bona fide legend of the game pitted against top professionals of the past and present, as well as a host of hugely entertaining celebrities.

A magnet for Ryder Cup stars, this year’s Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship will also play host to Sam Torrance OBE, Ian Woosnam OBE, Des Smyth, Peter Baker and DJ Russell. They will be joined by a plethora of other European Tour players and celebrities who will also descend on Nailcote Hall during the four-day tournament which will once again carry a lucrative £100,000 prize fund.

The first and last days of the Championship, August 11th and 14th will see Celeb-Am events graced by some of the nation’s best loved TV and sports personalities.

Previous attendees include Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson CBE, Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman, England football superstar Peter Shilton OBE, Ashes winning cricketer Matthew Hoggard MBE, former Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel MBE, England Rugby World Cup winner Neil Back MBE, Athletics legend Derek Redmond, Sky Sports F1 pundit Johnny Herbert and top comedian Jasper Carrott.

August 12th and 13th are dedicated to the main event, the Farmfoods British Par 3 Pro-Am Championship.

Always fiercely contested, the winner takes home a cheque for £25,000.

Last August, one of the most scintillating battles the Championship has ever seen was settled when a calm and collected Eddie Pepperell overcame the challenge of Jak Hamblett in a thrilling play-off.

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Besides fabulous match play, the Tented Village is a great draw. Guests can relax with a drink, enjoy therapeutic treatments, try out cutting edge golfing products or even listen to one of the celebrity players take part in a public Q&A session.

But perhaps the jewel in the crown of the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship is the Grand Finale Ball, a spectacular event featuring a three-course meal, worldclass entertainment and an array of celebrities.

This year will also see the unveiling of the recently built Champions Pavilion, the brand new clubhouse will be used to entertain corporate guests over all four days of the Championship and is situated in the heart of the Tented Village.

The new facilities include ladies' and men's changing rooms, a pro shop, dining for up to 60 people, plus a balcony with spectacular views of the Cromwell Course and the 10th hole "Charley's Bar" named after the Ladies' European No. 1 and 2014 Order of Merit winner Charley Hull.

There are a number of ways you or your company can get involved with this wonderful tournament in the heart of Warwickshire. Places for both the Celeb-Am and the showpiece Pro-Am events are selling out fast but, for now, a few still remain. There are also several sponsorship packages available, giving your brand fantastic opportunities to share in the glow of this prestigious Championship. To book your team or sponsor the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship call Benoit Lawrence at Champions (UK) plc on 08453 31 30 31 or email blawrence@championsukplc.com.

Nailcote Hall Nailcote Lane Berkswell Warwickshire CV7 7DE

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Giving back

Local residents raise funds in support of emergency services

O

n On Saturday 18th April 2015 residents of Menith Wood put on a Rock n’ Roller coaster extravaganza at appropriately named Rock to raise monies for Community First Responders and Air Ambulance. Organised by Worcester based Family Law Specialist Tracy Lowe with help from her special team and support from many others 120 guests were treated to a night of wonderful entertainment including acts put on by the residents themselves and live music from the exceptionally talented The Vow. Over £2,000 was raised by way of generous donations and raffle prizes donated by local businesses including a box at Worcester Warriors, tickets for Royal Ascot and tea at the Ritz.

Tracy Lowe said “For rural communities First Response and Air Ambulance are absolutely essential and can be the difference between life and death. Anything that we at Menith Wood can do to help is worth all the time and effort that goes into putting on a night like this”.

The money was raised through a series of generous donations by local residents and a raffle. The prizes were donated by a large selection of local businesses and a range of prizes such as a day in a super car and a day at the safari park. The entertainment throughout most of the evening was provided by the exceptionally talented duo (I forgot the name of the band!!! Can you help?) and local residents. The local residents put on a series of performances throughout the night, much to the delight of the audience.

Community First Responder

The Midlands Air Ambulance

Volunteers can arrive at an emergency scene in a matter of minutes, as they are sent to calls in their local area.

The Midlands Air Ambulance provides emergency support for the region, especially in rural communities such as this.

Launched in 1991 with a single helicopter, it has since flown over 20,000 missions and the fleet has been expanded to three aircraft.

The schemes operate as a community partnership between St John's Ambulance and local ambulance service trusts. Having someone in the community who has been trained in first aid and can reach the patient quickly makes all the difference.

They now operate from the Strensham Services on the M5 near Worcester, RAF Cosford near Wolverhampton, and East Midlands Airport.

They cover an area of 8000 square miles and a population of over seven million. The whole region and parts of surrounding area can be reached in less than 19 minutes flying time. County Air Ambulance is funded entirely through charitable support.

For serious accidents or illness, the speed of response is crucial. Receiving adequate treatment and reaching hospital with in the "GOLDEN HOUR" after injuries occur, or the onset of serious illness, dramatically improves the patient's chances of survival and speed of recovery.

The service claims that its fast response times have saved an average of one life every four weeks.

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Community First Responder (CFR) volunteers are trained to attend emergency calls received by the ambulance service and provide care until the ambulance arrives.

St John's Ambulance has been working hard across its regions to establish a close working partnership with NHS Ambulance Service Trusts in maintaining existing CFR units and establishing new units. Several regions now have units operating in their area with more regions seeking to establish this important role.

Volunteers operate as part of a rota system from their own home or place of work. They are dispatched at the same time as an ambulance via ambulance control to attend Category A 'immediately life – threatening' calls. These calls can include cardiac arrest, diabetic emergencies, unconscious patients, patients with breathing difficulties and or suffering seizures.

Miniature racing

Scalextric to headline at UK Slot Festival 2015

H

ornby has announced that its Scalextric brand will be the headline sponsor of the UK Slot Car Festival this May and will showcase the F1 Ultimate Race Track designed by Martin Brundle at the event.

Following the success of the first festival with over 3000 visitors in 2014, the UK’s leading model car brand is delighted to be supporting the show as headline sponsor for the second time.

Visitors will be able to play on a host of tracks showcasing the very best of the Scalextric collection including rally stages, banger racing and digital layouts.

As in previous years, there will be a meet and greet on the Scalextric stand where enthusiasts can discover the company’s new and exciting product introductions for 2015.

Visitors to the show will also be able to experience first-hand ‘The Ultimate Track’ designed by Martin Brundle and incorporating features from every circuit on the 2015 F1® calendar. Brought to life by Scalextric, the track is the biggest layout the slot car track experts have ever created. Parts of every single track

from the F1 2015 season can be seen on Martin’s ultimate circuit which has been built to a massive 9m by 9m. Scalextric’s impressive 45 metre long track is made up of 177 pieces and includes track laying, landscaping and all the final detailing. The layout includes over 40 turns, chicanes, straights and sections recognisable to Formula One™ fans around the world such as Casino Square at Monaco, Silverstone’s Copse and Abu Dhabi’s Marina Complex. The circuit’s shape is based on the figure of eight from Suzuka.

The UK Slot Car Festival 2015 will showcase every aspect of the slot car world to its audience of collectors, racers, and families, making it a fun and thrilling event for all.

Scalextric marketing controller, Jim Procter-Bain said: "We are delighted to once again be supporting one of the biggest slot car events in the world. We look forward to meeting fellow slot car fans and showcasing our exciting new Scalextric lines.”

“We are thrilled to once again have the world’s most iconic Slot Car

Manufacture. Scalextric as our headline sponsors” comments Julie Scale at Scale Models, Slot Fest Event Organiser.

“Their stand this year promises to be amazing with the added attraction of a race using the new PCR chassis-the brand new concept that allows racers to install and run performance parts – it’s going to be an event not to be missed" The UK’s leading slot car brand will take prime space at the slot car enthusiast event at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon in Warwickshire. The show runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May. For more information and to purchase tickets visit

www.ukslotcarfestival.co.uk

Heritage Motor Centre Banbury Road Gaydon Warwickshire CV35 0BJ May 2015

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Photograph of Matthew Needham by Helen Maybanks

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Audi A5 Cabriolet Make the most of the summer

W

ith the sun finally making an appearance after what has seemed like a long, if not overly cold and wet winter, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get thinking about summer; and taking those tops off...

With the April weather having been particularly kind to us I was very much looking forward to collecting the new Audi A5 Cabriolet to review. There can be no denying that this car is one of the most desirable cabriolets on the market at the moment; it looks great with the roof up, even better with the roof down and best of all, it’s not just a pretty face.

There is an understated elegance about this car that adds to its head turning capabilities. The A5 coupe, in my opinion is one of Audi’s finest looking cars and the smart, sleek lines are definitely not lost in the transformation to cabriolet.

It was still a little chilly when I first collected the car, so opted to leave the roof on to begin with and see how the car performed. I was driving the S Line Special Edition Plus with a 2.0 litre

diesel engine and a manual gearbox.

I often wonder how anyone can really be bothered with manual gearboxes anymore, but it really was just like riding a bike- but very useful that the car does monitor you and tell you to shift up or down, should you have a brief lapse in concentration. Only happened once or twice, honest!

The interior of the A5 has got to be one of the best in its class. Audi have pulled out all of the stops for this one, not surprising I suppose when they know it’s going to be seen by all when the roof top is down! But roof on or off, it is genuinely a very pleasant place to be.

The fine nappa leather seats, with S Line embossed into them come as standard on the S Line Special Edition Plus, not only look great, but are comfortable too.

All of the materials used inside look smart and upmarket, but also feel solid, like they’re not going to fall apart after a few years of use. The car I drove was also fitted with the ‘acoustic roof’ which I cannot recommend highly enough. It is an optional extra, but really should be a must. Even with the frameless windows, it makes wind and road noise virtually

the same as a hard top. Combine that with the Bang and Olufsen Sound system and you won’t hear a whistle, if you don’t want to! There are 4 very useable seats in the A5 cab, which can happily seat 4 adults, as long as they’re not too tall and there’s also a massive amount of boot space and because Audi have gone for a folding fabric roof, rather than a folding hard top such as on the BMW 4 Series convertible, even when the roof is down there’s still a lot of room in there, boosting practicality.

There is a wide range of engines to choose from, 2 petrol and 4 diesel, meaning that there should be something out there for everyone. They range from the 2.0l 148 hp TDI, all the way up to the 3.0l 330 hp TFSI. The 2.0l 175 hp model that I drove was great. Enough power to satisfy when required, but is also rooted firmly in the family hatchback arena for road tax and mpg purposes. The diesel engine is also quiet and smooth enough to still enjoy when the roof comes off.

Speaking of which, as the day wore on and warmed up, I couldn’t resist taking the top down. This car really does May 2015

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look superb topless. I didn’t have the optional wind deflector fitted and was also lacking anything to tie my hair back with, so I was expecting to be blown around a little and while it was a little blustery at high speed, it was a lot less than I had imagined and I didn’t arrive at my destination looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backwards, which was most definitely a pleasant surprise.

Listers Audi Worcester Bromyard Road, Worcester WR2 5EA

The S-Line suspension combined with the standard 19” alloys makes for quite a firm ride, which I previously would have always opted for without thinking. I must be getting old now, because while I would keep the wheels without a doubt, I would be inclined to stick with the standard suspension.

01905 421000

I collected the car from Lister’s Audi and again the service offered really is second to none. Friendly, helpful and informative, you would be hard pressed to find a better buying experience. Good coffee and my favourite biscuits also a plus.

Listers Audi Stratford

Listers Audi Coventry 503 Fletchamstead Highway, Coventry, CV4 9BY 024 7667 5675

Western Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 0AH 01789 414477 www.listers.co.uk/Audi

Love is Enough

25 April – 6 September 2015

WILLIAM

MORRIS ANDY

WARHOL Curated by Jeremy Deller

Marilyn Monroe, 1968 by Andy Warhol, The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. The Collection of Marla and Larry Wasser, Toronto, Canada. © 2015 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York and DACS, London. Image: Maciek Linowski.

SUMMER

EXHIBITION Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Plus, Pop Art for Kids! birminghammuseums.org.uk Funded by:

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May 2015

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Foster Carers Needed Dogs Trust Evesham Foster Scheme Appeal

O

ver the last year Dogs Trust Evesham has been trialling a foster scheme which provides temporary foster care to unwanted and abandoned dogs who are struggling to cope with life at the Rehoming Centre.

The successful Foster Scheme helps dogs who are finding life at the Rehoming Centre difficult due to various reasons. The scheme allows these dogs to live in a home environment allowing them to relax and feel comfortable before eventually finding a forever home.

Dogs Trust Evesham take in a large number of older dogs each year due to various reasons including, their owners sadly passing away or no longer being able to care for them due to illness. Older dogs often really miss their home comforts, living in foster home ensures they get lots of extra cuddles in a home environment and around the clock love from a foster family to get their tails wagging again!

Dogs Trust have also found that placing puppies in foster homes allows them to become better socialised and get used to everyday sights and sounds during their younger years . Young dogs often become much more confident in foster care and can begin their housetraining and basic training before finding a permanent new home.

The scheme is also a great opportunity for sick or injured dogs to recover in a peaceful and calm environment with 24hour care.

So how does it work?

Foster carers need to live fairly close to Dogs Trust Evesham as each dog they care for will need to visit the centre to meet potential adopters and have vet check ups. Dogs Trust Staff will help with transport where possible.

The dogs are matched to each foster carer depending on existing pets in the home, hours the dog will be left alone as well as any personal preferences that the family may have. We encourage those with existing dogs to volunteer as there are many dogs at the Rehoming Centre that would benefit from having a resident dog to show them the ropes.

Each foster carer is given everything they will need to care for their foster dog including, food, bedding, toys and treats. All vet fees are covered and emergency contact numbers are provided. Foster carers are welcome to further training and access to advice for their dog in their care to ensure they feel fully supported at all times.

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What we ask from the foster carers are regular updates and photos of their foster pooch to help increase their chance of finding a forever home. The more information they can provide the centre with, the better!

Potential foster carers decide to become foster carers for many different reasons, some have recently lost their dog and arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite ready to make another life long commitment, others like having different friends for their own dog to play with, and some just want to help and support Dogs Trust.

A regular Foster Carer for Dogs Trust Evesham, Gisa Kavanagh believes fostering a dog allows her to spend valuable time with dogs whilst giving back to the animal welfare charity: "We missed having the love and company of a dog in our home having lost our dog aged 16, but we were not ready to take on another dog long term. We wanted to give something back to Dogs Trust. It is very rewarding seeing a nervous dog become confident and happy in the home ready for the next step in their lives leading a loving and fun-filled life with their Forever Family."

Gisa continues: "Dogs can be overlooked in kennels because of their behaviour but living with a family gives them the opportunity to shine when someone enquires about them and they show their true colours as loving companions."

Dogs Trust Evesham is currently appealing for potential foster carers to come forward and volunteer.

Dogs Trust Evesham Foster Coordinator, Sarah Fortey said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our volunteers play an important part in helping many of our dogs find their forever homes and we could not do such an amazing job without them!â&#x20AC;?

If you are interested in fostering a dog with Dogs Trust, please contact the centre on 01386 835848 or email sarah.fortey@dogstrust.org.uk

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Changes to the pension rules Lamborghinis for all!

Tom Ware

T

he Government has decided that those who have saved into defined contribution pension schemes can be trusted with the money they have saved, even if that means a few may use the funds to buy a Lamborghini.

Pensions minister Steve Webb was quoted on the BBC: “If people do buy a Lamborghini but know that they’ll end up just living on the state pension, that becomes their choice” The new era of flexible pensions comes into effect at the start of the new tax year. From April 2015, the retirement income limits were removed for defined contribution pension schemes.

This means retirees have a lot more options about how they take their retirement income. Those who have not yet taken drawn down on their pension pots – within certain conditions – may take single or a series of lumps sums without designating them for drawdown first.

In the recent Autumn statement, there were also changes to the way pensions are taxed on death, which – to our mind – promise to be just as significant as the original pension reforms. Perhaps most notably, the 55% tax charge previously imposed on residual pension pots for those over 75 or those under 75 who were in drawdown has been amended.

The residual fund on a personal pension scheme for an individual over 75 in drawdown is now subject to a 45% tax rate, while for an individual who dies prior to 75, there is no tax payable.

Under the old rules, those who inherited the income from a pension pot from someone who died under 75 – which was only available to dependents – saw it taxed as income. Now it can be paid to any beneficiary and is tax free if taken via the new flexible income arrangements or an annuity. Those who die after 75 can also now pass their income over to any beneficiary, but it will be taxed as income in the hands of the beneficiary. However, they can decide when that happens. In particular, they can wait until they may be paying tax at a lower rate – such as after retirement – to take an income. In the meantime, the pension pot remains invested and preserved. This is a widereaching reform, potentially benefiting up to 2 million retirees, according to government estimates.

Equally, the ability to pass on pension wealth will not stop after the original member’s death. A beneficiary can then nominate their own successor to take over the drawdown fund following their death. This is in notable contrast to the current rules, when lump sum death benefits are the only option for nondependents to receive pension wealth.

These changes create real opportunities for multi-generational wealth planning and may change the way that pension pots are used. With pensions subject to onerous tax rules, it made sense for those with a variety of options to deplete their pension pot as quickly as possible.

However, under the new rules, it may make sense to hang onto the pension pot for as long as possible knowing it can

The dilemma for final salary schemes.

Members of final salary pension schemes will not necessarily see the full benefits of the new pensions system. The new income flexibility is not available for defined benefit schemes and the death benefit position is also different. This means retirees would have to transfer into a defined contribution pension to secure the same options.

This creates a dilemma. For some time, defined benefit schemes have been the gold standard for pensions and the standard advice was that anyone who had one should take advantage. The rule changes make the decision-making a little trickier. Retirees have to decide whether to transfer progressively into an alternative arrangement to take advantage of the new flexibility, or retain the advantages of a defined benefit scheme.

The choice will be individual, though the value of a guaranteed and inflationprotected income for life and ongoing benefits for a surviving spouse should not be disregarded lightly. Flexibility is undoubtedly useful, but it can bring uncertainty and for many the right choice will be to remain with the existing scheme. However, it is something that all holders of a defined benefit scheme need to consider.

Death benefits - Example 1

Death benefits - Example 2

Mr Abbott died on 1st December aged 65 with an SIPP valued at £700,000 on which no income had been drawn. His wife will receive a drawdown pension from this after 6 April 2015.

Simon, a widower, dies age 82 and nominated his son John to receive his drawdown fund (established under the new rules).As Simon died after age 75, John is taxable at his marginal rate on any income withdrawals. John sadly dies age 70 and leaves the remaining fund to his daughter Jenny. Jenny can take withdrawals from the drawdown account tax free as John died before 75.

The fund grows tax-free, and Mrs Abbott can make tax free withdrawals at any time. She dies six years later when the pot is valued at £600,000 and she is under 75 on death. Her three children can now inherit £200,000 tax-free, also making taxfree withdrawals at any time.

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be passed to future generations in a tax efficient way. It effectively becomes a trust for future generations.

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Tom Ware

Churchill Investments PLC Registered in England No. 3125227 Registered Office: 9 Woodborough Road, Winscombe.

BS25 1AB 01934 844444 info@churchillinvestment.co.uk www.churchillinvestment.co.uk

IMPORTANT NOTICE The descriptions of products and services in this newsletter are not recommendations, which we will only make to individuals based on their personal circumstances and needs. Investment plans and funds may involve risks to both capital and income. Past performance is not a guide to the future and the value of investment can fall as well as rise. You might not get back the full amount invested particularly if an encashment is made in the early years. The descriptions of tax rules are based on Churchill Investments’ understanding of law and HMR&C practice. Tax rules are subject to change. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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The choice will also depend on the health of the individual. In general, staying with the original scheme will tend to be better for those likely to live longer in retirement. While these things are not always possible to predict, if an individual and their spouse enjoys relatively good health, they should factor this into their deliberations. Equally, the best option may be a blend of the two.

The Government has announced that the minimum pension age will increase from 55 to 57 from 2028. This potentially affects anyone under 40 who is planning for their retirement. The government has said that the minimum pension age will continue to be 10 years below state pension age, which is currently due to rise in line with increasing life expectancy.

Nominating beneficiaries

Pension contributions

The new pension rules allow individuals to nominate beneficiaries beyond their dependents. This is relatively easily done: All pension providers allow you to nominate beneficiaries, either at the point at which a pension is started or at any other time. It should also be possible to amend your choice any time if your circumstances change. Usually, it will simply involve completing and returning an ‘expression of wishes’ form. When deciding on a beneficiary, you should bear in mind your existing will.

Those who access the new pension flexibility from 6 April 2015 can continue making pension contributions, but the Government had to react to the possibility of over 55s using the new flexibility for immediate risk-free gain.

As a result, it has put in some interim measures to prevent abuse of the new rules. After April 2015, if individuals make withdrawals from a defined contribution pension in addition to the tax-free cash, contributions to money purchase pensions will be restricted to £10,000 (though their overall annual allowance will remain £40,000). This

Minimum pension age

is to prevent people ‘churning’ – taking money out of a pension scheme and then immediately reinvesting it to get further tax relief. It also won’t be possible to carry forward any unused allowance.

As part of the same anti-abuse measures, the new rules state that individuals taking pension benefits flexibly must inform their pension provider within 91 days of any contributions made to other providers, or face a fine of £300. This affects anyone taking income from a defined contribution scheme after April 2015. However, there are exceptions: for example, if a pension pot is deemed ‘small’ - £10,000 or less – or if you go into capped drawdown before April 2015, the rules will be different.

The Government estimates that these restrictions will only affect around 2% of pension savers over 55.

May 2015

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David Arnold: Live In Concert At the Symphony Hall, Birmingham Lucinda Bunn

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A

s a Grammy, Emmy and BAFTA winner and the Musical Director of London 2012, David Arnold is one of the most influential and successful British composers of the last two decades. This summer, accompanied by the 65-piece CBSO, David will sing and play keyboard and guitar, performing songs, scores and themes from his broad and varied career at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. Expect music from Independence Day, James Bond films, The Chronicles of Narnia, Made in Dagenham and the hit TV show Sherlock.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired your career in the industry?

When I was 8, maybe 9, I had my first real experience of film. I went to see three films in relatively quick succession; The Jungle Book, Oliver! and You only life twice. Of course, the visuals amazed me but for the first time I had the pleasure of hearing music in the cinema. In those days you had music on the radio, albums and records and then there was this and it just intrigued me. I spent the next 25 years trying to do it myself.

What was life like before your big break?

I didn’t get a paid job composing until I was 32. Before that, it was a very pathetic and unattractive existence (he laughs). I moved in with my parents and set up some equipment at the back of their house. I had loads of different jobs; digging holes in the roads, selling carpets at B&Q, filling Cornflakes boxes. They were the kind of jobs that kept me going but didn’t detract from the real work I was doing, writing music whenever I could.

As a multi-instrumentalist yourself, which instrument do you gravitate towards when you’re writing?

It greatly depends on what I’m working on. If it’s an orchestral score then it’s usually the piano. When I was working on the TV series Big School with David Walliams and Catherine Tate, we wanted to make more of a song, so I wrote it on guitar.

Your body of work is so diverse, what draws you to each project?

Well I have to like it; the idea, the script etc. I also have to believe in it, and believe that I can contribute to it.

There’s things I won’t touch, like jazz, because it’s just not a language I understand. I always like over the top things too.

Most people in the industry are familiar with your work so are you often approached to work on things?

I suppose I am the person who sort of sits and waits for people to ask me. If there’s something I hear about that I’m really interested in then I might ‘drop a note’ to those involved. It’s got to be the right fit for everyone.

How does your experience vary from project to project?

It’s interesting because even if you build experience with each project, when you start something new it’s a clean slate and it almost feels like nothing has come before it.

It’s kind of like creatively climbing Everest with a team of other people and sometimes you have to find a different route to reach the top but you all have to work together.

You also have this need to please the director, not unlike being a child and hoping for a ‘pat on the back’ from your parents.

When you’re composing, how do you work? Is it an ordered process or a chaotic one?

You can spend hours sort of flailing around but ultimately you have to be organised. It’s a cost of people’s time to get an orchestra together and if you’re managing the whole process, you’ve got to work efficiently. There’s the immovable object of a performance or deadline that you’re working towards and so there is a lot of pressure there. It’s up and down but I would say that I have things in order.

You’ve had many successes in your career, can you name and explain just one highlight?

It’s difficult to choose one. I think when it’s a first it’s special; the first time I had a musical on stage, the first Bond film I was asked to do and so on. The Olympic Games of course was just a dream come true. It’s all things you dream about. But they are highlights as you say, they’re not every day things. I remember waking up the morning after the London 2012 closing ceremony and thinking ‘what now?’…and then you just go about your day as usual.

Can you tell us about what audience members can expect from the Symphony Hall performance in June?

Every person who attends will hear music they recognise, from Sherlock and Independence Day, to Bond and Godzilla. It’s going to be fun and informal. I’ve got lots of stories on my writing experiences and working with the creative people. I’m going to be spilling the beans essentially. We’re going to have one of the world’s greatest orchestras and I just hope it’s going to be a gateway for more people to enjoy orchestral music and continue to do so.

What else can you tell us about future projects?

The Sherlock Christmas Special has just finished filming so that’s exciting. I’ve got a show I’m working on which is new version of Jekyll and Hyde. There’s also a new musical on the horizon too so I’m really excited about that.

David Arnold Live in Concert: Friday 26th June – 7:30pm To find out more about David Arnold at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham, head to www.thsh.co.uk

May 2015

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Midnight in Siberia: A review A novel by David Green Mike Stafford

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s a journalist covering Russian affairs for America's National Public Radio, David Greene is understandably fascinated by Russia.

However, the lure of his American homeland couldn't be resisted forever, and in 'Midnight in Siberia,' he chronicles his last Russian hurrah - a gargantuan journey across Russia on the Trans Siberian Railway, taken before heading home to the US. Throughout his journey, Greene makes frequent stops to meet the ordinary and extraordinary people of Russia. His cast of characters includes freedom campaigners, indomitable hoteliers, unfairly-disgraced former police officers, and hard-bitten soldiers. Through his time meeting them, in cafes, hotels and - most critically their homes, Greene hopes to give us all an insight into the nation Churchill called "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma."

As Greene makes his journey, the democratic experiment Russia ran in the 90s seems to be all but over. The trappings of democracy have been put in place, but democracy is not in the blood of most Russians, and a quarter of a century on, autocracy has returned by inertia as no-one in the country knows any other way. For this reason, Putin looms large over the narrative.

As a journalist, and an American one at that, Greene is followed everywhere by the FSB (the KGB in all but name).

Many of the people Greene meets feel Putin's presence in their lives in a way Americans just wouldn't feel Obama's.

For one can driver, campaigning for change is terrifying and futile - in Putin you'd be pitting yourself against a former spy.

There is also a sense of grim fatalism from many Russians. Time and again Greene encounters a deeply held belief that the state will not help, that it is somehow un-Russian to embrace optimism, and that ordinary Russians are not in control of their own fate.

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Given their lot in life, the friends he meets have a point.

Greene encounters an ex-police officer, paralysed after escaping his torturers by leaping from a third floor window; the state offers him no assistance, even though accusations against him were false. In talking to business owners, he finds that regulations do exist, theoretically, but so much negotiation with bureaucrats involves not understanding rules but handing over bribes. It's a harsh and often cruel system that Greene describes, but all this is countered by the warm hospitality Greene receives when he is welcomed into interviewees homes. Vodka flows freely, feasts are prepared, and Greene is frequently treated as an extra member of the family. While Soviet-era paranoia still leads Russians to ignore others in public to the point that they will actually drive past car accidents without stopping, in private Greene finds his Russian friends to he the best hosts imaginable.

Despite all this warmth, throughout 'Midnight in Siberia,' Greene is perpetually baffled that Russians do not yearn for an American style society, and this can be grating. Greene assumes his homeland is a model to which all other nations should aspire, and as a journalist should know better. As he himself observes, ordinary Russians had a crack

at democracy and ultimately ended up a little freer but a great deal hungrier.

So does 'Midnight in Siberia' help us understand Russia better? One would have to say yes. This is a very solid 'Psychology of Russia 101' text, an introduction to the mind of the land of Tolstoy, Chekhov and Dostoevsky.

Greene's cultural snobbery can be irksome, but the characters he meets are fascinating, and in 21st century Russia, his subject matter couldn't be better.

Here is a nation bemused by democracy, often nostalgic for dictatorship, and without a firm sense of its own future and that's well worth a couple of hours reading. www.nudge-book.com/blog/contributor/ mike-stafford

Evesham Country Park rebrands as ‘The Valley’

E

vesham Country Park, part of the Eagle One property portfolio, has today announced it will rebrand as ‘The Valley’, offering ‘Shopping, Leisure and Adventure in the Heart of England’.

Spencer Gower, Eagle One Asset Manager, said: “The Valley is the new name for Evesham Country Park and we are delighted to unveil it. The multi-million pound re-development of this 125 acre country park is one of the most important and innovative retail and leisure destination projects that Eagle One has underway. As 2015 progresses we will continue to transform this unique site incorporating new indoor and outdoor adventure zones as well as exciting new retailers; we believe now is the right time to adopt a new name and visual identity to bring increased awareness among our target consumers and visitors.”

Gower explains: “The rebranding and renaming is the result of customer research and we are confident that our visitors and retailers will love it. The country park is a hugely popular visitor attraction in the area drawing some 1.4 million people each year; many visitors are highly loyal and travel for over an hour to reach this destination. We wanted to create a new look and feel for the country park and make our brand synonymous with the joys of being outdoors and adventurous, but all in the context of a great retail and leisure space – providing a perfect place for all members of the family from the youngest to the oldest.”

The Valley – the inspiration behind the rebrand The new name, ‘The Valley’, was inspired by the region’s geography and is designed to reflect the distinctive characteristics of Eagle One’s Vale of Evesham site. The design incorporates a warm, earthy and rustic colour palette evocative of premium leisure and retail as well as outdoor pursuits and adventure. The clean logo design reinforces the country park as a strong ‘destination’ leisure and retail space located in the heart of England.

Rees Bradley Hepburn is the specialist branding and retail marketing communications agency appointed by Eagle One to undertake the rebranding work.

Angel Gibbons, Commercial Director for RBH, said: “We have really enjoyed working on this branding project – it’s great to have such an exciting opportunity to work on a retail and destination scheme that is genuinely unique and innovative.”

The new identity is set to be rolled-out across all signage, print, digital and social channels in the coming months. RBH has produced Corporate Identity guidelines for The Valley.

The Valley occupies a 125-acre site that fronts on to the River Avon and will comprise leisure adventure zones with an additional 30,000 sq. ft. of retail, restaurant and cafes completed during phase one. As well as a high quality shopping offer, the scheme will boast a range of outdoor adventure zones including purpose built cycle paths, zip wires and outdoor and indoor climbing walls. It will of course continue to be the home of the miniature railway so popular with visitors. Phase two will see a further 36,000 sq.ft. of retail development get underway for which planning permission has already been granted.

New retailers The Valley is delighted to announce two new retailers Mountain Warehouse and Heavenly Feet will be the first of many to join the new shopping village in the coming months, alongside an array of new food and beverage outlets. Cotton Traders will also be moving from their existing space to one of the new units, expanding from 1200 to 2000 square feet.

The other big news is that The Valley has agreed a deal with Diggerland 'The Ultimate Adventure Park Experience, where children and adults can ride in and drive real JCB's, dumpers and other items of construction equipment' to come on board in 2016.

May 2015

79

Pop of Culture Lucinda Bunn

Jim Cartwright’s award-winning The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at Birmingham Repertory Theatre Friday 15th to Saturday 30th May Former Coronation Street actors Vicky Entwistle (Janice Battersby) and Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow) are taking leading roles along with Nancy Sullivan in Jim Cartwright’s Olivier Awardwinning The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which opens at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 15th May. Nancy Sullivan stars as LV, a painfully shy girl with a bold and beautiful voice, whose blowsy mother Mari, played by Vicky Entwistle, shrieks and shouts her way around the house, all-the-while Chris Gascoyne’s Ray Say engineers his escaped from small town showbiz to the

bright lights of the big-time. They are joined on stage by Joanna Brookes, Brendan Charleson and Tendayi Jembare.

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

This brand new staging of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is a co-production between Birmingham Repertory Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse where it transfers to following it’s opening in Birmingham.

Centenary Square Broad Street Birmingham B1 2EP 0121 236 4455

CPBigwood helps art gallery move to the city centre

A new independent art gallery has opened manager Tim Ison said the five-year plan had always been to move the business to a in Birmingham city centre. more central location.

In a deal put together by property agents Alongside the award winning paintings of CPBigwood, Reuben Colley Fine Art Reuben Colley the gallery also represents Ltd has taken the ground floor of 85-89 internationally collected artists such as Colmore Row, owned by Real Estate Rick Garland, Alex Russell Flint and Investors plc, the West Midlands-based property investment company. The gallery James Byrne. With the new venture they also plan to make available works from was formerly in St Mary’s Row, Moseley, masters such as Pablo Picasso, L.S. for the past five years.

Lowry, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst.

The gallery was established in February www.cpbigwood.com 2010 by Reuben Colley as a location to www.reubencolleyfineart.co.uk display and sell his own paintings and those of other like-minded artists. It has gone from strength to strength and gallery

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas Tuesday 16 June - Saturday 20 June 2015 Based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys.

Set during World War II, the story is seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and devastating consequences.

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Bruno’s friendship with Shmuel takes him from innocence to revelation, revealing the poetic irony that through a child’s eye everyone can appear the same.

Brought to you by The Children’s Touring Partnership who have previously produced Swallows and Amazons and Goodnight Mister Tom, this world premiere of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas on stage, promises to be a deeply moving and thought provoking production. www.belgrade.co.uk

Stratford Butterfly Farm celebrates its 30th anniversary

With a special exhibition

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015 marks the 30th anniversary of the Stratford Butterfly Farm and to celebrate this milestone, the Farm is staging an exhibition of old photographs when it was first opened

by David Bellamy in July 1985. The exhibition, which will also give visitors a fascinating insight into the history of the Farm, will until the end of the October half term. There is no additional charge to view the exhibition.

Firmly positioned as Britain’s largest and most successful butterfly farm, the Farm attracts over 100,000 visitors each year. Set in a large tropical greenhouse, landscaped with waterfalls, ponds and tropical plants, visitors can see thousands of exotic butterflies from all over the world fly within the greenhouse.

To avoid the butterflies landing on visitors and accidentally leaving the Farm, a new mirror has been installed so that visitors can check their backs as they are leaving the flight area.

Over the years the Butterfly Farm has continually added to its number of inhabitants and now has a beautiful green Kakariki Parrott which originates from New Zealand. The stunning green bird has settled in well with the other bird inhabitants including Rosey Bourkes, Cockatiels, Mousebirds, Green Ring-necked Paraquets and the flightless Chinese Painted Quails.

In Insect City, as well as the usual insects, there is a new snake tank which houses a Royal Python. It is the smallest of the African pythons and has a typically docile temperament. Also on display is an Albino Ratsnake which originates from North America and subdues its small prey by constriction.

delighted to be celebrating our 30th anniversary this year and hope that visitors will enjoy our exhibition and seeing what the Butterfly Farm looked like in 1985. With plenty of new inhabitants to see and admire, a visit to the Butterfly Farm is a great family day out!”

Over in Arachnoland and behind the safety of glass is a Goliath Bird Eating Spider. The spider is considered to be the largest in the world and was named by explorers who saw one eating a hummingbird. Native to the rainforests of South America, these spiders have up to a 30cm leg span when fully extended.

Also on display is the Brazilian Red Fire Tarantula which is the third largest in the world, the Huntsman Spider and Black Widow Spider, known to be one of the most poisonous spiders in the world with venom 15 times more potent than a rattlesnake. Visitors can also see the infamous False Widow Spider which has attracted plenty of media interest over the last few years.

To see hundreds of spectacular butterflies, insects, reptiles and spiders visit the Butterfly Farm from 10:00am to 5.30pm every day of the week. Entry fees are Adults £6.25, Seniors & Students £5.75, Children (under 3’s go free) £5.25, Family (2 adults & 2 children) £18.50. Group discounts are available.

Registered Carers are admitted free of charge.

For more information please visit the website at www.butterflyfarm.co.uk or telephone 01789 299288.

Jane Kendrick, Marketing Manager of the Stratford Butterfly Farm stated, “We are May 2015

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What’s on this May Our picks of the month Megan Ace

BodyPower Expo at the NEC 15th - 17th May 2015 BodyPower is the fastest growing consumer fitness exhibition in Europe, attracting tens of thousands of health and fitness enthusiasts from around the globe. Set within the easily accessible NEC, Birmingham, BodyPower has developed into a staple event for the international fitness market. Now into its seventh year the show provides three relentless days of fitness, covering the full spectrum of products, services and athletes.

The biggest superstar in the history of professional wrestling and a pop-culture icon, Hulk Hogan will also be present for the entire weekend.

15 Holly Walk, Baginton, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1NP 01926 485423 www.bodypowerexpo.co.uk

The Importance of Being Earnest 25 – 30 May David Suchet stars as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s much loved masterpiece. Wilde’s superb satire on Victorian manners is one of the funniest plays in the English language – the delightful repartee and hilarious piercing of hypocrisy and pomposity can still make you laugh out loud.Two bachelor friends, the adorable dandy Algernon Moncrieff and the utterly reliable John Worthing J.P., lead double lives to court the attentions of the exquisitely desirable Gwendolyn Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. The gallants must then grapple with the riotous consequences of their deceptions, and with the formidable Lady Bracknell. malvern-theatres.co.uk/ 01684 892277

The ‘Frolicsome Friars’ are back

The Great Pit has failed! The brine springs has ceased to flow! The salt-making industry will come to an end! The town will be ruined!

Once more the 'Frolicsome Friars' of Probus '87 - and the Reverend Peter Kerr as the Bishop of Chichester - are involved in coordinating another re-enactment of the Upwich Pit Blessing, the Great Pit, in Vines Park.

To celebrate such an important event in the history of Droitwich, a great procession will leave St. Andrew’s Church on St. Richard’s Day, Saturday, May 2nd at 10.30, and weave its way down the High Street to the Great Pit; beautifully dressed for the occasion by the Ladies of ‘Bluebells Florist’.

Rebecca - 4 – 9 May

Rebecca is timeless; the book beloved by generations and the iconic Alfred Hitchcock film a classic of the genre. Now Rebecca bursts onto the stage.

Emma Rice, the award winning director, has created a spellbinding new production of Daphne du Maurier’s masterpiece which conjures Cornish romance and theatrical magic. malvern-theatres.co.uk/ 01684 892277 82

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