B&dp nn3 april

in and around NN3

Parklands, Boothville & Westone

April / May ‘16

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A community magazine and business directory for local residents

Over 4,000 copies distributed across the NN3 Area For Local News, What’s On and Business Directory visit:

www.northamptonmagazines.com

Welcome to the “In & Around NN3” Magazine! Visit: www.northamptonmagazines.com

Your local friendly roofer with over 25 years experience

New Roofs . Repairs . Free Quotes . Helpful Advice For a reliable service call:

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in and around

Parklands, Boothville & Westone your community magazine and business directory

Dear Readers, Welcome to the Spring edition of this handy little companion! If you’re just browsing you may not realise that it’s always worth keeping this magazine to hand. As well as emergency phone numbers and school term dates you’ll find a good range of local services. Please support local businesses if you can.

If you want the chance to win a superb Spa Experience day for Two at Ragdale Hall then enter our competition on page 15.

Once again, we had a massive response to our last competition!

This issues highlights . . .

Jog On:

Taking up running? Take some tips from our resident fitness expert . . .

5

Quiz Corner:

6

Take some time out to irritate our irritating quizzler . . . .

Deep Mystery:

An intriguing story about a mission that didn’t go to plan!

Competition Time:

Fancy a great day out? Try out our easy to enter competition.

Local History:

All about the Queen Eleanor statues – do you know where they are?

Recipe:

Fed up of the same old meals? Try this easy-to-make yummy . . . .

Green Fingers:

Here’s another seasonal essay from Emily at Cramden Nursery . . . .

Bev & Dez In & Around NN3 Magazine

Wonder Fruit:

If you would like to advertise in this magazine or have an event to promote, please contact us:

Old wives tales or good advice?

Decide for yourself . . . . .

Local Sport:

07747 632918

Your chance to catch up on the progress of our three local clubs

admin@northamptonmagazines.com

www.northamptonmagazines.com http://twitter.com/northamptonmags www.facebook.com/northamptonmagazines

What’s On:

Now the weather’s improving, our events guide may be handy!

This journal does not accept any responsibility for errors and omissions in this publication, or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers. Views expressed by contributors are their own and are not necessarily shared by the publishers. This publication has no political bias.

11 15 21 26 28 34 45 58

Front Cover Image: ‘It’s Spring and time to get out into the garden’ Supplied by A.S. Images.

Kids-Can You Find Boothville BunNY? Simply flick through this magazine and find the other seven pages that our bunny is hiding on. Have more fun by timing how long it takes you . . . and see if Mum or Dad can beat you!

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To advertise call Bev on 07747 632918 or email: admin@northamptonmagazines.com

Injury Rehabilitation Centre Based in the Chris Moody Centre

Our Rehab Centre features:

● 2 hydro pools (34°C) and ice bath

● 25m swimming pool with moving floor

● Cryotherapy chamber (-140°C)

● Rehabilitation suite

● 8 Consulting rooms

● Consultant Spinal Specialist

* Pilates (1:2:1 sessions or mat class)

* Swimming lessons for all ages * Aqua aerobics (18+) * National Pool Lifeguard Qualification

Visit our website or contact us at Moulton Injury Rehab Centre (based in the Chris Moody Centre), Moulton College, Pitsford Centre, Gate 4, Pitsford Road NN3 7QL T: 01604 492222 E: sportstherapy@moulton.ac.uk www.sportstherapy.moulton.ac.uk

M11468

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The beginners guide to running

running on your toes as this will give you sore calf muscles.

6. At the end of each run give yourself time to cool down taking yourself back to a walk and doing some gentle leg stretches.

by Becca Mclachlan

7. To help with motivation find yourself a running buddy. You’ll encourage each other when you’re not so keen to run, as you won’t want to let your partner down and this will help to keep you both motivated.

Spring is in the air, with the first signs of warmer weather and increase in daylight many people feel inspired to dust off their trainers and start pounding the pavements and trails around the county. Running is not only great exercise but its also fantastic for enhancing your mood too.

8. Aim to run at least twice a week if you are consistent you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll start to progress.

If you are a beginner here are 10 simple steps to help you get started, avoid injury and stay motivated.

9. Keep your running interesting by adding variety. Running the same route over and over again can become boring.

1. If you are recovering from an injury or have any health issues its always advisable to consult your GP before starting any exercise programme.

10. Set yourself a challenge, training for a charity run or race is a great way to stay motivated.

2. A good pair of running shoes that are suitable for your foot type is crucial to reduce the risk of injury. Shin splints can be a common problem that beginners can experience from wearing the wrong type of running shoes.

There are many types of trainers on the market, so its best to get advice from a specialist running retailer who will assess your foot and find the right shoe for you. The shock absorbers in trainers weaken over time, increasing your risk of injury. It’s advisable to replace running shoes every 300 miles (482km).

3. Before each run, begin with a gentle warm-up of at least five minutes. This can include quick walking, marching on the spot, knee lifts, side stepping or climbing stairs.

4. When you begin to run aim not to go off too fast too soon, just start jogging at a gentle pace.

Begin by doing walk run intervals and as time goes on, make the running intervals longer until you are running continuously.

www.becca-mclachlan.com www.metabolic-booster.com becca@becca-mclachlan.com Becca Mclachlan Fitness Studios, Brampton Heath Golf Centre, Church Brampton.

Northampton. NN6 8AX

5. When running its important to strike the ground with the middle of your foot, avoid 5

by

Coffee time

COFFEE TIME CROSSWORD

Mindbogglers You’ll find all the answers on the events page near the back!

WORD LADDER Convert the word at the top of the ladder into the word at the bottom of it, using only the 4 rungs in between. On each rung you must put a valid 4 letter word that is the same as the word above it, apart from a one letter change. There may be more ways of achieving the final answer.

PUNK LEAD LOAD LORD CORD SONG

Across

1. Romantic Car brand (4,5) 6. Part of a paint brush (5) 9. Found on old ships (7) 10. Precisely (7) 11. Runless over (6) 12. Starred item? (8) 14. A huntress mentioned in Greek myth (4) 15. Behave childishly (10) 18. Antibiotic plant that can help in treatment of some infections (6,4) 20. Officers rest area (4) 23. Guns put to rest? (4,4) 24. Withdraw or leave (6) 26. Howling (7) 27. Deliberately structured (7) 28. Arab leader (5) 29. Assist totally (9)

Down

1. Befriend on journey (9) 2. Sabre, Foil or Epie? (7) 3. Unruly protester (6) 4. Facial cover-up (4) 5. Time when certain species can be hunted (4,6) 6. Outrageous (8) 7. Supercede? (7) 8. Sailing vessel (5) 13. Techno timepiece (10) 16. Eve of today (9) 17. Bird found across Europe & Middle East (8) 19. Relaxation time (7) 21. Forever (7) 22. Represent (6) 23. Mans name (5) 25. Gem (4)

SPORTSWORD Answer questions 1-7, fill in the grid and use the initials to name a prolific scorer in the premiership.

Answers to all 3 puzzles are on the events page near the back of this magazine!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

O

I N

O

N

U A

R

1. He was once a hot shot for B the Cobblers. 2. The first Black S cricketer to play for Zimbabwe.

3. Ali’s legendary cornerman.

E I 4. Stan Wawrinka enjoyed success here in 2015. 5. The current IBF featherweight champion. 6. 2015 event, eventually won

by Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen after a tight finish. 7. Former Chelsea midfielder & assistant manager.

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The April sporting calendar just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Aintree Grand National. Whilst there are plenty of past heroics that we may remember, it’s only fair to stop and consider heroes who may have made the record books for the wrong reasons.

In this 4 mile epic, few jockeys have been more regularly parted from their horse than the Duc of Alburquerque.

In 1963 he made racing history when bookies offered odds of 66 to 1 against his finishing the Grand National on horseback. Dividing his time equally between the saddle and the stretcher, this Spanish aristocrat entered the National seven times with consistently impressive results. Generally, he would start with the others, gallop briefly and then wake up in the intensive care unit of the Royal Liverpool Infirmary (RLI). Mainly, it was the fences that caused him the most trouble. In 1952 the Duc fell at the sixth fence and almost broke his neck. In 1963 he was unscathed

The duc . . . until a mishap at the fourth. In 1965 his horse collapsed (some say it actually chickened out!) and in 1973 he said his stirrup broke. Bravely, he clung on for eight fences before being sent into inevitable orbit.

In 1974 he fell off during training and staff at the RLI casualty unit were surprised to see him wheeled in before the race had even begun.

Undeterred, this fine man rode in the National with a broken collar-bone and latterly, a leg in plaster. ‘I sat like sack of potato’ he said in his faltering English ‘and gave de ‘orse no ‘elp’.

This may explain how he came to complete the course for the only time in his splendid career.

Mindful Meditation

Saturday 16th April – 10.30am to 4.30pm

Discover the fundamental aspects and benefits of meditation through a variety of techniques – breathing, physical relaxation, colour, sound light and guided imagery.

Socratic Dialogue

Sunday 24th April – 10.30am to 4.30pm Learn dynamic verbal clearing processes to release blocked emotions, limiting beliefs and unresolved issues from the past. Techniques are effective for relieving pain, emotional trauma, physical problems and restoring peace of mind for optimum health.

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MA, Cert. Hyp, DABCH, MABCH, MCAHyp.

Advanced Hypnotherapist, Counsellor & lecturer with over 22 years experience working in the NHS

Venue: Central Northampton Bookings: 01604 624515 www.christinegould.com please mention In & Around NN3 when responding to adverts

Get So Much More From Your Conservatory...

Send your articles of Local Interest to: admin@northamptonmagazines.com Conservatories look great and can be a lovely place to sit and relax, unfortunately the British climate often means they are either too cold or far to hot to sit comfortably. They can be expensive to heat and hard to cool down. So many people would love to make more of their conservatory.

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Based in Spinne y Hill

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Sixty years ago, the Russian ship Ordzhonikidze docked in Portsmouth. On board was the new leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev and his predecessor, Nikolai Bulganin who were on a good will visit to Britain.

At the time Britain and Egypt were locked in a disagreement over the ownership of the Suez Canal and the Russians were known to have provided weapons to the Egyptians, which meant it was important for Britain to keep relations with Russia as amicable as possible.

On the other hand, the ship was of particular interest to British Naval intelligence who were desperate to discover how it achieved its superior manoeuvrability compared to similar ships in the British fleet. It was said that the Ordzhonikidze was the fastest ship in the Soviet fleet. An earlier examination of a similar Soviet cruiser, the Sverdlov revealed a circular opening at the ship’s bow which housed a large propeller that could be directed to give thrust to the bow. By now military intelligence had also learned of Soviet plans to build another forty of this prototype which, supported by the Stalingrad-class battlecruisers and aircraft carriers, represented a significant threat to the Royal Navy, especially in the North Atlantic.

Meanwhile, inside Whitehall in London, the British Government were eager to gauge the current mood in Moscow in the hope they could find some common ground. Naturally, when Prime Minister Anthony Eden was informed of MI5 and MI6’s proposed operations during the visit, he was horrified. These were said to include bugging the Soviet residence at Claridges, hiding microphones in motor vehicles, the special hiring of interpreters and the proposed underwater inspection by navy divers of the Ordzhonikidze which was one of three Soviet ships anchored in Pompey. Eden immediately called a Cabinet meeting and the

Busters final dive! head of MI6 and other special intelligence forces were warned against any covert operations during the Russian visit.

However, influences in the upper echelons of the British military deemed the inspection of the craft to be of vital importance. They needed to learn the Soviet secret. The obvious answer was that if all military personnel were excluded from any operation, someone else would need to be found, someone with the necessary experience, someone who’d done this thing before, someone who had moved on.

The perfect man seemed to be Lionel ‘Buster’ Crabb, a Londoner. He served as an army gunner at the outbreak of World War II and later joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1941. Despite being a poor swimmer, he had a passion and skill for sea diving, becoming part of the Royal Navy’s new diving unit which was sent to Gibraltar to remove the unexploded limpet mines from the hulls of Allied vessels.

The task was difficult and dangerous but Crabb was extremely proficient. In recognition of his bravery and diving prowess his colleagues nicknamed him ‘Buster’ after the American Olympic swimmer and action hero ‘Buster Crabbe’. By 1955, the Cold War was well under way, and it was Crabb who dived under Soviet ship Sverdlov, with his companion Sydney Knowles, who stated that they had been tasked with investigating the hull of the ship. By March 1955, Crabb’s age and extreme fondness of cigarettes and alcohol forced him to retire. His wartime accolades included the George Medal and promotion to Lieutenant Commander in charge of all mine removal operations on the Italian coast. After the war Crabb got an OBE, and although he’d left the forces he remained in close contact with his military comrades, assisting with a number of naval projects.

Crabb’s final dive is clouded in mystery. What is known is that on April 17, 1956, Crabb, who was short of money, and another man identified as “Matthew Smith” but believed to have been Ted Davies, a navy liaison official from MI6, checked into the Sally Port Hotel in Old

11

E

Portsmouth under instruction by Nicholas Elliott, an MI6 intelligence officer. Two days later, Crabb and his companion ventured into the harbour and made a successful preliminary dive next to the Ordzhonikidze. Crabb came back to brief his companion and pick up an extra weight for his next dive, but never returned. Having allegedly told friends that he was “going down to take a ‘dekko’ at the Russian bottoms” for a fee of 60 guineas, it came as a complete shock when 10 days later the Admiralty reported Crabb “missing, presumed dead during trials of certain underwater apparatus” at Stokes Bay, a few miles away from Portsmouth. Less than a week later, the Russians complained to the Foreign Office that the crew of the Ordzhonikidze had seen a ‘frogman’ or combat diver in the water near their berth, plunging Britain into an almighty international incident which remains unsolved to this day.

When grilled in the House of Commons, Britain’s Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden, only fueled the mystery surrounding Crabb’s disappearance when he stated that “It would

not be in the public interest to disclose the circumstances in which Commander Crabb is presumed to have met his death.” Eden made it clear that Crabb’s supposed spying mission had taken place without his knowledge or consent.

Accepting responsibility, his retaliation to the flagrant disregard of his orders saw the Head of MI6, Sir John Sinclair take early retirement.

Just over a year later, the body of a diver was brought up in some fishing nets near Pilsey Island in Chichester Harbour. Mysteriously, the remains had no hands and no head, making it impossible to identify at that time.

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Do you own a business? . . . ask Bev about advertising in our other 3 magazines!!

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KBS have a trustworthy team with over 40 years experience.

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Based in Harlestone - Covering Northamptonshire please mention In & Around NN3 when responding to adverts

To advertise call Bev on 07747 632918 or email: admin@northamptonmagazines.com

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A SPA DAY FOR TWO AT

RAGDALE HALL Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa is one of the most luxurious and relaxing health spas in the country. This award-winning spa combines state-of-the-art facilities with the charm of traditional Victorian architecture, and is located in the rolling Leicestershire countryside, just an hour’s drive away.

Ragdale’s extensive facilities include the multi-million-pound Thermal Spa featuring the magical candle pool, indoor and outdoor waterfall pools, Thunder Shower and a series of heat experiences. Guests can also enjoy unlimited use of the gym, all exercise classes and outdoor activities, or just enjoy the many relaxation areas and quiet spaces Ragdale has to offer.

Each spa package includes either three-course dining in the sumptuous Dining Room or a lighter selection in Ragdale’s new relaxed eatery - the Verandah Bar. With a range of spa days offering arrival times from 9am to 11am, you can choose how leisurely to start your day, or opt for one of Ragdale’s evening options, starting at 4.30pm or 6.30pm and priced from £49.00.

Ragdale also offers spa breaks in a range of room types so, whether you’re looking for total relaxation, me-time and pampering or to kick-start a healthier lifestyle, Ragdale Hall is the perfect choice.

We’re offering one lucky winner a Ragdale Experience Day fot two people. Arrive for 10.30am and enjoy the facilities, and a light lunch in the Verandah Bar, before departing at 6.30pm.

To enter a draw for a chance to win this superb prize, send in the correct answer to this question: In what county is Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa situated?

Email your answer to: northamptonentries@gmail.com by Tuesday 31st of May along with your full name, address and telephone number. Please ensure you include “Ragdale Competition 2016” in the subject line of the email otherwise it may not get noticed. Winner will be notified by email.

For more information about Ragdale Hall’s spa days and breaks visit their website at: www.ragdalehall.co.uk or call 01664 433000. For the latest news and special offers follow them on Facebook: Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa and twitter: @ragdalehall Terms & Conditions The prize is valid Monday to Thursday only, subject to availability. Over 16’s only. Travel is not included.

Prize must be taken within six months of the winner being notified and is non-transferable.

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“and we’re in the Good Beer Guide” 16

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Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.

Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long

standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 10 year guarantee.

But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle.

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Kingsthorpe’s best kept secret Cramden Nursery is a little gem of a family business. It was set up over 50 years ago by John Mitchell. Today the nursery is run by his daughter Emily and her partner Nic. April & May are exciting months at Cramden Nursery. Spring is the time to wake up your garden and your ideas about what you plan to grow this summer. At the moment the nursery

is coming alive with colour and it is Emily’s favourite time of year. “The anticipation of the summer to come is so exciting, it is as if anything is possible.”

Emily goes on to say “a very practical approach to planning your pots and baskets for the summer would be to use young plants, sometimes known as plugs.”

A wide range of colours in both up right and trailing Pelargoniums (aka Geraniums) can be found at Cramden, all at a great value price of just £1 each. Plant them into your baskets or pots and keep them sheltered from the frosts at this early time of year.

The friendly nursery staff are on hand to help you, even if it is just a matter of colour coordination. All their plants are home grown and healthy. There is plenty of parking on the nursery.

The nursery is open 9-5pm Monday - Saturday, and Sundays 10-4pm. All their plants are home grown and healthy. Cramden Nursery is well worth a visit for all gardeners. Go and see what you have been missing.

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Eleanor’s legacies

The Monuments: before her sad demise in 1290, Queen Eleanor’s express wish was that her heart to be taken to the Black Friars in London. Her organs are believed to be buried in St Catherine’s Priory and Lincoln Cathedral.

As Edward’s beloved queen, her body’s final resting place was to be Westminster Abbey.

Edward decided that crosses bearing statues in memory of his Queen be erected at places where the procession stopped. The King commissioned his Master Mason to design twelve crosses, each to have a plinth of steps and built in three stages: the lowest featuring carved shields of Eleanor’s heraldry, the second a platform with statues of his Queen and the highest level a column with a cross.

The first cross was built near St Catherine’s Priory, Lincoln but was destroyed during the Civil War. However, a fragment can still be seen in the grounds of Lincoln Castle.

Landmarks at Grantham and Stamford fell victim to Oliver Cromwell’s forces but the cortege’s resting point at Geddington, near Kettering, where the Queen’s body was received into the church of St Mary Magdalene, was commemorated with the Geddington Cross, built in 1294. Despite being damaged in the 18th century it was repaired and to this day stands proudly in the heart of the village.

It is believed to be the best preserved of the remaining crosses. It’s distinct triangular shape and richly decorated appearance includes three recessed statues of Queen Eleanor.

By the 9th of December the funeral procession had reached Northampton and the Queen’s embalmed body lay for the night at Delapre Abbey, just south of the town. The Hardingstone Cross, as it was then known, was built south of the Abbey entrance on a slight hill where it could be seen by passing travellers. The monument has undergone several renovations over the years and despite having lost its third level still remains a striking landmark.

Records also suggest the cortege stopped in Stony Stratford and Woburn where monuments were destroyed, presumably in the civil war.

Very little is known about the one at Woburn.

In Dunstable, a site for the Eleanor Cross, near the entrance to Church Street, was carefully chosen and the ground sprinkled with holy water. This monument has also disappeared, but the Queen is still remembered by the ‘Eleanor Precinct’ which is named after her.

Likewise, the statue near the abbey in St Albans no longer stands today. It is known that the Abbot and his monks escorted her body to the abbey. Later, Cromwell’s troops destroyed the top of the St Albans cross and townspeople demolished the rest in the early 18th century.

Waltham was the tenth resting place and its hexagonal Eleanor Cross survived the Civil War and still stands in a pedestrian precinct.

Meanwhile, the King, with his courtiers and clergy, had ridden ahead so he could receive the body of his dead wife. The procession stopped at various monasteries in the city of London. Eleanor’s body was held briefly in St Paul’s Cathedral and Masses were said in memory, and then, in accordance with her wishes, her heart was taken to the Black Friars.

Cheapside was the site of the penultimate Eleanor Cross and although it was a great London landmark, it fell into ruin after attack by anti-Catholics in the late 16th century. Puritans finally completed its destruction.

History states the funeral procession rested at Charing before entering Westminster Abbey. The cross by the station is a later version of the cross at Cheapside and is very elaborate being originally sited where Whitehall meets Trafalgar Square.

The replica (pictured right) in all it’s splendour, was finished in 1863 and has eight statues of Eleanor with kneeling angels.

The journey of the “Queen of Good Memory” as her legend became known, ended at Westminster Abbey . . . her final resting place.

21

The lighter nights are here . . .

It’s something every parent experiences. The day that their child starts asking if they can go out on their own or with friends. It’s just a natural part of their growing independence and, like every part of growing up, it can be a challenging hurdle for a parent to overcome.

Just like deciding when a child’s old enough to be left at home on their own, there’s no set age when you know it will be safe for them to go out without you. Obviously, toddlers and young children will require supervising, but older children have different levels of maturity.

So some 11 year olds will be quite capable of going to the park or the shops on their own but others might not.

As we all want our children to be as safe as possible, you really need to feel comfortable before letting them go out on their own. If you’re not sure, try asking yourself a few questions. Where and when do they want to go? What do they want to do there? Who’s going to be with them? How far away are they going? What time will they be back?

How can I reach them?

It’s a good idea to be aware of the risks that children out alone might face – just to check that you’ve considered ways to minimise them. Risks could include: getting lost, danger from traffic, bullying from other children, stranger danger, grooming, running into gangs, exposure to alcohol or drugs.

It might seem like a scary list, but your guidance can help your child keep themselves safe. It’ll also help build their self-confidence and independence at the same time. If you want to read more: www.nspcc.org.uk

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22

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Know your test cricket?

Believe it or not, the new cricket season is upon us. The County Championship title race will begin on Sunday April 10th. Newly promoted Surrey return to Division One against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. In Division Two, the County will begin their campaign at home against relegated Sussex. To get you in the cricket mood here is quiz that throws up a few interesting questions. The answers are on

6. What unusual occurrence happened on the morning of 11/11/2011? a) At 11:11am the scoreboard indicated that South Africa needed 111 runs to win b) At 11:11am South Africa batsman Shaun Pollock was out for 111 c) At 11:11am South Africa bowler Shaun Pollock had conceded 11 runs off one delivery 7. Who is the only test bowler to take a hattrick on his birthday? a) Peter Siddle (Aus) b) Stuart Broad (Eng) c) Imran Khan (Pak) 8. What is West Indian test cricketer Leslie Hylton’s claim to fame? a) He is the only West Indian cricketer to play & umpire in the same match b) He scored the fastest first class century in singles c) He is the only test cricketer to be hanged for murder 9. Who is the only batsman to have scored centuries in both the Semi-Final and Final of a World Cup? a) Kapil Dev (Ind) b) Mahela Jayawardene (Sri L) c) Jacques Kallis (S.Af.)

the events page near the back.

1. Who is the only batsman that has hit a six off the first ball of a Test match? a) Graham Gooch (Eng) b) Chris Gayle (W.I.) c) Keith Stackpole (Aus) 2. Which is the only country to win the 60Over, 50-Over and 20-Over World Cup’s? a) Australia b) India c) Sri Lanka 3. Former England captain & wicketkeeper Alec Stewart achieved which of the following: a) He was born on 8/4/63 and scored 8463 runs in his test career b) He was born on 8/4/63 and scored 3648 runs in his test career c) He was born on 8/4/63 and scored 8463 runs in his first class career 4. Which Australian captain played in 153 consecutive Test matches? a) Richie Benaud b) Ian Chappell c) Allan Border 5. The first ever cricket Test between England and Australia had the same outcome as as the Centenary Test in 1977, Was it: a) Australia beat England by 45 runs b) England beat Australia by 45 runs c) A wash out.

10. Who is the only player in the history of cricket to have captained a team for more than 100 Test matches? a) Allan Border (Aus) b) Graeme Smith (S.Africa) c) Mike Atherton (Eng) Scoring guide: 10 . . You’re another Geoff Boycott!

9-7 . . You’re out in the nineties!

6-5 . . a fighting half-century!

4 or less . . don’t tell anyone!

25

Fabulous Fish Pie Serves: 4 Cook time: ready in 1 and a half hours Ready in: Over 60 Minutes Difficulty Rating: 1 Syns per serving: Free.

Ingredients: Topping: 400g carrots, peeled and roughly chopped; 300g swede, peeled and roughly chopped; 1 large egg, beaten; 4 tbsp fat free natural yogurt; Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

For the pie: 300g fat free natural yogurt; 150g quark; 4 tbsp chopped fresh dill; 2 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; 200g skinless cod fillets, cooked and cut into large bite-sized pieces; 200g skinless smoked haddock fillets, cooked and flaked; 3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and quartered; 200g cooked and peeled prawns; juice of ½ a lemon.

Method: Start by making the topping. Put the carrots and swede into a large pan of lightly salted boiling water and cook for 25-30 minutes, until tender.

Drain, return to the pan and mash. Allow to cool, stir in the beaten egg and yogurt, season and set aside. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°Fan/ Gas 6. Place the yogurt, quark, dill and parsley in a saucepan and warm gently. Add the cod and haddock and cook for 5 minutes. Place the quark and fish mixture in a large mixing bowl with the hard boiled eggs, prawns and lemon juice, season and mix well. Transfer this mixture to a deep, ovenproof dish. Spoon the topping over the surface, then ruffle with a fork.

Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the topping is lightly browned.

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26

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Top Tips for Hanging Basket success

This month at Cramden Nursery we are planting up our hanging baskets.

April is a great time of year to begin to plan your summer garden display.

If you can start your hanging baskets off now they will look great by the time you are ready to hang them out in your garden at the end of May (when the risk of frosts should have passed).

Where to grow you basket?

What you will need first is somewhere with plenty of natural light and a warm environment for you hanging basket to get growing. A heated greenhouse, conservatory or a warm porch is ideal. The more warmth & light you can give your basket the quicker you plants will grow.

What size basket?

The bigger the basket , the bigger the display will potentially be. Bigger baskets will need less regular watering in summer too due to its larger water capacity. However, make sure your basket has a suitable bracket. These things can get quite heavy once watered. So think about strength and make sure it holds the basket way from your wall!

Which Compost?

Use a good coarse compost, this will keep an open structure for you roots to grow through and aid drainage. A good idea would be to incorporate water retaining granules or gel into your growing medium as hanging basket always dry out quicker than pots on the ground or plants in the borders.

How many young plants to use?

How many plants to use will depend on the size of basket you have and when you are planting it up.

The earlier you start your basket the less plants you will need as you are giving them time to grow and fill out into your basket. Don’t be tempted to squash too many plants in as they do need room to grow.

To give you an idea of how many plants we use at Cramden nursery, a 14” basket in April will be planted up with 6 young plants.

We like to fill our hanging baskets with just Ivy leaf Pelargoniums and find there is no need to use an upright plant in the middle of the basket as the Ivy leaf Pelargoniums will fill the basket top and then tumble over the edge for us beautifully.

How to put it all together If you are using a wire basket don’t forget that it will need a liner.

Fill the basket with your compost, try not to push the compost down as you will squash out that essential air/oxygen for the roots. Fill to the top but not over flowing.

Lay out your plants evenly round the edge of the basket leaving 1 or 2 plants to go in the middle.

Using 2 fingers make a hole for your rooted cutting root ball and pop it in. Do not firm or push your plant down into your compost, the watering at the end will do that for you.

Once you have all your plants in place, your basket will need a water. Using a rose on the end of your hose or watering can will prevent compost being “splashed” out of your basket. Give your hanging basket a good initial water. Here at Cramden Nursery we always give our newly planted baskets a double watering to ensure all the compost is completely wet .

If this all sounds like too much hard work or you do not have the space, wait until the frosts have gone and plant up your baskets with mature plants for that instant impact.

If you are still a little unsure visit our You Tube channel, geraniumtv, for a hanging basket tutorial.

Look for the video “planting a hanging basket with Pelargoniums”.

If you have any questions on then do please get in touch, you can find us on facebook for a quick Question and answer session www.facebook. com/cramdennursery, or you can email me at emily@cramdennursery.co.uk. You can always pick up the phone for a chat on 01604 842365 and of course you are always very welcome to drop in to the nursery with any queries you have. We are ready to help you make the most of your garden here at Cramden Nursery.

Happy planting.

28

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Northampton School for Girls Centenary Celebrations Lenticular Text Painting

by Jamie Poole

Northampton School for Girls has been educating the girls of our town for 100 years. The school has celebrated the centenary by commissioning Jamie Poole, a local artist, to create a very different kind of painting. Jamie’s intricate painting is made entirely from the names of students who attended the school in 1915 and in 2015. Each name has been cut out and glued down individually to form two pictures which can viewed from different angles in the same artwork (lenticular). The idea behind it is that as you walk past the picture, it changes from a classroom in 1915 at St Georges Avenue to an image of the orchestra at Spinney Hill Road where the school is currently based.

Altogether the painting took around 240 hours to create and as you can imagine required a lot of patience and endurance. As a teacher at the school Jamie knows about the enthusiasm, energy, and many lessons that happen every day

1915-2015 at the school. Whilst making the artwork he was struck by how the students in the 1915 picture reminded him so much of the girls that he teaches in art classes today. Also, he often wondered how many of those girls had fathers away fighting in the First World War and what they might have been thinking or feeling.

To find out more about this painting or share your memories and experiences of the school please visit: www.Jamie-Poole.com or come along to one of the schools concerts in April & June.

Tickets from www.nsg.northants.sch.uk/ or call 01604 679547. Also see the events on page 60.

31

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Easy peasey, lemon squeezy?

to help shift food stains, whereas a solution of three parts salt to one part lemon juice may clean copper and brass. Stains on wooden chopping boards and cloths may be removed by mixing lemon juice with water, applying and rinsing. Neat lemon juice can act as a degreaser. I’ll give it a go!

Now here’s a dicey one! Make your own furniture polish from 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts cooking oil! Personally, I’d test it first as furniture can have added lacquers or other enhancements. Riskay!

Here’s an old wives tale: an eco-friendly, all-purpose / window cleaner can be made by mixing equal parts of lemon juice and water in a spray bottle or instead of washing up liquid, try soaking a cloth / sponge in lemon juice before giving the dishes a scrub. Rinse in warm water and stand to dry. Hard work, but cheaper than using the dishwasher!

And now an old granny’s tale: Cut a lemon into slices and leave on limescale stains around taps for 10 minutes (or longer). Scrub and rinse. Use lemon juice to help clean dirty toilets rather than commercial products. In summer, try rubbing mildew-stained clothes with a lemon. Leave in the sun for 12 hours or more. Remove rust stains from clothes by applying lemon juice, then dry under a hot sun. Make your Whites even whiter by mixing lemon juice with water or simply add a teaspoon of lemon juice to your wash to make clothes smell fresher. Apparently, women get the best results!

Sometimes you may have part of or a few slices of lemon leftover - so bin it! Throwing lemon peel in the bin from time to time will keep it smelling fresh . . . or fridge it! . . . cut a lemon in half and let it absorb any fridge smells . . or bowl it! . . add dried peels to your pot pourri as a top up . . . or even bake it! After cooking, use residual oven heat to bake discarded orange or lemon peels until they darken. Apparently this creates natural, fragrant firelighters! Might be good for the barbie!

Have you ever realised just how versatile a ripe Something tobeconsider lemon is? Apparently, it can used as a health aide, a cleaner or a cooking aide. Some of the hints that follow may surprise you as much as they do me. I hasten to add that the suggestions below have yet to be tried and tested by myself! So tread carefully if you are tempted to experiment.

Apparently, a lemon has many health benefits: Your hair can be extra shiney by diluting 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in a cup of water. Then use to rinse your hair after shampooing. Dandruff sufferers may find relief by mixing 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in 2 cups of water and using as a rinse after shampooing. Sounds refreshing, sadly I’m bald!

If you fancy making an excellent exfoliating body scrub, mix chopped lemon peel, half a cup of sugar and enough olive oil to make a paste. This hint says to use on rough skin such as feet and elbows or press elbows into half a lemon for two minutes!

Similarly, hands can be freshened and destained with a rub of lemon juice and fingernails can be whitened with a rub from a wedge of lemon - in all cases rinse well if you want to avoid smelling like you’ve just cleaned a lavatory!

Medicinally, it’s claimed that using a paper towel dabbed with lemon juice on spots and blackheads can work wonders and although it may sting, a dab on scratches and scrapes can act as a disinfectant. Likewise applying lemon juice to a wasp sting can nullify the discomfort. Worth a try.

Also, sore throats and coughs could be eased by consuming a mixture of 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with half a teaspoon of honey. Alternatively you could add the juice and honey to some hot tea. Drinking lemon flavoured water on a daily basis could act as a health boost, topping you up on vitamins and minerals - however, take care as consuming too much could act as a laxative!

If you can stand the taste, apparently, sucking a slice of lemon can repel travel sickness and avoid nauseousness. Also combats compulsive talkers!

Now consider a lemon as a cleaning aide. So I am told, stained plastic such as food containers or tupperware benefit from a rub with lemon juice

Now a summer snack idea: try a simple healthy salad dressing by blending lemon juice and olive oil. Then make lemonade by removing pips from crushed segments of 3 lemons. Add water and sugar to taste. Pop into a blender, strain, add ice and serve. If you get the blend right its very refreshing! Lastly, why not freeze your leftover lemon quarters or slices? All clever ideas!

34

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Bad K

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‘Nevermind’ made a reported $550 million making the band overnight millionaires.

Cobain was shocked at the reception of his highly personal and passionate music. The obsessively sickly and sensitive 24 year old wasn’t coping with his rock’n roll lifestyle. In the early 90’s, he became addicted to heroin, claiming it helped him conquer the demands of touring, as well as pain from stomach ulcers and an irritated bowel. Despite his problems, he continued to write his very personal and acutely focused lyrics but became distressed whenever his work was misinterpreted.

In February 1992 Cobain married the already pregnant, Courtney Love and a few months later released ‘Incesticide ‘. Some thought that marriage and fatherhood might be the calming influence that he badly needed but shortly after his daughter Frances Bean Cobain was born, he was in hospital after heroin abuse. Early 1993 saw the release of the widely acclaimed ‘In Utero’ containing some of Cobain’s most passionate work. The chart topping album included songs like ‘All Apologies’ and ‘Heart Shaped Box’ detailing aspects of Cobain’s sometimes shaky marriage.

Nirvana embarked on a support tour and recorded and filmed an “unplugged” (acoustic) performance for MTV in November 1993.

Nirvana’s choice to honour bands and people that had influenced them as well as Cobain’s passionate and intense vocals silenced many of their biggest critics who had labeled Cobain talentless. Rumours circulated that the MTV compilation would be Nirvana’s last album as the band were going their separate ways.

A European tour followed but Cobain developed throat problems causing interruptions. Soon afterwards, he was rushed to hospital in a coma after an unsuccessful suicide bid and days later was persuaded to enter a detox program in L.A. He fled after only a few days.

Days later on the 6th of April he was found dead on the floor at his home, a shotgun still pointed at his chin and nearby, a suicide note written in red ink addressed to his wife and daughter. The suicide note ended with the words “I love you, I love you.”

Another victim of a broken marriage?

Kurt Cobain was the face of the nineties, the leader of Nirvana, the multi-platinum grunge band that redefined the sound of the nineties.

Born near Seattle, Cobain was largely a sickly bronchitic child who fell victim to a broken marriage at the age of seven and by his own admission, never felt loved or secure again. His increasingly difficult, anti-social and withdrawn behaviour became the catalyst that fueled a lot of the anguish in Nirvana’s music.

In 1974, after the split, Cobain found himself being shunted between various relatives and, at one stage, he was living rough under a bridge.

At eleven, he was captivated by the Sex Pistols and after their self-destruction, Cobain and friend Krist Novoselic continued to listen to the wave of British bands including Joy Division, the nihilistic post-punk band that some say Nirvana are directly descended from in mood, melody and lyrical quality.

By 1985 Cobain was living in Olympia, Washington where he formed a series of bands before an uneasy alliance with bassist Krist Novoselic and eventually drummer/multiinstrumentalist, Dave Grohl became Nirvana.

By 1988 they were doing gigs and demo tapes.

A year later came a rough-edged debut album ‘Bleach’ under a small time local label, Sub-Pop. In Britain, Nirvana received much recognition and in 1991 they signed to the Geffen label releasing ‘Nevermind’ - a series of different, crunching, screaming songs that along with their first single ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ would propel Nirvana to mainstream stardom. The single became Nirvana’s most highly acclaimed and instantly recognisable song. Not many people can decipher its exact lyrics but Cobain used a seductive hookline to hook the listener.

37

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Washing Machine Trouble ? ? ? . . is it time to replace . . . . or is it time to repair?

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The shop offers a variety of wools from Sirdar, Debbie Bliss and Noro, as well as Pony knitting pins and crochet hooks and a range of haberdashery essentials Workshops . Drop in sessions Knitting classes . Project days Knit & Natter Knitting & crochet techniques Amigurumi, Crochet & Tunisian Crochet workshops available

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In todays innovative world much noise has been made about the lack of affordable housing, especially in cities. Take a look at this 9-story modular building in Kips Bay, New York which was erected last year and contains 55 “micro” apartments that range in size from 260 to 360 square feet. Some rent for just $3,000 a month . . . and that’s in New York! Designed by Narchitects, these modular units were built by Capsys Construction whose proposal, entitled “My Micro NY,” was one of 33 submitted to the city’s Department of Housing Preservation that sponsored the plans to permit smaller housing units in New York.

It was the winning entry in the city’s ‘adAPT’ micro-apartment design competition and has generated massive interest from cities across the United States and all continents around the world.

The modular units were manufactured at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, then stacked and bolted together at the Kips Bay site along with stairs, an elevator and other shared spaces. Essentially, it is a mid-rise modular building of receding dimensions that steps upward in a northerly direction.

The shape of things to come?

The building has a gym, a community room, a bicycle room, storage, a garden, a roof terrace and lounges and some shared kitchenettes on each floor.

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39

Do you remember?

You will find school term dates on page 60

gust & September

. . . . . Ganderton’s bakery and general provisions, just along the Harborough Road, opposite Kingsthorpe recreation ground? The shop opened for business in the early part of the 20th century, circa 1915, and was still fourishing until a few years ago. George Ganderton and his wife Harriet, known as Hetty, raised a family of three boys and a girl. The shop sold everything from shoe polish to foodstuffs, with bread baked on the premises in the early days. On Sundays the baking ovens were used by some of the locals to cook their dinners. This ensured that the ovens never went completely cold for bread baking.

Today the premises has been recently opened as THE OLD BAKEHOUSE, an art gallery and cafe, serving a selection of light meals as well as a ‘full English breakfast’ at just under a fiver.

A scrumptious afternoon tea for two is on offer at £20 with a good selection of sandwiches, cakes and beverage of your choice. The Italian coffee here is an excellent brew. The cafe/ gallery is closed on Mondays.

At the time of visiting, we enjoyed swift and friendly service from the present owner. The art gallery has an interesting display of works for sale by a local artist whilst Annette Gibas told us that she too has recently taken up her own paint brushes again.

Kingsthorpe is well blessed with a good range of ‘eateries’ ranging from take-aways of several different cultures, as well as a branch of T & 2 Sugars which offers a great Sunday luncheon deal, in addition to a daily menu of cafe favourites. One of the few independent bakeries still operating in the area is GARDNERS which is also along the main Harborough Road, specialising in the production of celebration cakes as well as delicious bread, having worked in the trade for very many years.

For a free estimate please call Mick on

07947 647850 01604 456621

m.prigmore@sky.com No job too small!!

40

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According to a recent survey, we waste £12.5bn a year on food which we buy and then just throw away. Understanding the difference between ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates and knowing the best way to store food to keep it fresher for longer can help save pounds. Here are a few facts that might prevent confusion: ‘Best Before’ dates refer to quality rather than food safety. Foods with a ‘best before’ date should be safe to eat after the ‘best before’ date, but they may no longer be in prime condition.

‘Use by’ dates refer to safety. Food can be eaten up to the end of this date but not after - even if it looks and smells fine. Always follow the storage instructions on the packaging.

Why not keep track of ‘use by’ dates on canned produce with a marker pen. Write the year on the top of the cans in your cupboard and you can easily see what needs using soon.

‘Display Until’ and ‘Sell By’ dates can be ignored as these dates are for the benefit of staff in the shop and not for the shoppers.

Making the most of your freezer can help save

you time and money. To extend the life of food beyond its expiry date, freeze it before the date, defrost and use within 24 hours. Using ice cube trays can also help to reduce food waste but use the trays that make large cubes.

Fill the trays with foods like baked beans in sauce, tinned vegetables in brine or fluid, liquid foods or anything that fits. Once frozen, they can be decanted into fresh storage containers releasing the trays for further use. Make a note of how many cubes are used for one serving, so you can defrost exactly what you require.

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Minimising food waste!

43

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Local Football Update

by Andy Goldsmith

Down at the mill, Northampton Spencer are searching for a new chairman after Graham Wrighting decided to stand down from his position at the end of the current season after a marathon 33 year stint in the role.

Graham took over in 1982 with the club at a low ebb following relegation to Division One and during his time in charge saw the club bounce back to the top flight and become a force in the Premier winning the title in 1992 and the Knockout Cup two years later. During his tenure, Spencer have also won the prestigious Northants Senior Cup and also the UCL Division One title twice. Graham states that he is looking for someone with new initiatives to ensure that the club is in good hands for the next chapter in its history. Anyone interested in the post should contact the club at the Kingsthorpe Mill ground.

ON’s reserves battle it out with Spencer Reserves at Billing Road - Photo by PSD

their efforts were rewarded in the dying minutes when Stuart McMichael broke away down the right and cut inside.

His thumping low drive reduced the arrears but proved to be too late for a dramatic comeback.

The win cements Spencer in the top half of the table, whilst the defeat leaves Sileby in amongst the relegation candidates.

However, the Fernie Fields men have introduced three new newcomers in a bid to bolster their battle against the drop from the Premier Division.

Two recruits came in from the UCL Under 21 Division and were quick to make an impact.

Midfielder Adam Moussi (from Kettering) scored twice on his debut against Cogenhoe while Karlos Augustine, top scorer for AFC Rushden & Diamonds Under 21s, netted the winning goal at Rothwell Corinthians on his Sileby debut.

There were also excellent draws at Deeping and Newport Pagnell that have increased confidence.

Better news at the mill was that the February ‘Goalscorer of the Month’ award was won by Ryan Ansell, the Spencer striker who bagged six goals in the Millers’ four matches during the month. The inform striker scored in every match with singles in the win over Holbeach and back to back derbies with Wellingborough, but it was his decisive hat trick in the win over Deeping on the final Saturday of the month which took him clear of his rivals for the prized accolade.

Meanwhile in Division one, ON Chenecks remain in the promotion places after a six game unbeaten run through February, which keeps them close on the heels of the leaders, Peterborough Sports. The highlight being a 2-1 away win at p r o m o t i o n rivals Stewarts and Lloyds Corby which gave O.N’s a breathing space. A 58th minute Ash Ogden goal put them ahead and Tom Caton doubled the Chenecks lead five minutes past the hour. Michael Byrne’s 82nd minute reply put the Corby side back in the hunt but they were unable to salvage a point. Fighting draws at Blackstones and Oakham followed the 2-1 home win against Irchester. At the time of writing, Graham Cottle’s men were second in the table, but their rivals all have games in hand that could make for a tight finish.

The first ever UCL top flight clash between two Northampton teams took place on the 5th March.

Two first half goals gave Spencer the local bragging rights in the Northampton derby at Fernie Fields.

In was the visitors who bossed the first half and took a deserved lead on 17 minutes, when Matt Long broke down the left and squared to Ansell whose shot was blocked, but Ryan Dove was the quickest to react to score from 6 yards. Spencer doubled their lead with the last action of the half when the prolific Ansell scrambled the ball home after persistent work down the right hand side

by Dove created the opportunity. The home side came more into the game in the second period and 45

Important phone numbers are on Page 60

160 years of growing . .

Teashop open for Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Teas Phone to reserve Cream Teas

Ekins Allotment Association

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Ekins allotment field in Northampton, which is between Birchfield Road and the Wellingborough Road near to Bush Hill, has now been used as allotments for 160 years.

A charity was formed in 1856 by the Ekins family of Weston Favell and the ground at the time extended from the Wellingborough Road to the town boundary (marked by a post in Bushland Road). Originally, it was intended for the use of villagers of Weston Favell at a cost of 5 shillings (25p) for a plot of 10 pole (approx..

230 square metres). The tenants were to be industrious, sober and regular in payments of rent. No work or collecting of vegetables was allowed on Sundays and work was to be done before 6.00 am or after 6.00pm on working days unless special permission was given for other times.

The income from the scheme was to be distributed amongst other causes, such as the village school’s headmaster’s wages and to pupils to meet the cost of their indentures for apprenticeship and to buy their tools.

In 1930, nine acres of the site was used to build the Headlands Primary School.

In 1952, before the houses were built in Birchfield Road East, the existing road finished at Bush Hill crossroads. It was extended through the allotments to join up with Booth Lane. The allotments to the north of this road were then lost to houses.

We currently have 90 plotholders working the fertile (non clay) soil, with plots varying from 5 to 30 pole.

If you are interested in growing your own fruit and vegetables, we currently have three 5 pole plots available, please contact Sid Betts at 01604 401864 for further information.

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Have pity! This magazine hates recycling bins! Why not pass it onto a friend or relative!

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A young guy with attitude named Eric told his boss that he knew a lot of famous people. Not surprisingly, his boss laughed it off, so Eric promised to introduce him to some of them.

Eric said ‘Would you believe me if I took you to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger? ‘Maybe’ replied his boss. On the Saturday they drove to a private mansion where Arnie answered the door. ‘Hey! Eric! How are you doing? Long time no see! Why don’t you and your friend come in for lunch’. After two hours they left. Eric said to his boss ‘Convinced?’ ‘I’m not sure’ said his boss. ‘Arnie’s a naturally friendly guy’.

Eric replied ‘Would you like to meet Madonna then?’ Surprised, his boss said ‘Of course’. So a week later they went to London and taxied to Madonna’s house. ‘Eric! Great to see you again’ said Madonna. ‘Who’s this creep?’ ‘This is my boss’ said Eric. ‘Come in. I suppose any friend of Eric’s is a friend of mine’. After an hour they left.

Eric asked his boss ‘Now are you convinced?’

‘You could have paid her’ said his boss. Eric shook his head in despair ‘What if I showed you I was friends with the Pope?’ His boss retorted;

Eric & his Famous Friends!

‘That would be impressive, especially if you stood on the Vatican balcony with him’. The next weekend the pair flew to Rome. The boss waited in St Peters Square while Eric entered the Vatican. Moments later, Eric appeared on the Vatican balcony alongside the Pope and waved to the crowd. Eric nipped back to see his bosses reaction but discovered he’d collapsed!

‘What happened?’ Eric asked his stunned boss.

‘I was fine’ said his boss ‘until some random stranger standing next to me said ‘who’s that guy in white on the balcony with Eric’.

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St John’s Home has an outstanding reputation within Northamptonshire for providing quality care whilst encouraging residents to continue to live an active and independent life. We also offer day care services for those looking for company, activities, meals or help with bathing.

Activities include music, arts and crafts, quizzes, exercises, singers and religious services.

We can also arrange hairdressing and chiropody.

For further information and details of rates please contact: St John’s Home, Wellingborough Road, Weston Favell, Northampton NN3 3JF Tel: 01604 401243 email: admin@stjohnsreshome.co.uk 48

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Dragon Boat Festival 2016

No previous Many families enjoy a day out watching the experience races come and be one of them. The admission needed fee is only £5 per car.

Each team is given an area where you can pitch a Gazebo and also bring a Barbecue and be part of Northampton’s largest Community Event with net proceeds going to the local Air Ambulance and also local charities.

On Sunday July 17th, 2016 the 13th annual Rotary Dragon Boat will take place at Billing Aquadrome. Last year 45 teams took part and this year we are hoping to increase that number to 60 teams.

For more information go to our webpage at: http://www.rotarydragons.org.uk/ or contact Paul Simpson on 07791 030571

It’s great fun as you can see on the videos on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ rotarydragons/videos

Have you got the power to paddle?

If you wish to take part you will need a team of at least 11 people, 10 paddlers and one drummer to beat time. Each team will have at least three races over the 250 metre course across the Main Lake. The cost is a Boat Registration fee of £400 and each team member is expected to raise £50 sponsorship or if you have difficulty with the Boat Registration Fee we accept an undertaking for each of the team members to raise £100.

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Can you give something back to your local community?

Boothville Community Centre is privately owned and is run by volunteer members from the local community.

at rear of 3 Booth Lane North, Northampton NN3 6JE

We are now looking for additional volunteers to support the existing ones. The time commitment is usually 2/3 hours, but not more than 10 hours a month.

We are looking for:

We also now need additional Trustees to support our existing ones. These are support positions to liaise with the Centre Co-ordinators and Treasurer.

2 x Centre Co-ordinators - who would be involved in the day to day running of the Community Centre.

This involves organising caretakers, taking bookings and other tasks to ensure the smooth running of the Centre.

If you are interested in being involved with a Community Centre that provides activities for around 300 people a week please contact us either by email boothvillecc@hotmail.co.uk or phone 07891 239472.

Treasurer - this would ideally suit somebody who has worked in the accountancy profession and is willing to look after the finances of the Centre.

Our Coffee Shop is open every Saturday from 10am to 12 noon so please join us for Coffee and a Chat.

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53

See the full list of ‘What’s On in Northampton’ at www.northamptonmagazines.com

We offer a wide range of services and solutions to give you a beautiful, lush green and weed free lawn Some of the treatments we offer are: . Fertilising . Moss & weed reduction . Lawn disease control . Scarification . Aeration . Over seeding Treatments starting from as little as £15

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As we are a community club we try to make the cost of joining accessible to all. The first trial lesson is free. Membership is £38, included in this price is a suit and 1 year’s insurance. Each lesson is £4.50.

Taekwondo is for everyone. Last year, through Squad, we entered a ladies veteran team in the UITF World Championships and they only went and won Gold. Maybe Competitions are not your thing, so you may just like to work towards being a Black Belt.

Northants Taekwondo club opened in 2003 and since that time we have produced 54 black belts, many of which have gone on to gain further Degrees and some have opened clubs of their own.

What have you got to lose. Self defence is always a good skill to have. Make new friends and share in a new interest.

For more information go to www.northantstaekwondo.com or Facebook. Telephone: Kay on 07778 789150 or 01933 385061.

Taekwondo

- a sport for all!

Taekwondo, what is it. It’s a Korean martial art, self defence. Can anyone practice it? Yes they can.

It is a total misconception that it is a sport suited only for young fit males.

At Northants Taekwondo club we train children as young as four years old, through to the upper limit + 50 year olds. I myself am in my 60s.

We will encourage you to have a go at everything and with friendly Instructors and fellow members to hand at all times, you will soon start to grasp the fundamentals of it in no time.

55

Vikkies Column Your local Park Ranger . . .

Clean for the Queen It was a busy weekend cleaning up our Park and Estate. On Friday the 4th I was with Parklands Nursery Children making Crowns and talking about why we pick up litter. In the Afternoon we took 30 children from Parklands Primary school to Bradlaugh to collect litter. We collected 7 bags of rubbish - a fantastic job done by the Children. On the Saturday we were at Bradlaugh fields and collected another 5 bags. Thank you to all involved, it was a very successful event.

Other Events: Ranger led Health walks every Wednesday 1pm -2:30pm please meet at the bottom of Spinney Hill Road.

Park Ranger and Police community Support officer surgery 1st Saturday of the Month.

9:30am - 11:30am at the Barn - come and talk to us about any issues, ideas or complaints you may have.

Park clean up: 1st Saturday of the month 12:30pm 2:30pm Meet at the Barn.

Bradlaugh Fields Barn committee Barn opening times: Every Saturday and Sunday 9:30am till 11:30am; every Wednesday Afternoon 1:30pm till 3:30pm.

Children’s Nature Group 1st Saturday of the month at the Barn. Lots of Activities for Children inside and outside the Barn. 10am - 12pm.

56

Always keep this magazine handy - you never know when it will be needed! emergency phone numbers are listed on page 60

Abington Park Vets

helping to get your pets back on their feet.

Tel: 01604 628685 www.abingtonvets.co.uk 427 Wellingborough Road, Abington, Northampton, NN1 4EZ Open: Mon-Sun 8.30am to 10pm, 24hrs, 7 days a week.

Emergency fees are payable between 8pm and 8am.

The out of hours consultation fee is £28 - see website for full details

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What’s on in April & May 27 March Easter fun day 10 - 4pm at Brampton Golf Club. Free entry, lots to do inc Easter egg hunt!

1-11 Apr Easter Quiz Trail at Sywell Country Park £2 1-24 Apr History of the Wellington Boot at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery 2 Apr Cobblers v Notts Co at Sixfields 2 Apr O.N’s 1stXV v Lichfield at Sixfields 2 Apr Antiques & Collectors Fayre at Abington Church rooms, Park Ave North 10-4pm 3 Apr Brackley Brass at Ab Pk Bandstand 5 Apr Forensic Science at Ab Library1 - 4 pm Open to all 9 Apr Cobblers v Bristol Rovers at Sixfields 9 Apr Food & Craft Fair at Abington Park Museum 11-4 10 Apr Salvation Army Band at Ab Pk Bandstand 13 Apr Saints v British Army at Franklins Gardens 13 Apr Young Virtuosi at Cripps, NSB Free 16 Apr Saints v Leicester Tigers at Franklins Gardens 16 Apr-15 May Art in the Park exhibits in Abington Park 16 Apr O.N’s 1stXV v Newport (Salop) at Sixfields 17 Apr Fynnius Fogg at Ab Pk Bandstand 19 Apr Cobblers v Crawley at Sixfields 21 Apr Creativity Unleashed at Cripps, NSB Free 21 Apr Shakespeare Coffee morning at Ab Library 10.30 23 Apr Royal Story Stomp at Ab Library 11.30 - 12.30 23 Apr Northampton Symphony Orchestra at the Spinney Theatre, NSG, Parklands 24 Apr Thrapston town Band at Ab Pk Bandstand 29/30 Apr Saints v Bath at Franklins Gardens (TBC) 30 Apr Cobblers v Luton at Sixfields 30 Apr N’pton Concert Band at Christchurch, Ab’ton 30 Apr-1 May Atomic Festival at Sywell. see Page 51

1 May Northants v Derbyshire (CC) at County Ground 1 May Rushden Town Band at Ab Pk Bandstand 3-5 May Rising Talent at Cripps, NSB Free 3-7 May Joseph at Derngate 5-7 May The Complete Deaths at the Royal 7 May O.N’s 1st XI v Stony Stratford at Billing Rd (12) 7 May Antiques & Collectors Fayre at Abington Church rooms, Park Ave North 10-4pm 8 May Daventry Brass Band at Ab Pk Bandstand 9-14 May Heartbeat at Derngate 10-14 May The Tragedy of Madame Bovary at Royal 13-15 May Beer festival at Tennis Club, Weston Favell 14-15 May Food festival at Beckets Park 10am-6pm 15 May Northants v Kent (CC) at County Ground 15 May Hitchin Band at Ab Pk Bandstand 19 May The Illegal Eagles at Derngate 20-30 May Soul at the Royal 21 May O.N’s 1st XI v Horton House at Billing Rd (12) 22 May Moulton 77 Band at Ab Pk Bandstand 23-28 May Chicago at Derngate 27 May Northants v Derbyshire (T20) at County Ground 28 May Northants v Essex (CC) at County Ground 29 May Northampton Concert band at Ab Pk Bandstand 30 May Dog Show at Racecourse 11am-4pm, 12 start Health Walks at Kingsthorpe Community College 9.3010.15am; Apr 5, 12, 19. 26 May 3, 10.

Parklands Art Classes have vacancies on Mondays & Thursdays - call Jenny on 01604 405923 King Billy IV K’thorpe Village Live: 13 Apr Fatbwoi, 27 Apr Megan Coupar, 11 May Wax Lyrical, 25 May Rockin’ Dave

QUIZ ANSWERS

WORD LADDER

CROSSWORD: ACROSS: 1. Alfa Romeo 6. Stock 9. Cannons 10. Exactly 11. Maiden 12.

Asterisk 14. Alga 15. Immaturely 18. Yellow root 20. Mess 22. Laid Down 24. Secede 26. Ululant 27. Planned 28. Sheik 29. Helpfully.

DOWN: 2. 1. Accompany 2. Fencing 3. Rioter 4. Mask 5. Open season 6.

Shameful 7. Outlive 8. Kayak 13. Smart Watch 16. Yesterday 17. Wood Lark 19.

Leisure 21. Eternal 22. Behalf 23. Louis 25. Opal SPORTSWORD: 1. Cliff Holton 2. Henry Olonga 3. Angelo Dundee 4. Roland Garros 5. Lee Selby 6. Irish Open 7. Eddie Newton. The rugby player is Charlie Hodgson.

Whittlebury Hall Spa Competition winner: Miss R.Butler, Mawsley

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Cricket Quiz Answers: 1. b 2.b 3.a 4.c 5.a 6.a 7.a 8.c 9.b 10.b Boothville Bunny can be found on pages 6, 17, 22, 34, 46, 57 & 62.

58

DUNK DUNG LUNG LONG SONG

Finished with this magazine? Then pass it onto a relative - let them enjoy it too!

At the end of last year the committee at Parklands Community Centre decided to organise more social events at the centre, for the community. The first one being a Comedy Night in January. With three up and coming comics from the comedy circuit, the evening was enjoyed by over 80 people.

We are holding a Family Race Night on Friday, April 22nd, bring the family along for a fun night of horse racing, the bar will be open. The first race will start at 7 pm. and the evening will end 9-9.30pm. Entry is £1 each.

Also, we have decided to open the centre for two Friday evenings per month for social get-togethers.

Come along for a chat, a drink or to play games.

Jenga, Dominoes,Connect 4,cards and more!

The dates will be May 6th and 20th, June 3rd and 17th, July 1st and 15th, August 5th and 19th and September 2nd and 16th. Entry is free.

Jazz in the afternoon, on Sunday, June 26th there will be a jazz quartet and BBQ from 2-6 p.m. Price to follow. We look forward to welcoming you all to these events. The centre is also available for private hires, with or without the bar.

Along with our well established groups, there are

Parklands Community update three new groups meeting regularly at the centre: ‘Singing for Breathing’ is every Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. These afternoons have become very popular, where people can come to chat and sing.

On Wednesday mornings, there is a weekly ‘Get Movement’ dance class for over 50’s. Dancing, to well known songs, improves your general physical movement and well-being. They start at 9.30 a.m. and end at 10.15 a.m. Cost £4. For more information, contact Mel 07899 915222.

On the last Friday of each month, the Brewin’s Stroke Group meet from 10.30a.m. to 12.30 p.m, providing a different activity each time. Please contact, before visiting, 07941 145682.

For info, please contact the Centre on 07734 007183 or 01604 493312. Follow us on Facebook.

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School Term Dates Term 5 (2015/16) Tuesday 12 April 2016 to Friday 27 May2016

Term 6 (2015/16)

Monday 6 June 2016 to Wednesday 20 July 2016

Term 1 (2016/17)

Monday 5 September 2016 to Friday 21 October2016

Term 2 (2016/17)

Tuesday 1 November 2016 to Tuesday 20 December 2016 (dates taken from N.C.C. website & may vary)

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS Abington Medical Centre 01604 723420 Abington Park Surgery 01604 630396 Age UK Northants 01604 611200 Al-Anon Family Groups 020 7403 0888 Boothville Com Centre 07891 239472 Citizens Advice Bureau 0870 1202433 Electricity (power loss) 0800 056 8090 Gas (emergency) 0800 111 999 King Edward Medical Cte 01604 611600 Neighbour Watch 08453 700700 ext.7536 National Assoc Blind 01604 719193 Northampton General Hospital Main 01604 634700 A & E 01604 545601 Police Non - Emergency 101 Parklands Post Office 01604 493114 Parklands Com Centre 01604 493312 Water (emergency) 08457 145 145

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Always keep this magazine handy - emergency phone numbers are listed on page 60

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61

At the beginning of 2016 I set myself the task of taking a series of photographs of Eastfield Park’s fauna and flora each month throughout the year. I say ‘flora and fauna’ rather than ‘wildlife’ because I intend to include plants that were planted back in the days when the Park was part of the private estate of James Manfield (and later Major Arthur Ray) as well as some planted more recently by the Friends of Eastfield Park (FoEP). Each month I will publish a selection of the photographs online on the FoEP Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ Friends-of-Eastfield-Park-252115768221776/).

Albums for January and February have already been published and March will follow soon.

The published pictures will not necessarily be representative of a particular season but will be taken in the month specified and, unless otherwise stated, in the current year. Each month I will try to add at least one species that has not previously been included or show a species doing something or displaying some feature that I have not included before. I will aim for the highest quality I can achieve but the pictures will be chosen for what they show, not how good they are. One of my favourite pictures so far shows two black-headed gulls fighting above Eastfield Lake. (Note that they are not black headed at this time of year and they are not ‘sea gulls’.) I hope that early next year I will be able to put a selection of some of the best or most interesting pictures on display in a public place for the benefit of those who do not have access to Facebook. That is the task I have set myself; it will be up to the readership of this magazine to see how well I achieve it!

One of the reasons I set myself this task was to demonstrate the wonderful range of plants and animals we have living in Eastfield Park. As I walk around the Park taking photographs or simply enjoying the landscape, it is pleasing to

Recording wildlife in Eastfield Park

by Vic Smith (FoEP)

meet other people who appreciate the wildlife as much as I do. It is even more pleasing to chat with those who say that the wildlife has been improving in recent years. Last year a pair of swans hatched nine cygnets on the lake, eight of which survived until they left the lake in winter. Unfortunately, the male swan (which had defended the cygnets so admirably) was killed during the year, probably by a dog. (Last year a swan and two cygnets died following an attack by a dog in a Basildon park; but dog owners should beware: in 2004, two dogs were killed by a swan in a park in Warsop.

Fortunately, both types of incident are rare.)

It is pleasing that once again Eastfield Lake is graced by a pair of swans and that it has also been visited by grey herons and little egrets.

Undoubtedly, the extensive beds of Phragmites reeds make a significant contribution to the biodiversity of Eastfield Park. Some people have called for the reedbeds to be cut back and this may be necessary in the future.

However, a representative from the Wildlife Trust considered this undesirable at present but suggested that the beds should be mapped and monitored. The FoEP agree. We want to collect as much information as we can about the Park’s biodiversity and my photographic project for 2016 should help this process along.

Vic Smith (Chair, FoEP) 62

Have pity! This magazine hates recycling bins! Why not pass it onto a friend or relative!

OPNO ENW !

J.A.K Roofing Supplies Ltd are pleased to announce that their new depot is now open for business in Moulton Park to supply all your pitched and flat roofing materials at very competitive prices

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07811 226602 or 01604 949390 Email: info@jakroofing.com Web: www.jakroofing.com Unit 2 Crofton Court, Owl Close, Moulton Park Ind. Est, Northampton, NN3 6HZ

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