The Local
ANSWER
APRIL 2016
200,000 DELIVERED MONTHLY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
f o r l o ca l p e o p l e
GLOUCESTERSHIRE NORTH WIN A £500 HOLIDAY GIFT CARD! – SEE INSIDE FOR DETAILS
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ANSWER
Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Gloucestershire South – 41,000 copies Gloucester – 46,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies Cotswolds – 28,000 copies Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies
Chris Raymond Sales Director
01242 541079 chris@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Editorial Lois Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution Robert Kingscott – 01242 541071 distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Production Alison Hambling alison@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Accounts Kerry Fell accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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Welcome to April ... We have a fantastic competition this month in which you could be the lucky winner of a £500 holiday gift card courtesy of The Local Answer! For more details and to find out how you can enter, see the centre pages. Take advantage of the glorious sunshine and get out and about in the countryside in April. Why not forage for gorse, or take up running as a hobby – our ‘Looking Good Feeling Great’ feature has some great tips on how to hit the track while avoiding injury! Alternatively, if the weather has inspired you to book a getaway, have a read about sunny Lisbon in our ‘Holidays & Travel’ article.
Inside this month ... Wild Food Foraging Food & Drink Delicious Dishes Cocktail Time Looking Good Feeling Great Holidays & Travel Education Wildlife Matters Pet Care What’s On Win a £500 Holiday Gift Card! Motoring Homes & Gardens Interior Design In the Garden Word Search Quick Crossword Sudoku Gadgets & Gizmos Money Matters Index, Competitions, Solutions
4 4 5 6 7 9 11 13 15 17 22-23 24 28 29 31 34 37 39 40 41 42
Competition on pages 22-23
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Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley
I’m sat on the sofa in my thermals with a rolled up piece of tissue lodged up each nostril. I’ve been kicked out of bed by my wife because – allow me to paraphrase for the younger readers amongst you – my persistent whimpering is causing her to seriously consider the benefits of a lifetime in jail! Even my dog has given up on me and remained in the warm, quiet bedroom. My only comfort is the eerie blue glow from the TV, which has been warning me of its inability to find signal for the last hour. A part of me knows I should get up and turn it off, but I take some comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one functioning incorrectly. My feverish melancholy is hardened by the knowledge that I’m quickly running out of hot herbal refreshments.
pay cheque away from financial ruin, I quickly write off the thought of a shopping trip in the morning to replenish my tea supplies and instead turn my attention to a gorse bush I spotted about an hour’s walk from home. It’s said that when gorse is out of flower, is out of fashion, so you can usually When gorse is out of flower, kissing be sure to get a good crop of the delicate kissing is out of fashion yellow petals most of the year. They can be Because the last week of the month is used to garnish a salad, or an unopened always a gentle reminder that I’m only one flower bud can be pickled and used in the
same way as you would a caper. But always partial to a hot beverage, I prefer to just steep a couple of flower heads in a mug of hot water before slurping noisily in plenty of com-pany. I mean, what good is being poorly if you can’t take every opportunity to announce it to the world?
If you’re not 100% sure that the plant you’re picking is safe for human consumption, don’t pick it. If you’re prone to food allergies, or pregnant, always seek medical advice before consuming anything foraged in the wild.
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Delicious Dishes with Helen Kingscott
Rhubarb panna cotta served with roasted rhubarb Tangy, light and creamy – a perfectly simple spring dessert Ingredients (serves 4): For the roasted rhubarb: 500g fresh rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces; 2 tbsp caster sugar; 4 tbsp apple juice For the panna cotta: 75g caster sugar; 150ml double cream; 2 gelatine leaves, soaked in a bowl of water until soft, squeezed dry; 300ml buttermilk. Method: 1 For the roasted rhubarb: preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas 6). Place the pieces of rhubarb onto a baking tray, sprinkle with sugar then drizzle over the apple juice. 2 Roast in the oven for 8-12 minutes, or until just tender. 3 Blend 125g of the roasted rhubarb in a food processor to make a purée. Keep back the remaining roasted rhubarb to garnish the panna cotta. 4 For the panna cotta: put the sugar and cream in a pan and gently simmer. Stir continuously until all of the sugar has dissolved. 5 Soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Squeeze out all excess water. Add the softened gelatine leaves to the sugar and cream mixture. Continue to simmer until they are dissolved. 6 Add the rhubarb purée to the pan and stir until well combined. Remove from the heat and put aside to cool slightly. 7 Add the buttermilk and stir until the mixture is combined.
8 Place four ramekins onto a baking tray. Split the panna cotta mixture between the ramekins and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or until set. 9 To serve, remove the panna cotta from the fridge. Briefly dip the base of each into a bowl of boiled water to loosen. Gently slide a knife around the edge of each ramekin and turn out into the centre of a serving plate. Spoon the remaining reserved rhubarb and juices around the edge of the serving plates.
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Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott
Regency Homeopathy As individual as you are
NOVALASH
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Home visits and Saturday clinics at The Isbourne Centre info@regencyhomeopathy.co.uk
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Bloody Mary The Bloody Mary is often called ‘the world’s most complex cocktail’ because of the vast number of ingredients it contains, and there are three different claims to who invented it. The first is a bartender from New York’s 21 Club named Henry Zbikiewicz, who supposedly invented the cocktail in the 1930s. The second, a frequent visitor of the 21 Club, is the comedian George Jessel. But the third comes from Fernand Petiot who claimed to have invented the Bloody Mary before the other two, in 1921, while working at the New York Bar in Paris – later known as Harry’s New York Bar. Petiot said that he adapted Jessel’s drink from being simply vodka and tomato juice by combining “four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of Worcestershire sauce”. He then added a dash of lemon juice, ice, vodka and tomato juice before shaking, straining and pouring. The cocktail’s name is associated with several historical figures – most prominently Queen Mary I of England, who gained the nickname due to the mass executions she carried out while attempting to re-establish Roman Catholicism in England. Ingredients: Ice; 50ml vodka; ½ lemon, juice only; 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce; 3 dashes Tabasco sauce; 150ml tomato juice; pinch salt and ground black pepper; celery and wedge of lime to garnish. Method: 1 Place the ice in a tall glass and add the vodka. 2 Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce and tomato juice. Stir well. 3 Season to your taste with salt and pepper, garnish with celery and lime wedge, and serve immediately.
WATCH & CLOCK REPAIRS BATTERY & STRAP REPLACEMENT JEWELLERY HOOK & RINGS FIXING BRACELET ADJUSTMENTS & ALTERATIONS ALL KINDS OF BULBS & BATTERIES
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PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Why not have a Mocktail? For a non–alcoholic alternative, simply omit the vodka. Page 6
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Looking Good, Feeling Great with Matt Wagstaff
Prepare to run… don’t prepare to fail! Running is far and wide the most popular go-to activity to keep fit. It’s fairly equipment free, you don’t particularly need a gym or club, and you can generally do it all year round (if you’re not a fair weather runner!). Being prepared for running is something people often don’t address, believing it’s just a case of one foot infront of the other at an increased pace largely. Having this logic can often lead to injury, poor motivation and not hitting your personal best! Before starting, or as you build up the miles (slowly might I add), I suggest following some simple steps to give your body and mind what it needs to hit the road, track or treadmill – avoiding any undue barriers along the way!
Trainers for you Unless you have rock hard feet or regularly run on sand, trainers are going to come in handy! But you must make sure they are right for you – everyone’s feet are different, meaning certain trainer styles are good for you and some are not. Having an assessment in a local trainer shop or by a trained practitioner can give you feedback on what kind of gait you have and
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which trainers will be most appropriate. The wrong style and fit can lead to pain and injury!
Stretch & release to avoid injury Stretching regularly is a must for new and long-term runners – especially stretching the calf and lower leg muscles. Many runners who don’t perform enough stretching around runs suffer in the long-term with conditions such as plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis and shin splints. Stretching and releasing the upper thigh muscles is also key. Getting a regular sports massage along with foam rolling will lead to improved injury-free running performance.
Following a personally designed program from a club, trainer or a decent book will help you develop over time without over or under training. Prepare for a race with Follow a plan (don’t get enough time to build up your ahead of yourself) distance gradually, rather than being When beginning a running program under pressure, which generally or preparing for a race, following a leads to fatigue and injury. structured plan can be the difference between achieving the end goal and Strengthen the right bowing out early. People often build muscles up the miles too quickly when Running with good form works a preparing for a race due to time variety of muscles in the body and restraints or over confidence. leads to great overall fitness. Though due to an increased amount of runners working in sedentary jobs often seated for long periods, some vital muscles tend to weaken, leading to a dysfunctional running gait. Working on a specific rehab program, addressing common weak muscles such as your glutes and core musculature, will help improve running performance as well as all round posture. Being assessed by a qualified practitioner will address common dysfunctions, which in the long run can lead to knee pain, lower back pain and many other issues. Pain free running is the way forward!
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Page 7
Abbey Group, Units 23/24, Neptune Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FB
www.abbeybusinessequipment.com
The Abbey Business Lounge at Gloucester Rugby’s Kingsholm Stadium sponsored by Gloucestershire’s leading business solutions provider
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Holidays & Travel with Al Hidden
Double the experience in sunny Lisbon Lisbon has long been a favourite with us Brits. With weather ranging from mild to pleasantly hot, it’s an enticing year-round destination. For maximum contrast, combine selfcatering in historic hilltop Alfama with a central boutique-hotel indulgence. Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood, is a true ‘village within a city’ and only a 15-minute cab ride from Portela airport. It’s a microcosm of Lisbon with its narrow streets, sundappled staircases, tiny squares, churches and whitewashed houses, where washing dries between balconies.
Character-packed selfcatering accommodation Many Alfama properties, like Pateo Santo Estevao (Largo de Santo Estevao 4) or the Alfama Lounge Suites (Escolais Gerais), now offer character-packed self-catering
accommodation. Whatever your taste and budget, expect the amazing in medieval Alfama. Whether you stay here or just visit, don’t rush exploration of this neighbourhood. Local geology means it survived 1755’s catastrophic earthquake. It’s a treasure trove of architecture, cuisine, city views, mournful Fado songs and history dating to Roman times.
Ride the ‘Electrico’ through Alfama Try a Segway tour of Alfama or ride the yellow 1930s ‘Remodelado’ – the only trams that can negotiate the impossibly steep, narrow, twisty streets. Tram 28 is the highlight with its serpentine 11km route around Baixa, Alfama and Graça. It’s as much fairground ride as mass-transit, as the ‘Electrico’ squeezes between whitewashed walls with Rizla-paper clearance.
Try a boutique hotel for contrast For double the experience, pair time in your Alfama apartment with a few nights in a central Lisbon boutique hotel (try the Art Deco Britania off Avenida Libertade). Then set off on foot to explore sundrenched Praça do Comércio and Baixa, or ride the Elevador da Gloria up to Jardim de S. Pedro de Alcântara before chilling with snacks and Amendoa amarga on the terrace at Lost in Esplenada (R. Dom Pedro V). That brings us to food and Lisbon’s ubiquitous Pasteis de Belem (custard tarts), Bacalhau, Caldo Verde broth and other treats. Contrast the local Grelhador de Alfama (R. dos Remédios 137) with stylish seafood at Ribadouro (Av. da Liberdade 155). From basic to ultra-sophisticated, Lisbon kitchens delight and full stomachs are guaranteed.
Lisbon has everything From Alfama’s historic Castelo de São Jorge to Baixa’s designer boutiques and authentic late-night Fado, Lisbon has everything – all you’ll be short of is time to do everything in just one visit!
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Education
with Mark Newman of UCAS
You’re hired! The benefits of being a real-life apprentice In recent years apprenticeships have grown in popularity and are offered at a number of levels from level 2 (GCSE level) to level 7 (masters level), allowing students to choose from numerous paths via a mixture of A levels, diplomas and apprenticeships. Young people can choose the path which suits their study style, personality, circumstances and their pockets – the most important thing is that they reach their full potential by whatever route is best for them. With 150,000 opportunities available in more than 170 industries, and 1,500 different job roles nationwide, and from large national companies to small local ones, there’s never been a better time to become an apprentice.
1 You’ll earn while you learn
4 You could go on to university You’ll receive a wage and paid holiday. Depending on the employer, learning will either be on a one day a week basis, or in blocks of several days, and either in the workplace or at a local college.
Once you complete your apprenticeship you may be able to go in to permanent work with your current employer, look at other jobs or go into higher education.
2 You’ll gain work experience
5 You could do a fee-free degree
technical subjects, which can lead to a full undergraduate degree as part of the apprenticeship. You work and study for a degree, while the government and your employer pay your fees. Check out the National Apprenticeships Service at – www.findapprenticeship. service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch or the UCAS Progress search tool www.ucasprogress.com/search to look for apprenticeships in Gloucestershire.
Each week you’ll be working alongside Degree apprenticeships are a new type experienced staff, while gaining job- of higher apprenticeship in a range of specific skills and earning a wage. This means you can develop your Case Study – Steven Cant at Xograph Healthcare knowledge and skills quickly. Your employer will also provide you with Stonehouse-based medical equip- Gloucestershire College’s Gloucester practical experience so you can put ment company, Xograph Healthcare, Campus. that investing in He said: “My apprenticeship has your new skills to the test – what better believes apprenticeship training will help it given me so much confidence. I am way to prepare for full-time work? achieve its ambition for growth, and very happy to contribute to 3 You’ll receive a says its Gloucestershire College discussions both at college and apprentice has “made a huge during development meetings at qualification work. I have gained At the end of the apprenticeship you’ll difference” to the business. 23-year-old Steven Cant from and enjoyed the use receive a qualification such as NVQ, HNC, BTEC or City and Guilds award. All Stonehouse is an Apprentice of 3D drawing and of these are national, recognised Production/Development Engineer at feel this is the path I qualifications that will look great on Xograph, alongside studying for his wish to follow for HNC in Mechanical Engineering at my future career.” your CV.
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Page 11
Wildlife Matters with John Bromley
Slimy old slugs and snails For many people April is a time of planting seeds and buying young plants for the garden. Unfortunately, garden pests such as snugs and snails, who just love their spring greens in the form of juicy young seedlings, will magically appear from nowhere to ravage your garden. In the UK there are 30 slug species but 95% live underground and are rarely seen, whilst only four species really cause any damage to plants. There are about 110 snail species but again very few live in gardens and only small numbers cause problems.
The garden’s natural vacuum cleaner
munching their way through fallen and rotting plant debris, fungi and other garden rubbish. They are also food for a host of other wildlife mentioned above. So rather than reaching for the poison, why not look at better and safer ways of managing them? The first thing to bear in mind is that they need moisture, which is why they mostly appear in wet weather and at night. Dehydration will kill them so they spend daytime hours hiding in cool damp places around the garden. Working with these molluscs is one option. Planting extra seeds or seedlings to allow for a few losses will still leave your garden looking lovely. Allowing plants to grow a bit bigger before planting out will enable them to survive otherwise fatal leaf and stem attacks.
So before you rush for the slug pellets take a moment to look around your neighbourhood – how many gardens can you see? Imagine the impact if every garden becomes a toxic zone full of poisoned slugs and snails, which in turn will poison frogs, toads, hedgehogs, blackbirds, thrushes, beetles and all the other Anywhere cool and damp wildlife that feed on them. will be a haven for them Slugs and snails do actually serve Creating a mollusc friendly area a useful purpose. They are the will quickly attract them. A paving garden’s natural vacuum cleaner, slab put down, a sack of leaves composting in a corner, a stack of flowerpots, an
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area of dense plant growth – basically, anywhere cool and damp will be a haven for them. By controlling where slugs and snails will be you then create options. Collect them daily and relocate them or humanely destroy them, or feed them bran, which ironically leaves them bloated and ‘sluggish’ making them easy prey for their predators. Alternatively you could make or buy a beer-trap so at least they drown happy!
Control them – it’s so much better than harming our already hard-hit wildlife The other option is to make your garden unappealing to them. Remembering they eat debris and like cool damp places, simply remove these attractive areas from your garden. Keep the soil free of fallen plant debris and other rubbish – even large pebbles provide cool damp shelter. Put down a mulch of wood chippings, scatter broken eggshells or spread coffee grounds around vulnerable plants. If you have a lot of potted plants, raise the pots onto stands to keep the lovely cover-providing bases off the ground. By exploring your garden in detail and learning where to find molluscs you will soon be able to control them, which is so much better than harming our already hard-hit wildlife.
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Page 13
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DRAGON
Pet Care
with Oliver Wilkinson of Dragon Vet Centre Established in 1904, Dragon Vet Centre in Cheltenham is a centre of excellence for pets – large and small – and offers a full range of services from routine vaccinations, worming and flea prevention to complex internal medicine investigations, orthopaedic and key hole surgery for dogs and cats. As one of the largest veterinary practices in Cheltenham, Dragon can draw on the expertise of a number of vets with a great deal of experience in all fields of veterinary medicine and surgery. Our Cheltenham Vet clinic is staffed 24/7 so in the event of an emergency, registered clients simply need to call and attend our surgery based at the Cheltenham racecourse where there is unlimited free parking.
THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL OFFER
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01242 580 324 ~ info@dragonvet.co.uk Opening hours: 8.15am-7pm Mon-Fri & 8.15am-1pm Sat 24 hour On Site Emergency Service ~ 01242 522 022
www.dragonvet.co.uk The Local Answer
Leptospirosis Leptospirosis is a bacteria that can infect multiple species including humans and dogs and is more commonly known as Weils disease. It is so named after Adolf Weil who first identified, in 1886, an acute, infectious disease that caused liver, kidney and splenic damage. It took another 20 years before the actual bacteria was identified. The most common source of transmission are rodents, although cattle and wildlife are also known to be hosts of the bacteria. Rats, mice or cattle pass it in their urine and humans and dogs become infected by contamination of food or water. Dogs drinking from stagnant water or streams and rivers that have farm waste run off are at risk of the infection. It has also been reported in housebound dogs that lick rodent urine off the floor. People working with animals (vets, farmers or abattoir workers) can be at a higher risk but it’s also reported in people who engage in outdoor water activities such as rowing, kayaking or wild swimming. In dogs the bacteria causes a wide variety of symptoms from vague illness and lethargy to much more serious kidney and liver damage, bleeding disorders and death. Being a bacteria it can be treated with antibiotics and supportive therapy, but permanent damage may have already occurred by the time a diagnosis is made.
New Dog Vaccine available Fortunately in dogs there is a very effective vaccine available. It is one of the diseases that we routinely vaccinate dogs against, along with parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis and parainfluenza. There are, however, multiple strains of the leptospira bacteria and until recently we only had a vaccine against two of those strains – Leptospira Canicola and Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae. This was known as a Lepto 2 vaccine. We now have a new vaccine called Lepto 4, which also protects against Leptospira Bratislava and Leptospira Grippotyphosa. These extra strains have caused recent outbreaks in the UK, most notably in the Bristol area. We are particularly sensitive to this disease due to its infectious nature to humans, so vaccinating our dogs not only protects them but us at the same time. On the plus side, cats are pretty resistant to the bacteria so at least we don’t need to vaccinate ‘Fluffy’! If you are concerned about what vaccines are most appropriate for your pet have a chat to your vet. Age, health status and contact with other animals all influence what vaccines we give and how often.
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Page 15
What’s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit. EVERY WEDNESDAY BEGINNERS MAT PILATES FOR LADIES NEW CLASS STARTS April 20th. Ashchurch Village Hall, GL20 8LA. Wednesdays 7.15pm (except every 2nd Wednesday of the month). Cost: £8. To Book: 0752 847 1091 or www.synergispilates.co.uk. 1-31 MARCH DAFFODIL & EARLY MAGNOLIA MONTH March is the perfect time to see the host of golden daffodils in all their spring glory! Wander through swathes of yellow and enjoy the spring sunshine from beneath the glorious tree canopy. Batsford’s 73 species of Magnolia will also start to bloom, filling the Arboretum with clouds of pink and white. Please call for an update on 01386 701441 or visit www.batsarb.co.uk. Batsford Arboretum, Batsford, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD. 25 MARCH – 10 APRIL THE GIANT DUCK HUNT
A group of giant ducks will be landing at Slimbridge this Easter holidays, can your family spot them all? Pick up an activity
sheet on arrival then set off on a fun hunt which will take you all round the grounds. Spot them all and receive a yummy treat on your return. This Easter holiday there will also be some fun easter arts and crafts so you can make something to take home. While you are on the hunt keep an eye out for ducklings, handfeed some geese and go to hear an otter talk. 9.30am – 5pm. Price included in normal admission. 01453 891223. events.slimbridge@wwt.org.uk. WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. GL2 7BT. THE BIG BATSFORD CHICKEN HUNT!
You may have heard of an Easter Egg hunt, now find the chickens that laid them! They’re all hiding in the Arboretum – simply mark their locations on the map provided to win a prize! The chicken hunt costs £2.50 per child, plus Arboretum admission fee (children must be accompanied by an adult). No need to book, just turn up and enjoy! Visit www.batsarb.co.uk for details. Batsford Arboretum, Batsford, near Moreton-inMarsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD.
25 MARCH – 7 MAY MAMMA MIA Join the ultimate feel-good party at the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical! Set on a Greek island, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Various dates and times. 0844 871 3012. atgtickets.com/venues/bristolhippodrome. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 3 & 23 APRIL CHELTENHAM CROQUET CLUB Try Croquet at Cheltenham Croquet Club, Old Bath Road. Taster Days from 10am3pm. All you need are flat soled shoes and a shower proof top. Just turn up or book your slot on 01242 512933 or email klimseabright@gmail.com. 4 APRIL BIG HERO 6 An action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. From 1pm join Art Playground in the theatre foyer for super hero craft activities before the film starts at 2pm. Tickets £7. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 16 APRIL CHELTENHAM’S 2ND VEGAN FAIR Fantastic range of stalls – all things vegan – food stalls, clothing, books, make up, animal rights stalls, animal charities, and talks throughout the day. Entry fee is donation only. 10am-4pm. St. Andrews Church, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham.
Vol unt eer wit h us a nd do som ethi ng a ma zi ng! If you have a few hours to spare each week, why not become an RDA Volunteer? No experience needed – we’ll train you on the job. For anyone with more experience, have you ever thought of teaching? Find out more on our website or give us a call, join us for a coffee and see our wonderful work.
• Call 01242 584420 to speak to Claire or Debbie • Visit www.cotswoldrda.org.uk Cotswold • Email info@cotswoldrda.org.uk Jackie Brutton Riding Centre, Prestbury Park Racecourse, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 4SH
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It’s what you can do that counts
Riding for the Disabled Association
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Celebrating five years The Cotswold Art & Antique Dealers’ Association (CADA) Fair will celebrate its fifth anniversary in the stunning setting of Blenheim Palace from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th April 2016. Since its inception, the fair has cultivated an ardent following of collectors, art consultants, interior designers and the public alike, making it a ‘must-visit’ destination. A complimentary invitation is available to download from the CADA website – www.thecada.org – admitting two to the fair and Palace grounds. This is the only antiques fair to take place at Blenheim Palace, home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, in the glorious setting of the Orangery and Campaign Rooms, overlooking the Italian Garden. Patron of the Association and Fair – and CADA member – is Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, sister of the present Duke.
The very best of each discipline Twenty-seven of the Association’s forty-eight members are taking part in the fair, with new exhibitors including Parkside Antiques, Iona House Gallery, Greenway Antiques, Strachan Fine Art and Jeanette Hayhurst. Five guest dealers have also been invited to bring their expertise and additional contribution to the fair. The very best of each discipline will be represented, including furniture, pictures, silver, early needlework and
antique boxes, sculpture, bronze, clocks and barometers, carpets and textiles, glass, jewellery, English and Oriental ceramics, garden ornaments and statuary, as well as other decorative items. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from £100-£100,000+. The dates of the fair encompass major anniversaries of historical significance – HM The Queen’s 90th birthday on 21st April, St Georges Day on 23rd April, as well as Shakespeare’s birthday and the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on 23rd April. Amongst the many art and antiques to be exhibited, participating dealers will bring works of art relating to these key dates. Embracing these themes, new member Parkside Antiques will exhibit an English Regency period needlework on silk, depicting a grieving lady laying flowers at the grave of William Shakespeare. Architectural Heritage will show a stunning mid 19th century painted and stained glass panel showing a portrait of Shakespeare. Legge Carpets will bring a fragment of an English roller-printed cotton plain weave entitled Shakespere's (sic) Seven Ages of Man. English pottery specialist John Howard will exhibit a pair of earthenware lions and a unicorn, as well as a rare glazed stoneware of St. George slaying the dragon.
Items of local interest Mary Cooke Antiques will exhibit a fine snuff box with illustration of Buckingham Palace. It is exceptionally rare to find this subject on a table Snuff Box and this example was made in Birmingham in 1846 by Nathaniel Mills, the finest of all the Birmingham box makers. Many items of local interest will also be exhibited, including an aquatint painting of Blenheim, after Joseph Farington, RA 1747-1821. John Howard, Chairman of CADA says: “This year’s fair promises to be an especially exciting one and is a much anticipated event in the antiques calendar, providing collectors and first time buyers with the opportunity to view and purchase outstanding antiques and works of art, showcased in the most stunning setting. The fair is now established as one of the best quality events in the country”. This year CADA’s chosen charity is The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust, which opened in Woodstock in June 2015. The main core of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum is the collections – both objects and archives – of the two county regiments, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.
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17 APRIL VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: SWAN LAKE One of the best known love stories, performed by the ever popular Vienna Festival Ballet; lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars and the glorious music from Tchaikovsky make this a night not to be missed. Swan Lake is the most popular ballet in the world, capturing the full range of human emotions like no other – from hope to despair, from terror to tenderness, from melancholy to ecstasy. 5pm. £19 (£18, children £14). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 19 APRIL FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
Based on the literary classic by Thomas
Hardy, this is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love, as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 21-24 APRIL THE COTSWOLD ART & ANTIQUE DEALER’S FAIR The very best of each discipline will be represented, including furniture, pictures, silver, early needlework and antique boxes, sculpture, bronze, clocks and barometers, carpets and textiles, glass, jewellery, English and Oriental ceramics, garden ornaments and statuary, as well as other decorative items. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from £100 – £100,000+. 10am – 5.30pm daily. Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP. 22 APRIL WE’LL GATHER LILACS – THE MUSIC OF IVOR NOVELLO An evening of Novello nostalgia, all those wonderful melodies from Glamorous
Night, Perchance to Dream, The Dancing Years and King’s Rhapsody. Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham. 7.30pm Tickets £17.50. Booking: 0844 576 2210 or www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk. 23 APRIL THE MERSEY BEATLES
Like the original Fab Four, Cavern Club favourites, The Mersey Beatles are Liverpool lads born and bred. They perform the best music ever made with the spontaneity, energy, excitement and respect which this fantastic music deserves, including Love Me Do, Let It Be, Beatlemania and Pepperland; for an unforgettable evening of Beatles classics in one concert. 8pm. £16.50. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.
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25 APRIL BLUNDERBUS: THE OWL WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK
Tomlinson. Ages 3yrs+. 10.30am. £10 (£8, family £32). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 28-30 APRIL WUTHERING HEIGHTS BY CHARLES VANCE Wychwood Players embrace the power, pain and torment of Heathcliff and Cathy’s heart breaking relationship. 7.30pm at New Beaconsfield Hall Shipton under Wychwood. Box office opens 11th April. Tickets £8.50. 07817426305 or wychwoodplayersboxoffice@yahoo.co.uk 3 MAY WOMAN IN GOLD
Plop is a baby Barn Owl. He has big round eyes and very knackety knees. Plop is exactly the same as every barn owl, except for one thing… he is AFRAID of the DARK. Join him as he journeys into the night-time world of campfires, fireworks, and moonlit adventures. With an irresistible blend of live music, puppetry and storytelling, this funny, gentle and reassuring tale is written especially for small people aged 3-7 and grown-ups who sleep with the big light on! Based on the classic children’s book by Jill
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Paws on Patrol in Gloucester Park from 12 noon. Displays from Police Dogs, The Quack Pack, LG Agility and Ali Magic. Free to enter novelty dog show, lots of stalls and fun activities. Free entry. See www.safergloucester.co.uk. 13 MAY RHYTHYM & BLUES NIGHT Enjoy a martini cocktail reception followed by a divine three course dinner, with the serenading sounds of our five piece live Rhythm & Blues band, then dance the night away with music provided by the DJ. £38 per person. Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane GL4 8ED. 01452 632632.
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Motoring with Luke Edwards
The Golf R – a hole in one In the sophisticated, practical and fun hatchback category, the Volkswagen Golf has always been a clever choice. The ‘R’ version of the Golf is pretty special and has been winning car awards throughout the last few years. When Volkswagen’s UK press department offered me their Golf R on test it was difficult to refuse. The car was a beautiful Lapis Blue – a colour now associated with fast Volkswagens – and the three door version. Golfs have always had kerb appeal and the Golf R will age like a fine wine.
Race inspired seats and a well-designed dashboard The Golf R’s interior is a nice place to spend time. Sliding into the Titan Black and Grey R logo race inspired seats, they gripped all the right places. The dashboard functions were welldesigned, clear and easy to reach. I particularly loved the blue needles on the dials. The beautifully stitched leather and gloss black R logo height/reach adjustable steering wheel felt good and the six speed manual gearbox with golf ball gear knob felt classic Volkswagen. There is an optional DSG dual clutch box, which is one of the best in the business and takes the 060 mph time to 4.9 seconds verses 5.3 for the manual.
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The Golf R manages 296bhp via front and rear electronic differentials and grip through its clever fifthgeneration 4MOTION four wheel drive system. It is lowered on sports suspension by 20mm which gives a planted feel.
Several driver settings
The options were ‘Eco’, ‘Race’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Individual’. A fifth profile ‘Comfort’ was available on this model as it had optional Adaptive Chassis Control. I tried the ‘Normal’ setting and the car felt like an everyday commuter. I then selected ‘Race’ and the game changed completely. The quad exhausts fired a fresh new tone and the engine management ordered a different animal. A lighter throttle when pushed gave a delicious harmony of turbo whirr, a higher growl of rev range – an exciting prospect for the road ahead.
The Golf R shares the same fourcylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine as the GTI, however the R’s engine has a modified cylinder head, exhaust valves, valve seats and springs, pistons, injection valves and turbocharger. The combined fuel A perfect all rounder consumption is a quoted 39.8mpg (40.9mpg with the DSG). The Golf R gripped like it was on rails On the road there were several due to the intelligent four wheel drive driver settings to select on the system. The accurate steering feel and excellent 5.8inch colour touchscreen. stopping power was superb. I can imagine the Golf R would be a reassuring winter companion for a slippery journey to the office. The Volkswagen Golf R can be classed as a perfect all rounder. It has a generous standard kit list, ideal for family duties (huge boot space), and at the weekend is a car to be savoured. Prices start at £29,900 for the threedoor model with six-speed manual gearbox, and £31,315 for the threedoor with six-speed DSG gearbox. The five-door versions cost £30,555 and £31,970 respectively.
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Interior Design with Caron Burrows
The home office The way we work is changing. As technology improves, more and more of us are embracing the opportunity to work from home. Alternatively, to have a dedicated space where bills and emails can be dealt with and crafting can take place is becoming increasingly popular.
Where
task light placed on your desk or attached to the wall provides extra light for close work.
Window treatments A blind is a good idea to help with glare. Venetian blinds are a good choice as they can be tilted at differing levels, and also come in many colours and finishes to blend with your chosen or existing colour scheme.
Not everyone is blessed with a spare room that can be turned into a home office, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the dream of having a dedicated work space – you just need a bit of imagination. Perhaps you have an alcove that isn’t being used, a spot under the stairs, or an area within the kitchen that can be transformed into a Colour work space? An office doesn’t have to If you are using the corner of an existing room, try to integrate your be huge, so anywhere will do. colour choices to avoid the office area Lighting standing out like a sore thumb. The Natural light has many benefits when colour blue is believed to encourage positioning your laptop or computer intellect, while yellow stimulates screen – the last thing you want is glare thinking and orange triggers creativity affecting your vision. Choose a good – these are all common choices for general light that will match your office or study environments. existing decor. A dimmer switch will also help you regulate the light Seating strength and is adjustable throughout Your choice of seating is the most the day depending on natural light. A important and should be chosen
carefully. Comfort is paramount to support and protect your back, especially when you’re spending long periods of time sat at your desk. There are many choices available that can be purchased from charity shops and DIY outlets, as well as specialist shops. Fit your seat into your chosen colour scheme with cushions that will also help support your back and provide comfort for long days at the office.
Desk Let your imagination run wild when choosing a desk – it does not have to be the conventional desk that we all relate to in an office environment. A kitchen table, leftover kitchen worktops fitted to the wall, a vintage find in a charity shop – the list is endless.
Walls/storage Make the walls work hard. Blackboard paint is a wonderful thing and is a popular choice of mine – not only is it fun, it also means you can keep updating the wall with notes. You can also use clipboards in a new way by fixing them to the wall – this is a fantastic method to display ideas, memos and photos. By using labelled boxes you’ll keep all your documents easily to hand, meaning you can work in an orderly and organised manner. Empty coffee jars are a great up-cycle – use for pens, pencils and paint brushes.
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In The Garden with Julia Smith
Green green grass As daffodils finish flowering the faded flowerheads can be removed. The small daffodils which are being grown to naturalise can be left to form seedheads. Don’t cut off the foliage as it needs at least six weeks dying to replenish the bulb underneath so it can flower the following year. Moreover, don’t tie it up in strange bundles with elastic bands, as this can damage the leaves. This could be a good time to buy winter flowering trees and shrubs whose price may be reduced in garden centres – giving you a good show next winter. This is also a good time to plant evergreens into wellprepared soil with a balanced fertilizer added. Make sure you keep plants that have been sown in them well-watered during the baskets will have become pot-bound summer if it is dry. and need dividing and repotting with Reinstall pumps and filters ordinary garden soil (not rich compost which will contribute to the Now is also a good time to reinstall growth of algae) and top dressed pumps and filters in your pond that with grit to keep the soil in place. have been kept out of the frost since If you have a pond that gets autumn. Some of the marginal several hours of full sun a day you should consider growing water lilies. They like still water with no fountains or waterfalls and have large leaves that spread over the surface of the water, creating shade, which reduces algal growth. The flowers come in lots of colours and even sometimes have a scent as well.
mown don’t apply weedkiller for two or three days. Don’t compost the clippings that have been treated with weedkiller. However, I personally don’t mind seeing a lawn containing daisies and other flowers and life is easier if you learn to love them!
Keep a look out for red lily beetles Keep a look out for the red lily beetles on newly emerging lily shoots. Pick them off and squash them and, if you want, use a systemic spray like Provado Ultimate Bug Killer to keep them safe for up to six weeks.
Encourage the grass to grow Begin feeding the lawn in April when growth starts again. Apply a proprietary spring/summer lawn fertiliser in two applications. It should be high in nitrogen to encourage the grass to grow nice and green. If you need to apply a weedkiller on the grass apply it two or three weeks later when everything is growing strongly. Don’t mow for two or three days after applying, and if you have
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Ground Maintenance by
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Heating and plumbing solutions, from conception to completion Born and bred in Cheltenham, Greg Herdman (pictured) is a family man and knows the importance of a well designed and functioning home. He has ten years plumbing and heating experience, and operates within a team of professionals that covers all skills needed to complete jobs in a tidy and timely fashion to your specification.
A friendly and bespoke service Flametree Installations offers a wide range of plumbing and heating installation services. Whether it is the installation of a new, economical boiler; repairs and servicing to your existing boiler; underfloor heating design and installation; advice, design and installation of renewable energy solutions such as solar panels and air source heat pumps; or if your existing bathroom is in need of remodelling,
piping and wiring are out of sight whenever possible, and always cleans up the work area on completion. Greg will be more than happy to provide testimonials from previous customers at your request. Greg says: “By making your home as ‘passive’ as possible through the installation of more efficient condensing boilers or utilising renewable energy, you ensure your home is not only more economical to run, saving money in the long run, but you Flametree provides a full project also help to lower your carbon footprint”. management service. There is no need to call in separate Professional guidance plumbers, carpenters, electricians, If you are looking to make your painters, etc. – Greg together with his team will organise all of this for the job home more energy efficient and would in hand, giving you flexibility to make like some professional guidance from a friendly local firm, call Greg on 07762 your desired home improvements. 386851.
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about saving people money, although that obviously helps. “Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. 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. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.”
Cloudy2Clear service Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, and Paul is finding that his approach is a major factor in his success. “The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount
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of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated.” So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Paul a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
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Andy Edwards
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DOWN 1 Appeals board 2 Accustomed 3 Coal vein 4 Australian gemstone 5 Announces 6 Wealthy 10 Ledger entry 11 Satirical routines 13 Plague 14 Chafes 16 Stops momentarily 18 Give up 19 Leg joint 20 Flows away
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Pro mo t e y ou r b u s i n e ss i n 20,000 m a g a zi n e s
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Matt Grimshaw Carpentry Ltd Your local Carpenter/ Kitchen Fitting Specialist
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upvc fascias, soffits & double glazing G Fitted kitchens, bedrooms & bathrooms G External and internal decorating G Fencing, gates & sheds G Log cabins G Loft ladders fitted G General garden maintenance G Gutter & fascia cleaning G Driveway & patio restoration
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PAINTING & 1st Choice DECORATING Aerial & Satellites
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For all your painting and decorating needs, including floor and wall tiling, contact Brian ...
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Your local family business
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Gadgets & Gizmos with Dan Wood
A great range of home security options Yale HSA6400 Series It’s true but sad to say that you only need to make your home look less appealing to any potential intruder than your neighbour and you should never take home security for granted – ask any victim of burglary. Expensive installations by specialist engineers are history. The Yale HSA6400 series comes in one tidy box with everything you need for self set up. The entire system is wireless and battery powered, including the external siren box. The standard package comes with a siren box, one dummy box, two PIR sensors and two door/window contacts as well as control panel. The telecommunicating version will also phone you if the alarm is activated, up to a maximum of three telephone numbers, so you’ll always know if the alarm is set off! Batteries last for roughly 18 months to two years and you can add up to 20 devices to the system so you have complete control over the extent and range of your set up. I found this very simple to install, easy to maintain and hassle free. The yellow Yale siren boxes can be seen from a distance and for an average price of £150, I can’t
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recommend this alarm system enough. You can even buy more complex versions, which include remote smartphone app operated CCTV PIR sensors so you can see inside your home if the alarm is triggered while you are away! Generally, Yale offer a great range of home security options from alarms to home CCTV and smart locks. I recommended this system to
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relatives following a burglary next door last month and since then all three properties in the row have installed the Yale HSA6400.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10” Tablets are increasing in popularity and I recently bought the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10”. Available in black or white and costing around £250 it offers excellent sound quality with speakers inbuilt either side, a slim housing, wide vibrant screen and the ability to increase storage via the inbuilt micro SD tray at the top. 1280 x 800 pixels, 1.2GHz and a 10 hour battery life mean not a day goes by without it being used or played on. Be careful though if you buy one or already have one – the rear plastic casing is slippery on cold hands and can be easily dropped by accident. The tablet is tough though – I dropped mine screen-down onto tiles a month ago having let it slip and there isn’t a single scratch or mark on it and it works perfectly.
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Money Matters with Roger Downes of Andorran
Would you believe it? Regular readers of this column will be familiar with my view that big is certainly not beautiful, as I champion the cause of small and medium sized businesses. So it was with gaping mouth that I read statistics recently on some of the very biggest organisations on the planet. Top of the lot, the biggest corporation (as the Americans like to call them) in the world is Alphabet. Who? I hear you cry. Well, it’s the ultimate parent company of Google, amongst others. Ah, makes more sense now. At the start of this year its £379 billion valuation saw it overtake Apple at the top of the tree, with Microsoft lagging behind at number three. You can see the connection as to market sector very easily. In the UK there are a range of industries in the top ten, with banks, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and oil companies all doubly represented. Royal Dutch Shell (do they only add Royal into the name to make us think they are from these parts?) top the list and have done so for some time, but they are only a fraction of the size of the USbased high tech companies.
An uncaring, dispassionate attitude towards customers Sadly I am not privy to the list of biggest companies ranked by the amount of tax that they pay in the UK, which would make interesting reading when you consider some of the stories circulating about the world’s new number one force. The presence of HSBC and Lloyds in the UK top ten, with Santander, Barclays and RBS all hot on their heels, serves to confirm my long-held view that the banks are in it for their shareholders not for their long-suffering customers. Even my own profession doesn’t escape the plague of over-exaggerated size. Last year PricewaterhouseCoopers rose to the summit of the accountancy world in terms of fees charged – a staggering £24.3 million for doing accounts and tax returns! Not really – they are essentially consultants rather than accountants these days, but their annual turnover is still phenomenal. What’s the key to their success? Monopoly. Not the board game (although this is the source of its name), but control over the markets in which they operate and what appears to be an uncaring, dispassionate attitude to customer service, because as soon as one customer leaves, another three come along. Rant over – see you next month when I will look at some of the key issues arising from the Chancellor’s recent Budget.
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Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK
Quartzsonic
Corner Cupboard Inn The Gardeners Arms
5 4
WHAT’S ON CLUBS & SPORTS Sherdons Golf Centre Shipton Golf Course EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS CADA The Bird & Deer Park
44 21 18-19 20
HEALTH & BEAUTY Beauty By Sarla Cleeve Healing Room Regency Homeopathy
6 6 6
INFORMATION Cotswold RDA
17
PROPERTY & STORAGE Honeybourne Gate Norton Park Park Home Life
14 10 8
RETAIL Assured Mobility Gotherington Nurseries
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HOMES & GARDENS BATHROOMS Severn Vale Bathrooms 39 & 43 BUILDING SERVICES 28 BE Rudman C&G Paving 32 Home Care Roofing & Building 38 Marshalls Driveways 39 R. Richards & Sons 28 CARPENTRY Matt Grimshaw 38 CLEANING SERVICES Ecoclean 34 Hygiene Carpet Cleaning Ltd 38 41 Oven Busters Pink Fairy Cleaning 41 GARDEN SERVICES Adrian Gibbs 32 Bartlett Tree Experts 30 Cheltenham Town Landscaping 37 Cotswold Tree Services 30 DW Tree Services 30 Grass Scape 30
Handylink Mark Clifford Landscapes Oakwood Landscapes HANDYMAN SERVICES Paul Workman & Son HEATING & PLUMBING Black & White Plumbing Flametree Installations KB Female Plumber Hanbury Plumbing Paul’s Plumbing Platinum Plumbing PAINTING & DECORATING Andy Edwards Brian Mitten TV & AERIAL 1st Choice Aerial WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows Clearway Doors & Windows Cloudy 2 Clear
32 30 32 38 38 33 38 39 39 28 37 39 39 2 36 35
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CARE SERVICES Barnwood Trust
Lifelink Samaritans COMPUTER SERVICES Abbey Group MOTOR SERVICES Advance Windscreens Carsmetix Eddie’s Autos RT Bodysure V Hub Warners Cars PET SERVICES Dragon Vet Centre SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling
6 42 8 27 26 27 26 27 24 15 41
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