Forest of Dean

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The Local

ANSWER

SEPTEMBER 2017

200,000 DELIVERED MONTHLY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

for local people

FOREST OF DEAN COME AND SEE US AT NEWENT ONION FAYRE – DETAILS INSIDE



The The Lo Local c al

AN ANSWER SWER

Dean FForest orest ooff D ean – 222,000 2,000 ccopies opies Gloucester G loucester – 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies G loucestershire SSouth outh – 441,000 Gloucestershire 1,000 ccopies opies G loucestershire N orth – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire North CCheltenham heltenham – 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies CCotswolds otswolds – 228,000 8,000 ccopies opies M anaging Director Director Managing D Dave ave K Kingscott ingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

EEditorial ditorial & PProduction roduction LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott eeditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk ditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott H Helen elen R Robinson obinson

The kids are back at school this month (did I hear a ‘hurrah’?) which may mean you have a little more time o n yo u r h a n d s to g e t a c t i ve . L i l y Cu r l e l o o ks a t t h e benefits of autumn and winter fitness and ways you can keep active in ‘Looking Good, Feeling Great’. We’re holding a stand at Newent Onion Fayre on Saturday 9th September, where we’ll be running a raffle to raise money for Severn Freewheelers. If you’re planning on attending this fantastic event, pop along to our stand to say hello, buy a raffle ticket and be in with a chance of winning a Fantastic Family Entertainment Hamper – see our sponsors so far inside. Entries are still open for our new Photography Competition, where we’re giving you the chance to get your photo on one of our 2018 covers! Find the details inside.

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production@thelocalanswer.co.uk production@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Distribution D istribution JJulia ulia B Ball all – 001242 1242 5541075 41075 distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

R Robert obert K Kingscott ingscott rrob@thelocalanswer.co.uk ob@thelocalanswer.co.uk

SSport port R Roger oger JJackson ackson ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Accounts Accounts K Kerry erry FFell ell aaccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Unit Unit I,I, CChurchill hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, Churchill Churchill Road, Road, GL53 LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire G L53 7EG 7EG

T Telephone elephone 0 01242 1242 5 510500 10500 thelocalanswer thelocalanswer

Welcome Welcome ttoo SSeptember eptember ... ...

TLA TLA Photography Photography CCompetition ompetition Delicious D ish Delicious Dish Looking Good, Looking Great Good, Feeling Feeling G reat Parenting & Guardianship Parenting Guardianship D istributors Required Distributors Required W hat’s O What’s On n TTLA LA – Newent Newent Onion Onion Fayre Fayre CCocktail ocktail Time Time G loucester H istory FFestival estival Gloucester History Homes & G ardens Homes Gardens In the the Garden Garden In Interior D esign Interior Design Word SSearch earch Word Gadgets & G izmos Gadgets Gizmos Quick Crossword Crossword Quick Save the the Planet Planet Save Sudoku Sudoku Money M atters Money Matters TLA Sport Sport TLA Index , Competitions, Competitions, SSolutions olutions Index,

4 5 7 9 10 10 12 12 15 15 17 17 18-19 18-19 20 20 21 21 23 23 26 26 27 27 28 28 30 30 31 31 31 31 32-33 32-33 34 34

CCompetition ompetition o on np page age 4

@thelocalanswer @thelocalanswer

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B BECOME ECOME A CCOVER OVER SSTAR! TAR! Have Have yyou ou entered entered oour ur n new ew photography photography competition competition yet? yet? Your Your photo photo could could b be e on the cover of of oone ne of of o our ur 2018 2018 publications! publications! W We’re e’re looking looking for for aanimals, nimals, plants, plants, ffood, ood, everyday everyd objects and and more more tto o rrepresent epresent the the four four seasons seasons of of the the year. year. The The winner winner ffor or each each month month will will h have ave their their p photo hoto published published oon n the the front front cover cov o off 2 200,000 00,000 m magazines agazines distributed distributed throughout throughout G Gloucestershire. loucestershire. Entrants Entrants are ar w welcome elcome tto o iinclude nclude a brief brief d description escription ((up up tto o5 50 0w words) ords) ooff tthe he p photo hoto w which, hich, aalong long w with ith ttheir heir n name, ame, w will ill aappear ppear inside inside tthe he magazines magazines and and on on ssocial ocial media. media.

you wish your photo photo to You You must must specify specify for for which which month month you wish your to be be cconsidered onsidered for for tthe he front front cover cover aand nd ssubmit ubmit no no m ore than than 3 photos photos more ((1 1p hoto p er m onth ffor or u p tto o3m onths). photo per month up months).

P Photography hotography CCompetition ompetition H How ow tto oe enter: nter: Send your image(s) along with your name, address and telephone number stating ‘TLA Photography 2018’ to photography@thelocalanswer.co.uk . You must specify for which month you wish your photo to be considered. We cannot accept postal entries. Any photos sent in the post may not be returned. The closing date for entries is Friday 10th November 2017. Entries received after midnight on this date will not be accepted.

IImage mage Criteria: Criteria: • The image subject must be local to Gloucestershire and relevant to the whole county • Must have a specific focal point, which fits within a square shape • Must have a colour contrast in order for us to select a colour theme for the month (the colour used on the front cover and various pages throughout the magazine)

IImage mage SSpecifications: pecifications: • High quality resolution – 300dpi (dots per inch) – and a minimum of 20cm wide when cropped. • We can only accept file sizes up to a maximum of 10mb and JPEGs are preferred. If you are successful we may ask if you have a larger version to send us, so please keep your original files.

T h e Lo Lo c al al

A NS W E R

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMB ER 2017 2017

200, 200,000 000

DELIVERE D ELIVERED MONTHL MONTHLY IIN NG GLOUCES LOUCESTERSHIR TERSHIRE

ffor o r llocal oca l peop pe o p le le

Competition Competition R Rules: ules: In addition to our usual competition rules (found below our Index of Advertisers), the image must be an original and owned by the entrant. Entrants must seek the permission of any people, or the owners of any property, featured in the photograph. Entrants must specify which month they wish the image to be used for – we will only accept one image per month. Entrants may submit images for up to three months of the year – any additional images will be ignored. We will accept photographs from professionals, though there will be a maximum of three professional winners, with the other nine winners being amateurs. In the case that we receive no entries for any month of the year, or none of a high enough quality, The Local Answer will supply an image for the cover in that month. The Local Answer reserves the right to exclude any photographs they believe may have been excessively edited. The entrant must not have used their images for any other competition or publication in the UK . Winning Entrants will be expected to comply with additional terms and conditions related to The Local Answer’s right to publish.

GL GLOU OUCES CESTER TERSH SHIRE IRE

CCOME OME AND AND SEE SEE U USS A ATT N NEWE EWEN NTT O ONION NION FFAYRE AYRE – D DETAI ETAILLSS IINSID NSIDE


D Delicious elicious Dish Dish with w ith Helen Helen Kingscott Kingscott

P Pork ork aand nd ccider ider o one-pot ne-pot ccasserole asserole Ah hearty, earty, ccomforting omforting rrecipe ecipe for for an an autumn autumn evening. evening. Ingredients: Ingredients: 3 Sprinkle in the flour and stir, then add the pork 2 tbsp olive oil; 1kg pork shoulder, diced; 2 onions, and juices back to the dish. sliced; 2 sticks celery, roughly chopped; 3 parsnips, 4 Add the cider and stock so that it covers the meat cut into chunks; 2 bay leaves; 1 tbsp plain flour; and vegetables. Season and bring to a simmer, 330ml bottle of cider; 850ml chicken stock; handful then cover and put in the oven for 2 hours. of parsley, chopped. 5 The sauce may need to be thickened slightly, then M ethod: Method: s e r v e w i t h m a s h e d p o t a to a n d g re e n s o r f re s h crusty French stick . 1 Heat the oven to 180C/160 fan/gas 4. Heat the oil in a large lidded flameproof casserole and TTip: ip: Try this dish out with seasonal vegetables brown the meat in batches, then set aside. throughout the year, and for those of you who are 2 Fry the onions, celery and parsnips with the bay on the go, try cooking the dish in a slow cooker, leaves for 10 minutes until golden brown. which is sure to enhance all the lovely flavours.

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JOIN JOIN T THE HE C COLD OLD R REVOLUTION EVOLUTION

Studio 19 was the first clinic to offffer this outstanding treatment in Cheltenham and has gone from strength to strength with many amazing results and very happy clients.

What is Cryotherapy and what does it treat?

Cryopen is an advanced Cryotherapy innovation that is a fast, effective, safe and new solution for removal of skin imperfections. Procedures typically last from 5 to 30 seconds, so you can be in and out of the salon quickly, but with the assurance of the utmost client care.

Cryopen emits a fine jet of Nitrous Oxide under high pressure, which allows the work to be performed at millimetre precision. This destroys the tissue by freezing the fluid, which ruptures the membrane, thereby destroying the cell. This means there will be no collateral damage to healthy tissue around the area, as it is so incredibly precise and accurate. Cosmetic procedures such as skin tags, milia and cherry anginomas are no longer being treated by Doctors on the NHS, but with Cryopen you can now have them removed in the salon!

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M MEDICAL EDICAL C CLINICS LINICS AT AT STUDIO STUDIO 19 19

Due to very high demand, the Nurse is doing a clinic twice a month to undergo mole removal and other clinical procedures. This photo shows a result of a client who had a Seborrheic keratosis. Quote from the client who had the treatment in July 2017:

“I “I am am rreally eally h happy appy with with tthe he results results o off my my treatment treatment – tthe he effects are brilliant. brilliant. I have have had so many many years years and and have have effects are had it it for for so always Thank always wanted it and and for for it it to to disappear. disappear. T hank yyou ou wanted to to hide hide it Natalie, with the the result. result. Very Very pleased Natalie, I am am blown blown away away with pleased client.” client.”

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w: w: www.studio19cheltenham.com www.studio19cheltenham.com e: e: studio19beauty@gmail.com studio19beauty@gmail.com 19 19 Shurdington Shurdington Road, Road, Cheltenham Cheltenham GL53 GL53 0JA 0J A *Please *Please note: note: w we e rrequire equire 2 24 4h hours ours n notice otice ffor or a allll ccancellations. ancellations.


Looking Looking Good, Good, Feeling Feeling Great Gre ea at with w ith Lily Lily Curle Curle

SStay tay aactive ctive tthis his aautumn utumn As the nights get darker and the days get colder, focus can often be lost from prioritising health and fitness, due to the lack of motivation people often begin to feel. However, fitness is crucial to maintain all year round, with the NHS recommending 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week for adults. Regular exercise can help with seasonal affective disorder, feelings of depression and loneliness, and can give a purpose to evenings otherwise spent on the sofa.

B Benefits enefits o off a autumn utumn a and nd w winter inter ffitness itness The endorphins the body releases after an exercise session are crucial to helping beat those winter blues, which can often be caused by a drop in activity levels. During summer, you’re more likely to walk to d e s t i n a t i o n s, b e o u t s i d e a n d h av e naturally higher activity levels than in winter, which is mostly spent indoors and in cars. T h e s e e n d o r p h i n s c a n w o r k to h e i g h t e n yo u r m o o d , a s w e l l a s increasing the quality of sleep you receive – this works alongside autumn’s cooler weather and darker nights to give you more quality,

uninterrupted rest. Carrying a healthy lifestyle on into winter can also help boost your immune system, allowing you to beat winter illnesses that wo u l d o t h e r w i s e b e c a u g h t f r o m family or colleagues. This in turn keeps you feeling happier and more energised.

W Ways ays tto ok keep eep a active ctive I n d o o r a c t i v i t i e s a re o f te n m o re favourable in autumn and winter, as they are not weather dependent and t h e re fo re c a n b e d o n e to f i t a ro u n d busier schedules. As well as the gym, there are options including swimming

or exercise classes. These don’t have to be anything too serious – why not try out a zumba or yoga class, which allow for more enjoyment and create the opportunity to meet new friends, helping with any feelings of isolation. Team sports can also be played i n d o o r s a n d o f t e n g i ve m o r e satisfaction due to the social element of being around and interacting with other people. If you’re looking for something more gentle, there are walking or dog walking groups to join, w h i c h o f fe r s o m e t h i n g a l i t t l e l e ss v i g o ro u s b u t s t i l l a l l ow yo u to s t ay active and meet new people.

SSelf elf ccare are With autumn can often come a lack of motivation, but self care is still vital. Choosing healthier options of comfort foods such as vegetable soups, stews, a n d ro a s t s t h a t a re h i g h i n p ro te i n leave your body nourished and healthy. Continuing to make time for friends and family can also heighten your mood, as well as basic actions, like keeping your space clean and warm as the nights get gradually colder. These actions, along with keeping fit, should make autumn feel like less of a change after summer, a n d k e e p y o u fe e l i n g a n d l o o k i n g healthy. The Local Answer

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Parenting P arenting & G Guardianship uardianship with w ith R Roberta oberta Smart Smart

Money, M oney, m money, oney, m money oney H o w d o yo u fe e l a b o u t m o n e y ? I mean really? Are you comfortable with money, love making it and love s p e n d i n g i t e v e n m o re ? A r e y o u a scrimper and a saver, or do you have whatever you want whenever you want and think of how to pay for it later? We all have our own ‘Money P e r s o n a l i t y ’ a n d w h e t h e r w e a re aware of it or not, we are training our children in the ways of money – long before they can even talk! If you struggle with money, having lost a job or gone through a divorce, for example, you may well see money as a challenge, a problem and s o m e t h i n g to avo i d t h i n k i n g a b o u t . T h a t c a n a f fe c t h ow yo u t h i n k , fe e l and talk about it around your kids. If you have a great job however, or a wealthy partner, you may be quite f r i vo l o u s a n d p ay l i t t l e a t te n t i o n to actions and consequences because, hey, you don’t have to worry, right?

A ffinancial inancial ffuture uture ffor or y your our cchildren hildren Have you considered exactly how you want your kids to grow up around m o n e y o r w h a t f i n a n c i a l f u t u re y o u are creating for them? We all have money-issues to overcome in life, so it is up to us as parents to ensure we are as mindful and conscious as

possible around financial responsibility and our children’s future. The first step is to actually talk about money, in a healthy and open way. Be real about how you make your money and what it takes to ensure the family is well cared for. Whether you are a m i l l i o n a i re o r o n b e n e f i t s, t h i s conversation should be honest and upfront – an everyday occurrence rather than a big ‘talk’. After all, in the end everything comes back to money in one way or another. Secondly, lead by example. Whatever you do will be a model for your children, be it a savings plan, or even a penny jar. Demonstrate discernment in spending choices and

encourage your children to budget their own money, differentiating between instant gratification and delayed reward. Older kids can start to pay their way, and begin to understand the cost of l i v i n g , n ot a s a p u n i s h m e n t b u t a s a life lesson. Encouraging them to earn money to cover their own costs is a great start , and rather than automatically bailing them out when t h ey g e t i n a m e s s , b e w i l l i n g t o s i t down and talk about the various ways they can find solutions. If that means you paying out, make sure it is a loan t h a t i s re p a i d re g u l a r l y a n d t h a t t h e commitment is honoured. I promise playing hardball now will save them so much heartache in the future!

TThe he b bank ank o off m mum um a and nd d dad ad The sad truth is a ‘rescued’ child will i n ev i t a b l y g r o w u p fe e l i n g e n t i t l e d , i r re s p o n s i b l e a n d l i k e l y c a r r y t h o s e patterns into adulthood. If that ’s the case, you may find yourself being the bank of mum and dad for years to come, denying your child the opportunity of creating true independence and standing on their o w n t wo fe e t . S o o f te n ‘ h e l p i n g ’ i s simply ‘enabling dependence’ and ‘ re f u s i n g ’ i s a c t u a l l y ‘ b u i l d i n g resourcefulness’. So think twice before you say ‘yes’ next time, and consider what a gift your strong ‘no’ actually is. The Local Answer

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w 7 Ne 201 r fo

LUXURY LODGES

OPEN OPEN E EVERY VERY D DAY AY FOR FOR S SHOWROOM HOWROOM VIEWINGS VIEWINGS

Come along to see our fabulous lodges with great views along the countr yside - no appointment needed and a war m welcome guaranteed. Quiet, secluded position with stunning views Excellent location for road networks ● 45 plots for high quality luxur y lodges ● Choices of sizes and inter nal layout ● CCTV for security and peace of mind ● Pet friendly ● F Finance inance A Available vailable ● ●

S SALE ALE P PRICES RICES S START TART FROM FROM JUST JUST £39,900 £39,900*

Please Please ccall all JJulie ulie o on n 07980 870264 tto oa arrange rrange a vi e w i n g o viewing off ssome ome o off tthe he lluxury uxury llodges o d ges a already lready o on n ssite ite

Licensed all year round • Open 365 days a year

w nortonparkhomes.com e s.gorman@btinternet.com Nor ton Park, Tewkesbur y Road, Gloucestershire GL2 9LH

D Distributors istributors Required Required T h e Loc Lo c al al To join our waiting The AN A NS SW WE ER R list for the Forest of Dean If you’d like to join our waiting list for when an opportunity arises near your home, please get in touch. Each round is made up of 150 -400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100 -150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years of age, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the duties.

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2017 2017

200,000 2 00,000 DELIVERED D ELIVERED M MONTHLY ONTHLY IN IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ffor o r local loca l people pe o p le

FOREST OF FOREST OF DEAN DEAN CCOME OME A AND ND SSEE EE U USS A ATT NEWENT NEWENT ONION ONION FAYRE FAYRE – D DETAILS ETAILS IINSIDE NSIDE

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A new new look look ffor or Barnwood Barnwood Trust Trust Barnwood Trust is a charitable f o u n d a t i o n w h i c h w o r ks to g e t h e r with dis abled people and people with mental health problems to make Gloucestershire a more inclusive and enjoyable place to live. This September, join them as they celebrate the launch of a new we b s i te a n d a n e w l o o k fo r Barnwood.

Building Building belonging belonging Barnwood Trust has come on a long way since it was established over 200 years ago. Today, the Trust h e l p s t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e ev e r y year through four areas of work : Discovering Opportunities, Shaping

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Homes, Growing Communities and Sharing Insights. This means the Trust shares knowledge and ideas; encourages people to learn a new skill or re-discover a hobby; and gives small grants to help people with day-to-day living or to encourage community groups to come together – building belonging across the county and recognising the contribution everybody makes.

Spot Spot B Barney arney ttour our Barnwood Trust unveils a vibrant new look and a new website. To celebrate, the team will spend the m o n t h o f S e p te m b e r to u r i n g Gloucestershire in their VW

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campervan ‘Barney’ – taking in the sights and meeting as many people as possible across the county, encouraging more people to join in, doing together what they enjoy and care about and building belonging in Gloucestershire. The team are also inviting people to create personalised bunting flag designs which they will collect to transform into fabric bunting for future community events. The flag design can be a picture, a poem, a collage or anything at all. For more information please visit www.barnwoodtrust .org or call 01452 614 429.

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What’s W hat’s O On n TThe he LLocal ocal A Answer nswer EEvent vent Listings Listings are are ccompiled ompiled and and presented presented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support of of many many contributors. contributors. Wee rrecommend W ecommend yyou ou uuse se tthe he ccontact ontact ddetails etails pprovided rovided to to check check event event iinformation nformation uupdates pdates pprior rior ttoo pplanning lanning yyour our vvisit. isit. 1-24 1-24 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER AT CHAPEL ARTS Sandra Blow RA leads Chapel Arts’ packed September offerings, alongside stunning Landscapes and Seascapes by local artist Melanie Cormack-Hicks, Urban Art as part of Cheltenham’s Paint Festival plus local history play, ‘The Parrot, the Poet and the Philanderer’ during Heritage Open Days. All details at www.thechapelarts.com. 01242 580077. Free entry. 2 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER ASHLEWORTH VILLAGE SHOW Family fun and loads of attractions at Ashleworth Village Show, GL19 4JS. Sheepdog displays, circus skills, inflatables, live music, children’s races, barbecue, cafe, Pimm’s stall, raffle, community stalls. Entry £2, £1 children. 1.30 -5pm. Free parking. Proceeds to local groups. Info at ashleworth.btck.co.uk/AshleworthVillageShow or 01452 700098. THE DEMON BARBERS A group of hip hop dancers arrive at an apparently deserted pub but local rumour has it this tumble-down inn is frequented by other worldly characters and as the regulars arrive, a clash of cultures soon turns into a dance floor stand-off. 7.30pm. £18.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 3 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER CHELTENHAM BRIDE & GROOM SHOW Everything you’ll need to prepare your special day, all under one roof. Two Bridal fashion shows at 12noon and 2pm and over 70 exhibitors from venues to wedding

Always Always tthere here if if you you n need eed u uss

gowns. 11am. Free admission. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk. KA K ATHERINE PARR DAY Our annual celebration of the Tudor Queen who lived, died and is entombed here at Sudeley. Katherine Parr will meet and greet visitors whilst our Guides will talk to you about the fascinating exhibits we have at the castle. 10am. Included in admission. 01242 602308. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 5 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER THREE CCA ANE WHALE A multi-instrumental acoustic trio based in Bristol, featuring members of Spiro, Get The Blessing and Scottish Dance Theatre. Their music encompasses both a cinematic sweep and an intimate delicacy. 8.30pm. £15. 01684 295074. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org. 6 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER GILBERT O’SULLIVAN – THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR One of the industry’s true legends, 2017 will mark an astonishing 50 years. Enjoy every facet of his history in this new live show, including classics such as ‘Nothing Rhymed’ ‘Get Down’ as well as songs from the latest album Latin Ala G. 7.30pm. £31.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 8 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER GREA ASSE VS DIRTTYY DANCING TRIBUTE NIGHT Combining fantastic costumes and worldclass dance moves, this show is sure to

have you rocking all night long. Whether you’re a fan of the T-Birds or the Pink Ladies, or just want to have the time of your life, this is the show for you. 3 course dinner and dancing. £38pp. Bowden Hall Hotel, Bondend Lane, Upton St Leonards, GL4 8ED. 0844 815 9077. www.mercuregloucester.co.uk THE LIVE AID EXPERIENCE With a genuine full live rock band and incredible singers and dancers, we pay homage to the greatest performances of the greatest songs from that historical concert. 7.30pm. £16. 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk. SEPTEMBER 9 SEPTEMBER NEWENT ONION FAYRE

The best party of the summer returns to the streets of Newent, including the famous onion show, live music, food village, dog show, fairground rides and over 150 stalls! From organics and fresh local produce through to beers, wines, ciders and fruit juices, there’s a lot more than just onions! 10am-5pm. Free entry. For details visit www.newentonionfayre.net

K eep uupp ttoo ddate Keep ate oonn ssocial ocial m edia! media! @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer

C Can an yyou ou spare spare a ffew ew hhours ours a month month to to support support ppeople eople w with ith llearning earning ddisabilities? isabilities? FFull ull training training & expenses expenses ppaid aid For more information call 01242 244998 0 1242 2 44998 admin@buildingcirclesglos.org.uk www.buildingcirclesglos.org.uk

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E GLOUCESTERSHIR

08457 0 8457 9 909090 09090 orr o jo@samaritans.org jo@samaritans.org Page 12

W WE E NEED NEED

VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEERS


9 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER THE ART OF THE SAMURAI Come along and learn about the beautiful art of the Japanese sword, Mugai Ryu, during a demonstration at the Japanese Rest House. Mugai Ryu is an old, authentic martial art of the Samurai, founded in 1693. Simple and direct, it has a plain beauty with a characteristic calmness and sharp attention. 11am. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 9QB. For details and to book visit www.lctkd.com/batsford. TOTAL EIGHTIES It’s time to back comb that hair and slip on the shell suit as we take you back to the eighties with an all new production of Total 80s. No other era has had such a colourful and diverse influence. 7.30pm. £16. 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk. THE ROY ORBISON STORY

Barry Steele is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading vocalists playing homage to legend Roy Orbison. He has stunned audiences across the globe with his uncanny similarity and ability to authentically revive the exquisite toetapping sound of this music giant. 7.30pm. From £21. 01684 295074. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 8.30pm. www.rosestheatre.org. 99-10 -10 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEVERN WADER FESTIVAL Join the WWT Slimbridge reserve team and our friends from Wader Quest for a fantastic weekend packed with events and activities to celebrate our wading birds. For full details of events happening across the weekend, visit wwt.org.uk/wetland-

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centres/slimbridge. 01453 891223. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. 10 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 10 SPEECH HOUSE VINTAGE SHOW A great day including displays of vintage vehicles and machinery, trade stalls, children’s amusements, auto jumble, dog show and competition, falconry display, miniature steam train, live music and much more! 10am-5pm. Adults £6, conc £5, under 15s free (must be accompanied by an adult). Speech House Hotel, Coleford, GL16 7EL . www.fvvmc.co.uk/speechhouse-vintage-show.php JANIS JOPLIN & FRIENDS IN THE WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE Experience the Summer of Love in a celebration of music from the concert that changed the world. Take a trip back with us and sing-a-long to some of the greatest music from the festival, including ‘I Want to Take You Higher’, ‘Hey Joe’ and many more! 7.30pm. £24. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk THE LINDSAY MARTIN TRIO The Lindsay Martin Trio pay tribute to the Great American Songbook in this afternoon of sweet, stripped back , vocal led swing numbers. The trio present an intimate and varied set from jazz ballads to bossa nova. 2pm. £8. 01684 295074. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org. 12 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 12 ASIAN STREET FOOD – VEGETARIAN Learn to create Asian bites with an explosion of flavours, tastes and aromas. After taking this class, you’ll be able to reproduce these uniquely delicious salads, skewers, noodles and dumplings in your own home. 7-9.30pm. £58. The Foodworks Cookery School, Colesbourne Park , GL53 9NP. www.foodworkscookeryschool.co.uk 13 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 13 THAI KITCHEN Thai cuisine needs attention, expects time and effort to be spent, and requires honed skills, but rewards with sensational tastes.

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Start your culinary Thai adventure and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine with your food. 7-9.30pm. £58. The Foodworks Cookery School, Colesbourne Park , GL53 9NP. www.foodworkscookeryschool.co.uk 14 14 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER YERMA A young woman is driven to the unthinkable by her desperate desire to have a child in Simon Stone’s radical production of Lorca’s powerful masterpiece. Set in contemporary London, Billie Piper’s portrayal builds with elemental force to a staggering climax. National Theatre Live. 7pm. Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Shelburne Road, Cheltenham GL51 6HE. 01242 258002. FAITH – THE GEORGE MICHAEL LEGACY Join us for a stunning celebration of one the greatest singer and songwriters of all time! Featuring international George Michael tribute star Wayne Dilks and his 8 piece band. A musical journey of 35 years of hit records, from Wham to George Michael’s solo career. 7.30pm. £24.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 14-16 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 14-16 THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY Dorian Gray, young and beautiful, sinks deep into a frivolous lifestyle of selfish abandon, seeming unchanged by corruption and untouched by age. But behind a locked door, beneath a heavy curtain, Dorian’s portrait tells a different story. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. www.everymantheatre.org.uk SKYBAR We are heading to Gloucestershire to bring you our unique apres-sea club nights at Severn Vale. Expect crafted cocktails, exclusive bars, live sets from the SkyBar Collective DJs and an experience which will be the perfect end to your summer. Over Farm, Highnam, Gloucester GL2 8DB. To book visit: www.the-skybar.co.uk.

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15 15 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER WHOLE LOTTA LED Led Zeppelin IV is unquestionably one of the greatest albums of all time. The first half of this special show will consist of a selection of songs from Led Zeppelin’s vast back catalogue. The second half features the whole of Led Zeppelin IV played in the same sequence as the original LP. 8pm. £15 (£18 on the door). 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk. 116-17 6-17 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER BROCKHAMPTON QUILTERS’ EXHIBITION Beautiful quilts, individually crafted tombola, traders and demonstrations. Lunches, cakes and refreshments. Entry £2. Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September. 10am-4.30pm. Rhodes Hall, Brockhampton, GL54 5XH. 01242 820423 for more information. Disabled access. AWESOME ACRYLICS Vibrant or subtle colours, thin like watercolours or thick like oils, quick drying and lightfast; acrylics are endlessly versatile. Suitable for all abilities, this course will give you the opportunity to try different methods of applying the paint, creating a variety of effects. 10am-5pm. Members £84, non-members £110. 01452 731422. Nature in Art, Main A38 Twigworth, GL2 9PA . www.natureinart.org.uk 17 17 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER CLASSIC CAR RALLY Come and view a vast selection of classic cars, or register your own car for only £5. With kind permission of the family, this event will be held on the private North Lawn, directly in front of the Castle for a spectacular backdrop! Included in general admission and 12-month passes. 10am. 01242 602308. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 1199 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER LEE NELSON – SERIOUS JOKER You’ve seen him sneaking into places he shouldn’t be, now come and see him where he most definitely should be: live on stage with his sensational Serious Joker

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Tour. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. www.everymantheatre.org.uk TOM STADE Renowned for his carefree attitude and broad-minded vision, nothing is taboo to this enlightened and captivating comedy legend. Combining off-the-scale charm, razor-sharp wit and a no-holds-barred attitude; Tom pledges to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 8pm. £19.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 2200 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER AN EVENING WITH PAM AYRES Pam Ayres has been making the nation laugh for over 40 years. Funny and warm, her charming understated manner belies a rare comic precision. Her hair-trigger timing and unforgettable turn of phrase, combine to make her a true national treasure. For times and prices visit everymantheatre.org.uk. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. FINDING JOY Joy is 83 today. She’s funny, loves to dance, and is losing her memory. Her grandson Danny is rebellious, bright and always getting into trouble. When Danny decides to look after Joy, they discover a shared playfulness and a mutual affection. But is that enough to take on the challenges ahead? 7.30pm. From £14.50. 01684 295074. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. rosestheatre.org. 2211 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER TAPESTRY THE CONCERT Tapestry The Concert brings to life this quintessential album from 1971. Performed by a live band this two hour show includes such hits as, ‘It’s Too Late’ and ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’. 7.30pm. £22. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham, GL52 3JE. NEVILLE STAPLE Neville Staple’s more than 35 year career in the music business is well documented.

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Also known as The Original Rudeboy, he is credited with changing the face of pop music not only once but twice. 8pm. £16 (£18 on the door). 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk. 2233 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER RACHMANINOV’S 2ND PIANO CONCERTO & SOLO PIANO WORKS IN AID OF MIND Award-winning Pianists, Cheltenham native Philip Miles and Lydia Aoki, perform one of the most celebrated of Rachmaninov’s works, on two pianos. The programme also includes piano works by J.S.Bach, Scarlatti and Liszt. In memory of Timothy Miles. 7pm. Prince Michael Hall, Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham. £12 (£9). The Bacon Theatre, Shelburne Road, Cheltenham GL51 6HE. 01242 258002. MADAMA BUTTERFLY Set in Japan at the turn of the century, it is the story of a doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride whose self-sacrifice and defiance of her family leads to tragedy. For times and prices visit everymantheatre.org.uk. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. TOP TRUMPS TRAIL

We’ve put a selection of GIANT Top Trumps cards around the grounds that represent some of our favourite wetland animals. You’ll be given a Top Trump card and scorecard – the aim of the game is to compare the animal scores on your card against our giant cards to win! Activities free with admission to the centre. 01453 891223. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge

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W WIN! IN! ALL A LL THIS... THIS ... H a mp e r & Prizes worth

£1,000!

Newent Onion Fayre returns for the 22nd consecutive year on S t d 9th S t mber 2017 – and we’re going to be there! ocal Answer stand and have a go on our raffle Severn Freewheelers – a free, out-of-hours b l o o d , h u m a n t i ss u e a n d o t h e r e ss e n t i a l between NHS facilities throughout ereford & Worcester and North Wiltshire.

WIN A FFANTASTIC ANTASTIC FAMILY FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT HAMPER TA AINMENT H AMPER!

ze comprises a superb 6 -person Picnic Hamper, of food and drink goodies to take out in it, plus hundreds of pounds worth of tickets and vouchers for the whole family to enjoy events, attractions and activities in Gloucestershire and beyond. So please come and meet The Local Answer team to buy some raffle tickets in support of this amazing l charity! You’ll also be able to find out more about our magazines, how to become one of our distributors and details of our latest photography competition. There’s also some yummy giveaways. Below are some of our wonderful sponsors, and many more will add donations to this fabulous prize before the winner is drawn.

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AN ANSWER SWER

SPONSORS SO FAR: ATBSHOP SKATE WAREHOUSE, PRINKNASH BIRD & DEER PARK , WWT SLIMBRIDGE, EASTNOR POTTERY & THE FLYING POTTER, REDPOINT CLIMBING CENTRE, CINEWORLD CHELTENHAM, THE BREWERY QUARTER, FLYUP 417 BIKE PARK , COTSWOLD FARM PARK , PROMENADE PRODUCTIONS, MR MULLIGAN’S LOST WORLD GOLF, FARMER GOW’S ACTIVITY FARM, HANDSAM BOAT COMPANY & SANDFORD PARKS LIDO.

23 23 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER THE HOBGOBLIN FESTIVAL FINALE Get ready for top notch comedy fun with a mixed bill of some of the finest, funniest and delightfully excellent comedians around! Featuring the exuberant Patrick Monahan, the delightfully musical Rachel Parris, chuckle charm of Keith Farnan and headlined by comedy legend Alan Davies! Over 16s only. 8pm. £20. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk. GUSTAV HOLST BIRTHDAY CONCERT Join us for our annual Holst Birthday Concert! This year we are very excited to welcome The Holst Singers who will perform a programme of works by Holst and Vaughan Williams, including Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor. 7pm. All Saints Church, Cheltenham GL52 2HG. £18. BIRD WATCHING MORNING Join our warden as he opens our hides around the grounds to learn about the different birds visible from each hide and how to identify them in their seasonal plumages. 8am. £15.95 (includes tea/coffee and bacon roll). 01453 891223. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge THE MARLEY EXPERIENCE An 8 peice UK Midlands based Bob Marley Tribute band with a difference, with our

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lead vocalist Lionart and his undeniable vocal resemblance to the late great King of Reggae Bob Marley himself. 8pm. £15 (£18 on the door). 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk. 23-24 23-24 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER DAY OUT WITH THOMAS

With so much to see and do it will make your Day Out With Thomas the ideal all day family activity and, once you have bought your ticket for this event, entrance to all attractions is free! For prices and more details visit www.gwsr.com. Toddington Railway Station, Toddington, GL54 5DT. 01242 621405. 24 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 24 WEDDING SHOWCCA ASE Experience a red carpet treatment entrance with a selection of delicious canapes and

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THEATRE FAMILY

FAMILY

FOOD

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AND MUCH

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Bucks Fizz upon arrival, then see the amazing function suites set up for a wedding. Meet the Hallmark ‘wedding angels’ who can offer advice on how to achieve your day, your way. Special offers available for this day only! Free entry. 0330 028 3408. Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Marlston Close, Robinswood Hill, GL4 6EA . ELKIE BROOKS Quite simply one of the most successful and popular singers the UK has ever produced. Now in the 5th decade of her career, she is still proving to be one of the most powerful and versatile vocal talents of our generation. 7.30pm. £29.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk AUTUMN WEDDING FAYRE Packed with unique ideas, inspiration and tricks to dazzle you. Everything and everyone you need to help you arrange a fantastic wedding will be on hand and all under one roof! And best of all, the whole event takes place in this perfect setting so you can see how everything looks and take a guided tour of the rooms and the grounds to see how beautiful your wedding could be. Bowden Hall Hotel, Bondend Lane, Upton St Leonards, Gloucester, GL4 8ED. 08448159077. www.mercuregloucester.co.uk

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26-30 26-30 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER THE WEIR In a small Irish town, the locals exchange stories round the crackling fire of Brendan’s pub to while away the hours one stormy night. As the beer and whisky flows, the arrival of a young stranger, haunted by a secret from her past, turns the tales of folklore into something more unsettling. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. everymantheatre.org.uk 2299 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER DR HOOK STARRING DENNIS LOCORRIERE From the very beginnings of Dr Hook to the height of their success, Dennis Locorriere was the unmistakable voice of the band’s biggest hits and best loved songs. Receiving more than 70 Platinum and Gold Discs, Dr Hook have reached legendary status in many countries. 7.30pm. Prices vary. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 30 30 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER AUTUMN CRAFT FAYRE By Three Shires Craft Guild. All items handcrafted by members at reasonable prices. Bought-in goods are not allowed. Ideally do some early Christmas shopping. Refreshments on sale. Free admission. Stanton Hall, Charlton Kings. 30 30 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER OCTOBER PRESCOTT SPEED HILL CLIMB

The popular American themed Autumn Classic returns to Prescott Speed Hill Climb from Saturday 30th September to Sunday 1st October 2017. The all-American Stars and Stripes weekend celebrates the

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biggest and brashest cars and music this side of the pond. For further details visit: www.prescott-hillclimb.com 1 OCTOBER OCTOBER NOCTURNE AND REPOSE An evening of music for flute, french horn and piano to draw you into the season of magical dusks and twinkling lights. 4.30pm. Chapel Arts, Knapp Road, GL50 3QQ. £10 adults, family discounts. www.trioebano.co.uk 2-7 2-7 OCTOBER OCTOBER MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET This worldwide smash-hit musical is inspired by the famous recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. www.everymantheatre.org.uk OCTOBER 6 OCTOBER ROVING CROWS

Roving Crows push the boundaries of the Celtic Folk genre and play with genuine passion, energy and soul. A vibrant mix of Celtic-inspired fiddle alongside original and intelligent lyrics backed by pounding, tribal and electronica infused dance grooves. 8pm. Advance tickets £11 (concs £10). On the door £12 (concs £11). 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk. 7 OCTOBER OCTOBER NEEDLE FELTING WORKSHOP Join us for a fun and relaxed day of crafting and create your own felted hare. 10am. £45. The cost includes all equipment and felt, and as much tea and coffee as you can drink. Cafe on site or bring your own packed lunch. Limited

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places – only confirmed once payment has been received in full. To book please contact Blossom Felts on 07870 226621. www.blossomfelts.wordpress.com. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 9QB. JON RICHARDSON: THE OLD MAN

The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse warmly welcomes one of the funniest live performers working today, as part of his ‘The Old Man’ tour. 6pm. £22. 01242 513014. Evesham Road, Prestbury, GL50 4SH. www.cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk. 8 OCTOBER OCTOBER MACBETH

During this unique, site-responsive adaptation of Macbeth, Butterfly invite you to join the characters as you walk along the paths following the action, whilst the story unfolds all around you. For times and prices visit www.puzzlewood.net. Puzzlewood, Perrygrove Road, Coleford, GL16 8QB. 01594 833187. 1100 OCTOBER OCTOBER THE SHEE An exceptional all-female band, showcasing powerful and emotional vocal performances and instrumental prowess. Including two fiddles, accordion, flute, mandolin, electroHarp and featuring three exquisite voices. 7.30pm. £22. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham, GL52 3JE.

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Cocktail Cocktail T Time ime Newent Onion Fayre, described as Gloucestershire’s greatest, largest and most successful one day free festival, returns again this year for the 22nd consecutive year on Saturday 9th September 2017. From a charter granted to Newent by King Henry III in the 13th Century, it has now become a street festival o f f o o d , d r i n k , m u s i c , e ve n t s, exhibitions, fun fair, activities and merriment, which regularly attracts more than 15,000 visitors each year. The Fayre is a very big draw for visitors with in excess of 120 stalls around the town, a large Food Hall, two stages for music bands and a separate ‘Funion’ area near the lake especially for children. The Onion Show, staged in the Memorial Hall, is also unique – class exhibits can only be from the Onion Family, and there are children’s classes as well. Exhibitors come from all over the UK to compete for the cash prizes and trophies, making for fierce competition. The Onion Eating Contests for men and women attract many entries each year and take place in the afternoon on the main stage. The Onion Show is affiliated to the National Vegetable Society and therefore always has a reputable NVS judge for the exhibits. For all information on the Fayre, and especially for entering the contests, please visit newentonionfayre.org. Alternatively, for general enquiries contact: onions@newentonionfayre.net

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Aviation The Aviation is a beautiful light purple cocktail, said to have been created in New York in the early 1900s by bartender Hugo Ensslin. T h e i n g re d i e n t t h a t g i ve s t h i s g i n - b a s e d d r i n k i t s pretty colour is Crème de Violette, which was actually discontinued for a period towards the end of the 20th century. While the classic recipe calls for this ingredient, the cocktail was still being made without it during this time. So if you can’t get your hands on Crème de Violette, don’t panic – just be careful to balance the other ingredients, as the Aviation can become a bit sour without it . Ingredients: 50ml gin; 15ml Maraschino liqueur; 10ml Ingredients: Crème de violette; 25ml lemon juice; 1 Maraschino cherry to garnish or decorative flower. Method: Method: 1 Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. 2 Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. 3 Garnish with a cherry or flower. Note: You can purchase Crème de Violette and Maraschino liqueur online – just search for the ingredients on Google.

PLEASE PLEASE D DRINK RINK R RESPONSIBLY ESPONSIBLY We couldn’t find a non-alcoholic version of this cocktail, but if you’re feeling creative and can concoct an alternative drink yourself, let us know!

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GGLOUCESTER LOUCESTER HHISTORY ISTORY CCelebrities elebrities aand nd CCity ity folk sshare hare a p assion folk passion This year’s Gloucester History Festival has an intriguing and wide-ranging programme celebrating the theme of ‘revolution and innovation’ with over 100 events across the City. The Blackfriars Talks series features Dan Snow and his History Hit show and Tony Robinson will be talking about his historical passions. Ken Clarke talks about his life inside and outside Westminster politics and The One Show ’s Anita Rani explores the moving story of her own family ’s past during the 1947 Partition of India shown on BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are? I a n M o r t i m e r w i l l t a k e y o u b a c k to C h a r l e s I I a n d t h e Restoration with his new Time Traveller’s Guide to Restoration Britain, Roy Hattersley delves into the history of the Catholics since the time of Henry VIII, Shrabani Basu talks about the new film based on her book Victoria & Abdul starring Judi Dench as Queen Victoria, Radio 4’s Paddy O’Connell tells the story of the Bletchley Park codebreakers and you can get a ‘behind the scenes’ view of The Archers. Explore Gloucester’s rich heritage throughout Heritage Open Days (7th-10th September) where many of the City’s finest buildings Tony w i l l o p e n t h e i r d o o r s fo r f re e Robinson walks, talks, tours and concerts. Join in the Gloucester Day celebrations on Saturday 2nd September (see right) and enjoy City Voices throughout the festival period which reaches out across Gloucester with its biggest programme yet. Listen to World War Two veterans from the Polish community share their wartime memories, take part in a ‘Brexit and Me’ debate and hear the Festival’s top-notch ‘tag team’ of historians covering the whole history of Gloucestershire in just one day. For For a ffree ree b brochure rochure vvisit isit And finally, don’t forget the brand-new Family Day on Saturday 9th September packed full of fun, free events for children of all ages! ggloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk loucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk

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Blackfriars Courtyard

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nd-17th SSeptember eptember FFESTIVAL ESTIVAL 22nd-17th GGLOUCESTER LOUCESTER DAY DAY 11.00 Mock Mayor of Barton’s Parade This parade is intentionally comical filled with larger than life Gloucester Characters, traditional costumes, entertainers, music and above all FUN. The parade winds its way around the streets (see below) and ends with a Tongue in cheek mayor making ceremony in the presence of the real Mayor and Sherriff of Gloucester. Gifts are exchanged and the new Mayor of Barton is invited to address his public. The Parade starts in Eastgate Street close to Boots, travels up to The Cross and continues down Westgate Street. The Parade turns right along St John’s Lane to Northgate Street, before passing The Cross where the Mock Mayor Making ceremony takes place, just past St Michael’s Tower on Southgate Street.

11.20 Mock Mayor Making Ceremony The fun and entertaining Mock Mayor Making ceremony takes place at The Cross with amazing costumes and characters. The Parade then continues to St Mary de Crypt Church.

12.00 Thanksgiving Service Gloucester Day Thanksgiving service at St Mary de Crypt Church. Everyone is invited to attend this free service.

14.00 Gloucester Day Parade The second parade of the day is a far more formal affair; involving hundreds of participants led by The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Gloucester. The parade is the finest example of community cohesion in the city today, with hundreds of people, young and old, representing their own social or community groups, parading to show that they are proud of their city. Interspersed between each group are wonderful bands from the county and further afield which create a spectacle through the city streets. The Parade departs from Constitution Walk (behind City Museum) to Eastgate Street, following the ‘Via Sacra’ paving through Queen’s Walk , before turning left into Eastgate Street. The Parade continues past The Cross and down Westgate Street, before turning right into College Green. The procession makes its way into Northgate Street via St John’s Lane and up to The Cross, before continuing along Southgate Street to Brunswick Baptist Church.

Siege of Gloucester The Siege of Gloucester, during the English Civil War, took place from 10th August to 5th September 1643, between the defending Parliamentarian garrison of Gloucester and the besieging army of King Charles I. The siege was ended by the relieving 15,000 strong Parliamentarian army led by the Earl of Essex . The Royalist forces withdrew, after heavy casualties. By the end of the siege, the city had only three barrels of gunpowder left for its defence.

Retribution W h e n C h a r l e s I I re t u r n e d to t h e t h r o n e i n 1 6 6 0 , h e punished Gloucester by having its city walls torn down.

The king also reduced the city by moving Barton outside the city limits and not under the control of the Gloucester Mayor. Barton elected a ‘mock mayor ’ to poke fun at Gloucester.

Commemoration Gloucester Day – organised by the city’s very own Town Crier, Alan Myatt – commemorates these events with Parades and a Mock Mayor making ceremony. Throughout the day the city streets are filled with stalls, stages, live music, dance and frivolity. The city centre celebrates its history, heritage and particular brand of humour and this creates a truly special atmosphere where residents and visitors unite and are proud of all things ‘Gloucester’.

For For ccomplete, omplete, uup-to-date p-to-date information information vvisit isit www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk


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IIn nT The he Garden Garden with w ith JJulia ulia Smith Smith

Plan aand Plan nd p plant lant ffor or the coming coming yyear ear the September is a lovely month – the weather is usually rather good, the evenings haven’t drawn in too much and the children are back at school! It can be thought of as coming to the end of the year in the garden, but it is also time for planning and planting bulbs for the coming year. It is a good time to order bulbs from catalogues such as Avon bulbs, who stock a delicious range of more unusual bulbs and who constantly win gold at Chelsea for their

amazing displays. Tulips are best left until November to plant , but can get very busy, so it is one less other things such as narcissus and job to do. Lift the large clumps and with a crocus can be put in towards the p a i r o f g a r d e n f o r k s b a c k to b a c k , back end of September. p r i s e t h e m a p a r t i n to s m a l l e r O One ne lless ess jjob ob tto od do o pieces. Discard the woody, congested centre of clumps, iin nb busy usy sspringtime pringtime If the weather allows, you can get replanting pieces which look on with lifting and dividing any healthy and have a good root perennials that have gotten too system, as well as new shoots, into congested, and stopped flowering compost enriched soil with some bone meal added. These will give a as well as they had been – this can good show the following summer. be done in spring but by then things

H Help elp tto oe ensure nsure a g good ood ccrop rop n next ext yyear ear

Cut asparagus ferns to the ground and get rid of them, as they may be h a r b o u r i n g t h e e g g s of t h e asparagus beetle. Apply a balanced feed such as blood, fish and bone meal over the soil surface to help ensure a good crop next year. If your mint, lemon balm or chives are looking a bit congested, lift and divide, replanting only the most vigorous section of roots. This will give them a chance to settle down before winter comes and they can burst into life in spring. You can pot up some bits and keep under a cloche, greenhouse or the kitchen w i n d ow s i l l f o r u s e t h ro u g h t h e winter.

K Keep eep wasps wasps away away If wasps are becoming a nuisance d u r i n g yo u r l a s t b a r b e q u e s o f t h e season, buy one of the paper pretend wasp nests that are available. Apparently, hanging one near your table will keep wasps away, as they are very territorial and think that there are wasps there already! The Local Answer

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Quirky Quirky tips tips ffor or yyour our kkitchen itchen I have been travelling around a bit this month and have been staying at friends’ and family members’ homes. Whilst exploring, I’ve noticed how everyone’s kitchen has a different feel. Some have a very clean and modern feel, whilst others have a homely, rustic feel. In this article, I am going to offer a few tips to spice up your kitchen! A few of the tips I’m going to give have been inspiration I have taken from other people’s homes. 1 Firstly, an overhanging rack for your pots and pans is something that I feel works nicely when giving the kitchen a homely feel. Not only is it practical, but it’s a look that is a little bit different and gives the kitchen a bit of an practical and quirky, something edge. which we can all get ‘on board’ with. 2 Another interesting idea that I spotted was having a multi3 If you’re intrigued by growing purpose counter top. The top herbs and little indoor plants, a was a thick wood which you cute idea would be to plant could use as a chopping board! them in mugs. This way you can An interesting and different idea, have lots of little plants all which I liked very much. Again, around the kitchen, not looking at all out of place. 4 For our DIY section this month, I will be taking you through how to make a hanging fruit basket. These can look super cool in a home, especially a white kitchen. It’s simple and adds a splash of colour to your kitchen. Firstly, you will need: • A hook/rail or anything that you can hang your basket on • A wire basket • Thick string Cut the string to the desired length and weave it through the wire b a s k e t h a n d l e s , m a k i n g s u re t o k e e p t h e s a m e l e n g t h o n b ot h sides. The Local Answer

T h e n s i m p l y i n st a l l t h e b a s k et i n the desired place above the table. A preferable height is about 40 50cm. And that is it! A beautiful hanging f r u i t b a s k e t to m a k e y o u r k i tc h e n j u s t t h a t l i t t l e b i t d i f f e re n t a n d quirky. I hope the compliments will come flooding in!

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Gadgets G adgets & G Gizmos izmos with with Laura Laura N Nicklin icklin

A ssuper uper September! September! It ’s back-to-school month, which is great for parents, but a not-so-happy occasion for the kids. For those holding out for a hero, the gadget market certainly has some crusaders favourite member of the Guardians that might be able to save the day! of the Galaxy team. Although in Vol.2 he has noticeably downsized, SSpiderman piderman A App-Enabled pp-Enabled B a by G ro o t h a s o n l y g o t te n m o r e lovable. In his adorable baby form, SSuperhero uperhero l i t t l e G ro o t m a k e s fo r a n T h e te e n a g e d w e b awesome sidekick and slinger has made funky little music another return to the speaker. s i l ve r s c re e n w i t h S at upon his this year ’s Spidercassette, G ro o t Man: Homecoming, dances along to your a n d i s of f i c i a l l y p a r t tunes of choice, with of the M a r ve l the speaker also Avengers franchise. including the ‘Come Now, at £149.99, you A Little Closer’ track can have your own mini from the movie. Peter Parker, with the Just connect via Spider-Man App the AUX to play Enabled Superhero. By y o u r s o n g s, a n d i n st a l l i n g t h e a p p o n use the built-in yo u r phone and m i c ro p h o n e f o r h a n d s connecting via f re e c a l l s . A n d , o f B l u e to o t h , yo u ’ l l course, he comes see this voicew i t h h i s c l a ss i c – activated hero come a n d o n l y – c a tc h to life. phrase, ‘I am Groot’. At £39.99, This Spidey comes with 100 different jokes, 20 stories, 15 games this funky little dancer will make you and 25 missions to complete. He has want to dance along too. web connection (get it?) and is B Batman atman P Projection rojection Torch Torch compatible with iOS and Android. If you prefer your superYou can team up to battle villains and even create your own superhero identity. His spidey senses also come in handy as a motion detector, keeping him on guard. The miniature Spider-Man will seem even more alive thanks to his cool LCD screen eyes, so he can show you exactly what emotion he’s feeling – so try not to annoy him!

heroes more brooding and hiding in the shadows, then you probably lean more towards DC’s The Dark Knight. At £6.99, summon the swift vigilante with his classic calling card, the Bat Symbol. By projecting the Bat Symbol onto a flat surface, you get a full projection of Batman’s mark , which strikes fear into the hearts of Gotham’s criminals. Pocket sized and fully portable, with batteries included, this is a fun, cheap little gizmo to play around with. For the full e f fe c t , u s e t h e p ro j e c t i o n t o r c h i n a d a r k ro o m , o r at n i g h t . I t makes for a cool keyring accessory, which may just come in handy if you’re holding out for a hero. Great fo r k i d s – a n d adults who a re k i d s a t heart.

D Dancing ancing Groot Groot SSpeaker peaker Another Marvel character is the tree alien of very few words, Groot, who quickly became almost everyone’s The Local Answer

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Quick Crossword 2

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ACROSS DOWN 1 Untitled 1 Utmost 4 Reproductive organ 2 Climb 7 Circus performer 3 Adds soundtrack 8 Of past times 4 Upon 9 Provided with 5 Enduring personnel 6 Tired reflex 12 Thought of 10 Finger or toe 15 Physically demanding 11 Giggle 17 Rasping 13 Relied 18 Egg shapes 14 Sun umbrella 21 Fatigued 16 Underground hollow 22 Singer, Buddy ... 18 Solemn vow 23 Absorbed (water) 19 Move to & fro 20 Money rolls

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Save S ave t the he P Planet lanet with w ith A Annabel nnabel L Laughton aughton

Gardening Gardening ffor or the the pplanet lanet A s s u m m e r t u r n s i n to a u t u m n , y o u m i g h t b e t h i n k i n g a b o u t w h a t to grow in the garden next year. Or maybe you have a garden but don’t really pay it any attention. Or would you love to garden, but don’t have any outdoor space? Well, whatever your situation, the good news is that you can reduce your carbon footprint and help wildlife by spending some time outdoors.

G Grow row ffood ood tto oe eat at One of the best ways of using outdoor space to reduce your impact is to grow food to eat – no packaging, no food miles – just straight from your g a rd e n to y o u r t a b l e ! G row i n g y o u r ow n c a n b e d a u n t i n g , b u t t h e re i s plenty of advice in gardening books or online – there’s even a free Grow Your Own iPhone app from the Royal Horticultural Society. Plan now what to grow throughout the coming year – maybe start small with a few herbs or easy vegetables. If you haven’t got a garden, you could search for a local community allotment or garden, help out a friend or neighbour, or sign up to a Time

B a n k i n g s c h e m e t o o f fe r h e l p t o others in exchange for others’ time. And if you don’t want to grow food, there are still things you can do. Most importantly, keeping your garden as l aw n o r p l a n te d u p i s b e t te r t h a n paving or decking, which contribute to flooding. You can also make sure you don’t buy more than you really n e e d , a s e ve r y t h i n g y o u b u y inevitably comes with a carbon price tag. Borrowing tools from neighbours or getting them second hand is far greener.

Buy B uy b better etter q quality uality p plants lants tthat hat w will ill llast ast As for plants and seeds, buying for longevity is better – buy better quality plants that will last , and ideally get them from friends. Or why not plan a fe w t r i p s to c a r b o o t s a l e s o r l o c a l markets at key points in the year, as they often have very cheap plants grown locally in people’s gardens. For a b i g p l a n t p u rc h a s e o r a w h o l e redesign, researching your plans and making sure you have the right plants in the right conditions will minimise waste. If you’re buying compost , go for peat free or, even better, put in your own compost bin and turn food waste into beautiful nutritious food Page 30

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for your soil. Then there’s gardening for wildlife. Your garden may be tiny, but trust me, it can provide an absolute haven for many, many species of birds, i n s e c t s, m a m m a l s, a m p h i b i a n s a n d more. Top of the list has to be creating a hedgehog highway by cutting small holes in your fence to l i n k yo u r g a rd e n w i t h o t h e r s . Hedgehogs are in huge decline, and one contributing factor is not being able to get around to forage. Go to hedgehogstreet.org for instructions.

Plan P lan ffor or n next ext y year ear Now’s the time to think about your garden plans for next year, and a little research goes a long way. Some plant species attract an incredible array of w i l d s p e c i e s, w h i l e o t h e r s a re virtually useless for wildlife. Covering a bare fence with ivy or planting a small crab apple tree, for example, w i l l s u p p o r t m a n y s p e c i e s o f b i rd s and insects. The best resource is the RSPB website, where you can search ways to give nature a home in your g a rd e n , f r o m s i m p l e t h i n g s l i k e creating a log pile or planting b u t te r f l y f r i e n d l y s e e d s, to b i g g e r projects like creating a wildlife pond. Happy planning! The Local Answer


Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

Money Money M Matters atters with with Roger Roger D Downes ownes o of fA Andorran ndorran

FFlexible lexible W Working orking It started years ago as a perk for hard-working, longserving staff, who wanted to start and finish early or late; it was known as ‘flexi-time’ and was popular particularly amongst office staff. Nobody looked at it as a business tool; it was simply a reward for a select few. Over years of social change and technological d e v e l o p m e n t s , e m p l o y e e s b e c a m e a l o t m o re d e m a n d i n g w i t h t h e i r re q u e s t s a n d e m p l oy e r s w e r e increasingly backed into a corner (or so it seemed to them) if they wanted to retain key staff. In 2014 the g ov e r n m e n t g o t i n v o l ve d a n d o b l i g e d e m p l oy e r s t o give reasonable consideration to any requests they received for flexible working. There wasn’t (and still isn’t) any requirement to say yes, but how many employers faced with what is a genuine and reasonable request would turn it down?

EEmployers mployers ccan an rretain etain greater greater control control o off tthe he process process iiff tthey hey offer offer flexible flexible working working E m p l oy e r s h av e l o n g n e e d e d t o w i s e u p t o t h e potential benefits. Maybe they should go as far as introducing opportunities for flexible working to their staff rather than wait until they are asked. Logically they would retain greater control of the process if they did, but I can still hear the complaints ringing in my ears f ro m e m p l o y e r s w h o h a ve n o i n te n t i o n o f d o i n g anything outside what they regard as ‘the norm’. It’s probably easier for a small business than a larger one, as a small employer can be flexible on an individual basis and has greater scope to reorganise his/her work flow around the fact that employees are not going to be there from nine to five every day of the working week .

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There are catches too to people not working regular hours or not being in the office for all of their contracted hours. Availability to callers and visitors can often be managed, but there’s not an employer in the land who wouldn’t admit to having at least a grain of doubt as to whether distractions away from the office prevent the flexible-working employee from putting in a ‘full shift’. And then there’s the challenge of technology and the frustration of your PC or other device not doing what it is supposed to all the time, or of the kids using up the b r o a d b a n d w i d t h a s s o o n a s t h e y a r e h o m e f ro m school. It’s impossible to create a ‘perfect world’, but helping everybody to be happy in their work and to balance work and ‘life’ successfully can only be a good thing.

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S Sport port with w ith R Roger oger JJackson ackson

WANT W ANT TTO O SSHARE HARE Y YOUR OUR SSPORTING PORTING SSTORY TORY O ON NO OUR UR W WEBSITE? EBSITE? Please Please e email mail ffull ull d details etails tto o ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk

“ “We We m must ust d do ob better etter tthan han llast ast season” season” J o h n B a r k e r i s 3 1 . . . b u t i n r u g by terms he is a young 31. The powerhouse Lydney no. 8 is preparing for his second season with the Forest of Dean club and, despite just being on the wrong side of 30, believes he still has many more years in the game. “I broke my ankle when I was 23,” he explained. “I had two years out of rugby so I feel I’ve still got a lot to offer.” That will be music to the ears of the powers-that-be at Lydney, who surprisingly struggled for large parts of last season in National League Three South West. This season the division has been renamed the South West Premier but whatever it is called Lydney, and Barker, know they must do better. “We’ve kept nearly all of our players and we’ve got to build from here,” he said. “We’re looking to do

P Porter orter iiss ffired ired u up p George Porter has a very good playing pedigree so when he says Cinderford h a ve s i g n e d s o m e s e r i o u s l y g o o d rugby players, he’s worth listening to. The 28-year-old is about to embark on his second season as captain and, i f t h e c a l i b re o f p l ay e r j o i n i n g t h e National Two South club is anything to go by, it could be a very successful one. Centre Jack Hayes, tighthead props James Elliot and Tim Brockett, hooker Nathan Taylor and back row Harry H o n e h av e a l l j o i n e d u p a n d P o r t e r s a i d : “ T h ey a r e a l l C h a m p i o n s h i p standard players. They’ve all played at a very high level so it’s going to make us very competitive.”

Barnes Barnes rrelishes elishes opener opener John Barnes was a season-ticket holder at Bristol Rugby last season but he’ll be doing his utmost to put one over them on the opening weekend of the new Championship season. Newly promoted Hartpury College travel to Ashton Gate on Sunday 3rd

John Barker

a lot better. We don’t like being in this league and hopefully we’ll do something about it this season.” Lydney found it difficult on the road last time out but Regentsholme remains a tough place for opposing teams to go to. “It ’s a proper old school rugby club,” said Barker. “It’s a fantastic club with a very good heritage. It ’s a great place to play and they treat you very well.” S e p te m b e r a n d B a r n e s i s re l i shing pitting his wits against one o f h i s fo r m e r clubs. “To get them in our first game is great,” said Hartpury’s director of John Barnes rugby. “It ’s a big game and there’s sure to be a lot of interest in how Pat Lam goes about things.”

Billy’s Billy’s n new ew cchallenge hallenge Gloucester fly-half Billy Burns turned 23 in the summer and last season he t r u l y c a m e of a g e in a cherry and white shirt. He had long come out of the s h a d ow o f b i g brother Freddie, of course, but in the season just gone h e w re s t e d t h e Billy Burns number 10 shirt

It ’s in the club’s interests, of course, to look after their prized assets such as Barker, who describes himself as “a ball carrying no 8”. He has had an impressive career t h at h a s s e e n h i m s p e n d t i m e at Gloucester Academy and Leeds Academy, as well as club sides Bradford and Bingley, Old Patesians and Hucclecote. He was with the Pats before making the switch to Lydney. The extremely personable Barker played football when he was younger. “I was a centre-forward or played in central midfield,” he said. “I didn’t start playing rugby until I went to King’s School in Gloucester.” He made quick progress, however, and was soon playing for the Gloucester Academy alongside such luminaries as Nick Abendanon, Ryan Lamb, Rory Teague and Jack Adams. Full story online from many times capped Wales international James Hook and went on to produce some excellent performances. This season he faces a new challenge to his recently acquired status as the club’s number one p l ay m a k e r i n t h e s h a p e o f n ew signing Owen Williams.

Ready, Ready, ssteady, teady, go… go… Around 1,000 runners are expected to take part in the Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon later this month. The race on Sunday 24th September st a r t s a n d f i n i s h es i n t h e f i e l d at Speech House. It gets under way at 10am and is run entirely in the forest.

Newent’s Newent’s Buz Buz word word Richard Bywater has been answering to the name ‘Buz’ for 40 -odd years. That ’s almost as long as he’s been playing for Newent Hockey Club, who he joined as a 15-year-old 35 years ago. For full versions of all these stories and more, visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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““Bring Bring iitt oon”, n”, ssays ays D Drybrook rybrook sskipper kipper There will be no gentle introduction to the new season for Drybrook … and skipper Ben Large is delighted. That’s because they begin the new South West One West campaign at home to fierce rivals Newent on Saturday 2nd September. The two clubs are separated by just a smidgen over eight miles and while that is close, they are even closer on the pitch. Last season they both finished on 78 points, with Drybrook just having the edge on games won, finishing third to Newent’s fifth. They won one and lost one against each other in the league before the season culminated in a thrilling Forest of Dean Combination Cup final in May, w h i c h N e we n t e d g e d b y j u s t o n e point. “It’s a great way to start,” said Large. “ I t g i ve s e ve r yo n e a t t h e c l u b s o m e t h i n g to a i m f o r a n d f r o m m y point of the view it couldn’t be better because everybody is up for it.” Inside centre Large was only 23 in

Ben Large. Picture: Gary Taylor

May but he is preparing for his third season as captain of the 1st XV. He comes from a big rugby-playing family – his sister Ceri is an England World Cup winner – and captaincy is something he is used to. “I captained a lot of the age group teams and I also captained the County Under-18s team,”

he said. “We’re a pretty young side at Drybrook and a lot of the players are a similar sort of age to me.” They may be a young team but Large has big ambitions for the club. “We’re looking to finish in the top two this year,” he said. “We want to keep progressing each year. We want to take the club as far as we can and that means getting into the national league. “The aim is to keep driving forward. We don’t want to stand still because if you do you will soon go backwards.” The club have certainly been on an upward curve since Large took over as captain. T h e y w o n p ro m o t i o n i n h i s f i r s t season and, after finishing in the bottom half in their first season at the higher level, they made a significant jump up the table last time out. “I see m y j o b a s t o k e e p t h e b oy s c h i l l e d , keep them disciplined and to control them around the pitch,” he said. Full story online.

...and ...and W Webb ebb ssays: ays: ““We We are are ready” ready” There’s a league within a league in South West One West. So says Newent skipper Ross Webb who says the presence of his club, D r y b ro o k a n d M a t s o n i n t h e s a m e d i v i s i o n i s h a r m i n g a l l t h re e c l u b s ’ chances of winning promotion. Win the mini league and the bigger league may follow. “ G a m e s b e t we e n u s a re a l l s o close,” said Webb. “It’s such a struggle to win those games. Any team that can win all four of those matches will be in with a great chance of going up.” All three teams finished on 78 points last season – Drybrook were third f o l l ow e d b y M a t s o n a n d N e w e n t – a n d t h e re s u l t s f ro m t h e m a t c h e s between the three clubs were equally as close. Drybrook and Newent won one and lost one against each other, as did M a t s o n a n d N e we n t , a n d w h i l e Drybrook managed to beat Matson twice, the combined winning margin over the two games was just five points.

Ross Webb

The games are almost impossible to predict and there’s a mouth-watering start to the season because Newent are heading to Drybrook on the opening day of the new campaign on Saturday 2nd September. “Yes, we’ve been thrown in at the deep end,” laughed 32-year-old Webb.

“But it ’s better to get them at their place when it’s dry because it should nullify their driving maul and setpiece. “They do like a driving maul but they have a strong lineout too. To be fair, they’re strong all round.” Webb is hoping that the harder ground will play in his side’s favour a n d t h e m e m o r y of t h e i r o n e - p o i n t Combination Cup final win in May is still fresh in the memory. “We’re a very elusive team,” he said. “We like to run the ball and move it about the field. We’ve got a good back line but all our forwards can carry the ball as well.” The Newent rugby story is a tale of almost unbroken success in recent years, with trips to Twickenham in national knockout competitions sharing top billings with the multiple promotions. Webb, who drives the team forward from no 8, is hoping there are further chapters to be written. Full story online.

FFor or ffull ull aarticles rticles & m more ore sstories: tories: w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk


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