Cotswolds

The Local

ANS W E R

JULY 2018

200,000 DELIVERED MONTHLLY Y IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

fo r loca l pe o p le fo

COTSWOLDS FIND A GREA ATT V VA ARIETY OF LOCAL SUMMER EVENTS INSIDE!

The The Lo Local c al

AN ANSWER SWER CCotswolds otswolds – 228,000 8,000 ccopies opies CCheltenham heltenham – 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies G loucestershire N orth – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire North G Gloucestershire loucestershire SSouth outh – 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies G Gloucester loucester – 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies FForest orest ooff D Dean ean – 222,000 2,000 ccopies opies

M Managing anaging D Director irector D Dave ave K Kingscott ingscott ddave@thelocalanswer.co.uk ave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

EEditorial ditorial & M Marketing arketing LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Helen H elen K Kingscott ingscott

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

EEntertainment ntertainment P Patrick atrick B Baines aines

July’ss winning cover photo: Stephen Clarke of Abbeydale

Welcome Welcome ttoo JJuly uly ... ...

As British summertime commences and the children break up from school you need look no further in order to find ways to entertain the little rascals. Head over to our What ’s On section for a jam-packed selection of local events to keep you busy during the holidays!

If you are planning on enjoying the summer evenings in your garden with a pitcher of Pimms and a BBQ with friends and family, why not have a go at making our S u m m e r t i m e S k e w e r s ? F i n d t h e t h re e r e c i p e s i n t h i s month’s ‘Delicious Dish’.

If the heat of the BBQ is too much to handle, Laura N i c k l i n h a s s h a re d h e r ‘ G a d g e t s & G i z m o s ’ recommendations to help you keep cool this summer, including a mini fridge and an ice cream maker!

Here at The Local Answer we are also looking for your help this month by way of food reviewers and tombola prizes – head inside for more information.

Keep your eyes peeled for next month’s issue where we will be welcoming back something very exciting...

eentertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk ntertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

CCustomer ustomer SServices ervices K Kevin evin V Vaughan-Spruce aughan-Spruce services@thelocalanswer.co.uk services@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Claudie Claudie FFrancis rancis pproduction@thelocalanswer.co.uk roduction@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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

JJohn ohn O Overton verton lleaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk eaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk

AAccounts ccounts R Robert obert K Kingscott ingscott aaccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Unit Unit H, H, 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

IInside nside tthis his month month ... ...

Distributors R Distributors Required equired 4 D elicious D ish Delicious Dish 5 Quick Q uick CCrossword rossword 7 M edical H ealth 9 Medical Health W n 1 3 What’s hat’ss O On 13 TTLA LA Entertainment Entertainment 18-19 1 8-19 H omes & G ardens 20 Homes Gardens 20 IInterior nterior D Design esign 25 2 5 G adgets & G izmos 2 7 Gadgets Gizmos 27 Word W ord SSearch earch 28 2 8 SSudoku udoku 3 1 31 Money M oney M Matters atters 31 3 1 TLA TLA Sport Sport 32-33 3 2-33 IIndex, ndex , CCompetitions, ompetitions, SSolutions olutions 34 34

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TThe he O Old ld R Rectory e ctory R Ree sstaurant taur ant ta

D Distributors istributors Required Required For a few hours each month in the following specific areas:

Andoversford • Avening Bourton on the Water • Cirencester Siddington • Stow-on-the-Wold • Tetbury 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 T The he L Loc oca al l 200,000 (equivalent to £6-£9/hour).

200,000 A ANS NS W WE E R fforor local loca l people pe o p le 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 old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the CCOTSWO OTSWOLDS LDS duties.

JJULY ULY 2 2018 018 8

DELIVERED D ELIVERED M MONTHLY ONTHLY IIN NG GLOUCESTERSHIRE LOUCESTERSHIRE

FIND FIND A GREAT GREATT VARIETY VARIETY OF OF LOCAL LOCAL SUMMER SUMMER EVENTS EVENTS INSIDE! INSIDE!

For details email Julia – distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

CCole ole ssbourne bour ne , CChe he lltete nnham h am GL53 99N N P 001242 1 2 4 2 8870120 70120 GL53

Cotswold Country Dining Summer Lunch Special

Traditional Sunday Lunch Why W hy not not try try our our Wimbledon Wimbledon a afternoon fternoon tea? tea?

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Ideal Ideal for for parties parties o off all all occasions occasions iincluding ncluding birthdays, birthdays, a anniversaries nniversaries a and nd g get-togethers et-togethers with with friends. friends. No No hire hire ccost! ost!

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H Help elp u uss rraise aise money money ffor or local local ccharities! harities!

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Can Can you you sspare pare a ffew ew hhours ours eople a month month ttoo ssupport upport ppeople with learning learning ddisabilities? isabilities? with Full Full ttraining raining & eexpenses xpenses ppaid aid For more information call 01452 6 17346 01452 617346 admin@buildingcirclesglos.org.uk www.buildingcirclesglos.org.uk Page 

The Local Answer will be holding stands at various local events over the summer months including Gloucester Day and Newent Onion Fayre.

We will be running a tombola at each event to raise money for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Building Circles in Gloucestershire

CCould ould you you donate donate a pprize rize ffor or our our tombola? tombola?

If you have any of the following that you’d be happy to donate, please drop your item(s) to our office – address below.

• Bottles (drinks or beauty products) • Food (non-perishables) • Cuddly toys Please note: all items must be new, unopened, unused and have a shelf life of at least six months (if applicable).

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Answer A nswer Unit H, H, Churchill Churchill Industrial Industrial Estate, Estate, Churchill Churchill Road, Road, Unit Leckhampton, CCheltenham, heltenham, G L53 7 EG Leckhampton, GL53 7EG

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

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

SSummertime ummertime SSkewers kewers Summer Summer iiss ffinally inally h here ere aand nd iit’s t’s ttime ime tto ob bring ring o out ut tthe he B BBQ! BQ! R Remember emember tto o ssoak oak yyour our sskewers kewers in in water water for for aatt lleast east 3 30 0m minutes inutes b before efore preparing preparing and and cooking cooking tthem. hem. SServe erve tthe he sskewers kewers with with your your favourite favourite ssalad! alad!

Spicy Lamb (serves 4) IIngredients: ngredients: 700g diced lamb; 1 red pepper, cut into cubes/slices; 1 courgette, cut into thick slices; 1 red onion, cut into wedges; 8 bay leaves. For the marinade (mix all together): 1 clove garlic, crushed or use lazy garlic; 30ml olive oil; 30ml lemon juice; 5ml ground cumin; 5ml ground coriander; 5ml chilli powder.

M Method: ethod: 1 Trim any fat off the lamb cubes and add them to the marinade with some salt and pepper.

2 Cover and leave for at least two hours or overnight in the fridge. The longer you leave it the more tender the meat becomes.

3 Thread the lamb, red pepper, courgette and pieces of o n i o n a l t e r n a t e l y o n t o t h e s k e we r s , s t a r t i n g a n d finishing with a bay leaf.

4 Pop on the BBQ or grill for approximately 15 minutes, turning regularly until browned on the outside but still slightly pink in the centre (or longer if you prefer wellcooked).

Thai Beef (serves 4) IIngredients: ngredients: 2 x 225g steaks, cubed; juice of 1 lime; 2 tsp grated root ginger, or use lazy ginger; 2 tsp garlic puree; 2 tbsp dark soy sauce; 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce; coriander leaves to garnish.

M ethod: Method: 1 Place the steak in a non-metallic bowl with the lime

juice, ginger, garlic puree, soy sauce and half the sweet chilli sauce. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 1-2 hours or overnight.

2 Thread the steak onto 4 skewers. Pop on the BBQ or grill for 8-10 minutes, turning regularly until browned.

3 Brush over the rest of the chilli sauce. Scatter with coriander leaves.

Succulent Salmon (serves 4) IIngredients: ngredients: 500g Salmon fillets cubed, remove the skin; 3 tbsp teriyaki sauce; 1 tbsp sesame oil; 1 lime, juice and zest; 150g chestnut mushrooms, halved; 6 spring onions, cut into 5cm lengths; 150g radishes.

M ethod: Method: 1 Mix the teriyaki sauce, sesame oil and lime in a bowl, add the salmon, mix well, cover and leave in the fridge for one hour to marinate.

2 Mix in the mushrooms, spring onions and radishes.

3 Thread the salmon, mushrooms, spring onions and radishes alternately onto the skewers.

4 Pop on the BBQ or grill for 10 minutes, turning halfway through.

Wa an nted!

The Local Answer is looking for Food & Drink reviewers in Gloucestershire! We’re increasing our content online and in print, including the introduction of regular restaurant reviews.

If you are interested in receiving more information, please email

e entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk ntertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk and let us know the town/village you live in.

T The he L Local ocal

Answer A nswer Requirements

• Enjoy a variety of cuisines • Willing to travel up to 15 miles • High quality camera/photographs • Varied writing style

Please note: you may be asked to supply a sample piece of writing.

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M Medical edical H Health ealth w with ith H Holly olly Hannigan Hannigan

Allergies Allergies o on n tthe he iincrease ncrease 44% of British adults now suffer with one or more allergy. Allergies are c a u s e d by h y p e r s e n s i t i v i t y o f t h e immune system to something in the e n v i ro n m e n t t h a t to m o s t p e o p l e wo u l d n o t b e a p ro b l e m . M o s t allergy symptoms are mild and can be easily managed, however there a re s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e a s e ve r e allergic reaction can result in serious illness and even death. It is therefore vitally important to understand the differences and know what you are allergic to as early as possible.

Common allergies are caused by airborne particles such as pollen and dust . For example, hayfever causes irritation of the nose, sneezing , i t c h i n g a n d r e d n e s s o f t h e e ye s .

When allergens are inhaled they can also lead to increased production of mucus, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.

FFoods, oods, iinsect nsect sstings tings a and nd m medications edications Other common allergens result f r o m f o o d s, i n s e c t s t i n g s a n d medications. These reactions can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea

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a n d h i v e s . I n s e c t s t i n g s, food, antibiotics and certain medicines may produce a systemic allergic response t h at is also cal led a n a p h y l a x i s, d u r i n g w h i c h t h e d i g e s t i v e sy s te m , circulatory system and the respiratory system can all be affected. Depending on the rate of severity, anaphylaxis can include skin reactions, bronchoconstriction, swelling, low blood pressure, coma and death. This type of reaction can be triggered suddenly, or the onset can be delayed.

M Most ost a allergies llergies are are m managed anaged tthrough hrough a avoiding voiding tthe he ttriggers riggers That all sounds pretty scary, but the truth is most allergies are managed t h r o u g h a vo i d i n g t h e t r i g g e r s w h e re p o s s i b l e – e . g . n u t s – a n d t h ro u g h m e d i c a t i o n s s u c h a s a n t i h i s t a m i n e s, which come in tablet and liquid forms, and in the rare c a s e of a n a p hy l ax i s t h e n a n e p i n e - p h r i n e i n j e c t i o n ( o f te n re f e r re d t o a s a n e p i - p e n ) m ay b e re q u i r e d .

Immunotherapy is s o m et i m es u s e d , p a r t i cu l a r l y i n c a s es of environmental a l l e r g i e s, a n d i s t h e m et h o d of increasing the exposure to the a l l e r g e n , i n o rd e r t o change the immune system’s response.

Diagnosis is often made t h ro u g h s k i n p r i c k te s t s o r blood tests, which look for the presence of allergen specific IgE

antibodies. The skin prick test usually shows an allergic response within 30 minutes of exposure and blood test results within a few days. One of the main benefits of a blood test is that u n l i k e s k i n - p r i c k te s t i n g , i t c a n b e performed irrespective of age, skin condition, medication, symptom, disease activity, and pregnancy.

Remove R emove the the allergen allergen from from tthe he d diet iet ffor or a sset et ttime ime Elimination testing is often used for s u s p e c t e d fo o d a n d m e d i c a t i o n allergies and involves removing the s p e c i f i c a l l e rg e n f ro m t h e d i e t completely for a set time. If s i g n i f i c a n t i m p ro ve m e n t i s s h o w n , t h e p a t i e n t i s c h a l l e n g e d to reintroduce the allergen gradually to see if symptoms reappear.

I f y o u s u s p e c t y o u o r yo u r c h i l d may have an allergy, explain your symptom(s) to your GP and they will be able to request the correct allergy testing.

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W What’s hat’s O On n TThe he LLocal ocal A Answer nswer EEvent vent Listings Listings are are ccompiled ompiled and and presented preesented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support of of many many contributors. contributors.

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3300 JUNE JUNE – 15 15 JJULY ULY CHELTENHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL The full Cheltenham Music Festival programme is available now for you to discover dozens of intimate chamber concerts, magnificent orchestral and choral works, and stunning solo performances in beautiful spaces across Cheltenham and Gloucestershire. For full details visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music TTHROUGHOUT HROUGHOUT JULY JULY ABSTRACT 7

The Abstract 7 are a group of five painters, one potter and one sculptor; all of whom favour the modernist’s approach and a philosophy of abstraction that echoes the appreciation of the New York abstract expressionists. 4th-28th July. Coffee Shop available. Wednesday-Saturday 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com JULY – AUGUST AUGUST JULY CIVIC TRUST CITY WALKS Civic Trust Gloucester City walking tours, daily from ST Michael’s Tower, The Cross Gloucester.

Monday to Saturday 11am and now on a Sunday at 2pm. Why not join one to hear about the amazing history of Gloucester. £5 per adult, children under 16 free.

22-8 -8 JULY JULY COLEFORD FESTIVAL OF WORDS The theme of this year’s Festival is ‘Ten’, celebrating the Festival’s tenth anniversary.

For further information and updates go to www.thecolefordhub.info/festival-of words 5 JULY JULY SUNSET DEER PARK WALK Exclusive access to the park after hours.

Perfect for photographers. Enjoy a leisurely guided walk around the park as the ‘golden hour’ sets in. 7.30pm. Adults £10, children £5. Dyrham Park , Dyrham, Gloucestershire, SN14 8HY. 0344 249 1895. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park THE CITY CHOIR OF WASHINGTON IN GLOUCESTER Classical Movements presents The City Choir of Washington on their debut tour of England in July 2018. Under the direction of its GRAMMY award-winning conductor Robert Shafer, in only 10 years TCCW has built a reputation as one of the capital’s premiere choirs, with the Washington Post heralding them “a first-class chorus”.

8pm. Free entry. Gloucester Cathedral, GL1 2LX. gloucestercathedral.org.uk 55-8 -8 JULY JULY BARN ON THE FARM FESTIVAL A friendly down-to-earth gathering of likeminded music lovers, who congregate each year on an actual working farm in Gloucester. Beware of ostriches! The ideal place to hang out with friends and discover those artists who will stay with you forever. Over Farm, Over, Gloucester, GL2 8DB. Full details at www.barnonthefarm.co.uk

JULY 6 JULY CHRIS PACKHAM – PICTURES FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD At the core of all Chris Packham’s work is conservation, so expect tales from the frontline and the full-frontal truth about how we get it wrong and get it right. Funny, inspiring and packed with information. 3pm. £21.50 (conc £11.50). 01453 760900.

Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk WILDLIFE IN THE GEORGE ROOM To tie in with Chris Packham’s visit to the Sub Rooms, your chance to meet local wildlife and conservation organisations and find out about their work. 1pm. Free entry. 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 6-7 6-7 JULY JULY MILEFEST – MUSIC FESTIVAL

Milefest 2018 is a 24 band, over two stages, festival. On Friday 6th and Saturday 7th of July in Hartpury (GL19 3BG). We are accessible and affordable for all. All money raised goes to Milestone school – we have raised more than £30,000 over 6 years. www.milefest.co.uk Registered charity number: 1173333.

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LOCAL SUMMER LOCAL SUMMER EVENTS EVENTS INSIDE! INSIDE!

To list your event in our What’s On section, email editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk Online event listings coming soon! To keep updated send your name and business name (if applicable) to lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘Online Event Listings’.

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66-8 -8 JULY JULY WORDFEST 2018 Welcome to the very first Gloucester Cathedral Wordfest – a celebration of all things ‘word’. Join us for an amazing weekend of talks, poetry, music, comedy, storytelling, crafts and more. Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. 01452 528095. gloucestercathedral.org.uk 7 JULY JULY LONGLEVENS CHURCH FETE Longlevens Church Summer Fete. Enjoy an afternoon of entertainment with Ukulele Band, Bouncy Castle, tombolas, stalls, refreshments and more. Open 2pm – 4pm in Holy Trinity Church grounds, Longlevens.

Admission by Lucky Programme in advance or on the gate.

MIDSUMMER FIESTA 2018 Midsummer Fiesta returns in 2018 for another day showcasing the fantastic talents of the diverse communities of Cheltenham. With a multitude of activities from charity stalls to music and dance this is a day for everyone in Cheltenham to enjoy. Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UW. 01242 774960. Full details at www.midsummerfiesta.com CIDER , SAUSAGE & STEAM Catch the train to Rookwood station to enjoy a few hours of live music, good food and local craft ciders. Normal entrance fee applies, advance booking recommended. Open from 10.30 -8pm. Full details at www.perrygrove.co.uk.

Perrygrove Railway, Perrygrove Road, Coleford, GL16 8QB. 01594 834991.

7-8 JULY JULY 7-8 THE COTSWOLD SHOW & FOOD FESTIVAL Two days, 100 acres, hundreds of attractions and tens of thousands of visitors – the Cotswold Show is now one of the most popular on the regional Country Show calendar. Full details at www.cotswoldshow.co.uk.

7 JULY AUGUST JULY – 4 A UGUST THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE A tale of despair, love and hope written

by English dramatist Jim Cartwright in 1992.

Shy and reclusive Little Voice eventually finds her voice, despite her challenging circumstances and larger than life mother.

Full details at www.barntheatre.org.uk.

The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. 01285 648255.

8 JULY JULY TEWKESBURY ABBEY BRASS ON THE GRASS Enjoy your own picnic on the lawns of Abbey House from 5pm and afterwards sit back for a concert of light music for a Summer’s Evening with a last night of the proms finale. Tickets £10 (under 16s free).

Tewkesbury Abbey, Church Street, GL20 5RZ. www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk

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STROUD FESTIVAL OF NATURE A family day out celebrating all that is great about nature, with lots of things to see and activities to take part in. Stratford Park , Stroud, GL5 4AF. Free entry. For more information visit www.stroudnature.org JULY 11-14 JULY 11-14 HARRY DIPLOCK QUARTET Guitar maker and first rate guitar player Harry Diplock has played since he was 13.

Initially a carpenter, then guitar maker, he took to professional playing in his early twenties and now performs with some of the greatest musicians around the London scene and beyond. With another superb guitarist Caley Groves plus violinist Ben Holder and bassist Paul Jefferies, we can promise you a very hot, hot-club style evening of jazz. £15 (£12 in advance). 8pm.

Redesdale Hall, High Street, Moreton-inMarsh, GL56 0AW. www.moretonjazz.co.uk 12-14 JULY JULY 12-14 2000 TREES FESTIVAL

A 3-day extravaganza set in the stunning Cotswold Hills. You’ll get three nights’ camping, a friendly, intimate atmosphere plus amazing food and locally produced ciders, ales and lagers. Described as one of the friendliest festivals you’ll ever go to, it’s perfect to attend with a group of mates or on your own, because you’re guaranteed to make new friends. Upcote Farm, Withington, GL54 4BL . Full details at www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk 113-14 3-14 JULY JULY TEWKESBURY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL This July, thousands of reenactors, entertainers and traders from all over Europe will gather in Tewkesbury for Europe’s largest annual Medieval reenactment. A fantastic and unique day out for all the family. Free entry. For full details visit tewkesburymedievalfestival.org 113-15 3-15 JULY JULY THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO Few events can rival the intensity and drama of the world’s greatest airshow. The Air Tattoo returns and will be marking a very special occasion in 2018, the centenary of the Royal Air Force. As well as commemorating the past achievements, we’ll also be celebrating the present and helping to inspire the future of the RAF. Full details at www.airtattoo.com/airshow The Royal International Air Tattoo, Top Road, Kempsford, Fairford, GL7 4EG.

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14 14 JULY JULY JACK BOSKETTTT: FROM RAILWAYS TO ROYALTTYY For one night only, Tewkesbury’s royal photographer takes to the stage for an exclusive presentation of his varied and stunning work on the big screen. 7.30pm. £15. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org THE DARKSIDE OF PINK FLOYD More than just an ordinary Pink Floyd tribute band, The Darkside of Pink Floyd entertain audiences with a fantastic light show and passionate performances. 8pm. £19.50. 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk NORTHERN SOUL NIGHT Jerry Hipkiss, David Greet and Dave Thorley bring a night of the finest Northern Soul around. For some of you it will be a chance to re-live those hot summer all dayers, for others it will be a chance to get a serious boogie on! 9pm. £10. Full details at www.themarshallrooms.co.uk. The Marshall Rooms, 27A Nelson Street, Stroud, GL5 2HH. 114-15 4-15 JULY JULY ST BRIAVELS ART EXHIBITION Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July 10am4pm. Beautiful artwork by our members, to include watercolours, oils, acrylics and pastels. Also mugs, coasters and beautiful bronze. Free entry. Refreshments available.

Raffle. Everyone welcome. Venue: St. Briavels Assembly Rooms, Lydney, GL15 6TG. COLEFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL If you are not familiar with the festival, it’s the Forest of Dean’s best kept secret – a fantastic free outdoor festival in Coleford town centre held every summer featuring an eclectic mix of music, art, culture and community. Everything from Jazz, indie, rock, ska, rockabilly, folk, blues and much more. Coleford Music Festival, GL16 8YH. colefordmusicfestival.co.uk PAW PATROL: CHASE & MARSHALL Returning for their second year, heroic pups Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol will be visiting the railway in July. Not only will they be making appearances at intervals on each day at Parkend Station, but there will be loads more happening at Norchard and Parkend including bouncy castles, face painting and magic shows.

Dean Forest Railway, Forest Road, Lydney, GL15 4ET. www.deanforestrailway.co.uk 116-27 6-27 JULY JULY CHELTENHAM CRICKET FESTIVAL The Cheltenham Cricket Festival is one of the most loved events in the social and sporting calendar. The idyllic setting of Cheltenham College provides the perfect backdrop for cricket at the height of summer. For full details including fixtures and tickets, visit www.gloscricket.co.uk/ cheltenham-cricket-festival

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S Shipton hipton G Golf olf Course C ourse ““A A 9 hole hole pay pay & play play course course in in the the Heart Heart of of the the Cotswolds” Cotswolds” N o need need to to book book – Open Open every every day day from from 7am 7am until until dusk dusk No ●

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Family Family run run course course offering offering affordable affordable golf golf ffor or all all C Coffee offee sshop hop and and terrace terrace equipment Small Small stock stock of of ‘everyday’ ‘everyday’ golfing golfing equipment aand nd clothing clothing P PGA GA Professionals Professionals available available for for lessons lessons and and advice advice

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118-24 8-24 JULY JULY CORNWALL TO THE COTSWOLDS

Exhibition of paintings by Alan Holmes and John Hutchens, capturing the landscapes of Cornwall and the Cotswolds. Lower Slaughter Village Hall 10am-5pm daily. Admission free. Over 70 paintings on display. Online at www.johnhutchens.co.uk from 10th July.

20 -29 JULY JULY 20-29 THE 48TH GUITING MUSIC FESTIVAL This year’’ss programme of 10 concerts will again feature outstanding world renowned Classical, Jazz and Blues Musicians. Bring your family and a picnic to the two Sunday outdoor concerts or partake in the food and drink on offer. Do not miss these exciting events. For full details please visit: www.guitingfestival.org 21 21 JULY JULY THAT’S CAUGHT ME! When you trap 15 people in a theatre for 24 hours to create a new show, who knows

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what will happen? But it will certainly be a show like no other! An entertaining evening of Fringe theatre. Will it be a great show of comedy or will it be a tragedy that will leave you bursting at the seams? 7.45pm. £12. 01242 522852. Cheltenham Playhouse, 47-53 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7HG. www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk DISCOVERY TO DISPLAY Find out about current archaeological processes from excavation, to processing the archaeology, and then to final museum deposition and display. £12-£15. 9.30am.

Full details at coriniummuseum.org Transportation will be provided. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. GLOUCESTER CARNIVAL Gloucester Carnival is a fabulous, free and vibrant procession which is lead through the city centre each year. The procession encompasses floats and entertainers, and ends up in Gloucester Park. From here, revellers can enjoy live music, a fun fair and plenty to keep them entertained! Full details at www.somac.org.uk THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC This international smash-hit tribute show brings all of ABBA’s number one hits to the stage in a production like no other.

The hugely popular show combines the unmistakable harmonies, colourful costumes and dazzling performances by

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an all-star cast that’ll have you thanking ABBA for the music again and again!

7.30pm. £17.50 -£25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org STROUD COUNTRY SHOW Come along and help us show what Stroud is to you. Don’t worry, we will still be keeping many of the features which have entertained us through the years. Enter your dogs, flowers, vegetables, art and craft work and photography in our competitions. Show off your classic and vintage vehicles. Enjoy live music, food and drink and entertainment. 10.30am.

Free entry. For full details visit stroudshow.co.uk 21-29 21-29 JULY JULY CAFE RENE RHYYTTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL Café René is proud to present their 16th Rhythm and Blues Festival as part of Gloucester Blues 2018. A week jammed with fantastic Rhythm and Blues music with a band playing in the bar Monday to Thursday and then onto the The Green Stage in Greyfriars for the weekend. We will be running a Real Ale and Cider Festival and look out for the fabulous Rene BBQ and Hog Roast, and outside bars. Free entry with donations to The James Hopkins Trust. For more details visit www.caferene.co.uk

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22 JULY ART MARKET Our Art Market offers visitors the chance to discover the wealth of creative talent in the Forest and Wye Valley, as well as the opportunity to meet the artists and makers, and buy original artwork and craft products.

Plus live music, BBQ, beer and cider. Taurus Crafts, The Old Park, Lydney GL15 6BU. www.cvt.org.uk/communities/taurus-crafts STROUD SUMMER VEGAN FAIR After the success of the first Stroud Vegan Fair in January, the event is back and this time we’re going to be bringing you twice as much fun over two venues. Over 80 stalls to browse, talks and demos, free street entertainment and free parking nearby.

Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. cotswoldveganevents.com/ events/stroud-vegan-fair-summer-2018 25 JULY SUMMER CHILDREN’S WEDNESDAY Bags of summer holiday fun including a bouncy castle, exciting inflatable activity centre for under 5s, story telling, and condensed history shows – featuring unicycling, juggling and escapology. Full details at www.sudeleycastle.co.uk Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. CLANG SAYNE An experimental folk quartet (4 voices, guitar, bass clarinet, cello and drums)

exploring the boundary between song and sound improvisation. 8.30pm. Full details at www.theprincealbertstroud.co.uk. The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud GL5 3SS. 28 JULY HIGH STREET FINE FOOD & ARTS MARKET Tewkesbury High Street will be closed to cars for the day and instead will be filled with stalls selling fine foods, arts and crafts.

Full details at www.visittewkesbury.info 29 JULY STEP BACK IN TIME WITH FALCONRY DISPLAYS AND TUDOR GENTRY Encounter Tudor royalty as King Henry VIII arrives on his royal progress, and meet his Queen, along with her ladies in waiting and noble gentlemen. Witness Tudor dancing with live musicians. The Castle grounds will also play host to a magnificent falconry display. Meet our falconer and get to know his impressive birds of prey. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. www.berkeley-castle.com 4-5 AUGUST SUMMER JAM – THE BREWERY QUARTER 4th August,1-9.30pm and 5th August, 17pm. A jam-packed weekend of live music, great food and drink. With craft and food stalls, a festival vibe and free entry everyone is welcome! Headlining this year are Just Shup Up and Dance and Kingsley Salmon’s full band (Saturday), with Tux Fizz and Soular on Sunday – plus many more

acts! www.thebreweryquarter.co.uk www.facebook.com/TheBreweryChelt 10-12 AUGUST THE COTSWOLD DECORATIVE, ANTIQUES & ARTS FAIR Fabulous, eye-catching, chic and collectable antiques go on sale at The Cotswolds Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair at Westonbirt School, near Tetbury on 10th-12th August.

Featuring 40 art and antiques specialists from across the UK. Complimentary Tickets from www.cooperevents.com 24-27 AUGUST TADSTOCK FESTIVAL Supporting local youth music initiatives with some great artists too! Brinsley ‘ASWAD’ Forde, Other Animals, John Otway and more. Just £84 for a family of four including parking, three nights’ camping, free kids entertainment and workshops, yoga for all ages and skills. Probably the best value long bank holiday weekend of the year! www.tadstock.org SEPTEMBER – MAY CHELTENHAM CRICKET SOCIETY Cheltenham Cricket Society meets 1st Wednesday of each month September to May at the Victory Club. Speakers include Farokh Engineer, Geoff Cope, Chris Lewis and Scyld Berry. New members and guests welcome. Contact Malcolm Brown – mb3456@blueyonder.co.uk. View www.cheltcs.councilcricketsocieties.com

STIRRUPS RACING A new Gloucestershire racing syndicate r un personally personally a nd professionally professionally run and Horses in training with leading National Hunt trainer Dan Skelton, including winner Get Ready Freddy.

O Own wn 55% % ooff a rracehorse acehorse ffrom rom ££130 130 pper er m month onth to cover all costs!

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E Entertainment ntertainment w with ith P Patrick atrick B Baines aines – e entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk ntertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Excitement Excitement bbuilding uilding aahead head ooff CCotswold otswold Show Show Now in its 30th year, The Cotswold Show remains one of Gloucestershire’s most popular events. With its hugely family successful mix of e n t e r t a i n m e n t , a c t i v i t y a re n a s a n d over 300 trade stands and food stalls, the 2018 show looks certain to be a perfect day out for the entire family.

Philippa Stagg, Press and Marketing Manager for the Cotswold Show, is p re d i c t i n g a n ot h e r successful weekend when the 2018 Cotswold Show gets underway on Saturday 7th July. She said: “The Cotswold Show is always one of the highlights of the year for so many people. There’s so much to do for all ages, it’s a fantastic day out for the whole family.

“This year we’re commemorating both the centenary of the end of World War One and the centenary of the formation of the RAF.. We’ve got a fantastic display of biplanes and t r i p l a n e s t h a t a re g o i n g t o b e f l y i n g over the show grounds which is going to be such a thrill.

Keep an eye on the skies at the Cotswold Show

“On the ground we’ve got so much going on. There’s an award-winning BMX team that are going to be putting on an amazing show. We’ve also got a parachute team attending, a falconry exhibition, rare breeds of animals, a Punch and Judy show – there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

O n e of t h e h i g h l i g h t s of t h e Cotswold Show, which takes place in the grounds of Cirencester Park , is

FFilm ilm R Review eview – PPatrick atrick B Baines aines JJurassic urassic W World: orld: FFallen allen K Kingdom ingdom Three years ago, director Colin Trevorrow brought Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park franchise back to life. ‘Jurassic World’ was a huge success, The film grossed over a billion dollars worldwide and brought dinosaurs back to the big screen with one almighty bang.

The follow-up to that film begins with a volcano erupting on Isla Nublar, the island with all the dinosaurs on that we first saw way back in the 1993 blockbuster ‘Jurassic Park’.

Three years have passed since the dinosaur theme park that featured in the previous film was destroyed and now the idea is to round up all the dinosaurs and move them onto a new island, away from the liquid magma that is b e i n g p ro p e l l e d a c ro s s t h e l a n d s c a p e o f t h e i r c u r r e n t h o m e.

Rather predictably, the rehousing of the dinosaurs goes horribly wrong, that ’s where the film takes a dark twist.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a l o t o f f u n . O n e m a j o r p ro b l e m , however, is the film’s endless rush to get to the next plot point.

Full review online.

always the vast array of awardwinning food for sale, and this year several renowned chefs will be running live demonstrations, giving visitors the chance to pick up a few handy culinary tips.

Philippa continued: “We’re so excited to be welcoming a host of hugely successful chefs who work in the county. Our cookery theatre will have live cooking demonstrations by award-winning chefs who work here in Gloucestershire. It promises to be a lot of fun and I’m sure everyone who watches the demonstrations will be able to pick up a few new tips.”

Anyone with a keen interest in the animal kingdom is well catered for at the Cotswold Show, with this year ’s event welcoming back a popular falconry team. Philippa said: “We’re really pleased to be hosting the ‘Hawkeye Falconry Display ’ team.

T h e y h av e b e e n g i v i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l falconry displays for many years.”

Full story online.

Book Book R Review eview – A Aloÿse loÿse ooff D Daylesford aylesfordd Book Book Club Club SSecret ecret H Houses ouses of of tthe he Cotswolds Cotswolds by Jeremy Musson You could be forgiven for thinking that this book was m o r e fo r t h e v i s i t o r t o t h e Cotswolds rather than those of us who live here, but this isn’t the case. Only four of the houses are open to the p u b l i c o n a re g u l a r b a s i s .

There are “romantic castles surrounded by medieval m o a t s, m a n o r h o u s e s inhabited by the same families for generations” and even a new house completed in 2016.

There is a mixture of architectural history and conversation with the present owners, beautifully put together by architectural historian Jeremy Musson, with exquisite photographs taken by the accomplished photographer Hugo Rittson Thomas.

T h e h o u s e s a l l h a v e i n t e r e s t i n g s to r i e s t o t e l l a n d i t i s wonderful to see how many of them have been lovingly restored by the owners, updating them for living in the 21st century whilst keeping their original identity.

Full review online.

AAbove bove iiss a sselection election from from local local eentertainment ntertainment sstories tories aavailable vailable online online ... ...

ART • EEVENTS VENTS • EEXPERIENCES XPERIENCES • FFILM ILM • G AMING ART GAMING LLIFESTYLE IFESTYLE • LLITERATURE ITERATURE • M USIC • TTHEATRE HEATRE • TV TV MUSIC

2 2000trees: 000trees: TThe he ffestival estival tthat hat keeps keeps growing growing J u s t ov e r a d e c a d e a g o a g r o u p o f Gloucestershire residents got together with the aim of organising an annual music festival. This wasn’t to be a festival that attracts superstar bands though, 2000trees was launched as a platform to give up-and-coming acts a chance to shine. In the twelve years since the inaugural festival took place it has won numerous national awards as well as acting as a springboard to many successful music careers.

The 2018 festival takes place from 12th-14th July in the serene setting of Upcote Farm in the Cotswold hills.

Appearing at this year ’s festival are e s t a b l i s h e d b a n d s l i k e E n te r S h i k a r i , Twin Atlantic and Hell is for Heroes who will be joined by over 120 other acts, many from Gloucestershire.

Andy Rea, one of the six founders of the Festival, is delighted with the 2018 line-up. He said: “We work very hard to ensure there’s a wide range of musical genres represented. A lot of the acts fall into the rock category but

Action from the 2017 Festival

there are also a number of folk , jazz a n d ot h e r m u s i c a l st y l es o n t h e b i l l .

We’re a festival that ’s all about the music , it ’s a great thrill to welcome such a wide array of acts for what promises to be another fantastic three days.

“It’s been a really incredible journey w h e n we s i t b a c k a n d t h i n k w h a t we’ve achieved since the first 2000trees all those years ago. Before

the first festival we didn’t know at the time if it was going to be an annual thing, it could have been a one-off.

Fortunately for us it was a big success and we’ve kept building every year.

“What works really well for us is we b o o k e s t a b l i s h e d b a n d s a s we l l a s offering lesser known acts the chance to play in front of a big crowd. Giving the up-and-coming acts a chance to get up on stage and show what they can do is what we’re all about. These acts deserve a big platform, they’re so talented and it ’s great to welcome back so many of the bands year after year.

“We’re not trying to compete with the likes of Glastonbury, we know what we are, and we know what the people who come here want to see.

Everyone involved, whether that’s the staff, the volunteers and of course the visitors, is there because they love live music.”

Full story online.

G Globetrotting lobetrotting vvet et aassists ssists ssummer ummer bblockbuster lockbuster Gloucestershire vet Jonathan Cranston has had a busy 12 months. As well as w r i t i n g a b o o k o n h i s c a re e r a s a veterinary surgeon, he also used his knowledge of the animal kingdom to assist the producers of the new ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ film.

Having spent plenty of time in Africa wo r k i n g w i t h l a rg e a n i m a l s s u c h a s crocodiles and rhinos, Jonathan, who works at Dragon Vets in Cheltenham, was recommended to the directors of the new Jurassic World film who were seeking a veterinary advisor to help in making the dinosaurs look as realistic as possible.

Jonathan, who lives in Stow-on-theWold, explained: “Initially it started off w i t h a fe w p h o n e c a l l s a n d e m a i l s, then I was asked to meet the director and producers. I had an hour-long m e e t i n g w i t h t h e m , t a l k i n g t h ro u g h scenes and then it snowballed from

Jonathan tends to a wildebeest

there. I went in for rehearsals and I was on set with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, the two main characters of the film. They were so friendly and really took on board what I was telling them.

“There’s a specific scene in the film t h a t a l l o we d t h e u s e o f a n i m a t r o n i c

dinosaurs, rather than using CGI. In one scene where one of the velociraptors is being operated on, there were nine people controlling all t h e m o ve m e n t s o f t h e m o d e l dinosaur. Even though you are on set and you know it’s a model, the way the puppeteers controlled it, the eye movements and breathing, it was incredible.

“Initially I was there to impart my veterinary knowledge, to explain how an operation is carried out, but all the puppeteers were great and spent time asking me if they were getting the breathing right and making the operation seem as realistic as possible. Their attention to detail was staggering. I was on set for 12 days at the Pinewood studios, it was an incredible experience and I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished film.”

Full story online.

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Tel: T el: 0 01242 523398 01452 290458 email: 90458 / e mail: iinfo@hatherleyworktops.co.uk nfo@hatherleyworktops.co.uk 1242 5 23398 / 0 1452 2 web: www.hatherleyworktops.co.uk w eb: w ww w.hatherleyworktops.co.uk U Units nits 1 18, 8, 1 19 9 & 20 20 Malmesbury Malmesbury Road, Road, Kingsditch Kingsditch Trading Trading Estate, Estate, Cheltenham Cheltenham GL51 GL51 9PL 9PL

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The Local Answer

Interior Interior Design Design w with ith JJade ade W Wilce ilce

B Bedroom edroom d design esign iideas deas ffor or a etter n ight’s ssleep b better night’s leep We spend an average of one-third of our lives asleep. Considering we s p e n d m o r e t i m e i n o u r b e d ro o m s than any other room in the house, d e s i g n i n g a b e d ro o m t h a t i s b o t h comfortable and aesthetically pleasing is so important for a better night’s sleep.

CCreate reate ccalm alm w with ith b bedroom edroom ccolour olour sschemes chemes When you’re looking to redecorate y o u r b e d ro o m , i t m a k e s p e r f e c t s e n s e to s t a r t w i t h a l i c k o f p a i n t , and it can also improve your sleep.

Painting bedroom walls in light , calming colours like greens, blues a n d g r ey s c a n p r o m o te r e l a x a t i o n , whereas bright bold colours like red can increase stress responses and stimulate the mind. Keep the bedroom calm, not only with colour but clutter too – piles of clothes and b i t s a n d b o b s s t re w n a r o u n d t h e room can also impact and your sleep could be more stressful.

LLimit imit tthe he u use se o off e electronic lectronic g goods oods a and nd iinvest nvest in in an an a alarm larm cclock lock Electronic signals, text messages and social media alerts can cause havoc with our sleep whether we notice or n ot . T h es e n o i s es d i st u r b o u r s l e e p on a nightly basis, so leave the p h o n e o u t s i d e yo u r b e d ro o m a n d i n ve s t i n a n a l a r m c l o c k to e n s u re you are awake and ready for work , or school. If you can’t bear to part with your phone, try not to use the phone before bed – give yourself an hour break before you head to bed.

Read a book and ease your mind into a relaxing state before sleep, rather t h a n b e i n g s t i m u l a te d b y y o u r phone.

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B ring tthe he o utdoors iindoors ndoors Bring outdoors w ith b edroom p lants with bedroom plants Turning your bedroom green doesn’t stop at the colour scheme.

Introducing plants will breathe new l i fe i n to t h e b e d r o o m a n d b e a calming presence that improves a room’s air quality, which is essential for a better night’s sleep. They also look fantastic, adding a calming look and feel to the room. If plants don’t work for you, for cleaner, calmer air try an aroma diffuser and humidifier with a few drops of lavender oil to help you drift off to the perfect land of sleep.

FFind ind y your our d dream ream p pillows illows A d d i n g a f ew s c a t t e r c u s h i o n s i s a tried and tested way to refresh your bed and keep up to date with all the latest design trends. However, ensure you choose the right pillow t h a t l o o ks e l e g a n t b u t c a n s u p p o r t your head as you sleep as well, and remember one is enough. If you’re

sleeping on a flat, old pillow, you’re not going to have a peaceful night’s sleep, so invest in a quality pillow to lay your head on. Pillow sprays or essential oils dabbed on a pillow can also help us drift off to the land of n o d ; l a ve n d e r a n d e u c a l y p t u s a r e perfect for a great snooze.

CChoose hoose a m mattress attress fit fit for for G Goldilocks oldilocks When we redecorate our bedroom we are always tempted to think of sheets, pillows and duvets to make a r o o m d i f f e re n t a n d a d d a t r e n d to the room, without giving a second t h o u g h t to o u r m a t t re ss a n d w h a t we use most . A great quality mattress can be the difference in transforming your bed from looking unappealing and flat, to comfortable and incredibly supportive. Old, lumpy m a t t r e s s e s o f t e n c a u s e s l e e p l o ss a n d b a c k a c h e s o s h o p a ro u n d , b e G o l d i l o c k s a n d f i n d t h e p e r fe c t mattress that is just right!

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QUALITY Q UALITY KITCHEN K ITCHEN FACELIFTS F ACELIFTS

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Keep Keep CCool ool aand nd CCarry arry O On n The heat is gearing up, not just for summer, but also the World Cup. W i t h s u n n y b l u e s k i e s, j u g s o f Pimms, and plenty of sun lotion, you might think you’re already prepped for the big heat , but don’t u n d e r e s t i m a te the high temperatures on and off the pitch.

To help keep your cool in time for kick-off, here are some snazzy g i z m o s t h at w i l l b e m u c h appreciated during cup season.

And if you want to enjoy more of a natural outdoors breeze, the clever gadget even includes a ‘Breeze’ mode, selecting speed settings at random in order to perfect the simulation of being outside. You can also select the ‘Sleep’ mode, which will gradually decrease the air flow throughout the night. With its sleek design and digital LED display, the Bionaire Ultra Slim Tower Fan makes for an ostentatious home accessory.

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At £79.99, this 16 litre Mini Fridge is M Maker aker 1 1.5l .5l the essential sports fan W o u l d you like a way to cool accessory. Everyone knows down this summer whilst also the next best thing to indulging your sweet watching the game tooth? Try the digital with friends, is doing ice cream maker so with an ice-cold f ro m Lakeland, beverage. With a which will churn delicious ice cream in as little as 30 temperature range of delicious ice cream minutes! Ingredients can also be 12-18°C , this mini to perfection. Save added during churning. To use, f r i d g e e n s u r e s yo u won’t go thirsty,, as it yo u r s e l f from freeze the bowl for 12 hours, can store up to seven chasing after the ice remove from the freezer and then 3 3 0 m l c a n s, f i ve cream man and put on the lid. With the digital timer, b ot t l es of w i n e a n d make your own at you can set the running time from Argos A rgos e i g h te e n 4 4 0 m l c a n s . I t s home. With its Easy- 5-40 minutes. It also includes seven ideal size also makes it easier to to-read digital display, this little tasty recipes to try out . Available store, whether you’re home or machine can make 0.5 litres of from £47.99. away! Now you can watch the game with an ice-cold Budweiser to Lakeland ease the tension for that penalty shoot-out.

Bionaire U Bionaire Ultra ltra SSlim lim TTower ower FFan, an, Silver Silver If you find things getting too heated, cool off with the Bionaire Ultra Slim Tower Fan, available from John Lewis. At £65, this fan comes with three speed settings, as well as an oscillation feature which helps circulate air more effectively. It also won’t disrupt your evening with any annoying buzzing that comes with air conditioning, thanks to its quiet noise level.

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The Local Answer

Specialists Specialists in in bathroom bathroom safety safety

With time you may find your bathroom becomes more difficult to use safely. It is possible to change your bath for a shower quite easily, as there are products available designed to fit the space taken up by a bath. Alternatively, you may decide you would like a wet room with a completely flat surface. Here are some photographs of a recent project where the customer replaced their old bath and shower with a tiled wet room, suitable for a wheelchair user with a young family.

Save S ave 20% 2 0% VAT* V AT*

*If you need to make changes to your bathroom due to disability or a medical condition, we are able to supply your bathroom VAT free, saving you 20%. Please ask for details.

• Change your bath for a large shower • Redesign your layout to make best use of space • Increase storage with built in units • Warm your feet and keep the floor dry with underfloor heating • Add grab rails and fold away shower seat • Tiles, wallboards, mirrors and accessories supplied • Experienced polite installers • Free design service and advice • 30+ years of experience in the bathroom industry

07496 0 0572 572 281 81 or Contact Rex on 07496 01453 884 4167 0 1453 8 84 167 for a free home visit to discuss your needs

w www.lifestylebathrooms.net ww.lifestylebathrooms.net e

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A Apprentices pprentices The phrase ‘growing your own’ is widely used in many walks of life. It isn’t simply the domain of those who run their own allotment , but applies equally to those w h o r u n t h e i r o w n b u s i n e ss . I f yo u a re a n e m p l o ye r hiring trained staff, the market has been tough for some while. This article doesn’t seek to explore why that is, although it might be an interesting enough subject of its own. No, I’m here to explore, and indeed promote, the benefits of ‘growing your own’.

SSmall mall b businesses usinesses receive receive government government backing b acking iin n tthe he fform orm o off ffunding unding I f y o u l i ve l o n g e n o u g h , l i fe c y c l e s t u r n ev e r y f ew decades and the apprenticeships that were available ‘when I was a lad’ have come back into fashion, suitably modernised, in recent years. Small businesses (those w i t h l e ss t h a n 5 0 s t a f f ) , w h o e m p l o y a yo u n g apprentice aged between 16 and 18, receive government backing in the form of full funding for their training costs of the apprentice. Employer National Insurance Contributions are waived for all apprentices under the age of 25.

The government has decided (hurrah!) that bigger businesses should help with this funding and last year introduced a levy of 0.5% on any company whose payroll bill exceeds £3 million a year. It was an ambitious plan, and one that wasn’t without its challenges, but without ambition, businesses would not flourish.

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Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.

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Your local family business

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With the difficult recruitment market – will it be even more difficult in a year’s time when the UK is divorced from the EU? – the idea of bringing in and developing your own talent could be a fantastic opportunity for small businesses. Not only does it deliver a costeffective option, it can mean you have a loyal and dedicated member of staff for several years to come.

Don’t be put off by the mechanics of finding an apprentice. You have to put him or her through appropriate training and the provider of that training will often be able to help you source candidates. Liaison with local schools and colleges can turn out to be highly valuable in giving you an early opportunity to find the best candidate.

I don’t speak from a theoretical point of view. We took on an apprentice in 2015 who has developed into a first-class member of the team. Buoyed by our success with that , we’ve done the same again this year and look forward to welcoming our latest apprentice when his exams and summer holidays are out of the way.

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Page 31

S Sport port with w ith R Roger oger JJackson acks son

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

N Naunton aunton D Downs owns iiss sspecial pecial ffor or A Alan lan SStenton tenton Alan Stenton has played golf all over Europe, in the Middle East and Australia but Naunton Downs, in the heart of the Cotswolds, is very special to him.

He has been a member for close on 14 years, is the current captain and is loving every minute of it . “Being captain is mainly ceremonial but it’s very, very nice. I have to play a lot of golf which is very good,” he laughed.

And of the course itself, he said: “It’ss a beautiful, beautiful setting. The views are spectacular and it’s a very nice club course. It’s well kept and at just under 6,200 yards it’s about the right length for me.”

These days 69 -year-old Alan plays o f f 1 0 w h i c h i s “ n o t b a d fo r a nudger” he chuckled.

At his peak – he’s been playing golf for 45 years – he played off eight so he is still somewhere near his best.

“I started playing golf at Tinsley Park in Sheffield,” said Alan, who used to work in construction at major chemical and nuclear plants.

Alan Stenton

“Then I played at Hillsborough before we moved to Scotland.”

Players north of the border consider their country to be the home of golf, of course, and Alan, who lived at Fife, certainly enjoyed playing in that part of the world.

“I used to play at Leven but St Andrews was only 20 minutes up the road,” he said. “I played there a number of times because anyone who came to visit wanted to play there.”

So how did he get on at one of the world’s iconic golf courses?

“It was hard, a big hard track ,” he admitted. “I never ever played it well. It was too big, too hard.”

Other courses that he played on north of the border included Gleneagles, Turnberry – before Donald Trump took it on – and North Berwick .

He’ss also played in Holland, Ireland, Oman – his son Matthew used to live out there – and Austria, so he has plenty of golfing experience to call on. So it would not have come as a surprise to many when last year ’s incoming captain Jeremy Hawkins asked him to be his vice-captain, which in turn meant he would be captain this year.

Alan clearly enjoys being part of Naunton Downs – “They ’re a lovely club with lovely members,” he said – and he didn’t have to think twice about joining them when he moved to Bourton-on-the-Water in 2004.

Full story online.

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One of the great things about this time of the year is that the highlight of Gloucestershire’s cricketing summer is just round the corner.

The Cheltenham Cricket Festival has been a major part of the county ’s summer for decades and more – it has been going since the 1870s – and what makes it so fascinating is that it keeps finding new ways to reinvent itself.

This is year is no different and for the first time Western Storm, the women’s team led by England captain Heather Knight , will be given a day to t h e m s e l v e s t o s h ow o f f t h e i r increasingly special talents.

They take on Surrey Stars in a 20 overs-a-side game on Thursday 26th July – the Festival runs from Monday 16th July to Friday 27th July, which will see Gloucestershire play two county c h a m p i o n s h i p g a m e s a n d t wo T 2 0 Blast fixtures.

Gloucestershire likes a good festival.

There’s the ever popular Cheltenham Literature Festival and the jazz festival which takes place in the heart of the same town. Then there’s the food and drink festivals, the beer festivals – there’s plenty of those! – and the cricket festivals.

Talk about a cricket festival and many people immediately assume you are talking about the Cheltenham Cricket Festival. But if you’re in the Cotswolds and start talking cricket festivals they are very likely to think you are referring to one that is much closer to home.

That ’s because this is the time of year that Bourton Vale Cricket Club hold their annual festival – and this year there is an extra sense of anticipation because the MCC are bringing a team to play on Thursday 5th July. The six-day festival starts on Sunday 1st July.

Gloucestershire’s one-time top rugby referee Chris White officiated all over the world back in the day.

Now 54, these days White is passing on that experience to the next generation of rugby referees through his job as the RFU’s national referee academy manager.

It ’s a job that covers many facets but one of his main tasks is to discover a n d n u r t u re t a l e n t e d re fe re e s a n d b r i n g t h e m u p to P re m i e r s h i p s t a n Chris White d a rd . A n d a l t h o u g h video technology at the top level has changed the way referees operate to a certain extent , the basic requirements remain the same. “You need to be firm, fair and decisive,” he said.

For full versions of all these stories and more, visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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TTennis ennis cclub’s lub’s m many any h highlights ighlights S p o r t s m e n a n d wo m e n h a ve h bitually ha l dyed the h ir i ha h i r ove r t h e years.

Back in the day footballers such as Gazza and David James spring to mind, while more recently England cricketer Jimmy Anderson was sporting a blonde hairdo at the start of this summer.

It’s not something that’s really caught on in the world of tennis though. Roger Federer with a blue rinse? Not going to happen!

Nor is it likely that Nadal, Djokovic or Murray have any plans in that direction either.

But all is not lost. Step forward Mark S t e p h e n s, w h o j u s t h a p p e n s t o b e captain of Cerney Lakes A tennis team a n d w h o s e d a u g h te r E s m e j u s t h a p p e n e d to b e b o r n o n W i m b l e d o n ladies’ finals day last year.

Cerney Lakes play in Division 3A of the Gloucestershire Summer Doubles League and it ’s fair to say that Stephens, who has been playing firstteam tennis pretty much since the turn of the century, is a cut above both on and off the court.

“I bleached my hair white,” laughed the 36-year-old. “I look like I should be i n a b oy b a n d . I t m u s t h a ve b e e n a mid-life crisis, I thought I’d make myself look a bit younger.”

He may or may not have succeeded in that particular aim – his wife Lauren is probably the best judge of that! – but it soon becomes clear that behind the laughs is a pretty decent tennis player who is playing the sport he loves at a thriving club.

“I started at the club when I was nine or 10, maybe a bit younger,” said S t e p h e n s , w h o g r ew u p i n S o u t h Cerney. “That was when the club first started. Sylvia Davis used to hold coaching sessions on Saturday mornings and my mum and dad used to take me there just to get me out of the house. “ I we n t w i t h a g ro u p o f m a te s b u t I’m the only one still playing.”

And not only is he still playing, he’s playing very well because he’s in his “fourth or fifth season” as captain of the men’s A team, who play their h o m e g a m e s a t U p p e r U p p l ay i n g fields in South Cerney.

The club have two hard courts which are well used all year round. And very s o o n t h e y w i l l b e u s e d e ve n m o re

Cerney Lakes A team, from left, Dave Hartland, Mark Stephens, Andy Walker and Joe Dennish

because the club are hoping to install floodlights for the start of the winter season.

That is part of a programme of i m p r ove m e n t s t h a t h a s s e e n t h e i r clubhouse renovated – they now have a kitchen and a toilet – at a total cost of £40,000, much of which they have had to find themselves.

“It’s fantastic” said Stephens. “We’re a vibrant club. We run two men’s teams and three women’s teams in the Gloucestershire Summer League and we a l s o p l ay i n t h e S t r o u d W i n t e r League on Sunday mornings as well as in an over- 60s league.

““We’re We’re q quite uite ssuccessful” uccessful” “The floodlights will mean we can play in the Gloucestershire Winter League as well because those matches are played in evenings.”

It’s fair to assume that Stephens will be putting his name down for that as well and if he does he’ll be hoping that his regular playing partner, David Hartland, does likewise.

“We’re quite successful, we do alright,” said Stephens. “He’s fantastic at the net. I don’t go to the net. I’m a baseline player, hard-hitting with p l e n t y o f s p i n . I t r y to s e t h i m u p s o that he can put the ball away, he’s awesome at that.”

And Stephens is just as upbeat about t h e t wo o t h e r p l a y e r s w h o m a k e u p the A team.

“Joe Dennish is a new lad,” he said.

“He’s only just turned 15 but he’s a fantastic player. It was his first season last year and I’m trying to give him as

many opportunities to play as possible.

“And Andy Walker has only just got back into tennis and he’s getting better and better.”

And while the men’s flagship team are going well on the court, Stephens, a p l u m b e r w h o t h e s e d a y s l i ve s i n Cirencester, is quick to praise those who have done so much to make the club so successful in recent times.

“Chairman David Tonner and his wife Wendy Murphy have been brilliant , particularly Wendy,” said Stephens.

“She’s the driving force behind the club, you really should speak to her about the club.”

And Murphy, who is the women’s captain and has been with the club for the past five or six years, is equally generous about Stephens.

“He’s very loyal to the club,” she said. “ T h e re a r e a l o t o f c l u b s w h o wo u l d love him to play for them.

“Our aim is tennis for everybody. We don’t want it to be an elite sport , it’s not all about winning championships.

We just want kids from the village to come along and hit a ball. We’re open to all standards.”

And while that is certainly so – junior m e m b e r s h i p i s f r e e – t h e re i s a l s o a competitive side as well at a club who have 60 -70 adult members and 20 -25 junior members.

“More than 50 per cent of our adults play competitive team tennis,” said Murphy, 63, with some pride. “We won two trophies in the league last season, we’re in there fighting.”

They certainly are. They ’re a good club that are clearly going places.

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

Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK

Park Home Life 6 HOMES & GARDENS 4 BATHROOMS Assured Mobility WHAT’S ON Lifestyle Bathrooms CLUBS & SPORTS Cotswold Clubhouse 15 Severn Vale Bathrooms Shipton Golf Course 16 BUILDING SERVICES Stirrups Racing 17 GlosBuild EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Marshalls Driveways Cotswolds Hare Trail 16 R. Richards & Son The Cotswolds Art Fair 17 Resindrives.co.uk PROPERTY CLEANING SERVICES Bovis Homes 10 Cotswold Carpet Cleaning Primrose Vale The Old Rectory

7 Happy Home Cleaning 24 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES Bella’s Interiors 20 22 8 Chiselworks 26 30 Dream Doors 31 Gloucester Carpet Outlet 29 GARDEN SERVICES 21 Mark Clifford Landscapes 20 20 HEATING & PLUMBING 20 20 Sarsen Energy 35 KITCHENS Cotswold Kitchens 23 24 Hatherley Worktops 23

WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows

36

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CARE SERVICES Aura Care Living 11 Building Circles 4 The Orders of St John 2 & 12 COMPUTERS & SOFTWARE Abbey Group 24 SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling 34 To advertise telephone:

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COMPETITION WINNERS The TLA Photography 2018 winner for the July 2018 cover is Stephen Clarke of Abbeydale.

COMPETITION RULES 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is

not regarded as proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party. 11 One entry per household.

BOOKING DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE – Tuesday 10th July 2018

STEVE

ATTENTION A TTENTION! Let us lighten your load!

Domestic and Industrial Skips Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB

01242 522647/529397 stevensrecycling584@gmail.com

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