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MAY 2018

200,000 DELIVERED MONTHLY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

for local people

GLOUCESTERSHIRE NORTH NEW THIS MONTH – LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT STORIES INSIDE!

The The Lo Local c al

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

May’s winning cover photo: Kerry Palmer of Lydney

W Welcome elcome ttoo M May ay ......

This month sees the introduction of another exciting feature – our brand new Entertainment section, headed up by our new Entertainment Editor Patrick Baines. We’ll be bringing you local articles, stories and reviews from across Gloucestershire, covering a broad range of topics including film, theatre, art, culture, literature, music and so much more! Read more inside and on our website – www.thelocalanswer.co.uk We’ve got two bank holidays to look forward to this month, so whether you spend those extra days off attending events around the county, having a go at our latest ‘Delicious Dish’ or challenging yourself to get some much needed housework done, we have plenty of articles to inspire you!

sport@thelocalanswer.co.uk sport@thelocalanswer.co.uk

EEntertainment ntertainment P Patrick atrick B Baines aines 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 RRoad, oad, 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 m month onth .... ..

D elicious Dish Dish Delicious P arenting & G uardianship Parenting Guardianship Wildlife M atters Wildlife Matters Holidays & TTravel ravel Holidays Education & EEmployment mployment Education Money M atters Money Matters Motoring Motoring Word SSearch earch Word What’s O n What’s On Quick Crossword Crossword Quick TLA Entertainment Entertainment TLA Homes & G ardens Homes Gardens Sudoku Sudoku In the the Garden Garden In Interior D esign Interior Design Save the the Planet Planet Save Gadgets & G izmos Gadgets Gizmos TLA Sport Sport TLA Index , CCompetitions, ompetitions, SSolutions olutions Index,

5 7 9 11 11 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 22-23 22-23 24 24 30 30 31 31 33 33 37 37 39 39 40 -41 40-41 42 42

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

EEasy asy m midweek idweek ccreamy reamy p pasta asta b bake ake A simple simple recipe recipe tto om make ake llight ight work work of of your your midweek midweek m meals. eals. P Polish olish tthe he w whole hole llot ot off off as as a family, family, or or take take tthe he lleftovers eftovers to to work work for for lunch lunch the the next next d day! ay!

IIngredients ngredients ((serves serves 4 4): ): 300g dried pasta (I used fusilli); 2 large leeks, sliced very finely; 1 medium/large courgette, grated; 1-3 tbsp of pesto according to your taste; 2 tbsp low fat soft cheese; 2-3 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs or grated cheese if you prefer; 25g butter; 25g plain flour; 250ml milk; 1tsp oil; 3 large skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes.

M ethod: Method: 1 Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for a few minutes, stirring all the time. Using a whisk , gradually stir in the milk to make a smooth sauce. Turn the heat down low and continue to cook for about five minutes whilst still stirring.

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2 Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the chicken in batches for about 10 minutes.

3 Add the chicken and juices to the white sauce, stir and cook for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.

4 Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.

5 Put the leeks in a pan with a little water, cover and cook until they have gone very soft. Drain then add the courgette, pesto, soft cheese and chicken to the white sauce, stir well then heat until bubbling.

6 S t i r t h e p a s t a i n to t h e m i x t u re a n d t i p i n to a l a rg e oven proof dish. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs or cheese and pop under the grill until it browns.

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

IInspiring nspiring w words ords tto o llive ive b byy We live in a world where pressures are extreme and all prevailing, and our children are feeling this more now than ever. With this in mind, this month I wanted to collate some inspiring words to remind you – and y o u r i n c re d i b l e c h i l d r e n – t h a t t h e i r purpose, their reason, the very point in their being alive, is to be wholly a n d u n e q u i vo c a l l y t h e m s e l ve s .

Whether they struggle with maths or if they cannot draw like their best friend, they are certain to have a n ot h e r u n i q u e g i f t h i d d e n w i t h i n them.

Their whole life is an exploration of a l l t h a t i s o n o f fe r s o t h a t t h ey m a y one day discover, within them, their very own Golden Egg, and your job as a g u a r d i a n i s to o f fe r t h e m s u p p o r t whilst they explore.

““The The pperson erson w who ho ffollows ollows tthe he crowd crowd will will usually usually go go no no further further than than the the crowd. crowd. The The person person who who walks w alks aalone lone iiss llikely ikely ttoo ffind in d himself noo oone has h imself iin n pplaces laces n as eever ver ne h Albert EEinstein instein sseen een bbefore.” efore.” Albert

resilience is the greatest gift you can offer. It is often the fear of being left o u t w h i c h p re s s u r e s t h e c h i l d t o conform, not only to the adult world around it but also to peer pressure and unwanted behaviours. An unconditionally loving home can offer a place of solace when the big wide world gets too much.

to m a k e t h e i r ow n wo r l d , s o g o camping; to solve their own problems, so teach them collaboration; and to create their own future, so feed their dreams.

Edward Edward Young Young

““The The tthings hings tthat hat m make ake m mee

““II am am different, different, not not less.” less.”

Temple Temple Grandin Grandin

If your child is wired differently, celebrate their uniqueness. If their ““We We must must n never ever be be afraid afraid to to be be a body works in an unusual way, love ssign ign ooff ccontradiction ontradiction ffor or tthe he the difference and give it a name, and world.” Mother Mother TTeresa eresa world.” if they just cannot see the world the In times gone by we praised way you do, why not try seeing it the conformity and wanted only to raise way they do? obedient little worker bees to build an ““Be Be yourself; yourself; eeveryone veryyone else else is is empire and fuel economic growth; already taken.”

Oscar Wilde l d e a l r e a d y t a k e n . ” O s c a r W i today we are facing problems on a worldwide scale, such as pollution, W h i l e w e a r e a t i t , y o u a re p re t t y deforestation, global warming, and awesome too you know? And it is the end of fossil fuels. Today we are never too late to discover your raising problem solvers and engineers, diamond and learn how to shine. So creatives and healers to take us write your poems and sing your songs, forward into a new world, one it is dance to your own rhythm and share hard for us to imagine yet will be their your passion as only you know how, living reality. a n d n ev e r f o r g e t t h e w o rd s o f t h e wisest bear ever to grace a story book : ““We We are are aalllll bborn orn ooriginals.” riginals.”

different ifferent are make are the the things things that that make Loneliness is so painful to a child, so Our children need the opportunity to d me.” m e.” W Winnie innie TThe he PPooh ooh supporting them in developing grow their own food, so plant seeds; The Local Answer

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Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters with with Caroline Caroline Shelley Shelley

Release Release tthe he w wild ild cchild hild Children nowadays are spending an increasing amount of time indoors and as a result are becoming detached from the wonder of the outside world.

For various reasons it has become harder for children to spend as much time outside as they once did. It is i m p o r t a n t fo r b o t h c h i l d re n a n d fo r wildlife that the two engage as, with w i l d l i fe a n d t h e e n v i ro n m e n t i n a precarious position, we need a future generation that values and enjoys the natural world.

With the approach of summer, there i s n ev e r a b e t te r t i m e t o g e t o u t s i d e with the children and here are some simple ideas of activities that the whole family can enjoy.

1 1.. G Go o for for a w walk al k A walk is something the whole family can do together. It may sound an obvious choice and it may not appeal to the children initially, but by incorporating a little extra into the walk it can become a fun activity. Take a p i c n i c a n d p l e n t y o f s n a c ks – t h e s e always prove motivational! Don’t aim too high, and choose a route to match the age and abilities of the children.

Do some research and look for a ro u te w i t h t h i n g s t h a t c a p t u re t h e i r interests along the way such as a river or a playground. Take some ‘treasure’ (coins or chocolate coins) and hide these along the way for them to find.

Alternatively, try geocaching w h i c h i n v o l ve s f i n d i n g h i d d e n ‘ c a c h e s ’ t h a t a re concealed all over the UK .

Visit www.geocaching.co.uk to find out more.

2 2.. D Do o a sscavenger cavenger h hunt unt This can be done in the garden, your local area or further afield. List ten or so natural items and send the c h i l d re n o f f to f i n d t h e m .

Items such as a daisy, a stick or an empty snail shell – you can make it as hard or as easy as you like. You could also give them larger things to locate, such as an oak tree or a particular bird, and they could take a picture on a phone or camera. As well as having f u n , t h i s a l s o g i ve s t h e m t h e opportunity to learn to identify some of our native wildlife.

3 3.. CComplete omplete a b bug ug h hunt unt This is another free and easy activity..

Go out in the garden or have a stroll around an area and see which minibeasts are lurking. If you have a m a g n i f y i n g g l a ss a n d a b o o k fo r identification that can help, but it is not essential. The main thing is to fire their interest . Remember to treat anything y o u f i n d w i t h c a re a n d re t u r n i t to where it was found.

4.

4. Try Try pond pond dipping dipping Many places offer pond d i p p i n g s e ss i o n s fo r c h i l d re n during the summer. This is such a fun activity and always guara n te e s i n te re s t i n g f i n d s that are bound to capture t h e i r i m a g i n at i o n s. U s ef u l o rg a n i s a t i o n s fo r t h i s activity include the Wildlife Trust , WWT and the National Trust , amongst others.

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5.

5. Take Take on on a challenge challenge In June the Wildlife Trust run ’30 Days Wild’ – a scheme that encourages c h i l d re n to d o s o m e t h i n g w i l d ev e r y day of June. They provide loads of great ideas and you can send off for a pack to h e l p y o u w i t h t h e c h a l l e n g e. V i s i t wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild.

6.

6. Encourage Encourage them them to to care care Following Blue Planet II, we are only too aware of the impact of plastic on our wildlife. If you visit the beach this s u m m e r t a k e p a r t i n a t w o m i n u te beach clean. This is a great way to show the consequences of our actions on the natural environment plus it really shows how everyone has the opportunity to make a positive impact.

It’s also good fun, especially if you add an element of competition as to who can collect the most! The site www.beachclean.net has loads of useful information.

There are just a few ideas that might pique your children’s interest in their natural environment whilst providing some family fun as well. It is so important that children get outside and get the chance to explore all that the natural world has to offer. You have to know and care about something if you are going to look after it. We have so much great wildlife and wild places to visit in the UK , so grab the wellingtons, get outside and enjoy it together!

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Holidays H olidays & T Travel ravel w with ith A Al lH Hidden idden

It’s It’s h hard ard tto o ffault ault B Basel asel T h i s m o n t h we s t a y i n G e r m a n speaking Europe, in Basel, where I recently visited the Baselworld Watch Fair again. Aside from re m i n d i n g m e h ow B a s e l wo r l d t o t a l l y d o m i n a t e s B a s e l i n M a rc h , I was again struck by the appeal of this border city.

Part of Basel’s appeal is the cosmopolitan multiculturalism from being at the Dreiländereck (tripoint) where France, Germany and Switzerland meet . Language, food and culture reflect this. Yet Switzerland’s French and Germanspeaking heartlands, Germany ’s Black Forest or the French Vosges, are easy to reach if you fancy a change from city life.

There’s plenty of accommodation, with the proviso that prices and availability suffer when big trade fairs are on, so do your homework .

From Hotel Schweizerhof Basel, to the excellent youth hostel or boutique Hotel Stuecki, there’s a great choice.

The The p pastries astries SSwitzerland witzerland d does oes sso ow well el l Unsurprisingly, like a microcosm of Switzerland itself, Basel offers diverse culinary choice, ranging from cheap and cheerful to stunning – but wallet busting – ultra-Haute cuisine. Confiserie Bachmann or Holzofenbackerei Bio Andreas exemplify great sources of snacks and the pastries Switzerland does so well. Then you’ve a great s e l e c t i o n o f Fre n c h , I t a l i a n , traditional Swiss and Asian dining – and much more, all the way up to the likes of Michelin 3-star Cheval Blanc near the impressive ancient ( 1 2 2 6 ) M i t t l e r e B r ü c k e o ve r t h e Rhine.

To fully appreciate filling Basler Mehlsuppe, classic Fondue or i n s p i re d i n te r n a t i o n a l cu i s i n e demands some serious exploring first. Central Basel is a joy on foot – or using the city’s ubiquitous trams –

as Mrs H. discovered while I was at Baselworld last year.

It’s It’s easy easy tto o explore explore B Basel’s asel’s heart heart o on n ffoot oot From the main railway station, the Rhine is close and walkways (Rheinufer) make it easy to follow the river through the city ’s heart .

Cross by bridge, or the decidedly oriental-looking river-current-powered ferries. There’s delightful architecture in almost every view, ranging from the angular Roche Tower and chesspiece-like Bank of International Settlements building, to the Altstadt buildings, medieval St . Johans-Tor and the Romanesque Basel Munster.

Alternatively, Basel’s Paper Mill Museum is great for passing hours with fascinating history and handson activities. Or visit the world class F i n e A r t s M u s e u m ( Ku n s t m u s e u m ) on St. Alban-Graben – just one of 40 museums in town.

A truly truly engaging engaging destination destination Basel multitasks with faultless Swiss efficiency as a commercial hub, cultural centre and surprisingly engaging l e i s u re d est i n at i o n .

W h e t h e r yo u v i s i t fo r a d a y o r a week , you’ll struggle to fault Basel.

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SSwallow wallow LLakes akes P PARK ARK

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A beautiful new development d evelopment llocated ocated b etween between G loucester aand nd Gloucester Ross-on-Wye. Ross-on-Wye.

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£119,995 50/50 PAYMENT PLAN Swallow Lakes is set amongst outstanding Gloucestershire oucestershire ccountryside, ountryside, aand nd iiss ffamily amily owned, which means wned, w hich m eans nno middlemen – youu always always sspeak peak ddirectly ire to tthe he ppark ark owners. owners.

LODGES A LODGES ALSO LSO A AVAILABLE VAILABLE TO TO RENT RENT – A Ask sk ffor or d details etails

V VIEWINGS IEWINGS N NOW OW A AVAILABLE! VAILABLE!

9am-5pm 9am-5pm W Wednesdays ednesdays & SSaturdays aturdays C Contact ontact Sean Sean tto ob book ook yyour our vvisit isit s s.gorman .gorman@b btinternet.com tinternet.com

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Norton Nor rton Park Tewkesbury T ewkesbury R Road oad Gloucestershire Gloucestershire GL2 GL2 9 9LH LH www.nortonparkhomes.com www.nortonparkhomes.com

E Education ducation & Employment Employment w with ith G Gemma emma D Drew rew

Bullying B ullying aatt sschool chool According to dosomething.org, over 3 . 2 m i l l i o n s t u d e n t s a re v i c t i m s o f bullying each year. For the many y o u n g p e o p l e w h o s u f f e r f ro m bullying, school can become an unpleasant and scary place. You should feel safe at school though; it’s a place where you can learn and spend time with your friends. If you are being bullied, you don’t have to suffer in silence. It’s really important to remember that there are ways of coping and stopping the bullying altogether.

SSpeak peak u up pa about bout w what’s hat’s h happening appening Bullying can take on many forms, i n c l u d i n g n a m e - c a l l i n g , p hy s i c a l bul lying and cyber bul lying , among many others. It ’s so important to speak up about what ’s happening, o t h e r w i s e n o t h i n g c a n b e d o n e to solve the problem. There will always be someone for you to talk to. You could confide in your parents, friends, an older sibling or your teachers, for example. You are not alone.

If you find talking to someone you

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know tough, you could call a helpline such as Child line (0800 1111).

Talking to people you trust for advice and support can work wonders. The s a y i n g “ a p ro b l e m s h a re d i s a problem halved” is often very true as once you’ve shared your problem, you are well on your way to making things better.

It ’s also important to remember that you don’t deserve to be bullied; bullying is never okay, and no-one has the right to do it. So many young people believe the things a bully tells t h e m a b o u t t h e m s e l ve s a re t r u e.

They aren’t . It is essential that you don’t lose your sense of self-worth and happiness. Make sure to spend lots of time with people who make y o u fe e l g o o d a n d fo c u s o n t h e things that make you happy.

Remember the things you love about yourself and try and stay positive through this difficult time. Don’t let the bullying take over your life.

It’s a good idea to try and stand up for yourself; no-one has the right to m a k e yo u f e e l s m a l l , s o b e i n g assertive is very important. The more you practise being assertive – that means saying how you feel without being rude or aggressive – the more confident you will get . Blocking the

bully on social media, not responding to messages they send and avoiding them in school may also help. Bullies like to get a reaction from the people they are taunting. If you aren’t aggressive towards them and just ignore them, they aren’t getting a reaction, so they may stop what they are doing over time.

TTell-tale ell-tale ssigns igns o off b bullying ullying tto o look look out out for for If you’re a parent and you’re worried that your child may be being bullied, there are some tell-tale signs to look out for. These include physical marks you can’t account for like bruises, a sudden fear of going to s c h o o l , a n d c h a n g e s i n b e h av i o u r such as aggression or withdrawal.

See www.bullying.co.uk/advice-forparents/how-to-spot-the-signs-ofbullying/ for more information.

If your child is being bullied, it’s so important to listen to what they have to s ay a n d s u p p o r t t h e m , w h i l s t reassuring them that it ’s not their fault. Bullying is a growing problem, es p e c i a l l y w i t h t h e r i s e of s o c i a l media. It needs to be stamped out, a n d w e c a n a l l h e l p to m a k e a difference. If you want to make a change, visit www.bullying.co.uk

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

G GDPR: DPR: aare re yyou ou rready? eady?

The latest in a long line of legislation introduced courtesy of the UK’s fading love affair with the European Union hits the statute books this month. The Data Protection Act has been in force since 1998, the same year that Andorran opened its doors, Google was launched and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal won the league and cup double. A good year then!

Andorran and Arsene are still going strong and Google is part of our daily lives, but the rulemakers have decided that the Data Protection Act is no longer fit for purpose. It is to be replaced by the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR for short.

IIntended ntended tto op protect rotect o our ur p personal ersonal d data ata It is intended, of course, to protect our personal data and we all hope that it helps to eliminate some of the m a j o r d a t a l o s s e s s u f fe r e d i n t h e w e l l - d o c u m e n te d cases involving some very public names, most recently, of course, Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.

I fear, however, that it is the proverbial sledgehammer and nut scenario. The effect of compliance on small businesses will be horrendous and well out of proportion with the benefits it will bring.

No small business is immune from the possibility of data loss, but it’s hard to imagine how it could ever be on the same scale as those widely-publicised events.

We will all update our systems to comply, as best we can, with GDPR. Actually it’s been quite an interesting exercise to review our policies and procedures for storage of information, both online and on paper, for, don’t be fooled, GDPR applies equally to hard copy as to electronic data.

G Gloucestershire’s loucestershire’s VW VW AUDI AUDI Group Group Specialist Specialist SServicing ervicing FFrom rom £ £95.00 95.00 M MOT OT £ £39.95 39.95 C Cambelts ambelts FFrom rom £ £249.00 249.00 A Air ir C Conditioning onditioning rregas egas £ £45.00 45.00 FFree ree Courtesy Courtesy Cars Cars – Collection Collection & Delivery Delivery

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01684 01684 2 214444 14444 Sales: Sales: Mon-Fri: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm 9am-6pm Sat: Sat: 9am-4pm 9am-4pm SSun: un: Appointment Appointment only only

Service: Service: Mon-Fri: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-5.30pm 8.30am-5.30pm Sat: Sat: 8.30am-12.30pm 8.30am-12.30pm SSun: un: C CLOSED LOSED

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A cculture ulture cchange hange ffor or p professional rofessional firms firms The perceived wisdom is to hold data for no longer than you are obliged to, which is a culture change for many professional firms, including mine, who see data retention as part of the ability to deliver client service.

Just a fortnight ago, a client asked for his tax returns going back to 2001, which I was able to provide, because historically we have kept everything. He was delighted to find I could help him; it was a good job he didn’t wait until next month to ask , when I might well have destroyed it if I follow this perceived wisdom.

If you’re running a business don’t ignore GDPR. You will need to adapt some of your business practices and update others, otherwise you risk an enquiry from the Information Commissioner ’s Office and some potentially hefty fines.

You have been warned!

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Motoring Motoring with w ith Luke Luke Edwards Edwa wards

Shaken Shaken not not sstirred tirred Bond. It’s an iconic surname. For me personally it means so much more and many people will empathise with my thoughts. It ’s the surname of someone who I have grown up with, a character that I have experienced both through the spectacular writing of Ian Fleming (do read all the books) and through the films I have watched with my family and many special friends over the years.

N Not ot jjust ust a h hunk unk o off m metal etal a and nd rrubber ubber The Bond series introduced me from a very young age to how ethereal a car can be. It can morph from beyond a pure hunk of metal and rubber, into a symbol, a dream, a vision. The Bentley Amherst Villiers in the books, the Aston Martins and the Lotus Esprits became, for me, cars that transcended purely a motoring vehicle. For car people these early experiences brand themselves into their lives and act as motivation to one day be able to own t h e b a d g e o r c a r t h a t t h e i r h e ro e s drive. For me the ownership of an A s to n M a r t i n i s w h a t k e e p s m e motivated to work every day!

I go to the cinema in Cheltenham to watch the Bond films when they are released; it ’s one of those little personal institutions of mine. I love to

see the youngsters with their parents a n d k n ow t h e m a g i c t h a t w i l l b e created for them will be very special in t h e i r l i ve s . M e m o r i e s c a n b e s u c h strong things.

I was in Cirencester one afternoon with a close friend partaking in lunch at a hotel. The restaurant was quiet , just us two and a small party of three friends at the back . However, on that table of three was a certain Sir Roger Moore. I didn’t realise until he walked p a s t o u r t a b l e. I s a i d to m y f r i e n d , “that’s Sir Roger Moore” and the lady from their group, a few seconds behind him, smiled and said to me “yes it is”.

My friend and I carried on with our l u n c h e o n a n d s o o n t h e M o o re p a r t y were leaving. As Sir Roger stood nearby, he looked over to us several times as if he wanted us to say ‘hi’.

I guess he had been tipped off by the lady that I recognised him. I thought to myself, I am going to wave you over next time you look and ask you about all the cars you have driven over the years, but then I stopped myself. He looked frail and my instincts told me that something was maybe not as it seemed.

A ffleeting leeting cconnection onnection off rrespect o espect He looked over again and then I just gave him a smile and a clear nod of acknowledgement. He warmly smiled to me and nodded back too.

Somehow that fleeting connection of respect felt just enough for that day – no more, no less. A few months later the sad news came through that he had passed on due to cancer and I thought back to that day. Some people would have wanted photos with him, an autograph, etc. and knowing the gentleman he was he would have o b l i g e d o n t h a t a f te r n o o n . B u t s o m et i m es w h at i s u n s a i d a n d a s h a r e d a c k n ow l e d g e m e n t i n t i m e makes for the strongest memories.

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WORD WORD SEARCH SEARCH R Y O P U Y F F V O S R F G L E H H N O P S E L

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The Local Answer

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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TTHROUGHOUT HROUGHOUT APRIL/MAY APRIL/MAY ROYAL SOCIETY OF PAINTERPRINTMAKERS (RE) 200th anniversary exhibition of selected member prints, sets of which are held at the British Museum, The Queens collection and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Strictly limited quantity for sale. Simultaneously at Chapel Arts and Bankside Gallery, London. 25th April – 12th May. Coffee Shop available.

Wed-Sat 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 1 MAY MAY FLORA GUIDED WALKS Discover the wild flowers of Westonbirt Arboretum on this guided walk. You’ll explore the vast array of beautiful wildflowers that grow on the Westonbirt Downs and woodland. Free after admission.

Some off-path walking. 10:30am. Full details at www.westonbirtarboretum.com Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt, Tetbury GL8 8QS. 0300 067 4890.

11-5 -5 MAY MAY THE FLYING LOVERS OF VITEBSK Partners in life and on canvas, Marc and Bella are immortalised as the picture of romance. But whilst on canvas they flew, in life they walked through some of the most devastating times in history. For details visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573.

1 MAY MAY – END END O OFF JJUNE UNE SELECT FESTIVAL 2018 – MIXED SCULPTURE EXHIBITION Eight artists will be displaying their work in the herbaceous borders and in The Garden Café. The sculpture has been

designed to complement the nursery’s range of plants and unique setting. All works will be for sale. Free admission.

Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays.

Miserden Nursery, Stroud GL6 7JA . 01285 821638. www.miserdennursery.co.uk 2 MAY MAY RSC LIVE: MACBETH Returning home from battle, the victorious Macbeth meets three witches on the heath. Driven by their disturbing prophecies, he sets out on the path to murder. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 3 MAY MAY FROM THE JAM – THE PUBLIC GETS WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS ‘From The Jam’ is comprised of legendary former ‘The Jam’ bassist Bruce Foxton, vocalist and guitarist Russell Hastings, drummer Mike Randon, and Andy Fairclough on Hammond and piano. Over the past 11 years they have toured relentlessly, gaining a reputation for the kind of incendiary live performances that sealed the reputation of ‘The Jam’ all those years ago. For details please visit venues.gloucester.gov.uk/Freetime/Guildhall Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. 01452 503050.

4 MAY MAY FAITH: THE GEORGE MICHAEL LEGACY Wayne Dilks portrays the late superstar George Michael in this outstanding tribute show. A celebration of 35 years of hit records that will take you on a journey

from George’s early years with Wham through to his successful solo career, with hits such as ‘Club Tropicana’, ‘I’m Your Man’, and Careless Whisper’. 7.30pm. £25.50.

The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org THE RAGDOLLS

A musical journey through the sounds of one of the most successful bands of all time, performing classic 50s songs including ‘Still of the Night’, ‘Teenager in Love’ and ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’.

With slick choreography and recognisable falsetto you will definitely be ‘hanging on’ to your seats and ‘beggin’ for more.

7.30pm. £17.50 (£15.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 4-6 4- 6 MAY MAY ORIGINAL MOUNTAIN MARATHON RUNNING FESTIVAL The OMM Festival is coming to the Forest of Dean. 2,000 people from across the country will gather for an epic weekend with friends or family. Trail running, Mountain Biking and Orienteering. FREE camping for friends or family of OMM competitors. Huge 50m marquee with catering and bar. For full details please visit www.theomm.com/omm-festival

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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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ACROSS ACROSS DOWN DOWN 1 Integral 1 Airless space 7 Unstable 2 Parent’s sister 8 Shrewd 3 Deliberately ignore 10 Jingling percussion 4 Black ale instrument 5 Policy statement 12 Meat-soaking 6 Me mixture 9 Spun threads 14 Coral shipping hazard 16 Metropolis 11 Prolongs 17 Spellbinding 13 Arid 20 Sailor’s skill 15 Escargot 23 Lolled 16 Las Vegas 24 Perceiving establishment 25 Variety of animal 18 Scolded 19 Knight’s spear 21 Transmitted 22 Set of two

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5 MAY MAKERS FAMILY FAIR An exciting range of family based local makers and small businesses. Discover a selection of clothing, art work, furniture, delicious treats and so much more! A great opportunity to get to know some locally based small businesses! 10.30am.

Free entry. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk POLISH HERITAGE DAY The 2nd year of the biggest Polish festival in Gloucestershire. The event, organised by Polish Association Gloucestershire, takes place in Kings Square in Gloucester. An important occasion for the local community to celebrate Polish culture and traditions.

More details at www.thecityofgloucester.co.uk Kings Square, Gloucester, GL1 1RP. 5-6 MAY ROSS BEERFEST Beers, cider, Prosecco, food, live music, camping and free parking. £5 entry. Open from noon. For more information and tickets please visit www.rossbeerfest.org.

Ross Rowing Club, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 5NX. 5-7 MAY CHRISTCHURCH ABBEYDALE FLOWER FESTIVAL Stunning floral displays celebrating life and activities at Christchurch Abbeydale, Heron

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Way, Gloucester, GL4 5EQ. Light lunches and refreshments available. Saturday 5th: 10.30am-4.30pm. Sunday 6th: 12.30pm4.30pm. Monday 7th: 10.30am-4.30pm.

Free entry.

OLYMPIGS From hobby horse races to hay bale hurdles, from wheelbarrow racing to welly wanging, this family fun sports day is guaranteed to bring out your competitive side and find your inner Mo Farrah. Join in the fun from 1.30pm on the event field and see if you can be an OlymPigs Champion! Cotswold Farm Park, Kineton, Guiting Power, Cheltenham GL54 5UG. 01451 850307. cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk 5-12 MAY TITANIC – THE MUSICAL An amateur production brought to you by COS Productions. Come aboard the ship of dreams in this heart-stopping and riveting ride through the final moments of Titanic’s fateful journey. Plunge into an unforgettable performance of glamour, chaos and heroism. For times and prices visit barntheatre.org.uk. The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. 6 MAY OPEN MIC NIGHT Join us in the Bar for our monthly Open Mic session 4-6pm (sign up from 3.30).

The best of Gloucestershire’s up and

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coming talent. 4pm. Free entry. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org 6-7 MAY KNIGHTS ON HORSEBACK & JOUSTING Knights and their impressive steeds will battle it out in the grounds of the Castle.

Don’t miss their jousting tournaments and saddle stunt displays. Meet the gallant Knights and their wonderful horses – a great photo opportunity! Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 7 MAY VICTORIAN MAY DAY Celebrate May Day in traditional style with classic games, activities and entertainment.

Old favourites Punch and Judy will be here causing mayhem and you can try your hand at the Wheel of Fortune and Balloon Burst games to win some prizes! 10am.

Included in admission. Sudeley Castle and Gardens, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 01242 604244. www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 8-12 MAY LETTICE AND LOVAGE St. John’s Players present the well-known comedy Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer. Box Office: 01452 713952. Online from www.eventbrite.co.uk. £8. £7 conc.

St. John’s Hall, St. John’s Avenue, Churchdown, GL3 2DB. Car park and bar.

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88-20 -20 MAY MAY CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL OF PERFORMING ARTS The Festival returns with an enjoyable two weeks of performances by children and adults from Gloucestershire and all over the UK. Each day is different and includes dance, music, and drama. For full details of each day’s activities, see performing arts website cfpa.org.uk. 9am. £3.

Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 1100 MAY MAY BATSFORD FOREST SCHOOL FOR TOTS!

an adult. Wellies and waterproof clothing/ old clothes are essential. Suitable for little ones who are walking, up to the age of 4. £3 per child. 10 -11am. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. batsarb.co.uk 11 11 MAY MAY LONDON CCA ALLING AND SPECIAL GUESTS Celebrating the 40 year anniversary of the release of the Give ‘Em Enough Rope album, London Calling will play the whole of the album along with a best of The Clash set. With special guest support from Borrowed Time, and reggae/punk tunes.

8pm. £13.50 (£16 on the door). Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 112-13 2-13 MAY MAY COTSWOLD BRICKS AND TRAINS WEEKEND Another LEGO® event is coming to the GWSR. Be enthralled by the expertise of Southern Lego Train Club’ss members, who will be providing the displays. There will be demonstrations and a chance for our smaller visitors to have a go at building their own brick structures. For times and prices please visit www.gwsr.com. The Railway Station, Toddington GL54 5DT. 13 13 MAY MAY THE BIG BAD WOLF KIDS CONCERT Little Red Riding Hood will make your children howl with laughter – at the Big

A chance for pre-schoolers to engage with nature and explore our newly established Forest School site! Children can enjoy bug hunting, creating mud pies in our mud kitchen, craft activities, storytime and more! Sessions led by our Forest School Leader. Children must be accompanied by

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Bad Wolf! Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra join forces with young singers and narrator Lydia Kenny. Musical director Glyn Oxley will invite youngsters to try their hand at conducting and to join orchestral players on stage to get a closeup experience of classical instruments.

3pm. £11.50. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 15 15 MAY MAY VICTORIA AND ABDUL Abdul Karim arrives from India for Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favour with the queen herself. As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. 7.45pm. £8 (£7). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 115-19 5-19 MAY MAY MY FAIR LADY This beautiful production will transport you to the flower markets of London, the racecourses of Ascot and to the glittering heights of an Embassy Ball where everything is ‘Absolutely Bloomin’ Loverly’.

Full details at www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573.

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1166 MAY MAY ‘AN AMERICAN IN PARIS’ THE MUSICAL

An American GI’s chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer leads Paris to become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war. Featuring the gorgeous music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin, stunning designs, and showstopping choreography. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 116-17 6-17 MAY MAY THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE BUSINESS SHOW This show celebrates, discusses and showcases business in Gloucestershire of all size and industry. It provides a platform through which businesses can form new collaborations, gain information, meet other businesses, speak to professional advisors and engage in action for business.

Free entry. Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, Prestbury, GL50 4SH. 01242 513014. cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk 1177 MAY MAY JURASSIC GEOLOGY: FANTASTIC FOSSILS With fossils from the collections, come on a journey to discover what Gloucestershire would have been like millions of years ago when it was all under the sea. Price includes a glass of wine or soft drink and nibbles. 6pm. £12. The Wilson, Clarence Street, Cheltenham GL50 3JT. 01242 237431.

MAGIC: A KIND OF QUEEN Magic perform all of Queen’s greatest hits, plus some you may not have heard for a while. They perform completely live, with five vocals to back up the powerful lead vocal of the dynamic Taylor Payne. This, along with two guitars, bass, drums and the brilliant piano and keyboard skills of Dave Chapman, produces a sound that is second to none. 7.30pm. £18-25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org 1188 MAY MAY MASTERWORKS CONCERT 63 For fifteen years, pianist James Lisney’s Masterworks has proved to be a highlight of Cheltenham’s classical programme. His virtuosity and integrity are internationally recognised. 7.30pm. £15. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham

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GL52 3JE. 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk THE BAND OF THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE CONSTABULARYY CHARITY CONCERT A special charity concert in aid of National Star. Come along to The Salvation Army in Cheltenham (GL53 7HG) to enjoy fantastic music with special guests Charlton Kings Junior School Choir. Tickets are available for £5 from fundraising@nationalstar.org.

01242 527631. www.nationalstar.org 18 18 MAY MAY THE UPBEAT BEATLES Powerhouse vocals, precision harmonies and tight musicianship. The show takes you through the Fab Four’ss long and winding road from the early Cavern days through Beatlemania, America, Sergeant Pepper to Abbey Road. If you love the Beatles you’ll love this show, and if you don’t love the Beatles you’ll love this show! 7.30pm. £19 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 18-20 18-20 MAY MAY WINCHCOMBE WALKING FESTIVAL The Winchcombe Walking Festival offers walkers of all abilities the opportunity to join a walk in the Cotswolds with knowledgeable guides offering snippets of local information. Walks range from 1.5 to 13 miles. If you like a challenge there is the 21-mile Winchcombe Way Challenge.

The festival is popular, we recommend you book early. For further information visit: www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com/ festival-2 18 18 MAY MAY – 17 17 JUNE JUNE ONE MINUTE One Minute follows several connected characters through their struggles with Daisy Schults’s disappearance: the two policemen investigating the disappearance; Daisy’ss mother Anne; and Marie Louise, a woman who glimpsed Daisy after she had been separated from her mother. Full details at barntheatre.org.uk. The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. 19 19 MAY MAY ANIMALPHABET THE MUSICAL

High-energy actors, colourful puppets, amazing characters and fantastic songs combine to create AnimAlphabet The Musical. Join Colin the Country Cockatoo, Hip-Hop Donkey and Geoff the Geordie

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Jazz Giraffe on a fantastic family musical adventure. Songs written by Al and Sam of platinum pop band The Hoosiers.

2.30pm. £10 (£8). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 119-20 9 -20 MAY MAY SOUTHROP VILLAGE GARDENS Southrop Manor and other village gardens will be OPEN in May! Entrance £5 for one day or £7 for both. Plant stall, Teas in the Village Hall. Proceeds for Hall refurbishment. Open from 1pm until 5pm.

Southrop, Lechlade, GL7 3PD. SPRING STEAM AND REAL ALE WEEKEND The 10th Spring Ale and Steam weekend.

Over the last decade the events have grown ever more popular with an increased range of beer on offer! In conjunction with the North Cotswold Branch of CAMRA up to 36 beers will be available from Winchcombe and Toddington stations, with a frequent train service between the two bars. For full details please visit www.gwsr.com.

20 20 MAY MAY MAY MARKET A fun family event featuring the finest food and drink in the Forest of Dean. Lots of stalls with delicious local produce. Plus live music, activities and demonstrations.

Free entry and parking. 11am-5pm. Taurus Crafts, Lydney Park Estate, Lydney GL15 6BU. www.cvt.org.uk 25 25 MAY MAY ONE NIGHT OF ELVIS Lee Memphis King recreates the essence of the King with consummate ease and an almost unbelievable combination of stunningly accurate vocals and incredible passion in every performance. For details visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573.

26 26 MAY MAY JOHN FINNEMORE’S FLYING VISIT John Finnemore, writer and star of BBC Radio shows, brings his brand new live show to the stage! With the help of special guests from Souvenir Programme, John will be performing brand new sketches, some old favourites and, quite possibly, a song. 7.30pm. £27. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 26 26 MAY MAY – 3 JJUNE UNE THE WILDLIFE ART SOCIETY EXHIBITION An opportunity to see and purchase beautiful works of art and to meet artists who are dedicated to promoting conservation of all species. 10am-5pm.

Entry is FREE, with good parking, set in the beautiful grounds of Nature in Art Gallery and Museum, Main A38 Twigworth, Gloucester GL2 9PA . SatNav Postcode: GL2 9PG.

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26 26 MAY MAY – 3 JJUNE UNE ROMAN MAY HOLIDAY Enjoy seasonal craft activities. Make a mosaic, badge or paper-craft. Raid the dressing up baskets and fashion yourself as a Roman. Suitable for all ages. Some craft activities include an additional charge to cover the cost of materials. 10.30am.

Free event (normal admission applies).

Chedworth Roman Villa, Cheltenham GL54 3LJ. 01242 890256.

MINI BEAST WEEK There are mini beasts all around... inside the manor and out in the garden! Find out more about the mini beasts at Snowshill from items in our natural history collection to bugs and beasties in the garden. Free (normal admission applies). 11am.

Snowshill Manor and Garden, Snowshill, near Broadway, WR12 7JU. 01386 852410.

SPRING TO LIFE It’s spring – the leaves are unfolding, birds out on our reserve are singing, butterflies are starting to be seen and new life is appearing across our wetlands. Join us for a whole week of spring fun with lots to learn and plenty to keep you entertained.

9.30am-5.30pm. Included with admission.

WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. 01453 891900. www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/slimbridge 227-30 7-30 MAY MAY KNIGHT’S SCHOOL Grab your swords and head to Berkeley Castle for Knight School with our skilled knights in shining armour. Two separate sessions each day for ages 5-9 years and 10 years to adults. Make sure you stick around for the dramatic and action packed Warrior Show at 3.30pm each day too! £7.50. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 28 28 MAY MAY KEEPY UPPY An extraordinary tale of love, devotion and family, set in the world of all things football and undeniable team spirit. Join tutti frutti as they celebrate the joy of the beautiful game and ignite children’s

imagination with visual and physical storytelling. Ages 3+. 11am or 2pm. £9 (conc £6, family of 4 £25). Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 1 JUNE JUNE ELECTRIC BICCYYCLE POLO AND GYMKHANA Longdole Polo Club, GL4 8LH. 7pm. £5 per car. Bar, BBQ and lots of fun! All proceeds go to Watershed RDA .

WORDS FROM THE WILD WOODS If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise... Bring a picnic and join storyteller Michael Loader at Batsford Arboretum for traditional tales and spontaneous stories inspired by the animals and the trees, the woods and the forests, the flora and fauna of the land!

Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. www.batsarb.co.uk 22-3 -3 JUNE JUNE BRITISH WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS We are delighted to be hosting the 2018 British Water Polo Championships finals, on the 2nd and 3rd June. Spectators will be very welcome to come and view some high level sporting action. 11am- 6pm. Full details at visit www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk Sandford Parks Lido, Keynsham Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7PU, UK 3 JUNE JUNE LIVE MUSIC IN THE GREAT HALL Medieval and Elizabethan live music with Pease Pottage. Savour the atmosphere of the Great Hall, transport yourself back in time whilst listening to a variety of medieval and renaissance wind instruments and learn some new dance moves too!

Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 9 JUNE JUNE SACRED HEARTS’ SUMMER FETE ‘Family Fiesta!’ Noon till 3. Merry go round, bouncy castle, live music, games and stalls, large selection of food and drink. Fun for all the family. Sacred Hearts Catholic Church, Moorend Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL53 9AU.

1100 JUNE JUNE BISHOP’SS CLEEVE STREET FAIR – CELEBRATING R RA AF100 From 12 noon-4pm. Parades, stalls, entertainment, funfair, Jet Age Museum display and exciting Spitfire Flypast. Folly Gardens Veterinary Practice is organising a Dog Show – entry forms from Folly’s Vets, Badham’ss Chemist and George Lewis Footwear. Purchase programmes, to include a raffle ticket for fabulous prizes, from shops along Church Road, Tesco 26/5 & 2/6 and on the day. Money raised will be donated to Jet Age Museum, Air Cadets and Christmas lights.

1166 JUNE JUNE PRESTBURY VILLAGE FAYRE & STREET PARTY Join us for fun and entertainment which includes music, BBQ, stalls, children’s games, talent show and belly dancers.

Fayre opens at 12 noon until 6pm. Main events; The Burgage, Prestbury G52 3DL .

Also involved: The Plough, Royal Oak , St Mary’s Church and WI Hall. For more information: www.prestburyparish.org Volunteers also required – contact Chris on 07741 472252 or email maughanshaw@gmail.com 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.

KKeep eep up up ttoo ddate ate on on social social media! media!

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I m Nicky and I organise Art Workshops and Classes in Gloucestershire.

I have a full programme of events for 2018, including: hrooughout tthe • One One Day Day Drawing Drraawing Workshops Workshops tthroughout he yyear. ear.

•W eekly watercolour waterccolour cclasses. lasses.

Weekly • Special eevent: vent: Charles Charles Evans Evans watercolour •Special watercolour workshop on on 8th 8th July.

July. workshop See my Website for further details and full programme: www.artworksglos.co.uk www.arttw worksglos.co.uk 07531 8837045 37045 nnicky_barrett@hotmail.com icky_barrett@hotmail.com • 07531

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W Winchcombe inchcombe ppoetry oetry ggroup roup rrelishing elishing hhometown ometown pperformance erformance When Helena Cavan organised a children’s poetry competition back in 2011, she had no idea what it would lead to.

Seven years have passed since that first event, and now the Winchcombe Poets are looking forward to s h o wc a s i n g t h e i r p o e t r y a t t h e Winchcombe Arts Festival. The Poets w i l l b e p e r fo r m i n g t h e i r ‘ A s N i g h t Falls’ show on 24th May at the Encounter Church in Winchcombe.

H e l e n a , w h o l i ve s i n t h e s m a l l h a m l e t o f G re e t , a m i l e o u t s i d e o f Winchcombe, says poetry has been her passion since her early childhood.

“I started writing poetry when I was v e r y yo u n g a n d h a d m y f i r s t p o e m published when I was 12. Music is a n o t h e r m a j o r p a ss i o n o f m i n e – I trained at the Royal Academy of Music – and I love writing poetry that is inspired by music.”

FFilm ilm R Review eview

Helena’s skill with the written word was noticed by the management at Coughton Court , the imposing Tudor house in Warwickshire run by the National Trust.

“They commissioned me to write p o e t r y i n s p i re d by t h e i r wo n d e r f u l gardens. That was a real thrill, the gardens were so beautiful, it was easy to draw inspiration from them. The following year they commissioned me t o w r i t e p o e t r y i n s p i r e d by o b j e c t s inside the house and the poems were then displayed in each room.”

A classically trained musician, Helena has been writing poetry since her early childhood and says she’s thrilled with the enthusiasm shown by the people of Winchcombe towards poetry.

“Back in 2011, I organised a junior poetry competition to be held at the Winchcombe Arts Festival. I was

Book Book Review Review

Helena Cavan

overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of the children,” said Helena.

“The quality of the poems blew me away, they were outstanding. There was also a lot of interest from adults as well and that’s where we had the idea of launching a monthly get together where we could meet and read our poems.

“We meet once a month, it’s always great to see so many friendly faces who are all so enthusiastic and share a love of poetry. ” Full story online.

Gaming G aming R Review eview

AQ Quiet uiet P Place lace

The The Y Year ear o off LLess ess by Cait Flanders

G Gran ran TTurismo urismo SSport port

For horror film lovers, ‘A Quiet Place’ looks like being one of the must-see films of 2018.

Directed by John Krasinsky, it features him and his wife Emily Blunt as the main characters. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world where blind monsters are intent on wiping humanity off the face of the earth. The monsters hunt based on sound, so the characters exist in a giant game of hide and seek; as long as they keep quiet, they’re safe.

A t a b r i s k 9 5 m i n u te s, t h e f i l m doesn’t waste time g o i n g i n to to o m u c h d et a i l . T h e b e s t h o r ro r f i l m s a re t h e o n e s t h a t keep things simple, and that’s certainly the case here.

Full review online.

A heartwarming tale about crafting a life you really want to lead by turning yo u r b a c k o n m a ss consumerism.

C a i t g o e s i n to great detail exploring ways of saving m o n ey b y c u t t i n g i te m s . out the n o n - e ss e n t i a l Interestingly, when she stops spending her monthly income, she discovers she’s h a p p i e r l i v i n g a m i n i m a l i s t i c l i fe s t y l e.

Her savings give her the chance to spend money on travelling and enjoying life away from fast food restaurants.

A real game-changer for anyone searching for major change in their lifestyle, I’d recommend this book if there’s something you want to do but have always put on the back-burner.

Full review online.

There are lots of original features in GT Sport, but the new game's gorgeous graphics are what you'll notice first .

This is a game that really lends itself to a n e n o r m o u s w i d e s c r e e n television; I’ve played many driving g a m es b u t n o n e a s v i s u a l l y impressive as this one.

GT Sport is a satisfying racer with plenty of depth and atmosphere, stunning visuals and sounds that are so impressive, you forget you are playing a games console. Arcade mode is where the real fun is, the challenges and tasks are a total joy.

Full review online.

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

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

FFull ull ssteam team ahead ahead for for Broadway Broadway Station Station Closed to the public since 1960, years of neglect had reduced Broadway Station to a derelict ruin for over half a century.

Today, a brand-new station, built by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s volunteers to m u c h t h e s a m e d es i g n a s t h e original, stands proudly in its place.

A f t e r a l a n d m a r k ev e n t o v e r Easter, which saw a steam train leave Broadway station for the first time in decades, trains will run throughout the day connecting Broadway to the station at Cheltenham Racecourse some 15 miles away. The trains will pass through stations at Winchcombe and Toddington, Gotherington.

One volunteer, who has spent countless hours renovating Broadway Station, is Martin Lovegrove. He said: “ A l l t h e v o l u n t e e r s h av e w o r k e d tirelessly over a number of years, it ’s been a real team effort . To see the station looking as it does now is really

The Broadway to Cheltenham steam train

satisfying. All the hard work has been worth it.

“The station at Broadway hadn’t been used in almost 60 years so you can imagine the state it was in when we began working on it. The hardest work involved clearing all the vegetation that had built up over the station and laying down the new steel rails for the track .

“It was physical work , often carried out in pretty awful weather,, but when

you look at the station now it ’s d e f i n i te l y b e e n wo r t h a l l t h e effort.”

“The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway shareholders and vo l u n te e r s we re l u c k y e n o u g h to be invited onto the train for a celebratory journey before the public were allowed on at Easter.

That was a real thrill.

“It was quite an emotional moment seeing that carriage leave the station in Broadway for the first time. It was great to meet all the people who have come together over all these years and worked so hard in bringing train travel back to Broadway.”

The work carried out was thanks to the huge success of the railway ’s ‘Broadway: The Last Mile’ share offer,, launched by the railway ’s President , Pete Waterman in 2016. The Offer raised more than £1.3 million which has enabled materials including brand new rails to be purchased.

Full story online.

W Wendy endy ttakes akes tthe he h helm elm aatt SSudeley udeley CCastle astle S u d e l e y C a s t l e a n d G a rd e n s h a s appointed Wendy Walton as its new general manager.

Wendy will lead and direct all aspects of the daily operations of Sudeley Castle including its retail and c a t e r i n g a c t i v i t i e s , we d d i n g s a n d corporate events. She will manage a team of permanent employees as well as seasonal staff and a team of 40 volunteers.

“I feel enormously privileged to be working at such a historic place,” said Wendy. “I studied history at university and read a lot of books about Tudor history, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw a job at Sudeley Castle being advertised!

“I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity to work here, and I’m looking forward to helping visitors make the most of their visit to both t h e c a s t l e a n d t h e g a rd e n s , ” s h e added.

Wendy Walton

Before taking up her management role at Sudeley Castle, Wendy was e m p l oy e d a s t h e d i re c t o r o f commercial operations at Bristol Zoological Society. Prior to that she ran one of the Wildfowl and Wetland

Centres on the South Coast, and also managed a stately home and worked for more than 15 years as the programme and marketing manager at The Brighton Centre, the biggest arena on the South Coast.

Wendy says one of her main ambitions is to increase the profile of the castle, both locally and nationally.

S h e s a i d : “ S o m a n y p e o p l e re fe r t o Sudeley Castle as the hidden gem of Gloucestershire, which in a way is great, but I want to help elevate it to s o m ew h e re t h a t i s o n e o f t h e m o s t well-known visitor attractions in the county.

“There’s something for the entire family to enjoy here at Sudeley. We’ve recently installed a fantastic new fun fort in our adventure playground for children to enjoy, and we have a fun and varied programme of events on offer over the coming months.

Full story online.

For For ffull ull aarticles rticles aand nd m more ore sstories tories vvisit isit w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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

A ccarpet arpet o off g green reen A f t e r s u c h a l o n g , we t w i n t e r a n d several appearances from the ‘Beast from the East’, spring has come very late this year. I reckon it is about 3 weeks later than usual, judging by t h e b l o ss o m o n t h e o r n a m e n t a l cherries in the garden near my home. However, now everything is rushing to catch up and as the soil warms, plants shoot up – where once was brown earth is suddenly a carpet of young green leaves.

CChoose hoose ‘‘White White LLady’ ady’ iiff y you ou ffancy ancy w white hite fflowers lowers Sow some runner beans as the soil warms up, making a wigwam of bamboo canes for the beans to twine up. The cultivar ‘White Lady ’ is very pretty if you fancy white flowers for a change. I make a hole before I sow the beans and empty my compost from the kitchen in t h e r e fo r a fe w d a y s : p e e l i n g s , teabags, etc. I then sow my beans

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on the top on a layer of soil at the usual depth, and this helps keep the moisture in which the beans so love.

Lo o k o u t f o r t h e b r i g h t r e d l i l y beetles on your lilies and fritillaries.

You can either just pick and squash or use an insecticide like Provado ultimate bug killer, which i s sy s t e m i c a n d w i l l k i l l the larvae when they s t a r t to m u n c h o n t h e plant . The larvae are disgusting looking as they cover themselves with their sticky black poo, so gloves might be the order of the day!

You should be able to start hardening off tender herbaceous plants, such as geraniums or cosmos, w h i c h y o u m a y h av e b o u g h t i n t h e te m p t i n g i n d o o r d i s p l ay s i n t h e garden centres and n u r s e r i e s . I f yo u s t i c k them straight outside it can really knock them

back , so it is best practice to spend a week or so of taking them outside during the day, and popping them b a c k i n to t h e g r e e n h o u s e o r conservatory at night , gradually leaving them for longer and longer u n t i l t h ey a r e o u t a l l n i g h t .

R e m e m b e r t o k e e p a n ey e o n t h e weather forecast in case of late frosts. You could make a cold frame out of old windows, Perspex offcuts, etc. and place in a warm, sheltered spot . Raise the lid in the day to circulate the air and cover o ve r a t n i g h t i f y o u h a v e n o greenhouse.

Give G ive sshiny-leaved hiny-leaved h houseplants ouseplants a sspring pring cclean lean Give shiny-leaved houseplants a spring clean by sitting them in the shower tray and gently showering with warm water to clean the dust off the leaves. As the weather warms up they can be sited outside, which benefits them after a winter inside. Don’t site them in full sunshine though, as it can scorch the leaves.

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Luxury Luxur y Fitted Fitted Wardrobes Wardrobes Modern

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

Bank Bank h holiday oliday w weekend eekend h ome cchallenge hallenge home Spring is finally in the air, flowers are beginning to bloom, it’s time to open those windows and breathe new life into your home and rooms. With two b a n k h o l i d ay s i n M a y t h e re h a s never been a better opportunity to d o a l i t t l e wo r k o n t h e h o u s e to make the most of those extended weekends. There’s no need to worry if you don’t have the time, energy or have too many plans, as the smallest u p d a t e s c a n h a ve t h e b i g g e s t impact.

Whether you have an hour, a day o r t h e w h o l e we e k e n d , h e re a re three challenges you could tackle over the bank holiday weekends to easily update your home.

Only O nly have have o one ne h hour? our?

Make time to do those jobs you’ve been meaning to do; touching up paintwork , clearing out those cu p b o a rd s and re -a r ra n g i n g c l u t t e re d b o o k s h e l v e s . T h e s e a re a l l t h e j o b s we n ev e r g e t ro u n d to d o i n g , b u t c a n o f t e n m a k e

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the biggest impact to a room.

If you want more of a transformation, update s of t f u r n i s h i n g s a n d a r t wo r k to b r i n g a different colour into a ro o m w i t h o u t a f u l l makeover.

A n ot h e r way to instantly update yo u r h o m e i s to t a k e t h i n g s f ro m o t h e r r o o m s a n d b r i n g n ew l i fe t o t h e m a g a i n s t a different coloured wall, o r st y l e d i n a n ot h e r place. There is no cheaper way to update a room than by re-arranging the rooms in your home.

O Only nly h have ave o one ne d day? ay?

One day of decoration can make a huge difference without all the upheaval of a full room makeover.

Feature walls are a great way to make a big change in a room without having to take all the furniture out .

They are fantastically versatile – so whatever your skill set, you’ll have no excuse not to give it a go!

If you’re not confident in creating a masterpiece feature, why not simply paint a wall in a complimentary colour to the room? For those who are a little braver, try wallpapering your feature wall with a wonderful print. And remember, it doesn’t have to be a wall – chimney breasts painted in a different colour can also add a huge impact to a room. For a bigger effect , create a gallery wall on your featured colour (once the paint is dry!) made up of family photos, postcards and even homemade art.

Have tthe Have he w whole hole w weekend eekend tto o sspare? pare?

If you have the whole weekend to dedicate to revamping your home, seize the moment and take on that room you’ve always wanted to make over. To make the most of your time and to ensure completion of the ro o m , b e s u re to m a k e a p l a n i n advance.

Have fun creating a mood board, p l a n n i n g l ay o u t s a n d t r y i n g o u t colour combinations and testers b e f o r e t h e we e k e n d o f t h e w o r k .

B e f o r e t h e we e k e n d a r r i v e s , m a k e sure you agree the paint colour or wallpaper pattern rather than wasting a day getting tester pots.

G e t yo u r to o l s a n d D I Y m a te r i a l s ready to start work and make sure you have decided the room layout .

Once the walls are painted and the ro o m h a s b e e n c h a n g e d a r o u n d , remember to breathe new life into a ro o m b y r e s t y l i n g w i t h n e w accessories and soft furnishings.

M o s t o f a l l , e n j oy yo u r b a n k holiday home makeovers!

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Together Together iin ne electric lectric d dreams reams Electric cars once seemed like a thing from a science fiction movie, but they ’re more popular than ever before, and are incredibly beneficial in comparison to conventional petrol or diesel cars. However, because of t h e i r n e w s t a t u s, t h e y a re a l s o t h e cars with the most myths surrounding them, which may seem a little offputting when considering a new car.

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B a t te r y e l e c t r i c c a r s u s e e l e c t r i c i t y s to re d i n a b a t te r y to p owe r t h e m throughout journeys. These can then be easily charged when depleted, u s i n g j u s t a r e g u l a r m a i n s p owe r socket, or a dedicated power point at a service station or shopping centre car park . These cars mostly run from between 100 -130 miles on a full charge, which is well within the requirement for day to day use, but there are also those which can go to a r o u n d 2 5 0 m i l e s i f m o re i s necessary.

However, there are also hybrid cars, which work a little differently: the e l e c t r i c m o to r i s u s e d s o l e l y a t l ow speeds (under 15mph), with the petrol engine working while cruising to both power the car and recharge the battery. Both systems work together when accelerating, and the

spinning of the wheels during braking is also used to recharge the battery.

These cars can go much further than f u l l y e l e c t r i c o n e s, a s t h e e l e c t r i c m o to r is consistently being recharged.

Are Are they they e eco-friendly co-friendly Both petrol and electric cars rely on resources being taken out of the ground and made into fuel. However, w h i l e i t t a k e s m o r e e n e r g y to generate electricity than to refine petrol, an electric car uses far less

energy in its actual processes than a petrol one. This means that emissions which could be damaging to us are decreased, as the majority of them are created at power plants, out of town.

Electricity is also not just generated by fossil fuels in the UK , but also by a variety of sustainable sources such as wind and solar power, whereas petrol c a r s m u s t b e e n t i re l y d e p e n d e n t upon one kind of fuel. This means that as we move closer to using all sustainable sources of energy, the electricity the car uses will be cleaner, and have less environmental impact.

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When it comes to charging, costs are measured in kilowatts (kW), in the same way as petrol cars are measured in litres. If your car has a 40 litre tank , at £1.15 per litre, this would cost £46 to fill. If the capacity for your electric car has a capacity of 30kW, and the price is around 12p per kWh, this would cost you £3.60.

Electric cars are much more cost effective to charge, with the most expensive convenience charge being around £6.50 for a 30 minute turbo charge at a service station.

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Specialists Specialists in in bathroom bathroom safety safety

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

SSpring pring Flings Flings After what feels like a hormonallyimbalanced couple of months, in which spring couldn’t decide b e t we e n s u n n y a n d i n v i t i n g o r windy and resentful, it looks like we h av e f i n a l l y g o t s o m e b l u e s k i e s ahead. In the lead up to summer, you can look forward to unpacking the barbeque grill, slapping on some sunscreen and dusting off your flip f l o p s a n d s u n h a t s w i t h n o s h a m e.

Hopefully, some of the warmer weather-themed gizmos below might come into use.

Lakeland Lakeland

Snow CCone Snow one SSlushy lushy M Maker aker Gift G ift SSet et

slushy. Aside from s l u s h i e s, yo u c a n a l s o have some fun making more crushed ice for a d u l t re c i p e s l i k e cocktails. This cute, retro-style gadget will b e m o r e a p p r e c i a te d when you want to cool Menkind off at the end of a long day, or kick-start your weekend.

Available f ro m L a k e l a n d w i t h a re m creative inventions of modern tech, ovable cone holder, spare cones, a s a ro b o t i c b a l l w h i c h c a n b e straws and recipes. controlled with facial expressions.

D ow n l o a d t h e S p h e ro M i n i a p p to IIon on TTailgater ailgater G Go o get started and show off this little When you decide to do some selfguy to friends and family. The tanning in the back garden, you can Sphero Mini is a super cool gadget e n j o y yo u r s e l f e v e n m o r e w i t h w h i c h w i l l b e s u re t o i m p r e s s , a s some outdoor music for just £49.97. you show off the ‘Face Drive’ feature The Ion Tailgater Go is a lightweight by controlling the robot ’s movemodel and easily portable, with a ments by tilting your head, raising Bluetooth speaker, 20 -watt tailgater y o u r e ye b r o w s a n d o p e n i n g y o u r and USB port with which to charge m o u t h . T h e S p h e ro M i n i h a s a 4 5 yo u r s m a r t p h o n e . E n j oy u p t o 5 0 minute-battery life, LED lights and is h o u r s – i f yo u c a n h a n d l e i t – o f compatible with iOS and Android. It p l ay b a c k t i m e a s yo u e n j o y t h e c a n a l s o b e c u s to m i s e d w i t h build-up to summer. Simply connect different interchangeable shells if your device using Bluetooth to you fancy sprucing it up. At £49.99, start streaming. this child-friendly robot will be fun With quality sound and a for everyone. convenient model that isn’t too hefty, the Ion Tailgater Go is a practical speaker for the outdoors. What makes it even more useful is its water resistance feature, meaning that if our unreliable British weather does turn on us again, you don’t have to worry about your speaker getting damaged.

At £27.99, this snazzy Snow Cone S l u s h y M a k e r i s t h e p e r f e c t swe e t treat to cool off with on a sunny morning. Crush the ice by filling up the shaver bowl on top with ice c u b e s , t h e n re p l a c i n g t h e l i d a n d pressing down to grate the ice into SSphero phero M Mini ini the paper cone.

With just a dollop of fruit juice or Who knew that the latest gizmos syrup, and plenty of ice, the little could be so cute? This little guy is g i z m o c r u s h e s i t u p i n t o a t a s t y p ro m i s i n g t o b e o n e o f t h e m o s t The Local Answer

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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

P Pete ete D Davies, avies, 58, 58, set set for for Tewkesbury Tewkesbury H Half alf Pete Davies is a man on a mission.

At the age of 58 he is preparing to run his first half marathon.

And if he successfully completes the Tewkesbury Half Marathon on Sunday 13th May, he has designs on then running a marathon!

Davies has certainly come a long way in a short time having only s t a r te d r u n n i n g a b o u t 1 8 m o n t h s ago.

“I wanted to get rid of some weight ,” he said, “I was a bit of a lardy boy! I’ve lost some weight but not as much I’d like to.”

W h e n h e s p o k e to T h e Lo c a l Answer he was weighing in at 16 and-a-half s to n e and the Tewkesbury Running Club member was certainly working hard to shift a few more pounds.

“I didn’t join the club straight away when I started running,” said Davies, who lives in Elmstone Hardwicke. “I did a bit of running on my own at

SStory tory o off ssuccess uccess A p p ro p r i a t e l y e n o u g h f o r a h u s b a n d a n d w i fe w h o p l a y a l o t o f te n n i s , Peter and Valerie Udale have been enjoying success at the double at Winchcombe Tennis Club.

Firstly, they have been driving forces at a club that were formed only last year, and secondly, they were both captains of teams that won promotion in the Gloucestershire Summer League.

While Valerie was steering the women’s A team to promotion to Division 4, her husband was captaining the men’s B team into Division 5.

And that is only a part of the story a b o u t a c l u b t h a t a re o n e o f t h o s e refreshing stories of success on and off the courts – a club that now have 135 members.

W Woodmancote oodmancote a aim im h high igh Woodmancote Cricket Club are celebrating their 80th anniversary this season and they would like nothing m o re t h a n to m a r k i t by w i n n i n g

Pete Davies in the Gloucester 10K

first . I didn’t want to join the club and be at the back… although I am!”

That hasn’t put him off though.

“I’ve done a 10K and a few parkruns,” he said.

And to his credit he’s had to work very hard just to get himself into position on the start line.

“I’ve had quite a few injuries,” he said. “I tore my Achilles, that took some getting over. I’ve also had calf promotion back to t h e to p f l i g h t o f the County League.

T h ey d ro p p e d out of Division One at t h e e n d of l a st season and skipper B a r ro n D e R o s e i s determined to see t h e g o o d t i m es return to the club.

and groin strains but touch wood I’m okay now.”

That’s very good news but as the big day looms, how is Davies feeling a b o u t r u n n i n g 1 3 . 1 m i l es i n a n d around Tewkesbury?

“I’m quite excited but nervous at the same time,” he admitted. “First of all I’d just like to get round but if I can do it in under two hours, 30 minutes I’d be a happy bunny.”

And if he does achieve that, Davies will be forever grateful to Tewkesbury Running Club.

“The club have been very good,” he said.

And what about his plans to run a marathon?

“I only want to do one marathon,” he insisted. “I’ll probably do it next year. I’d like to do the London but t h a t m i g h t b e a b i t d i f f i c u l t to g e t into so it will probably be in Birmingham or Cardiff.”

Full story online. captaincy this season as the club p re p a r e f o r l i fe b a c k i n t h e Gloucestershire/Wiltshire Division of the West of England League after last season’s promotion.

A ffitting itting ffinale inale Barron De Rose

Stuart Stuart b back ack iin n ccharge harge A d a m St u a r t i s o n e of t h o s e l u c k y people. Not only does he get to play w e e k i n , w e e k o u t a t D u m b l e to n Cricket Club – surely one of the most stunning settings in the country – he is also the club’s groundsman so he gets to spend even more time there than almost anyone.

“Yes, it is a great place to play cricket ,” said Stuart . “It ’s usually a batter’s track . It’s nice and fast with a quick outfield. It doesn’t tend to do too much.”

S t u a r t h a s t a k e n o ve r t h e 1 s t X I

Like a very good book or film, there is always an excellent ending to the race season at Cheltenham.

That ’s because the finishing line is reached with the ever-popular Hunter C h a s e Ev e n i n g m e e t i n g , w h i c h t h i s year takes place on Friday 4th May (first race 4.55pm).

It ’s the meeting where the top point-to-pointers get the chance to s h i n e o n t h e b i g g est j u m p s st a g e i n the world and Ian Renton, the main man at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “It’s a lovely way to end the season.

It’s a great opportunity for the leading a m a t e u r j o c k e y s to g e t t h e m s e l v e s into the winner’s enclosure.”

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

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James James A Allcoat llcoat ttakes akes over over as as captain captain ffrom rom brother brother TTom om aatt TTewkesbury ewkesbury They are Tewkesbury’s answer to the Chappell brothers – that great Australian cricketing family from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

B u t w h i l e I a n a n d G re g C h a p p e l l captained their country with great d i s t i n c t i o n , t h e i r yo u n g e r b ro t h e r Trevor never got to lead out the Baggy Greens.

And that is where the Allcoat family can outscore the Chappells.

That’s because the middle brother of t h re e – J a m e s – w i l l b e c a p t a i n i n g Tewkesbury Cricket Club this season, fo l l o w i n g i n t h e fo o t s te p s o f o l d e r b r o t h e r J o h n a n d y o u n g e r b ro t h e r Tom. Tom has been captain for the past three years and still plans to play this season even though he is now teaching in Weston.

“He’s assured me he’s going to play,” said James. “He’s one of our key players. He’s an all-rounder and has a big part to play.”

He’s a big act to follow as captain as well.

““He’s He’s v very ery mature mature and and has has ag good ood h head ead o on nh him.” im.”

“He was the youngest member of t h e s i d e w h e n h e t o o k o ve r a s c a p t a i n , ” s a i d J a m e s, 3 0 , “ s o h e d i d really well. He’s very mature and has a good head on him.”

Older brother John, who these days lives in Newport , captained the side for three or four years 10 years ago when James, a wicketkeeper/ batsman, was establishing himself in the 1st XI. So who was the better captain, John or Tom? “That’s a tough one,” laughed James, “I’ve not been asked that before.

“John moulded a side together, we were an up and coming side when he was captain.

“Tom had a good side, he was a more attacking captain. “ T h ey w e r e b o t h g o o d c a p t a i n s , I think I’m going to sit on the fence on that one!”

S o w h at m a d e J a m es d e c i d e h e wanted to be captain?

“I think the time is right,” he said. “I

From left, John, Tom, Dave and James Allcoat. Picture, Mark Hodson

think you’ve got to pick someone who will play the majority of games and I’ve been in the 1st XI for 13 years now.

“You’ve got to be a good leader off the field as well as on it.

“I’d like to have a stint at being captain for as long as I can. I’ve got a good understanding of the game and i f I c a n d o h a l f a s g o o d a j o b a s my b ro t h e r s I ’ l l h a ve d o n e w e l l . T h ey were good role models.”

S o w h a t a re t h e c l u b h o p i n g to achieve in the Gloucestershire Division of the West of England League this season?

“We need to get off to a good start,” said James. “That won’t be easy because there are lot of good teams – Cheltenham 2nds, Hatherley, Frocester 2nds, Cirencester, Stroud, Gloucester.

A lot of sides can beat each other.

“Let’s get a good month in and see where we are. To be talking about promotion at this stage is arrogant.”

James plans to bat at five, six or seven this season – “It ’s hard work k e e p i n g w i c k e t f o r 5 0 o ve r s , especially on a red-hot day in July,” he said.

A n d w h i l e t h e c a pt a i n c y w i l l obviously be demanding at times the new skipper certainly won’t be short of support this season.

Jack Brixey is the new vice-captain

and he will be expected to weigh in with a big chunk of the team’s runs a l o n g s i d e F re d H u m p h r i e s a n d S t u Tame.

A d a m B ro o k e s w i l l a g a i n b e t h e bowling spearhead. “He gets a lot of w i c k e t s, ” s a i d J a m e s, “ h e c a n b ow l match-winning spells.”

T h e c l u b a l s o h av e h i g h h o p e s fo r youngsters Harry Low, Will New and L u k e H u g h e s w h o h av e a l l s h o w n promise.

““James’ James’ d dad ad D David avid w will ill be be w watching atching w with ith g great reat pride” pride” At t h e ot h e r e n d of t h e a g e spectrum – and on the other side of the boundary – James’ dad David will be watching on with interest and great pride.

“He was the 1st XI wicketkeeper before me,” said James. “I took over from him. He’s 60 now and still plays the occasional game for the 3rds. He’s our groundsman and along with Tom Brown does an awful lot for the club.”

The Allcoat name has been synonymous with Tewkesbury Cricket Club for many seasons and if James has his way that will continue for many years to come.

“My son Samuel is one,” he said, “I’d love to still be playing when he is old enough to play.”

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

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COMPETITION WINNERS The TLA Photography 2018 winner for the May 2018 cover is Kerry Palmer of Lydney.

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