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ANSWER Gloucester – 46,000 copies Stroud District – 41,000 copies Cotswolds – 30,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies North Gloucestershire – 20,000 copies
Managing Director Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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Helen Kingscott
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Aprril’s winning coover photo: Jaade Pollock of Bisshop’s Cleeve
Weelcome l to April A ... Our TLA Charity Giveaway is back! Yo You have the opportunity to nominate a Gloucestershirebased d charity or not-for-profit organissation to win an a incredible £2,000! Full details of the comp petition can be found inside. We’v ve also included more details about the fundraising campaigns we’re supportting over the ne ext 12 months for our Charity of the Ye Year, r, Coballt. Read more inside about the w wonderful work they do and how you can donate. donate Eastter is fast approaching and you’re probably lookin ng for things to do to entertain your kids during the school holidays. Our What’s On sectio on is jam-packed with spring and Easter events for the whole family including The Bird & Deer Park’s ‘Te Tea With Alice’ event.
Inside this month ...
Distributors Required Delicious Dish Education & Employment Mirror Mirror on the Wall Looking Good, Feeling Great TLA 10th Anniversary Charity Medical Health Holidays & Travel Parenting & Guardianship Wildlife Matters What’s On TLA Charity Giveaway Leader’s Life Sudoku TLA Entertainment Homes & Gardens In the Garden Save the Planet Gadgets & Gizmos Interior Design Word Search Quick Crossword Money Matters TLA Sport Index, Competitions, Solutions
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ReneGade Festival 2019 Our 9th annual showcase of Gloucester music, ReneGade Festival returns for 2019 with a jam-packed jump-up lineup! Join us from 2pm for a glorious affternoon of open-air music on the Green Stage with outdoor bar and BBQ, and good vibes until late.
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Delicious Dish with Helen Kingscott
Salmon and asparagus oven bake If you are entertaining this Easterr,, try this really easy, quick and tasty oven bake – with asparagus at its best and salmon hopefully on offerr,, this is a lovely recipe using seasonal vegetables. Ingredients: 600/800g baby potatoes 3tbsp olive oil 1 large red onion, chopped into wedges g 1 box (approximately 270g) Vittoria cherry vine tomatoes (these are so sweet when roasted, but you could use others if you prefer) A couple of fresh rosemary sprigs 2-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar 4 salmon fillets 1 bundle of fresh asparagus Salt and pepper to season. Method: 1 Preheat your oven to 200°C, (180°C fan/gas mark 6). 2 Scrub the potatoes then pop in your oven proof dish with
the olive oil and stir to o evenly coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper then cookk for 15-20 minutes until they y are starting to brown. 3 Add your onion wedges,, tomatoes still on the vine,, rosemary and balsamicc vinegar. Give it all a little mix x around then pop back in the e oven for 10 minutes. 4 Season your salmon then n add this to the dish with the e asparagus and cook for a further 12 minutes or until the salmon is cooked d through. 5 Serve, enjoy and lookk forward to the washing up – you’ve only used one dish so it’ll be nice and easy!
Tips: • Check out your local supermarket or fishmonger – they often have deals on whole salmon around Easter time, and they will fillet it for you so you can freeze the rest. • Try growing your own herbs at home, either in your garden or on your windowsill if you’re limited on space. Y Yo ou can use as much or as little as you like, and it just seems to taste better freshly cut. • Look for thin asparagus spears, otherwise they may not cook through enough. If you can only find larger spears, cut them in half.
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Education & Employment with Alison Williams
Decision time for GCSE G optio ons It’s options It’ ti ti time f for Year 9 Ye students (Ye Year 8s in some schools). A lot of information is provided by schools to help students make their choices, but what difference can choosing the wrong options really make and how can students make the best decisions?
The core subjects Firstly, let‘s look at the core subjects: Maths, English and Science are compulsory at GCSE and GCSE, d some schools h l also l let students choose a third science as one of their GCSE options. If a student is very interested and likely to go into a STEM (Science/Te Tech/Engineering/Maths) career it is worth taking the triple but if not, double is fine – if it wasn’t, all schools would offer triple! Sometimes, struggling students are recommended to take Core Science – this only counts as one Science GCSE and would usually close the door to taking sciences at A Level, as you can’t get higher than a Grade 5 in Core Science but need Grade 6 for A Level. It could also affect certain degree choices. Universities look at GCSE results and as an example, some Nursing degrees would not accept just core science.
Non-core subjects When it comes to other subjects, there are several things to consider before making a firm decision. Here are my top tips for students choosing their GCSE subjects: • Research non-core subjects by looking at the curriculum, talking to teachers or current/ former students and searching online. THE LOCAL ANSWER
• If you have a strong g career idea, research this to o ensure you take the correct an nd most relevant subjects. As a Careers Advisor, r, I ask students to list all subjects on offer and tick the boxes which apply. These boxes include wheth her they ‘Like’ the subject, whether they are ‘Good Good At At’ it and wh hether it is ‘Useful’ or they ‘Ne eed’ the subject for their preferred career. This approach often helps them to get a good overview of what they need to consider. • Those without caree er ideas can focus on the first two variables (what they likke or are good at), but now iss a very good time to start considering broad career paths. • Always note which A Levels or equivalent qualiffications require prior study att GCSE. Certain subjects – for example, Business or Health & Social Care – do not alwa ays, but many others do so be careful! • If aiming for a top Un niversity but not sure what to o study, focus on ‘facilitating su ubjects’. TO ADVERTISE CALL
These include Geo ography, History and Languages which, as well as the core subjects, s are favoured by such Universities. Schools now promote p the English Baccalaureate, which covers all bases anyway.
Passionate pup pils should not be pressured pressured It is helpful for parents and teachers to have an input, but try not to pressure children out of a favourite subject. If students feel passionate about a subject, even if not a facilitating one, they should usually study it as it could turn out to be very significant to their future! Students needing guidance should ask to see their school Careers Advisor. If you don’t have a school advisor, visit nationalcareerservice.direct.gov.uk for general careers information and job profiles. Useful, free online quizzes include buzz quiz (icould.com), the spartan quiz on sacustudent.com, and the quiz on prospects.ac.uk PAGE
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Mirror Mirror on the W Wa all with Val Starr
Spring trends and a fashion iccon No fashion N f hi column l could ld ignore the passing of the icon Karl Lagerfeld – creative director of the French fashion house Chanel. He will be missed by a great many, in particular the company he worked with for 36 years. Karl was the first of the top designers to do a range for the high street so mere mortals could afford a little of his style. Karl made headlines when he decided to do a range g for H&M, which of course sold s out immediately. That wass back in 2004 and now many de esigners have followed suit. His fashion shows were the stuff of fantasy and anyone who’s anyone vied for a front row seat. Chanel is of courrse recognized for th he interlocking Cs found on their handbags where the prices are eye watering, t i b t for but f those who are lucky enough to afford one, it certainly is a handbag for life. Chanel’s famed tweed d jackets, dresses and suits never date with their amazing designss displaying the famed d fringed lapels, hem m and sometimes cuffs. Famous names, young and old,, have all been seen in Chanel – Princess Diana was a big fan. If you want to copy the iconic Chanel look, race to Zara where you will find a good selection of jackets made to THE LOCAL ANSWER
resemble the Chane el style, style which they certainly do d for a mere fraction of the prrice.
Boiler suits Oh yes – jumpsuits an nd boiler suits are everywhere e again! I’m often asked what w the difference is; boiler suits are more utility y style because of pocke ets often found on the e legs. They’re also baggier and simpler in style. Jumpsuits th herefore are probab bly the smarter version, and can be dresse ed up for special occasions. For either option, every colou ur and fabric can be found so you w will be spoiled for choice from the hig gh street who have copied the key de esigners including Stella McCartney y and Hermes.
Maxi dressses Jumpsuits will, however, r, have to compete c with maxi dresses, d which are back b in vogue this spring TO ADVERTISE CALL
and often have high necks ne ecks and uneven hems. Animal print is still everywhere, and you will find a lot of horse prints, which at least make a slight change from the leopard print we are so used to. Many of them have a 70s vibe which transcends to skirts, blouses and jumpers. At the time of writing, M&S have a super animal print shift dress in red (pictured) for £45 which ticks all the boxes.
Trousers For those tired of the slim cigarette look, skinny jeans and culottes, you will be happy to see lots of wide legged and baggy type trousers. Prada showed some recently with maximum fabric and very draped style-wise. All this fabric can occasionally appear overwhelming, so it is best to make sure you have it nipped i d in i at the h waist w i to balance the look. A great belt will also help in brea aking up the look, as will any to op that is tucked in. My advice is to buy a classic new spring item that will w last, and avoid the throwaw way, fast fashion craze. PAGE
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Looking Good, Feeling Great with Will Mbanga
Measuring progress for health and wellbeing As we go through life, it is good to pause every so often and take stock. Life is a journey and in order to take the most scenic, enjoyable and efficient route, we need to look after our health and wellbeing. But what does getting better look like?
How do you know if your efforts are working? Let’s consider ‘health’ to be the combination of our physical (food and exercise) and mentalemotional needs (belonging, purpose, love, etc.). How do you know whether your training, diet, work, studies or the effort you are making to ‘be better’ is working? As far as relationships go, you will know what ‘better’ looks like because you feel it in the quality of your interactions and the resultant emotional wellbeing and positivity this brings. But relationships are the product of human interactions and as we know, people make mistakes, let us down, disappoint us. This can make for tricky interpersonal dynamics and negative mental-emotional health.
Physical metrics alone don’t signify good health A fancy car, r, promotion or performance bonus might signify progress at work, but we know this doesn’t necessarily improve our wellbeing. Focusing on physical metrics such as improved quality or quantity of sleep, your ability to manage stress and hitting your training targets are more easily quantified, but these alone do not THE LOCAL ANSWER
necessarily signify good health. Good health and wellbeing can be attained through a continual effort to maximise all of these areas, whilst acknowledging that throughout your progression, you are good enough as you are right now This process of now. learning to be comfortable in your own skin and a believing that you are enough is a hugely im mportant mental-emotional shift. Tony Robbins talks about To being in a state of ‘CAN NI’ – Constant And Nev verending Improvement. I’ve adapted this to ‘CANWIP’ – Consistant And Never-ending • Physical health Work In Progress. g Here e are my y tips to get your ‘CANWIP’ on Those of you who own a car will service it to ensure that it is able track: to pass its MOT. In th he same • Mental-emotional health way, you need to look aafter your Strive to be a good friend to body through regular exercise yourself. Embrace who you are, and good nutrition to give while being open to learning yourself the best chance of new things and chang ging in a passing a medical MOT T. Again, positive way. Constantly y seek to remember to seek medical be a better person, while advice and perhaps consult a accepting that you will never be trainer, r, movement specialist or perfect to everyone. dietician to help optim mise your The continuous pursuit of health. personal improvementt and an Part of being human is acceptability to reflect, learn and a keep going are essential. Som metimes, ing that we are not infallible; the this includes recognissing that key to making progress in any we need help – whethe er that is area of your life lies in your in the form of a friend, a life ability to apply yourself consistcoach, a therapist or me edication ently. It’s better to keep taking is irrelevant. The im mportant small steps and move forwards, thing is to ask for help if you than a few big steps that end up need it. too big for you to handle.
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10th ANNIVERSARY
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
As parrtt of our 10th Anniversary celebrations, we chose to supporrtt Cobalt – a local, Gloucestershire-based charity – by raising vital funds and increasing awareness of their work and current projects. The money we raise will go towards the two campaigns below.
Supporting T Te eenage and Y Yo oung Adults with Cancer Cobalt parrtt funds TY YA A Nurse Megan Wilsher at a cost of £27 7,,000 per annum. The impact of a cancer diagnosis on young people and families is immense. Young cancer patients have unique biological, physiological and social needs during treatment which are distinct from other cancer patients. For teenagers and young adults, traditionally little care has been put into place that delivers according to their specific needs, with patients often either being treated alongside children of a younger age, or with adults. The Cobalt TY YA A Cancer Nurse ensures that the needs of young adult cancer patients are established at a time when they are most vulnerable. Megan’s post is funded through donations to Cobalt and provides an invaluable service. “My role ensures these patients are supported throughout their cancer journey and beyond, helping them to move forward with their life, as they would have without the intrusion of cancer.” Megan W Wiilsherr,, Cobalt TY YA A Nurs rse “I am grate efful to Megan and to Cobalt for funding the job she does. She has been such a great support.” Samantha (Patientt))
Dementia Futures Fund Cobalt need to raise £150,000+ each year to support this imporrttant work. One of Cobalt’s objectives is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. They use state-of-the-art imaging equipment to diagnose dementia and are working to increase patient participation in research trials studying new treatments. Dementia currently affects 850,0 0 0 people in the UK and it is only through research that the causes can be determined, effecti ve treatments developed and care improved for patients, both existing and in the future. Cobalt are raising funds to support two Dementia Research Nurses who work with doctors and patients to recruit patients onto national trials. They also support many of these trials with the state-of-the-art imaging equipment for patients. Cobalt work with local hospitals and medical professionals to improve the care and facilities for patients with dementia.
One of our fundraising activities is in June when Lois and her boyfriend Jack will be running the Cheltenham Challenge 10k. If you’d like to sponsor them and help us raise money for Cobalt, please visit the link below. You can also find the link on any of our Social Media pages.
Imagine if every household that received a copy of The Local Answer donated £1 – we’’d d raise enough money to support both of Cobalt’s campaigns for a whole year! https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TheLocalAnswer10thBirthdayY Ye ear
Medical Health with Holly Hannigan
Awareness of addiction Addiction Addi ti i an illness is ill th t that affects the chemical reward systems in the brain. People often misunderstand it to be someone being selfish and making bad choices, which is simply not true. Addiction is a psychological disorder, r, just like depression or anxiety. If something in your life, or someone you know, has become of such importance that other areas of life are being neglected g (work, relationships, p health), then this is a big alarm bell that you or they may have a problem and addiction may be in control. Here are some of the main symptoms to be aware of:
Psychological symptoms of addictions: • Mood swings • Increased temper • Tiredness • Paranoia • Defensiveness • Agitation • Inability to focus/concentrate • Poor judgement • Memory problems • Diminished self-esteem and self-worth • Feelings of hopelessness • Exacerbation of any existing mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Behavioural and social signs of addictions: • Secretive/dishonest behaviour • Poor performance and/or attendance at work or school • Withdrawal from responsibility and socialising • Losing interest in activities, hobbies or events that were once important to you THE LOCAL ANSWER
• Continuing to use the t substance, or engage in n certain behaviours, despite th he negative consequences that these cause • Trying but failing to re educe or stop misusing a substtance, or engaging in certain behaviours
Physical y symptoms y p s of addictions: • Lack of concern over physical appearance/personal hygiene • Disrupted sleep patterns, p including insomnia • Extreme weight loss For something to be addictive, it must be characterrised as being reinforcing (increa asing the likelihood that a person will seek repeated exposure to th hem) and intrinsically rewarding (they ( are seen as being positiv ve, desirable, and pleasurable).. People can form addicctions to substances such as alcohol, drugs, nicotine and sug gar, r, or to behaviours such as ga ambling, shopping, online activitty (social media/gaming) and sex x. While substance addictions may be more visible to the outside TO ADVERTISE CALL
world, all addictions can be dangerous and life desttroying. If you have noticed some of the symptoms mention ned, then having a conversation with the person is a good place e to start. Simply listening withou ut judgement is sometimes all they will want in the early da ays, and perhaps mention local support groups g p or online help. p If the person recognises they have a problem with addiction and they are ready, making an appointment with their GP and even attending with them if they want you to is the best place to start. As hard as it may be, especially if the person has isolated themselves and been dishonest or unkind towards you, try to remember it is the addiction talking, not their true self. The person you know and care about is still in there and trying to get them the right help is vital. Below are some links to useful websites with more information about addiction: www.nhs.co.uk www.helpguide.org/homepages/addictions www.addictionsandrecovery.org PAGE
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£219 3 DA AY YS – 25th SEPTEMBER 2019
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Holidays & Travel with Al Hidden
Brilliant Barrcelona It’s hard It’ h d to t believe b li it’ over 30 it’s years since Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé first recorded their duo, ‘Barcelona’. Though decades fly by, Antoni Gaudí’s city – like the song – continues to enchant. Will you stay beachside in stylish La Barceloneta, off pulsating Las Ramblas, in the historic Barri Gòtic, or in Eixample with its excellent shops and restaurants? Whether you choose five-star Hotel W, a chic Airbnb, or Best Western Dante on Caller de Mallorca where I stayed last time, you’re well-placed to explore this city of Gaudí’s Catalan Modernism, amazing food and ‘Barça’ – just don’t mention their arch-rivals Real Madrid or A.C. Milan!
Packed with treasures For a weekend or a week, Barcelona is packed d with treasures. With thirty million visitors a year, r, the city y can be busy, but savvy travellers know that March, May and
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autumn promise good weather and smaller crowdss while meeting the barceloné és. The city is very walkkable, so comfortable shoes and a money-saving Barcelo ona Pass are your keys to exploring – from Port Vell to the Sagrada S Familia, and Plaçça de Catalunya to kaleid doscopic Mercado de La Boqu ueria off Las Ramblas. Don’’t miss Hansel and Gretel-inspired Parc Güell’s stunning g vistas either, or its signatu ure (but smaller than expected)) mosaic ‘el drac’. Of course you’ll visit Barcelona’s h headline sights: FC Barccelona’s Camp Nou s stadium; buildings such as a Casa Milà/La Pedrera; Frank Gehry’s golden fish; and skyscraping Mirador de Colom Make time Colom. e for the less well-known ge ems too: Museo Nacional de e Arte de Catalunya; picnic--friendly Jardins de Rubió i Lluch where Gaudí die ed after being hit by a tram in 1926; or fourteenth--century Monastir de Pe edralbes along Metro line ‘T Tres’. TO ADVERTISE CALL
Delicious Cata alan cuisine In between discovering contrasting ‘barrios’ (neiighbourhoods) be sure to sample Barcelona’s delicious cuisine. Tapas is king, so follow discerning locals to gems like Bar Ramon or Los Torreros. As well as diverse Iberian and international cuisine, savvy gourmets choose Catalan noodle-based fideuà (over ‘standard’ Valencian paella), bunyols de bacallà (cod fritters) and botifarra sausages with romesco sauce – with a glass of Priorat or a Moreneta Blonde craft beer. There’s enough in Barcelona to occupy the most energetic city explorer for days. But for different perspectives, remember it’s also a great base for excursions to other Catalonian attractions such as Santa Maria de Montserrat.
Visit Barcelona soon Mercury and Caballé will delight forever, and so will Barcelona. But don’t wait; if you’ve never been, make sure to visit soon. It’s brilliant – or as the locals would say, «genial». PAGE
Parenting & Guardianship with Roberta Smart
Acceptance in tim mes of change This month Thi th I wantt to t talk t lk about b t acceptance in times of great change. Traditionally at Easter time we receive a message of rebirth and regeneration – so what about when someone you know and love ‘comes out’ of a closet and asks to be ‘reborn’? How do you deal with that? In a world where so many young people are struggling to come to terms with themselves, mental health issues are at an all time high and the conversations are wild, I want to take a gentle look at how we can all ‘do better’ to support young people – and older ones – as they make a journey of self discovery.
Open and accepting conversations with our children No matter what age you are when you first realise you feel ‘different’, the world you grew up in will have had a massive impact p on how well y you can cope with your new w found knowledge. To To this end, I am
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advocating that we have open and accepting conve ersations with our children right from f the start. You don’t have to be genderYo neutral particularly, but maybe avoiding ramming them m into a pink or blue box at birth is a good start?
Celebrate ‘othern ness’ rather than ‘norm mality’ When discussing the e future, keep options open regarding relationships, hobbies, jobs or ways to live. I think most of us these days know at least one person who would identify as different in some e way or another. Celebrating ‘otherness’ rather than ‘no ormality’ sends a great unspoken message to our chiildren so that if and when th he times comes for them to ‘come out’, they will already know they are in a lov ving and accepting place. It is 2019 and ge ender is fluid, sexuality iss wideranging, job prosp pects are endless and wonde erful, and being different is possibly TO ADVERTISE CALL
the most normal thing in the world. I for one am so o glad to live in a time when we can love and support everyon ne – no matter how surprising their t new discoveries may be, an nd at the same time walk through any barriers of discomfort without guilt or shame, becau use, let’s face it, no one is an expert e in change we are all just doing change, d the best we can.
However you identify, you are loved So be you male, female, trans, gay, straight, bi, pan, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Jewish, person of colour, r, mixed heritage, differently abled or a total alien (but that’s another article!), you are welcome, loved, wanted and needed to be a part of this wonderful school of life we call the earth. Parents blessed with children get to learn through their eyes and what a lesson we are learning: acceptance, tolerance, patience, true unconditional love. I believe that being in a family means being willing to learn something new every day. Enjoy the journey: it looks incredible! PAGE
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Wildliffe e Matters with Maxine Raggatt
The humble honey bee You may be b surprised i d to t learn l that there are over 250 species of bee in the UK alone. Bumblebees, for example, have 24 different species. This month’s focus is the honey bee. They can usually be seen between March and October, flitting between flowers and collecting precious nectar. They live in beehives in hollow trees or rock cavities.
Queen bee
A single hive can have 20,00060,000 honey bees with only one queen. The queen bee is the biggest in the colony, measuring about 2cm. Her job Drones is to lay eggs; she can produce Male honey bees are e called up to 2,000 eggs per day. drones and they have no stinger The worker bee so cannot cause harm m. They w weeks Worker bees are female. Their often live for only a few a then role is to produce honeycomb to mate with the queen and by secreting wax from their they will die. Just a few hundred abdomens. They must also go drones are produced in a colony p to the thoussands of out and forage, g , keep p the nest compared clean, feed the larv vae and worker bees. At summer’s end, es are the protect the nest from prredators. the few surviving drone first to be kicked outt of the colony so they cannot consume c the winter stores.
How is honey mad de?
Worker bees will fly within five miles of their hive to o collect pollen and nectar. Th hey will consume what they ne eed first for nourishment and then continue to gather morre, which will be stored in theirr second stomach. When the bee e returns to the hive, a young wo orker bee will suck the nectar ou ut of the foraging bee’s second sstomach. The nectar will then be chewed for about 30 minutes to add enzymes, which will form a syrup. This syrup will then be deposited into a hon neycomb THE LOCAL ANSWER
segment. By flappin ng their wings, the water in th he syrup will evaporate to reach the right consistency. The honey y is then ready to be capped. This is when the worrker bees produce wax from m their abdomens to spread over o the honeycomb segment to store the honey while it awaits awa aits later consumption during the winter months.
Help save the honey bee
There are a few simple things you can do to help bees thrive. You can start by mowing the grass less often and not using pesticides. Planting a beautiful wildflower garden is also hugely beneficial, as such a diverse range of flowers are produced, all with various benefits. Herbs, flowers, trees, shrubs, fruit and vegetables are all beneficial to many species of bee, which is imperative for their survival. Bees also need water. If you don't have a birdbath, you can place a small tub of water among the flowers or out on a table to help the hard at work species.
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What s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and pre esented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit. EVERY MONDAY AY & THURSDAY AY FREE WEIGHT LOSS IMAGING GROUP This psycho-educational group is run on Mondays and Thursdays in Gloucester. No diets! No pressure! No procrastination! Get group support and learn new method for weight management. For further details call 07533 839349 or email maryna.bentley@gmail.com 20 MARCH – 20 APRIL JOSEP SUBIRACHS AT AT CHAPEL ARTS A collection of the Spanish sculptor and painter Josep Subirachs’ works, including bronzes, drawings, paintings and prints. Coffee Shop available. Wednesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com UNTIL 28 APRIL LAMBING AT AT COTSWOLD FA FARM M PARK
With the first bleats of new arrivaals and the anticipation of many more in the air, l bi is lambing i our favourite f it time ti off year!! We hope you’ll come and share it with us; settle yourselves down in the Animal Barn and keep your eyes peeled. Join us for daily talks from our team, access to our lambing shed, bottle feeding our lambs and goat kids, Farm Safari rides, Adventure Barn and
Dolly’s Den soft play and much moore! Full details at www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Pow wer,r, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL. 1-6 APRIL HAIR THE MUSICAL Welcome to the “Age of Aquariius”. It’s 1967 and HAIR’s hippie “tribe” youngsters in the East Village of o New York are yearning to change thee world, questioning authority and the American flag. Wild, colourful, sexually liberated and free, theyy are united in protest and song, under the shadow of the Vietnam war. Forr times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The T Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. 1-30 APRIL COTSWILD EXPLORERS The Cotswold Wildlife Park’s neew ‘CotsWild Explorer’ activity trail launches in April for children aged 611 years old. The Egg themed trrail pack (available from the gift shop) comes with a pop badge, lanyard and a pencil for £2.50 per pack (pluss normal entrance price) with 10% % going to Penguin conservation. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uuk 4 APRIL HORRIBLE HISTORIES: HISTORIES BRAND NEW BARMY BRITA TAIN We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyonee is dead! So it’s time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories live on stage with a brand new Wesst End show! Would you be shaken or stirred
by Richard III? Mount a mutiny against King Henry VIII! See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary Queen of Scots! Will Queen Elizabeth I endure her terrible teeth? It’s the history of Britain with the nasty bits left in! 1.30pm and 6.30pm. £14 (£12). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP P.. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 5 APRIL WHOLE LOTTTA A LED’S 2019 TOUR FEA ATTURING LED ZEPPELIN II 2019 sees the 50th anniversary of the release of one of the greatest albums of all time – Led Zeppelin II. Whole Lotta Led will be performing a series of Led Zeppelin II to celebrate this incredible album. This show will consist of a selection of songs from Led Zeppelin’s vast back catalogue and feature the whole of Led Zeppelin II played in the same sequence as the original LP P.. 7.30pm. £20. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP P.. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 6 APRIL COFFEE MORNING A ATT ALDERMAN KNIGHT SCHOOL A special coffee morning to raise money and awareness for World Autism Awareness Week, a Post 16 Belgium Trip and Friends of Alderman Knight School. There will be refreshments, a raffle and a car wash throughout the morning to help raise funds. 10am-12pm. Alderman Knight School, Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 8JJ. 01684 295639. www.aldermanknight.gloucs.sch.uk
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W I N £2,000 FOR YOUR LOCAL CHARITY OR CLUB
courtesy of The Local Answer and our generous Advertisers Our ‘TLA Charity’ competition is back and bigger than June 20119 Jun ever! In our 10th Anniversary Y Ye ear, we’ll be running Yoouur Clu lub or Charit harity several competitions, giving Gloucestershire-based £ 2,00 00 charities and not-for-profit organisations the chance to Two Thousan ousand Pound ounds win £2,000 each time. The first winner will be announced in our July 2019 issue, along with details of T h e L o c a l An s w e r the next draw. A D VER T I SER S This month, our four brilliant sponsors are Café René, Gloucester Carpet Outlet, Albany Windows and Sherbornes Solicitors Ltd. You can read more about them on our website – thelocalanswer.co.ukk//news/local-information.aspx
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For your chance to choose which organisation benefits from this prize, send their name (and registered charity number if applicable) along with your name, address (including postcode) and telephone number to ‘TLA Charit y’, The Local Answer, Unit H, Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL L53 7EG. Alternatively, enter via email by sending the same information to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Charity’ in the subject line. Closing date: Friday 31st May 2019. In addition to our usual competition rules, by entering you agree to have your name and photograph featured in our magazines and online should you win. Only one entr y per household accepted. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator, but the more times an organisation’s name is submitted, the higher the chance it has of being drawn. The Local Answer reser ves the right to discard any entries it believes do not meet the specified criteria. Good luck!
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Le Pub & Reestaurant L a S eak & Grillhouse St 01452 309 340 www.CafeR eR ene.co.uk 31 Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1TP
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6-22 APRIL THE BIG BA ATTSFORD BUNNY HUNT! The Easter Bunny’s helpers have escaped and they’re hopping around the Arboretum – find them to win a prize! The Bunny Hunt costs £2.50 per child (plus Arboretum entrance fee) and all children must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required – just turn up and enjoy! 9am-5pm. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. www.batsarb.co.uk EGGSPLORE EASTER Do you know what happened on the very first Easter Day? Come and explore this amazing building to find the answer. £1 per copy from the gift shop. If bought with the Discovery Trail (£4.50), ‘Eggsplore Easter’ will be free. When you have completed the trail visit the gift shop and claim a tiny egg! (subject to availability) Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green Gloucester, GL1 2LX. www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk EASTER TRAIL Come to Over Farm during the Easter holidays to take part in our children’s Easter trail. It’s fun for all the family. Our trail will take you on a short walk around the farm in search of the Easter bunny’s giant eggs. There’s a small prize in store, if you can crack the trail. Make sure you look out for our friendly animals along the way and don’’tt forget your wellies! £5 per child. No need to book. 9am-5pm. Full details at www.overfarm.co.uk. Over Farm, Overr,, Gloucester, GL2 8DB. 6-28 APRIL EASTER EGG TRAIL It’s time for some Easter egg-citement at Sudeley Castle. Get into the spring spirit by chasing down all of the naughty pheasant chicks hiding in the Castle rooms. Can you spot them all? Hunt for all of the Giant Easter Eggs that have appeared in the gardens for a chocolatey reward! Included with admission. For more details please visit sudeleycastle.co.uk. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. EASTER EGGSTRAV VA AGANZA A ATT COTSWOLD FARM PARK We’ll be skipping and jumping into the spirit of spring with an egg hunt around the Park with a prize for every child. There will also be craft activities and a puppet show to entertain the little ones, as well as all of the usual Farm Park fun – stroking bunnies and holding chicks, bottle feeding the lambs twice daily and the opportunity to feed those greedy goats! For full details please visit www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL.
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SPRING FA FAMILY LY TRAIL Follow the trail to find out the secrets behind the Snowshill garden – itt’s a magical place at this time of the year. Come and explore and find out more m about Charles Wade’s special gaarden. 11am-5.30pm. Snowshill Manor and a Garden, near Broadway, WR12 7JU. 7 6-23 APRIL VICTORIAN EASTER FESTIVA VAL AT THE HOLST BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM A varietyy of events includingg Bakke Back in Time Easter, Children’s C Craft Drop-In, Victorian Spring Clean aand Victorian Posies. For full details including dates, times, prices and activities, visit holstmuseum.org.uk Holst Birthplace Museum, 4 Clarrence Road, Cheltenham, GL52 2AY AY. 11 APRIL THE ART SOCIETY WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE The next x monthly lecture for The Arts Society West Gloucestershire aat Highnam Community Centre GL2 8DG is: Burlington House and the Rooyal Academy, that has a long and f i ti history. fascinating hi t Vi it Visit www.theartssocietywestglos.org.uk for details or call 01684 883701. 12 APRIL THE KAST OFF KINKS Three former members of band ‘The Kinks’, back together playing grreat music and re-living the good tim mes. This great line-up features Mick Avory, Ian Gibbons and John Dalton alongside Dave Clarke. Expect an evening of iconic hits including ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Sunny Afternooon’, ‘Lola’, ‘All Day and All of the Nigght’ and more. 7.30pm. £22.50 (£20). The Bacon Theatre, Theatre Hatherley Road, Road Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 12-14 APRIL THE COTSWOLDS DECORAT ATIVEE, ANTIQUES & ART FA FAIR A wide variety of pieces for colleectors, home furnishers, interior designeers and anyone looking for unusual decoorative accessories. 11am-5pm. Admission £5. Enquiries: 01278 784912. Complim mentary tickets: www.cooperevents.com m 13 APRIL LONGLEVENS CHURCH AUCTIO ON Viewing starts at 10am and sellinng at 12 noon. No buyers/sellers premium m. Bargains galore! Refreshments available. Holy Tr Trinity Church Haall, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 0AJ. Further details from Janet or Ericc Chitty on 01452 500229. STA TALKING AND HARASSMENTT POLICE EVENT An opportunity to talk to the police about stalking and harassment. The T
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police engagement vehicle will also be parked and able to discuss any other policing concerns you have. Westgate Street (off the cross), Gloucester. Saturday 13th April 2019. 10am-3pm. JIVE TA TALKIN PERFORM THE BEE GEES The timeless repertoire of the Bee Gees is brought to life in this stunning stage production. This charismatic ensemble boasts stars from TV and London’s West End and is fronted by real-life family members Darren, Gary and Jack Simmons making for an unrivalled vocal harmony blend. 7.30pm. £20 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 14 APRIL OPEN GARDEN & RARE PLANT FA FAIR Join us in this beautiful spring garden by the River Coln, browse the specialist nurseries for interesting and unusual plants, explore the garden and enjoy light refreshments in the pool side Café in support of Cobalt. 11am-4pm. Entry £5 per adult, under 16s free. Quenington, g Cirencester GL7 5BN. OPERA ANYWHERE – HMS PINAFORE This is a tale of mismatched love across different social classes. Josephine is the captain’s daughter and has fallen for lowly sailor Ralph. Yet her father has other ideas – he has promised her to Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Will love prevail? Climb aboard to find out and enjoy a feast of fun along the way. 2pm. £20 (£17, under 18s £10). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 15 APRIL AMAZING BUBBLE MAN
Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences worldwide for over 30 years with the art, art magic, magic scien science nce and fun of bubbles. From square buubbles to rocket bubbles, tornado bubbles to flying saucer bubbles, the Amaazing Bubble Man conjures shrieks of o laughter and gasps of amazement from all ages. 2pm. £12.50 (£10.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road,, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.co.uk
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15-19 APRIL ALDSWORTH TO BURFORD Art@Aldsworth group of artists are holding an exhibition of original paintings and glasswork. At Warwick Hall, Burford. 15th April: 12-4.30pm. 16th-18th April: 10am-4.30pm. 19th April: 10am-4pm. Come and meet the artists. 16 APRIL – 12 MAY INTO THE BLUE The colour blue is generally associated with the sky and the oceans, but is oddly rare in nature. It has different meanings in different cultures and was the first man-made colour pigment in 2,200 B.C. This selection of work celebrates blue in a varied mix of both 2D and 3D items. £5.25 adults, £4.75 conc, £15 family. Full details at natureinart.org.uk Nature in Art, Main A38 Twigworth, Gloucester, GL2 9PA. 18-20 APRIL PATESIAN PLAYERS Alan Ayckbourn’s Confusions Local, dedicated actors bring you a short series of plays about our everyday lives: funny, reflective, poignant and incisive. Come and join us at two local venues for a memorable matinee or evening. 18th & 19th April, 3pm, Sober Parrot, St James Square. 19th April,
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7.30pm & 20th April, 3pm, Bethesda Church, Great Norwood Street. Tickets £10, £8. To book call 07946 418552 from 1st April. 19-22 APRIL CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT Spring has sprung at Chedworth Roman Villa. Join us this Easter weekend for the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt. Get close to nature while you follow the clues on site to claim your prize. There is a small charge for the trail. All ages welcome. £2.50. 10.30am4.30pm. Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, near Cheltenham, GL54 3LJ. EASTER WEEKEND AT BERKELEY CASTLE Easter would not be the same without the thrilling Dragon extravaganza. Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to experience fantastic dragon puppetry, get face-to-face with a baby dragon, and take part in the colourful Chinese Dragon Parade. Join the Easter hunt and don’t forget to collect your free treat. Full details at www.berkeley-castle.com 20 APRIL THE GREAT EASTER EGG TRAIL Come and join the fun! Explore the park, hunt for clues, meet the Easter Bunny and win a chocolate prize! Quiz sheets £2.50 from Sandford Park Café.
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A joint event for Cobalt and Maggie’s. 1-4pm. Sandford Park, Cheltenham. 20-21 APRIL MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY The Bird & Deer Park is well known for its Easter Mad Hatter’s Tea Party but this year it is going to be huge fun and totally different. Are you ‘Team Alice’ or ‘Team Mad Hatter’? A tough choice but no matter which team you join up with, the two professional dance theatre artists will ensure your children get into character and are transported to another world! Full details at thebirdpark.com. 01452 812727. The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, GL4 8EX. 21 APRIL EASTER FAMILY CELEBRATION 10.30am. An Easter Day church service aimed at all the family. At Cambray Baptist Church, Cambray Place, Cheltenham GL50 1JS (near John Lewis). 25 APRIL MAYOR OF CHELTENHAM’S CHARITY GOLF DAY Teams of 4 playing 4BB. Fun competitions throughout the day. Evening meal, prize giving, auction, bacon rolls on arrival and refreshments on the 10th tee! Only £260 per team. Book your team NOW! Call Graham on 07878 381793 or email at graham_chandler@yahoo.co.uk
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THE BIRD & DEER PARK PRINKNASH
ppy time of the year and The Bird & Deer Park is well known ffo o r ho s ti ng its Easter Mad Hatter’s Tea Par tyy,, but this year it’s going to be totally Te difffferent and huge fun! The burning question is… would you like to be with “Te Team Alice” or… “Te Team Mad Hatter?” Weell this is going to be a tough choice, but no W matter which team you join up with on the dayy,, the two professional dance theatre artists will ensure that your children get into character and are simply transported to another world, with
p g to go in search of the curious caterpillarr,, bunny bobtails or pom pom b a n t a m s , a n d go o d n e s s knows what everyone will find around the park on the hunt with their team leader! Everything will be tailored ffo or those littttle Mad, Mad Hatttters to include organised games ffo or all to enjoy… and oh boy they will be fun – and let’s face it you can simply never tell what you will find, where you will end up – and so ffo or all of those parttyy goers, the themed Mad Hatter’s Marquee is ready and waiting ffo or tea!
The Bird Park lends itself so well to children’s events, with the ffo ollies and wonderfully tame birds and animals, who really don’t mind how you are dressed, be it in wings, wigs, superman outfits or just in wellies.
The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8
Tea witith Alic lice thi his Easte aster at The Birird & Deer Par &Dee Park
T h e f a l l ow d e e r s t i l l c o m e u p and nuzzle you ffo o r fo o d , a n d the birds always love to meet our visitors, which is just as well because afftter lunch you can
enjoy the rest of the park in your own time. B o o k i n g s o n l i n e o n ly a t www.thebirdpark.com or via the offffice on 01452 812727.
EASTER: The park will be closed by 5.00pm
The chief diff i ficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo...
The ffiirst witness was tth Th he Hatterr.. He came in witth ha teacu upp in one hand and a piece ooff breadd--and-butter in tth he otth her.
8EX • Open 10am-5pm • 01452 812727 • www w..thebirdpark.com
Leader s Liffe e with Councillor Paul James
Gloucester Ta Tall Ships
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
25th-27th May sees the return of the Gloucester Tall Ships and Adventure Festival, something seen by many as the city’s signature event. It was first held in October 2007, in order to give Gloucester’s economy a boost following the awful flooding in the summer of that year. It was inspired i i d by b Chris Ch i Oldershaw, Old h f former Chi f Chief Executive of the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company, and is run by Marketing Gloucester. It has taken place every two years since. Calls for it to be made an annual event have been resisted in order to keep the event fresh and maintain the excitement when it does take place. There is huge anticipation in the days running up to the festival and crowds line the canal side when the ships make their way towards the Docks basin.
Having them around the basin is quite a sight to behold For many, it is a throwback to the times when tall vessels were regularly seen in the Docks, including for the filming of The Onedin Line in the 1970s. They still visit, mainly to be repaired at Tommi Nielsen’s dry dock, but having them all around the basin is quite a sight to behold. Of course, the festival is made up of much more than just the ships and this year it has slightly changed its name to the Tall Ships and Adventure Festival to reflect some of the activities on offer. There will be a zip wire over the water, a wakeboarding competition and even Jet Suit displays. displays
A host of performances It has also teamed up with the prestigious Water City Music to put on a host of performances featuring local schoolchildren on the Saturday. Putting on all of this entertainment does come at a price (although the City Council is still putting £50,000 towards the cost). Tickets are £10 for adults, which are valid for the whole weekend and include access to the ships and free entry to the Waterways and Soldiers of Gloucestershire museums. Children under 12 are still free. You can buy your tickets at www.gloucestertallships.co.uk. It certainly promises to be a weekend full of activity, so hopefully I’ll see you there. @cllrpauljames
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27 APRIL RENEGADE FESTIV VA AL 2019 Our annual showcase of all things Gloucester music, ReneGade Festival returns for 2019 with a jam-packed, jump-up lineup! Join us from the afternoon for open-air music, an outdoor bar and BBQ, and good vibes until the early hours. 2pm til late. Free entry. For more details visit www.caferene.co.uk. Café René, 31 Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1TP P.. WORLD PENGUIN DA AY Y Join us for a day of Penguin related activities and competitions, all located by the Penguin pool, in aid of the ‘Sphenisco’ charity, dedicated to the conservation of Humboldt Penguins. Penguin talk and feed at 11am and 3pm. Help feed the Penguins at 1pm for £1 donation (subject to availability). www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk 4 MA AY Y COBALLTT PLANT SALE Greenway Nurseries are providing wonderful plants for the Cobalt Plant Sale. Come along and buy bedding plants, perennials or shrubs and enjoy coffee and homemade cake in our Linton House pop up café. 10am-1pm. Cobalt, Linton House, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AS. For more information call 01242 535922.
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6 MAY AY BARNWOOD READING ROOM Looking for a local space for yoour family event/party or group/socciety meetings? Room, garden and kiitchen facilities. Visit us at our Relauncch on Monday 6th May from 10am-12pm. 146, Barnwood Road, GL4 3JT. T. www.barnwoodreadingroom.coo.uk 6-29 MAY AY THE MAY AY RACING CARNIVA VAL AT WARWICK RACECOURSE WA Four days of action-packed racing with events including Kids Carnival Day, D Ladies Night, Proudly Warwick and Celebration Race Night. Full dettails at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/warw wick 14-18 MAY AY ST JOHN’S PLAY AYERS St John’s Players present the coomedy ’The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate E Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Production of Murder Mystery’. 14t 4th18th May, 7.30pm. Box Office: 01452 713952. £8/£7 concessions. St. John’s J Hall, Churchdown, GL3 2DB. Car park and Bar. 16 28 MAY 16-28 AY GIFFORDS CIRCUS – XANADU Gifford’s Circus returns to Sudeley. A magically chaotic family-friendly show, suitable for all ages to enjoy. More details at sudeleycastle.co.uk
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25 MAY AY – 2 JUNE THE WILDLIFE ART SOCIETY EXHIBITION
An opportunity to see and purcchase beautiful works of art and to meet artists who are dedicated to promoting conservation of all sspecies. Daily 10am-5pm and final Sunday 10am-3.30pm. Entry is FREE with good parking. Set in the beautiful groounds of Nature in Art Gallery and Muuseum, Main A38 Tw Twigworth, Gloucester GL2 9PA. SatNav Postcode: GL2 9PG G. 23 JUNE RIDE FOR RYDER Come and join us on one of thee best loved charity cycling events in the Cotswolds and raise vital funds for our care. Cycle 40km, 90km or 130km in the spectacular Cotswolds. Sign up at www.sueryder.org/rideforryder
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Entertainment
If you have a story to share, please email full details to TToom. with Tom Hadfield ‒ entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Café René Renegade e Festival retu urns When it comes to live music, there’s not many places s better in Gloucester than Café é René. René The bar and restaurant is well known in the city for hosting regular gigs and shows, and this month will be holding their annual Renegade Festival. The Festival is a free to enter event which will see musicians and artists from all around the county invited to perform. “We always look forward to Renegade Festival here at Café René,” said Jojo Roche, who works at the venue. “We started Renegade nine years ago as a showcase for local music in the city, as live music venues were diminishing at the time and are of course vital to the local music scene.” The festival begins at 2pm on Saturday 27th April and will
Gardna will be perforrming
include a barbeque e and an outside bar. The eve ent is free entry and always has h been, says Jojo. In the past, as well as a musical performers, the fes stival has featured local artists and other creatives, as Jojo exp plains. “In previous years we have turned our Cellar Bar and Mary
Film Review – Joe Kennett Captain Marvel With ‘Av Avengers: Endgame’ just around the corner, r, Marvel have come at us with a final blockbuster, r, leading straight into the finale of the current series of films. Brie Larsen enters the Marvel cinematic universe higher, further, faster than ever in the franchise’s first female-led superhero movie. Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck have created a new generation in Marvel – the pace is fast, the story is solid and the jokes are witty. It can be hard to keep up with at first, but it will not disappoint. The film has the elements of a retro alien invasion movie with all the excitement thatt fans of the franchise expect. Th his origin story gives a new w lease of life to modernday feminism. Captain Marvel is an unstoppable force, and she’’s going to be the perfect addition to the universe. Full review online.
de Crypt church into art galleries, and had d live graffiti and artwork on Greyfriars Green,” she said. “Regardless of what w else we put on, the live music is always at the heart of the e event and the majority of ac cts are from Gloucestershire.” After recently hosting h folk artists as part of the Gloucester Folk Trail, Café René will featurre a more eclectic mix of performers for the Renegade Festtival. Jojo added: “This year’s lineup consists of a colourful combination bi i off Dub D b, b Ska, Sk Punk, P k Electronica and Reg ggae. “We’ll be hostin ng Gardna, Counting Coins, JPDL & Yo Yogi Beats, Ital Sound ds In, DSD, Prime Position and d Grove, and we just can’t wait to see all of them!” Full story online.
Book Review – Aloÿse of Daylesford Book Club The e Red Address Book
by Soofia Lundberg How w many of us still use address books? This novel revolves arou und a “red-leather address book, its bent corn ners revealing the yello owed paper within.” It belongs b to 96-year-old Doris who lives alone in her Stockholm apartment. She was given the address book by her father and from that mom ment she kept a note of all the peo ople she met thro oughout her life. This is a debut novel inspired by the author’s great aunt who had a similar address book. Through the book Lundberg encourages us to talk to older people to listen to their stories and learn from their experiences. The author portrays old age as it is. Many of us will know a Doris, but the outstanding themes of the book are memories, sorrow and most importantly love. Full review online.
Above is a selection from local entertainment stories available online ...
Art • Events • Experiences • Film • Lifestyle Literature • Music • Reviews • Theatre • TV
The festival to re emember lostt friends Davefest is returning for a seventh year of music and celebrations celebrations. The festival was started in 2013 by a group of friends in memory of their mate Dave ‘Barbie’ Lord. “Dave took his own life in 2012, and his funeral was almost like a festival in itself,” said Felix Flicker, a Junior Research Fellow of Physics at Oxford University. “I think about 300 to 350 people were there. We got talking about doing something to remember him. Later that year about 30 3 of us had a big meeting and in 2013 we held the first Davefestt on his birthday. “Dave wass from Gloucester and moved to o Oxford to work as a porter at the University, which is where he and a I met. We both did martial arts and became good friends.”
Daveefest began in 2013
Now ev very year on the weekend of Dave’s birthday, 13th April, hundreds of people gather to celebrate c his life and the lives off those they’ve lost. Prior to Davefest, D Felix and the others had d never organised an event of this kind. But he says that the support of those who o knew Dave made setting up the festival a doddle, and as it ha as grown, even those who didn’tt know him have lent a helping hand. h
“We e didn’t really have any experience in doing anything g like this beforehand,” he ex xplained. “We e had about 100 people who were coming every year and saying they wanted to he elp organise, so about two y years ago we opened a Faceb book group for planning, and a anyone who wanted to get involved could join in.” The fesstival is a family friendly music ev vent held at the Lower Lode Inn n in Forthampton and is free to attend, with camping spots available. “O philosophy is to continue “Our Dave’s le egacy of bringing good people together. Everyone is welcome e and a lot of people come ba ack every year having made ffriends through the festival. It’s a nice tribute to Dave,” a added Felix. Full story y online.
Players take on n a classic co omedy The St John John’ss Players have been putting on productions in Gloucestershire for over 50 years. The group p usually perform twice a year, r, in the Spring and Autumn, and next month will be bringing come edy to Churchdown, with ‘The Farndale Avenue Housing Esta ate Townswomen’s Guild Drama atic Society Production of Murder Mystery’. “Theatre pe eople tend to nickname it ‘Murder at Checkmate Manor’,” saiid Keith Swinford, director of th he p production. “It was originally written for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1988 and was the production that paved the way for recent shows like ‘T The Play That Went Wrong’. “It’s basically a bunch of ladies and one cha ap in a village hall trying to pu ut on a play, and
The St Johhn’s Players in rehearsal
everything y g that can g go wrong g does go wrong.” Keith has been in amateur theatre for over 30 years, working with organisations all over Gloucestershire including Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society and the Cheltenham Playhouse. Now with the St John’s
Players, Keith and the rest of the Players cast and d crew have been busy working on this latest production, w which will be their first of 2019. He add ded: “It’s going really well, we e’ve got a phenomenal group o of people. The set is already built – even though at one poin nt it falls down. “There’s five in the cast – part of the jo oke is that they play 20 characte ers between them. “Four I’ve worked with before and are good friends, and we also have a new member, r, a young girl who turned up on the day of auditions and fits in really well. The Players will be bringing the “play within a play” to St John’s Hall in Churchdown from Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th May, at 7.30pm every evening. Full story online.
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In the Garden with Julia Smith
Spring garden n growth Who knows Wh k what h t April A il has h i in store weatherwise? We have had snow in April, hot, dry spells and constant rain, so anything is possible! This is a good time to plant ornamental grasses in freedraining sandy soil, but if your soil doesn’t sound like this you can add plenty of grit to clay soils to improve the drainage. Alternatively, create a raised bed with bricks or sleepers to aid drainage.
Cascading hummocks of vivid foliage Some grasses look great in pots like the Japanese Hakonachloa macra ‘Alboaurea’, which is an eye-catching small ornamental grass, forming cascading hummocks of vividly striped bright yellow and green foliage. The narrow leaves keep their colour throughout the season – although it loses its leaves in winter – and often when the plant is grow wn in full sun it develops a reddissh tinge. I prefer it grown in shade s to keep the yellowy-green colour. Now for ponds, it is a good time to reinstall any pum mps and filters that have been removed r
Picture: The Bressingham Gaardens
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over winter. Thin out oxygenating plants that are ‘taking over’. Divide and repot any marginal plants tha at have become pot bound and a top dress with grit. Don’t add any fertiliser to pond plantss, as this will make algae growth worse.
Encourage the grass to grow nice and green Begin feeding the law wn in April when growth starts again. Use a propriettary spring/summer lawn fe ertiliser in two applications. It should be high in nitrogen to encourag ge the grass to grow nice and green. g If you need to apply a weedkiller on the grasss, do it two or three weekks later when everything is growing strongly. Don’tt mow for two or Don three days after apply ying, and if you have mown don’t apply weedkiller for tw wo or three days. Also remem mber not to compost the clipping gs, which have been treated d with weedkiller. Personally,, I don’t mind seeing a lawn containing daisies and other flow wers, and
life is easier if you learn to love them!
Now is the time to grow sunflowers If you fancy growing sunflowers with your kids, now is a good time to sow w them. Plant them in a 9cm pot and provide a little bottom heat just to get them t to germinate. Ke eep them inside on a wiindowsill or greenhou use and tie up to a cane as they grow. They T can be put outside e as soon as the chance of frost has gone and d either planted in nto the garden or repotted into a 15cm pott. April iss also a good time to plant evergreens, both hedging and d specimen shrubs. P Plant into well-prepared soil w which has had organic matter and a handful of general purpose fertiliser added. Keep w watered, especially in dry spellls as we move into warmer weather.
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Save the Planet with Grant Mitchell of Severn Trent
Keeping our drains and sewe ers running freely Do we all know what we should and shouldn’t be putting down our sinks, drains and toilets? It’s really important that members of the public are aware of what should and shouldn’t enter the water system, in order to reduce sewer blockages, stop our rivers and streams from being polluted and to help the environment.
Your community
Your local drains and sewers that deal with your waste after you’ve flushed your toilet, or emptied your sink, periodically suffer problems in the form of blockages. This is as a result of the wrong things being poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet. So, to prevent the problem from getting worse, there are a few things you can do.
Your help – spread the word Please can you make a special effort to remember to only ever flush pee, poo and toilet paper down the loo, and always
scrape pots, pans and plates into the bin before washing up? If you already do this, that’s great, thank you. Wet wipes, nappies, kitchen roll, face wipes, cotton buds and sanitary items should never go down the toilet. They should instead be put into a bin. And fats, oils and grease (FOG) should never b poured be d down d the h sink. i k When they cool down, they solidify and stick to the water w pipes. If people put the wrong things down their pipes, sewers get blocked, cau using raw sewage to flood into homes, gardens, roa ads and watercourses. Not only y is this really unpleasant, it can severely pollute rivers and stream ms.
The facts
Did you know that Seve ern Trent are called to resolve e 45,000 sewer blockages each year y and 70% of them are cau used by people putting the wron ng things down the sink or toilet?? And what’s more, this costs a whopping £10m to sort out. Yo You can see from the images in this article what happens when wet wipes and FOG collect in our pipes.
Fine to flush
Did you know that most wipes are not designed to be flushed down d the toilet? As they arre moist toilet tissue, only wipes with the ‘Fine to Flush’ logo on the packet can safely be flushed… but still only one or two t at a time please. Try to keep p an eye THE LOCAL ANSWER
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out for the logo and think twice before flushing any wip pes.
Collect your fat, oil o and grease Why not try using one of Severn Trent Trent’ss Gunkpo ots or an old container to trap any fat you might produce when n you’re cooking. Wait for the fat to cool, then pour it into the po ot, scrape it into the bin – and then reuse it. If you nee ed more information n about this, please visit the Severn Trent website for some useful tipss on how to prote ect our wonderful water network: www.stwate er.co.uk/ about-us/environ nment/ bag-it-and-bin-it/
Thank you
Finally, thank you for y your help in making sure we kkeep our drains and sewers running freely. PAGE
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Gadgets & Gizmos with Laura Nicklin
The sky’s the limit! IIs it a bird? bi d? Is I it a plane? l ? Is I it a drone causing chaos at Gatwick Airport? Well, whilst it’s hopefully not the latter, there are still some fun flightthemed gizmos you can enjoy. From the realms of outer space, to the fantastical flying beasts of myth, these winged gadgets can help you to find your inner Buzz Lightyear and go to infinity and beyond!
Toothless & Lightfury g y Soft Toys From the much-loved ‘How to Train Yo Your Dragon’ franchise, come the adorable Toothless and Lightfury, in much smaller, more plush form, compared to their movie counterparts. These ‘Squeeze & Growl’ dragons make for adorable fire-breathing beasts; just squeeze their tummies to unleash a fierce growl. For kids wanting to te test est their dragon-training skillss, these 10-inch-tall dragons make m for the perfect pal. With h AG13 batteries included, and d priced at just £19.99 each, let your kids take to the skies.
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Spider Drone This gadget is sure to get g your spidey senses tinglin ng, as it looks and sounds like something straight out o of a Marvel movie. Well perhaps p that’s because this drone d is based on one of Tony y Stark’s many tech wonders from Spider-Man: Homecoming; it even includes a voice sample from Karen, Karen the AI from Peter Parker’s spider suit. This drone is great for beginners, as it includ des auto and manual flight modes, as well as autom matic launch and land ding features, and adjusta able flight sensitivity. It also has Sky Viper firmw ware, meaning you can enha ance its agility. At £49.99 9, it doesn’t matter if you’re a kid or an adult, y you can still feel like an Av Aven nger with this super tech.
our larger universe. Th his 85cm diameter system is designed to give an up-close presentation of the eight plan nets; just hang from the ceiling, and let the gadget rotate. The solar system, which w is remote-controlled, can also multi-task as a nig ght-light, with its glowing sun orb! At £25 99 this is a fun, stylish £25.99, and educational gift idea to get kids more intereste ed in the solar system.
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Interior Design with Gill Greenwell
Spring refresh It’s Spring at last; the snowdrops have gone, the daffodils are out and the tulips are blooming in all their glorious colours. After the dull and cold winter months, the sun starts to stream in through our windows – a perfect time to think about refreshing and updating our homes. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Colours that say ‘now’ The simplest and most costeffective way of redecorating is to use paint. There is so much choice of paint colours available now – and you don’t have to stick to grey. The current trend is for warmer, r, softer tints – think blush pink or soft coral. There’s even talk of beige coming back – you heard it here first! If you fancy trying one of the new stronger hues like teal or forest green you can always use it on a feature wall. Farrow and Ball is still the goto place for inspiration, or you can have your fa avourite
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colours made up forr you at your local DIY store.
A trend for prints A quick and easy way to brighten up yourr interiors is with new w cushions and throws. Swap wool and faux fur for cotton and linen fabrics in one of the gorgeous new floral orr botanical prints (greatt f outdoor for td f furniture it too). to ) Add a throw in a soft colour for those cooler evenings.. You could also recove Yo er a tired old chair with a brig ght new fabric which always works. w If you are replacing g your curtains, try something g lighter in a paler shade – think soft voile or textured line en, and partner with shutters or o blinds for extra privacy. Yo ou’ll be amazed how much ligh hter and brighter g your room loo y oks.
The new naturals Natural materials are a great spring/summer option for rugs and furniture, and are ccurrently
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very much h on trend d – good d for f the environment too. Try swapping heavy wool rugs for seagrass or coir. If you are considering upgrading your furniture, think bamboo and rattan for a more relaxed feel. I was in Australia at the beginning of the year and I noticed lots of beautiful low woven rattan chairs, often styled with neutral or tropical print fabrics and big green plants. I felt I just wanted to sink into them with my favourite cocktail.
An extra stylish touch It’s always good to add that special personal touch to your home. I particularly love coloured glass and textured ceramics. Look out for unusual colours or shapes for glasses and vases to add a dash of style to your scheme. Smaller interiors shops are a good hunting grou ground und for these. I found a beauttiful pale aqua ribbed vase in a local Nordic interiors shop and I fill it with masses of pink tulips. It lifts my spirits every y time I walk into my sitting ro oom. Now all you need to t do is pick up your paintbrush and have fun restyling you ur home. PAGE
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Hello Making g Ta Tax Digital (MT TD) Whilst the majority of the coun ntry has been concentrating on Britain’s exit from the EU, HMRC has been quietly preparing us for the arrival of Making Ta Tax Digital (MTD D) for VA VAT. Well it’s here and time to say Hello MT TD. With a small number of ex xceptions, all b i businesses which hi h are VA VAT registered i t d and d whose h turnover is greater than the registration threshold of £85,000 will have to submit their returns digitally. This means direct from your accounting systems to HMRC’s computers, without going through the Government Gateway or any other portal. We have been working with clients for months now to prepare them for the arrival of MTD. If you run a business and are not aware of what is needed, you need to ‘get your skates on’.
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The first job is to identify which software you are going to use. There are several cloud accounting systems that are available and most will do the job adequately for a ‘basic’ business. Our experience, however, r, is that the providers have brought a simple product to market, but that as soon as you need something a little more sophisticated, they come up short. Work out what you need your accounting system to do for you, examine the options, talk to your advisers and take the plunge! It is possible to keep your records on spreadsheets and add bridging software that will submit your returns digita digitally. ally. But don don’tt assume you can simply use whattever software you want; to be acceptable to HM MRC, they have to approve it in advance. Change is coming very quickly and, if you’re affected, you need to be taking acction now.
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Chris Den nt upbeat ahe ead of new season Chris Dent has been on ne of the main men at Gloucesterrshire for a good number of years yea ars now even though he only celebrated his 28th birthday at the start of this year. He first played for the club at the back end of the 2009 season and these days he is very much Gloucestershire’s number one opening batsman, and is also preparing for his second season as captain of both the county championship and 50-over teams. He is now one of the most experienced players in the squad, having played close on 240 games for the club in all competitions. And that experience was one of the key factors in earning him the captaincy last season in what is essentially a pretty young squad. Head coach Richard Dawson has promoted a good number of youngsters
Chris Dent
over the past couple of o seasons, peferring to give a you ung player a chance instead of bringing in a journeyman cricketter from outside to fill a hole. It’s meant regula ar opportunities for the likess of Miles Hammond, Jack Brace ey, George Hankins, Ben Charlesw worth and George Drissell in 2018, chances that they certainly too ok.
Olympic dream Young Bromley Taylor would just love to go to Paris in July 2024. And a trip to Los Angeles four years later is equally as appealing. Keen sports fans will know that Paris and LA are the venues for the next two Olympics postTokyo in 2020 and, if all goes according to plan, they could be very much on Bromley’s radar. You see Bromley, who turned 17 in January, does karate and kickboxing – she’s a black belt at both – and next year wants to take up taekwondo which first featured at the Olympics back in 1988.
The Bobby Dazzler Bobby George is big and brash and darts fans the world over love him for it. His appeal stretches beyond his chosen sport, of course,
Throw in all-rou under Ryan Higgins, the 24-ye ear-old who joined from Middlesex at the end of the 2017 sea ason, and it’s not difficult to see the t direction Gloucestershire are heading. “Ye Yes, we’re a young side, but we’re also a good side.” Dent said. “I think we proved that at the end of the last season s when we had some good results.” Indeed they did because they ended the campaign with three wins and two draws in the longer format of the e game. It saw them finish h fifth in the 10-strong Division T Tw wo of the county championsh hip and Dent added: “We want to start the new season the wa ay we ended the last one.” The 2019 campaign gets under way on Thursday 11th April with a championship ga ame against Derbyshire in Bristo ol. Full story online. Gloucestershire for the Cheltenham Masters, an ever-popular e event that this yearr takes place at the Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse on Frida ay 5th April.
Full speed ahe ead
Bobby George in his heyday h
because he is something of a TV star in his own rightt, and has been a big favourite on o the BBC show The Real Marigo old Hotel in recentt times. ti However, it’s for his darts that the 73-year-old remains best known and he remains in big demand. These days he’s wanted for his larger than life personality as much as for his darts and as such he will soon be heading to
Chris Rogers had ju ust returned from a two-week skkiing holiday in Canada when he spoke s to The Local Answer. That’s pretty much h downhill all the way, of course e, but since returning to his day job it’s been very much uphill all a the way, although not in a ba ad sense. You see, Rogers is general manager and d club l b secretary t off Prescott Speed Hill Climb, the home of the well-established Bugatti Owners’ Club, and this year the club are celebrating their 90th anniversa ary. For fu Fo full vers rsions of alll th these stori ries and more please visit our website www. w.thelocalanswer.r.co.uk
Above is a selection from local entertainment stories available online ...
London calls again for Mansfield Mike Mansfield will complete a magnificent seven when he takes part in this year’s London Marathon. And to have run six times already in one of the great races really is some achievement when you consider id that th t he h describes d ib his first London Marathon as “a bit of a disaster”. Disaster is a strong word, of course, even in a sporting context but Mansfield is a serious runner and finishing in three hours, 15 in 2007 was a big disappointment for him, even though it was the first time he had ever run over 26.2 miles. The recently turned 47-year-old Gloucester Athletic Club member said: “I didn’t appreciate pp how hard it would be. “I went off at a crazy pace, I wanted to run two hours, 45 but it was one of the hottest marathons on record and I died a death at 20 miles. “I went off at my actual target pace – and felt good! – but it was too fast for the unexpectedly hot conditions. My naivety was in not seeing the signs and slowing down accordingly. Heat exhaustion hit hard at 20 miles. “I should have slowed down b f before th then b t I didn’t but did ’t and d I ended up walking the last four or five miles.” Although very disappointed, he certainly wasn’t put off, quite the contrary in fact. “I was hooked,” he said. “I ran the first one because I felt I ought to, people always say, ‘Have you done the London Marathon?’ “But once I’d done one, it was such an amazing event, I wanted to do more.” He was back the following gy year and clocked 2.49.32 – his personal best – and has finished in sub-three hours in four of his London Marathons. “My goal is always to run under three hours,” he said. “In 2014 I ran three hours, 17 seconds, that was a bit annoying!”
M Mansfield Mike
He’s run a couple of other marathonss too – one in Jersey and one in Essex, Essex which is where he iss from originally. “The Jersey Marathon was probably my m best ever marathon,” he said. s “I came fourth in two hours, 53.” What made it just that little bit more special was that he didn’t know for sure s that there was a place in th he race for him until three weekks before the event. “I turned d up with no expectation,” he e said. “The Jersey Marathon is quite a tough one, it’ss shaped it d a bit like a cheese wedge. Th he first half was all steep clim mb but on the way down I wa as just overtaking all these peop ple who had died a death. “The ann noying thing was that third place got you £500 and you got nothing g for finishing fourth!” His other m marathon experience – the Halstead and Essex Marathon – was not so good, an event he took on just three weeks after his first Lon ndon Marathon. It was too soon and he admitted it was a “disaster” as he finished in three hours, 45. “I was desperate to do well because it’s where I’m from,” he said, “but I walked the last half of the race. It was almost a DNF but I just had to finish. “I suffered a tibia tendon injury and physically had to walk – it
was weird as I had no pain walking but couldn’t run at any speed.” s Finishing that race showed plentty of determination, of course, and combined with his obvious talent as a runn ner, it has stood him in very good stead over the yearss. He freely admits that the 26.2--mile distance is not his favourite. Giv ve him a choice and he’d go for 10K every time, altho ough since taking up the sport – he started running when n he was a schoolboy – he has competed over most dista ances. He joine ed Gloucester AC when he and h his wife Lisa moved to this area in 2011. Lisa is also a keen runner and is a member of Newent R Runners, with whom he also train ns. And w while he’s obviously looking forward to this year’s London Marathon on Sunday 28th Apriil, it’s fair to say that it is not the be-all and end-all for him this year.. “I’ll be gutted if I don’t run three ho ours,” he said, despite admitting g he’s got a “dodgy foot”. “But I’v ve vowed not to push it. I don’t wantt to t be b suffering ff i three th weeks later and unable to run any 10Ks.” He’s good at that distance – his PB is 32.18 set in 1995 – and he’s targeting the Speedway 10K at Chepstow in June. “I’d say that despite my PB being 24 years ago, I feel like 35 minutes is still an achievable goal nowadays,” he said. That’s pretty quick in anyone’s book and to be fair he’s very good at anything from 5K to marathon. He and d his wife are also big supporte ers of the parkruns and although h Lisa hasn’t been running for f anything like as long as him, he h is a big supporter of her running. “She’s done up to half marathons,” he said with obvious pride.
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Competition Winners The TLA Photography winner for the April 2019 cover is Jade Pollock of Bishoop’s Cleeve. 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 aft fter the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone aft fter the closing date has passed. 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
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