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FEBRUARY 2019
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ANSWER Stroud District – 41,000 copies Gloucester – 46,000 copies North Gloucestershire – 20,000 copies Cotswolds – 30,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies
Managing Director Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Editorial & Marketing Lois Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Helen Kingscott
Sport Roger Jackson sport@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Entertainment Tom Hadfield To entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Customer Services Kevin Vaughan-Spruce services@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Claudie Francis production@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution John Overton – 01242 541075 leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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Februuary’s winning coover photo: Keerry Palmer o Lydney of
Weelcome l to February F ... Now we w are past the January blues, ma any of us will be b looking forward to the middlle of the month, which is all about spending tiime with that special someone in our lives. As Va alentine’s Day fa alls on a Thursday this year, r, why not stay at ho ome and cook your significant other a romantic meal? For a fantastic finale, ccheck out our Delicious D Dish – we’ve got the e perfect desse ert recipe p for y you to g gain som me extra brown nie points! The Local Answer team are very much lookin ng forward to next month’s issue, as we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary! We’ll have lots of themed articles for you to enjoy readin ng and a few exciting announcements, so stay tuned! If you run a local business or organ nisation and would like to be part of our specia al issue, be sure to get in touch by Friday 8th Fe ebruary.
Inside this month ... Delicious Dish Mirror Mirror on the Wall Motoring Word Search What’s On Distributors Required TLA Entertainment Homes & Gardens In the Garden Interior Design Quick Crossword Sudoku Money Matters TLA Sport Index, Competitions, Solutions
5 9 11 12 14 15 18-19 20 23 25 30 31 31 32-33 34 Page 3
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Delicious Dish with Helen Kingscott
A decadent dessert for your y valentine This indulgent dessert will surely help to win over your loved one this Valentine’s Day!
Ingredients: For the base and sides: 40g plain chocolate; 75g Hobnob biscuits (or similar); 225g strawberries. For the mousse: 200g good quality white chocolate; 200g full-fat cream cheese; 200ml full-fat crème fraiche. Method: 1 Place six 6cm x 7cm metal rings on a baking tray t lined with greaseproof paper. 2 Put the plain chocolate into a medium bowl and melt gently over a pan n of simmering water. 3 Crush the biscuits (pop them in a bag and use a rolling pin) then ad dd them to the chocolate and stir until cove ered. 4 Press the mixture into the bottom of the rings with a teaspoon and pop p in the fridge to set. 5 In I another th bowl, b l break b k up then th carefully f ll melt lt the white chocolate using the same method as above. Leave to cool then add the cream cheese and crème fraiche and mix until smooth.
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6 Remove the e rings from the fridge then slice e the strawberries thinly and arrange them m around the sides of the rings. 7 Spoon the mixture m carefully onto the biscuit base and le evel off the tops – it doesn’t have e to be smoo oth. 8 Chill the mo ousses until firm. 9 Carefully re emove from the rings and serve e on a plate. Decorate with chocolate hearts, mint leaves s, a drizzle of chocolate or love e hearts! The swirly chocolate decoration was s from leftover leftov ver chocolate, chocolate which I drizzled d onto greaseproof paper and put in the fridge e to set. Tip: This is a very rich dessert so I served it with the leftover strawberries.
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Mirror Mirror on the W Wa all with Val Starr
Valentine’s His and Hers The first recorded Valentine’s Day supposedly dates back to the year 496. It is thought to have originated from a Roman festival in the middle of February to celebrate spring. Let’s hope we have spring this year in mid February! 14th February certainly is observed in a totally different way today. It is often celebrated with flowers, chocolates, romantic cards from couples to each other, some sometimes their children, other family members and even teachers. It is a lovely occasion to celebrate and show you care about someone. Instead of splashing out on an over-priced, over-crowded restaurant, why not plan a special evening at home? Here are a few alternative suggestions with a fashion twist.
Bathrobes Buying matching bathrobes for a fun night in is one idea, and if you have children and want to get them involved you can often find mini versions for them. From luxurious silk
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to inexpensive fluffy robes, the high street has a great selection. Marks and Spencers and Primark are just two outlets with good ranges. If not robes, why not pyjamas or onesies – they can be fun as well. At least these items will last long after 14th February, and bring some good memories of g an enjoyable evening when you next wear them.
Slippers Along similar lines, there are so many cute slippers out the ere that make a statementt from practical to plain silly y. Whatever style you choose, make it original to suit your partner’s p personality. These will also last much longer than a bunch b of flowers.
Lingerie If of course you go do own this well travelled route, try to choose items that not only o look wonderful but b are made of good d fabric, like silk or th he finest cotton, whicch will stand the test of time. Be practical and think about whatt your loved one w will be comfortable w wearing – our partnerss often have an ima age that might not translate into really wh hat their ‘beloved’ reallly wants to wear, so do give your choice a lot of thought. To advertise call 01242 510500
Scarves These could be a great alternative gift idea, and are also available to suit every budget. Of course, a famed Hermes scarf will set you y back considerably but it it’ss still still one of the finest silk scarves to own in the world, and one you will always treasure. Many less expensive, but gorgeous nonethe-less, scarves have beautiful colours and designs. There are some really amazing choices available that might just resonate with something special to you as a couple. Often the pressure is on from advertising weeks in advance for us to ‘spend spend spend”. Let’s not forget that however you choose to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, it really is the thought that counts. So rather than the standard box of chocolates and a bunch of roses, put a little extra thought into a gift for your loved one on this romantic occasion. Page
Motoring with Al Hidden
All-season tyres come c of ag ge Years ago, tyre choices for winter conditions were limited. You could struggle with traditional summer tyres or use an effective get-you-home solution such as AutoSocks, which work well, but only on snow or ice. For serious winter grip, you could fit winter tyres. Indeed, in parts of Britain where winter hits hardest, such as Scotland or The Peak District, this remains a preferred solution. solution There are devotees in the Cotswolds too. Just imagine commuting from somewhere like Amberley in snow!
Widespread expert approval For years, tyre makers worked on true all-season tyres. The earliest never got close to the performance of dedicated winter or summer rubber. Then Michelin and G d Goodyear l launched h d thei th ir i CrossC Climate and Vector 4S Seasons and began dominating allseason-tyre review ws by AutoExpress, Germany’s ADAC motoring organisatio on and magazines such as Au uto Bild
from countries where dedicated winter rubber is a necessity. Viable all-seaso on tyres were a reality at last – a fact reinforced when Peuge eot fitted them to its 2008 as standard.
A few comprom mises remain Okay, there’s still some compromise. No all-season tyre yet gives quite the ultimate performance of dedicated winter or summer rubber in its intended season n. If you live in mid Wales, seasonal switching to winter ty yres will still make sense. And A for ultimate track-day performance, you’ll probably stick with w your favourite summer rubb ber. However, if you re egularly drive in typical cold, damp, occasionally snowy, British weather, tyres like Michelin’s CrossClimates, the Vector 4Season Gen 2 tyres on our Sk d Ye Skoda Yeti, ti or Conti C tinental’s t l’ new AllSeasonContacct are a no-brainer. The downside? Softer compounds which ma ay mean a shorter life. Furtherm more, the Goodyears – though always Picture: www.tyrereviews.co.uk
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reassuring – don’t quite match the ‘on-rails’ feel of Sko oda’s exworks Pirellis in summer. s They’re not budgett tyres either, although prom motions seem frequent.
Reassuring all-se eason performance e That said, for many drivers, the compromises are e acceptable given reassurin ng fourseason performance. Besides, B the latest all-season tyres give real benefit wheneve er roads are wet or temperature es below 7°C degrade summ mer-tyre performance. How often do you u drive under such conditionss (this is Britain after all)? An nd how highly do you value p peace of mind when you mee et fresh snow in Wales, Gloucestershire freezes, or you drive in European countries ssuch as Germany – where all-season tyres with the Alpine m mountain snowflake symbol are e legally required in winter? For more and more o of us, allseason tyres deserve serious consideration – whate ever the season. If you’re like m me, once you’ve tried them, I suspect you won’t go back!
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Word Search Wo S N H E R L D D Q L Z E X W P C P Q V V U J U D
L Y M O H O S I W F S S C S U I V P K I H L Z W
M E S K O R M Q P L R E F D T A H A N M K M M F
N E S M E S V A B U G J D T L Q T S C W X M X L
S P N W Y Q O Y N D C L P E B S E K D G R F I F
B R O D I N N E R T E A N V C U R X M N Y E W X
A L M S F R L B Z C I T R C W T R A E H E P R M
F D L O U K L F Z Q I C I D V V P J W L C I Y P
X Y P G W R O W K N G C Q J H M K K F K I A R Y
T K R N C G E V E N M C U W K Z L S D O H Y G F
D Y T I Z G K V F E E L I N G S P S B V Q F I F
Q N U R X L J S E F X W U K H B D I H B N B V D
Q M O A G L E K A R G Y G Z B D N K S R V M I G
Z D E H Y J W F R D O L O E R N M K Q U Y Q N N
E F L S E I E G O W J F W G K C Q S V J Q C G E
M V L V Z B L E L P U O C B A A Q Y D M T O K O
R M O X Y G L G F W R Z W Y Q R T V Q B E T X J
R L O A N X E Q A R B R X R O D F W K L Q O T A
X H Q E I B R D A K O M B W W F X J B N B R P G
Z J X I S E Y X Y E D G B E P W L V D E T R L V
B Q N N W D D H D E T A L O C O H C X L M E C F
A N A O E T F U N C L J A Y D A T E U M C I S V
U C J Q E F K I A K Y K U U O T E W X H P A N D
V K U C T X V V C E Z A M M G Y N T X N O Q D E
Valentine’’s Va s Day ARROW BE MINE CANDY CARD CHOCOLA AT TE COUPLE CUDDLE CUPID DA ATTE
DINNER FEELINGS FLOWERS FOREVER FRIENDSHIP GIVING HEART JEWELLERY KISS
LOVE POEM ROMANTIC ROSES SHARING SWEET VALENTINE
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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. UNTIL 23 FEBRUARY ORIGINAL ARTISTS’ POSTERS EXHIBITION AT AT CHAPEL ARTS
Original posters, created by some of the most prominent artists of the 20th Century, for their own exhibitions. Wednesday to Saturday. Saturday 10am 10am–4pm 4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 29 JANUARY – 2 FEBRUARY CRIMES ON THE NILE Belgian detective Artemis Arinae is set to enjoy a holiday cruise along the river Nile when tragedy strikes once more. All the passengers and staff aboard are suspects, and the murder count is growing. Will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time? Full details: barntheatre.org.uk. The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. 2-9 FEBRUARY A BUNCH OF AMAT ATEURS Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and
insecurity are tested to the limitt by the enthusiastic amateur thespianss. 7.30pm (2.30pm matinee on Satuurday 9th). £14. Cheltenham Playhouse, 4753 Bath Road, GL53 7HG. 01242 522852. www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk 2-24 FEBRUARY LIGHT UP CHELT LTENHAM IS BACK
Light Up Cheltenham will illuminnate over 20 of the most iconic buildings in the town. This spectacular display will take place over three weeks and will be launched on 2nd February byy illuminated drumming band Spark! It will also be the first time a giantt observation wheel will be brougght to the town as the focal point of ann expanded Light Up Cheltenham. The three-week event, organiseed by Cheltenham BID, will run from 2nd 2 to 24th February. 4 6 FEBRUARY 4-6 SCHOOLS WILL ROCK YOU The story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion, and live music in a distant future where everyone dresses, thinks and acts the same. Let Tewkesbury School take you
on a rocking journey, using the best of Queen’s music. 7pm. £11-£13. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 7-13 FEBRUARY PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS EXHIBITION – UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE An inspiring exhibition, showcasing the work of 8 recent MA Photography graduates, with a diverse range of individual student led projects: from abstract macro photography to large landscape pieces, 3D works and documentary film. 10am-5pm. The Gardens Gallery, Montpellier, Cheltenham. gardensgallery.co.uk 7-16 FEBRUARY WAITING FOR GODOT TTw wo hungry, battered drifters wait by a dead tree. They might have been here yesterday. And they might well come back tomorrow. Unless Mr Godot arrives first. Which he might, if they’re lucky. Which they don’t tend to be. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. 8 FEBRUARY THEE ONES WITH JACK P PA AGE Thee Ones are a Stroud band delivering Soul, Jazz, R&B and 60s Hammond Beats. Their original material weaves story telling lyrics and an infectious groove that moves mind and body in equal measures. 8pm. Full details: theprincealbertstroud.co.uk The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS.
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9 FEBRUARY THE RUFF GUIDE TO SHAKESPEARE A glorious celebration of the work of the world’s greatest playwright. Expect silly sketches, toe-tapping songs, daft dance routines and extracts from all the famous and some less well-known plays. Suitable for ages 5+. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. IMPRESSIONS OF WESTONBIRT – CREATIVE ABSTRACTS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP This fun and challenging one day workshop is designed to help you look beyond the obvious and develop your creative eye. Discover new ways of interpreting Westonbirt and learn to see traditional scenes in a new light. 9.15am-5pm. £120. Booking essential. Full details at www.forestryengland.uk/ westonbirt-the-national-arboretum. Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS. 9-10 FEBRUARY GREEK LITERATURE WEEKEND Our focus for this weekend will be 5th c. Athenian theatre in all its forms. After discussing the social context and the venue in which the plays were performed, we’ll take in Plato’s attack on the theatre and Aristotle’s
defence. Full details of the weekend at gloucestercathedral.org.uk. 10.30am-5pm. Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LX. 10 FEBRUARY THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW From AC/DC to ZZ Top and everything in between. Anthem after anthem, riff after riff, solo after solo, The Classic Rock Show brings original recordings back to life on stage; with a huge sound and light show to match. 7.30pm. From £26.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk THE GREAT BIG HARRY POTTER QUIZ The Braintrust invites you to our very first quiz in Gloucester… and it’s HARRY POTTER themed! We’ll be transforming Gloucester Blackfriars into the Great Hall where we won’t just be testing your knowledge of the books and films, but also your wisdom in a variety of other magical classes! 6pm. £30 for a table of 6. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 12 FEBRUARY STROUD SCHOOLS DRAMA FESTIVAL Come and see the wonderful talent of local primary school children working together in Stewart Auty’s adaptation of ‘Wind in the Willows’. Join us and
Distributors Required For a few hours each month in the following specific areas:
Berkeley • Chalford • Kings Stanley Leonard Stanley • Middleyard Newtown Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6The Local £9/hour). Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the duties.
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have the best fun for all the family! Who doesn’t want to ‘Toot Toot!’ with Mr. Toad on stage? 5pm. £11 (£8.50 conc). Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 14 FEBRUARY ROB HERON AND THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA Enjoy a reet treat Valentines Night with these lovely chaps – Rob and the gang never fail to entertain and tonight is going to be an extra terrific affair. Come on Up The Hill for a dive back in time when men wore waistcoats and ladies wore the prettiest of dresses. 8pm. theprincealbertstroud.co.uk. The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS. 15 FEBRUARY ALE TASTING EVENING WITH GLOUCESTER BREWERY We’ve teamed up with Gloucester Brewery to bring you a wonderful evening of ale tasting. Each session will last 60 minutes and provides the chance to taste and discuss up to five ales with Gloucester Brewery’s guru’s. Minimum required age to participate is 18. £10pp (ticket purchases subject to a £2 booking fee per cart). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk
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16 FEBRUARY ANDREW LA AW WRENCE: CLEAN The star of Live at The Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow and UK comedy’s foremost contrarian takes a break from all the controversy in this new show. No politics. No religion. No smut. No swearing. Just great jokes and good clean fun. 8pm. £17. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org DREADZONE One of the most energetic, exciting and powerful live bands to emerge from the post-rave scene, Dreadzone have steadily been releasing albums and progressively refining and perfecting their unique and inimitable take on dub since their inception in 1993. 7.30pm. £19 in advance, £21.50 on the door. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 16-24 FEBRUARY HALF TERM ACTIVITIES A ATT CHEDWORTH ROMAN VILLA Join us for a fun day out. We’ve got a special trail, craft activities for children and you’ve got the chance to meet Chedworths’ Romans. Look out for the children’s mosaic workshop on Thursday 21st February. Full details of activities at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ chedworth-roman-villa. Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, GL54 3LJ. SOUTH WEST PUDDLE JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS Get your wellies and waterproofs on and jump into the puddles for a chance to be our ultimate splasher. We’ll be looking for the biggest splash, and most enthusiastic, stylish jumpers. Take part in our daily puddle jumping competition at 2pm in Welly Boot Land with a chance to win a prize. Included with admission. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. www.wwt.org.ukk//wetlandcentres/slimbridge 19 FEBRUARY DON QUIXOTE ROY YA AL OPERA HOUSE LIVE BALLET Cervantes’s story of the bumbling knight Don Quixote has inspired countless artistic interpretations. The story follows Don Quixote’s picaresque journey to do deeds in honour of his imaginary noble lady, Dulcinea. Sunny, charming, funny and touching. 7.15pm. £15-£17. coriniummuseum.org Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. 20 FEBRUARY THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND Richard II, King of England, is irresponsible, foolish and vain. His
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weak leadership sends his kinggdom into disarray and his court into uproar. Seeing no other option but to seeize power, the ambitious Bolingbroke challenges the throne and the king’s k divine right to rule. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.co.uk GODS, GODDESSES, SPIRITS & FAT ATES Join Dr Valija Evalds as she takkes you on a jjourneyy through g Roman beeliefs, superstitions and rituals. In thiss walk through the galleries we will coonsider objects depicting deities, honouuring spirits and propitiating the fatess. Children 7 and above are welcoome with an adult. 2pm. £5-£5.50. Full details at coriniummuseum.org.. Corinium Museum, Park Street,, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. RAY AY COOPER A story-led singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Ray singss both his own compositions and arrangements of traditional sonngs. He plays guitar, mandolin, cello and h harmonica. i 8pm. £12. Full F ll detail d ils at theprincealbertstroud.co.uk. Thhe Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS. 21 FEBRUARY THE MUSIC OF JOHN DENVER The real spirit of the music of John Denver is captured beautifully by b Chris Bannister. Chris has beenn touring with his solo show since 2010 and, having performed around the t world, he is now internationallyy applauded for his delivery of soome of the best songs ever written. 8pm. £16.50 (£14 concessions). Stroud Subscription Rooms, Rooms George Street, reet GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.ukk STONE AGE ADVENTURES Join the Yarn Whisperer for an adventure that takes you back into the Stone Age. The story is told weaving props and traditional musical instruments to bring the Stone Age A to life for family audiences. 10.30aam. £2.50-£3. Full details at coriniummuseum.org. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. 22 FEBRUARY BYE BYE BABY Bye Bye Baby is more than your average tribute band. They deliver a full theatre show covering the journey of the Four Seasons from the very beginning up until the Disco era and the rock and roll hall of fame. In fact a musical journey through the sounds of one of the most successful bands of all time. They perform 31 numbers in
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close 4 part harmony, with slick choreography and the recognisable falsetto. 7.30pm. £20 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.co.uk PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY Young visitors will be able to build their own compact pinhole camera in honour of Antarctic photographer Frank Hurley. With enough light children will be able to point their newly made camera at a subject and the image will be projected on the back of the camera. Please bring your own container (shoebox or similar). 11am. £3.50 per child. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 22-24 FEBRUARY GLOUCESTER FOLK FESTIVA VAL Featuring live music and entertainment, this festival draws on traditional folklore of the local area. Events are mainly free of charge and many local bands will be playing. King’s Square, Gloucester, GL1 1RW. F ll details Full d il at thecityofgloucest h i f l er.co.ukk 23 FEBRUARY THE JOHNNY CASH STORY
An incredible journey through tthe career of the 18 time Grammy w winner. Featuring powerful renditions oof ‘Folsom Prison’, ‘Ring Of Fire’ annd many more. This astonishing back caatalogue is realised with authenticity by Jamie Rodden, a critically acclaimed performer whose renditions of Cash’s songs has won audiences and wowed critics. 7.30pm. £17.50 (£15). Thee Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Chelteenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.cco.uk 28 FEBRUARY & 3 MARCH ROCK AND A HARD PLACE A new play in aid of Stroud Wom men’ss men Refuge. Kayleigh, a talented teenager whose life is full of promise, expeeriences a cycle of domestic abuse until Aunty Jan helps her find a way out. Stroud Subscription Rooms. 7.30pm. 28t 8th February. www.subscriptionroom ms.org.uk Chantry Centre, Dursley. 4pm. 3rrd March. www.eventbrite.co.uk Students FREE.
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Give a little time – make a big impact at Slimbridge Wetland Centre Whether you’re looking to meet new people, learn new skills or spend time in an inspiring environment, there’s a volunteer role for you at Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Just a few hours spent volunteering can make a world of difffference. With nine new inspirational and immersive wildlife experiences and exhibits opening at Slimbridge over the next few years, we’re looking to recruit a
number of new volunteers to help support the growth of our visitor attraction. We’ve got lots of new volunteer opportunities both visitor facing and behind the scenes. Discovery guides reveal the amazing stories of our wildlife, whilst family engagers help young visitors get crafty and creative. You can get stuck in with our outdoor teams and use your green fingers to help keep our grounds and exhibits ooking their best, or help our visitors make the most of heir day as a welcome host. Yo Y ou don’t need any expert knowledge to volunteer at Slimbridge, just a keen nterest in people and wildlife, a flexible approach and a ‘can-do’ attitude. A detailed induction and ull training and support s provided for all new
volunteers, and with so many existing vo will always e ha to help.
Find out about open days Join us at one of our open days to find out more about our volunteering opportunities. Our teams will be on hand to answer all your questions and you’ll be able to join a short guided walk or listen to an introductory talk on volunteering with WWT. Open Days take place on Wednesday 13 February and Saturday 2 March from 1-4pm at Slimbridge Wetland Centre. You’re welcome to turn up on the day or you can register your interest online. Find out more about the volunteering opportunities and register your interest online: wwt.org.uk/getinvolved
Entertainment
If you have a story to share, please email full details to TToom. with Tom Hadfield ‒ entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk
The story s of Strou ud in wartime e A Gloucestershire theatrre group will this month be telling the stories of people in Stroud Stro oud who lived through the difficult war years of the 20th century. Katy Sirr, owner of the Brandywine Theatre Company describes the premise of the show. “‘Same Time Next War’ is a tribute to that generation which grew up during the first half of the 20th century, when national and international events – two world wars and an industrial depression in between – made it impossible for people to live normal lives. “The fact that they did cope means that we have the freedom and advantages which we enjoy now. This production was originally written for Cirencester in 2014 and has now been rewritten for the town of Stroud by Christopher Denys,
Katy Sirr
who is also directing.” Brandywine are based in Cirencester and will be bringing ‘Same Time Next War’ W to the Cotswold Playhouse in Stroud from Wednesday 6th to Saturday 9th February y. Katy, who has been n involved in theatre for as long as a she can
Film Review – Tom Hadfield Welcome to Marwen ‘Welcome to Marwen’ tells the true story of Mark Hogancamp, an artist who struggles to cope with life following a vicious assault. Mark, played by Steve Carrell, is left unable to remember his old life following his beating, and also suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD. This leads him to take solace in the town of Marwen, a model town he has created to tell the story of Cap’n Hogie, his action figure alter-ego. The film is split between Mark’s real life, as he struggles with an addiction to prescribed medication and to face his attackers, and events in Marwen, which are CGI animated. As it g goes on,, the lines be etween real life and Marwen become more and more blurred, allowing the viewer to understand from Mark’s point of view how the toys provide him co omfort following his ex xperience. Fu ull review online.
remember, explain ns why she began the company back in 2014. She said: “The The main m aim for the theatre compa any is to be able to offer go ood quality touring theatre and d make it as accessible as possib ble. “I absolutely love it. There are always challengess – mostly funding – but being g able to be creative and to do something I love makes me a very lucky person. Over the next few years, I’m hoping to expand e the productions and alsso create an education programme.” Katy added: “In In 20 019 we have 019, plans for our production ‘Miss Potter’s Tailor’s Tale e’ for a short tour. “There are also a couple of other small producctions in the planning for 2019 which w will be announced in the spring.” Full story online.
Book Review – Aloÿse of Daylesford Book Club The Salt Path by Raynor Winn If yo ou need to recalibrate follo owing the start of the new w year, I recommend you read d the incredible true story ‘The Salt Path’ by Raynor Winn, shortlisted for the Wainwright W Book Prize. Raynor and Moth have lost their home through a bad investment and Moth is term minally ill. They decide to walkk the 630-mile South Wesst Coastal Path starting in Minehead. M They purchase flimsy sleeping bags and a tent,, and with £115 in cash they y set off. They y are aged 50 and 53 and this is their story. There was no money for camp sites or B&Bs. They could only just manage to carry their packs, yet they were free. Along the way the challenges were great. Precipitous paths, dreadful weather conditions and unfriendly locals, but Raynor writes thoughtfully and with great humour about the expedition. Full review online.
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Art • Events • Experiences • Film • Lifestyle Literature • Music • Reviews • Theatre • TV
Verity White re eleases new album a It’s been an exciting few years for singer and songwriter Verity White. White Now lead vocalist of her eponymous band and with a new album on the way, it’s fair to say it took the Gloucestershire-raised singer a while to gain the confidence to put herself out into the public eye. She said: “I’ve been writing my own music since I was about 12, but never shared it with anyone out of fear. “Then I released my first EP in 2016 and it’s been snowballing from there ever since!” Originally from Brecon, Verity grew up in Nailsworth, and reflects on what w life was like in the village. She continu ued: “To To be honest when you’re e a kid it’s kind of boring! Loo oking back now though I can see that being in a more rural area a helped make
Left to right: Alex A White, Alex McIntosh, Verity White and Joe Kelly
me who I am a now. “It’s such a beautiful place. As a grownup p – well sort of – I can appreciate i t its it beauty.” b t ” Verity recently moved to Prestbury with w her husband and band guita arist Alex, who also happens to t run a recording studio. “That’s not the reason I married him!” laughed Verity. “It’s actu ually really good
workin ng with him – we don’t even argue! “We’v We v ve been recording the new a album over the last couple of months and it’s gone really well, it’s really exciting g. “I th hink we’re sounding more ccohesive, we’ve really found ‘‘our sound’. In the past we’ve been a bit all over the place but now we’re more focused.” The typ pe of sound that Verity and herr band have adopted comes ffrom a wide array of influence es – from alternative rock ban nds like Nine Inch Nails to iconicc vocalists like Alanis Morisette and PJ Harvey. Verity added: “I’d say we’re ‘melodicc rock’, we take influence e from the 90s rock scene and add in synths and things likke that.” Full story y online.
Local choir leaderr on her love of music Sophie Sterckx is a Stroud based singer and choir leader. She curre ently runs two community choirs in Painswick and a Cirencester and has a passion for singing and teaching g others. “I’ve alway ys loved singing and felt comffortable doing it,” she explained. “I joined a big community choir in Devo on when I lived in that area and d ended up teaching some of my own compositions and loved the experience.” Sophie be egan leading the Painswick Co ommunity Choir in 2011, after moving m to nearby Stroud. The choir meet m to sing in the heart of the village v every Monday evening g at the Painswick Centre during g school term-time.
Sophie and members of the Painswick C Community it Choir Ch i
Sophie continued: “We sing a wide variety of songs from around the world in unaccompanied 3 to 4-part harmony. “We are a friendly group and there is still space for more singers in the choir so do get in touch! It’s open to all abilities
and no o music reading skills are neccessary.” Soph hie teaches the choir “by ear”, meaning her singers aren’t required to be able to read sheet music, making the choir a lot more open and accesssible. “I lo ove it, it’s incredible buildin ng up each part by ear, r,” she e explained. “From my point o of view, the sound of the harmo onies coming together is extraordinary. “We sin ng a lot of world music, because I love to teach and sing in different languages and we enjoy exploring different harmonies and musical forms from around the world. We sing in a 3 or 4-part harmony, acapella style, without instrumental accompaniment.” Full story online.
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In the Garden with Julia Smith
An unpredictab ble month F b February i a very unpredictis di t able month; it may be the coldest month of the year with snow and ice, or on the other hand it can be a month of unexpected sunny days which lull you into the false security that spring is just around the corner. You then rush to get started on sowing in the vegetable patch, only to get very disheartened when winter returns!
Sweet scented to S attract the bees Some trees and shrubs are at their best in this unpredictable month, which is quite surprising. As there are not many pollinating insects about at this time of year they can be quite sweet scented so as to attract the few bees that are around and foraging. Think of the witchhazels (hamamelis mollis), the spikey Mahonia, Mahonia th the he lovely
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Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’, or D. mezureum. My clematis cirrh hosa is another good plant for this time of year. It attracts bumblebees even in very early spring to feed on the lovely flowers that dangle down frrom the archway that I grow it over. Now is a good time to turn the composst heap, especially if you are still carrying a few w extra pounds from Christmas! After you have turned it, keep it covered up and you will soon hav ve lovely crumbly composst to add to your veg patcch or to use as mulch aro ound the beds. Why not try yo our hand at growing globe artichokes thiss year? They are really very decorative at the e back of a border. You ca an grow this month from m seed, two seeds per 8 8cm pot.
Germinate at 18°C. Rem move the weaker of the two se eedlings, and set the plants out in late April.
Give your lawn itts first cut of the yea ar If the soil is relatively y dry you can give your lawn its first cut of the year. It is best to raise the blades of the mower to take off just the tips of the grass, and then as the weeks progress you can lower them to get down to the shorter levels. This technique stops the grass being weakened and inviting moss and weeds into the sward. The yellow flowers of winter jasmine are a welcome splash of colour throughout the winter. If left unpruned they turn into a woody mess – now is the time to prune them as they are just about finishing flowering. Cut back flowering shoots to within two or three pairs of buds of the main branch, leaving the framework intact.
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Interior Design with Gill Greenwell
How green is yo our house? Plants Pl t lift the th spirits i it like lik nothing thi else; they bring life to a room and make it look more welcoming. They’re also an easy and affordable way to update your home. As we (eventually) move from the dark winter days to the first signs of spring, it’s a good time to think about bringing the outside in. Here are some ways to add a feeling of spring to your home.
Plants with style At this time of the year I like the chic simplicity of plants with white flowers – I love to have lots of pots around the house filled with paperwhite narcissi, white hyacinths, and hellebores – they smell lovely and you can group them together to make more impact.
Create a contemporary look
mid-century, seventiess favourites like the rubber pla ants and ferns are also back in vo ogue. Do make sure you take ad dvice on the care of your plants and check they are safe for f your pets.
Super succulents
Create a pared back Nordic feel with i h houseplants h l – the he current trend is for plants with sculptural shapes as a focu us point. Popular varieties include the exotically named drag gon and snake trees. If your style e is more
If y you don’t have a lott of time then go for something low maintenance. Small succulents and cactuses are having g a bit of a moment, they don’t cost c a lot and are in all the interiors shops. They come in a wide variety of shap pes and colours and need minimal watering – perffect for millennials living in small apartments. My daughter d can’t get anything g to grow in her London flat f so I bought her a gold tipped aloe vera in a lovely coloured pot an nd she’s now started a collection.
plant they can make a real r style statement. A group of aged terracotta pots filled wiith herbs will add a nice rustic note to your contemporary kitcchen. Mix textures and go for unusual shapes. I parrticularly like some cream woven cotton pots I brought bacck from holiday that I filled with with white cyclamens. Te Terrariums filled with succulents also look very stylish, and macramé plant hangers are back in style.
Add some drama
Finally, take a tip from the Japanese and add a bit of drama to your room with an indoor tree – really striking with all-white interiors. I first saw this look used in a friend’s turn of the century apartment in Paris. The room was all white minimalist, softened with two beautiful fig trees in pots at each side of a large window – it New ideas for looked amazing. containers Now you have freshened up Plant containerss don’t your home, you can look have to be boring – forward to those first signs of partnered with the right spring.
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Money Matters with Roger Downes of Andorran
Changing times Ask anyone at the moment about what 2019 will bring and they won’t be able to tell you, courtesy of the ever-changing picture regarding the UK’s exit from the European Union. These are changing times in anybody’s language. Stick or twist? Save or spend? I guess these are questions ti th t we’ve that ’ asked k d off ourselves l f for decades, but priorities appear to be changing across the generations.
The generally accepted model of my age group In my younger days, it was save first, for a deposit on a house, spend next as you enjoyed your 20s and 30s, dread the big four-O and begin the gentle descent into retirement (in my case a very gentle one!) by lumping money into pension schemes in the way that you should have been doing for more years than you care to remember. If there was anything left, it went to the kids if they were lucky. It wasn’t the only way of doing it, but it was the generally accepted model of my age group. As I’ve watched the next generation grow up, that model has changed a lot. Firstly, there is no saving for your first house. The house you want is probably unaffordable, if it hasn’t already been snapped up by a buy-to-let investor. And the price of it doesn’t fit against your multiple of salary to enable you to get a sensibly-priced mortgage.
Disposable income is lower as a percentage of income
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Disposable income amongst most young adults is lower as a percentage of income than it was years ago, with rents, cars, mobile phones, etc. eating into your funds for spending on holidays or ‘luxury items’. And the standard of living is now based on a twoperson income, such that if you live alone, you have no chance of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’. Four-O has moved on a decade as everyone is living longer and the government is making us save for our pensions from the moment we start work. That’s a good thing, of course, and hopefully as this generation reaches its last ten working years, it won’t have to be setting aside quite as much as the previous one did at that age. And none of that is anything to do in the slightest with Brexit. What happens next?!
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Sport
with Roger Jackson
WA W ANT TO SHARE YOUR SPORTING STORY ON OUR WEBSITE? Please email full details to sport@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Table te ennis stars are e just champiion If someone says they’re involved with Forest Green, G a good number of people people would probably think that they’re talking about the football club that are riding high in League Two these days. Tw But there are other sporting clubs that carry the name Forest Green, including the table tennis club, and they, like the footballers are doing rather well. In fact the table tennis players are doing very well because their A team won the Stroud League Division One title last season. One of their driving forces is Dave Adamson, who is the A team’s captain and who, at the age of 68, was a key part of their title success last season as a player. Adamson, originally from south London, has been part of the Forest Green set-up for close on 30 years and he said: “We’ve got
A lifetime in sport By his own admission Mike Edwards wasn’t very good at school. In fact, that’s a bit of an understatement because he left the education system at the age of 15 without a qualification to his name. “I couldn’t wait to get out,” he said, “they were the worst days of my life. I didn’t do any sport, I didn’t work hard.” But while school was clearly a bit of a non-starter for the now 72-year-old, it’s fair to say he has been a front-runner in life for the best p part of six decades now,, working in the racing industry for a good number of years, travelling the world to watch some of the top sporting events through his job as a sports travel agent – he worked for former Gloucester and England rugby star Mike Burton – and working tirelessly on the administrative
Alan Giles, Dave Harvey and Dave Adamson
three teams competing in the Stroud League. As a club c we’re very well respected, respected we e’ve e ve always been strong.” And age is certainly no barrier to playing a good lev vel of table tennis because alongside Adamson in last seasson’s titlewinning success were w two players who can also remember the Beatles in their he eyday. side to support rugby and a cricket in Gloucestershire.
Right on cue… … We’re very lucky in GloucesterG shire because we get g to see some of the best sporrts stars in the country – and in ndeed the world – strutting their stuff on some of the biggest stages. Think National Hunt racing, rugby and cricket; and in February sports fans are in for another treat beca ause the leading players from the world of snooker will be heading h to The Centaur at Ch heltenham Racecourse to take part p in the Coral World Grand Prix. Prix It will take place from 4th-10th February and among those set to take part are Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Judd Trump.
A tennis all-rounder “You never know, in 10 years’ time I could be umpiring a men’s
So who were the e other two members? “Our Our chairman A Alan Giles,” said Adamson. “He’ss 77 and he’s been with the club b for 40-plus years. He’s droppe ed into the Division Tw Two team this season and he’s hardly lost a game.” And who was the third member of the team m? “Dave Harvey,” continued Adamson. “He’s 6 69 and he’s been a top, top play yer for many years. If you add up p all our ages that’s more than 200 0 years!” The A team are mu uch younger this season. Marcuss Holba, who was also an important member of the team last yea ar, is leading the way and Adamson A is impressed, saying: “He’s “ playing exceptionally well, his h game has gone the extra step.. “We’re trying to en ncourage the younger players.” Full story online. singles semi-final at Wimbledon.” Those are the words of Simon C bi hl Corbishley who h last year was named official of the year by Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Te Siimon Corbishley Association. It’s important to say at this stage that Corbiishley isn’t currently a tennis umpire, he was just thinking ou ut loud when he was considering g his career options in a sport he h has been heavily involved in for many years now. y It’s equally important to say that 44-year-old Corbishley C is very happy with wha at he’s doing now. “I’m a tournament director and referee, I’m a tenniss coach and I also re-string racketts,” he said. For fu Fo full versions of allll theese stori ries vis isit www. w.thelocalanswer.co r o.uk
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One of England rugby’s great rugby great men men Mention the name Phil Blakeway around these parts and it’s likely to be followed by four words, ‘Gloucester, England, British Lion’. And yet, if he had chosen another sporting path, it may have been another four words – equally impressive – that followed the mentioning of his name. You see, Phil Blakeway, as well as being a Gloucester rugby legend and cornerstone of England’s 1980 Grand Slamwinning pack, was also a modern pentathlete back in the day. And a good one he was too, good enough h to be the reserve for Great Briitain’s world junior championship team in London in 1968. And come to think of it, ‘Phil Blakeway, Grreat Britain modern pentathlon’ does have quite a nice ring to itt! “I used to play rugby and do modern pentathlon,” said Blakeway, “but eventually Robbie Phelps, the four-time Olympian, sa aid I had to choose between the two sports. I chose rugby b becaus b se it was easier!” i !” Many injuries later – including a broken neckk – in a rugby career spanning more m than two decades, it co ould be argued that the teenaged Blakeway didn’t go for the easie er option, although it’s debateable whether he’d have enjoyed the level of success in modern m pentathlon that he had in rugby. “I was goo od at the shooting, fencing and riding,” he said, “but running and swimming weren’tt my forte. weren fo orte ” He may be being a bit harsh on himself there as far as his running is concerned because although he was an out and out prop for the whole of his career and good enough to play 19 times for England – he was mainly a tighthead but could also play on the loose – he was
also quickk enough to play on the wing for Gloucesterr in the Middlesex Sevens on occasion. Born in Cheltenham, Blakeway was w educated at Sherborrne School, a small priv vate school, but it wass at Cheltenham RFC C that he learned hiss rugby. He was part of the junior sett-up before graduating g to the Colts, the team th hat launched Phil Blakeway was thhe cornerstone of England’s a good number of Grand Slam-w winning pack in 1980 players onto top same number that I played for careers in the t game. h first fi t team,” ” Blakeway Bl k said. id “John Fidler, Nigel Jackson the He mad de his first-team debut and Chris Mourton were all just before me,” said Blakeway, who against Moseley in 1971 and has fond memories of that over the years played alongside Gloucestter greats such as Mike period in his life. Teague, John Gadd, Gordon Blakeway, who was 68 on New Te Year’s Eve and lives in Sargent, Robin Cowling, Mike Ye Sevenhampton, is very easy to Nicholls,, John Orwin, Steve talk to and is happy to tell stories Boyle, Mike Longstaff and M to name just a few. from yesteryear in an era when Richard Mogg His firsst game for England players were fearsome rivals on me until 1980 and while the field and drinking pals in the didn’t com y seem to have been a clubhouse almost as soon as the that may long waitt, there was a very good final whistle had blown. or that because he broke They were unwritten rules that reason fo Blakeway was more than happy his neck in 1977. “I broke e it on the Wednesday, to abide by and he was certainly n the Saturday and found starting to make an impression played on he Sunday!” he said. as a rugby player in his late out on th Typically, Blakeway said that Ty teens because he was captain of n necks go, his wasn’t a Gloucestershire Colts as well as as broken bad one, but it was bad enough Cheltenham Colts. By the age of 19 Blakeway for him to stop playing for a thought he’d try his luck at couple off years. When h he returned to action he Gloucester. In those days, wannabe players pretty much was catapulted into the England took themselves over to Kings- set-up after just two secondd two first-team games, holm and it was a case of sink or team and making g his debut against the swim. Tw wickenham in 1980. Blakeway swam of course, Irish at Tw That year – 1980 – was the year despite what he said of his swimming prowess in his when Biill Beaumont and his merry me en won the Grand Slam modern pentathlon days! e and Blakeway, modest Not that he was an overnight of course success at Gloucester, it rarely as ever, said: “It was unbelievable, talk about being in the right worked like that in those days. “I think I played 140 games for place at tthe right time.” the United, which was about the Full story y online.
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