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COTSWOLDS WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK

JANUARY 2019

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AN ANSWER SWER Cotswolds C otswolds – 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham C heltenham – 43,000 43,000 ccopies opies North North Gloucestershire Gloucestershire – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies S Stroud troud D District istrict – 441,000 1,000 copies copies Gloucester G loucester – 46,000 46,000 copies copies

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

EEditorial ditorial & Marketing Marketing LLois ois Kingscott Kingscott eeditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk ditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Helen H elen Kingscott Kingscott

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

EEntertainment ntertainment Tom T om Hadfield Hadfield

January’s winning cover photo: Esmond Lane of Winchcombe

Welcome W elcome ttoo JJanuary anuary ... ... Happy New Year to all our readers! We hope you had a wonderful festive season and are looking forward to what 2019 has in store – we certainly are! After listening to customer and reader feedback that we received last year, you may have noticed that we’ve made some changes to the style of the magazine. We have changed our font to make it clearer and easier to read, as well as amending the style of the editorial pages. Of course, we always welcome your thoughts so do let us know if there are any further improvements we can make. Don’t forget to check out the winners of our TLA Photography competition. After receiving so many brilliant entries it was hard to narrow it down, but we think the images we have chosen are going to look fantastic!

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Customer C ustomer S Services ervices K evin V aughan-Spruce Kevin Vaughan-Spruce services@thelocalanswer.co.uk services@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Claudie C laudie Francis Francis production@thelocalanswer.co.uk production@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Distribution D istribution JJohn ohn O Overton verton – 001242 1242 541075 541075 leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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

Unit Churchill Road, Unit H, H, Churchill Churchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C hurchill R oad, Leckhampton, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire GL53 GL53 77EG EG

Telephone Telephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 @thelocalanswer @thelocalanswer

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Inside Inside this this month month .... .. Delicious Delicious D Dish ish Quick Quick Crossword Crossword Parenting Parenting & Guardianship Guardianship Holidays Holidays & Travel Travel Medical Medical Health Health What’s What’s On On TLA TLA Entertainment Entertainment Homes Homes & Gardens Gardens In In the the Garden Garden Distributors Distributors Required Required Interior Interior Design Design Save Save the the Planet Planet Gadgets Gadgets & Gizmos Gizmos Word Word Search Search TLA TLA Photography Photography Winners Winners Sudoku Sudoku Money Money Matters Matters TLA TLA Sport Sport Index, Index, Competitions, Competitions, Solutions Solutions

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

B Butternut utternut squash squash roll roll IIff y you’re ou’re llooking ooking ffor or a vegetarian vegetarian a alternative lternative tto o a ssausage ausage rroll, oll, tthis his v vegetable egetable a and nd h herb-packed erb-packed recipe recipe iiss iideal. deal. IIngredients: ngredients: 500g fresh butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and diced; 10ml olive oil; 5g fresh thyme leaves; 1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped; 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped or use lazy garlic; 400g tin of butter beans, rinsed and drained; 50g baby spinach, finely chopped; 10g fresh coriander, finely chopped; 10ml soy sauce; salt and pepper; 320g ready rolled puff pastry; 1 egg, beaten. Method: Method: 1 Pre-heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan/gas mark 6). 2 Put the diced butternut squash onto a baking tray, coat with half the oil and all the fresh thyme and roast for 20-30 minutes. 3 Warm a pan over a medium heat and add the remaining oil. Once hot, add the red onion and garlic and gently fry until soft. 4 Put this in a food processor with the roasted butternut squash and thyme leaves. Add the butter beans, spinach, coriander, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Pulse the mixture until combined – you need to leave it chunky, not a paste. Set aside and cool.

5 Unroll the pastry but keep it on its parchment paper. Measure and cut the first piece to 10cm wide and however long the pastry is. The second piece needs to be 14cm wide – this will be the top of the roll. Put a piece of parchment paper onto a baking tray, then lay the 10cm wide piece of pastry on it. 6 Spoon the cooled butternut squash mix down the centre, brush the pastry edges with the beaten egg and then pop the top section of pastry on top. Using your fingers, firmly press the edges together then trim with a sharp knife. 7 Brush the pastry with the remaining beaten egg and score the top with 3 or 4 slits to allow the steam to escape whilst cooking. 8 Bake for 25 minutes, remove from the oven, turn it over and continue to cook for another 10 minutes to ensure the bottom is crisp and cooked through. 9 Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly then cut into slices. I think it is best served warm whilst the pastry is still crisp, but it is still tasty cold for a buffet or having leftovers for lunch.

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Quick Q uick Crossword Crossword DOWN ACROSS ACROSS DOWN 1 Most important 1 Trrue 2 Captioned 4 Pituitary or adrenal 3 Slope 7 Stowing space 4 Mirth 8 Accurate 5 News & current ... 9 Me, ... & I 6 Grime 12 Surprised, taken ... 10 Welded 15 Cadets 11 Swamp 17 Prohibited 13 Average narcotic 14 Card game 18 Breakfasts or 16 Light wind dinners 18 Incapacitate 21 Climatic 19 Squash (insect) conditions 20 Festival 22 Intended 23 Clung (to)

D Don’t on’t llook ook until until you’ve you’ve ffinished! inished! Solutions Solutions on on ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ page. page.

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

A Are re you you having having a laugh? laugh? They say laughter is the best medicine and that certainly is true for surviving family life! No matter what happens, or how hard you try, when you put parents, kids, grandparents and miscellaneous others into a shared space, life is bound to be filled with spills and scrapes, dramas and disasters. How you choose to react to these says a lot about how well you can weather the storm.

Dig Dig deep, deep, find find the the humour humour a and nd llaugh augh No matter how serious the issue may be, from financial to health concerns, lost soothers to a f a mi l y ri f t , o n e o f t h e b e st ways of coping when things go awry is to dig deep, find the humour and laugh at it. Laughter has an incredible effect on our brains and our moods. Not only does it actively boost our immune system – which can take a battering during times of stress – but it actually relaxes the whole body, ensuring a healthy and happy you! My partner suffers with chronic pain and used to fall flat

on his face regularly, usually after rising from his seat, and as a family we became quite accustomed to seeing dad prone on the floor. We used to tease him, saying he was making the place look untidy, then step over him to go and put the kettle on! It really helped my children to see the ridiculous side of this situation – he was never hurt as he could control his fall, but it does mean my family have developed a rather black sense of humour around health and illness.

Treat T reat the the family family to to a ttruly ruly traditional traditional giggle giggle So how can you bring more laughter into your life? One way is to go to comedy clubs, watch family-friendly comedians on TV and listen to funny plays and storie s on the radio. In the age of YouTube, and Video Games, with violence all over the news, actively seeking out the funny and the weird can be a real source of delight. There are still Pantomimes on across the region and there is nothing better than a good old

fashioned chorus of ‘He’s Behind You!’, so why not treat the family to a truly traditional giggle this January? Maybe you have a funny bone that needs developing. Ever thought of taking some classes in Improv Comedy or Stand Up? Even if you never intend to perform, the skills you learn are invaluable in learning how to look at life differently: suddenly every mundane interaction can be mined for comedy gold and your family will love hearing your corny one-liners and endless puns (I promise).

P Put ut tthe he ffun un back back into into family family this this new new year! year! You could grab some joke books or funny stories and have a Comedy Night in the living room. Dressing up can be really fun and putting on silly voices will have everyone in stitches. Go on, I dare you – pledge to put the fun back into family this new year! Make 2019 the year of laughter and see what a difference it makes to your life. www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden

French A fast fast drive drive in in the the French ccountryside ountr yside The seasonal festivities are over. If you love motor sport, the closest you probably got to it over the holiday was Forza on the Xbox. That makes now the perfect time to plan a trip to one of motor racing’s classics. At the 87th 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15th-16th June 2019, 60 of the world’s fastest cars will do battle on the hallowed 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe. Will you be there?

Your Y our Le Le Mans Mans options options Okay, so prime Le Mans accommodation is long sold out – or commanding silly prices for race week. But there’s still time to grab some of June’s action. Plenty of options remain, ranging from budget coach trips to stylish on-circuit ‘glamping’. You could even combine cheaper accommodation further from the circuit with a daily ‘commute’ by train, bus or tram – or, if you’re really brave, car... You’ve never been? There’s nothing quite like the 4am buzz of French beer, barbeque and speeding Toyotas, Rebellions

and Aston Martins. How about combining more time in France? For a change from Calais or Caen, sail to Cherbourg or St-Malo, then stay overnight at Auberge de la Sélune in Ducey, near mystical Mont St-Michel. Next morning, enjoy a leisurely drive to Le Mans – stopping somewhere like the lovely little organic café ‘Pour Tous les Goûts’ in sleepy Sainte Suzanne. After the race, of course, the rest of France awaits…

Drive D rive tthe he ccircuit ircuit Fancy driving Le Mans? Unless you’re in a car club, access to the full circuit is nearimpossible, but you can still drive most of it on public roads. Start at Tertre Rouge on Le Mans’ outskirts, then imagine that 50mph in an MX-5 is 213mph in www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

an Alpine A470 prototype, as you chase trucks and camper vans down the legendary Mulsanne Straight. Hang a sharp right and continue towards Indianapolis and Arnage corners in the 200mph tyre-tracks of Steve McQueen and nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen. Then follow the old two-lane D139 through notorious Maison Blanche – last taken flat out by 240mph Porsche 917s in 1971 – to the fascinating Musée des 24 Heures du Mans.

Be Be part part o off L Le eM Mans’ ans’ glorious g lorious h history istory Whether you visit lovely medieval Le Mans, the circuit and its museum en route to somewhere else, or watch the race from start to finish, look forward to being part of Le Mans’ glorious history. Don’t miss it! Page 11

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

New New Year, Year, N New ew Y You ou It’s that time of year again, after the festive over-indulgence, when people make New Year’s resolutions that are rarely kept for more than a few weeks! New years can often make us reflect on what’s not serving us or what has been holding us back over the past year, and so we say out with the old and in with the new, time to make some changes. The most common ones are to eat healthier, to get fitter (often resulting in a massive influx of gym memberships), to stop smoking and to do more of something you love. These are all great ideas in theory and if you need to make positive changes then the first step is having a positive mindset about it. When it comes to leading a healthier lifestyle, there are some great free or inexpensive ways to start.

W Walking alking Walking is great because it’s free and easy for most people to do.

Counting steps on a watch or app has become common, but there is no need for that. Simply getting out in the fresh air and being around nature, walking for 30 minutes a day will: • Increase cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness • Reduce risk of heart disease and stroke • Improve management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes • Stronger bones and improved balance • Increase muscle strength and endurance • Reduce body fat If you are feeling slightly more energetic then you can advance to running and some local parks now have outdoor exercise equipment which is free to use and can be a very effective workout aid.

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C Cycling ycling Dig out your old bike that’s been pushed to the back of the shed or garage, or get online and find a cheap, second hand one and get out cycling. This is especially great if you have kids, as you can all go on family bike rides. Along with the previous benefits of walking/running, cycling also improves posture, coordination and joint mobility.

Swimming S wimming If swimming is more your thing, then head down to your local pool for session times and reap the added benefit of an all over body workout that is low impact. Exercise in whatever form you choose to do it not only has physical health benefits, but it also boosts your mood, increases self-esteem, improves sleep quality and energy, along with string evidence to suggest it reduces the risk of dementia and mental health issues. So this new year, make the most of what you already have available to you, to lead a healthier lifestyle that improves your physical and mental wellbeing without hurting your bank balance. Page 13

What s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented 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. 15 NOVEMBER – 6 JANUARY MAGICAL CHRISTMAS ICE RINK Get your skates on as the ice rink is coming back to Gloucester Quays this Christmas. Now in its third year, the attraction draws thousands of visitors of all ages wanting to embrace their inner Torvill and Dean each festive season. The rink has something for everyone from the novice to the experienced skater and there is plenty of action off the rink for spectators too including a ski chalet-style bar and café. Gloucester Quays, St Ann Way, Gloucester, GL1 5SH. www.gqchristmas.co.uk 30 NOVEMBER – 13 JANUARY ALADDIN Don’t miss the all new, bigger and better production written and directed by legendary Blue Peter presenter and actor Peter Duncan. Polish your lamp and book a magic carpet ride to the Everyman Theatre for the highlight of the season – Aladdin, the pantomime where wishes do come true! For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. 1 DECEMBER – 5 JANUARY DICK WHITTINGTON Once again produced by The Roses’ team, with Ben Crocker at the helm, this year’s panto sees Dick embark upon the adventure of a lifetime as he seeks his fortune on the streets of London! For full details including times and prices please visit www.rosestheatre.org. The Roses

Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 1 DECEMBER – 6 JANUARY THE BIG BATSFORD ELF HUNT! Santa’s helpers have gone missing and they are all hiding in the Arboretum; find them to win a prize! £2.50 per child, plus Arboretum admission fee (children must be accompanied by an adult). The Elf Hunt is most suitable for children aged 8 and under, however children of all ages are welcome to take part! Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre, Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. www.batsarb.co.uk 3 DECEMBER – 4 JANUARY TETBURY CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL AND MEMORY TREE For the second year in a row Tetbury Town Council has hosted this fabulous festival – come and see a festive array of beautifully decorated trees supplied and decorated by local organisations, schools and clubs all in the beautiful setting of St Saviour’s Church. You also have the opportunity to leave your memories of loved ones, friends and family on our Christmas Memory Tree. For full details please visit tetbury.gov.uk 5 DECEMBER – 13 JANUARY JUST SO Five of Rudyard Kipling’s tales weave together into a wonderous tale of personal courage, individuality and friendship. A twenty-five year project that began with a series of inspirational stories, Stiles and Drewe

bring us an imaginatively empowering piece of theatre in Just So. For full details including times and prices, please visit barntheatre.org.uk. The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. 8 DECEMBER – 11 JANUARY KNITIVITY Come and visit our amazing life-size ‘Knitivity’, beautifully knitted by local communities from all across the county. The Knitivity project began in 2015 as part of the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council’s (GRCC) In Touch programme, which is designed to unite communities by starting up creative groups that people from all over Gloucestershire can attend. The aim of the Knitivity project is for groups to collectively create and add to a life size knitted Nativity Scene for Gloucester Cathedral. Full details at www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk. Gloucester Cathedral, College Green, GL1 2LX. 8-30 DECEMBER SUDELEY CASTLE SPECTACLE OF LIGHT Experience the night-time magic of Sudeley through this beautiful new illuminated trail. Follow the White Rabbit and discover some of the amazing characters from Alice in Wonderland. Marvel at the glorious Field of Poppies, Meteors, Moroccan Lanterns and much much more! For full details including times and prices, please visit sudeleycastle.co.uk Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD.

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

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3311 DECEMBER DECEMBER NEW YEAR’S EVE RACING AT WARWICK

The biggest raceday at Warwick with 7,000 like-minded racegoers warming up for the big night out. Live music, great racing and a fantastic atmosphere is an absolute certainty. Prices from £10. Opens 10.15, first race 12.15, last race 3.35. Tickets: 03445 793 013. Warwick Racecourse, Hampton Street, Warwick CV34 6HN. warwick.thejockeyclub.co.uk. 2 JANUARY JANUARY JACK AND THE BEANSTA ALK Times are hard for the Trott family; they have no money and can’t afford to pay the rent. The only thing they have of any value is their beloved cow, which they decide to sell. But when Jack is sent to market to do the terrible deed, he comes home with nothing but a handful of mouldy old beans – that’s when the magic really begins! 3pm. Full details including prices at shed-arts.co.uk. Tetbury Goods Shed, Gumstool Hill, GL8 8DG. 44-6 -6 JANUARY JANUARY THE COTSWOLDS DECORATIVE, ANTIQUES & ARTS FAIR The UK’s first major art and antiques fair of the New Year. Featuring art and antiques specialists from across the UK, this popular fair is the place to buy everything including the most traditional antique pieces to the latest in decorative chic style. Public Admission: £5. Opening Times: FridaySunday 11am-5pm. Westonbirt School, GL8 8QG. www.cooperevents.com 5 JANUARY JANUARY ANDRE RIEU ‘The King of Waltz’ will bring his New Year’s concert, recorded live in Sydney, Australia, to millions of fans across the world. Join the Maestro for a magical evening of music and dance featuring his world class sopranos, The Platin Tenors and plenty of surprises. With show tunes, classical music and plenty of festive fun! 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 9 JANUARY JANUARY THE KING AND I Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional

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and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children. With one of the finest scores ever written, The King and I is a testament to the lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 10 JANUARY JANUARY 10 ANTONY & CLEOPATRA Broadcast live from the National Theatre. Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. In a tragic fight between devotion and duty, obsession becomes a catalyst for war. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 1122 JANUARY JANUARY CLASSIC CHASE DAY AT WARWICK

If there is one day to head to Warwick Racecourse then this is the one. With a focus on the most thrilling race we stage all year, you can also enjoy free heritage talks with some of the stars of yesteryear plus an exhibition of interesting artefacts from Warwick’s racing past. Tickets: 03445 793 013. Warwick Racecourse, Hampton Street, Warwick CV34 6HN. warwick.thejockeyclub.co.uk. 1133 JANUARY JANUARY THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY Direct from its success at London’s Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, The Simon & Garfunkel Story is back. Using huge projection photos and original film footage, this 50th Anniversary Celebration also features a full live band performing all the hits including ‘Mrs Robinson’, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and many more. 7.30pm. £18-£25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org

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1166 JANUARY JANUARY – 2233 FFEBRUARY EBRUARY ORIGINAL ARTISTS’ POSTERS EXHIBITION AT CHAPEL ARTS Original posters, created by some of the most prominent artists of the 20th Century, for their own exhibitions. Wednesday to Saturday. 10am–4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 17-19 17-19 JANUARY JANUARY PINOCCHIO & THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE Geppetto longs for a son and one day he is blessed when the blue fairy transforms Pinocchio, the puppet he has made, into a real-life boy. Pinocchio promises his guardian Jiminy Cricket that he will be good but is led astray by Whizz and Twang, a naughty wolf and cat. Times and prices at kingstheatregloucester.co.uk. The Kings Theatre, Kings Barton Street, Gloucester, GL1 1QX. 1199 JANUARY JANUARY THE ROCKET MAN Join us on a musical journey, charting the rise to fame of one of the biggest selling artists of all time, Sir Elton John. Combining breath-taking vocal and piano performances, flamboyant costumes, and a dazzling light show – all accompanied by an outstanding band and backing vocals. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. 2211 JANUARY JANUARY HANS REY – RIDING LIFE Hans Rey, the former World Champion, pioneer of Freeride, Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and mountain bike adventurer, will take audiences on an inspiring journey through his 30 year career and show you some of the best trails and destinations worldwide. 7.30pm. £19.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 21-26 JANUARY JANUARY 21-26 FAME The international smash hit sensation following the lives of students at New York’s High School For The Performing Arts as they navigate their way through the highs and lows, the romances and the heartbreaks and the ultimate elation of life. This bittersweet but uplifting triumph of a show explores the issues that confront many young people today: prejudice, identity, pride, literacy, sexuality, substance abuse and perseverance. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573.

22 JANUARY DAN SNOW – AN EVENING WITH ‘THE HISTORY GUY’ The well-known historian and TV presenter recounts anecdotes of memorable experiences from his very successful career as an historian and broadcaster. Dan will also research and include historical facts and stories relating to the specific area/ town of each theatre on the tour and will be aided by the use of digital screens. 7.30pm. £27. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 24 JANUARY HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY Please join Cheltenham’s National Holocaust Memorial Day Act of Remembrance, which will be led by Dame Janet Trotter. The event will start at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Offices, Promenade, Cheltenham. This year the theme is ‘Torn from Home’, which will also be the theme of a small exhibition that may be viewed in the Pittville Room adjacent to the Council Chamber, after the Act of Remembrance. WHITNEY – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT A stunning celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of our time. This award winning production features a sensational line-up of musicians and artistes, together with a powerful and breathtaking performance in the spirit of Whitney. 7.30pm. £26. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 25-27 JANUARY GLOUCESTER CAJUN & ZYDECO FESTIVAL A mixture of live music and dancing all day. Dance workshops for beginners to experts and the Swamp Rock DJs between bands, all topped off by authentic Cajun & Creole cuisine, the festival brings the spirit of Louisiana to Gloucester. Full details at

www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1NS. 26 JANUARY TONY SLATTERY’S CRIMES AGAINST IMPROV Tony Slattery and a team of local improvisers pit their wits against each other and do silly things because the audience say so. During the course of the evening, with comedy improvisation on trial, the audience will decide at the end whether the verdict is guilty or not guilty. Will Mr. Slattery be locked up in improvisation hell forever? Only you can decide. 7.45pm. £12.50. Cheltenham Playhouse, 47-53 Bath Road, GL53 7HG. 01242 522852. www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk KIM CYPHER JAZZ BAND Inspired by the funkier side of jazz and having studied alongside US saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, Kim Cypher’s style of performance is best described as ‘funky saxophonist meets 1940s jazz singer’. Kim performs an eclectic mix of music spanning many genres with a quirky, jazzy twist together with original material from her debut album ‘Make Believe’. 7.30pm. £12.50. Tetbury Goods Shed, Gumstool Hill, GL8 8DG. shed-arts.co.uk BEYOND THE BARRICADE The UK’s longest running Musical Theatre Concert Tour features past principal performers from Les Miserables, who will deliver over two hours of the best of Broadway and the West End, culminating of course with a stunning finale from Les Mis. 7.30pm. £25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 29 JANUARY – 2 FEBRUARY CRIMES ON THE NILE Belgian detective extraordinaire, 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

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suspects, and the murder count is growing, will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time. For full details including times and prices, please visit barntheatre.org.uk. The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. 30 JANUARY LA TRAVIATA ROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE OPERA From the thrill of unexpected romance to a heartbreaking reconciliation that comes too late – Verdi’s La traviata is one of the most popular of all operas. Alfredo falls in love in with the courtesan Violetta in glamorous Paris society, but underneath the surface run darker undercurrents, leading to a tragic ending. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. Full details at coriniummuseum.org. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. 31 JANUARY SPIRIT OF THE DANCE One of the most successful dance shows ever. Irish in origin and bursting with raw energy, this explosive and powerful show combines heartpounding Irish Dance with the sensual Latino rhythms of Flamenco and Red Hot Salsa in a thrilling production of strength and passion. 7.30pm. £28. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 2-9 FEBRUARY A BUNCH OF AMATEURS 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 limit by the enthusiastic amateur thespians. 7.30pm (2.30pm matinee on Saturday 9th). £14. Cheltenham Playhouse, 4753 Bath Road, GL53 7HG. 01242 522852. www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk

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Entertainment E ntertainment

IIff you you hhave ave a sstory tory ttoo share, share, pplease lease eemail mail ffull ull ddetails etails tto o TTom. om. with with Tom Tom Hadﬁeld Hadﬁeld ‒ entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Author Author Katie Katie Fforde Fforde on on writing writing novels novels Katie Fforde is a best-selling author who has been writing for nearly 25 years. In that time, Katie has had an astonishing 26 books published, with another set to come out in February this year. “I just work hard!” said Katie, “I get ideas from almost anywhere – overheard conversa tio ns, m aga zine s, jo b ad vert isements. There are plenty of ideas out there in the ether. “Once I have the idea and the characters worked out it’s like a marathon, just put one foot in front of the other and take it step by step.” Katie has written her novels on a whole range of subjects, from wedding planners and interior designers to cleaners and artists, and she is always keen to try out new occupations in her search for the next story. She continued: “My favourite

Katie Fforde

part of writing is the research. “I worked in an auction house as part of my research for ‘Flora’s Lot’ and that would be my dream job if I wasn’t writing.” However, a career in writing hadn’t always been guaranteed. “I believe writers are born not made,” said Katie, whose sister

FFilm ilm Review Review – Tom Tom Hadfield Hadfield

Jane Gordon-Cumming is also a published author. “I was very dyslexic and had bad handwriting, so I never thought I’d be able to do it. “But even when I was very happy with a lovely husband, kids, dogs, I think it was writing that was the final piece that made me truly happy.” Originally from Wimbledon near London, Katie has now lived in the Cotswolds for close to thirty years, and now considers herself a Gloucestershire local. She said: “I’ve never lived anywhere as long as I’ve lived here now. “It’s such a great place. I love the scenery, the people, my family are all close by and I’ve got so many friends in the area.” Full story online.

Book Book Review Review – Aloÿse Aloÿse of of Daylesford Daylesford Book Book Club Club

Fantastic Fantastic Beasts: Beasts: The The C Crimes rimes o off Grindelwald Grindelwald

A After fter the the P Party arty by Cressida Connolly

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ is the latest instalment in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter films and sequel to the 2016 film ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’. Set in the 1920s, the film picks up almost immediately from the prequel, with Newt Scamander – played by the ever-impressive Eddie Redmayne – tasked with the mission of hunting down the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), who believes wizards should rule over non-magical people, or ‘muggles’. There is a slightly darker undertone to ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’ in comparison to the earlier Potter films, but director David Yates manages to retain the magic and fantasy that made the series so Eddie Redmayne and popular worldwide. Katherine Waterston Full review online.

I t is 1 9 3 8 a n d P h y l l i s Forrester has returned to E n gl a n d w i t h h e r f a m i l y a f t er l i v i n g a b r o a d f o r many years. She is reunited with her two sisters, one of whom is involved with a summer camp on the Sussex coast. Phyllis allows her children to attend without realising the consequences. Cressida Connolly was able to use information researched from diaries of the time. The book is both a story of tensions within a family and tensions in a wider historical sense. The author builds up an impressive picture of life in 1938 – a period which many choose to forget. It makes for an interesting, if uncomfortable read, with Phyllis starting out as ‘the nicest woman in England’ until she becomes sucked into this sinister world. Full review online.

Above Above is is a selection selection ffrom rom local local entertainment entertainment stories stories available available online online ... ...

A Art rt • E Events vents • E Experiences xperiences • F Film ilm • L Lifestyle ifestyle L Literature iterature • M Music usic • R Reviews eviews • T Theatre heatre • T TV V

MJ-UK MJ-UK gives gives kids kids a chance chance to to perform perform When professional opera singer Maria Jagusz first moved to Cirencester around 20 years ago, she had no idea just how much talent there was hidden away in the Cotswold town. “I’d been touring all over the country and decided I needed to settle somewhere,” said Maria, originally from Manchester. “I began to tentatively teach singing in Cirencester and was absolutely gobsmacked by the standard of singers that knocked on my door.” As word got around about Maria’s talent for music and teaching, more and more children and teenagers with dreams of appearing on the West End stage got in touch, leading to the creation of MJUK.

Maria Jagusz and her MJ-UK students

MJ-UK is a theatre company that focuses on giving young people in Cirencester and the surrounding areas an opportunity to get into singing and performing with help from Maria, who has had years of experience on the stage. “We’ve got around 35 kids attending at the moment,” she continued. “I think we must’ve had around 60 or 70 former

students gone on to have careers in music. “Our ethos is to create a sense of community, make friends for life, and give the kids confidence and boost their self-esteem.” 2018 was a hectic year for MJ-UK, with Maria and her students busy performing at a number of concerts. Maria continued: “We like to do charity events where we can and last year we raised quite a lot for various causes. “We were really busy this summer with our own original production ‘Alice in Theatreland’ which went really well. “We’ve got several concerts lined up this year in Cirencester, Cheltenham and also down in Cornwall in the summer and we’re all really looking forward to it.” Full story online.

G Giffords iffords Circus Circus ready ready for for packed packed 2 2019 019 Nell Gifford founded her circus at the turn of the century in the year 2000. Almost 20 years on, Giffords Circus has grown into a thriving community of performers based in the Cotswolds. “The circus is my raison d’être, it’s my job and I feel lucky to have it,” said Nell, who in the past has beaten cancer twice. “The circus is very therapeutic. It is like a family and a great support network, especially when I’ve been ill. “When you walk into the tent, you leave all your troubles at the door and celebrate. It’s escapist, magical, beautiful, funny.” The circus features a vast range of performers, from trapeze artists and magicians, to

Nell Gifford and her son, Red Picture: Mark Lord

horse riders and opera singers. Every year, they take on a theme which all the performers then specially choreograph their acts to, under the watchful eye of Nell and award-winning director Cal McCrystal. The theme of

2018 was ‘My Beautiful Circus’, to celebrate 250 years of the circus. The 2019 tour of Giffords Circus begins in May on Fennells Farm in Stroud, before visiting – among other locations outside of Gloucestershire – Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, Stratton Meadows in Cirencester and finishing for the year back in Stroud in September. She continued: “2019 promises to be amazing, I can’t wait. Cal McCrystal is returning for his eighth year and already we’ve already had the most amazing creative meetings. “The acts are booked, the musicians are practising the music score for the show and our favourite clown Tweedy will be returning to the ring.” Full story online.

For For full full articles articles and and m more ore sstories tories vvisit isit w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith

Garden-themed G arden-themed rresolutions esolutions Usually when the New Year comes around, we tend to make resolutions around our health, fitness and wellbeing – all great ideas, but how about setting a different kind of resolution in 2019? Here are some garden-themed New Year’s resolutions that you could try this year: • Recycle the Christmas tree rather than leaving it in the garden as a reproachful skeleton until August! Garden centres quite often will take them, or local recycling centres, or most councils will take any left out for a couple of weeks after Christmas as long as they are not over 4ft high. • Grow at least one vegetable, be it a row of runner beans or a courgette in a pot. • Don’t tie the dying foliage of daffodils into neat bundles – leave it to die back naturally. • Don’t leave tools in the border to go rusty! This is one that I definitely need to stick to this year! • Mow the lawn once a week in growing season, even if it doesn’t look like it needs it.

These resolutions should mean you end the year proud of your garden – either because you’ve grown something new, or because you’ve kept it tidier than previous years! Now on to some general tips for your garden in January.

Ag good ood ttime ime tto ob buy uy H Hellebores ellebores To see the flowers of your Hellebores at their best in the coming weeks, cut away last year’s grotty leaves. If you haven’t got any this is a good time to buy them, as they are starting to flower and you can pick your favourite from all the wonderful range of pink, purple and violet colours. They like a nice rich soil and will thrive in semi-shade, and they look so magical with snowdrops and evergreen ferns during the dark days of January and February. Garlic grows best when it has endured some winter chill and rain, so plant out individual cloves in a sunny spot, pointed end up, 15cm apart with 2.5cm of soil covering them. If the soil is heavy or really wet you can start the cloves off in small pots

Young garlic sprouts www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

©Didier Willery

of soil-based compost and leave outside in a sheltered spot ready to plant out in spring.

Aw well-needed ell-needed b boost oost for for tthe he ccoming oming sseason eason If you have a greenhouse you can sow broad beans such as ‘Empress’ or ‘Witkiem Manita’ in pots. Lettuces can be sown into plugs in the greenhouse and transplanted outside later on if wanted, or sow cut and come again varieties into pots or growbags in the greenhouse. This also goes for those of you lucky enough to have window sills (I don’t have any!) – you can sow a small window box inside and pick off leaves as desired. Lettuces can also be sown outside under a cold frame or cloche. Mulch fruit trees , bushes and canes with organic matter unless the soil is waterlogged or frozen. This will give them a well-needed boost for the coming season. Get your garden off to a good start in 2019 and enjoy its splendours through the year! Page 21

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IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell

C Creating reating a ccalm alm lliving iving sspace pace The New Year is all about looking forward and new beginnings, and where better to start than by taking a fresh look at your home. The current ‘mindful’ approach to dealing with our fast-paced lives can be applied to our homes too. Follow my quick and easy tips for your New Ye ear spruce up and create a calm, clear and relaxing space to live.

T Top op tips tips for for tidying tidying The post-Christmas period is always a good time to de-clutter. I love Marie Kondo’s book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying’ – she takes you through the whole process with the mantra “only keep the things that spark joy”. Time to ask yourself – do I need it? Will I use it? Do I love it?

Get G et sstarted tarted Start with a wardrobe edit – you will find clothes you never knew you had – and you can always enlist help from a professional. Sort out your books – are you really going to re-read that book club paperback from two years ago? Delve into your kitchen cupboards – do you really need to keep that fish kettle you used once to bake a whole salmon?

I found a boxful of party g l a s s e s a n d g a v e t he m t o a friend for her barbeque, she was thrilled.

Ap place lace ffor or e everything verything Make sure you store things so you can easily find them. Storage doesn’t have to be unattractive – a friend of mine with a tiny flat in Paris always re-uses her nicest packaging boxes to store scarves, etc. The trend for all things natural means that you can find beautiful wicker, seagrass and natural-fibre baskets that really don’t cost too much, and are great for storing shoes, toys or bathroom essentials. Do try and avoid using display tall vases next to smaller plastic if you can. ornaments, add a pile of books with attractive covers and mix up C Curate urate y your our clutter clutter textures and colours. Now’s the time to be creative. S Something omething tto om make ake y you ou Aim for your home to be a thoughtful collection of all the s smile mile things you love. Invest in some At this time of the year, it’s good open shelving for displaying to have things around you that your most prized possessions make you happy. Why don’t you and embrace your inner stylist. look out for something new to Think about levels and layers – add that fun element? The Scandinavians are good at this – their home accessories come in lots of lovely bright colours which are so on trend this season. I have my eye on a storage basket in the shape of a pear, complete with a bright green stalk! It was meant for storing children’s toys but it will make a great addition to my laundry. Now it’s time to settle down with that interesting book you found at the back of your bookshelf, make yourself a soothing cup of green tea and chill out. www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

Page 23

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The T he palm palm oil oil predicament predicament There is one ingredient in our everyday lives which you probably eat and use so often that you don’t recognise it anymore. It is used in everything, from peanut butter to shampoo, so much so that it is nearly impossible to miss out of your daily routine without some serious study. Furthermore, this ingredient is so prolific that it is needed in huge quantities, leading to deliberate deforestation by nations which grow it as an export product.

What What iis s this this iingredient? ngredient? This ingredient is palm oil. Of course, you may be thinking, there is no ingredient on the back of my shampoo that says ‘palm oil’, so it must not be in this product. However, the manufacturers of palm oil, and the labellers of products, are sneaky – they use a whole host of names to obscure that a product really has palm oil in. While many of these names have a hint of ‘palm’ in, many do not. For example, when looking at your shampoo, do you see sodium laureth

sulphate or sodium lauryl sulphate? While it may not be obvious, it is these which help your shampoo to lather, but palm oil is a key component of their production. Even when it is clearly labelled, it is often so widely used that it is difficult to avoid in processed foodstuffs. The majority of peanut butters contain palm oil to make it smooth, stable and glossy: the t r a d i t i o n a l b r a n d s , c on t a i n i n g just peanuts, often do not have the same rich texture that makes peanut butter desirable. In fact, the majority of food, processed bread, including ice crisps and cream all contain palm oil.

Why Why is is palm palm oil oil a problem? problem?

Because it is so high in demand, palm oil production has boomed very www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

quickly. Unfortunately, as a consequence, the way in which it is produced has become a problem equally as fast. Because they can make a profit from producing it, many tropical nations are cutting down large swathes of forest in order to plant oil palms. This, in turn, directly threatens the exotic species which live in such habitats, like orang-utans and gorillas, of which most are already struggling. The palm oil trade also directly affects our human populations. Many people suffer human rights abuse in the plantations where palm oil is manufactured, along with f o rce d se i zu re o f t h ei r l an d i n order to grow more crops. So next time you’re at the shop, pull up a long list of the names of palm oil and see how much of your shopping you can buy without it. If this isn’t an option, try to buy from brands with a commitment to sustainable palm oil. Page 25

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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin

New New year, year, n new ew yyou, ou, n new ew tech tech With every January comes the typical New Year’s resolutions that normally fizzle out before the end of the month, but if you’re eager, perhaps some of these gadgets can help you stand firm. Whether you’re looking to get fit, get back on that diet that probably went out the window during December, or simply invest in a new hobby, you can at least get the ball rolling with the latest gadgets for 2019.

ing, whereas clear glass means clear weather, and visible crystals are a sign of fog or humidity. be True, it might considered slightly archaic compared to more modern technology (i.e. weather apps or simply watching the forecast on TV), but it’s still an undeniably clever invention that manages to carry an air of elegance. The Storm Glass is both a classy addition to your garden, and a way of appreciating the old-fashioned things in life. Available from menkind.co.uk at £25.99.

Smart S mart W Water ater Bottle Bottle

Storm S torm G Glass lass This intriguing-looking ornament isn’t just a pretty face; it’s also a weather forecast. Yes, this crystal ball of sorts will predict whether stormy clouds are ahead, or if you can look forward to a spot of sunshine. The Storm Glass, rather aptly shaped like a raindrop, uses its clever crystals when reacting to pressure conditions to keep you updated on the weather. For instance, small crystals and cloudy glass mean thunder-storms are approach-

Scientifically speaking, the daily recommended amount of water is equivalent to over three and a half pints for men and under three pints for women. Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially if you’ve got a hectic day ahead. With the Bellabeat Spring Smart Water Bottle, you’ll get helpful reminders to keep hydrated. Simply shake the bottle left-to-right to sync your data to the app, and you can get started. This Smart Bottle will calculate your recommended water intake based on your age, height, weight, activity, etc, ensuring that it is tailored to your specific requirements. It also keeps track of your water intake throughout the day, so you www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

can check on your progress. The Smart Water Bottle is available from John Lewis at £79.99.

JLab JLab Epic Epic Air Air Elite Elite True True Wireless Wireless Earphones Earphones If you’re feeling the need for some motivation to avoid the January blues, then these Elite wireless earphones from John Lewis will help you out. One of the best motivators is music; with these wireless earphones, you can enjoy your own Rocky montage as you shut out the outside world for some metime. Sweat-proof and customisable, these little gizmos are ideal for outdoor exercising, and have up to six hours of battery life. Their clever over-ear hook design will make sure they stay in place, and they even include Be Aware Audio, which allows natural ambient noise in so you don’t get too distracted by your music. These are available from John Lewis at £112.99. Page 27

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Your Y our 2 2019 019 C Cover over P Photos hotos Congratulations Congratulations to to the the winners winners of of our our p photography hotography competition! competition! Once again, again, we we had had ssome ome ffantastic antastic e ntries a cross all all months months of of the the y ear a nd iitt Once entries across year and was a tough tough decision decision cchoosing hoosing tthe he winners. winners. Sadly, Sadly, there there could could only only be be one one winner winner was per month, month, but but w e think think tthe he p hotos we’ve we’ve per we photos chosen for for tthis his y ear’s ccovers overs llook ook b rilliant chosen year’s brilliant GLOUCE GLOUCES STERSH TERSHIIRE’S RE’S BIGGEST B IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL and w eh ope y ou w ill llook ook fforward orward tto o sseeing eeing and we hope you will M MAGAZI AGAZIN NEE them e ach m onth! them each month! JANUAR JANUARY 22019 019 A xplained in in the the original original ccompetition ompetition Ass e explained details, we we will will be be ssupplying upplying our our own own details, images ffor or the the m onths of of M arch and and images months March December – kkeep eep a n eye eye out out iin n the the M arch December an March iissue ssue for for ssome ome e xciting news news linked linked tto o the th e exciting ccover. over.

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A Allll cchange? hange? The start of a new year is a time for looking first back and then forward. Often I would play a game of predicting what might happen in the financial world in the next twelve months, but anyone who tells you they can do that with confidence is lying. The year ahead promises to be one of the most turbulent on record politically and in the financial world. You think 2018 was bad? That was only the posturing phase; in 2019 we will see the realities of the fall out from those political manoeuvrings. As I can’t tell you what will happen, there’s not much point in speculating about what might take place, but it’s worth looking at the impacts that certain measures might create. This isn’t a new version of ‘Project Fear’ about the implications of the UK leaving the European Union, more an attempt to explain what happens if... The market T he sstock tock m arket crashes. crashes. Very few ordinary people have a lot of investments in shares. I’ve still got a few from when it was popular to buy privatisation issues, but for most of us, the impact of a major fall in the value of shares will be on our pensions. All of the pension funds hold the majority of their money in one form of investment or another and, whilst fund managers will tell you that they spread the risk as best they can, there is no doubt that anyone in a defined contribution scheme will take a big hit. IInflation nflation becomes becomes rrampant. ampant. Fairly obvious really – the cost of everything we buy goes up and our wages struggle to keep pace. We all demand bigger increases in pay, which stretches employers to the point where they cannot afford to award those increases and therefore have to consider laying off staff or, worse still, ceasing to trade. IInterest nterest rrates ates rise. rise. Often used by the Bank of England to stem inflation, but I’m not sure it really has the desired effect. For many of us, our largest monthly outgoing is our mortgage payment, so if that becomes more expensive, we still need the pay rise to help cover it. The T he value value of of sterling sterling plummets. plummets. Our holidays become more expensive, but remember the same happens to everything that we buy from abroad, so the cost of manufacturing could rise and there will be even more pressure on businesses in certain sectors. Others, who are selling abroad, will love it, but the concern is for those whose costs will rise and the knock-on effect for those businesses generally. As a country, we have enjoyed stability in these areas for the last decade, which may have caused us to become complacent, but has certainly got us used to a lack of turbulence. Fasten your seat belts as it’s going to be a rather bumpier ride through 2019. Whatever it brings, a Happy New Year to you and yours.

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S Sport port

with w ith R Roger oger Jackson Jackson

TO SHARE SHARE YOUR YOUR SPORTING SPORTING WANT W ANT TO STORY ON ON OUR OUR WEBSITE? WEBSITE? STORY Please Please eemail mail ffull ull ddetails etails ttoo ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk

F Fairford airford p proud roud tto ob be ep part art o off T TV V ssuccess uccess If Kurtan Mucklowe, one of the leading characters in the excellent BBC Three show ‘This Country’, ever fancies a game of bowls he’d be more than welcome to have a go at Fairford. So says David Crookes, who has recently taken over from Brian Morley as chairman of the club after previously serving as secretary. Regular watchers of ‘This Country’, a mockumentary sitcom, will know that Kurtan, who is played by Charlie Cooper, got a job working in a bowls club at the end of the second series. The filming for those scenes took place at Fairford Bowling Club, although the programme, which is about the day-to-day lives of two young people living in the Cotswolds, is based mainly in Northleach. There is, of course, no bowls

club in Northleach and David Crookes said that Fairford Bowling Club were more than happy to help out when the programme-makers came knocking. “They took over the club for about three days,” he said. “There must have been about 100 people there at one stage. It was fascinating to see it all taking place, everyone enjoyed it.”

M Mickleton ickleton magic magic

A ttop, op, ttop op m an man

What you see is what you get with Mickleton Rangers Football Club – quite literally. That’s because as well as being hugely successful on the field since forming in the mid-80s, t h e y ’ v e a l s o r a i s e d a go o d d e a l of money for good causes off the field. And that money has been raised without them being in their well-known yellow and blue kit… in fact, there have been occasions when they haven’t worn much at all, let alone their football kit, because over the years they’ve produced a good number of naked calendars with all the proceeds going to charity. “Yes, we’ve had some fun,” laughed Richard Lewis, who was one of the club’s founder members.

Edward Gillespie is one of the m o s t f a m i l i a r f a c es a r o u n d Gloucestershire. H e w a s t h e m a in m a n a t C h e l t e n h a m R a c e co u r s e f o r some three decades a n d h a s immersed himself in plenty of other activities over the years. He has recently taken on the role of Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, which sees him representing the Queen in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, taking on a full range of civic and ceremEdward Gillespie onial duties.

Kurtan, played by Charlie Cooper, at Fairford Bowling Club during filming of ‘This Country’. Picture: Ian Weldon Photography.

O On n ttop op o off tthe he w world orld It is somewhat appropriate that Vicky Holland was at her

And some of the club’s members can now also claim to have been on TV. “I think about 20 of them were extras,” David continued, “there was no shortage of volunteers!” That was in September 2017 and Kurtan and co returned to Fairford in late August to film a number of scenes for their Autumn Special, and it could be that they will be returning to the club again in the future. Bowls is not something that Charlie Cooper and his sister and co-star Daisy May Cooper, who plays Kurtan’s cousin Kerry in the show, played while filming at the club’s six-rink outdoor green but David said: “They’re very welcome to come along and have a go if they want to.” And the programme-makers would certainly be welcomed back as well! parents’ home in Redmarley in the county of her birth when The Local Answer called. The current women’s world triathlon champion has trained and competed all over the globe and won a stack of medals, but much of the groundwork for that success was done in her early years growing up in Gloucestershire. Born in Gloucester, the 32year-old is quick to pay tribute to those who did so much to help her in her swimming and running, work that enabled her to take on and ultimately conquer the world. She learned her cycling outside Gloucestershire but that doesn’t lessen one bit the sense of gratitude she has towards her home county. For full versions of all these stoories viisit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

Above Above is is a selection selection ffrom rom local local entertainment entertainment stories stories available available online online ... ...

N Newman ewman happy happy to to lead lead from from front front It won’t have come as much of a surprise to those who know him that Oli Newman is captain of Cirencester Rugby Club this season. The soon-to-be 25-year-old has been captain of a good number of teams over the years and was the club’s vice-captain in 2017/18. “I was captain of Cirencester’s age group teams from under-9s through to under-15s and I also captained Poulton Cricket Club a couple of years ago,” he said. That gave him a very good grounding to take on the leadership role at Cirencester and when you also consider that he has been part of the club for some two decades, it makes him an obvious choice to lead the Gloucestershire One club.

“ “I’ve I’ve llearned earned m most ost o off m my y rrugby ugby a att tthe he cclub” lub” “I’ve been with the club nearly all my life,” said the former Kingshill School pupil. “I joined the minis and juniors when I was five or six and have played pretty much all the way through. I’ve learned most of my rugby at the club. I did play at school but most of my development has come at Cirencester.” He had a break from the club when he was at Hartpury College and then when he took a year out to go travelling to Australia, New Zealand and Asia, but since returning to the club in 2014 he has been pretty much full-on with his rugby. And he’s back in his preferred position of fly-half this season after having a spell in the centre last time out. The previous two seasons were tough for Cirencester – they were relegated from Western Counties North and then Gloucestershire Premier – and promotion is very much the target this season. “We had a really successful season three years ago when we went up to Western Counties North,” Newman said. “Then we lost a few players – retirements, players going to

Oli Newman, left, with brothers Luke, centre, and Noah

university or starting families – and we had a couple of poor seasons. “But in the second half of last season we started to rebuild and that continued through the summer. Some of the younger players are a bit more experienced and some of the older players have come back to the club. “It’s an enjoyable environment a n d t h e s ec o n d t e a m a r e d o i n g really well as well.” It’s always good when the captain of the flagship team highlights the performances of the club’s other sides and Newman is not the only member of his family who puts his heart and soul into the club. Two of his younger brothers – second row Luke and hooker Noah – both play or have played for the club and all three played together in the 1st XV last season which Oli said “was pretty good”. There’s another Newman sibling as well – youngest brother James – although he isn’t old enough to play adult rugby yet. He’s also a very good cricketer

so he may not go on to play as much rugby as his big brothers. Oli’s number one sport is rugby of course and ask him if he’s enjoying captaining his hometown club and he’ll tell you that he’s “loving it”.

“I’m “ I’m fairly fairly vocal vocal on on game g ame day” day” So what sort of captain is he? “I’m fairly vocal on game-day itself,” he said, “but my vicecaptain Alex Hammond, who plays no. 8, is just as likely to give the big speeches. I’ll talk when I need to but I like to lead by example. “Playing at fly-half means I’m involved in a lot of the set-plays so it works quite nicely.” And how far does he think Cirencester can go? “We all kind of feel we should be near the top of Gloucestershire Premier and back in the Western Counties North in years to come,” he said. “Maybe not straight away. If we can get promotion this season and then maybe have a stable year, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”

For For full full articles articles and and m more ore sstories tories vvisit isit w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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C ompetition W inners Competition Winners The TLA Photography winner for the January 2019 cover is Esmond Lane of Winchcombe.

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

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

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