Cheltenham

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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE

CHELLTTENHAM SPECIAL ISSUE CELEBRA ATTING OUR 10th ANNIVERSA

MARCH 2019

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R Richards & Son Ltd FA F AMIL LY Y BUSINESS

ROOFING & FASCIA BOARD SPECIALISTS Servviing Gloucestershire and beyond ◆

New R Ro ooffss ◆ New Builds ◆ Slate, Chimney and Tile Repair ◆ New V Va alleys ◆ Felt and Battening ◆ Lead W Wo ork ◆ Leak R Re epairs ◆ Rubber R Ro oofing ◆ Fibreglass R Ro oofing ◆ Felt R Ro oofing Fascias & Soffits and Gu utttering – Carpor rtts Re R eplacement Fascias in a range of colours

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The The Lo Local c al

AN ANSWER SWER Cheltenham C heltenham – 443,000 3,000 copies copies North N orth G Gloucestershire loucestershire – 220,000 0,000 copies copies Cotswolds C otswolds – 30,000 30,000 copies copies Gloucester G loucester – 46,000 46,000 copies copies Stroud S troud D District istrict – 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies

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

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

Helen H elen Kingscott Kingscott

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

EEntertainment ntertainment Tom T om H Hadfield adfield eentertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk ntertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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 FFrancis rancis production@thelocalanswer.co.uk production@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Distribution D istribution JJohn ohn O Overton verton – 001242 1242 5541075 41075

leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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Accounts A ccounts Robert R 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 T elephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 @thelocalanswer @thelocalanswer

w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

Welcome Welcome ttoo M March arch ... ...

Here at The Local Answer we are extremely excited to be marking 10 years of the magazine!

Head over to the centre spread for a few words from Dave and some exciting anouncements on how we will be celebrating throughout the year.

You may notice as you flick through that most of our editorials this month have a birthday or anniversary theme. We hope that you enjoy reading them and hopefully, if you have a special occasion coming up, you’ll find them a great source of inspiration.

One way in which we will be celebrating is with some special offers. We want to start relationships with even more local organisations this year and beyond, so head inside to check out these offers and perhaps we could help you to promote your goods, services or events in 2019.

IInside nside this this month month .... ..

Delicious Delicious Dish Dish 5 Mirror Mirror M Mirror irror on Wall 9 all on the the W Looking Good, Looking Good, Feeling 11 Great 11 Feeling Great Medical 13 Health 13 Medical Health TLA 16 Offers 16 TLA Offers Wildlife Matters 19 19 Wildlife Matters Holidays ravel 23 23 Holidays & TTravel Parenting Parenting & Guardianship 25 25 Guardianship Education Education & Employment 27 27 Employment Motoring 29 29 Motoring Pet 30 Pet Care Care 30 2-33 EEntertainment ntertainment 332-33 What’s Onn 3344 What’s O

TTLA LA 10th 10th Birthday Birthday Celebrations C elebrations 442-43 2-43 Homes H omes & Gardens Gardens 4444 In In tthe he G Garden arden

5533

Sudoku S udoku

5577

Interior Interior Design Design

6611

Gadgets Gadgets & Gizmos Gizmos 6655 S Save ave the the Planet Planet

6677

Q Quick uick C Crossword rossword

7711

W Word ord Search Search

7744

M oney M atters Money Matters

7799

TTLA LA Sport Sport

880-81 0-81

IIndex, ndex, C ompetitions, Competitions, S olutions 8822 Solutions

C Competition ompetition on on page page 38 38 Page 3

THE MAYFLOWER RESTAURANT

Cotswold Country Dining

Congratulations and Happy 10th Birthday to our dear friends at The Local Answer

SPRING S PRING L LUNCHES U NC H E S

2 ccourse ourse m multi ulti ch choice ho i c e m menu e nu only o n ly £ £14.95 14.95 ((Wed-Sat) Wed-Sat)

MOTHER’S MOTHER’S D DAY AY L AY LUNCH UNCH

Enjoy a special 3 course menu with a gift for mum!

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nd and occasions a all occasions off all arties o parties or p enue ffor venue deal v IIdeal cost! hire cost!

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Tailored, T ailored, unique, unique, seasonal seasonal all off e events ccatering atering ffor or a ll ttypes ypes o vents •W edding C atering Wedding Catering •C orporate EEvents vents Corporate •B espoke M enus Bespoke Menus hemed EEvenings venings • TThemed •H og R oasts Hog Roasts •B reakfast Breakfast M eetings Meetings • SStaff taff PParties arties •C harity D inners Charity Dinners

We are well established as one of the most popular Indian restaurants and curry houses in Cheltenham, both for dining in and for take-away meals.

We serve a wide range of Indian and fusion dishes with quality ingredients based on southern Indian and south-east Asian cuisine.

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

B Birthday irthday cake! cake!

W We e couldn’t couldn’t let let our our 10th 10th Birthday Birthday pass pass without without sharing sharing a birthday birthday cake cake recipe, recipe, could could we?! we?!

Ingredients: Ingredients: 225g caster sugar; 225g butter or margarine, softened to room temperature; 4 large eggs; 225g sponge flour, sifted; whipped double cream and raspberry jam for the middle; icing sugar to decorate.

M Method: ethod: 1 Heat the oven to 200°C (fan 180°C/gas mark 5).

Grease two 8 inch sandwich tins and then dust with flour.

2 In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar and butter until you get a creamy texture.

3 Add the eggs one at a time and beat the mixture until it is combined. If there is a bit of separation in the mixture, just add a tablespoon of flour.

4 Fold in the flour a few tablespoons at a time.

5 Divide the mixture between the two sandwich tins and make sure the surfaces are level. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the sponges are golden and a skewer comes out clean.

6 Once the sponges are cooked, leave them in their tins for 5-10 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Whilst THE LOCAL ANSWER

you are waiting you could whip the double cream.

7 Spread a layer of jam on the bottom sponge, foll owed by a layer of cr eam . C aref ul ly pl ace the second sponge on top.

8 Dust the cake with some icing sugar to decorate and add the candles when you’re ready to sing Happy Birthday!

T ips: Tips: 1 1.. Don’t open the oven to check your cakes until you are at least two thirds of the way through the total bake time. You don’t want to risk the sponges not rising properly.

2.. Using sponge flour instead of self-raising flour 2 makes the cake extra light.

3.

3. Because eggs can vary so much in size and weight, you can weigh them together and then use that amount for each of the sugar, butter and flour measurements.

4.

4. Whether you like to smother your cakes with butter cream, design magnificent creations using fondant icing, or prefer a simple dusting of icing sugar to finish your masterpiece, make sure you have fun while baking and decorating!

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MISSING PUG

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She is spayed and microchipped.

£1000 £ 1000 rreward ew ard (held by charity)

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Any information will be treated confidentially.

Facebook page: Have you seen Aika - Cheltenham GL51

KKeep eep up up to to ddate ate WE WE S SELL ELL Y YOUR OUR C CAR AR on ssocial on ocial m media! edia! ““Better Betttter er Call Call Paul!”

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Mirror Mirror Mirror Mirror on on tthe he Wall Wall with w ith V Val al S Starr tarr

Anniversary Anniversar y jewellery jewelle The romantics among us will be aware of the age-old tradition of giving wedding anniversary gifts that have a different theme each year. Paper for the first anniversary, cotton for the second, leather for the third, and so on.

As the years go by, gemstones and precious metals come to the fore, which can result in some really beautiful gifts being exchanged. Different anniversaries hold special meaning for different people, but I will highlight three of the major milestones where precious stones can be given to remember that very special day.

P Pearl earl – 3 30th 0th A Anniversary nniversary Pearls can be natural or cultured and it is often hard to distinguish between the two except in the price, natural being the more expensive. Pearls have historically been given to celebrate important milestones and they have rarely gone out of favour.

A fascinating story of pearls dates back to 1918 when Lady Northcliffe, the wife of a press baron, had the wonderful idea of a fundraising campaign to support the war effort. She asked all her aristocratic friends

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to donate a single pearl – most ladies in that era wore them. The donated pearls would be restrung and auctioned to raise much needed funds for wounded troops.

It became known as The Red Cross Pearl Appeal. Queen Alexandra was one of the first to donate and she was quickly followed by most of British society. The huge success of the appeal inspired women from all walks of life to participate and this extended across the globe.

‘Pearls before Poppies’ is a fascinating book by Rachel Trethewey about the Appeal and is well worth reading. Perhaps the book could accompany your pearl anniversary gift.

Gold G old – 5 50th 0th A Anniversary nniversary The first evidence of gold dates back to ancient Egypt. It was prized by pharaohs and even the capstones of the Giza Pyramids were made from solid gold. California in 1849 was known for the famed gold rush, so when you next buy an item of gold jewellery give a thought to the history.

Gold comes in several carats,

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24 being the purest, folllowed by 18 carat at 75% pure and 14 carat at 58.5% pure. The price of gold changes according to the carat purity. Gold bars are seen as an investment in the uncertain currency markets, however I doubt if many of us are buying gold bars as an anniversary gift!

Instead, perhaps a gold chain, cufflinks or earrings would put a smile on your loved one’s face.

Diamond – 6 Diamond 60th 0th Anniversary A nniversary Diamonds are not called a girl’s best friend for nothing! They are a magnificent, hardy stone and come in so many brilliant settings; certainly there is one out there to suit every style and budget. It is worth bearing in mind the four Cs of diamonds; cut, colour, clarity and carat weight, which are all reflected in the price.

If you can afford the real thing then it can often be seen as an investment. For those on a tighter budget, simulated diamonds are now so well made that you’d often need a jeweller to distinguish the fake from the real deal. Many people often now travel with simulated jewellery, which looks wonderful and eliminates the worry of losing an expensive item of jewellery.

Whatever anniversary you are celebrating this year, nothing beats the magic of opening that special box and seeing someone smile!

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For For more more details, details, ccontact ontact u uss today: today:

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Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga

Begin Begin with with the the end end in in mind mind Too often, we know what’s good for us or the right decision to make, but struggle to follow through because it’s hard or requires some kind of commitment – time, effort, finance, etc.

Anything worth doing in life is hard and takes commitment, but when you look back on an achievement, it is always worth the input.

For 10 years now, The Local Answer team have been building, developing and improving their business in both print and digital media, to meet the needs of local people and businesses.

This required a vision of what that would look like (which is allowed to change over time), commitment and daily habits/ work toward meeting deadlines and running a business operation. Congratulations on 10 years and here’s to many more!

Two months into 2019, many of us will be elbow deep in our own New Year’s resolutions and will have either started to see results and get some reward, or are beating ourselves up because of opportunities lost.

Either way, life continues and it is only on looking back to reflect that we realise just how amazing, strong, committed and hard working we have been when we achieve something significant or learn through reflection, the lessons from mistakes made.

Dreams and Dreams and goals goals a are re an a n important important p part art o off personal p ersonal g growth rowth While it is important to “live in the moment”, to be present and experience your life fully, having dreams, setting goals, reaching milestones, making mistakes and learning lessons THE LOCAL ANSWER

are all an important part of the personal growth process.

Sometimes, we all need a little help to achieve our potential or ove rc ome our challe nges – the focus here is not so much on who or what, but rather how to reach your ‘Everest’. In his book ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, the late Dr. Steven Covey wrote: “Habit no.

2 – Begin with the end in mind, meaning that when you set out to achieve something, picture what it will look like when it is completed and then work backwards to the start.”

Take any one of your New Year’s resolutions – weight loss, sleeping better, exercising more – and think about what that would look like to you. If it was to enrol in further education, what will your new skills and knowledge empower you to do? If it was to build a business, improve a relationship, go on an adventure or some other big goal, you have to believe first, and then commit.

Create C reate a mental mental picture, picture, tthen hen p put ut iin n the the work work You see, the power of habit no. 2 lies in the fact that you first create a mental picture of your success – how you will look or feel, what you will achieve or create, how you will have helped people or created something. Then, you put in the work; effort, finance, time or other resources needed to bring this to life by taking action.

Your double commitment to achieving whatever it is you’ve set out – first in your mind by seeing it, then in the physical realm by acting on it – is what will enable you to achieve your dreams or intentions, realise your goals and mount your ‘Everest’. It’s not too late to start – even if you haven’t managed to stick to your resolution or change your habits to help achieve that goal yet, there is no time like the present to begin.

And remember, your finish line is unique to you – don’t worry about everyone else’s.

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

Hypnosis H ypnosis for for childbirth childbirth As it’s our 10th birthday issue, I thought I would discuss something many of us have celebrated at some point in our lives – the birth of a child.

Hypnotherapy for pregnancy and childbirth is now back in the public eye and gaining popularity. This is particularly thanks to celebrities such as The Dutchess of Cambridge, Jessica Alba, Gisele Bundchen and Fearne Cotton, amongst others, who have all openly discussed their personal, positive experiences of using hypnosis for childbirth.

Modern day advances in science and technology have been incredible, but have unfortunately led to inducing fear and the dramatisation of childbirth. It has almost become expected due to films, TV shows and word of mouth, that labour will be a long, painful and miserable experience, and you will need as much pain relief and interventions the medical staff can give you.

This is not the case for many should people and we remember that women have been giving birth since we came into existence and

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continue to do so every single day around the world without medical intervention.

Focus y Focus your our b breathing reathing and a nd u use se visualisation visualisation A woman’s body is designed to grow a baby and give birth to it, so using hypnosis reminds us of this, and that instead of fighting the contractions and viewing them as pain, it gets you to focus your breathing, use visualisation and see each contraction as a natural pressure that is bringing your baby closer to you.

The main reason hypnosis works in childbirth is because when you are completely relaxed, free from fear and tension, your uterine muscles can work as nature intended, helping you give birth more easily.

Without fear and stress, your body can produce more endorphins – a natural relaxant and pain killer – and replace the stress hormones that can cause your muscles to tense up and tighten, which can be the main source of pain.

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The benefits of using hypnosis in childbirth include: • Reducing anxiety and stress • Shorter first and second stages of labour • Fewer surgical births • A high rate of success in assisting breech-presented babies to turn into the appropriate birthing position with the use of posture and hypnosis • Hypnosis techniques work effectively with home births, water births, hospital births, birthing centres – wherever you choose to give birth it doesn’t make a difference • Reduced risk of postnatal depression • Baby benefits from a calm, gentle birth, reducing the likelihood of baby getting distressed There will be some situations where medical intervention is necessary for the safety of mother or baby, and it is always important to listen to health professionals. Remember, it’s your birth and your baby’s birthday, so make it memorable for all the right reasons.

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FANTASTIC F ANTASTIC OFFERS OF FERS

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BY W WEDNESDAY EDNESDAY 110TH 0TH A APRIL PRIL TO T OB BENEFIT ENEFIT F FROM ROM O ONE NE O OF FT THESE HESE O OFFERS FFERS C Contact ontact C Claudie laudie o on n0 01242 1242 5 510500 10500 o orr e email mail iinfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk nfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk to to a arrange rrange your your ccampaign ampaign Terms T erms a and Conditions apply. O Offers ffe ff ers a available new and ustomers o only. nly. *To *To q qualify, ualify, rreturning eturning nd C onditions apply. vailable tto on ew a nd rreturning* eturning* ccustomers customers The Local Answer December 2017. per booking.

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Wildlife W ildlife Matters Matters with w ith M Maxine axine Raggatt Raggatt

The The birth birth of of a new new generation generation As with every new year, springtime brings the arrival of ma ny ne w ba by anima ls bo r n throughout the world. Farm life brings lambs, calves and chicks to name a few but alongside the agriculture, our woodland wildlife also births a new generation.

Spring is the perfect time of year for new baby animals to thrive, as the weather is getting warmer and fresh young plants are blossoming from the dampened floors to provide a nutrient-packed boost for growing tummies.

Fox F ox ccubs ubs

Baby fox cubs, also known as ‘kits’ or ‘pups’, are born in March, usually in litters of four or five. By four weeks of age fox cubs will leave their den and start to feed on solid foods, and by six weeks they are fully weaned. Baby foxes will stay with their mothers until they are 6-7 months old, and by this time they are ready to be fully independent.

Frogspawn F rogspawn

embryo. After 2-4 weeks the eggs will hatch and little tadpoles will emerge with tails to help them swim. They will first feed on the frogspawn jelly and then move on to algae. At around 16 weeks their legs will start to grow along with tiny teeth – this is the time they will begin eating small insects.

Buzzards B uzzards

Female frogs lay frogspawn Mating usually starts in March eggs, which look like a mass of for buzzards. Male and female jelly protecting a tiny black buzzards build a nest together either in a tree or on a cliff, and the female will lay 2-4 eggs with a 35 day incubation period. She will then look after her babies while the male brings them food for the first two weeks. At around fifty days old her young will start learning to fly and stay with her for a final 6-8 weeks.

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L adybirds Ladybirds

By April, ladybirds will have come out of hibernation and found a mate. The mother ladybird will lay her eggs on the underside of a leaf, and 3-5 days later they will hatch. Baby ladybirds, known as larvae, have long bodies and are black with orange markings and little spikes on their backs.

The larvae stage lasts about 21 days, followed by the pupae stage which will last around one week. This is when the larvae become immobile and will attach itself to a leaf, still orange and black in colour. The body inside will breakdown and be reformed into an adult ladybird, usually emerging pale in colour.

Spring is a time to revel in the delightful sights that new wildlife brings. For some animals, this may be their year of birth, while for others it may be the first year they become parents.

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THE LOCAL ANSWER

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

Happy H appy birthday birthday holidays holidays As you read this, our favourite Gloucestershire local magazine is proudly celebrating its tenth birthday. Asked to incorporate a birthday theme in this month’s column got me thinking about trips – in the UK and abroad – that my wife and I have made to celebrate our birthdays over the last decade.

Combine Combine those those memories memories Whether it was a weekend on the Quantocks or two-weeks exploring Hokkaido, Japan, the stand-out point has been how associating a trip with a birthday combines memories of both.

Sometimes they’re ‘big’ birthdays and sometimes they’re just ‘another year older’ celebrations. Whether you’re toasting the big day with frosted breath in Zagreb, Croatia, or in Sicily’s sunshine, combining a birthday with a trip is the stuff of special memories. Isn’t that what holidays are all about?

THE LOCAL ANSWER

B Birthday irthday ttrips rips b bring ring p perks erks Birthday travel often brings nice little perks too – especially if you mention the celebration to airlines and hotels! Unexpected treats such as sharing a free bottle of champagne high over the Austrian Alps one year, or being given a celebratory room upgrade, are just a couple of perks that we’ve enjoyed over the years.

Even if, occasionally, birthday trips don’t quite go to plan, unforgettable memories wait to be made. I’m particularly recalling a horse named El Soberano, an ambulance ride, a hospital visit and a broken wrist on my wife’s fiftieth in El Calafate, Argentina, a couple of years ago. And the birthday cake shared with a delightful Canadian family when we got back to the ranch at midnight. And being spoiled rotten by BA’s crew on the TO ADVERTISE CALL  

long flight home from São Paulo!

Special S pecial p places laces a and nd sspecial pecial ttimes imes From Buenos Aires to Kyoto, and Barbados to Totnes, every one of our birthday trips has provided an unforgettable anchor to link special times with extraordinary places. If you’ve ever done the same, you’ll know exactly what I mean. If you haven’t, maybe this is the year to combine a birthday and a holiday.

So where will I be as The Local Answer celebrates its decennial? Let me just say that it’s (very) cold there in March, steeped in magical legend and folklore, and the birthday drinks will be among the most expensive in the world – which rules out lots of places, including Adelaide, Australia.

You’ll just have to keep reading this column during 2019 to find out. In the meantime, here’s wishing The Local Answer a very happy birthday.

I wonder where they’re headed over the next 10 years!

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THE LOCAL ANSWER

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

The The Ultimate Ultimate Kids’ Kids’ Party Party Guide!

Guide!

As we’re celebrating our 10th birthday this month, I thought it only right to give you my take on The Ultimate Kids’ Party Guide!

The T he rroom oom

Start with the room and your choice of decorations. Whether you’re hosting a party in your living room or a hired hall, the difference between a welldecorated room and one without trimmings is massive!

Simply adding banners, streamers, fresh flowers and simple yet bright table centre pieces can create a perfect ambience.

This element of the party does not need to be expensive, as long as it is cheery and slightly over the top – personally, I think madness makes a party and it is certainly not the time to be sensible or conservative in your approach! Think bright, colourful and a little bit wacky and you’ll be on the right track.

The T he ccake ake

B i r t h d a y c a k e i s a m us t a n d i t heavily must be large, decorated to your children’s favourite theme, and taste ‘magical’! Whether you make your own or buy it from a shop or bakery, a beautiful yet delicious cake is the centre piece of any party. This is the place to invest – the rest can be built around your masterpiece.

The T he ffun un factor factor

For the fun factor, music is massively important, both as a background filler and for dancing. These days it couldn’t be easier to create your own playlist on your phone and plug into a Bluetooth speaker.

THE LOCAL ANSWER

Gone are the days of a disco DJ – these days we can all be MCs and Master Mixers!

Choose a range of classics, sing-a-long favourites and modern hits to keep everybody happy.

Games are just as important to keep your child and their friends entertained throughout the party. You could combine games and music, or come up with your own activities. Just remember to have some prizes on hand for the winners – edible prizes tend to go down a storm with kids.

Refreshments R efreshments

Of course, food and drink is crucial to keep energy levels up through the day, and must be delicious, fun and easy to eat. Finger food, nibbles and a lot of sugar seem to be the order of the day. I think birthday parties are the one time it is OK to forgo your fivea-day and have a ‘golden’ meal filled with pastries, sugar and a side of choice protein.

You know your guests and if TO ADVERTISE CALL  

some have dietary needs it is completely acceptable to ask them to bring their own food to ensure they feel well fed. In fact, bring and share is a popular way to go and you will find a wide range on offer, especially if your guests are culturally diverse.

Mocktails M ocktails anyone? anyone?

To support the usual wine and beer offerings, a fruit punch, a range of fizz and some alcohol free beverages are a must.

Think of designated drivers, dry guests and parents caring for small ones, and make your non-alcoholic options as attractive as ‘the real thing.’

Personally, I am a fan of the Mocktail, served in fancy glasses with cherries, olives, fresh fruit, mint leaves – all the fancy stuff. They look and taste incredible, are fully inclusive, and the biggest bonus of all?

No hangover when you’ve got children to look after!

For more party inspiration, check out our Save the Planet article, in print or online.

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Office Office locations locations in in B Bristol, ristol, G Gloucester loucester aand nd Cheltenham Cheltenham Face to face coaching at Eagle Tower, Cheltenham is available evenings and weekends.

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THE LOCAL ANSWER

E Education ducation & E Employment mployment with w ith A Alison lison W Williams illiams

W Winter inter aand nd ssummer ummer b babies abies When is your birthday – winter or summer? As a child this affects the type of birthday party you have, but were you aware that the time of year that you were born could also have a significant impact on your academic, sporting and career success?

Anyone who has observed a baby growing up would have noticed a staggering difference between a baby of a few weeks old – a helpless little thing – and a baby of 11 or 12 months who is likely to be crawling around and may be actually walking, understanding and saying words.

Not N ot a as se emotionally motionally mature a mature as so older lder p peers eers Even when kids are very bright and able to hold their own academically in the early years of school, you can often see that they are not as emotionally mature as their older peers. This age difference, so noticeable at Primary S c h o o l , r a p i d l y b e c o m e s l es s noticeable as the years pass.

However, evidence shows that it continues to be a significant factor in later life.

A study by the Institute of Fiscal studies found that summer babies are 20-30% more likely to be considered below average by their teachers by age seven, and 7% more likely to report being always unhappy at school.

They are also 6% more likely to report bullying, perhaps because of their smaller physical size. Autumn born babies are 25% more likely to go to Oxbridge. There is also THE LOCAL ANSWER

evidence to show that sporting success is similarly affected.

The UK academic system is based around an Autumn start date. Nobody really knows why it’s Autumn but, anecdotally, this appears to be related to the harvest, mostly finished by early September, but before which both young and old were needed in the fields. It suits institutions very well administratively for everyone to start and finish at a set point, rather than operating rolling admissions, but it doesn’t take into account the developmental differences between children born up to twelve months apart.

In recognition of these factors, UK admissions codes have changed in recent years so children don’t now have to start full-time education until the term after their fifth TO ADVERTISE CALL  

birthday. Some families now decide to delay their children’s entry to school if they don’t seem ready, and it certainly seems that this could help equalise their child’s life chances.

Every E very child child is is different different and a nd tthere here are are exceptions e xceptions tto oe every very rule rule This could be yet another consideration for already guilt ridden mums, feeling the pull of getting their children into pre-school and getting back to work. Of course, every child is different, there are exceptions to every rule and your child may well be ready – you know them best. At least you now have the choice.

And just in case you are still worrying about all this, remember Warren Buffet, Barack Obama and Alan Turing were all summer babies – so there!

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THE LOCAL ANSWER

Motoring M otoring with w ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken

A vehicle vehicle that that turns turns heads heads I’ll be completely honest, when I first heard that there was going to be a convertible version of the Evoque, I was dubious to say the least. Range Rover were hailing it as the world’s first convertible SUV, and I couldn’t help but think that perhaps the reason it was the first was that there wasn’t really a calling for it. In fairness though, I suspect the Research and Development department of Jaguar Land Rover probably knows its customers better than I do…

The T he d design esign h has as b been een given a llot given ot o off tthought hought So, preconceptions aside, when the Evoque arrived at my office, it immediately drew mixed opinions – some loved it, some were dubious, some were just confused. And for me, I was actually impressed.

I’ve always liked the Evoque (with a few minor reservations) and the design of the convertible has been given a lot of thought – it looks good with the top up or down. For a THE LOCAL ANSWER

real test, we took it to the South Coast for a long weekend.

My review model was a great looking dark grey with a matching dark hood and ebony leather seats, and had a great range of toys and gadgets that you’d expect on an SUV costing close to £50,000. Full parking sensors, a great reversing camera, auto lights and wipers, heated seats (which remain untested as I reviewed this in the summer) and a much improved sat nav system all complimented a very comfortable cabin with room for a family trip away for a long weekend. Boot space was slightly restricted due to the hood, but that’s to be expected, and as we’re past the need for a buggy now, this was ample for our needs.

You don’t get five seats – there are just two in the rear due to the intrusion of the roof mechanisms at the sides.

However, you can seat four in comfort and that’s with child seat in place, so it’s definitely a suitable family car. The three-

door arrangement didn’t really affect rear access, and getting kids in and out wasn’t a problem, even when they’d fallen asleep!

Oh, and the roof mechanism is virtually silent, which considering the complex folding arrangement to fit into a small space, was impressive indeed, as was the car on the whole.

The T he w world orld does does need need a cconvertible onvertible S SUV UV I’ve mentioned the improved sat nav – that was one of my issues when I tested the full size Evoque a few years ago, along with the gearbox. I’m pleased to say that the new TD4 engine and nine speed automatic box are a dramatic improvement, making for a much more pleasant experience all round. The engine pulls well, the gearbox is smooth and capable, the spec is great and it turns heads.

All in all, the car really grew on me. I’ve decided that the world does need a convertible SUV and the Evoque is it.

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Pet Pet Care Care

with w ith O Oliver liver W Wilkinson ilkinson o Charlton Kings Kings Vet Vet C entre off Charlton Centre

What iiss ccanine What anine llungworm? ungworm?

Most pet owners know they should worm their dogs against gut parasites. Traditionally, a 3monthly worming tablet covered against the common gut worms that dogs would pick up – tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms and roundworms. However, not all dog owners are familiar with the oddity that is the canine lungworm.

Angiostrongylus vasorum was first discovered in France over 100 years ago. It is a particularly problematic parasite that is ingested by dogs in its larval form, either directly from the environment or via one of its intermediate hosts (snails and slugs).

Once inside the digestive system the larvae embark on a rather circuitous journey, migrating through the wall of the gut into the lymph system.

From there they enter the blood stream and pass through the liver and onto the heart and pulmonary arteries.

Here they mature and reproduce, laying eggs that then hatch and release more larvae that are carried through the blood vessels to the lung tissue through which they penetrate before finally being coughed up, swallowed and excreted in the faeces.

Then the whole cycle starts again.

The The parasite parasite can can cause cause m many any p problems roblems As you can imagine, a parasite that travels so extensively through the canine body can cause all sorts of problems. Mild symptoms such as a cough may be the only outward sign, but potentially much more serious illnesses can develop such as breathing difficulties, exercise intolerance, lung damage, heart failure and bleeding disorders.

Cases are thought to be on the rise and the incidence of lungworm in native fox populations has shown a significant increase in prevalence over the last 10 years, highlighting the spread of the parasite and increased risk to the dog population.

It is impossible to prevent dogs being exposed while out on walks, but prevention is relatively straight-forrw ward. An appropriate monthly worming treatment (that also treats intestinal worms) prevents established infections and the destructive migration of larvae through the lung tissues.

If you are worried about your dog being protected, speak to your vet about what parasite treatments prevent lungworm infections.

PAGE 

The Charlton Kings Vet Centre is fully equipped with a sterile operating theatre, digital radiography, ultrasonography and laboratory equipment.

Drop in and have a look around. You will see many of the same friendly faces from our main surgery at Dragon Vet Centre.

You can book your visits and pick up pet supplies, food or medications at either surgery if it’s more convenient.

OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM- 6.30PM 17 Lyefield Road West, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL53 8EZ

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Prestbury Park , New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GL50 4SH

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DAILY D AILY DELIVERY DELIVERY CHARGE CHARGE FROM FROM 2 27p 7p

MARCH M ARCH 22019 019

DAILY PAPERS WEEKLY PAPERS SUNDAY PAPERS MAGAZINES

Entertainment E ntertainment

IIff you you hhave ave a sstory tory ttoo sshare, hare, 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

N New ew play play tells tells stories stories of of inspiring inspiring women women The stories of Clara von Holst and Isabella Beeton will be explored in ‘A Woman’s Life’, a play commissioned by the Holst Birthplace Museum and written

by BAFTA nominated playwright Carolyn S. Jones.

The play will be performed at Christ Church Harwood Hall in Cheltenham on Saturday 23rd March.

Carolyn started writing for the stage around ten years ago and her first play, ‘Sanctuary’ was shortlisted for the Bruntwood/ Royal Exchange theatre award.

Since then, Carolyn has written for radio, TV and theatre, and her credits include the TV series ‘The Bill’ and the long running BBC Radio 4 series ‘The Archers’.

Carolyn also received a BAFTA nomination for her Victorian children’s drama ‘Shadowplay’, and she explained to The Local

Clara von Holst

Answer how the idea for this latest play came about.

She said: “In 2016, I was asked by the Holst Birthplace Museum if I’d be interested in writing some monologues so that visitors exploring the rooms could hear the voices of the von Holst family.

“It was Clara’s voice I seemed to hear when I began to write

Film Film Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett Green Green Book Book

Based on a true story, pianist Don Shirley embarks on a tour of the Deep South in the 1960s with Tony Vallelonga serving as his driver/ bodyguard.

Viggo Mortensen (Vallelonga) and Mahershala Ali (Shirley) both earne d Oscar nominations for this film and play two distinct opposites.

Don has no respect for Tony to begin with, and vice versa – they make an agreement that Tony is working for Don, and nothing more.

Every stop on the tour presents a different challenge for the duo, and they grow with each stop. Before they depart, Tony is given the Green Book, a guide to where is safe for black travellers to eat, drink and sleep. When Don strays from the book’s defined path, he faces trouble.

The acting is superb and the pace is perfect. The film has all the attributes of an awardwinning picture.

Full review online.

and her presence which became strongest. ‘Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management’ was on the dresser in the kitchen and this became the inspiration for a new draft of the play.”

Carolyn says she’d absorbed many of the facts about Clara’s life from her time volunteering at the Holst Museum, but found it fascinating to dig deeper to discover what shaped her life.

“While Clara’s biography is on the Holst Museum website, details about her seem scant. If you trawl the internet you’re often taken instantly to her famous son (Gustav Holst).

“In fact, she was a talented musician in her own right but marriage to her teacher, Adolph von Holst – a leading figure on the Cheltenham music scene – and the birth of two children put paid to any aspirations.”

Full story online.

Book B ook R Review eview – A Aloÿse loÿse ooff D Daylesford aylesford B Book ook C Club lub E Educated ducated by Tara Westover Tara Westover’s memoir is a powerful story of a Mormon upbringing in rural Idaho during the 1990s.

She realises at an early age that the only way to escape her extraordinary and brutal family is to leave home, get an education and find her own way.

Tara, the youngest of seven children, had no birth certificate, no medical records and no schooling. Her father, a religious fanatic who was convinced the world was going to end at the millennium, was controlling in the extreme.

She writes with compassion. Her prose is exceptional, the story compelling. There is no blame, just a sadness that in order to achieve her goal she must sever all ties with her family.

Tara was saved by the power of books or as she herself puts it in the last line of the book – “an education.”

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

R Reuben euben Lovett Lovett on on his his musical musical life life Sat outside a coffee shop in the middle of Cheltenham, a guy with scruffy pink hair wearing a Bart Simpson sweatshirt sits strumming on his guitar, singing lyrics to a song that doesn’t exist yet.

“When I leave the house, I always have to make the decision whether I’m going to bring my guitar or not,” he says.

“Sometimes I just want to be quick and don’t want to have to lug it around.

“But then sometimes I might feel like having a busk, or a song idea might come to me, and then it feels like a waste not having it with me.”

Today Reuben Lovett did decide to bring his guitar into town, which is lucky as he happened to have a song come into his head as he sat with his coffee.

The Cheltenham based singer

Reuben Lovett. Picture: VEK32PHOTO

songwriter has delved into a huge number of genres in what is still an early time in his musical career.

He continued: “I’ve been in an indie rock group, a hardcore band, a Libertines-style project.

I’ve played bass, guitar, sung lead vocals, played shakers – loads of different roles.”

Reuben’s love for music and performing grew from a young age, and he was busking at events like the Malvern County Fair aged just 12, covering folk artists like The Levellers and Tracy Chapman.

Now 22 years old, Reuben is predominantly focused on his music as a solo artist and as frontman of his side project, The Confusion.

“I’ve always played on my own but since 2017 I’ve been on the way to doing more solo work as a singer songwriter,” he explained.

“The Confusion is like an extension of my solo music. It’s people that I love and I know are solid musicians, and when they’re available they’ll come and play with me. It’s always seriously punk and experimental, with very little rehearsal.”

Full story online.

The T he society society cconnecting onnecting p poets oets The Gloucestershire Poetry Society (GPS) are the go-to group for amateur and professional poets in the county, to share and discuss their work with likeminded individuals.

Founder Ziggy Dicks is Gloucestershire born and bred, living in Gloucester and having studied in Cheltenham for his Masters in Creative and Critical Writing.

“I got into poetry at a young age,” he said. “But as with many, it picked up in school with a good teacher introducing me to Ted Hughes and I haven’t looked back.

“What I love about poetry is observing the world and trying to find fresh perspectives on things often taken for granted day to day, with the hope of sharing an appreciation for all

Ziggy Dicks. Picture: Cheltenham Poetry Society/Poetry Cafe Refreshed

the small moments in life.”

Ziggy began the GPS in 2016, originally just for local poets in the county, but now the group has both national and international members.

He continued: “The Glouces-

tershire Poetry Society came about because I realised there were many poets separated and detached from each other, and I wanted to create a community where experienced and new poets could link and showcase their work.

“I created it to show how much talent there is locally and have not been disappointed.”

The GPS regularly gather for events, and this month will be holding a special get together on International Women’s Day, Friday 8th March, called ‘Raised Voices’.

“It’s a celebration of female poets locally and beyond,” continued Ziggy. “In the GPS we are an inclusive group and we want to share as many successes as possible.”

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

What W hat s O On n The The Local Local Answer Answer E Event vent Listings Listings are are compiled compiled and and presented presented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support o off m many any ccontributors. ontributors. W We e recommend recommend you you use use the the contact contact details details provided provided to to check check event e vent iinformation nformation updates updates p prior rior to to planning planning y your our v visit. isit.

EVERY E VERY TUESDAY TUESDAY LOCAL BRIDGE CLUB Would you like to play Bridge in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere? We meet every Tuesday from 1-4pm at Old Patesians Club, Everest Road, Leckhampton. You don’t need a partner and new members are always welcome. For details please contact Eileen on 07828 201932.

EVERY EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY CLAIRE COLLINS SWIM SCHOOL Fridays at The National Star College.

30 minute lessons between 4.45pm and 8pm in 10 week blocks. All abilities welcome from school age upwards. Enquiries/bookings: 07870 862119 or through Facebook. Free Taster Session (whilst spaces available).

1122 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY – 2277 M MARCH ARCH STRIKE A LIGHT FESTIVAL A festival to make theatre and performing arts more accessible to the everyday public. With high quality contemporary performances, from dance and theatre to poetry and spoken word. For full details of the festival please visit www.strikealightfestival.org.uk 1166 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY – 2288 A PRIL APRIL LAMBING AT COTSWOLD FARM PARK

With the first bleats of new arrivals and

the anticipation of many more in the air, lambing is our favourite time of year!

We hope you’ll come and share it with us; settle yourselves down in the Animal Barn and keep your eyes peeled. Join us for daily talks from our team, access to our lambing shed, bottle feeding our lambs and goat kids, Farm Safari rides, Adventure Barn and Dolly’s Den soft play and much more! Full details at www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, GL54 5FL. 2277 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY – 1166 M MARCH A RC H CHELTENHAM FOLK AT CHAPEL ARTS

A portrait of Cheltenham Folk. A unique photographic study celebrating the diversity of people in Cheltenham.

By Marksteen Adamson. WednesdaySaturday, 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 2288 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY & 3 M MARCH ARCH ROCK AND A HARD PLACE A new play in aid of Stroud Women’s Refuge. Kayleigh, a talented teenager whose life is full of promise, experiences a cycle of domestic abuse

until Aunty Jan helps her find a way out. Stroud Subscription Rooms.

7.30pm. 28th February. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk Chantry Centre, Dursley. 4pm. 3rd March. www.eventbrite.co.uk Students FREE. 3 MARCH MARCH CATE CODY “I’m old-fashioned...” sings Cate Cody in a hauntingly beautiful voice that has been compared to a young Peggy Lee. She might well be describing herself, because these days it’s very rare to find a jazz chanteuse with such authentic phrasing, who genuinely understands the nuances, and is capable of capturing the idiomatic gradations and modulations required to swing. 2pm. £15. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 6-9 6-9 MARCH MARCH AN EVENING OF TWO ONE-ACT PLAYS Suddenly and without warning, two men named Kevin find themselves dead and in the waiting room of Afterlife Relocation Services (Earth Division). The problem is only one of them should be dead, but no-one seems to know which one. And as if death wasn’t hard enough, there’s no way back and it seems no practical way forward either. 7.30pm. For prices visit kingstheatregloucester.co.uk. The Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Street, Gloucester, GL1 1QX.

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7 MARCH ROCK FOR HEROES Bringing the perfect combination of your favourite Rock and Pop artists across the eras, fundraising in support of Help for Heroes. Performed by a full live rock band and superb singers, complete with brilliant personalities and comedy value this really is a night out unlike any other. With music from artists such as Dire Straits, Queen, David Bowie, Bryan Adams, AC/DC, Whitesnake and so many more. 8pm. £17.50 (£15.50 concessions). Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. subscriptionrooms.org.uk RANAGRI Alt folk band Ranagri are a combination of Irish and English musicians; Dónal Rogers (Vocals/Guitar), Eliza Marshall (Flutes/ Whistles), Ellie Turner (Electric Harp) and Joe Danks (Bodhrán/Guitar).

8.30pm. The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS. www.theprincealbertstroud.co.uk 8 MARCH ROCK AND A HARD PLACE A new play in aid of Stroud Women’s Refuge. Kayleigh is a talented teenager whose life is full of promise. She finds herself in a cycle of domestic abuse from which there seems no escape

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until Aunty Jan helps her find a way out.

7.30pm. The Sundial Theatre, Cirencester. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk. Students FREE. CHELTENHAM LADIES’ COLLEGE SPRING CONCERT The programme will open with three concerto movements performed by senior music scholars in their final year at College. The Symphony Orchestra will conclude the first half with Beethoven Symphony No. 5; and the 2nd half of the concert will feature Mozart’s Requiem, sung by CLC’s Choral Society. 7.30pm. £7.50. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, GL52 3JE. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk HARBOTTLE AND JONAS The husband and wife duo combine the rich traditions of folk music with original and contemporary interpretations through a blend of closely intertwined vocal harmonies.

Each song has been carefully written and researched, and is always accompanied with a great story and a good degree of humour. 8pm. £11.50.

Tetbury Goods Shed, Gumstool Hill, GL8 8DG. shed-arts.co.uk 9 MARCH LADY SINGS THE BLUES Presenting the music of Billie Holiday chronologically through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s using many of the

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original arrangements. It is the closest that any of us will ever get to hearing that tremendous repertoire performed live, properly, just as it was when it was first performed all those years ago. 7.30pm. £18-£25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org THREEPENNY BIT – CEILIDH Also known these days as a barn dance, Ceilidh has become the byword for a fun filled night of wild dancing, good company and great music. This dynamic eight-piece band combines a group of diehard folkies with some of the finest young jazz and classical musicians of the south. They play bold arrangements of traditional and original tunes with infectious stage energy for concerts and ceilidh dancing. 7.30pm. £11. Tetbury Goods Shed, Gumstool Hill, GL8 8DG. shed-arts.co.uk 14 MARCH AN EVENING WITH SIR GEOFF HURST Sir Geoff will talk amusingly about his illustrious West Ham and England Career. He will be joined by great friend and agent Terry Baker from A1 Sporting speakers, who’ll be asking all the interesting questions we are dying to know! 7.30pm. From £27. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

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1155 MARCH MARCH CIRCUS OF HORRORS 2019 Imagine a fangtastic Rock Show with amazing light effects and set combined with an amalgamation of bizarre, dare devil and astounding Circus acts, accompanied by a rock ‘n’ roll sound scape of mainly original songs and performed with a forked tongue firmly in each cheek. 7.30pm.

From £20. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 1166 MARCH MARCH THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO

Based on Carlo Collodi’s fantastical children’s book, this magical story leaps off the page and onto the stage

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in a vibrant re-telling of Pinocchio’s extraordinary adventures. Packed with comedy, audience interaction, and a completely original score guaranteed to have you singing along from start to finish, this high energy musical promises to be the perfect treat for the whole family. 2pm. £10 (£8). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk THE UKELELE FUNHOUSE ORCHESTRA – THE VICAR OF DURSLEY The new vicar faces greed and prejudice when she fights plans to frack beneath St Ukes church. She must unite the town in protest and action in a comedy musical which involves the audience in her struggle.

A great night out with great music from pop to opera, classics and even Bohemian Rhapsody! 7.30pm. Tickets £10 from Lister Hall or online from Ents24.com CARA DILLON Alongside a selection of favourites from her previous releases, Cara will be performing material from her new album ‘Wanderer’ – a collection of beautiful and moving songs recorded in an intimate setting with her husband and musical partner Sam Lakeman. 7.30pm. £18-£25. The Roses

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Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 16 MARCH 16 & 23 23 M ARCH SERENADE TO MUSIC Highly acclaimed Cotswold chamber choir CANTORES along with regular String Ensemble and organist Julian Elloway, presents a varied programme of music conducted by John Holloway.

Works include the Kyrie from Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Vivaldi’s setting of the Magnificat, Handel’s organ concerto – ‘The Cuckoo & the Nightingale’, 3 works by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds as well as the title work by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Further details on our website: www.cantores.net. Holy Trinity Church Minchinhampton, Saturday 16th March, 7.30pm. Cirencester Parish Church, Saturday 23rd March, 7.30pm.

Tickets (£15) via www.cantores.net, Andrew on 07800 737078 and on the door. Concessions available.

17 17 MARCH MARCH GYPSYFINGERS A progressive folk-rock band that fuse a range of influences including folk, pop, rock, americana and more to create a fresh sound of their own. 8.30pm. £8 in advance (£10 on the door). The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS. www.theprincealbertstroud.co.uk

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18-23 MARCH 18-23 MARCH THE MOUSETRAP The scene is set when a group of people in a country house cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst.

Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until the last, nerve shredding moment the identity and the motive are finally revealed. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573.

20 20 MARCH MARCH DANTE QUARTET The Dante Quartet, one of the UK’s finest ensembles, is known for its imaginative programming and impassioned performances. The quartet has been honoured with the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Chamber Music and has also received international awards for its recordings. The wide age-range of members helps to create a harmonious and exciting blend, marrying youthful enthusiasm with richness of experience and consummate technical skill. 7.30pm.

From £18. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham GL52 3JE. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 22 22 MARCH MARCH INSTANT WIT THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS The quick fire comedy improvisation show. To be held at Corse and Staunton Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Tickets £10 from Jane Cox – 01452 840355.

HERE COME THE GIRLS An exciting mix of individual performances and group numbers with their supporting dance partners.

The show will have a mix of Ballroom and Latin routines and has been choreographed by Patrick Helm. It promises to be fresh and innovative

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with amazing routines to dazzle and wow you. 7.30pm. From £26.

Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 2233 MARCH MARCH THE ULTIMATE COMMITMENTS & BLUES BROTHERS EXPERIENCE

Taking the greatest songs from two cult films, this show recreates all the iconic atmosphere of a live performance of The Commitments and The Blues Brothers, and puts them together to create two fantastic tribute shows in one memorable evening of foot tapping, sing-along entertainment! 7.30pm. £19.50 (£17.50).

The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 223-24 3-24 MARCH MARCH TERRY PRATCHETT’S WYRD SISTERS Tewkesbury Arts and Drama Society (TADS) have always aimed high with their productions. Now they go further than ever before with Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters, adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs. Apart from being set on a flat planet carried on the backs of four elephants who stand on a giant star turtle, everything is normal. The people are just like us: a king is murdered, a lost prince returns to claim his throne, a boy and girl fall in love. Various times. £14. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org

30 30 MARCH MARCH VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: GISELLE A tale of innocence, love, betrayal and madness. Giselle, a peasant girl, has fallen in love with Count Albrecht, who has told her he is a villager named Loys. Her discovery of his true identity has devastating consequences. With its irresistible combination of a heart-breaking story and exquisite choreography, Giselle is the perfect way to discover classical ballet. 5pm. From £14.50. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 30 MARCH MARCH – 6 M 30 MAY AY CELEBRITY DUSTY DUCK TRAIL A very different flock of ducks is landing this Easter! The 14 GIANT Dusty Ducks have been designed by celebrities including Steve Backshall, Joanna Lumley, Chris Packham and Kate Humble. Included with admission.

9.30am-5.30pm. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. www.wwt.org.uk/ wetland-centres/slimbridge 3311 MARCH MARCH MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH AT DOUBLETREE BY HILTON CHELTENHAM Spend an unforgettable day treating your mum to a well-deserved indulgent three course carvery. Mums will receive a special gift, plus a complimentary mini spa treatment. £21.95 per adult, £12.95 per child. To book call 01242 229293 or email events@doubletreecheltenham.com Cirencester Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL53 8EA. MOTHER’S DAY AT MANOR BY THE LAKE Treat mum this Mother’s Day to a very special 3 course meal at Manor by the Lake in Hatherley. Enjoy an afternoon of delicious food, celebratory atmosphere and a glass of something fizzy. For more details please visit www.manorbythelake.co.uk/mothersday or call 01242 245071 to book.

Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham GL51 6PN.

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WIN W IN T TICKETS! ICKETS! courtesy c ourtesy of of The The Bacon Bacon Theatre Theatre

Win tickets to see the Amazing Bubble Man on Monday 15th April at 2pm!

Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences worldwide for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. He explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized.

From square bubbles to rocket bubbles, tornado bubbles to flying saucer bubbles, the Amazing Bubble Man conjures shrieks of laughter and gasps of amazement from all ages.

Tickets cost just £12.50 (£10.50) and can be booked online at www.bacontheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01242 258002.

To enter our draw to win a pair of tickets, send your name, address and telephone number to ‘Amazing Bubble Man’, The Local Answer, Unit H, Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 7EG. Alternatively, enter via email by sending your details stating ‘Amazing Bubble Man’ to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk Closing C losing d date: ate: S Sunday unday 10th 10th March March 2019.

2019.

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noon. No buyers/sellers premium.

Bargains galore! Refreshments available.

Holy Trinity Church Hall, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 0AJ. Further details from Janet or Eric Chitty on 01452 500229.

14 APRIL OPEN GARDEN & RARE PLANT FAIR Join us in this beautiful spring garden by the River Coln, browse the specialist nurseries for interesting and unusual plants, explore the garden and enjoy light refreshments in the pool side Café in support of Cobalt. 11am-4pm. Entry £5 per adult, under 16s free.

Quenington, Cirencester GL7 5BN. 20 APRIL THE GREAT EASTER EGG TRAIL Come and join the fun! Explore the park, hunt for clues, meet the Easter Bunny and win a chocolate prize! Quiz sheets £2.50 from Sandford Park Café.

A joint event for Cobalt and Maggie’s.

1-4pm. Sandford Park, Cheltenham.

20-21 APRIL MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY The Bird & Deer Park is well known for its Easter Mad Hatter’s Tea Party but this year it’s going to be totally different.

So are you ‘Team Alice’ or ‘Team Mad Hatter’? No matter which team you join on the day, the two professional dance theatre artists will ensure your children get into character and are transported

6-22 APRIL THE BIG BATSFORD BUNNY HUNT! The Easter Bunny’s helpers have escaped and are hopping around the Arboretum – find them to win a prize! £2.50 per child (plus entrance fee). Children must be accompanied by an adult. 9am-5pm.

Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-inMarsh, GL56 9QB. www.batsarb.co.uk EGGSPLORE EASTER Do you know what happened on the first Easter Day? Explore this amazing building to find the answer. £1 per copy from the gift shop. If bought with the Discovery Trail (£4.50), ‘Eggsplore Easter’ will be free. When you have completed the trail visit the gift shop and claim a tiny egg (subject to availability).

Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. gloucestercathedral.org.uk 6-28 APRIL EASTER EGG TRAIL Get into the spring spirit by chasing all of the naughty pheasant chicks hiding in the Castle rooms. Hunt for the Giant Easter Eggs that have appeared in the gardens for a chocolatey reward!

Included with admission. Full details at sudeleycastle.co.uk. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 13 APRIL LONGLEVENS CHURCH AUCTION Viewing starts at 10am and selling at 12

to another world, raring to go in search of the curious caterpillar, bunny bobtails or pom pom bantams! 10am and 12.30pm.

For full details and tickets please visit thebirdpark.com. 01452 812727. The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, GL4 8EX. 19 MAY CITY OF GLOUCESTER 10K, 2K CHILDREN & FAMILY RUN AND 10K WHEELCHAIR RACE This event is for runners of all abilities. Whether it be for a healthy lifestyle, charity, recreation, club runners or elite athletes. This event is supporting Macmillan Cancer Support. The course is flat and fast, traffic free, taking place in the summer. The Children and Family 2K Run is a great day out for all the family and a chance for young, budding athletes to race for top spot. The 2k event sees children of all ages running with their mums, dads, uncles, aunties and grandparents. The Corporate Business Challenge is a team spirit friendly competition and all round fun. This event is open to all abilities and the aim is to bring work colleagues together for team building, strengthening friendships, as well as encouraging a little competitive spirit.

For more information and to enter online please visit cityofgloucester10k.org.uk

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Charlton Kings Kings Pa Parish rish C Council ouncil CK Charlton Come Come and and see, see, feed feed and and sstroke troke our our beautiful beautiful fallow fallow deer, deer, our our wonderful wonderful ccollections ollections of of peacocks, peacocks, w waterfowl, aterfowl, pheasants pheasants and and tthe he aamusing musing pygmy pygmy goats goats ... ... aallll very very tame tame and and will will feed feed ffrom rom your your hand! hand!

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Grange G range F Field ield As part of our vision to create a thriving and dynamic centre that will attract residents from across our extended parish, the Parish Council has now taken on responsibility for the management and use of this historic green space at the heart of Charlton Kings.

In recent years, Grange Field has again hosted the popular Summer Fayre in June, and many more events are being planned.

Mary Paget’s History of Charlton Kings (Charlton Kings Local History Society, 1988) tells us that in the 19th century, the land was the grazing paddock for The Grange, which was set back from Horsefair Street in its own grounds. In 1889, the Grange was bought as the vicarage, and by 1895 the Reverend Hodson’s sons were running a Sunday afternoon rugby team there.

When the house was demolished in 1933 the land was used as a sand quarry and was the last of the Charlton Kings sand pits to close. It left a substantial hole for the Charlton Kings Urban District Council to use as a refuse dump throughout the 1960s, after which it was restored and grassed-over to create the public open space we have today.

Over 100 years later, the tradition started on Grange Field by the Victorian rugby team is being continued by their descendants.

Dates of March public meetings

Mondays in the Stanton Hall Planning: 4th and 18th at 7.30pm Full Council: 25tth at 7pm Clerk – JJoanna Clerk oanna N Noles oles ((01242 01242 2250087) 50087) Clerk@charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk www.charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk @CkParish PAGE 

Charlton Kings Parish Council

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A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has helped The Local Answer reach its 10th birthday!

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We W e care care a about bout tthe he e environment nvironment Supporting S upporting forest forest management management The paper used in printing The Local Answer is produced from wood sourced in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and cost-eff ffe ective manner..

Our printer – Precision Colour Printing Limited (PCP) – is an award-winning company whose management and staff are committed to good environment perfo ormance and the use of paper from sustainable resources. They are proud to be a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificate holder, and The Local Answer is proud to have this publication printed on paper compliant with FSC demands.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, not-for-profit, nongovernmental organisation established to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s fo orests.

The FSC vision is that the orests meet the social, world’s fo ecological, and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations.

Delivering D elivering a fully-recyclable fully-recyclable product produ d ct As well as the paper, the inks and varnishes used in producing The Local Answer are biodegradable. The process used by recycling companies to extract inks and coatings including UV varnishes from the paper render the paper suitable for pulping and recycling.

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

Celebration C elebration plants plants It’s March already and spring has hopefully sprung! To keep in the anniversary mood, let’s look at plants that fit the bill as gifts for various celebrations. If you wish to find a plant for a particular name you can use the RHS plant finder (rhs.org.uk) – just enter a name and see what different plants there are for you to choose from.

Roses R oses ffor or wedding wedding anniversaries a nniversaries There are a range of plants for wedding anninversaries. Roses come with all sorts of names including ‘Golden Wedding’; an upright floribunda rose with double, slightly scented golden yellow flowers from July to September, and ‘Silver Anniversary’; a Hybrid tea rose of pure white which repeat flowers all summer.

There is a lovely Clematis ‘Wedding Day’ which has large white flowers and pink ant he rs; very free-flowering and will grow in most aspects. This would be a lovely present for the happy couple which would give

Golden Wedding rose. Picture: David Austin Roses

years of pleasure. Keeping on the wedding theme, there is also a Clematis ‘The Bride’ which has white flowers and yellow anthers, and is suitable for a container, which could be useful if the newly weds are in rented accommodation!

Rhododendron ‘Birthday Girl’ can be kept in a pot and flowers in May with clear pink flowers opening from deep pink buds. It needs an acid soil to plant in the garden, so a pot is probably your best bet.

An new ew a addition ddition tto o tthe he ffamily amily

Silver Anniversar y rose. Picture: Dobbies

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A new addition to the family? There is a Narcissus ‘New Baby’ which is only 10cm high with a multiflowered head. If you were well organised and had a spring baby due in your family, you could plant a potful in the autumn ready for the happy event, which could then be planted in the garden after flowering.

The Hybrid tea rose

‘Loving Memory’ can also be grown in a pot and is repeat flowering with blooms which are crimson to scarlet and would be a lovely comforting gift for a grieving friend.

Time Time to to prune prune On the subject of roses, now is the time to prune your bushroses (hybrid teas and floribundas) if you haven’t done so already. Cut off all the spindly twigs and anything dead, damaged or diseased. Cut to an outward facing bud, leaving about 2.5cm of last years’ growth on weaker stems and a bit more on stronger stems.

Shrub roses don’t need such drastic pruning, and with these if they are looking a bit congested, cut out about one third of the thickest, oldest branches at the base with a pruning saw, thus encouraging new shoots to emerge. Take about 10cm off the top of the remaining stems to finish, and feed with a handful of rose fertiliser.

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

Celebrating C elebrating aatt h home ome In our celebratory issue it’s an opportunity to think about planning special get togethers with family and friends. There’s nothing nicer than entertaining in your own home, and while it can sometimes feel overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be if you plan ahead and keep it simple.

Follow my tips to take the stress out of entertaining and be sure that everyone has a good time – including you!

Aw warm arm welcome welcome Make sure your guests feel relaxed as soon as they arrive.

Light up the path to your door with solar lights and create a welcoming atmosphere in your hallway with tealights and candles. Add that extra decorative touch with fresh flowers – a seasonal flower arrangement will help set the scene.

A welcome drink never fails to get everyone in the party mood, so why not create a special welcome cocktail or have a tray of glasses of fizz at the ready? I borrowed a huge silver punchbowl for a housewarming party

once, filled it with homemade punch, and it really got the party going.

check that you have enough plates, glasses and cutlery.

Set S et tthe he sstage tage

I’ve always thought drinks trolleys are so cool and stylish – and they are currently on trend.

I love the idea of creating your own party drinks station as a focal point where guests will want to gather, and a drinks trolley would be perfect for this.

Just assemble some colourful bottles and drinks paraphernalia and hey presto – you have your own relaxed cocktail bar!

Your house needn’t look like it does on a daily basis – create a special party atmosphere. Light the fire, clear clutter, light candles, and review your seating arrangements. Now’s the time to replace your tired sofa or invest in that cool new chair you saw, but remember your guests don’t all have to be seated, they just need to be able to move around easily. And always be sure to have plenty of side tables available for drinks.

A table table dressed dressed for for guests guests Keep things simple and stress free for your food prep; I always find buffets work best.

Presentation is everything so channel your inner stylist by using interesting, different sized serving bowls and pretty platters. A tablecloth reflecting your chosen theme will anchor the look, and try adding some extra touches like bunches of fresh herbs, flowers or sparkly accessories. Don’t forget to THE LOCAL ANSWER

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DIY D IY cocktail cocktail b bar ar

Create C reate a party party v vibe ibe To create a magical atmosphere, hang lots of fairy lights around the rooms in which the party will be hosted. And for that final touch, take a tip from the Chinese – they certainly know how to celebrate – and hang some colourful paper lanterns. I was in Singapore over Chinese New Year and I loved the vibrant red Chinese lanterns hanging everywhere, it felt so exciting.

Now that your house is party ready, dim the lights, put on your special playlist, grab that glass of champagne, and let the fun begin!

PAGE 

Specialists Specialists iin n bathroom bathroom safety safety and and design design We can help you with any bathroom makeover, large or small, but have particular expertise when designing rooms for customers with mobility issues.

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

S Say ay Anything Anything tto o tthese hese g izmos gizmos Whether you’re in the mood for recreating romcoms, or just into your gadgets and gizmos, these are a sure fire way to wake up your month.

As it’s our 10th birthday this month at The Local Answer, we’re very much in the mood for celebrating. If you know anyone marking their special day soon, hopefully my recommendations will provide great inspiration for gift ideas!

Now shake off those postValentine blues with this roaring selection.

R Retro etro C Cassette assette Boombox Boombox w with it h B Bluetooth luetooth Since ‘Say Anything’, haven’t we all daydreamed about having John Cusack stand outside our window, serenading us with a boombox?

Well, perhaps not all of us, but if you have been fantasizing about snapping up a retro portable speaker, then continue reading!

This snazzy boombox might look like something straight out of the ‘80s, but it’s not just for any cassette tapes you

might have lying around; it also lets you stream music via Bluetooth, and via a USB! Combining the old with the new, this retro boombox will have you feeling like you’re strolling through an ‘80s movie; just throw on your shades and carry your boombox on your shoulder.

Although it runs off mains power, the boombox can run on 4 x D batteries, allowing you to play your favourite tunes as you strut around town.

Available from Menkind at just £29.99.

Hue H ue L LivingColours ivingColours Iris Iris This wireless mood light can help set any scene in your home, from relaxing in the tub after a long week, to some romantic mood lighting for date night. The Hue LivingColours Iris comes with 16 million colour variations to meet your needs, simply by connecting to your WiFi. It can set alarms and timers, lighting up in the mornings to get you out of bed, or flashing when your dinner’s cooked.

You can also set your lights via remote control, so you don’t even need to be in the house to turn them on or off. Available from John Lewis at £69.99.

get yourself a comfortable spot; after all, you don’t know how long you’re going to be playing for, and cramp is not fun. So get comfy with the BraZen Shadow PC gaming chair; its sleek black and white design not only looks good, but it also allows you to fully engage in your game.

And with its sweat-resistant material, it doesn’t matter if things get a little heated as you battle it out in the virtual world. Built for comfort and style, this faux leather model will make you feel like a King (or Queen). Available from Menkind at £99.95.

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DIRTY D IRTY O OVEN? VEN?

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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Lois ois K Kingscott ingscott

Eco-friendly E co-friendly birthday birthday parties parties Whether you’re a parent of young children, or just a big kid yourself, birthday parties can be a fun way to mark special celebrations. They can, however, be quite wasteful occasions, so how can you organise a birthday party while being kind to the planet?

Decorations D ecorations

Instead of buying tons of balloons and plastic decorations, why not purchase some paper alternatives – or make them yourself. These come in all shapes, sizes and colours, often fitting into any theme you may have decided upon.

When the party is over, you can either recycle the decorations, or store them away for another event.

Party Party b bags ags

I would suggest you have two options: 1 1.. If you’re not too concerned about the odd dropped plate, use your existing kitchenware.

2 2.. Buy a new set of plates and cutlery that can be re-used for future parties. It’s alright to get a plastic set if you’re going to use it a lot of times.

If you’d like to give your guests a little something to take home with them, change up the usual p lastic p arty bag s for paper versions. Like your decorations, paper bags come in all sorts of designs – they don’t just have to be plain and boring.

When it comes to goodies to put inside, why not include a packet of wildflower or herb seeds? This will give something for your guests to grow at home that they can either enjoy with their food, or admire when they look out into their garden.

Bees and insects will be especially grateful for new wildflower patches.

Try to make as much of your party food from scratch to avoid excess packaging – think homemade sandwiches, cakes and dips. If you’re not confident enough to make the birthday cake yourself, enlist the help of a local bakery rather than running straight to a supermarket. They’ll be grateful for the busine ss, and it’ll probably taste better!

Cutlery C utlery a and nd p plates lates

Gifts Gifts

While paper or plastic cutlery and plates can be convenient, the waste they produce is really bad for the environment. There are billions of pieces of plastic in landfill and the oceans, so why add to that?

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Party Party ffood ood

If your guests will be bringing gifts for the birthday boy or girl, encourage them to wrap with brown paper or newspaper, as opposed to glossy wrapping paper that often can’t be recycled. This will further help TO ADVERTISE CALL  

to reduce the amount of waste your party produces.

If you’d rather not risk ending up with several unwanted gifts, you could ask your guests to make a small donation to a charity close to your heart.

Get G et o out ut in in nature nature

Whether you want an activitybased party or just to enjoy nature for an afternoon, if the weather is good then get outside! Children are spending far less time outdoors than they used to, so this could be a great opportunity to get them out in some fresh air. Just remember to clear up any mess you make and take home rubbish to dispose of appropriately.

Have H ave ffun! un!

Eco-friendly parties don’t have to be boring – you can still have just as much fun, but be mindful of the impact you have on the planet. If you start organising these parties with young children, it could help to encourage them to grow up to be environmentally-conscious and less wasteful.

PAGE 

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K eep u p tto od ate Keep up date on social social media! media! on @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer THE LOCAL ANSWER

As The Local Answer celebrates its tenth anniversary, in addition to passing them our congratulations, Money Matters wonders how many of its contributors and advisers have been with them throughout those ten years.

We suspect it’s quite a few.

We remember Dave Kingscott asking us for an article for one of its very early editions.

Naturally, Money Matters obliged, little knowing that this innocent first request would lead to a monthly contribution. Here we are happily working together ten years on.

Last year my firm celebrated twenty years in business. Whilst it was a fairly low-key celebration, we reflected on the loyalty shown to us by the many businesses and people who had been with us for these two decades.

A ttwo-way wo-way ccommitment ommitment b between etween employer e mployer a and nd employee employee It isn’t just customers/clients that show loyalty to anyone providing the top class service that we all strive to provide, it’s also the staff, where two-way commitment between employer and employee adds greatly to the working experience.

Loyalty shouldn’t be misplaced or misinterpreted, leading to complacency, of course. I’m sure that most businesses are only too well aware of the need to encourage and reward their staff. A happy team is a loyal one! It’s only when I get on to the role of recruitment agencies that I wonder whether everyone believes this theory, but that’s another story…

Enough of that, let’s finish on a positive note.

Congratulations to The Local Answer and best of luck for the next ten years.

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Sport S port

with w ith R Roger oger Jackson Jackson

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

Roger R oger B Burden urden iiss sstill till a m major ajor player player It’s become more and more apparent over the past 20 years or so that you don’t need to have been a good footballer to be a good manager at the top level.

Think Fergie, Mourinho, Klopp, Wenger – top managers all of them but by no stretch of the imagination could any of them be considered top players.

The same applies on the administrative side. Certainly that’s the case with Roger Burden, the man who has done so much for football for 50-plus years in Gloucestershire and nationally as well.

Now 72, Burden is still chairman of the Gloucestershire Football Association and is a former vice-chairman of the Football Association, as well as serving as acting chairman of the FA for nine months from May 2010.

“I was never the best player,” admitted Burden, who lives in

Cheltenham and is a big Cheltenham Town fan. “When I was nine or 10 there weren’t the youth leagues that there are today. I played a bit of school football and that was it when I was growing up.”

And ‘a bit’ is about right for the former pupil at Cheltenham Technical High School – now

Bournside School – as Burden explains.

“I had the distinction of playing in the school’s last competitive game of football for many years,” he said, before adding with a laugh, “probably because I wasn’t good enough!”

Burden is being a little harsh on himself because he played in goal and the team won 3-1 at Burford.

“I think I was about 14 or 15 when I played in that game,” continued Burden. “The PE teacher at the time wanted to play rugby so we stopped playing football against other schools. The school played house football matches but that was it, I think I was hiding my light under a bushel!”

He’s certainly made up for it since, though, becoming one of the English national game’s main men for many years.

Full story online.

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Players P layers a are re b buzzing uzzing

It’s fair to say that when Paul Stickler took over as head coach at Cheltenham Civil Service Rugby Club at the start of the season, it was seen by some as the start of a new era at the club.

The club had endured a number of tough seasons with the flagship team being on the wrong end of some difficult defeats.

Not this season though. The club have been on an upward curve from the moment the Gloucestershire Two North season kicked off, and as the campaign draws towards an exciting climax they are very much in the hunt for promotion to Gloucestershire One. “When I came here I had no pre-conceived ideas,” said 55year-old Stickler. “I started from scratch, I was a fresh pair of eyes.”

There is so much that is good ab out t eam sport quite apart from the actual sport itself – playing with your mates, winning with your mates, celebrating with your mates.

It engenders a healthy ‘all for one and one for all’ mentality that is particularly apparent in a sport like rugby. But it’s not just rugby which embraces such a spirit, there are other sports too, including netball.

And Jess Lewis, who plays for Old Chelts in the Gloucestershire League, believes the bond that ties team-mates together is even stronger in netball than it is in rugby.

“There’s only seven players in a netball team,” she said, “so everyone has to get stuck in and support each other. No one can hide. You’re out on court as a team and it’s a fast game.”

Cheltenham United are in only their seventh season but they are one of those clubs who have experienced plenty in their relatively short existence.

The Cheltenham Football League club have enjoyed three promotions, a cup final win and this season have enjoyed a great run in the Gloucestershire FA Primary North Cup. They’ve also suffered a relegation so know all about the highs and lows of football, but this season it’s fair to say that they have been very much on a winning roll.

They have been flying high in Division Four from the moment the current campaign kicked off and player/manager Kris Mohan said: “We’ve got a group of players who are buzzing.”

For full versions of all thhese stories viisit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

Roger Burden

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

Ben Ben Pauling Pauling targets targets Festival Festival g glory lor y Ask anyone to name a couple of National Hunt trainers in the Cotswolds and the chances are that they’ll come back with Jonjo O’Neill and Nigel TwistonDavies.

But while they have been very successful over the years, they are by no means the only bighitters in the world of racing in Gloucestershire.

There are other trainers who are making names for themselves, including Ben Pauling who is based near Bourton-onthe-Water, just a short gallop from O’Neill and Twiston-Davies.

Pauling moved to this part of the world in 2013 and has been making very good progress. He’s been clocking up the winners consistently and with the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner he’s certainly looking for more.

And the one thing he won’t be doing when he heads to Cheltenham is going there just to make up the numbers.

“We’ll be taking a select team of four or five horses to the Festival,” he told The Local Answer. “Every horse that we take will have a chance of getting a place.”

Pauling, the one-time assistant to many times champion trainer Nicky Henderson, knows what it’s like to win at the Festival as the main man, of course, after Willoughby Court won the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in 2017.

The subsequent loss of Willoughby Court – he was put down earlier this year after losing his battle against an infection in his joint – was deeply upsetting for Pauling and everyone associated with the stable, and it will take time for the pain to ease.

Another of his Grade I winners, Barters Hill, was retired at the back end of last year because of injury so it is easy to see why Pauling has described this season as “a bit stop-start”.

And yet there has been plenty for Pauling to smile about too,

This year’s Cheltenham Festival runs from 12th-15th March. Inset: Ben Pauling

including the success of Kildisart in the novice chase on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham at the end of January.

When Pauling spoke to The Local Answer, no decision had been made on which race Kildisart would take part in at the Festival, but the route for another of his stable stars – Global Citizen – was much clearer.

The plan is for him to run in the Champion Hurdle on day one of the Festival and that will provide Pauling with another milestone.

“It will be our first runner in one of the blue riband events at Cheltenham,” he said. “We’ve never had a runner in the Champion Chase, Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle before.”

Rated around the 25-1 mark by the bookies, Pauling is very hopeful that Global Citizen will be competitive in the two miles and half a furlong race.

And if Pauling says he’s worth looking out for, then he’s surely worth an each-way bet.

Pauling was a regular in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham, and indeed, all over the country, during his years spent in Lambourn as Nicky Henderson’s assistant.

He looks back on that time with great fondness, saying: “I will never forget working for Nicky, I learned so much from him.”

As well as being champion trainer five times, Henderson has won all the big races many times over and it is competing in the high profile races that really gets Pauling’s juices flowing.

While admitting that he’d like to end the season with around 50 winners, he insists that the numbers “don’t matter to me”.

“I want to be training horses at the top of the tree,” he continued. “We’ve had a couple of Grade I horses and that’s what we’re hoping to replicate in the future, although it’s never easy.”

For a start you need good horses but Pauling is certainly optimistic because he says there are “some very nice horses” in his 70-plus strong stable.

A select few will be heading to Cheltenham and they will all be primed and ready for four days of intense racing.

“We won’t be taking any social horses to Cheltenham, we know how difficult it is to win at the Festival,” he said.

“Everybody turns it up a bit at this time of year, the horses go just that stride quicker.

“Your horses have to be trained to a supersonic level, they have to fight for everything.”

This year’s Cheltenham Festival is from 12th-15th March.

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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Competition C 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.

BOOKING DEADLINE NEXT Monday 1th M March arch 22019 019 B OOKING D EADLINE FFOR OR N EXT IISSUE SSUE – M onday 111th PAGE 

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