The Local
A NS W E R
GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE
COTSWOLDS SPECIAL ISSUE CELEBRA ATTING OUR 10th ANNIVERSA
MARCH 2019
The The Lo Local c al
AN ANSWER SWER Cotswolds C otswolds – 30,000 30,000 copies copies Cheltenham – 443,000 Cheltenham 3,000 copies copies North N orth G Gloucestershire loucestershire – 220,000 0,000 copies copies Stroud S troud D District istrict – 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies Gloucester G loucester – 46,000 46,000 copies copies
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
LLouis ouis Jordan Jordan distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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.
Inside Inside this this month month .... .. D Delicious elicious Dish Dish M otoring Motoring TTLA LA Entertainment Entertainment TTLA LA Offers Offers W hat’s On On What’s TTLA LA 10th 10th Birthday Birthday Celebrations Celebrations IInn tthe he G arden Garden IInterior nterior D esign Design G adgets & G izmos Gadgets Gizmos S ave tthe he P lanet Save Planet W ord Search Search Word Q uick C rossword Quick Crossword S udoku Sudoku M oney Matters Matters Money TTLA LA Sport Sport IIndex, ndex, C ompetitions, Solutions Solutions Competitions,
5 11 11 112-13 2-13 1144 1155 118-19 8-19 2211 2233 2255 2277 2288 3300 3311 3311 332-33 2-33 3344 Page 3
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!
TO ADVERTISE CALL
PAGE
PAGE 
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
THE LOCAL ANSWER
motor motor c company ompany m Menti ti o n th this is and waedvert your R’lll pay oa Tax d
Pace Motor Company was established over 10 years ago and our reputation has been built on knowledge, honesty and trust which brings customers back time and time again for all their car and van requirements.
OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER: • Finance • Warranties • Part Exchange • Vehicle Sourcing
TT& &Cs Apppp llyy
If it’s more convenient, why not visit our other branch, Oxford Van Centre in Begbroke L Little ittle Barrington Barrington B Burford urford Oxfordshire O Oxfordshire OX18 X18 4 4TN TN Tel: T el: 0 01451 1451 8 844271 44271
PAGE
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
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.
TO ADVERTISE CALL
PAGE
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
U Upcoming pcoming b band and ccomes omes tto oC Cirencester irencester The best bands often begin with a group of mates getting together and playing music just for a laugh. That’s how The Filthy Casuals began, but what started as a hobby has become a passion for four Gloucestershire teenagers. Sam Harris and Scott McAlpine met at school and shared a passion for music. Sam, Max Gregory and Dan Taylor all met playing rugby at Old Richians RFC in Gloucester. “It was Sam and I that both played instruments at this time and decided to jam together for fun,” explained drummer Max. “It went quite well so we were able to get Scott and Dan involved and The Filthy Casuals were formed in late September 2017.” The boys formed the band aged just 15 and for the last two
Pictured (L-R): Scott, Sam, Dan and Max
years have been honing their performance skills, covering some of their favourite bands and songs. Over the past few months lead singer Sam has been trying his hand at song writing, and slowly but surely the band are finding their own sound. He continued: “It’s difficult to describe exactly as we have a wide range of influences. We
FFilm ilm 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.
are kind of an indie rock band but with an emphasis on big guitar and big drums. “We love a big punchy sound that gets people dancing and tapping their feet – we want people to be able to recognise us as soon as they hear the first drum beat or guitar.” The Filthy Casuals released their first ever single ‘No Hurry’ last month, and with plans to release a debut EP in the coming months, it’s an exciting time for the boys. Max continued: “We hope 2019 is going to be a good year for us with the release of our own music. 2018 gave us so many great memories and we are determined to give it our best shot.” The Filthy Casuals will be playing at The Vaults in Cirencester on Saturday 30th March. Full story online.
Book B ook Review Review – Aloÿse Aloÿse of of Daylesford Daylesford Book Book Club Club 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
T Tetbury’s etbur y’s B Big ig C Chamber hamber W Weekend eekend The Tetbury Music Festival has been running for almost 17 years, bringing classical music to the Cotswold town every autumn. This month however, the festival will be making an earlier appearance, as it presents the ‘Big Chamber Weekend’ in partnership with BBC Radio 3. Festival Director Caz Weller Knight explains how the weekend came about. She said: “We’ve had a number of performances recorded by BBC Radio 3 in the past, as the venue is perfect for both perform ing and recording classical music. “They wanted to record a series of hour-long recitals and so they came to us as we’re well known to them.” Th e w ee k en d w il l f ea tu re tw o
The Calidore String Quartet
world renowned solo classical artists and one of the leading string quartets performing a range of works from the likes of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Caz continued: “The Calidore String Quartet are co-curating the weekend and will be performing at all three concerts over the weekend. “They’re an American string quartet who are internationally
renowned and are the leading chamber ensemble of their generation. “They’ll be performing on the Friday, and on Saturday with the Chinese pianist Zhang Zao for a two-hour concert. “Then on Sunday they’ll be joined by violinist Pike for a Jennifer notoriously difficult to play concerto that really shouldn’t be missed.” The Big Chamber Weekend takes place from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th March at St Mary’s Church in Tetbury. “As a venue the church is spectacular,” added Caz. “It’s Georgian gothic architecture with beautiful skinny columns, illuminated by two chandeliers – it’s a very beautiful experience.” Full story online.
Youth Y outh Market Market helping helping entrepreneurs entrepreneurs The Cirencester Youth Market will be returning to the town’s Market Place for its third year this month. The event is organised by Cirencester Town Council and the E4 Group, and aims to inspire and support the enterprising young people within Cirencester and the surrounding areas. Among those present will be entrepreneurial students and graduates from the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester College’s Young Enterprise teams, and pupils from both Deer Park School and Kingshill School. The first Youth Market was he ld ba ck i n 201 6 a nd w as o ne of the first in the country. Becky Coles, Community Services Manager at Cirencester Town
Cirencester Yoouth Market
Council, describes what the debut market was like. She said: “It was a landmark experience for the town, bringing together wonderful young entrepreneurs and showcasing their innovative and unique businesses to the local community. “The event aims to inspire
young people to set up their own business and gives local students the opportunity to sell products they’ve made or designed.” With live performances set to entertain visitors throughout the day, the market is becoming a popular event in the annual Cirencester calendar. Becky added: “In the past we have had live performances from The Deer Park Steel Band, Kingshill Ukulele Players and Cirencester College Performing Arts Students. “The market continues to grow in popularity but has always been well supported by the local community.” The market will take place on Wednesday 20th March. 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
FANTASTIC F ANTASTIC OFFERS OF FERS
FOR O OUR UR
10th ANNIVERSARY FREE ONLINE EDITORIAL
ADVERT DOUBLED IN SIZE
When you book an Eighth Page or larger a larger advertisement dvertisement ffor or 6 m months onths orr llonger. o onger.
In the first month when you book any ssize ize from from a Sixteenth Sixteenth Page Page up up to to a Half Half Page Page for for 6 months months or or longer. longer.
FREE EVENT LISTING
10% OFF 12-MONTH BOOKINGS
FIRST COME FIRST SERVED A 440-word 0-word llisting isting in in oone ne aarea rea ffor or aann eevent vent iinn April, A pril, M May ay oorr JJune une 22019 019 ffor or 1100 C Customers. ustomers.
Bookings for consecutive months ccommencing ommencing iin n tthe he A April pril or or May May 2019 2 019 iissues. ssues.
BOOK BY BOOK 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. 017. One One offer offer p er b ooking. Not Not to to be be customers will will not not have have advertised advertised iin nT he L ocal A nswer ssince ince D ecember 2 used any other orr d discount. Offers used in in conjunction conjunction with with a ny o ther offer off ffe er o iscount. O ffers expire expire at at midnight midnight on on Wednesday Wednesday 10th 10th April April 2019. 2019.
What W hat s O On n The The Local Local Answer Answer Event Event L Listings istings 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 prior prior to to planning planning y your our v visit. isit. 12 FEBRUARY 12 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 APRIL PRIL 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! For full details please visit www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL. 2277 FFEBRUARY EBRUARY – 1166 M ARCH MARCH CHELTENHAM FOLK AT CHAPEL ARTS A portrait of Cheltenham Folk. A unique photographic study celebrating
the diversity of people in Cheltenham. By Marksteen Adamson. Weds-Sat, 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 66-9 -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. 7 MARCH 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 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 until Aunty Jan helps her find a way out. 7.30pm. The Sundial Theatre, Cirencester. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk Students FREE. CHELTENHAM LA ADIES’ 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. 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 good humour. 8pm. £11.50. Tetbury Goods Shed, Gumstool Hill, GL8 8DG. shed-arts.co.uk
Our Readers – Your Audience Advertise your your event Advertise event to to 6 60,000+ 0,000+ p people eople iin n tthe he C Cotswold otswold District! District!
£25+VAT
£40+VAT
£50+VAT
Th T h e Loc Loca al l
AN A NSW S W ER ER
GLOUCESTERSH GLOUCESTERS HIRE’S IRE’S BIGGEST B IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL MAGAZINE M AGAZINE MARCH 22019 MARCH 019
Plus P lus £30 £30++VAT VAT
tto o include include a 3cm 3cm for c.40 words for c.65 words for c.90 words iimage mage w ith your your ttext ex t with
COTS C OTSW WOLD OLDS
SPECIAL S PECIAL IISSUE SSUE C CELEBRATIN ELEBRATING O OUR UR 110th 0th A ANNIVERSA NNIVERSARY!
To list your event in our What’s On section, email production@thelocalanswer.co.uk Online event listings coming soon! To keep updated send your name and business name (if applicable) to lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘Online Event Listings’. THE LOCAL ANSWER
TO ADVERTISE CALL
PAGE
9 MARCH MARCH LADY SINGS THE BLUES Presenting the music of Billie Holiday chronologically through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s using many of the 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 1144 MARCH 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, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 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. If Quentin Tarantino had directed Cirque Due Soleil then you would be only half way there. 7.30pm. From £20. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 1166 MARCH MARCH 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
PAGE
Bohemian Rhapsody! 7.30pm. Tickets £10 from Lister Hall or online from Ents24.com 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 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. 2pm. £10 (£8). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 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. Every note and word sung with a passion and confidence earned through a life of experience singing traditional songs. 7.30pm. £18-£25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 1166 & 23 23 M MARCH 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.
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
17 17 MARCH MARCH GYPSYFINGERS A progressive folk-rock band. Together they fuse a range of influences including folk, rock, pop, 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 2222 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 with amazing routines to dazzle and wow you. 7.30pm. From £26. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 23 23 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 3300 MARCH MARCH VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: GISELLE 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. An irresistible combination of a heartbreaking story and exquisite choreography. 5pm. From £14.50. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk MAY AY 3300 MARCH MARCH – 6 M 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
THE LOCAL ANSWER
6 APRIL COFFEE MORNING AT ALDERMAN KNIGHT SCHOOL A special coffee morning to raise money and awareness for World Autism Awareness Week, a Post 16 Belgium Trip and Friends of Alderman Knight School. There will be refreshments, a raffle and a car wash throughout the morning to help raise funds. 10am-12pm. Alderman Knight School, Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 8JJ. 01684 295639. aldermanknight.gloucs.sch.uk 6-22 APRIL THE BIG BATSFORD BUNNY HUNT! The Easter Bunny’s helpers have escaped and they’re hopping around the Arboretum – find them to win a prize! £2.50 per child (plus Arboretum entrance fee) and all children must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required – just turn up and enjoy! 9am5pm. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-inMarsh, GL56 9QB. www.batsarb.co.uk 13 APRIL LONGLEVENS CHURCH AUCTION Viewing starts at 10am and selling at 12 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 hosting its Easter Mad Hatter’s Tea Party but this year it is going to be huge fun and totally different. So are you ‘Team Alice’ or ‘Team Mad Hatter’? A tough choice but no matter which team you join up with on the day, the two professional dance theatre artists will ensure your children get into character and are transported to another world, with faces painted and raring to go in search of the curious caterpillar, bunny bobtails or pom pom bantams – and
goodness knows what everyone will find around the park! 10am and 12.30pm. For full details and tickets please visit thebirdpark.com. 01452 812727. The Bird and Deer Park, Cranham, 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
S Shipton h i p t on G Golf olf C Course ourse Shipton Golf Course, Nr Frogmill, Shipton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 4HT
HOLE HvO PA P AYay & PLAY PLAY COURSE COURSE IN IN THE THE Open Op““A eAn9e every eLrEyPAY d day HEART HEuntil RT OF F THE T E COTSWOLDS” COTSWOLDS” from from 7 7am am uAnRT tiO l dusk d uH sk
NO NO NEED NEED TO TO BOOK BOOK – O Open pen ev every very day day from from 7am 7am until until dusk dusk
www.shiptongolf.co.uk FFollow ollow us us on on Twitter: Twitter :
‘Shiptongolf’ ‘Shiptongolf ’
shiptongolf@tiscali.co.uk
Tel: 01242 890237
✉
☎
K eep u p tto o date date Keep up on social social media! media! on @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer THE LOCAL ANSWER
TO ADVERTISE CALL
PAGE
We’re e cele cele
10th BI
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has helped The Local Answer reach its 10th birthday!
Advertisers, readers, staff, suppliers, w writers, riters, ffriends riends a and nd family family – there there have have been been so many who have contributed to our rrise ise ffrom rom 5,000 5,000 to to 1180,000 80,000 copies copies e every very month in Gloucestershire. The first issue of The Local Answer was published in March 2009 – not long after the global crash of 2008 – and the internet had already become established esstablished as a powerful source o nformation, so so it it w as a difficult difficult time time source off iinformation, was to start start tthis his type type of of n ew venture. venture. But But I’m I’m sso o to new glad we we did. did. glad As w e look look forward forward tto o celebrating celebrating throughthroughAs we out our our 10th 10th Anniversary Anniversary Year aising a Year b out byy rraising ass much m oney ffor or good good llocal ocal ccauses auses a much money ass possible, we we can can reflect reflect proudly proudly on on what what The The possible, Local Answer Answer h as brought brought tto o Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Local has ssince ince tthat hat first first issue. issue. To To the the benefit benefit of of people people tthroughout hroughout tthe he ccounty ounty w e’ve ccreated: reated: we’ve
● ●
●
18 full full and and part-time part-time jobs jobs in in our our o ffice a nd 18 office and transport operations. operations. transport 365 distribution distribution jobs jobs for for a ffew ew hours hours each each 365 month – sso o iimportant mportant iin n providing providing a ssmall mall month income tto o h elp p eople in in a variety variety o income help people off ccircumstances ircumstances a nd, iin n many many cases, cases, helping helping and, young people people understand understand tthe he vvalue alue of of young money through through earning earning their their o wn (and (and money own easing tthe he demand demand on on M um or or Dad Dad tto o easing Mum provide pocket pocket money). money). provide massive, ccost-effective ost-effective p latform ffor or A massive, platform businesses to to talk talk tto op otential customers, customers, businesses potential enabling h undreds o local ccompanies ompanies tto o enabling hundreds off local e stablish themselves themselves a nd tthrive. hrive. establish and
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.
ebrating e brating o our ur
RTHDAY ●
● ●
A trusted marketing tool. Advertisers have grown in confidence, and numbers, because our service can be nd rrelied elied upon upon – 7 5% appear appear every every m onth, yyear ear a fter year, year, a 75% month, after and or seasonal seasonal m any m ore rregularly egularly u se The The Local Local Answer Answer ffor many more use layed a part part ccampaigns. ampaigns. IIt’s t’s e xtremely satisfying satisfying to to h av e p extremely have played iin n the the p rosperity o om any llocal ocal b usinesses. prosperity off sso many businesses. ontinually A great great ssource ource o off iinformation nfo ormation for for llocal ocal people, people, ccontinually enhancing e nhancing the the volume volume and and variety variety of of magazine magazine ccontent. ontent. An An even even greater greater source source o off iinformation nformation o on no our ur website website – with w ith ffurther urther m major ajor d developments evelopments p planned lanned tto ob be eo online nline ssoon. o
We’re looking We’re looking forward fo orward to to improving improving o our ur support support to to Gloucestershire Gloucestershire s over the nex next 110 0 years years and and b beyond, eyond, and and w we’re e’ r e e excited xcited about about our our p plans lans to to help help many many within within our our ccommunities ommunities d during uring the the next next 12 12 m months onths …
How are we celebrating? Charity Ch arity of o th the eY Ye Year ear
TLA Ch Charity arity Gi Giveaways veaways
W We’re e’re delighted delighted to to announce announce that that we we have have partnered partnered w with ith llocal ocal ccharity harity Cobalt Cobalt for for the the duration duration o off our our ccelebratory elebratory yyear. ear. Cobalt Cobalt support support patients patients with with cancer, cancer, d dementia ementia and and other other conditions, conditions, and and invest invest iin n e equipment, quipment, rresearch esearch and and education education to to ensure ensure a ass many many people people a ass p possible ossible h have ave a access ccess tto o tthe he b best est medical medical imaging imaging ffor or ttheir heir d diagnosis. iagnosis. We’ll We’ll be be ttrying rying tto o rraise aise a ass m much uch m money oney a ass p possible ossible for for C Cobalt obalt tthroughout hroughout tthe he n next ext 112 2m months, onths, as as well well as as helping helping to to raise raise a awareness wareness o off tthe he vvital ital w work ork tthey hey do do in in Gloucestershire Gloucestershire a and nd b beyond. eyond.
Our Our ccharity harity g giveaways iveaways are are back back a and nd w we’ll e’ll be be running running several several competitions competitions throughout throughout our our birthday birthday year, year, giving giving G Gloucestershire loucestershire ccharities harities and and not-for-profit not-for-profit organisations organisations the the chance chance to to w win in £ £2,000 2,000 e each ach time. time. We We will will announce announce m more ore details details of of tthe he fi first rst giveaway giveaway iin n tthe he A April pril 2 2019 019 issue. issue.
Gloucester G loucester D Day ay C Come ome and and see see us us a att G Gloucester loucester D Day ay o on nS Saturday aturday 7 7th th S September eptember w where here w we’ll e’ll b be e rrunning unning a ttombola ombola tto o rraise aise m money oney ffor or C Cobalt. obalt. L Last ast yyear ear was was a great great success success and and w we e ‘‘sold sold out’ out’ with with three three h hours ours to to spare, spare, so so this this year year w will ill b be ee even ven b bigger igger and and b better! etter!
Website W ebsite D Developments evelopments One One of of tthe he m main ain a activities ctivities ffor or which which we we w would ould a appreciate ppreciate yyour our support support a and nd d donations onations iiss tthe he er C Cheltenham heltenham Challenge Challenge iin n JJune, une, w when hen Lois Lois a and nd h her b boyfriend oyfriend w will ill be be taking taking on on the the 10k! 10k! Y You ou ccan an k keep eep u up p to to date date with with L Lois’ ois’ ttraining raining p progress rogress iin no our ur o online nline S Sport port section section (thelocalanswer.co.uk/news/sport.aspx) (thelocalanswer.co.uk/news/sport.aspx) and and iiff you you would would like like to to donate, donate, please please visit visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TheLocalAnswer https:///uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TheLocalAnswer 10thBirthdayYear 10thBirthdayYe Year
We’re ccurrently We’re urrently working working on on new new features features for for o our ur website w ebsite tto oe enhance nhance your your e experience xperience – providing providing an an iincreasing ncreasing volume volume of of useful useful information information for for G Gloucestershire loucestershire residents. residents. These These developments developments also also h help elp in in iimproving mproving the the ssupport upport w we e deliver deliver to to local local b businesses usinesses a and nd o organisations rganisations tthrough hrough o our ur d digital igital p platform. latform. S Stay tay ttuned uned ffor or m more ore details details ssoon! oon!
Thanks again for all your support!
www.thelocalanswer.co.uk w ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Dave D ave Kingscott Kingscott Managing M anaging D Director irector
& Sons Ltd
Paving & Tarmac Specialists B Block lock Paving Paving • TTarmac armac • Landscaping L a n d sca p i n g FFencing encing • Patios Patios • D Driveways r i ve w ay s Garden G arden Walls Walls
ALSO A LSO
Al l o u r w o r k i s G Guaranteed uaranteed ffor or 5 y years! ears! Guaranteed to beat any genuine quote
Resin esin Driveways, Dr i v e w ay s, P Patios atios & P Paths aths
• Low M Maintenance aintenance •C Choice hoice ooff Colours Colours •D Durable urable & Long Long LLasting asting •W Weed eed Free Free •P orous for for Drainage Drainage Porous
•R educes P uddles Reduces Puddles • FFirm, irm, attractive attractive Surfface Surface •C an bbee aapplied pplied oover ve r Can EExisting xisting S urface Surface •C ost Effective Effective Cost
Rectory R ectory F Fields, ields, R Rudford, udford, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL2 L2 8 8DT DT
Tel: T el: 001452 1452 6668005 68005 / 001453 1453 2297010 97010 / 001285 1285 2238089 3 80 8 9
w www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk ww.marshallsdriveways.co.uk
Company Company rregistration: egistration: 1 11415390 1415390
R
R
S
RR Richards ichards & Son Son Ltd Ltd FAMILY F AMILY BUSINESS BUSINESS
ROOFING R OOFING & F FASCIA ASCIA BOARD BOARD SPECIALISTS SPECIALIST TS S Serving Gloucestershire and beyond ◆N New ew R Roofs oofs ◆ N New ew Builds Builds ◆ S Slate, late, C Chimney himney a and nd T Tile ile R Repair epair ◆N New ew Valleys Valleys ◆ F Felt elt and and Battening Battening ◆ L Lead ead Work Work ◆ L Leak eak R Repairs epairs ◆R Rubber ubber Roofing Roofing ◆ F Fibreglass ibreglass Roofing Roofing ◆ F Felt elt R Roofing oofing
F Fascias ascias & S Soffits offits a and nd G Guttering uttering – C Carports arports R Replacement eplacement Fascias Fascias in in a range range of of colours colours
115 5 YYears’ ears’ Guarantee Guarantee Ye
FREE W RITTEN QUOTATIONS NO OBLIGATION OBLIGATION FREE WRITTEN QUOTATIONS - NO L O C AL R EFERENCES S UPPLIED LOCAL REFERENCES SUPPLIED Insurance B acked Insurance Backed Guarantee Guarantee
01242 1242 300028 300028 / 01432 1432 870957 870957 / 07917 07917 166516 166516 PAGE
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
THE LOCAL ANSWER
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
THE LOCAL ANSWER
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.
TO ADVERTISE CALL
PAGE
Mark Clifforrd d Landscapes
• Garden Design & Maintenance • Lawn Cutting • Hedge Trimming • Turfing • Pond Work • Tree Work • Patios • Decking • Pergolas • Fencing • Sheds • Driveways
Diploma in Horticulture ~ Est. 1993 COMPETITIVE C OMPETITIVE R RATES ATES FREE QUOTATIONS
001242 1242 7713800 13800 / 007778 7778 3340485 40485
markclifford-landscapes.co.uk m arkclifford-landscapes.co.uk
iinfo@sarsenenergy.co.uk nfo@sarsenenergy.co.uk www.sarsenenergy.co.uk w ww.sarsenenergy.co.uk
Promote your business iinn 3 30,000 0,000 m magazines agazines CALL C AL L N NOW! OW!
01242 0 1242 5 510500 10500
HATHERLEY ATHERLEY WORKTOPS WORKTOPS LLTD TD HW H Your Y our LLocal ocal W Worktop orktop a and nd K Kitchen itchen S Specialists pecialists Cheltenham eltenham b based ased Q Quartz uarttz & G Granite ranite F Factory actory w with ith SShowroom howroom
EE FR K* SINFERNS ORMFS & COLNYDITITIOIO *TE
APP
■ ■ ■ ■
■ ■ ■
Quartz & G Quartz Granite ranite Laminate Laminate SSolid olid Wood Wo ood Minerva M inerva®, M Mirostone irostone®, Mistral®, C Corian orian® & Staron Staron® Mistral ssurfaces urfaces Worktop Worktop refits refits Door D oor rreplacements eplacements F Full ull kkitchens itchens
Tel: T el: 0 01242 523398 01452 290458 email: 90458 / e mail: iinfo@hatherleyworktops.co.uk nfo@hatherleyworktops.co.uk 1242 5 23398 / 0 1452 2 web: www.hatherleyworktops.co.uk w eb: w ww w.hatherleyworktops.co.uk U Units nits 1 18, 8, 1 19 9 & 20 20 Malmesbury Malmesbury Road, Road, Kingsditch Kingsditch Trading Trading Estate, Estate, Cheltenham Cheltenham GL51 GL51 9PL 9PL
O Opening pening H Hours: ours: 8am-5pm 8am-5pm Monday-Friday Monday-Friday | 9am-1pm 9am-1pm SSaturdays aturdays PAGE
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
THE LOCAL ANSWER
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
TO ADVERTISE CALL
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
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.
BraZen B raZen S Shadow hadow PC P CG Gaming aming C Chair hair One of the most important parts of gaming, is that you THE LOCAL ANSWER
TO ADVERTISE CALL
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.
•W et rrooms ooms Wet hower rooms rooms •S Shower •B athrooms Bathrooms •C loakrooms Cloakrooms •T iles Tiles •W all boards boards Wall
Before
well known brands
After bathroom fitters high standard of finish
friendly, polite
Save 20%
VAT*
*If you need to make changes to your bathroom due to disability or a medical condition, we are able to supply your bathroom VAT free, saving you 20%. Please ask for details.
Contact Rex on 07496 057281 or 01453 884167 for a free home visit to discuss your needs
rex@lifestylebathrooms.net
www.lifestylebathrooms.net
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? THE LOCAL ANSWER
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
Word W ord S Search earch G H K C D O V O R T D G Y P I U H W W I S O S X
B A N N E R W L Y E J T T F F Q A C T N R Q Z A
J I V A I L V Z C H R I G L U G P U X V X K L R
J Y T E U C E O A M V L B R M N P V E I I I G V
J V P T B L R B H P N A A M C O Y E S T S H U Z
Q W O V Q A K E R D U S J C T A F T T A H Z G C
S V W J T N S T A A V H E X E W K J P T A X A U
L G K I H I D N J E T G P L J U Z E G I C G M Q
E R O C R C C H C A U E Y T D E K Y O O J J E R
E N N P V I D O C E H P W X P N X N J N B J S H
S G R K N M O E S J W N U I Z J A T N Q S D G X
D U I G P O O T R V V P M H C X T C N L I U M M
S P N O I Z F D V H P T V T A K B M H E N L A M
C A R D R E P A P G N I P P A R W K C J G L E S
G E D X J K V D K F K A X O S E K A W W I G Z F
W R C K F X L G J T A B V F K W C B Q P N K U R
B I R T H D A Y O Q E M K B V B T I K L G V B I
L Z E I A Y K T I Z B R I H D Y Z N S Y U T N E
W R T W O V F P P Z P O K L Q R H Y T U G G Y N
R Z H D A I B M X H T S E T Y L J R L P M K G D
V J G X G A Q O U G P Z Y R M K A W Z Q U L S S
Z Y U K V V P Y G R R N H Y K P C J E A W D L J
Z B A F P S D S E R O M J G K N I R D S M N R X
C L L U Q X D Q P L X S W K D C E G M C G H Q O
Birthday B irthday BANNER BIRTHDAY CAKE CANDLES CARD CELEBRATE DANCING DECORATIONS DRINK
FA AMILY FOOD FRIENDS FUN GAMES GIFT GUEST HAPPY HAT
INVITATION LAUGHTER MUSIC PARTY SINGING SURPRISE WRAPPING PAPER
Don’t Don’t look look until until you’ve you’ve finished! finished! S Solutions olutions oon n ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ ppage. age. PAGE
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
THE LOCAL ANSWER
Quick Q uick Crossword Crossword ACROSS ACROSS 1 Most agile 5 Peel 7 Uncouth 8 Walked 9 Go by (of time) 12 Aspiring actress 15 River of ice 19 Grills 21 Wired message 22 Salute 23 Went on horseback 24 Hearing membranes DOWN D OWN 1 Hospital workers
2 Paging device sound 3 Follow next 4 Front of neck 5 Big dipper, ... coaster 6 Subtract 10 Vocal solo 11 Sri Lankan robe 12 Male title 13 Type of saxophone 14 Large amounts 15 Roadside channel 16 Dairy product 17 Come into view 18 Biblical prayers 19 More docile 20 Dislike intensely
© Lovatts Puzzles
D Don’t on’t llook ook until until you’ve you’ve ffinished! inished! Solutions Solutions on on ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ page. page.
PAGE
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
THE LOCAL ANSWER
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Money M oney Matters Matters with w ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off A Andorran ndorran
What W hat p price rice lloyalty? oyalty? 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
Don’t look until you’ve finished!
Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ... Your local family business
THE LOCAL ANSWER
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.
TO ADVERTISE CALL
PAGE
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
Webby Webby remains remains a lead lead man man in in racing racing world world There are certain people in life with whom you can tag the letter ‘y’ onto their surname and it becomes, for all intents and purposes, their accepted name. The addition of the ‘sixth vowel’ is a term of endearment, an appreciation of that individual’s personality and their sporting prowess in their chosen field. Out in the Cotswolds and beyond, if you’re talking about a chap called Webby, particularly in the racing fraternity, it’s a fair bet that they’ll know you’re discussing Allen Webb. You see, Webby was a decent jockey back in the day, someone who rubbed shoulders with the likes of John Francome, Peter Scudamore and Jonjo O’Neill, racing greats all three of them. And since retiring from the saddle some 25 years ago, Webby has remained very much part of the racing industry,
S Something omething for for everyone everyone ”It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.” That’s Elaine Chapman talking about her decision to join Running Somewhere Else, the popular running club based in Cirencester. And it’s fair to Elaine Chapman say that the club are just as pleased that Chapman decided to join them in 2013 because she has been one of their driving forces in recent times. She has been club captain for the best part of two years after serving as vice-captain for about a year and clearly loves all things Running Somewhere Else. “It’s such a friendly club,” she said. “There’s something for everyone. If you want to race
Allen Webb
as both a saddle maker and a valet for some of the top National Hunt jockeys of today. Webby was born in Leamington Spa in 1956 and his earliest memories of life in this regency town in Warwickshire less than 30 miles from Stow-on-the Wold are happy ones. “I was a member of St you can, you can get out exactly what you want. The club are to going from strength strength.”
A ffootball ootball lleader eader It has 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 Roger Burden at the top level. 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
George’s Boys’ Club,” he said. “It was run by Fred Churchill, he was a brilliant bloke. We’d play table tennis, five-a-side football, go fishing, we’d go on trips.” And it was on one of those trips that Webby’s life was shaped, a life that saw him clock up close on 300 winners as a jockey, including a couple at the Cheltenham Festival, before carving out a successful business career. “Fred Churchill took us to Butlin’s,” Webby recalled. “It was at Minehead and I went on a pony on the beach and the bloke who was leading me said, ‘You should be a jockey’.” Webby was only 12 at the time but those five words struck a chord and not much more than a year later he began a five-year apprenticeship with top trainer David Nicholson, who in those days was based at Condicote. Full story online. 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.
Many M any h happy appy returns returns
This year is a big year for Cirencester Hockey Club because the ladies’ section are celebrating their 45th anniversary and the men are celebrating their 40th year. The two sections merged in the mid-1980s and it has proved to be a very successful alliance because the club are now in rude health. Throw in a thriving youth section and it’s easy to see why there are so many smiling faces around the club. For full versions of all these stoories and more please visit our website: www.thhelocalanswer.co.uk
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
IIndex ndex o off A Advertisers dvertisers WHAT’S W HAT’S ON ON
Severn Vale Bathrooms CLUBS & S CLUBS SPORTS PORTS BUILDING B UILDING S SERVICES ERVICES Shipton Golf Course 17 Marshalls Driveways Townswomen’s Guilds 8 R. Richards & Son HEALTH H EALTH & BEAUTY BEAUTY Resindrives.co.uk NHS Gloucestershire 6-7 FFURNISHING URNISHING & APPLIANCES A PPLIANCES PROPERTY P ROPERTY Park Home Life 10 Bella’s Interiors Gloucester Carpet Outlet RETAIL R ETAIL GARDEN ARDEN S SERVICES ERVICES Assured Mobility 8 G Mark Clifford HOMES H OMES & GARDENS GARDENS HEATING H EATING & PLUMBING PLUMBING BATHROOMS B ATHROOMS Lifestyle Bathrooms 26 Sarsen Energy
31 KITCHENS KITCHENS Dream Doors 20 Hatherley Worktops WINDOWS, INDOWS, D DOORS OORS & 20 W CONSERVATORIES ONSERVATORIES 35 C AJ Windows Albany Windows 22 Inceil
MOTORING M OTORING SERVICES SERVICES 2 Pace Motor Company 10 22 S SKIP KIP HIRE HIRE & RECYCLING RECYCLING Stevens Recycling 34 WILL W ILL WRITING WRITING 17 29 Maplebrook Wills 36 Th The e Lo Local c al 30
ANSWER AN SWER
24 PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL
To T o aadvertise dvertise call: call:
SERVICES SERVICES
22 CARE CARE S SERVICES ERVICES Aura Care Living 22 Barnwood Trust
01242 0 1242 510500 510500
9 4
Puzzle P uzzle S Solutions olutions G H K C D O V O R T D G Y P I U H W W I S O S X
B A N N E R W L Y E J T T F F Q A C T N R Q Z A
J I V A I L V Z C H R I G L U G P U X V X K L R
J Y T E U C E O A M V L B R M N P V E I I I G V
J V P T B L R B H P N A A M C O Y E S T S H U Z
Q W O V Q A K E R D U S J C T A F T T A H Z G C
S V W J T N S T A A V H E X E W K J P T A X A U
L G K I H I D N J E T G P L J U Z E G I C G M Q
E R O C R C C H C A U E Y T D E K Y O O J J E R
E N N P V I D O C E H P W X P N X N J N B J S H
S G R K N M O E S J W N U I Z J A T N Q S D G X
D U I G P O O T R V V P M H C X T C N L I U M M
S P N O I Z F D V H P T V T A K B M H E N L A M
C A R D R E P A P G N I P P A R W K C J G L E S
G E D X J K V D K F K A X O S E K A W W I G Z F
W R C K F X L G J T A B V F K W C B Q P N K U R
B I R T H D A Y O Q E M K B V B T I K L G V B I
L Z E I A Y K T I Z B R I H D Y Z N S Y U T N E
W R T W O V F P P Z P O K L Q R H Y T U G G Y N
R Z H D A I B M X H T S E T Y L J R L P M K G D
V J G X G A Q O U G P Z Y R M K A W Z Q U L S S
Z Y U K V V P Y G R R N H Y K P C J E A W D L J
Z B A F P S D S E R O M J G K N I R D S M N R X
C L L U Q X D Q P L X S W K D C E G M C G H Q O
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 B OOKING D DEADLINE EADLINE FFOR OR N NEXT EXT IISSUE SSUE – M Monday onday 111th 1th M March arch 22019 019
STEVE
ATTENTION A TTENTION! Let us lighten your load!
Domestic and Industrial Skips Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB
01242 522647/529397 stevensrecycling584@gmail.com
PAGE
WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
THE LOCAL ANSWER