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Unit H,, C Churchill Churchill Road, U nit H hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C hurchill R oad, Gloucestershire GL53 LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, G loucestershire G L53 77EG EG
Telephone T elephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 @thelocalanswer @thelocalanswer
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May’s winning cover photo: Lauren Clifford of Cheltenham
Welcome Welcome ttoo M May ay ... ... With tw o bank holi days to l ook forw ar d to this month, make sure you check out our What’s On section to find the best way to spend them. It is not only in print that you can find out what is going on around Gloucestershire – we are very happy to announce we now have event listings online as well! Head inside to find out more, including a great introductory deal for those looking to promote their events! Our TLA Charity Giveaway runs until the end of the month, so if you know or are part of a charity/not for profit organisation that would be a worthy recipient of our £2,000 prize, be sure to vote for them soon. The more nominations they receive, the higher chance they have of being drawn! More details on how to enter inside.
Inside Inside this this month month .... .. Crossword Quick Quick Crossword Charity Giveaway Giveaway TTLA LA Charity Delicious Dish D elicious Dish Motoring M otoring Holidays Travel H olidays & Travel Parenting Guardianship P arenting & Guardianship Wildlife Matters W ildlife Matters Pet Care P et Care Medical Health M edical Health Word Search W ord Search Save the Planet Planet S ave the What’s On W hat’s On Online Events Events TTLA LA Online Entertainment TTLA LA Entertainment Homes H Gardens omes & Gardens In Garden In the the Garden Interior Design Interior Design Gadgets Gizmos Gadgets & Gizmos Sudoku Sudoku Money Matters Money Matters TLA Sport TLA Sport Index, Index, Competitions, Competitions, Solutions Solutions
4 4 5 7 9 11 11 12 12 13 13 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 21 21 22-23 22-23 24 24 27 27 33 33 35 35 39 39 39 39 40-41 40-41 42 42 Page 3
Quick Q uick Crossword Crossword ACROSS ACROSS 1 Found 4 Ahead of time 7 Stir 8 Speak slowly 9 Stared angrily 12 Most immature 15 Divergent lines 17 Emotional shock 18 Torment 21 Technical sketch 22 Literary style 23 Perspired
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DOWN DOWN 1 Lawsuit contestant 2 Enrages 3 Tie in race 4 Viewed 5 Delighted 6 Shout 10 Perishing 11 Erupted 13 Foiled 14 Untouched (of meal) 16 Curved fruit 18 Tiny branch 19 Rim 20 Flying mammals
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FOR YOUR LOCAL CHARITY OR CLUB Last month we launched our latest ‘TLA Charity’ competition in partnership p artnership w with ith ffour our o off o our ur g generous enerous advertisers advertisers (below) (below) who who sshare hare the he ssame ame commitment commitment we we have have to to support support the the local local community. community.
Whether you have a personal involvement o orr jjust ust like like to to support support a sspecific personal involvement pecific local local charity, charity, club, club, society, society, group group or or association association – p provided rovided it it is, is, essentially, essentially, a non-profit non-profit m making enterprise aking e nterprise – you you could could help help boost boost their their funds funds by by £2,000! £2,000!
IIt’s t’s easy easy to to enter enter our our draw... draw ...
For your chance to choose which organisation benefits from this prize, send their name (and registered charity number if applicable) along with your name, address (including postcode) and telephone number to ‘TLA Charity’, The Local Answer, Unit H, Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 7EG. Alternatively, enter via email by sending the same information stating ‘TLA Charity’ in the subject line to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk. Closing date: Friday 31st May 2019. In addition to our usual competition rules, by entering you agree to have your name and photograph featured in our magazines and online should you win. Only one entr y per household accepted. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator, but the more times an organisation’s name is submitted, the higher the chance it has of being drawn. The Local Answer reser ves the right to discard any entries it believes do not meet the specified criteria. Good luck! PAGE
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Delicious D elicious Dish Dish with w ith H Helen elen Kingscott Kingscott
Rhubarb, R hubarb, o orange range aand nd vvanilla anilla sponge sponge Im made ade a rhubarb rhubarb a and nd o orange range p pudding udding a att sschool chool a and nd remember remember how how well well the the flavours flavours went went ttogether ogether – I sstill till u use se m my y rrecipe ecipe book book ttoday! oday! T This his pudding pudding w will ill sserve erve 6 6-8 -8 so so y you ou will will need need a 2 llitre itre ccapacity apacity o ovenproof venproof d dish. ish.
Ingredients: Ingredients: 600/800g rhubarb cut into 3-4cm chunks (or as I did, used up some of last seasons’ that I had frozen); 125g golden caster sugar. For the sponge topping: 30g flaked almonds; 25g ground almonds; 200g golden caster sugar; 225g softened butter; 200g self-raising flour; 2 tsp baking powder; zest of one orange; juice of one orange then made up to 100ml with smooth orange juice; 4 medium eggs; 1-2 tsp vanilla essence.
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Method: Method: 1 Preheat your oven to 200°C, (180°C fan/gas mark 6). 2 Put the rhubarb in your dish and sprinkle over the sugar. 3 Set aside the flaked almonds and 2 tbsp caster sugar then place all the other ingredients into a food processor and cream together. 4 Spoon onto the rhubarb until it is all covered then sprinkle on the sugar and flaked almonds. 5 Bake for about an hour but keep an eye on it and if it is starting to brown too much, cover with a piece of foil. Test if it is cooked through by inserting a skewer, which should come out clean. 6 Serve with your choice of cream, custard or ice-cream.
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Gloucestershire’s Gloucestershire’s VW VW AUDI AUDI Group Group Specialist Specialist SServicing ervicing FFrom rom £ £95.00 95.00 M MOT OT £ £39.95 39.95 Cambelts C ambelts FFrom rom £ £249.00 249.00 Air A ir C Conditioning onditioning rregas egas £ £45.00 45.00 FFree ree Courtesy Courtesy Cars Cars – Collection Collection & Delivery Delivery
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Motoring M otoring with w ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken
Peugeot P eugeot 508 508 GT GT – a contender contender buyers ffor or luxury luxur y ssaloon aloon b uyers I think Peugeot often gets overlooked. Think about it – I’m guessing when you read Peugeot in the title you thought of small cars, hatchbacks, maybe the odd hot hatch in the 205GTI days, but you wouldn’t think of a relatively low slung sports saloon. That’s what the 508 GT is. And while I thought the photos looked nice before it arrived, I wasn’t quite ready for the level of quality and feel – this is a genuine contender for luxury/ executive saloon buyers. It looks good – especially in the pearlescent paint – and the frameless windows give it a great GT look.
Driving D riving p position osition iiss g great reat The seats are comfortable, the driving position is great, and the new Peugeot i-Cockpit is really good, giving different alldigital display options depending on your preferences. This includes night-vision mode, although it’s a £1,300 option – and good as it is, I don’t think
it’s worth the money. Plus it’s not quite as good as Audi’s equivalent system, but still, a nice gadget to play with. So it looks good outside, the inside is a lovely place to be with quality leather, a nice touchscreen and even seat massagers on the model I tested. It’s well specced, has a great 360 degree reversing camera and is remarkably easy to park for a relatively big car. Boot space is excellent, and the two-litre diesel gives a nice balance of power and poke with decent fuel economy.
Ah handy andy ssafety afety d device evice on o n llonger onger jjourneys ourneys The GT spec gives quite a lot of extras, including the kappa leather interior, electric tailgate, seat massager and the lanekeeping system that works with the adaptive cruise control really well. With cruise set, the ‘lane positioning assist’ helps to keep you in lane on motorways, a handy safety device on longer THE LOCAL ANSWER
journeys, and one that I was quite impressed with. There are only a few niggles that I had with this car, and they wouldn’t deter me from buying one, but it’s only fair to mention them. Some of the infotainment controls were a little temperamental on my review model – I have no idea why, and I was able to get them working again, but this would be a little annoying had I shelled out £40k on it.
A ssmall mall crossover crossover between the between the brands brands The only other areas it lost points were again around the satnav/radio controls, which I think come from the Citroen side of the Peugeot/Citroen partnership – but that’s the only place I noticed any crossover between the two brands. One final thing – and I appreciate this is the most first-world of all first-world problems – the motors that operate the seat massage system are just a little bit too noisy.
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Holidays H olidays & T Travel ravel with w ith A All H Hidden idden
Summertime S ummertime Seattle Seattle Think Microsoft, Kurt Cobain, Boeing or Elvis in ‘It Happened at the World’s Fair’ and Seattle probably comes to mind. The city and its Cascadian environs are worth visiting at any time of year. But for many, warm summers between the mountains and beautiful Puget Sound mean this season shows Seattle off best. Whenever I’ve visited, I’ve stayed with friends out in leafy Northgate. However, if you’re arranging accommodation, Seattle is packed with great places to stay – from ritzy fivestar to cosy boutique places such as Hotel Ballard with its furnished roof terrace and mountain views. Whether you stay at the wellr a t e d G r e e n l a k e G u e st H o u s e , 10 minutes’ drive from downtown, or the waterfront Edgewater Inn made famous by Led Zeppelin in July 1969, TripAdvisor and its peers are your planning-time friends.
Mount M ount R Rainier ainier p presides resides iimpressively mpressively Throughout Seattle, the mighty Cascades are ever-
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present and the active volcanic cone of Mount Rainier presides impressively. From Lake Union Park to historic Pioneer Square, Seattle rewards exploration on foot, by public transport or by car. Check out Pike Place Market with its famous lowflying fish or view the city from the newly-renovated 184mhigh Space Needle – a PacificNorthwest landmark. Later, wander Queen Anne’s steep ‘San Francisco-esque’ streets or ferry-hop to Bainbridge Island and beyond. For new perspectives the mountains beckon, as do Washington State’s 900+ world-class wineries. And cult TV fans are sure to enjoy visiting locations from the 1990s series ‘Twin Peaks’ out at Snoqualmie and North Bend. Aviation enthusiasts will love visiting Tukwila’s Museum of Flight or Everett’s massive Boeing factory – home of classic airliners such as the 747 and 787 Dreamliner. You could even venture north across ‘the line’ to Vancouver, Canada. If
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you do, I highly recommend the four-hour Amtrak Cascades train journey along scenic Puget Sound – complete with impromptu seal-spotting stops!
Sample S ample S Seattleites’ eattleites’ ffavourite avourite treats treats Naturally, you’ll punctuate your exploration with delicious wines, local beers (start with anything from Old Stove or Reuben’s Brews), Seattle’s renowned coffee and the city’s eclectic culinary offerings. Do sample Seattleites’ favourite treats too: fresh-shucked Oysters at Elliotts off Alaskan Way; curry beef hom bow; katsu burger; and anything with teriyaki sauce. And what could be better before that Mariners (baseball) or Seahawks (American football) home game than a ‘Seattle Dog’ – with cream cheese, of course. Whether your visit to superliveable Seattle leaves you sleepless with excitement, or perfectly relaxed, look forward to an amazing summer experience! PAGE
Relay Life R elay ffor or L ife iiss c oming tto o coming Gloucester! G loucester! CELEBRATE. CELEBRATE. REMEMBER. REMEMBER. FIGHT BACK. F IGHT B ACK.
A year-round year-round team team fundraising fundraising challenge challenge bringing bringing communities c ommunities together together to to beat beat cancer. c ancer.
WE N WE NEED EED Y YOU OU T TO OH HELP ELP US US ORGANISE O RGANISE R RELAY! ELAY! Relay for for Life Life events events are are organised organised by by volunteer volunteer Relay groups and and we we need need your your help help with with Gloucester. Gloucester. groups S o if if yyou ou w ant tto o fi ght b ack a gainst c ancer, llove ove So want fight back against cancer, ffundraising/events, undraising/events, w ant a u nique volunteer volunteer want unique o pportunity o ave a sspecific pecific sskill kill tto oo ffer, opportunity orr h have offer, w e’d llove ove tto oh ear ffrom rom yyou. ou. we’d hear
riends Teams T eams o off ffriends a nd ffamily amily ffundraise undraise and ffor or llife-saving ife-saving c ancer rresearch, esearch, cancer tthen hen jjoin oin a 24-hour 24-hour celebration celebration showing tthat hat showing ttogether ogether w e are are we sstronger tronger than than c ancer. cancer. J oin u ow. Join uss n now.
Roles R oles include: include: • • • • • • •
Recruitment Team T eam Recruitment Logistics L ogistics & H H&S &S C ancer Awareness Awareness Cancer S urvivorship L ead Survivorship Lead A ccounting Lead Lead Accounting E ntertainments Co-ordinator Co-ordinator Entertainments C orporate S ponsorship Corporate Sponsorship
What W hat h happens appens d during uring tthe he R Relay elay e event? vent? E Each ach R Relay elay FFor or LLife ife e event vent iiss a 2 24-hour 4-hour c community ommunity c celebration. elebration. Teams, Teams, cancer cancer survivors, survivors, their their c carers arers aand nd vvolunteers olunteers c come ome ttogether ogether tto o fi fight ght back back aagainst gainst c cancer. ancer. Talks about Cancer Research UK’s •O Our ur V VIP IP guests guests a are re o our ur ssurvivors urvivors o off c cancer. ancer. •T alks a bout C ancer R esearch U K’s ground-breaking give uss rreal hope Each Honour. cience g ive u eal h ope heir Lap Lap of of H onour. Each event event begins begins with with ttheir g round-breaking sscience uture. ffor or tthe he ffuture. • We to walk walk laps laps of of a track, track, We all all take take it it in in turns turns to Music performers gets uss m moving. all cancer never how c ancer n ever rom local local p erformers g e ts u oving. •M usic ffrom all day day and and all all night night to to sshow Stalls and games are allll tthe sleeps. nd g ames a re ffun un ffor or a he ffamily. amily. Stalls a sleeps. ceremony celebrates our • A Candle eremony c elebrates o ur sees the t he • A closing closing c Candle of of Hope Hope ceremony ceremony sees achievements, and uss a allll tto continue darkness nd iinspires nspires u oc of tthose hose we’ve we’ve achievements, a ontinue darkness lit lit up up in in memory memory of lost. tthe he fight. fight. lost.
If yyou’re If ou’re iinterested nterested iin n getting getting iinvolved nvolved w with ith tthis his incredible incredible e event, vent, please p lease c contact ontact J James.Rogers@cancer.org.uk ames.Rogers@cancer.org.uk o orr 07900 07900 161844 161844
Parenting P arenting & G Guardianship uardianship with w ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart
Get G et o outside utside and and get get g gardening! ardening! May Day blessings to you all and I hope this month finds you happy and healthy and ready to embrace the pure joy that is the British summer time. After the fabulous festivities of the May bank holiday, featuring the first barbecues of the season, village fetes, maypole dancing and rather too much imbibing of local ales, it is the perfect time to get cracking in your own back yard and launch your own ‘Going Green Campaign’. This month I want to urge families to get outside and get gardening, as it is World Plant a Vegetable Garden Day on Sunday 19th May. If you don’t have the space – or the will – to create your own garden, why not consider joining forces with neighbours and creating a community garden? Members of the Green Party and their neighbours in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham have recently created an orchard on public land and are committed to growing fruit
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trees to benefit pollinators, the environment and future generations.
Start w Start with ith v vegetable egetable sseeds eeds iin np pots ots o on na windowsill w indowsill But what should you grow? The simplest thing is to start with vegetable seeds in pots on a windowsill, or put seedlings into trays. Then if you have a greenhouse you can transfer them into larger pots to come on. Tomatoes, onions, leeks, cabbages and seed potatoes are great for beginners, but personally I love nothing more than a freshly pulled knobbly carrot. Yummy! Starting small with a simple herb garden or salad patch and enjoying getting your hands dirty – whilst offering the kids a chance to understand what real food is, why it is healthy and how delicious home grown produce truly is – will be so rewarding, and just imagine what could happen. Before you know it you could be entering the ‘Biggest Marrow’ competition at the school fete or TO ADVERTISE CALL
crafting artisan soup recipes to rival Mary Berry! Then, of course, we have the added joy of the compost heap, as using fresh produce inevitably creates green waste and can offer the chance to create a wonderful mulch with which to use on future plants. Kids will love seeing the worms create their home and magically turn their old vegetable cuttings into soft fragrant soil. Whilst gardening may look like work to grown-ups, it is the best kind of play for children who can feel useful and accomplished when they see what they have created. It is prime quality time too for parents and kids to get together without pressure or hurry, to simply enjoy physical activity. The benefits to mental and physical health cannot be understated, as well as all those incredible microbes in the soil adding to our immune system, creating healthy bodies and minds. What’s not to love? This May, get outside and get gardening! PAGE
Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters with w ith M Maxine axine Raggatt Raggatt
Picture: Lauren Clifford
The The cunning cunning red red fox fox Foxes are well known to be cunning creatures of the night; however, they can actually be seen day or night and often go about their own business without anyone knowing they are even there. In my experience, there is barely a week that goes by where I don’t see a few foxes lurking around my neighbourhood. I’ve spotted them jumping through skips, resting in my garden and even taking a nap on the roof of a car on a summer’s eve at dusk. I think foxes are truly stunning animals and I could happily sit and watch them all day.
Opportunist O pportunist sscavengers cavengers As the countryside reduces in size and more housing and industrial sites are built, it’s the wildlife that suffers. Over the years, foxes have been forced to survive in urban communities, and although finding a place to set up house is becoming ever more challenging for them, looking for food can be easy. PAGE
Foxes have been seen breaking into bin bags and taking scraps of food, as they are omnivore scroungers and can eat anything from rabbits and voles to bird eggs, beetles and fruit. Foxes are lazy predators, and although they will take livestock such as guinea pigs and chickens, it is highly unlikely they would be a threat to cats, dogs or humans. They are opportunist scavengers, but in truth, foxes are the first to run if they feel even slightly threatened. During cold winter nights, it is not uncommon to hear the chilling scream of a vixen looking for a mate. The peak time for mating is usually January, with 4-5 cubs per litter being born around March. The average lifespan of a fox in the wild is 2-4 years. Foxes can be seen throughout the year as they do not hibernate. Fox dens are usually holes in the ground, and these often contain different exits to protect cubs in case of a predator invasion. WWW.THELOCALANSWER.CO.UK
H ow you you ccan an h elp a ffox ox How help w ith mange mange with Sarcoptic mange is a nasty condition that can be found in foxes. It usually first presents itself through thinning of the tail hair and works its way up the body. Foxes with mange can be seen scratching a lot, have a hunched appearance and often limping. Conjunctivitis is also a c o m m o n p a r t o f t h e c o n d it i on , as well as needing a copious amount of water. After about four months of contracting this unbearable condition, without treatment, the fox will die. If you have a fox regularly visit your neighbourhood and you think it may have mange, you can help by contacting the National Fox Welfare Society (www.nfws.org.uk). They can provide you with free medicine if necessary to leave out for a fox with mange. Merely put a few drops on a slice of bread and jam. With continued use, this can bring foxes back to full health. THE LOCAL ANSWER
Pet P et Care Care w with ith O Oliver liver W Wilkinson ilkinson o ragon V et C entre off D Dragon Vet Centre
Grief iis Grief s tthe he p price rice we we pay pay for for llove ove
TTewkesbury ewkesburryy New Veterinary Care in Tewkesbury Dragon Vets now has a new Tewkesbury branch; we have taken over the ownership of 31 Church Street in Tewkesbury. We will be providing the same high quality veterinary care and advanced treatment that has been our trademark in Cheltenham for over 50 years.
£40 £ 40 ++VAT VAT ffor or a sstarter tarter ccourse ourse ooff ttwo wo vvaccinations accinations ffor or ppuppies uppies oorr kkittens ittens OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM- 6.30PM 31 Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PD
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Recently, I had to make two home visits to facilitate the passing of a much beloved older pet. Both dogs had reached the end of their lives and their respective healths were rapidly declining. There was no doubt that being able to save them the last few days of suffering and unhappiness was a kindness and relief, but the sadness and grief were written large on the faces of their owners. No pet owner ever makes the decision to let a pet go lightly, even when it is clearly the kindest option. The emotional mix of loss, guilt and helplessness leaves pet owners feeling the intense sadness of the departure of a pet that for many of us is not just a furry companion but a critical member of the family. Our pets give us so much more than just a loyal presence – they give us affection, appreciation, a non-judgemental, ever-present companion and, most importantly, love. For those non-pet owners out there it is hard to appreciate the depth of the human-pet bond, and that is why perhaps it’s sometimes difficult to adequately sympathise with the extent of the grief that is felt when a pet passes away.
“ “Don’t Don’t apologise apologise for for crying, crying, don’t don’t a apologise pologise ffor or tthe he ssadness adness y you ou ffeel” eel” We are a nation of animal lovers but also a nation known for emotional restraint. As a veterinarian and a pet owner, the best advice I can give for grieving owners is to say, “Don’t apologise for crying, don’t apologise for the sadness you feel”. If you can’t unashamedly weep when your pet leaves you, when can you? We nurture our pets, feed them, play with them, provide shelter and affection, and when the time comes we save them from the final stages of physical deterioration and suffering. Grief is the price we pay for love, it is awful and terrible, but it is so because of the joy we have had and the knowledge that the source of that joy is leaving us. Understandably, at the time of loss, many pet owners say to me that they won’t get another pet, that the sadness of losing them is too much to bear. But it is the joy that they give us that makes the grief so potent and it is the joy that we should remember. It is that very happiness that enriches our lives and reminds us why having a pet is a gift to be forever grateful for.
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Stay S tay safe safe in in the the sun sun In the UK we are lucky enough to experience plenty of spring and summer sunshine, which we bask in. Yet we still seem unaware of the dangers and damage our beloved sun can do to our skin. Melanoma of the skin is the 19th most common cancer worldwide and skin cancer is the 5th most common form of cancer in the UK. The positive though is that most skin cancers can be cured if detected early, and 86% of melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK are preventable.
Wear sunscrean, Wear sunscrean, cover cover up u pa and nd sseek eek sshade hade Simple things like wearing sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA rays and is SPF30 or higher, and covering up with protective clothing, are the best ways to stay safe when going out in the sun. If you can, stay indoors during the peak hours of 11am-3pm or seek some shelter in the shade. There are two main types of skin cancer; melanoma and non-melanoma. less Melanomas are common, but they are one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer. They can develop from existing moles, but they more often appear as new marks on the skin.
The T he A ABCD BCD ssystem ystem The ABCD system tells you some of the things to lookout for. A melanoma may show one or more of the following features: THE LOCAL ANSWER
A B C D
Asymmetry: Asymmetry: the two halves of the area differ in their shape. Border: Border: the edges of the area may be irregular or blurred, and sometimes show notches. Colour: Colour: this may be uneven. Different shades of black, brown and pink may be seen.
D Diameter: iameter: most melanomas are at least 6mm in diameter.
Non-melanoma skin cancers are more common than melanomas and tend to appear gradually anywhere on the body. They are most common on the areas of skin most exposed to the sun such as the head, neck, lips, ears and the backs of hands. Old scars, burns, ulcers or TO ADVERTISE CALL
wounds that do not heal are also more at risk. This form of skin cancer will often not be painful. Some of the possible signs to look our for with nonmelanoma skin cancer are: • A scab or sore that will not heal. • A scaly or crusty patch of skin that is red or inflamed. • A flesh coloured bump that won't go away and grows in size. • A volcano like growth with a rim and a central crater. As with all cancers, early diagnosis is key, and if you are referred by your GP to a specialist you should be seen within two weeks.
IIff in in doubt, doubt, check check it it out! out!
Remember – if in doubt, check it out! Tell your doctor about any changes to a mole or patch of skin, or a new mole or mark on adult skin. PAGE
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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams
A planet-friendly planet-friendly sschool chool run run As a Mum of two, a large proportion of my life is spent doing the school run, and I know I’m not alone in that! The majority of children in the UK are in school for approximately 190 days a year, with two school runs a day. This means that, on average, we are either on the way to, or back from school, 380 times a year. If your school run is ten minutes each way, that’s 7,600 minutes, or 126 hours sitting in the car, producing dangerous emissions, every single year... for each family! What a terrifying thought for the planet. So what can you do? I’ve been looking at the many other means of getting to and from school.
Walking W alking
Is it possible for you to walk? We can, it takes 25 minutes but is actually a really lovely way for us to start the day. Pros: We chat as we go, talking Pros:
about what the day has in store and taking in our surroundings, whereas in the car we usually have the radio on and it’s over very quickly. We can also take the dog, so that gets his walk out of the way too. C ons: Often they have Cons: after school club and are tired when they finish. Also, it rains a lot here in the UK, which can result in a lot of moaning and complaining about getting wet!
Scooting S cooting
I recently acquired an adult scooter, and they are a lot of fun and very speedy! If you don’t have a scooter, it’s still a great way to get some exercise in. I put my running kit on and jog along with the kids on their scooters (or behind them if I can’t keep up!) P ros: This is much quicker than Pros: walking, meaning the school run is over and done with before you know it. Cons: It can be hard Cons: work on your legs, as I discovered.
Cycling C ycling
Have a look and see if there are dedicated cycle routes you could use to get to school. Do a trial run at the weekend to learn the route and check whether your school has bike racks to store them when you get there. Pros: Helps keep you all Pros: fit, and is also much quicker than walking. THE LOCAL ANSWER
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C Cons: ons: Better for older children, as the roads can be very busy in the mornings.
Public P ublic transport transport
Is it possible to get the bus to school and get there on time? Pros: P ros: You don’t have the stress of driving in traffic, or cycling for that matter. Cons: Cons: It can become expensive when you add up two trips a day for an adult and children. If driving is the only option, why not see if there is anyone who lives near you that you could share a lift with. My friend will often take the children and I will pick them up. Talk to your school about setting up a car pooling group for this purpose so like-minded people can find each other. And if none of the above options are viable, you can still help by ensuring that your car is regularly serviced, you keep your tyres well inflated and you combine jobs into one trip to prevent multiple short ones. PAGE
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. 1166 APRIL APRIL – 1122 M MAY AY INTO THE BLUE The colour blue is generally associated with the sky and the oceans, but is oddly rare in nature. It has different meanings in different cultures and was the first man-made colour pigment in 2,200 B.C. This selection of work celebrates blue in a varied mix of both 2D and 3D items. £5.25 adults, £4.75 conc, £15 family. Full details at natureinart.org.uk Nature in Art, Main A38 Twigworth, Gloucester, GL2 9PA. 2244 APRIL APRIL – 2255 M MAY AY FAVOURITES FROM THE ROYAL ACADEMY AT CHAPEL ARTS
Work from some of our favourite academicians, past and present. Featuring painting, printmaking, architecture and more. Weds-Sat, 10am-4pm. ww.thechapelarts.com 1 MAY MAY THE HIDING PLLA ACE 7.30pm. A drama telling the true story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family’s struggle to save Jews from the Nazis. Tickets £10.50 from christianartsfestival.org. At Cambray Baptist Church, Cambray Place, Cheltenham GL50 1JS (near John Lewis).
2 MAY MAY – 1188 JJULY ULY STROUD HARMONY SINGERS COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE CHOIR Pop, Jazz, Folk, World, Sacred, Classical and Original Songs. Welcomes new members! Fun warmup. Private coaching available. Thursdays 7.45pm – 9.30pm. Cashes Green Community Centre, Stroud, GL5 4NR. Contact tessvox22@mail.com / 07425 139767. 4 MAY MAY COBALT PLANT SALE Greenway Nurseries are providing wonderful plants for the Cobalt Plant Sale. Come along and buy bedding plants, perennials or shrubs and enjoy coffee and homemade cake in our Linton House pop up café. 10am-1pm. Cobalt, Linton House, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AS. For more information please call 01242 535922. FUNDRAISING PLANT SALE To help Friends of Pittville improve the park. Plants from nurseries and friends. 10am-1pm at Central Cross Drive, Pittville GL52 2DX. In front of the scout hut opposite Central Cross Café. 44-6 -6 MAY MAY CHRISTCHURCH ABBEYDALE FLOWER FESTIVAL Stunning floral displays depicting favourite nursery rhymes at Christchurch Abbeydale, Heron Way, Gloucester GL4 5EQ. Light lunches and refreshments available. Saturday 4tth from 10.30am-4.30pm, Sunday 5th from 12.30pm-4.30pm and Monday 6th from 10.30am-4.30pm. Free entry.
6-29 6-29 MAY MAY THE MAY RACING CARNIVAL AT WARWICK RACECOURSE Four days of action-packed racing with events including Kids Carnival Day, Ladies Night, Proudly Warwick and Celebration Race Night. For full details of the carnival, please visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick 7 MAY MAY NHS RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP CHELTENHAM BRANCH Join us and enrich your retirement by meeting new and old friends. Social events, information sharing and guest speakers. Meetings at 2.30pm. Highbury Church Hall, Oxford Street, Cheltenham GL52 6DT. cheltenhamnhsfellowship.webs.com FREE SOLO
Live Beyond Fear. Follow Alex Honnold as he becomes the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite’s 3,000ft high El Capitan Wall. With no ropes or safety gear, he completed arguably the greatest feat in rock climbing history. 7pm. £9 (£8). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk
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9 MAY MAY AS YOU LIKE IT Rosalind is banished, wrestling with her heart and her head. With her cousin by her side, she journeys to a world of exile where barriers are broken down and all can discover their deeper selves. Gender roles, nature and politics are confused in a play that reflects on how bewildering yet utterly pleasurable life can be. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 1111 MAY MAY CLIVE CARROLL (GUITAR) AND LILY NEILL (HARP) A dynamic evening, with sparks flying across 36 strings – don’t miss it! Tickets: £17 (adult), £15 (members), £10 (student/child). Starts at 7.30pm. Bishop’s Cleeve Tithe Barn, 19 Cheltenham Road GL52 8GD. www.holstmuseum.org.uk WORLD BINTURONG DAY Learn about the unusual Binturong with two keeper talks at 11.30am and 3.30pm. Find out about the Binturong conservation work we support through ABConservation. Enter our raffle to win a unique Binturong Encounter. Find us near the Binturong enclosure near the Reptile House. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk 111-12 1-12 MAY MAY SUDELEY CASTLE JOUST The Castle has been invaded by a new band of Knights for our annual, epic joust tournament! The Knights of Royal England will be battling it out during the weekend. With two dramatic shows per day, come prepared for spectacular action, stunts, falls, fights and galloping horses. Included within general admission. Full details at sudeleycastle.co.uk. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 1122 MAY MAY CLASSICS AT PRESCOTT
Get a close look at wonderful classic vehicles in the paddock and orchard, and see them in motion on the thrilling hill run and more gentle cavalcade. Plenty of parking and food outlets. 10am-6pm. For details and to pre-order
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tickets visit classicsatprescott.com – £12 per car (£15 on day) or pedestrians £4 (£5 on day). Bugatti Owners Club, Prescott Hill, Gotherington GL52 9RD. 1144 MAY MAY ALL MY SONS Despite hard choices and even harder knocks, Joe and Kate Keller are a success story. They have built a home, raised two sons and established a thriving business. But nothing lasts forever and their contented lives, already shadowed by the loss of their eldest boy to war, are about to shatter. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 114-18 4-18 MAY MAY ST JOHN’S PLAYERS St John’s Players present the comedy ‘The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Production of Murder Mystery’. 14th18th May, 7.30pm. Box Office: 01452 713952. £8/£7 conc. St. John’s Hall, Churchdown GL3 2DB. Car park and bar. 116-28 6-28 MAY MAY GIFFORDS CIRCUS – XANADU Much loved Giffords Circus returns to Sudeley as they make their annual tour of the village greens of the Cotswolds. With their magically chaotic familyfriendly show, suitable for all ages to enjoy, be sure to book tickets soon as dates sell out fast. For more details please visit sudeleycastle.co.uk Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 1177 MAY MAY GLOUCESTERSHIRE POLICE MALE VOICE CHOIR Stroud Congregational Church in Bedford Street. This beautiful church right in the centre of town will again play host to this renowned choir. Doors open at 6.45pm. Tickets £7. Proceeds from the evening will be shared between The Western Air Ambulance and the church. www.stroudcongchurch.org.uk 117-19 7-19 MAY MAY WINCHCOMBE WALKING FESTIVAL Enjoy our great selection of 24 walks to suit all abilities plus 2 evening events. Our walks, led by knowledgeable local guides, offer a great insight about the history and landscape of the Cotswolds. www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers/ festival.com 1188 MAY MAY COPPELIA A lively production, infused with old world charm, Coppélia appeals to audiences of all ages with its captivating story of an eccentric toymaker and his beloved doll. The
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colourful costumes, lively characters and beautiful music from Delibes all combine to create a magical and comical classic that warms and entertains from start to finish. For times and prices visit www.rosestheatre.org The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5NX AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE
Hundred Watt Club presents a dazzling evening of burlesque and cabaret. With sublime showgirls and ridiculous comedy, it’ll be naughty… and very nice! Ages 18+. This show employs adult themes and partial nudity. 8pm. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. Tickets £16 +booking fee. Call the box office on 01452 503050 or visit www.seetickets.com and search ‘Hundred Watt Club’. 1199 MAY MAY CHELTENHAM FESTIVA AL OF CYCLING
Support the Western League Cyclocross Race, take part in free coaching and confidence building sessions, guided rides, bike maintenance, demos and much more. All ages and abilities welcome. 10am5pm at Pittville Park, Tommy Taylors Lane. cheltenhamcyclingfestival.org.uk CITY OF GLOUCESTER 10K, 2K CHILDREN & FAMILY RUN AND 10K WHEELCHAIR RACE An event for runners of all abilities, 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. For more information and to enter online please visit cityofgloucester10k.org.uk
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1199 MAY MAY CHELTENHAM WHADDON BOWLING CLUB OPEN DAY Ever fancied bowls? Come along and have a go! Free refreshments, coaching available, all ages and genders welcome, equipment is provided and flat shoes must be worn. Contact Andy Todd on 01242 5743379. 2255 MAY MAY CHARLTON KINGS CHORAL SOCIETY Handel – Coronation Anthems. Boyce – Symphony No 5 in D. Handel – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. Haydn – ‘Nelson’ Mass. Soloists: Fiona Hammacott, Victoria Jess, Nick Drew, David Smith. Regency Sinfonia. Conductor: John Wright. Saturday 25th May 2019 7.30pm. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham GL52 3JE. Tickets £15 (£10 for under 25s in full-time education). 01242 526636. www.ckcsonline.org.uk 2255 MAY MAY – 2 JJUNE UNE THE WILDLIFE ART SOCIETY EXHIBITION
An opportunity to see and purchase beautiful works of art and to meet artists who are dedicated to promoting conservation of all species. Daily 10am-5pm and final Sunday 10am-3.30pm. Entry is FREE with good parking. Set in the beautiful grounds of Nature in Art Gallery and Museum, Main A38 Twigworth, Gloucester GL2 9PA. SatNav Postcode: GL2 9PG. LEMUR WEEK In aid of our Madagascan conservation initiatives. We have Lemur themed competitions and board games as well as merchandise and Lemur talks held in the walkthrough enclosure. Please pop by our kiosk outside of the “Madagascar” exhibit to chat to our Keepers to learn about our conservation work in Madagascar to protect these charismatic primates. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk 2277 MAY MAY CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL 2019 The Cheltenham Children’s Festival is a celebration of childhood giving children and families a chance to explore their potential through playful
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learning. This year it is delivered in conjunction with No Child Left Behind, working to ensure that all children in Cheltenham have the opportunity to thrive. For full details and to book visit www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham, GL50 1QA. 1-2 1-2 JUNE JUNE CHALFORD & FRANCE LYNCH GARDEN TRAIL On the slopes of Chalford valley, around 40 diverse gardens with picturesque views. Refreshments and plant stall. 12-6pm. Tickets from Middle Hill Green, GL6 8FS. £6 covering both days. Children free. Facebook.com/Chalford FranceLynchGardenTrail 66-8 -8 JUNE JUNE PARTY AT THE CASTLE Stage musicals legend Alfie Boe, 90s songstresses All Saints and Pop Idol winner Will Young will perform in a series of summer evening concerts in the beautiful grounds of Sudeley Castle. The event will also see Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox and comedy double act Dick & Dom take to the stage. Full details at sudeleycastle.co.uk. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 8 JJUNE UNE SACRED HEARTS SUMMER FETE Fun for all the family. Music Man, bouncy castle, Ukes Anon, children’s games, BBQ, stalls and refreshments. 12-3pm. Sacred Hearts Church, Moorend Road, Charlton Kings, GL53 9AU. 14TH CHELTENHAM CRAFT BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL With craft keg beers, a selection of cask ales, crafts ciders, food stalls, children’s activities and lots of live music, the Cheltenham and District Friends of the Samaritans Beer & Cider Festival is a great day out for all the family! 12 noon until 11pm. Tickets £8 – available from Eventbrite. For more information see the Facebook page – Cheltenham Craft Beer and Cider Festival. 9 JUNE JUNE CELEBRATING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO MOON LANDING Bishop’s Cleeve Street Fair 2019, 12pm-4pm. Parades, great stalls, musical entertainment, Punch & Judy shows, Morris Fun Fair, Jet Age Museum display, Classic Car Show. Dog Show organised by Folly Gardens Veterinary Practice – entry forms from Folly G Vets and George Lewis Footwear. Programmes, including raffle ticket, available from Church Road shops, Tesco 24/5 & 25/5, 31/5 & 1/6. Funds raised will be donated to Midlands Air Ambulance and local charities.
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23 23 JUNE JUNE RIDE FOR RYDER Come and join us on one of the longest running, best loved charity cycling events in the Cotswolds and raise vital funds for our care. Cycle 40km, 90km or 130km in the spectacular Cotswolds. Sign up at www.sueryder.org/rideforryder or call 01242 246162. COOL CLASSICS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT Cheltenham Bach Choir proudly present a programme of sublime choral music, from ‘Zadok’ to ‘I Was Glad’, the Barber ‘Adagio’ to ‘The Armed Man’. They will be joined by rising star mezzo-soprano, Jess Dandy. 6pm. £20. For full details visit www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham, GL50 1QA. 229-30 9-30 JUNE JUNE THE PIED PIPER SUMMER SHOW Food court, live music, catwalk shows and demos, classic cars, fashion, beauty and craft marquee, and an activity-packed kids zone. Fun for all the family! Adults £10, children £5, family ticket £25. Book online at piedpipersummershow.co.uk Highnam Court, Gloucester GL2 8DP. 119-28 9-28 JULY JULY 49TH GUITING MUSIC FESTIVAL Classical, jazz and blues musicians from the UK and beyond. Fabulous concerts both indoors and open air in the Cotswolds. Tickets on general sale from 1st May 2019. £20 and £22. www.guitingfestival.org Email: enquiries@guitingfestival.org 2299 JULY JULY – 4 A AUGUST UGUST CAFE RENE RHYTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL
Our 17th annual Rhythm and Blues Festival offering an acclaimed musical line-up featuring 20 brilliant acts across seven days. The festival showcases fantastic local, national and international artists from the world of Rhythm and Blues. Guests can also enjoy our real ale and cider festival, tuck into treats from the barbecue and hog roast, and sip on tipples from our outdoor bars. For full details, keep an eye on the website – caferene.co.uk
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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
B Behind ehind tthe he sscenes cenes aatt G Giffords iffords Circus Circus When The Local Answer was invited for a sneak peek behind the curtain at Giffords Circus, it’s safe to say I was more than a little nervous that I’d end up getting shot out of a cannon or swung from a trapeze. Luckily, the only thing I was asked to do was to join Tweedy the Clown, the Head of Choreography Kate Bradford and Social Media Manager Emma Bradshaw in the centre ring dancing as a Cuban circus troupe rehearsed around us. That was day two of rehearsals for the Giffords Circus 2019 tour, which begins this month on Friday 3rd May in Stroud. The farm acts as the base of operations, and I’m shown around by Emma, who explains what’s being done before the show gets underway. “We’ve just started rehearsals
The Giffords Circus Teent. Photo: Gem Hall
which will go on for three weeks,” she said. “We’re a touring circus so we’ve got to get all the circus wagons ready, including our travelling restaurant, as well as costumes, the sets, the tent, our horses and loads more.” We enter a huge barn which is a hive of activity, with chefs prepping meals for the company, performers enjoying a
FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett
well-earned break, and handymen and painters working on the traditional wagons that are used for transport and living accommodation. Each year the circus follows a certain theme, and this year’s show is called Xanadu, a celebration of the summer of love and the flower power movement of the 60s and 70s. It’s safe to say the costume department has things under control, with their room filled to the brim with outfits bursting with colours and patterns reminiscent of the hippy era. The Xanadu tour begins at Fennells Farm before hitting the road and visiting venues around the county including Sudeley Castle. For the full line-up of dates, tickets and more information visit www.giffordscircus.com Full story online.
Book B ook Review Review – Aloÿse Aloÿse of of Daylesford Daylesford Book Book Club Club The T he Aftermath Afttermath
F Fisherman’s isherman’s Friends Friends
This true story about a band of shanty singing fishermen is sure to warm your heart with the best feel-good film cinemas have seen this year. Daniel Mays stars as Danny, a music executive with a fast lifestyle, who is pranked on a colleague’s stag weekend into signing the Fisherman’s Friends for a big record label. These are real small-town men with insane talent that we don’t appreciate enough today. The film is the recognition they so desperately deserve. Full review online.
by Rhidian Brook The Aftermath is a novel based on recollections from the author’s grandfather who was stationed in Hamburg after the war and lived in a requisitioned house along with the German family who owned it. Rachel Morgan arrives in the city with her son to join her husband, Lewis, a British colonel involved in the rebuilding of Germany. They have not seen each other for seventeen months and neither have they come to terms with the loss of their eldest son who was killed by a stray bomb during the war. This is a moving story, unsettling at times, but one of love, loss and forgiveness. Rhidian Brook, a regular contributor to Radio 4’s Thought for the Day, has given us lots to think about in this novel. 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
W Winchcombe inchcombe M Music usic aand nd Arts Arts Festival Festival The Winchcombe Music and Arts Festival is an eight-day event that gives residents and visitors to the Gloucestershire town the chance to take in a wide range of events. Peter Teague has lived in Winchcombe for over 30 years and was one of the people behind the original idea for the festival. “The first Festival was in 2011, making this year its ninth,” he said. “I was one of the three people who had the initial idea and am on the organising group, helping to plan the event programme and working on the publicity.” This year will see the festival hosting over 40 events in venues around the town including The White Hart Inn, Abbey Fields Community Centre and the town’s churches.
Last year’s Winchcombe Street Fair
The festival finishes on the Spring Bank Holiday with a lively street fair in the town centre, and Peter explains some of the other highlights. He said: “We have an Art Trail that goes around town and a little way out, workshops – including many family-friendly ones like ukulele, family art and African drumming. “There will also be talks on
topics like gin making – and tasting! – gemstones, Jane Austen. “There’s a great range of music from the return of popular local band the Apple Mashers, to the festival début of Zoë Gilby who will be performing a wide range of songs from jazz standards to Kate Bush.” The Winchcombe Music and Arts Festival runs from Monday 20th to Monday 27th May. Peter believes it’s the perfect way for locals to take in some culture while also promoting the town as a destination. He added: “The Festival was designed to showcase local people, as well as to attract regional and national performers. “We keep prices low and about a quarter of our events are free.” Full story online.
Cotswold C otswold Festival Festival o off S Steam team rreturns eturns The Cotswold Festival of Steam is shaping up to be another spectacular late May bank holiday weekend with up to eight engines in steam on the line between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway. The event, which takes place from Saturday 25th to Monday 27th May, is being held by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR). Caley 419 with a freight train. Photo: Ray O’Hara Ian Crowder, Press Officer for colourful blue tank engine that’s the GWSR, said: “It’s going to well over 100 years old. be a packed three days with a “It was built in 1907 for the very intensive train service. “The theme is ’Northern Soul’ Caledonian Railway in Scotland which reflects two visiting and is now owned by the Scottengines from the north – one, a ish Railway Preservation Society.” former London and North The Festival of Steam takes Eastern Railway ‘B1’ class and place at stations in Cheltenham, the other, a delightful and Broadway, Winchcombe and
Toddington, and will give steam train enthusiasts the chance to get up close to some classics. “There’s also an astonishing opportunity to ride the footplate of one of the railway’s home fleet locomotives,” continued Ian, “with the driver and fireman over the whole 14-mile length of the line – Broadway to Cheltenham or the other way around. “Also at Winchcombe will be model railways that will appeal to every age! All in all this is going to be the GWSR’s usual busy, well-organised and efficient event.” For more information on the Cotswold Festival of Steam, visit www.gwsr.com Full story online.
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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden with w ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith
Fantastic Fantastic sspring pring flowers flowers May is such a lovely month for spending time in the garden, and a good time to see wildflowers in the hedgerows and fields. Everything is fresh and green and bursting with life! This month finds the gorgeous Dicentra, or Bleeding heart, coming into flower. This is a shade-lover with elegant foliage and arching stems of heartshaped flowers, which is a m ai n st ay o f th e s pri n g g arden . The Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ is my favourite with its beautiful white flowers.
Dicentra D icentra g goes oes w well ell w with ith any a ny ssort ort o off ffern ern Plant it in a sheltered position in dappled shade and mulch it annually with weed-free organic matter to keep it happy. The leaves die down in summer so don’t think you have killed it, but mark where it is so you don’t disturb it. It goes very well with any sort of fern.
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growing up through climbing roses and shrubs, extending the season of interest or flowering at the same time as their host but with contrasting colours. Try Sambucas racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ with a beautiful blue Clematis ‘Perle d’Azur’ growing through it. Or a l o v e l y R o s a ‘G e r t r u d e J e k y l l ’ with Clematis ‘Etoille Violette’ scrambling up it. If you choose late flowering clematis, the pruning is more simple as they are Group 3 and just need to be chopped off about 30cm high in early spring – very easy! Give the clematis a spring feed with a highpotassium rose-type fertiliser gently forked into the soil surface, and then water and mulch – but don’t let the mulch touch the stems as it may rot them. Shear over early-spring flowering plants such as Brunnera, Iberis, Cerastium and Aubrieta to keep them tidy. If you don’t want your Helleborus x hybridus to set seed, now is the time to
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Wear W ear gloves gloves when when handling E handling Euphorbia uphorbia Helleborus argutifolius needs different treatment by cutting away the stems carrying the old flowers at ground level. Apply a general fertiliser and water and mulch. Do remember that Euphorbia produces a milky sap, which can cause severe irritation so wear gloves when handling! Traditionally, asparagus spears are harvested from 1st May onwards, although in these days of warmer temperatures you might have been cutting them for a while by now. Harvest all spears when they are 15-20cm tall – new spears will emerge shortly. Keep harvesting for about six weeks, then leave the plant alone for the summer.
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IInterior nterior Design Design with w ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell
Home H ome tthoughts houghts from from aabroad broad If you’re like me, the sunshine and blue skies of spring will inspire you to think of travel abroad. Holidays are a perfect opportunity to pick up those interesting and unusual items that bring individuality and personality to your home. Here are some ideas on what to look for, and how to avoid the ‘knick-knack’ trap and that sinking feeling when you unpack your holiday find and think “it looked great in that Moroccan souk but I’m not sure now I’ve got it home…”
Add A dd a an ne exotic xotic ttouch ouch Foreign markets and souks are an obvious starting point for holiday shopping, but why not search out those interesting antique and design shops in the side streets too? Beautiful fabrics, rugs and throws are always worth looking out for, and flea markets are often a treasure trove of unusual lighting. And remember – less is more, so try not to get carried away and go too boho.
Create C reate a b beach each v vibe ibe Step away from the sunbed and go hunting for items that will give an escapist feel to your home. A bleached piece of driftwood or a large shell can look stunning in a living room or bathroom. Just be careful not to bring home coral or shells picked up from the
beach as this can be against local laws. You can also never have too many handcrafted baskets – they’re great for storage and will hopefully spark wonderful memories of your travels.
Spice S pice up up y your our kitchen kitchen I can’t resist a hand painted bowl – my kitchen is full of them and my daughter even said recently, “please… no more bowls Mum”. Italy has wonderful pottery in fabulous colours, as do Spain and Portugal, while Asia is good for interesting porcelain bowls. In France you can find beautiful coloured linen tea towels and napkins. Look out for brightly woven place mats – great for an injection of colour into an all-white kitchen.
Snap up a keepsake epsake hings that will of your life. artwork can found abroad have an orignal Aborigine painting from a THE LOCAL ANSWER
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recent trip to Australia, which adds a contemporary touch to my hallway and reminds me of sunnier climes. We came home from Marrakech one year with a set of bellows for our BBQ – they come out every summer, a reminder of a lovely holiday.
Introduce a talking Introduce talking point p oint A weekend away in the UK can also be a source of inspiration. Look for beautiful handwoven throws and blankets, and individual handmade pottery. Search out those unique artisan-crafted pieces that give an individual feel to your home. Look for unusual items that make you smile or have a story – a Chinese wooden bowl in the shape of a pelican and an African carved money bracelet are some of the more unusual finds from my trips. Carefully curated items like these are what makes a home stylish, unique and special to you. Happy souvenir hunting! PAGE
Gadgets G adgets & Gizmos Gizmos with w ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin
Keep Keep your your cool cool As Spring saunters on, you may want to cool yourself off with some new gizmos; from superhero tech straight out of Wakanda, to the latest gadgets in weather forecasting, explore the new and improved products this month.
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Black P Black Panther anther Bluetooth B luetooth S Speaker peaker This licensed Marvel merchandise is the ideal gift for any comic book lover and wannabe Avenger. The Black Panther Bluetooth Speaker, based on the King of Wakanda’s superhero alter ego, comes equipped with 360° sound, audio playback, and a USB power output port charge that works with MAC and PC. The 5W speaker showcases some impressive sound quality, from this already impressivelooking desk accessory. Charge it by using its included USB cable, connect your device to the speaker using Bluetooth or 3.5 mm audio-in jack. Whether you want to show off your Marvel knowledge to your work colleagues, or simply add to your expansive superhero collection, this panther is one cool cat. THE LOCAL ANSWER
Netatmo Smart Netatmo Smart Weather W eather Station Station Part of the ‘connected lifestyle’ range from Netatmo, this weather forecaster, in the form of a stylish solid aluminium case, helps keep you protected from the outside elements. The Smart Weather Station comes equipped with two different modules; an Indoor and an Outdoor module. The Indoor module works by using the app to access indoor temperature, humidity, indoor air quality, C02 readings and a sound meter. Meanwhile, the Outdoor module works for outdoor activities, taking weather readings and letting you check barometric pressure, temperature and air quality. The Smart Weather Station also has a Netatmo web app, which displays all data in the form of graphs, illustrating forecast variations. With a simple and user-friendly design, this gadget is perfect for your home once it gets connected to the WiFi, and also works with Alexa.
Sodastream Crystal Sodastream Crystal Sparkling S parkling Water Water Maker Maker Feeling fancy this spring? If you want some refreshment for the warmer weather, and also want to cut back on your plastic bottles, then the Sodastream model from Lakeland is the cool gizmo for your kitchen. Save on recycling and get clear sparkling water with a simple touch of a button; the Sodastream Crystal Sparkling Water Maker is the electric-fre e drinks maker that relies on its gas cylinder to quench your thirst. Simply fit the 60 litre cylinder TO ADVERTISE CALL
JJohn ohn LLewis ewis – £139 £139
into the back of the Sodastream Crystal drinks maker, fill the carafe with cold water and fit in the drinks maker before locking the lid closed. After that, just push the button three times for the water to start carbonating and voila – the perfect sparkling drink. You don’t just have to stick to plain water either; once the water has been carbonated, you can use one of Sodastream’s flavoured mixers, or add some flavours of your own. Sleek, easy-to-clean and environmentally-friendly, the Sodastream is a dream. Lakeland – £149.99
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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
40 4 0 yyears ears on on The end of April/start of May 1979 saw two great women come to power – Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister for the first time and I got married! Forty years on and the UK has its second female PM (well we did at the time of writing!) and Mrs Downes and I are still going strong. We’ve spent the last few weeks looking back at all the good, and the occasional disappointing, events that affected the family through four decades as we celebrated this special anniversary.
There T here are are many many more more women women in in regular employment regular employment than than iin n 1979 1979 It set me thinking about all the changes that we’ve seen in that time. There are the obvious statistics, such as the number of us that now own a personal computer and smartphone, which didn’t even exist in Maggie’s day. We are living longer on average and, despite ongoing criticism about pay inequality, there are many more women in regular employment than in 1979, something Mrs T would have welcomed. Standards of living have increased over 40 years, often as a result of dual incomes, meaning that more households own a car and often more than one. In 1979 less than 40% of homes had central heating compared to over 80% today and there was still more than 10% of houses in the UK 40 years ago that had an outside loo.
The T he ccredit redit crisis crisis b brought rought Margaret Margaret Thatcher’s T hatcher’s vision vision to to its its knees knees
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One area in which we’ve let down Mrs Thatcher is the number of people owning their own home. Whilst numbers increased dramatically under her ‘reign’ in the 1980s, the following decade saw the trend reverse sharply and the credit crisis of 2008 and 2009 brought her vision to its knees. It’s never recovered and shows no real signs of doing so. In 1979 there was no world wide web and therefore would have been nowhere for me to click to research any of these statistics, but at least I wouldn’t have been surgically attached to my mobile phone as I seem to be now! I wonder what the next 40 years will bring?
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Roy R oy N Northcott orthcott lloves oves T Tewkesbury ewkesbury Half Half Roy Northcott’s first ever race – certainly as an adult – was the Tewkesbury Half Marathon. That was in 2006 and he must have quite enjoyed it because he’s run it every year since. He’ll be lining up for this year’s race, of course, which takes place on Sunday 12th May, along with many, many others for an event that has become a major occasion on the town’s calendar. Former Tewkesbury School pupil Northcott was born in Malta – his dad was in the Army – and he moved to Tewkesbury in 1983. Running wasn’t really something he did until the midnoughties, preferring to play five-a-side football, badminton or tennis. He also used to enjoy circuit training, so how has running become such a big part of his life?
Roy Northcott
“I had planned to run the London Marathon in 2006,” explained the 47-year-old who works in IT. “It was on my bucket list, it’s such an iconic race. “But I didn’t do it that year because I didn’t do enough training.” He had done enough training to run a half marathon, though,
Dumbleton D umbleton a are re a aiming iming h high igh It’s fair to say that Dumbleton Cricket Club play at one of the premier grounds in the county and probably the country. Set in glorious countryside in front of the imposing Dumblet on H a l l ju st ni n e m i le s e ast of Tewkesbury, it is the perfect spot to play cricket on a Saturday afternoon or any other afternoon for that matter. And it’s equally fair to say that the players of the club’s flagship team are premier players because they are preparing for a second season in Premier Two Gloucestershire/Wiltshire. That is just one rung below the elite level in the West of England Premier League, which is some achievement for a village club. And as with last season when they finished sixth in the 10-
Dumbleton Cricket Club
strong division, they are certainly not looking to just make up the numbers. A d a m S t u a r t w i l l t a ke c h a r g e for a second season in what is his second spell as captain, and their chances of going toe-tot o e w i t h t h e i r r i v a l s ha v e b e e n improved by the capture of their overseas signing, New Zealander Mitch Hammond. Full story online.
so that’s why he ran the Tewkesbury Half that year. “I think I ran around one hour, 50,” he said. That’s a pretty decent effort for someone who recorded a personal best over 13.1 miles of one hour, 39 minutes, 59 seconds in the White Horse Half Marathon in Oxfordshire some seven or so years ago. And it was certainly good enough to encourage him to try for the London Marathon a year later. Happily, that was something he was able to tick off the bucket list and he’s certainly massively into his running these days because he’s been captain of Tewkesbury Running Club for the past four or five years. He’s also run 44 marathons and would love nothing more than to join the 100 marathons club. Full story online.
League L eague milestone milestone
One of the more impressive football leagues are celebrating a special milestone this year. The Gloucestershire County Football League are coming to the end of their 50th season. The first ever winners of the league were Stonehouse Town an d a s su ch th ey w il l b e h ost in g a special representative game between a County League side and a team from the Western League on Saturday 4th May at 2.30pm.
Proud P roud p president resident
Keith Bedford is about halfway through his one-year term as president of the Gloucestershire Bowling Association and it will come as no surprise to anyone who knows him that he is loving every minute of it. For fuulll versions of all these stories and more,, visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
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JJames ames Allcoat Allcoat in in confident confident mood m oo d James Allcoat will lead Tewkesbury Cricket Club for a second season after taking over from his brother Tom at the start of the 2018 campaign. As you’d expect, it was a pretty smooth handover as the club enjoyed another solid season in Gloucestershire Division of the West of England Premier League. They finished fifth in the 10strong division with James Allcoat saying: “We were quite happy with that.” This season’s preparations haven’t gone quite so smoothly, however, although it must be said that everything is good now. “I cut my finger doing some DIY in the bathroom,” admitted James. “I needed four stitches in my index finger.” That’s not great at any time of course but it’s certainly not great if it’s on the eve of the new cricket season and you’re a wicketkeeper! The good news is that the injury happened in mid-March and James said at the time: “It will be fine, I’ll only be out for a week.” That’s great for him and great for the club a s they prepare for what is sure to be another tough season in the Gloucestershire Division. “It’s going to be very strong again,” he said. “We’d like to finish about the same as we did last season, maybe a bit higher.” Not that Allcoat is going to get sucked into any talk about promotion at this stage. “It’s a long old season,” he said. “We’ll try to get a few early wins and if we do we can see where we are.” Tewkesbury will be relying on many of the familiar names who have served them so well in recent times – Fred Humphries, Jack Brixey and Tom Allcoat to name just three – but James is also keen to freshen it up as well when he can. “We promoted Alex Oliver at the end of last season,” he said. “He’s only 14 but he got a 50 in one match and took five wickets
Teewkesbury’s flagship team enjoyed a good season in 2018
in another bowling leg-spin. I like to give the youngsters a go.” Allcoat is also hoping for big things again from new ball bowlers Adam Brookes and Matt Cox. He said that Brookes really kicked on last season while in Cox he said the club had “found a hidden gem”. And it’s fair to say that the club themselves are something of a jewel in the town’s crown. As well as running three Saturday adult teams – “We have a range of ages,” said Allcoat – they also have a thriving junior section which is made up of 100plus youngsters and also run a Sunday adult team. They clearly play a big part in the community and that’s something that Allcoat is keen to develop. “A lot of people worry about Saturday afternoon and the result but we try to do more,” explained Allcoat. “Last year we had our first ever cider festival and this year we’re having a cider, beer and cricket festival.” It will take place over four days on the bank holiday weekend at the end of the summer, starting on Friday 23rd August with a President’s game. There will be a league game on the Saturday with fun games of cricket on the Sunday and Monday.
Fun is a big part of what playing sport is all about, of course, and Tewkesbury certainly provide plenty of opportunity for their younger members to enjoy the great game that is cricket. There are a good number of Twenty20 games in midweek, which obviously have plenty of appeal, but they’re not just for the youngsters because Allcoat scored an unbeaten 50 in one of the games last season. The matches don’t quite have the razzamatazz of the Big Bash or the IPL of course – there’s no music accompanying the batsmen when they walk to the wicket, but if there was, what would be Allcoat’s choice of song? “That’s a good question,” he laughed, “you’ve got me there, I’ll have to come back to you on that one.” Okay, what about your brother Tom? “That’s easier,” said James, still laughing, “his would have to be ‘Let Me Entertain You’ by Robbie Williams. “I think mine would be ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.” That’s not a bad Queen song. Mind you, after his recent finger injury, and considering where he sustained it, he was never going to go for The Beat’s ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’!
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