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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2019

COTSWOLDS OUR NEW ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY IS LIVE! DETTA AILS INSIDE

The The Lo Local c al

AN ANSWER SWER Cotswolds: C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham: C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Gloucester: G loucester: 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies North Gloucestershire: N orth G loucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Stroud District: S troud D istrict: 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies

October’s winning cover photo: Letitia Newbegin

Welcome Welcome ttoo O ctober October

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

Marketing Marketing LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott llois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ois@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Sales Sales C Claudie laudie FFrancis rancis iinfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk nfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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

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

Administration Administration Helen Kingscott H elen K ingscott Distribution Distribution JJohn ohn O Overton verton – 001242 1242 541075 541075 leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk

LLouis ouis Jordan Jordan ddistribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk istribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Accounts Accounts Rob R ob Kingscott Kingscott accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

U nit H hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C hurchill R oad, Unit H,, C Churchill Churchill Road, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, G loucestershire G L53 77EG EG Gloucestershire GL53

Telephone Telephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 @ @thelocalanswer thelocalanswer

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

As we say goodbye to summer and welcome autumn, we have plenty of editorials to get you into the cosy spirit. We’ve got seasonal gardening tips, a warming autumn pie recipe, and tips to make your home more efficient during the colder months. Be sure to check these out when reading this month’s issue.

Gloucester Day on 7th September was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who had a go on our Tombola – you helped us to raise over £400 for our Charity of the Year, Cobalt!

We have some very exciting news this month with the launch of our brand new Online Business Directory! See inside for more details.

This is also the last month for you to enter our TLA Photography competition to find the covers for next year’s publications. If you’d like to see your photo on the cover of 180,000 magazines, get your entries in by 31st October.

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Cirencester • Ebrington Quenington • Tetbury Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month.

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GLOUCESTERSHIRE G LOUCESTERSHIRE’’S S BIGGEST B IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL MAGAZINE MA AGAZINE OCTOBER OCTOBER 2019 2019

OUR O UR N NEW EW O ONLINE NLINE B BUSINESS USINESS D DIRECTORY IRECTORY IISS LLIVE! IVE! D DETAILS ETAILS IINSIDE NSIDE

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

Autumn Autumn lamb lamb pie pie A ttasty asty a alternative lternative tto o tthe he ttraditional raditional S Shepherd’s hepherd’s P Pie ie – perfect perfect for for warming warming y you ou u up po on n a ccold old a autumn utumn n night. ight.

IIngredients: ngredients: 1½ tbsp olive oil; 1 large onion; 1 garlic clove, chopped, or use 1 tsp of lazy garlic; 500g minced lamb; 4 baking potatoes; 2 tsp garam masala; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp lazy ginger; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tbsp plain flour; 1 lamb stock pot or stock of your choice made up to 275ml; 1 tbsp tomato puree; 1 tbsp butter; ½ tsp dried chilli flakes; splash of lemon juice; 3 tbsp chopped coriander; 50g fresh breadcrumbs; 6 tbsp grated parmesan/cheddar.

M Method: ethod: 1 Pop the whole, scrubbed but unpeeled potatoes into a pan of cold water, bring to the boil and cook for about 25/30 minutes. Drain and leave to cool.

2 Heat 1½ tbsp olive oil in a heat proof casserole dish. Add the onion and cook for about three minutes on high to turn them nice and brown, reduce the heat and add the garlic for one minute.

3 Turn the heat back up, add the mince and brown all over.

4 Reduce the heat again and add 1½ tsp garam masala, cinnamon, ginger, Worcestershire sauce and flour, stirring it all well together.

5 Slowly add the stock, then the tomato puree.

Turn the heat very low and simmer for 30 minutes.

6 Switch the oven on to 200°C (gas mark 6).

7 Peel the potatoes from the skins and mash them with the butter, chilli flakes, ½ tsp garam masala, lemon juice, coriander and a little salt.

8 Spoon the cooked mince into an oven proof baking dish and top with the potato mixture.

Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and cheese of your choice.

9 Cook for 30 minutes until beautifully golden brown. Serve with your favourite seasonal vegetables.

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(our printer) printer) a re Precision C olour P rinting Ltd Ltd (our Precision Colour Printing are ouncil ((FSC) FSC) proud Council p roud to to be be a Forest Forest Stewardship Stewardship C certificate holder, and The Answer nd T he LLocal ocal A nswer iiss certificate h older, a proud p roud to to have have this this publication publication printed printed on paper with FSC o n p aper ccompliant ompliant w ith F SC demands environmentd emands tto o ssupport upport e nvironmentally beneficial, a lly appropriate, appropriate, socially socially b eneficial, and economically managea nd e conomically vviable iable m anagement off tthe world’s m ent o he w orld’s forests. fo orests.

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HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE JACK O LANTERN MAGIC MASK MONSTER PUMPKIN SCARY SKELETON

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Installers of top quality windows, windows, doors and conserva tories. conservatories.

For a free no obligation quotation call

01242 511384

Showroom – Units 40 & 41, Space Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FL

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.

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Police Police and and Crime Crime Commissioner Commissioner Martin Martin Surl’s Surl’s

ANNUAL A NNUAL R REPORT EPORT T A April pril 2 2018-March 018-March 2019 2019

1,382 GO MISSING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE The hidden challenge to fighting crime The primary task of all Police and Crime Commissioners, as laid down by the former Home Secretary who defined the role, is to reduce crime. What is apparent is that the role of the Constabulary is now more than just that.

Whilst crime throughout the UK is rising, the increase in Gloucestershire has been much less than other comparable areas.

Gloucestershire is still one of the safest places in which to live, the question is, can we keep it that way?

As the range and complexity of crimes continues to grow, the answer is further complicated by the additional social issues around mental health and lack of youth provision. With much of the Constabulary’s time now spent as first responders health crisis that is gripping ou what you might call ‘convent police work is being squeezed Records show that from January to May this year, the were 1,382 Missing ‘episo recorded by the constabular of those were linked to health; 269 related to child mental health problems. Inde our missing individuals are ch 43% of those cases, menta factor.

Research also suggests tha child goes missing 18 tim compounded by the fact tha recorded are between the hours of 6pm-7am.This may be as a result of other statutory services being unavailable but if the Constabulary is now the agency of first resort as well as last, the time it has to spend on burglary, assault, anti-social behaviour, vehicle and other crimes is bound to be reduced.

Of course, it could be the increase is due to more accurate recording and the partnership work underway to ensure ‘missing’ is reported at the right time. Certainly, there has been significant collaboration with multi-

y care plans for those who are ntly missing or are in crisis. ithstanding the impact on families nds, it is an immense strain on police s. Callous as it sounds to evaluate a roblem in terms of hard cash, in the f a Constabulary under considerable pressure it is not unreasonable. Set an expanding workload, it is mand is kept to a level that the police can deaal with. Otherwise, when do they find the time to tackle crime which the public quite reasonably expects?

Finding answers to the causes and consequences around mental health requires a multi-agency approach.

The first priority of the police will always be to keep people safe, but they are having to do more with less and have been for some time now.

Martin M arrttin S Surl url Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire

You Y ou can police Martin can read read more more aabout bout tthe he cchallenges hallenges ffacing acing tthe he p olice iin n PPCC CC M artin SSurl’s url’s annual annual report report online: online: https://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ h ttps://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ FFor or a p rinted ccopy, opy, email email the the Office Office of of the the Police Police and and Crime Crime Commissioner Commissioner at at printed PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk or or call call 01452 754348 01452 754348 PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk

BECOME A COVER STAR!

Have you entered our photography competition yet? We are looking for images of food, animals, plants, everyday objects and more to represent the four seasons of the year.

The winning photographs will appear on the covers of our 2020 publications!

How to enter: Send your image(s) along with your name, postal address and telephone number to photography@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Photography 2020’. We cannot accept postal entries. Any photos sent in the post may not be returned. The closing date for entries is Thursday 31st October 2019. Entries received after midnight on this date will not be accepted.

You must specify for which month you wish your photo to be considered for the front cover and submit no more than three photos (one photo per month for up to three months).

For full competition rules, as well as image criteria and specifications, please visit:

thelocalanswer.co.uk/competitions.aspx

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

Venetian V enetian class class ‘La Serenissima', ‘The Queen of the Adriatic’ or ‘The Floating City’: whatever your preferred sobriquet for Venice, it’s among the world’s most popular and distinctive destinations. Let’s be honest, who hasn’t dreamed of a romantic gondola ride – with or without a Cornetto in hand?

Despite concerns about environmental issues and touristic pressures, Venice’s appeal continues unabated with over 25 million visitors annually.

And for good reason: its signature canals and bridges; narrow alleys; architectural gems such as the Doge’s Palace (tip: book in advance to circumvent queues); and delicious cuisine.

Catch C atch a w water ater ttaxi... axi...

Fly into Venice or evoke the romance of the Venice SimplonOrient-Express as you cross Ponte della Libertà to Santa Lucia station. Then catch a motoscafi water taxi into the city – book a private hotel transfer for maximum convenience and style. Book early for the best accommodation too, be it the five-star Gritti Palace or – our recommendation – highly-rated Hotel Ala on Campo Santa Maria del Giglio in San Marco’s heart.

Whether on foot or by vaporetto water bus, you must sample the obligatory sights.

Please venture ‘off-piste’ too, because getting lost in Venice is a traveller’s joy.

Savour espresso overlooking the traditional Squero di San Trovaso gondola boatyard. Or seek out adorable Paso de Chiodo footbridge in Cannaregio.

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And while you’re in this most northerly of Venice’s ‘sestieri’, squeeze down impossiblynarrow Calle Varisco before refuelling on delicious Sarde in Saor, Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia, carnival-time’s moreish Frittelle doughnuts or other treats.

....or ..or an an iconic iconic g gondola ondola And so to gondolas, the definitive Venetian icons.

Consider avoiding €100-plus rides on the gondola-choked Grand Canal. Instead, enjoy lesser-known – but equally beguiling – waterways.

And for the cheapest, yet gondola most authentic, experience? Join Venetians on cheap two-minute Canal Grande crossings by ‘traghetto’ gondola – and test your sea legs as To advertise call 01242 510500

you rub shoulders with the locals.

Whether you stay near Piazza San Marco or venture further afield around Venice’s lagoon to glass-making Murano or Chioggia’s ‘Little Venice’, when is the best time to visit? The consensus seems to be late spring or early autumn – with November an atmospheric alternative if the smallest crowds are your priority.

So pack Laura Morelli’s (fictional) ‘The Gondola Maker’ or Barry Frangipane’s (factual) ‘The Venice Experiment’ and explore the locations of movies as diverse as Nicolas Roeg’s haunting ‘Don’t Look Now’, ‘Death in Venice’ or ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ as you discover ‘La Serenissima’ for yourself.

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

Run Run for for your your llife ife Running is probably the easiest form of exercise to access for the majority of us, and given the beautiful green spaces in Gloucestershire, there is the added incentive of not having to run on roads and breathe car fumes!

As a coach, I find myself torn between celebrating the fact that I see people out running, and not stopping people to correct their poor or dangerous technique. Running is a skill and the more efficiently you perform it, the better your fitness outcomes, as well as reduced risk of injury.

In the interests of not embarrassing myself, I would rather share some tips, particularly to beginners and recreational runners, to help make your running more enjoyable and biomechanically efficient (i.e. reducing the risk of injury), while helping you get fitter and lose weight faster.

Start Start w with ith y your our foundation foundation It is well worth finding a Podiatrist or having a Gait Analysis assessment done to find the most effective type of running shoe or inserts for you.

Having a pair of running shoes that fit you, while providing your feet and ankles with appropriate support, is critical.

Most specialist sports retailers will have an advisor who can help fit you with the right shoe; making the investment in at least one pair of dedicated running shoes will be a game changer for your feet.

Take T ake some some lessons lessons Once your foundation is taken care of, you will need to brush Page 10

up on or take some lessons in running technique to minimise injury risk, which at the same time will also improve running performance and help you reach your associated fitness goals (weight loss, Charity Run, etc.)

A running coach can help with this and ensure that you wh at your know ideal t e c h n i q u e l o o k s a n d fe e l s l i k e , as well as giving you a few drills that you can perform in your own time to reinforce good running mechanics.

For beginners, a good place to start is exactly where you are. It may be as simple as a brisk walk, slowly building up to ‘walk to one lamp post, jog to the next’. Then you can move on to jogging around the ‘block’ or your local park.

You can run for time or to cover a certain distance. For example, 20 minutes of running 3-4 times a week is a good start. Or perhaps you can aim to run 1km without stopping, then 2km and so on.

Once you begin, remember that consistency is key. Start www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

and maintain a comfortable pace and build up speed, distance or time gradually, with the aim of achieving your target time or distance without stopping. Along with a good warm-up routine and efficient technique, this will help you reduce injury risk and allow you to make progress.

U Up p tthe he iintensity ntensity Running buddies are a great source of support and accountability, but remember, everyone’s fitness journey is different. As you become more experienced and comfortable with running, it is important that you up the intensity. This may mean you end up outrunning your training partner and you have to go it alone.

While running at a pace that feels good for you will enable you to run longer distances, eventually the body will adapt and any initial gains in fitness or weight-loss will no longer continue accruing.

My recommendation for this next phase is to “get comfortable being uncomfortable”.

Happy trails!

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4 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER – 2233 O OCTOBER CTOBER AFTERNOON TEA CONCERTS Back by popular demand, delightful music in the shed – every week is something different. Various dates.

2.30pm. £2.50. Café open for tea and cake. Tetbury Goods Shed, Old Station Yard, Cirencester Road, Tetbury, GL8 8EY. www.shed-arts.co.uk 1122 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER – 1122 D ECEMBER DECEMBER STROUD HARMONY SINGERS COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE CHOIR Pop, Soul, Jazz, Blues, Folk – original arrangements and compositions. New members welcome! No auditions.

Private coaching available. Thursdays 7.45-9.30pm. Cashes Green Community Centre, Stroud. tessvox22@mail.com or 07425 139767.

1188 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER – 1122 O CTOBER OCTOBER LOOP2019 AT CHAPEL ARTS

A showcase of recent work by nationally and internationally exhibiting artists, including accomplished and established printmakers. Wednesday to Saturday 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com

1 OCTOBER OCTOBER AUCTION OF PROMISES, BIDDING OPENS As part of Cobalt’s charitable partnership with local auctioneers Chorley’s, we are running an amazing auction of promises in October with some very special prizes. Bidding for the prizes opens on October 1st. cobalthealth.co.uk/auction-of-promises 3 OCTOBER OCTOBER CRAFFT TY GARDENERS PLLA ANNING PLANTING Learn how to plan a flower bed for months of colour in this hands-on workshop. We share the key tips and techniques that professionals use to keep gardens looking great all year round. 10am-4pm. £95. See website for more details. Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS. forestryengland.uk/ westonbirt-the-national-arboretum 44-7 -7 OCTOBER OCTOBER WOOLLY WEEKEND To celebrate UK Wool Week, we have a variety of woolly activities and demonstrations for everyone to enjoy.

All activities are included in the normal price of admission and will run alongside our other seasonal activities.

See website for more details. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham GL54 5FL. cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk 5 OCTOBER OCTOBER HOLST BIRTHDAY CONCERT We are delighted to welcome back the superb Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra (conductor Timothy Carey), who will be joined by solo viola player Ana Teresa Alves. 7.30pm. £16. St

Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Montpellier, Cheltenham, GL50 1SP. www.holstmuseum.org.uk 6 OCTOBER OCTOBER DEVIL’S AQUATHLON AT SANDFORD PARK’S LIDO A real challenge for a good cause. A 400m or 2K swim at the Lido then a 10K run up to the Devil’s Chimney on Leckhampton Hill and back. 8-11am.

For more information or to sign up go to www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk/ events/2019-10-06-the-devils-aquathlon Managed in partnership with Sandford Lido Ltd and Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund.

9 OCTOBER OCTOBER OBJECT TALK: THE WINCHCOMBE HOARD Assistant curator Benedict Sayers will be talking about buried treasure: the Winchcombe hoard of 251 silver coins dating to the 16th and 17th centuries which were discovered just over 20 years ago. Each talk lasts about half an hour, and then there will be a chance to ask questions. 1pm. £5/£3 concessions. The Wilson, Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JT artgallery@cheltenhamtrust.org.uk 1111 OCTOBER OCTOBER COBALT’S AUCTION OF PROMISES As part of Cobalt’s charitable partnership with local auctioneers Chorley’s, we are running an amazing auction of promises with some very special prizes. 11am. Prinknash Abbey Park. Open to the public so please do come along to the charity auction event. Fantastic lots and loads of fun! cobalthealth.co.uk/auction-of-promises

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1122 OCTOBER OCTOBER CIRENCESTER MUM2MUM MARKET BABY AND CHILDREN’S NEARLY NEW SALE

Buy and sell quality second hand baby and children’s clothes, books, toys and equipment. 2-4pm. Entry £2, children free. 2for1 entry voucher on website. Stratton Village Hall. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk 12-13 OCTOBER OCTOBER 12-13 DOG SWIM Our annual Dog Swim event returns.

This is at the end of our season and following all human swimming sessions. 10am-2pm. £10 (includes 1 dog and 2 human entries). Additional spectators £3. Sandford Parks Lido, Keynsham Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7PU. www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk 1122 & 26 26 O CTOBER OCTOBER OWL EVENING See wild owls flying through the night sky, walk through owl wood, have

your photo taken holding them and learn all about these fascinating birds.

6:30-9pm. £45 per person with 20 people maximum on each course.

Cotswold Falconry Centre, Batsford, Moreton in Marsh, GL56 9AB. www.cotswold-falconry.co.uk 1177 OCTOBER OCTOBER HOWLERS COMEDY CLUB Will be bringing comedy to Cirencester for the first time with Cerys Nelmes, Rob Deering, Paul McCaffrey and Matt Richardson all performing. 8.30pm. £13.50. Sundial Theatre, Stroud Road, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. howlerscomedyclub.com 19-20 OCTOBER OCTOBER 19-20 CIRENCESTER AUTUMN FESTIVAL The festival returns for a second year with local food, beer and cider on offer as well as music and other entertainment and activities. Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm. The Market Place, GL7 2NZ Cirencester. cirencester.gov.uk/markets 1199 OCTOBER OCTOBER – 3 N OVEMBER NOVEMBER AVIAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS See penguins, pelicans, flamingos and plenty of other birds and learn about the links between modern day birds and prehistoric dinosaurs. Birdland Park and Gardens, Rissington Road,

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Bourton-on-the-Water, GL54 2BN. Full details at www.birdland.co.uk 22-31 22-31 OCTOBER OCTOBER AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS Award winning photographer Alan Ranger will be teaching budding shutterbugs the secrets of taking the best pictures possible. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. Full details at www.batsarb.co.uk 25 25 OCTOBER OCTOBER THE WESTENDERS The WestEnders are proud to present their popular show ‘The World’s Greatest Musicals’. Hear all of your favourites from iconic shows – Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Lion King, Chicago, Blood Brothers and, of course, Les Miserables.

7.30pm. £20 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk NOVEMBER 2255 OCTOBER OCTOBER – 3 N OVEMBER HALLOWEEN LAND Cotswold Farm Park will have their Halloween area open for the Half Term with spooky activities and the chance to pick and decorate your own pumpkin. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL. www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

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Page 15

Vinyl Records

WANTED

LOCAL L OCAL B BUYER UYER P PAYS AYS CASH FOR YOUR C ASH F OR Y OUR UNWANTED U NWANTED RECORDS R ECORDS

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Most LPs, EPs & singles from the 1960s/70s/80s/90s in good condition considered.

Especially wanted are large or small collections of Heavy Rock, Psych & Prog Rock, Punk, 90s Britpop, Jazz and Soul.

Cash paid at the time of collection.

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26 OCTOBER COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF COBALT From 10.30am. All welcome. If you have any cakes, books, tombola or raffle donations, please call Cobalt on 01242 535920. Coffee morning to be held at Emmanuel Church, Fairfield Parade, Cheltenham, GL53 7PJ (off Bath Road) and all proceeds going to Cobalt’s Breast Cancer Research Nurses Fund.

PITTVILLE BREAST CANCER CHARITY BALL In aid of Cobalt and Focus. An evening of dinner, dancing, live auction and fun at Pittville Pump Room. This event is organised by volunteer Sarah Cook.

For further information email pittvillebcball@gmail.com or buy tickets online www.bookwhen.com/ pittvillebreastcancerball 26-27 OCTOBER MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION Layouts, refreshments, children drive yourself Thomas. Raising funds for Pied Piper at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. St. Margaret’s Hall, Coniston Road, off Windermere Road, Hatherley, Cheltenham GL51 3NU. 10am-5pm. Full details at www.cheltmodrail.org.uk 30 & 31 OCTOBER WESTONBIRT SHOPPING FAIR Over 130 stalls selling exciting and innovative fashion, jewellery and homeware. Meet friends for coffee or lunch. Feel good about spending to support local charities. Westonbirt School, Tetbury GL8 8QG. www.westonbirtfair.org 31 OCTOBER HALLOWEEN FILM: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Meek flower shop assistant Seymour pines for co-worker Audrey. During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts a lot of business for the previously struggling store. After Seymour feeds Audrey’s boyfriend to

Abbb A b bbee y M i llll

the plant after his accidental death, he must come up with more bodies for the increasingly bloodthirsty plant.

7pm. £9 (£8). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 1-2 NOVEMBER CHELTENHAM REAL ALE FESTIVAL Hosted by the Cheltenham branch of the Campaign For Real Ale, sample a range of ales, ciders and perries including a wide selection of vegan beers. 4-11pm. Cheltenham Ladies' College, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3EP. cheltenhamcamra.org.uk 2 NOVEMBER – 7 DECEMBER INTRODUCTION TO GARDEN HISTORY Learn about the history of gardens, from the Middle Ages to the modern day through a series of lectures with Dr Audrey Gerber. 10am-1pm. £120.

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury GL8 8QS. forestryengland.uk/ westonbirt-the-national-arboretum 3 NOVEMBER CIRENCESTER VEGAN FAIR Celebrating all things plant-based, the fair will have on offer the best vegan food and products from the Cotswolds and beyond, including artisan crafts, ethical beauty and clothing brands and talks and workshops to get involved in. 10am-3pm. £2 entry includes all talks, under 14s free.

Bingham Hall, King Street, Cirencester GL7 1JT. www.veganfairs.co.uk 6-10 NOVEMBER STROUD BOOK FESTIVAL Celebrate all things literature with a number of events going on throughout the town, with renowned authors and workshops. Full details at www.stroudbookfestival.org.uk 6 NOVEMBER – 8 DECEMBER MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON Award-winning photographer Steve Russell will be exhibiting his photographs from his time in the

Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda. 11am3pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Tetbury Goods Shed, Old Station yard, Cirencester Road, Tetbury GL8 8EY. www.shed-arts.co.uk 9 NOVEMBER BONFIRE & FIREWORK DISPLAY – BURLEY LAKES FIREWORKS NIGHT Disco roadshow, pig roast, small fun fair with new rides, burgers, chips and licensed bar at Burley Fields Lakes, Leckhampton Lane, Cheltenham.

Gates open and bonfire lit at 5.30pm.

Kids Show at 7pm and Grand Finale at 8.30pm. Last admission 8.15pm. Adults and children £5 in advance, £7 on the night. Tickets on sale at Burley Fields Lakes Farm Shop, Sardar’s Cafe (Warden Hill) and Bargain Booze (Bath Road). Call Steve on 07831 734683, Pam on 07769 700067 or 01242 861333. Strictly no alcohol, fireworks or sparklers to be brought in.

CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR A selection of gifts for sale and refreshments available, all raising funds for charity, including Cobalt.

10am to 12.30pm. Alderton Village Hall, 4 Church Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 8NR. 9-16 NOVEMBER CHARLTON KINGS TOY SALE IN AID OF ACORN CHILDREN’S HOSPICE Lots of preloved toys, games, etc. on sale everyday from 9am-4.30pm at Charlton Kings Baptist Church. Closed on Sunday. Must finish Saturday 16th November at midday. Please support us and bring your donated toys to the church on Friday 8th November from 1.30pm. For further information call 01242 522559.

3-10 DECEMBER THE BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE For seven days, all donations to Cobalt through www.thebiggive.org.uk will be DOUBLED making a fantastic £50,000 available to support Cobalt’s Breast Cancer Research Nurses. From 12 noon on the 3rd to 12 noon on the 10th.

Looking L ooking for for a Great Great Day Day Out? Out? V Visit isit The The Wye Wye Valley Valley & F Forest orest of of Dean Dean

Ideal for Clubs, Clubs, Groups Groups & Societies Societies 202 2020 Gro Group up ‘Tour & Explore’ with Buffet Lunch & Discount Shopping Pac Packag kages es Wye Valley Cream Teas & Salmon Lunches, Out Out Now Now! Traditional Carvery Meals & C CHRISTMAS HRISTMAS PARTIES PARTIES

w www.abbeymill.com ww.abbeymill.com E Email shelley@abbeymill.com mail s helley@abbeymill.com Open All Year Telephone 01291 0 1 29 1 6 89228 ~ F or a brochure brochure q uote ‘‘2020 2 0 20 S pecial’ 7 Days a Week Telephone 689228 For quote Special’ Abbey Abbey Mill, Mill, Wye Wye Valley, Valley, Tintern, Tintern, Monmouthshire Monmouthshire NP16 NP16 6SE 6SE Daily from 10.30am

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Page 17

Entertainment E ntertainment

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

Philharmonia Philharmonia set set for for latest latest concert concert The Cirencester Philharmonia features some of the very best local musicians the Cotswolds has to offer.

A mix of both amateur and professional, the orchestra usually performs twice a year, in spring and autumn.

Charles Stevens is a retired international banker who has played violin with the orchestra for three years.

“I played the violin at school and acquired a love of classical music,” he said.

“The CPO has given me the opportunity to take up the violin again and to make a contribution.”

The group’s next performance will be on Saturday 2nd November, when the Philharmonia will be playing Beethoven’s Corolian Overture, Mendelssohn’s 1st Symphony and Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll amongst other classic pieces.

The Philharmonia during rehearsal

Rehearsals for the concert began in early September and Charles, who also supports the orchestra with their publicity, says the hard work leading up to the concert is crucial.

“As we all know, performances don’t just happen,” he said.

FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett

“Leadership, rehearsal and lots of practise are an essential ingredient.

“Rehearsals start about five or six weeks in advance of the concerts.

“We would not want to do this year in year out if we did not enjoy both the hard graft and the gradual improvement in the performances.”

Lead by experienced and well-respected conductor Iain Higginson, the concert will be held at St Peter’s Church in Stratton.

Charles added: “One might think that St. Peter’s is a little small for a 25 to 30-piece orchestra, but we do fit in and the acoustics really suit the music we play.”

Tickets are £10 each on the door or £5 for those in full time education or under 18.

Full story online.

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

Good Good B Boys oys

Clock Clock D Dance ance by Anne Tyler

Take quite literally every stupid thing you may have said or done as a child and cram it into a 90minute film; that’s essentially what first-time director Gene Stupnitsky has done with ‘Good Boys’.

On face value, the movie has all the potential to be a complete flop, with generic ‘boy’ humour and a plot line which could definitely be strengthened.

Yet what we actually get is a brilliant new comedy with some real heart and emotion behind the storyline. Starring Jacob Tremblay, Keith Williams and Brady Noon in their biggest roles to date, these newcomers earn their rightful place on the big screen with commendable rapport and unforced acting, which suffers (L-R) Keith Williams as Lucas, Jacob sometimes Tremblay as Max and Brady Noon with a younger cast. as Thor. Image: Universal Pictures Full review online.

Clock Dance is the 22nd novel from the much loved American author Anne Tyler.

At the age of 61, Willa Drake has led a seemingly dull life with only a handful of defining moments until her son’s ex-girlfriend is shot. In a totally out of character decision she crosses the country, from Arizona to Baltimore, to take care of this woman, her daughter and dog.

Accompanied by her patronising husband Peter, who refers to Willa as ‘little one’, she is out of her comfort zone but surprises herself with her capabilities and her increasing pleasure in being part of this odd ball community.

This may not be Anne Tyler’s finest novel but it deserves careful reading and savouring of the characters in the book. Each is described with Tyler’s characteristic tenderness and dry humour.

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

Comedy C omedy ccomes omes to to C Cirencester irencester Founded in 2005 by husband and wife Paul and Becky Creed, Howlers Comedy Club’s first show was held to raise funds for a local school playgroup.

From there, Howlers started running regular nights in the Wheatsheaf in Leckhampton and The Royal Oak in Prestbury.

This was followed by a residency in the Pillar Room at Cheltenham Town Hall, which still runs today.

The club has proven to be popular with the Gloucestershire locals, who have seen some of the modern-day greats of comedy making their first steps into the industry.

“There have been many stand out performers over the years, many of which you just knew were going to be big stars,” said Paul.

“Sarah Millican, Rhod Gilbert, Josh Widdicombe – Romesh

Howlers has been running for nearly 15 years

Ranganathan was one performer who appeared to come from nowhere but clearly had star quality right from the get-go.”

This month the club is introducing a brand new night of comedy, designed especially for kids.

‘Little Howlers’ will be at the

Sundial Theatre on Wednesday 30th October.

“Little Howlers is a new venture,” said Paul. “It’s a really interesting and unpredictable dynamic and lots of stand-up acts love taking on the challenge of trying to pitch their skills at a much younger audience.”

The show will feature Jarred Christmas and Hobbit, Matt Green and Cerys Nelmes, the latter of whom will also be compering Howlers’ first ever show at The Sundial Theatre on Thursday 17th October.

That night will also see Matt Richardson, Paul McCaffrey and musical comedian Rob Deering taking to the stage.

For more information on Howlers and their upcoming shows, visit their website: www.howlerscomedyclub.com Full story online.

E Erica rica llook ook b back ack on on a good good summer summer Erica are a three-piece band from Gloucestershire.

Made up of Dalton Woodward on vocals and lead guitar, Will Hall on drums and Michael Long on bass, the group have been in their current form for a few months after the departure of their original bassist.

“We’ve been together as Erica for eight years, when Will joined from another band,” said Dalton.

“Mikey joined in the summer just in time for our busy festival season.”

And it certainly has been a busy season for the boys, who have been playing shows throughout the county and beyond, including a major set at Lakefest.

“We’ve performed at Lakefest since its inception seven years

Erica (L-R) Michael Long, Will Hall and Dalton Woodward

ago and feel like it is our home crowd and venue,” continued Michael.

“It’s the best feeling performing live, as it gives us a chance to put on a show and get our new music across, as well as songs that people have grown up with over the years.

“As well as Lakefest we played both of Chris Evans’ CarFest events, and the Sunshine Festival in Upton upon Severn to a crowd of around 8,500 people, that was awesome!

“We also kit shared with the Osmonds, which was so surreal.”

The boys have already started booking up shows for next summer and are clearly in high demand.

“Next year we have main stage appearances at festivals already agreed,” added Dalton.

“As our following grows, we can see another very busy year coming our way in 2020. We hope to see you at our gigs!”

To keep up to date with Erica visit facebook.com/ericaband Full story online.

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

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

C Compost ompost your your fallen fallen leaves leaves October is a lovely month, even though the nights are drawing in. The colours of the turning leaves and the spiders’ webs glistening with dew strung across the garden in the morning make it one of the most beautiful times of year.

As mentioned last month, you can now sow sweet-peas ready for next year. Soak them for a few hours in some water to help them germinate, then sow 1.5cm deep in seed compost in a 13cm pot, several seeds per pot. Cover with glass or polythene until the seeds germinate and then stand out in the garden in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or just somewhere sheltered to overwinter.

U Use se o one ne ccompost ompost h heap eap w whilst hilst tthe he o other ther rrots ots Collect up fallen leaves and compost in a separate ‘leaf bin’. This could be chicken wire wrapped round four stout posts set at the corners. If you have two made, you can use

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one whilst the other is rotting down, as it takes a good year to create leaf-mold. Put a layer of some sort of membrane like plastic on the bottom to stop weeds growing up through the leaf-mold.

Alternatively, if you don’t have much space, put the leaves into black bin-liners – half fill the bags and prick some holes in, then store somewhere outside.

Evergreen leaves don’t compost well and would need shredding (things like holly, laurel and Mahonia). They drop all year but largely in August.

Don’t let leaves lie on heathers, dwarf conifers and other small shrubs, as they can cause disease. They shouldn’t be left on the lawn either.

However, if deciduous leaves are lying on the flower borders in which all the perennials have died back they can be left – by springtime they will have disappeared if the worms are doing their job!

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G Get et rrid id of of box box tree tree ccaterpillars aterpillars My garden has been plagued with box tree caterpillars this year for the first time. I had heard about them but was quite complacent until I noticed a small bit of densely woven webbing on one of the box balls.

On closer inspection I found a fat caterpillar and realised that it had been decimating the leaves! I inspected my other box balls and found them on quite a few, and furthermore as I searched in the leaves the hatched moths were taking to the sky (well, the ones I didn’t grab first!)

There are insecticides such as BugClear Ultra that you can spray, but you must penetrate the webbing for them to be effective. I don’t like using sprays so I have picked off and disposed of any caterpillars and given the plants a good drench with a seaweed tonic to help them perk up. It is a good idea to clear any leaf litter from underneath the plants and mulch after feeding.

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

Making M aking aan ne entrance ntrance Whenever I visit family or friends, as soon as I walk in the door I know immediately if I feel at home. What is it that creates that special feeling?

At this time of the year with Halloween upon us, and as we look forward to more visitors in the winter months, it’s a good time to think about sprucing up entrances and hallways. Follow my tips to help you create a warm welcome.

First F irst iimpressions mpressions It’s easy to forget the outside of your house when you spend most of your time inside.

Nothing says “welcome” more than a freshly painted front door. Try an interesting new colour like smart grey or soft blue/green. Pots of colourful or architectural plants are a quick and easy way to add style.

Last October I was in the US visiting my daughter and I loved the bright orange pumpkins, golden chrysanthemums and seasonal wreaths outside all the pretty clapboard houses.

Cut C ut tthe he cclutter lutter In my experience, most hallways end up messy and full of

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clutter, whether it’s coats, shoes or bags, and it gets even worse in winter with muddy boots! It’s time to sort through and rehome what you can elsewhere in the house, or utilise the space under the stairs with hooks and shelving.

Add some extra storage in the hall, maybe a bespoke unit for coats and shoes, or a row of attractive baskets for hats and scarves. You can instantly create a more spacious and tranquil feel.

L Let et tthere here b be e light light Arriving home to a light and stylish entrance will immediately make you feel calm. I have lots of downlights in my hall to make it bright and welcoming, or why not go for a statement light fitting for more impact?

Mirrors in a hallway are essential, not just for reflecting light and making it look spacious, but so you can check the way you look before rushing out the door. Big and bold is a good rule of thumb for mirrors.

Set S et the the tone tone

Create C reate a gallery gallery

Your hallway sets the tone for the rest of the house. It should smell good; I always have a basket of fragrant flowers or a beautiful scented diffuser on my hall table.

For walls I love light neutral colours like Farrow and Ball’s Ammonite. If you prefer something more dramatic, look up Kit Kemp on Pinterest for some lovely ideas. If you can afford to change your flooring, hard floors are more practical – natural wood is very on trend, and you could add a rug for a pop of colour.

Finally, your entrance hall should say something about you. If you have room for an item of furniture, make sure it makes a statement – it could be a lovely painted console table, or an interesting piece found in antique market.

For that personal touch, try creating a gallery wall of favourite artworks or family photos. Have fun channelling your inner creative side.

Now you are ready to welcome your visitors into your home.

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DOWN DOWN 1 Appeals board 2 Accustomed 3 Coal vein 4 Australian gemstone 5 Announces 6 Wealthy 10 Ledger entry 11 Satirical routines 13 Plague 14 Chafes 16 Stops momentarily 18 Give up 19 Leg joint 20 Flows away

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

Ghastly Ghastly gadgets gadgets & g garish arish gizmos gizmos ‘Tis the season of pump spice, jack o’ lanterns an as many pictures of autum leaves as you can post o Instagram. With Halloween creeping around the corne and the colder weathe setting in, now’s the time t gander at some of the lates gizmos coming out th month.

Thermos S Thermos Super uper L Light ight Direct D irect D Drink rink F Flask lask Lakeland: £21.99 Whether you’re going for a morning jog, or simply walking to work, this stylish flask from Lakeland will keep your beverage nice and warm – or chilled if the colder weather doesn’t put you off – with its airtight seal. You don’t even need to stop to carefully unscrew the lid; simply use the flip-up lid with the push of a button.

The flask has also been designed to cool down hot drinks, so you can drink directly from it without burning your tongue and making a numpty of yourself in

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button, and the camera ncludes a built-in privacy shutter. Just download the free Alexa app onto your Fire OS, Android, iOS device or desktop browser to get started.

Mountfield M ountfield M MBV48LI BV48LI C Cordless ordless Leaf eaf Blower Blower

Amazon E Amazon Echo cho S Show how 5 Smart S mart S Speaker peaker

John Lewis: £139.99 Yes, the red and orange hues of crisp autumn leaves may be photogenic, and a Pinterest lover’s dream for some homemade arts and crafts, but they can also be a right mess.

Hence why the Mountfield MBV48LI leaf blower (try saying that six times fast!) is the perfect tidying tool for your garden.

John Lewis: £79.99 Need a weather update?

Fancy listening to a podcast? Or perhaps you need to wake up the rest of the household? Simply ask Alexa. With the hands-free Echo Show 5, you can now manage your day with some help from the everpunctual Alexa.

With its 5.5” screen and lightweight design, this device will help you make hands-free calls and connect with other Echo devices using the Drop-In feature. It even works with smart home devices including cameras, lights and thermostats from brands including WeMo, Philips Hue, Netatmo, SmartThings, TP-Link, Hive and more.

You can turn the microphone and camera off at the touch of

With its DigiTorq brushless motor, this leaf blower produces a blast of air which can travel up to 174mph. You can switch between high and low power easily and save energy by varying the speed.

With up to 30 minutes of power, you can blast away any leaves or debris cluttering up your garden in no time at all.

public. And in case you’re extremely accident-prone, it also has a leakproof seal, so even if you end up knocking it over or turning it upside down, it won’t spill. With its sleek and portable design, you can easily slip this into your bag for an easier commute.

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Page 25

Don’t just take our word for it... we’ve found no of doing it. y wa r tte be Care Ltd Ashley Jones, Fidelia

Their distribution is second to none, and the artwork is perfect.

John Wilson, Property

Maintenance

an easy, reasonably priced and effective way of reaching people for advertising.

Julian Rogers Autoservices

For local advertising, I would always recommend The Local Answer.

Lydia Day, Dean Close Services

The Local Answer always work around our needs, giving us full confidence in promoting with them.

Kieron Bates, Café René

To T oa arrange rrange yyour our advertising advertising campaign, campaign, contact contact C Claudie laudie o on n 01242 01242 510500 510500 or or e email mail info@thelocalanswer.co.uk info@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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

S Secretive ecretive spiders id Some people don’t mind them and some people hate them but regardless of our feeling spiders are everywhere. The can be tucked away in th corner of a shed or scurryin out from underneath the sofa Most of the time we don realise they are there, as thes arachnids don’t like to be bothered. Spiders are, in fact, useful to our ecosystem as they control the population o insects by eating bloodsuckin and crop-destroying pests.

Spiders spin their webs our gardens all year round.

During the end of summer into autumn, you will see many fully-grown common species.

There are over 650 species of spider in the UK, most of which go unseen. Many of these species tend to live out in nature rather than in and around houses.

B Best est to to leave leave them them alone alone The biggest spider in the UK is the cardinal spider, which can grow up to 14cm. You may also see giant house spiders,

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hiding in your home or shed. It is best to leave spiders alone to take shelter through the colder months. If you really cannot stand to let them stay in your house, then use a glass and paper to move them outside and pop them in with some greenery, rather than squashing them.

Silky S ilky w webs ebs Spiders have silk glands which produce a watery gel of long protein chains to make their

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provide different types of silk from super sticky to extra fine.

The T he sshy hy ffalse alse widow widow The false widow spider is now widespread throughout England.

They usually prefer to live indoors in places such as sheds and outhouses. These widows will often hide away in a hole by their web during the day and only come out at night, usually staying close to their web.

The females are considerably bigger than the males and live up to three years, whereas the males often live for only one.

False widows don’t move particularly fast; neither are they aggressive unless threatened. If a false widow bit you, it is similar to that of a wasp sting. This will usually result in pain and stinging but will tend to subside after a while.

They are generally nothing to worry about, and it is advised to wash the area with soap and water and apply antiseptic cream. In rare cases, they can result in an allergic reaction or bacterial infection, which can happen with any bite. When in doubt, seek medical attention.

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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams

M Make ake your your home home more energy efficient more e nergy e fficient The weather is starting to get cooler and my husband and I begin our annual ‘Battle of the Boiler’ where I try and turn the heating on and he throws me an extra jumper!

In all seriousness though, we are both trying to do more to ensure that we are more energy efficient at home.

These are some of the tips I have picked up to make small changes that will hopefully add up to a big difference.

Don’t Don’t boil boil the the kettle kettle for for e every very ssingle ingle ccup up I drink a lot of tea, especially when I’m working from home, and my top tip is to make a pot and keep it covered with a cosy so that you are not boiling the kettle for every single cup. You can do the same for coffee and also invest in a decent thermos to keep it hot for hours.

Use draught excluders on all your external doors. You can even make your own very simply with some fabric and filling, and basic sewing skills.

Make sure any gaps around windows and doors are filled, especially in older houses.

Put on the extra jumper. It’s the advice my husband gives that irritates me so much, but it is actually very good. Often I sit and moan about feeling cold and I’m only wearing a tshirt!

IInvest nvest iin nw warm arm p pyjamas yjamas and and slippers slippers Add an extra blanket to your bed. This is something that I do a lot in winter, and also invest in some warm pyjamas and slippers.

Wool duvets. My husband and I have always had issues as he is too warm and I am too

cold. Last time we were duvet shopping, we were looking at all the different options and stumbled upon wool duvets and it’s been brilliant for both of us. It is somehow selfregulating and we can both sleep comfortably under it.

Don’t put the oven on for longer than needed. Get to know roughly how long yours takes to get up to temperature so you don’t have it on for hours unnecessarily.

Shower instead of bath. We all prefer showers over baths generally and just have baths as a special treat. When the children were younger and had more baths, I used to bathe them together and sometimes with me too. Not the most relaxing experience but it certainly saved water!

Research a Research and nd e evolve volve with w ith eco eco awareness awareness Those are a few of my top tips and I’m always searching for more. I think that we can constantly research and evolve with our eco awareness and I’m always striving to do better. I don’t always manage it but if we all try, we can make small changes that will hopefully make a big difference.

The Local Answer

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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 Money Matters Matters w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off A Andorran ndorran

Christmas Christmas spending spending The summer holidays are over, the kids are back at school and I’m thinking of putting the golf clubs away for the winter.

We are all in need of therapy from the nonsense that has been going on regarding our exit from the EU and the knock-on effects into our UK politics.

What better therapy than a dose of shopping?

What better excuse than buying a few Christmas presents?!

The big retailers are taking delivery of products by the lorry load and are about to launch their advertising campaigns to persuade us to spend the usual ‘small fortune’!

So what is the best approach to Christmas shopping? From a choice perspective, anything you want to be on offer will be available over the next couple of months. So if that’s what you’re after, now is the time to shop.

IIt’s t’s never never too too early early to to shop shop for for Christmas!

C hristmas!

From a financial perspective, you probably missed the boat. Alongside making products available, retailers are charging peak prices for their goods, making shopping over the next couple of months that much more expensive than it would have been if you’d shopped steadily over the last six months. Yes, I’m agreeing it’s never too early to shop for Christmas!

With the availability of online shopping and a society that won’t wait five minutes for anything, more and more people are buying things when they want them, not waiting for birthdays or Christmas. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find things to buy for loved ones at this joyous time of year.

C Christmas hristmas is is not not a time time for for getting getting d deep eep iinto nto d debt ebt Don’t look until you’ve finished!

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So my thoughts are that we shouldn’t try too hard. Don’t buy something just because the other person will buy for you, if there’s nothing that person wants. Give the money to charity instead.

Also don’t compete by trying to spend more because there is nothing you can get for your original budget. That’s the quickest way to build up a credit card debt that you’ll spend the first six months of next year trying to pay back.

Christmas is a time of goodwill to all people, not a time for getting deep into debt.

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S Sport port

with w ith R Roger oger Jackson Jackson

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

L Linda inda S Seaton eaton lloves oves llife ife a att N Naunton aunton D Downs owns Linda Seaton is just over halfway through her year-long term as captain of the ladies’ s e c t i o n a t N a u n t o n D ow n s G o l f Club.

Ask her how it’s going and she gives The Local Answer the same reply that she gives any of the club’s lady members who ask her that question.

“I always turn it around,” she said. “I ask them how they think it is going, luckily I’ve always had a positive response!”

That’s no real surprise because talk to Linda for just a few minutes and it’s apparent that she is very much focused on what’s best for the club and, in her case, its lady members.

Linda has been playing at the club for more than nine years, but only became a full-time member when she and her husband Simon moved to Northleach permanently when they retired and left London at the end of 2014.

“We started playing golf with a view to doing something together when we retired,” explained Linda.

But while Linda has well and truly caught the golfing bug, badminton remains Simon’s favoured sport.

“I play off 22 which is middling,” Linda continued.

“Simon plays off 30-something.

He’s trying to play a bit more and he’s been very supportive to me in my year as captain.”

Linda was delighted to be asked to be captain – she served as vice-captain to Dawn Rimmer for a year before taking on the top job at the end of February – although she admitted she didn’t expect to be asked so soon.

“I think they asked someone who didn’t know any better!” she laughed. “It did come slightly earlier than I expected but I always wanted to give something back.”

She’s certainly doing that. Her charity for the year is the Stroud & Cotswold Districts Citizens Advice Bureau and it’s something that is close to her heart.

“My husband volunteers there,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realise it’s a charity and it needs funding and support for all the good work it does.”

Full story online.

Am major ajor p player layer

A All ll ssystems ystems g go o

And A nd tthey’re hey’re off off

P et er Will ett i s i n hi s second season as captain of the men’s section at Cirencester Hockey Club and it’s a role that he is clearly enjoying.

It’s a fairly new role at the club and all the signs are that it is working very well.

Willett is 54 and although he no longer plays Peter Willett, right, first-team hoc- with Cirencester 1st key he remains XI captain Kit Lamb a major player at the club.

“One of my key jobs is to help the captains operate as a team so that there is consistency in the way teams play, on the field as well as off the field,” he said.

Willett is clearly happy to have taken on the role and is very well suited to it too.

Top rugby referee Craig MaxwellKeys enjoyed a bit of extra downtime in the summer just gone.

The much later than usual start to the Premiership season due to the ongoing Rugby World Cup in Japan meant he was able to chill for a few weeks longer than would normally be the case.

“Last season was wrapped up at the start of June and we weren’t fitness tested until the beginning of August,” MaxwellKeys said.

Mind you, that additional time off will soon be forgotten once the top-level domestic season gets under way on the penultimate weekend of October, with very few spare weekends in the schedule until the end of June.

The wait is almost over for racegoers as they look forward to what is sure to be another outstanding season at the home of National Hunt racing.

The 2019/20 campaign at Cheltenham Racecourse gets under way with the excellent two-day Showcase meeting on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October.

It’s the start of 16 days of racing at Prestbury Park spread over six months with the highlight, as always, being the Cheltenham Festival which this season runs from 10th-13th March.

That’s still a long way off of course and before that all eyes will be on The Showcase, which sees seven races running from 2pm until 5pm on both days.

Linda Seaton

For full verssions of alll these stories and more,, visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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

C Cirencester irencester sswimming wimming sstar tar A Alex lex Cohoon Cohoon is is making making big big waves waves swimmers who were a year or two older than me so I did okay.”

He certainly did because the British Championships are the next level up from the English Championships and although Alex didn’t medal, his is a name that is already sure to be well known to the powers-that-be at Swim England.

Alex’s ability as a swimmer has been obvious from the day he joined Cirencester Swimming Club as an eight-year-old.

His now 21-year-old brother Tom was already a member and swimming was clearly a big part of the Cohoon family growing up because Tom was a national standard swimmer, while dad Craig was chairman of Cirencester Swimming Club for some 10 years.

Tom now plays rugby for Fairford and young Alex was a very decent rugby player as well.

“I was in the Gloucester Rugby Academy,” said Alex, who lives in Dunfield just outside Fairford.

“But I couldn’t commit to swimming, playing rugby and doing my GCSEs. I was doing better at swimming so I packed in the rugby.”

Surprisingly when you consider his size, he wasn’t a second row when he played rugby – “I was a fly-half or centre, there were players way bigger than me,” said Alex – but his decision to concentrate on his swimming has certainly pleased everyone connected with that sport.

And he’s very ambitious. “Yes, I am,” he said. “Realistically I want to swim for my country.

I want to swim in the world championships and the Olympics, the Olympics is the dream.”

He’s at a very good club at the moment, of course, because as well as Alex, Cirencester had Alex Cohoon with Kirsten Powell and Lucinda Norris two other swimmers –

Alex Cohoon has just turned 17 and already stands at 6ft 4in.

That’s a great size if you’re a swimmer, of course, and young Alex is a very, very good swimmer.

And there’s every likelihood that he hasn’t finished growing yet, which will certainly please his coaches at Cirencester Swimming Club if not Alex himself.

“Yes, I think I’m still growing unfortunately,” said Alex with a laugh.

And while Alex, a pupil at Farmor’s School in Fairford, may not want to grow any taller, he certainly has plenty to smile a b o u t a s f a r a s h i s s w i m m i n g is concerned.

That’s because he’s a national age group champion after winning gold in the 50 metres freestyle at the English Nationals at Ponds Forge in Sheffield in the summer.

He clocked a personal best time of 23.86 seconds in the 17+ years age group and as well as winning the gold medal, he also won a silver in the 50m butterfly, recording a time of 25.94.

And what makes those achievements all the more remarkable is that before the championships began he didn’t consider freestyle or butterfly to be his best strokes.

“I qualified for the British Championships in the breaststroke in the 17/18 age group,” said Alex.

“I didn’t win but I was up against

Alex Cohoon

Kirsten Powell and Lucinda Norris – competing at the English Nationals in the summer.

That’s pretty impressive in anyone’s book and Alex is certainly hugely appreciative of all the help he has received over the years.

Equally, he also knows the next step he’d like to take to help him achieve his goals.

“I’d love to go to Loughborough University,” Alex continued.

“That’s where all the top swimmers are, people like Adam Peaty.”

So if he were to achieve his goals, what stroke does he think he’d succeed in?

“I always thought breaststroke was my best stroke,” he said, “but after the English nationals I’m not so sure. I’d probably say freestyle is my best now.”

He’s clearly very good at both and he’s also very good at butterfly, so what’s his backstroke like and has he ever considered competing in the individual medley?

“That’s what my coaches at Cirencester ask,“ laughed Alex.

“My backstroke is my worst stroke but it’s not that bad.”

It’s a lot better than that of course… young Alex Cohoon is clearly a very big talent.

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

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C Competition ompetition W Winners inners The TLA Photography winner for the October 2019 cover is Letitia Newbegin.

C Competition ompetition R Rules ules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter.

3 The first correct entry drawn at random afftter the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone afftter 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 BOOKING D DEADLINE EADLINE FFOR OR N NEXT EXT IISSUE SSUE – TThursday hursday 110th 0th O October ctober 22019 019

L Let et u uss k know now w what hat y you ou tthink hink a about bout u us! s!

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1. Go Go to to your your G Google oogle b browser rowser 2. T Type ype iin nT The he Local Local Answer Answer 3. Click Click Write Write a review review ((on on tthe he rright ight h hand and sside) ide)

Y Your our ffeedback eedback w will ill h help elp u us sc continue ontinue tto o iimprove mprove tthe he c content ontent a and nd q quality uality of of the the magazines, magazines, a as sw well ell a as so our ur sservice ervice tto oo our ur rreaders eaders a and nd c customers. ustomers.

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QUALITY KITCHEN MAKEOVERS by simply replacing the doors and worktops

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