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Cotswolds: Cheltenham: C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies ~ C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Gloucester: G loucester: 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies North North Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Stroud Stroud District: District: 41,000 41,000 ccopies opies

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January’s winning cover photo: Mark Ziles

W elcome Welcome ttoo JJanuary anuary Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed the festivities and are raring to go for a brand new decade! If you’re starting to plan your year already, check out our Entertainment section for a look ahead at what’s going on in 2020. Our online competitions feature has been very popular and we’ve had a fantastic response so far! Be sure to check back regularly for more brilliant prizes – this month we’ve linked up with Painswick Rococo Garden, Sandford Parks Lido and Hotel du Vin Cheltenham! Congratulations to our first cover winner of 2020 – Mark Ziles with his wonderful winter scene. Head over to our social media pages to find out what you can expect to see on the rest of this year’s covers. If you use the services of our advertisers or attend the events listed, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer! If you can’t find the service you require inside, head online to our Directory, where we have details of many more local businesses.

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•A An n aannual nnual ffamily amily m membership embership tto o P Painswick ainswick R Rococo ococo G Garden arden •A Ann aadult dult sseason eason tticket icket for for Sandford S andford P Parks arks LLido ido •S Sunday unday llunch unch for for ffour our people people at at Hotel Hotel dduu V Vin in Cheltenham Cheltenham 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

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

P Parsnip arsnip soup soup with with a hint hint of of spice spice Aq quick, uick, ssimple, imple, w warming arming rrecipe ecipe tto o ssee ee y you ou tthrough hrough tthe he rrest est o off w winter. inter. This This parsnip parsnip soup soup has h as a g gentle entle kkick ick and and will will make make plenty plenty of of portions portions to to last last you you the the week. week. Ingredients: Ingredients: 1kg parsnips; 2 large onions; 2 tbsp olive oil; 100g light soft cream cheese; 1½ litres vegetable stock; 1 tbsp curry paste (I bought a 200g jar of tikka curry paste and used the rest to make a chicken tikka curry); freshly ground black pepper to season and sprinkle on top; parsley to garnish. Method: Method: 1 Peel and dice both the onions and parsnips. 2 Heat the oil, add the onions and cook on a medium heat for 1-2 minutes until softened. 3 Add the parsnips and cook, covered, over a low heat for 5-8 minutes with the lid on to sweat the vegetables. 4 Stir in the curry paste, cook for a minute then

add the hot stock. Place the lid back on and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the parsnips are really soft. 5 Add the cream cheese then blend with a hand blender or in a liquidiser until smooth. 6 Season, then serve with a little chopped parsley, more black pepper and some lovely fresh rolls. Tip: Tip: If you’d like to make your own bread rolls, you can find a recipe on one of my previous Delicious Dishes – ‘Spinach soup and homemade ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk, go www.thelocalanswer.co.uk bread rolls’. Visit w to the News, Articles & Reviews tab, then click on Food & Drink. You’ll be able to search for the recipe, as well as browse many more dishes that I’ve cooked over the years.

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

N New ew Year, Year, n new ew you you January is a month of change, where many people decide to have a clear out, detox or get rid of bad habits through New Year’s resolutions. There is the usual stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol for Dry January and dieting (usually after a lot of overindulgence during December), and 12% of gym memberships are signed up in January alone. It really is a great time for people to feel motivated to make changes to their lives. This January, instead of focusing on the negative, why not try beginning the year with a much more positive attitude and begin adding new healthy habits for your mind as well as your body?

Practice Practice sself elf ccare are We are often very self critical and think, and even say, negative statements everyday to ourselves. This is highlighted by these New Year’s resolutions. So this year why not start with practicing self care? Your mental health requires just as much looking after, if not more, than your body.

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Scientists are learning that seemingly unrelated psychological and physical issues may actually be closely connected. Doctors once thought that the link between mental and physical health problems was purely behavioural, such as depressed people being less likely to take their medications.

Mental M ental and and p physical hysical health p health problems roblems ccan an b be e cconnected onnected We now know that high levels of cortisol are associated with depression and anxiety, and that they can contribute to an inflammatory state and to conditions like diabetes and heart disease. They also affect auto-immune conditions such as Psoriasis, which is commonly triggered by stress. It affects 1.8 million people in the UK and can impact on emotional as well as physical wellbeing. People with mental health conditions are less likely to receive the physical healthcare they’re entitled to, and mental health service users are statistically To advertise call 0122 510500

less likely to receive routine checks (such as blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, etc.) that might detect symptoms of these physical health conditions earlier. So what positive changes can you make now? • A simple morning meditation is a great way to start the day and if you are new to meditation there are plenty of free apps or CDs you can buy. • Positive affirmations such as ‘I am kind’, ‘I am brave’ or ‘I can be who I want to be’ are great to write down and stick around your mirror or on your bedside table to read aloud every day. • Practice mindfulness, trying to focus on the here and now. • Yoga and Pilates are brilliant for all ages, shapes and sizes to improve flexibility, strength and fitness, along with assisting with clarity of mind. • Get outside in the fresh air and enjoy nature. • Smile. Small changes can make a big difference to your life in every way, so start today. Page 

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E Education ducation & E Employment mployment w with ith H Holly olly P Prince rince

Training T raining iin n tthe he w workplace orkplace When coming back to work after the New Year, you may feel your skills are in need of some updating or that you could do with some fresh knowledge to enhance your working life. In an ever-changing world, it’s essential to keep your skills up to date by undertaking CPD – Continuing Professional Development. Some professions such as nursing, law or counselling require a certain amount of CPD in order to stay accredited to the professional body that oversees their role. For others, having more talents under your belt can be useful simply so that you can do the best job possible!

O Opportunities pportunities tto og gain ain m more ore ccompetencies ompetencies Workplaces should offer their employees opportunities to gain more competencies – to do their job more effectively or to further their career. If you feel you lack know-

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ledge in a particular area, or are in need of some personal development to aid your professional life, ask your manager if there are any courses available. These may be practical skills such as first aid training or manual handling, or theoretical knowledge, for instance safeguarding or people management. Some organisations have inhouse training – courses run by fellow employees. For instance, if you work for a large employer in the public sector, they may have an IT department that runs courses on specific computer software. Your company may even have partner agencies such as a mental wellbeing organisation who can run courses in ‘life skills’ such as resilience, assertiveness or how to deal with stress. Alternatively, you could take it upon yourself to further your knowledge. Your public library may have courses in computer

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basics, or a local college may run a ‘night school’, which you can attend in the evening. There are many subjects available out there, including languages, arts, cookery and hairdressing to name a few.

Online O nline learning learning or or a cclassroom lassroom e environment nvironment Courses may take the form of online learning, or be face-toface in a ‘classroom’ type environment. Both have their benefits and disadvantages. For example, in a classroom you can share knowledge and stories with others, but travel to and from the location takes up more time. With online courses, you can do them in your own time, usually from the comfort of your own home, but there is no one to offer immediate help if needed. Whatever method of learning you opt for, ensure the knowledge will further your overall learning, and make time to reflect upon what you’ve learnt and then apply it to your job role. Keep learning! It’s good for your brain, as well as looking good on your CV! Page 11

D Distributors istributors Required R equired For a few hours each month in the following specific areas:

Cirencester • Mickleton • Tetbury Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to T The h e Loc Lo c al al Distributors’ homes towards the A ANS NS WER WER end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to COTSW C OTSWO OLDS LDS perform the duties. GLOUCESTERSHIRE G LOUCESTERSHIRE’’S S BIGGEST B IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL MAGAZINE MA AGAZINE JANUARY JANUARY 2020 2020

HAPPY NEW HAPPY NEW YEAR YEAR TO TO ALL ALL OUR OUR READERS READERS AND AND CLIENTS! CLIENTS!

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

Home H ome o on n the the Range? Range? It’s confession time. In fact, a couple of confessions. Firstly, I don’t really know where the Velar is supposed to sit in the line up from Range Rover. It’s quite a congested line up, and I’m fully aware that others before me have posed the same question. But I have a second confession that may explain my uncertainty. I’ve never driven a full blown Range Rover. I’ve tested the Evoque in a couple of guises, the Discovery Sport and I’ve driven a number of Defenders (back in the day) but I’ve never taken the wheel of the iconic country classic. Maybe that’s next… So from my perspective, this is the big boy in the garage from Land Rover. And with this model topping the price list at a shade over £73k, that’s a lot of car to live up to.

An A na air ir o off cclass lass Let’s start on the outside. Land Rover has made a good job of making the Velar sleek and sporty, while maintaining an air of class. The bonnet and grille look powerful and a little aggressive (which you kind of expect from a big Range Rover), but the narrow headlights and diffuser add a hint of speed and even sportiness. The flush door handles are a lovely touch – recessing into the door housing when not in use meaning the lines of the body aren’t interrupted. It’s clear from those lines that this has come from the Range Rover stable. There’s an unmistakable bulk at the rear that just screams country offload vehicle (as opposed to The Local Answer

Chelsea tractor), but once you move inside, that all changes – at first glance at least. With a touch screen interface for all the controls in the centre console, all on a beautifully curved and high gloss glass panel, the luxury is abundant right there.

More M ore than than capable capable off o ff rroad oad But at the same time, the off road capability is clear. With touch controls for ride height, surface management and hill d e s c e n t , t h e u n d e r p i nn i n g s o f this car are clear to see – it’s more than capable off road and it’s only when you step back out that you realise the wheels are also more than ready for the rough stuff. They’re disguised by some glossy alloys, but definitely ready to green lane. So sleek, capable, and a great user experience with the controls – as long as you never have an electrical fault. I To advertise call 0122 510500

suspect replacing anything to do with that panel will empty your wallet quicker than buying the thing in the first place.

Plenty Plenty of of room room for for the the family family and and luggage luggage It’s also a very comfortable vehicle. With heated and cooled front seats – with massage function built in – it’s a good long-distance cruiser with plenty of room for the family and all their luggage needs. Any downsides? I think only the confusion every time you park next to a Discovery or a Range Rover and realise you don’t quite know what you’ve bought. But I think that confusion would vanish as soon as you sat behind the wheel. The comfort and quality really are everywhere and it’s a genuinely nice car to drive. I wonder if my opinion will change when I review the big daddy from the Land Rover garage? Page 1

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ACROSS ACROSS 1 Obtained by begging 5 Corpse 7 Stupid (remark) 8 Cable 9 At a distance 10 Improper 11 Hubbub 13 Told falsehood 14 North African desert 18 Available at premises (2-4) 21 Prompts (memory) 22 Phases 24 Fashionable fad 25 Indolent 26 Genuine, ... fide

27 Slithery reptile 28 Contributes 29 Word comparison DOWN DOWN 1 Scaredy-cats 2 Athenian 3 Numeral 4 Fiery pepper sauce 5 Fab Four group 6 Local lingo 12 Misjudge 15 Kept clear of 16 Pus-filled sore 17 Woolly llama relatives 19 Few, ... many 20 Entrap 22 Genders 23 Photo book

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A And nd w with ith a maximum maximum o off 2 n non-conflicting on-conflicting lleaflets eafle d delivered elivered w with ith each each ccopy opy o off T The he L Local ocal A Answer nswer m magazine, agazzin yyou ou w will ill receive receive ffantastic antastic e exposure xposure ffor or yyour our a advertising. dvertising.

F For or m more ore d details etails e email mail JJohn ohn a att lleaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk eaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk or or call call

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What W hat s O On n The The Local Local Answer Answer Event Event L Listings istings a are re ccompiled ompiled a and nd p presented resented 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 e event vent iinformation nformation u updates pdates p prior rior tto op planning lanning y your our v visit. isit. 2288 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 4 JJANUARY ANUARY A CHRISTMAS CAROL Set to an original score and reworked script, this is an original Barn Theatre interpretation of the Dickens classic that will get everyone in the festive mood. Barn Theatre, 3 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. Full details at www.barntheatre.org.uk 3300 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 4 JJANUARY ANUARY ALADDIN

Get ready to journey with us to the exotic Far East for an adventure like no other, in our family pantomime, Aladdin! Complete with all of the magic and sparkle audiences have come to expect from a Roses pantomime, we’ll transport you this Christmas to an exotic world of music, mayhem and pure escapism. Tickets £15-£25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL50 5NX. Full details: rosestheatre.org 3300 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 5 JJANUARY ANUARY THE BIG BATSFORD ELF HUNT Santa’s helpers have gone missing around the arboretum and if you can help find them all, you win a special Christmas prize. Normal arboretum admission prices apply. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. www.batsarb.co.uk

1 DECEMBER DECEMBER – 6 JJANUARY ANUARY CHRISTMAS JUMPER TRAIL The Christmas Jumper Trail is celebrating the book Granny Magic by Elka Evalds. Find the little jumpers hidden around the museum and answer questions relating to the festive season to win a prize. £1.50. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. www.coriniummuseum.org 2-12 JANUARY JANUARY 2-12 CHRISTMAS CARDS AND STAMP RECYCLING Save those Christmas cards for recycling and all your used stamps, and bring them along to medical charity Cobalt at Linton House, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AS. Don’t forget we accept greetings cards all year round! 6 DECEMBER DECEMBER – 6 JJANUARY ANUARY TETBURY CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Hosted by Tetbury Town Council, see a festive array of trees supplied and decorated by local organisations, schools and clubs. St Saviour’s Church, New Church Street, Tetbury, GL8 8DS. Full details at www.tetbury.gov.uk 8 JANUARY JANUARY – 2233 FFEBRUARY EBRUARY JOURNEYS INTO ABSTRACTION Exhibition by painter Laurel Smart, whose work explores elements of abstraction, starting from making marks and choosing colour without reference in the real world. 11am3pm. Tetbury Goods Shed Arts Centre, The Old Station Yard, Cirencester Road Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8EY. www.shed-arts.co.uk

117-19 7-19 JANUARY JANUARY THE WIZARD OF OZ

Cirencester-based theatre group The Phoenix Revue Company present their version of the classic story The Wizard of Oz, a traditional pantomime with some modern twists. 2pm & 7.30pm. £10-£30. Tickets available from the Cirencester Visitor Information Centre at the Corinium Museum or www.phoenixrevue.co.uk. The Bingham Hall, King Street, Cirencester, GL7 1JT. 21 JANUARY JANUARY 21 AFTERNOON TALKS WITH JAMES HARRIS James discusses the most richly furnished Anglo-Saxon grave ever found in Gloucestershire along with other Saxon highlights from the store. This talk will include the actual human remains from grave 18 of Butler’s Field Anglo-Saxon cemetery. 3-4pm. £6.25£7.25. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. www.coriniummuseum.org

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2233 JANUARY JANUARY – 1155 FFEBRUARY EBRUARY THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is returning to the Barn Theatre after its successful 2019 run, but not quite as you may know it. This hilarious, two-man re-imagining of the classic will delight and entertain in equal measure. £11.50-£35. The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester, GL7 1BN. www.barntheatre.org.uk 2244 JANUARY JANUARY MITCH BENN: TEN SONGS TO SAVE THE WORLD From BBC Radio 4's ‘Now Show’ to his column in the New European, awardwinning satirist Mitch Benn spreads insight and laughs in equal measure. 8pm. £14. The Sundial Theatre, Stroud Road, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk 2255 JANUARY JANUARY ONE DAY GARDEN DESIGN WORKSHOP Bring your measurements, ideas and pictures with you in order for you to create the garden of your dreams. Lead by RHS winner at The Chelsea Flower Show Joy Riley, spend a day designing your own garden, giving the space a new lease of life with a planting theme that will last for years to come. 10am-4pm. £150. Tetbury

Goods Shed Arts Centre, The Old Station Yard, Cirencester Road, Tetbury, GL8 8EY. www.shed-arts.co.uk 2299 JANUARY JANUARY FILM: ‘LUCIAN FREUD – A SELF PORTRAIT’ AT CHAPEL ARTS A compelling film giving an insight into the fifty or more self-portraits painted over 64 years by Lucian Freud. 7pm. £7 in advance, £9 on the door, £5 NUS. www.thechapelarts.com 3311 JANUARY JANUARY KING GEORGE V IN THE GREAT WAR

Join us for a talk by Alexandra Churchill, author of ‘George V in The Great War’ in the Lecture Theatre at the RAU, Cirencester. 6.30pm for 7pm. Talk, fork supper and wine for £25. For tickets apply to ABF The Soldiers Charity, Bulford Office (Suzanne Hollis), 01980 672337 or shollis@soldierscharity.org

1 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY HATHEROP CASTLE PREP SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Whole School Open Morning: Saturday 1st February 10am-12pm. Reception Open Morning: Saturday 14th February 9am-10.30pm. To reserve your space for either day, please email admissions@hatheropcastle.co.uk or call 01285 750206. MARCH 1 FEBRUARY– FEBRUARY– 3300 M ARCH STONE AGE PEOPLE TRAIL Find the little people from the Stone Age hidden around the museum and answer questions relating to our prehistoric past to claim a prize at the end of the trail. 10am-5pm. £1.50. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. www.coriniummuseum.org 6-8 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 6-8 TEWKESBURY WINTER ALES FESTIVAL Hosted by the Tewkesbury branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, the 25th Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival will have 80 Winter Ales plus local cider and perry. The Thursday Night session is for card carrying CAMRA members, with the Friday and Saturday sessions open to all. £6 per session, £10 for all sessions. George Watson Hall, Barton Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PX. www.tewkesbury.camra.org.uk

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

Savour Savour the the joy joy o off fflight light We recently landed at Tokyo Haneda – except that it should have been Osaka! Unfortunately, as we approached, drone activity temporarily closed Kansai International and we were diverted. The unexpected upside was the magnificent views of Mount Fuji that we passed twice before eventually reaching our planned destination. It got me thinking about the aerial delights awaiting flyers. I never cease to marvel at the contrast presented by evening departures from Vancouver as the city’s lights soon give way to the darkness of British Columbia’s sparsely populated interior and Northern Canada’s barren wastes.

B Between etween m mountain ountain a and nd o ocean cean As with Vancouver, Los Angeles, or even little Sitka up in Alaska’s Panhandle, there’s something magical about airports located ‘twixt mountain and ocean. Many landlocked destinations are equally impressive. I’m thinking about the

sinuous approach to Bhutan’s Paro Airport. Or famously challenging Lukla’s steeply sloping 527m-long runway in Nepal, complete with sheer drops at one end and a rock wall at the other! Nearer home, how about the picturesque valley approach to Category C-rated Innsbruck? Destinations like these deliver amazing experiences for pilots and passengers alike. Spectacular natural surrounds guarantee breathtaking views. Sometimes, however, the built environment adds special magic. Picture, for instance, t h e u n f o r g e t t a b l e a p pr o a c h t o New York’s JFK with its views of Manhattan’s iconic skyline; or the needle-like Burj Khalifa glimpsed through the desert haze after leaving Dubai.

O Once-in-a-lifetime nce-in-a-lifetime v views iews Arguably, the most memorable ones are the once-in-alifetime views delivered by nature alone – helped by our aircraft’s altitude. Winter’s dancing northern lights on approach to Reykjavik-Keflavik The Local Answer

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need no mortal help. Neither did my most enduring in-flight memory. It was a westward sunset view across Northern Canada’s myriad frozen lakes. And it came with the added bonus of being savoured from a Boeing 747 cockpit in the halcyon, pre9/11 days when flight deck visits were still possible. Unforgettable.

Amazing Amazing in-flight in-flight sights sights Will your airborne magic come after the short hop to Shetland or over mountainflanked Beagle Channel as you approach windy Ushuaia, Patagonia? Or perhaps it will be that first glimpse of French Polynesia after 6000km over the empty Pacific, or the reassuringly familiar view of Windsor Castle on returning to Heathrow? These and so many other examples remind us to look up from our book or the in-flight movie and take a moment to be awestruck by the joy of flight. What amazing in-flight sights await you in 2020? Page 1

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

A look look ahead ahead to to 2020 2020 in in the the Cotswolds Cotswolds The Cotswolds is a hugely popular area when it comes to tourism, with millions of visitors flocking to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty every year. A big part of that attraction is the amount of great events that go on in the area, and we’ve put together a guide of some of the best to look out for in 2020.

announced as the Sunday night band. Elsewhere, the Guiting Music Festival is set for its 50th anniversary in the summer, and the free-to-enter Phoenix Festival returns at the end of August.

Stage S tage

Festivals F estivals The Chipping Campden Literature Festival returns in May following their 10th anniversary in 2019. In March, BibLit will be welcoming authors to Bibury to discuss ‘Our Special Relationship with the US’ in a weekend-long festival. In February, The Cotswolds Winter Cider Festival comes to the Bingham Hall in Cirencester, and in July The Cotswold Show and Food Festival returns to Cirencester Park.

Keane will be playing Forest Live this summer. Picture: Jon Stone

Music Music Forest Live has become one of the most popular annual events in the area, and this year will feature four acts every evening from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th June. James Morrison and Will Young will be performing together on the Friday at Westonbirt Arboretum, whilst Keane have been

FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett

The Barn Theatre’s first production of the year will be Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, running from Thursday 23rd January to Saturday 15th February. The Sundial Theatre has an array of shows on offer throughout the year, including comedians Andy Parsons, Seann Walsh and Mark Steel. And in Tetbury the Goods Shed will feature ‘A Comedy of Errors’ from popular theatre group The Handlebards, in addition to regular art exhibitions and concerts. Full story online.

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

F Frozen rozen IIII

The T he P Pianist ianist of of Yarmouk Yarmouk

In the second Frozen instalment, Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and Olaf (Josh Gad) journey to an enchanted forest in a quest to find the origin of Elsa’s icy powers, following a mysterious voice that calls out to her. While it’s hard to beat the plot twist of Hans’ villainy of the first film, the sequel’s plot packs in enough of a punch to keep children and adults alike on their toes. Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee return along with the majority of the first film’s creative team, which is most likely what keeps the original flame (or snowflake, in this case) alive. In short – Frozenmania has returned. ‘Frozen II’ stands tall as one of Disney’s greatest sequel successes. Could it be that the franchise powers that be have mastered the sequel? Full review online.

by Aeham Ahmad In 2013, a video was posted on YouTube of Aeham Ahmad playing the piano in the ruins of Yarmouk, a suburb of Damascus. This is the story of Aeham’s life. His father was a talented violinist and carpenter who was totally blind, and his family had a renowned music shop. Aeham showed great musical ability and won a place at the prestigious music academy in Homs. Then the bombing began. The family like many others lose everything. Ae ham pu shes a piano out on to the stree ts to escape from the misery, and surrounded by children and neighbours, he plays to them. There is no food and life is unbearable but still he continues to play. The story is heart wrenching but the power of music shines through. 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

S Singer-songwriter inger-songwriter excited excited ffor or 2 2020 020 Leon Daye is a guitarist, songwriter and lead singer of his own band. Self-described as “Cirencester born and bred”, Leon has been performing for over 25 years, both as a soloist and in a variety of bands. His latest group, ‘The Leon Daye Band’, is made up of fellow local musicians, and he explains how the group came about. “I recorded my second EP, ‘The Gift’ in 2018,” he explained. “I needed to put together a band for the launch, which went really well, and it’s gone from there.” The band is made up of bassist Ian Keates, lead guitarist Mike Herbert, Jason Hughes on keys and Brendan Downes-Hall on drums. They write and perform original material, and Leon

The Leon Daye Band (L-R) Brendan, Jason, Leon, Mike and Ian

describes the music they play as “alternative, indie rock”, and cites bands like REM, U2 and Feeder as direct influences. Leon himself has written and recorded two EPs as a solo artist – 2015’s ‘Bird on a Wire’, and his most recent offering ‘The Gift’. He continued: “We recorded music videos for a couple of songs on ‘The Gift’, including

‘Centurion Town’ which we filmed on the roof of Cirencester Parish Church. It was a logistical nightmare and really cold!” 2019 brought plenty of shows at venues around the country, including The Thunderbolt and The Fleece in Bristol. Events like the Worcester Music Festival and Lakefest were also on the band’s schedule, and Leon is hoping 2020 will bring more of the same. “We’ve got lots of festivals on the cards,” he said. “We did our last show of 2019 at the Advent Market and then took December and January off to work on new songs. “We’ve written a few songs as a band and hopefully we’ll get the chance to record them and release an EP this year.” Full story online.

Phoenix Phoenix Revue Revue ready ready for for p panto a The Phoenix Revue Company is a Cirencester-based theatre group that has been running for over half a century. Now under the stewardship of local theatre lovers Amy-May Knowles and Kieran Powell, the company performs once a year, bringing pantomime to the town every January. “Our show this year is The Wizard of Oz,” explained Amy, “it’s looking like it’s going to be one of our funniest shows yet! “It’s going to be a huge amount of fun and have all the laughs, audience participation, music, fantastic production value and heart that Cirencester have come to know our shows for.” Amy has worked and lived in Cirencester her whole life and says she has always had a keen

interest in theatre and performing, first getting involved with the Phoenix Revue Company as a child. Originally from Nailsworth but now living in Cirencester, Kieran is a professional entertainer and, alongside Amy, produces and directs the show. Amy said: “Due to Kieran’s commitments performing away he usually produces more from afar and I direct, up until closer to the show when we both do everything.” This year’s pantomime will be at the Bingham Hall from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th January. Rehearsals have been ongoing since September, and Amy says audiences should expect a unique show. She added: “We are certainly laughing a lot in rehearsals. It’s

The cast of The Wizard of Oz

not your traditional pantomime – but certainly has every traditional element with a bit of a 21st century twist!” For tickets and more information visit phoenixrevue.co.uk 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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The Local Answer

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

Getting Getting through through grief grief together together No matter the time of year, one thing that is certain to affect us all at some point in our lives is loss: of a family member, a friend or a beloved pet. I recently faced losing my two-year-old cat, Newbie, to an aggressive form of cancer and of course, my whole family was devastated – most of all my nine-year-old Dachshund x Jack Russell, Rufus, as he could sense something was wrong. We were faced with making the most difficult decision, but hope we were lucky. I thought I would talk about supporting each other – and our surviving pets – through the loss of a family pet and offer some words of advice, although of course, I hope you never need to use it!

Dogs Dogs a and nd ccats ats n need eed ssupport upport ttoo oo Firstly, acknowledge the grief, both in yourself and your pets. Yes, dogs and cats can feel loss keenly and need support as they, too, transition into a life without their brother or sister. Accepting your feelings without

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judgement or ridicule is very important – and remember, no two people process emotions the same way so don’t be offended if others do not react the same way that you do. Take time to be quiet together, take space to cry, to remember the lost pet and to talk about the good times. Children may not show that they feel the loss immediately, as they often bounce back and move on without a backward glance, however they will find spaces in life to ‘realise’ their pet is gone and then will need support to deal with their feelings. Your pets may need quiet time alone, or they may demand more of your attention. Respectfully respond to their needs but notice if behaviours become problematic – howling or barking, for example – and try not to reinforce this with your reactions. Instead, ignore unwanted behaviour and focus on redirecting attention to other behaviours, quietly and calmly. It has to be said that we must To advertise call 0122 510500

always be mindful of any actual deterioration in our pet’s condition whilst grieving. If they refuse food for more than three days, become sick or have runny stools, become weak or disoriented, please consult your vet. When it was touch and go with Newbie, I offered Rescue Remedy and CBD oil to my dog, as he was struggling to cope. It appeared to ‘take the edge off ’ and allowed him to carry on pretty much as normal.

Talking T alking to to each each other other is is so so important important I often think adults suffer the most, as we understand so much more of what is happening. Talking to each other and allowing space for moments of overwhelm is so important. I still miss my darling Rottweiller who died in 2014 age 11 – remembering her still brings me to tears. So please, if you are grieving the loss of a beloved pet, be gentle with yourself and know, they are always with you and your love will never die. Page 21

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

G Grow row your your own own iin n2 2020 020 Happy New Year to all you gardeners. I hope you are enthused to get into the garden in 2020 and start to grow some f o od ! W it h inc reas ing c on cer n over the health of our planet, producing your own fruit and vegetables is set to become a popular trend. Usher in the New Year by sowing the first vegetable seeds of the season. If you haven’t grown anything before try some radishes – sow in rows 1cm deep and 15cm apart. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to 2.5cm apart. They should be ready in 8-10 weeks. You can sow lettuces straight into the ground as long as you cover them with a cold-frame or some horticultural fleece if the weather gets cold. You can pick the leaves individually and let the plant keep on growing.

C Create reate n natural atural llooking ooking p pea ea ssticks ticks A useful thing to do now is to collect material for making pea sticks to support plants in your borders in the summer. Hazel

and birch twigs are the best ones to use. Pea sticks look much more natural than using readymade supports and can be bent and semi-snapped to create the desired shapes. Leave them tied up in bundles in a corner somewhere outside and put them in place early on in the season to enable the plants to grow through them for a natural look. Vines, ornamental and grape, need to be pruned now before the rising sap makes them bleed from any cuts. Prune last

year’s stems back to one or two buds. January is the right time to give wisteria its winter pruning. Cut back the whippy stems that have grown last year to two or three buds. This will create flowering ‘spurs’ to bloom in the summer. Do take care if you have to use ladders – make sure the bottom is secure on a flat surface and don’t lean over to make it unstable. If you have a vast wisteria that has gone beserk after being ignored for many years, it may pay to get in a specialist gardener who can get it back into some semblance of order and enable you to carry on with it yourself in future years.

Look Look after after your your ttrees rees during during ssnowy nowy w weather eather If we have heavy snowfall, take a broom and knock snow off evergreens or bare tree branches where the weight can break boughs. If paths are icy, sprinkle with sharp sand which you can brush up and use to improve drainage in the garden later on. Salt is not good for the garden so avoid if possible. The Local Answer

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

N New ew year year – new new h home ome iinspiration nspiration At this time of the year I always enjoy making New Year’s resolutions, even if it’s sometimes hard to stick to them! The New Year is a good time for reflection and looking forward so, inspired by a quote I read recently from writer Sophie Dahl – “home is a place that makes me feel at peace” – I have been thinking about some key themes for our homes for 2020. Here are my thoughts.

M Mindfulness indfulness A wellness and mindfulness approach to life can be applied to our homes too. Take a fresh look at your living space and make it a calm and relaxing place to be. Having enough storage is key, but first make sure to declutter – the postChristmas period is always a good time for this. Edit your wardrobe, sort out your books, only keep toys your children play with, take unwanted toys, clothes, books, etc. to the charity shop or sell them on e-Bay. If it feels too daunting, there is plenty of advice out there to help you. I have a friend who is a wardrobe editor and it’s

amazing how neat and orderly your wardrobe looks after a session with her. My resolution is to sort out those piles of papers and magazines in my office – I’ve been planning to do it for the last three years!

Back B ack to to nature nature Create a connection with nature – a great antidote to our fastpaced, social media led lives. Think soothing textiles, touchme surfaces, earthy neutral palettes, botanicals and natural woods. With the current trend for all things natural, you can find lots of beautiful seagrass and natural-fibre baskets that really don’t cost too much. I was lucky enough to see the launch of fashion brand French Connection’s S/S 2020 home collection recently. It had such a lovely relaxed, natural vibe – I was particularly taken with the buttery leather sling-back chairs and soft colour-washed velvet cushions.

Original O riginal a and nd a authentic uthentic A yearning for the simple life is permeating current interiors trends too. Look out for original craftsmanship, hand-

Image: French Connection

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Image: French Connection

printed natural fabrics, ethnic inspired rugs and handcrafted ceramics. Use natural materials where you can – I always think they last longer, and they age better. A friend of mine made the top for his dining table from an original piece of old oak – it not only looks beautiful, but it makes a real statement too.

Av very ery p personal ersonal space space Your home should be a thoughtful collection of all the things you love. Surround yourself only with the things that make you happy. Invest in some open shelving for displaying your most loved possessions. Be inspired by travel, art and nature. Find your own personal style, re-decorate using colours that make you feel calm and peaceful. You too can create your own space where you really want to be. Now it’s time to hunker down under that soft wool throw you found in the sales, and delve into the Christmas book you can’t wait to start reading. Happy New Year! Page 25

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

2 2020: 020: Gadgets Gadgets Galore Galore 2020 – the start of a new decade! And, as with any New Year, you’ll be feeling in the mood for a revamp; so, what better way to kick things off than by investing in some snazzy gizmos? With these glorious gadgets, you can have fun while you make some long-awaited changes to your life. Don’t fall into the same habit of binning your New Year’s resolutions by February – with these gizmos, you can stick to them and start the new decade on a high.

This version of Echo Dot also comes with an LED display that can show the time, outdoor temperature and timers, so you don’t miss a beat!

Anova Nano Anova Nano Precision Precision Cooker C ooker

E Echo cho D Dot ot ((3rd 3rd G Generation eneration 2 2019) 019) w with ith C Clock lock Argos: £59.99 Upgrade your home with the Echo Dot, the voice control device that can make your life so much easier. Simply ask Alexa for the weather update, the news or calendar reminders, and enjoy making hands-free calls. You can even use the Echo Dot to connect with your compatible smart home devices like your lights, thermostat and kettle! So you can warm up the house, turn on the lights or play music and more, all without leaving your bed. The Local Answer

Menkind.co.uk: £100 Perhaps one of your resolutions is to spend more time in the kitchen, expanding your cooking abilities? Or maybe you’re a novice when it comes to cooking and want to pick up a new skill? Either way, the Anova Nano Precision Cooker is your go-to gadget. No hob? No problem! This futuristic bit of tech from Menkind will literally save your bacon, as it operates as a port-able, programmable cooker, which can link up to your smartphone via Bluetooth or WiFi – fancy! And if that doesn’t sound techy enough for you, this device makes dinner-time even easier, as it only requires you to drop your bag-sealed food in a pot of water, before it cooks your food to a highly accurate degree. With additional features like IPX7 water resistance, a temperature range of 0°C to 92°C and a screen for time and temperature controls, the Anova Nano Precision Cooker means

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you’ve got no excuse not to get in the kitchen.

Jaybird Jaybird V Vista ista True True Wireless Wireless W Waterproof aterproof Bluetooth Bluetooth InInE Ear ar H Headphones eadphones John Lewis: £159.99 Tired of your pesky earbuds getting loose, or the wires becoming tangled when you exercise? Invest in these wireless earbuds to make your workout manageable again. Not only are they wireless, but they come with three sizes of interchangeable, silicone eargels, so you can adjust them to fit comfortably. And you don’t have to worry about running out of juice, as the Jaybird can keep at it for up to 6 hours, with a further 10 hours available thanks to the small portable charging case that's included. Just five minutes of charging results in an hour of perfect sound and by using only one earbud, you can expand your listening time to up to 32 hours. The Jaybird also has an IPX7 rating that repels sweat and moisture, and can be immersed in up to one metre of water. Page 2

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

Support S upport ssmall mall and and llocal ocal While the New Year brings about a great opportunity to look forward to the coming months, I’d like to start with a bit of reflection. Think back to your Christmas presents and think about what you bought for other people last year. How much of it did you really want or need? Are they things that have been made by people earning a fair wage? Did you wrap them in paper that won’t have to go to landfill? I’m going to guess that unless you made a concentrated effort, there will be a fair amount that you bought for others that you can’t confidently say yes to the above questions.

Pledge Pledge tto o sshop hop smaller smaller and and smarter smarter Instead of feeling guilty about it, think about what you can do to make sure you don’t feel the same way next year. Can you make a pledge to shop smaller and smarter this year? It’s January, a fresh start and a chance to be more careful

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and considered about where your money goes. Our high streets are becoming barer and barer as people turn to the internet for all their purchases. The smaller businesses, the real people, the crafters and the makers are being forced out in favour of massproduced, un-environmentally friendly and often unethically made products. I know I for one would rather all of my money go to the people that do all the hard work. For example, buying direct from your local florist instead of ordering from a company that takes up to 35% of the money you pay. Or buying your cakes from a local bakery or cake maker rather than a supermarket. Also, looking at our wardrobes, waste products are such an enormous issue for our planet. By buying into this ‘wear once’ fashion that looks great on the first wear but then ends up mis-shapen or holey, with fraying hems and coming apart seams, is what is causing a big problem because they To advertise call 0122 510500

aren’t items that can go to the charity shop when you are bored of them.

Support Support llocal ocal m makers akers and and crafters crafters Try to see if there are options that are closer to home, saving the milage on delivery. Support your local makers and crafters. It’s vital that we help these incredible skills and talents from dying out too. To be able to dedicate so much time to learning a craft to such a high level means that they need to sell products to be able to live. It can be so easy to buy into the consumerism of our current society with adverts for everything flying at you endlessly from all angles. Sometimes, buying something last minute is the only option, but I’m making a pledge this year to try to be more organised, to try to shop small, to try to support small business and, as this will inevitably be more expensive, to buy less but better quality. What will you pledge this year to help local businesses and, ultimately, our planet? Page 2

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Spot S pot tthe he sscam cam They say that moving house and divorce are two of the most stressful things you can go through. But maybe there is a more modern activity that’s capable of rivalling both of these put together. Falling for a scam. Sadly, fraudsters are clever people. It’s a shame they don’t channel their abilities for the benefit of all of us, but they don’t. Instead they prey on the vulnerable, often the more elderly members of society living alone. And they are so convincing. Some fraudsters will try to infiltrate your computer systems. You try your best with virus protection, but often that’s not enough. Dealing with the outcome of that is stressful enough, but it’s nothing compared to the rogue phone calls designed to empty your bank account or take away your hard earned savings, on which you are relying in your later life. The initial call will generally suggest that the caller is from the police, telling you that you have been caught up in a fraud. You are offered the chance to check what you’re being told, by calling 999 or 101 with the details they have given you. The fraudster hasn’t hung up, of course, so when you make that call, you are straight back through to them. They go on to suggest that the only way in which they can catch the ‘criminals’ is to set them up by using money you have withdrawn from your savings accounts. You go to the bank or building society, draw out used notes and hand them over to the ‘policeman’ you’ve been talking to. It’s the last you’ll hear from them and the last you’ll see of your money. The fraudsters tell you that you mustn’t tell another soul. And that’s where a lot of the stress can come in. You desperately want to tell your nearest and dearest or check it out with someone else, and therefore put yourself through the anguish of whether to ignore ‘the policeman’s’ specific instruction. I think the banks and building societies have a greater role to play in ensuring that it’s not easy to withdraw large sums of cash unexpectedly. But it’s essentially down to you to protect yourself. Think about implementing safeguards on the withdrawal of money from your account. If you do feel the need to talk to these people, make the checking call back from a different phone. But best of all, put the phone down in the first place and just don’t get involved. H appy N ew Y ear! Happy New Year!

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B Bourton ourton V Vale’s ale’s tteam eam o off ‘‘hardy hardy ssouls’ ouls’ The rackets in this photo are a bit of a giveaway, otherwise you could be forgiven for thinking that this fab four, wrapped up in gloves and coats, are about to embark on a hike around the Cotswolds. In fact, they are preparing for a game of tennis, even though we are in deep midwinter and it is dark, cold and pretty uninviting. These hardy souls play for Bourton Vale’s A team in the Gloucestershire Winter League, a mixed doubles competition for teams of four. Bourton Vale, who have two floodlit all-weather courts just off Rissington Road, run three teams and they are by no means alone because the competition is in rude health. “We play teams from Painswick, Frampton and Bredon. We go all over the place,” said Gwyneth Simmons, who is club secretary and captain of the

C County’s ounty’s 2 2020 020 v vision ision New year, new hope, and there’s certainly plenty of optimism around Gloucestershire County Cricket Club as they look ahead to 2020. Their reward for an outstanding 2019 is a place in the top flight of county championship cricket for the first time since 2004. And it wasn’t just the fact that they won promotion from Division Two, it was the way that they did it that had so many of their fans purring. “We did it playing the Gloucestershire Way,” said David Partridge, a former player and lifelong supporter who these days is on the club’s executive board. So what exactly is the Gloucestershire Way? “Everyone wants to play for each other,” said Partridge.

Bourton Vale A’s Gloucestershire Winter League players, from left, Clare Bell, Joe Sach, Mandy Kendall and Wasya Awori

mixed doubles A team, before adding with a laugh, “we’re extremely hardy souls.” They certainly are because they play all their matches outdoors in a competition that runs until March. “We can play in temperatures as low as zero,” continued Gwyneth, who has spent some “Everyone wants to play for the county. If two or three players fail, another two or three will pick it up.”

F Flying lying h high igh Ben Goodey is in his fifth season as captain of Fairford Rugby Club and in that time they have been on a steep upward curve. They’ve established themselves in the Gloucestershire divisions, won promotion to Gloucestershire One at the end of last season and are now giving some big names at the higher level a real run for their money. Not that the Ben Goodey club’s success is all down to Goodey, of course, far from it, and the tighthead prop typifies the ‘all for one and

18 years at a club which these days has more than 60 adult members and the same number of juniors. “If it’s below zero it’s too slippery, and we can’t play in pouring rain, but if it starts to drizzle when we’re on court we keep playing.” So does Gwyneth, who likes a bit of sun – she learned to play tennis when she was in her late 30s and living in Vietnam – ever think about finding something else to do during the winter? “Yes I do,” she laughed, “I ask myself, ‘What am I doing?’ every week, I think I should leave it to the younger ones!” She doesn’t, of course, and experience has taught both her and her team-mates to come well prepared for matches at this time of year. “We have lots of layers,” she said. Full story online. one for all’ team spirit that has taken the club to the upper reaches of Gloucestershire One. “The main thing for us is team unity, we pride ourselves on that,” said Goodey.

One O ne o off tthe he best best Nathan Lake is blazing a trail for squash in Gloucestershire all around the world. The undisputed county number one has been a professional for the best part of a decade and is a player who can go toe-to-toe with the very best on the planet. He’s very good – he’s enjoyed a world ranking best of 47 – but although he travels all over the globe to play the game he loves, he remains very proud of his Gloucestershire roots. For full versions of all thhese stories and more, please viisit our website: www.thhelocalanswer.co.uk

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Team T eam D DD D ttargets argets 2 2024 024 O Olympics lympics Danni Dunn was centre stage at a specia i l event at Cirencester Town Football Club not so long ago. The event – a gala evening – was organised by Danni and Julie Abbley, the wife of Cirencester Town chairman Steve Abbley, but despite the venue, don’t for one minute think that Danni Dunn is a footballer. In fact, football is one of the few sports the recently-turned 27-year-old hasn’t played – she was good at hockey, tennis, athletics and swimming as a youngster, although these days all her focus is on just one sport. And that focus is certainly paying dividends because Danni Dunn is a top eventer, someone who has represented Great Britain – she won a team silver medal at the Senior European 2* Championships in 2015 – and has also competed at Badminton, one of the sport’s great events. That’s pretty impressive in anyone’s book but Danni wants more, much more, and her stated aim is to compete in the Olympics in Paris in 2024. “It’s the dream to get to the Olympics and obviously you have to believe it to achieve it,” said Danni, who is well spoken and easy to interview. “I don’t want to come across as big-headed – I’m quite levelheaded – and I know that for me to get to the Olympics a lot of things have to fall into place. “You have to be lucky with timings but you’re not going to go if you don’t try.” And you have to say that given her track record it’s something that is certainly possible, especially with people like Julie Abbley as part of her team, a team which enjoys the eye-catching name of Team DD. Danni Dunn, a former Cheltenham Ladies’ College pupil, was always likely to enjoy a life surrounded by horses. “I’ve ridden ever since I can

Danni Dunn

remember,” she said. “My mum was an event rider and she had a Shetland ready for me even before I was born! “I’ve grown up around horses in the yard.” That yard – or Wells Farm Equestrian Centre as it is today – is in Purton, fewer than 14 miles south of Cirencester down the A419, and mum Jacqui was a seriously good eventer herself back in the day. “She represented Great Britain and competed at Badminton and Burghley,” said Danni, before adding with a laugh, “I’m trying to trump her!” Wells Farm – it was a dairy farm before it was converted into an equestrian centre and livery – is home to some dozen or so horses who are treated as part of the family by Danni and her mum. They run the centre together and Danni said: “Mum is fantastic, she has so much knowledge. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without her, she is a huge part of it. We’re very proud of the equestrian centre, we’ve built new stables and put in an arena. We’ve got all the facilities of a top event yard.” Just like her mum, Danni has a

feel for horses, whether she is looking after them or riding them. “After I had the Shetland, my mum bought me a pony for £350 when I was 12,” recalled Danni, “that was my first proper pony.” And it didn’t take long for people to realise that she was a pretty decent rider, although it’s fair to say that Danni didn’t appreciate quite how good she was in those early years. She does now! “I’m very determined, very focused,” she said. “I take part to win, I’m not there just to participate, I take it very seriously.” As well as riding, Danni owns two horses – a fouryear-old called Cougar and a six-year-old called V – but if she is to realise her Olympic dream it may well be on a horse that she part-owns. That horse is Ibrahim and Danni said: “He’s a very nice six-year-old, he’s partowned by myself, Heidi Ponting and Julie Abbley. Heidi Ponting is another big supporter of Team DD and Danni, whose brother James is a professional motocross racer, added: “It’s a long road to the top, you can’t do it on your own. You need the right horse, you need the right people behind you and you need to be smart if you’re going to win a gold medal. “I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am, it’s been a big effort. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved, we’ve got a fantastic string of horses and now I’m looking to kick on again.” Kicking on involves, in part, attracting new sponsors, hence the gala evening at Cirencester Town FC which, as well as a way of saying thank you to existing sponsors, was also a chance to promote Danni’s profile. Anyone who wants to know more about Team DD or Wells Farm Equestrian Centre should email ddeventing@outlook.com Full story online.

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

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

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