Gloucester by The Local Answer

The Local

A NS W E R

GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE MARCH 2020

GLOUCESTER WIN TICKETS TO COTSWOLD WILDLIFE P PA ARK – SEE INSIDE

The The Lo Local c al

AN ANSWER SWER

Gloucester: G loucester: 46,000 46,000 copies copies ~ Cheltenham: Cheltenham: 443,000 3,000 copies copies Cotswolds: Cotswolds: 330,000 0,000 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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Online this this month month ... ... Online Enter our our fantastic fantastic competitions competitions Enter and you you could could win: win: and three course course meal meal for for two two with with wine wine at at • A three The Fountain Fountain Inn Inn in in Gloucester Gloucester The family ticket ticket to to visit visit • A family Cotswold Wildlife Wildlife Park Park Cotswold • A ssigned igned ccopy opy ooff tthe he nnew ew G iffords C ircus Giffords Circus ccookbook ookbook aand nd aan n EEmma mma B ridgewater m ug Bridgewater mug 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

March’s winning cover photo: Keith Fairburn

W elcome Welcome ttoo M arch March Spring is finally breaking through and Julia Smith’s latest ‘In the Garden’ article has some great tips on how to get your garden organised in time for the warmer months. We’re very excited to introduce two new members of staff who joined the TLA team last month! Luke (pictured below) will be taking over Sales and Advertising as Claudie jets off on her travels, and Matt is with us two days a week while he finishes college. We are looking forward to him coming on board full-time in the summer, when he’ll get stuck into the production and editorial elements of the magazine. This month’s competitions include some fantastic prizes from The Fountain Inn in Gloucester, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Giffords Circus! Go to our website for more details. 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.

Visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

Contacts C ontacts M anaging D irector Managing Director Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Marketing M arketing

Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Advertising Advertising Claudie Francis (01242 510500) info@thelocalanswer.co.uk Luke Manton (01242 541073) info@thelocalanswer.co.uk

LLeaflets eaflets & D Distribution istribution John Overton (01242 541075) leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk Louis Jordan distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

HD CHURCHDOWN C & INNSWORTH ORTH

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HAVE YOUR SAY!

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

Pork Pork tenderloin tenderloin in in a white white wine wine and and mushroom mushroom sauce sauce S Simple imple e enough nough for for a quick quick m mid-week id-week m meal, eal, b but ut ‘‘gourmet’ gourmet’ e enough nough if if y you ou are are entertaining entertaining guests! guests! IIngredients: ngredients: 500g pork tenderloin trimmed and cut into eight pieces; 250g chestnut mushrooms, washed then halved; 100ml white wine; 100ml hot chicken stock; 150ml double cream; 40g butter; 2 tbsp olive oil; 500g new potatoes; bunch of chives, finely chopped. Method: M ethod: 1 Put the new potatoes on to cook until tender, around 10 minutes depending on the size. 2 Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the pork rounds for two minutes on each side.

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3 Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. 4 Add the mushrooms and cook for two minutes, put the pork back in, add the wine and allow to bubble for another couple of minutes. 5 Add the cream and hot stock, cook for a further five minutes then season to taste. 6 Drain the potatoes, stir in the butter, then mix in some of the chopped chives. 7 Put two pork rounds on each of your serving plates, pour over the sauce, sprinkle with a few more chives and serve with the potatoes and your choice of seasonal vegetables.

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w www.abbeymill.com ww.abbeymill.com E Email shelley@abbeymill.com mail s helley@abbeymill.com Open All Year T e l e p hone 0 1 29 1 6 8 92 28 ~ F or a brochure brochure q uote ‘‘2020 20 2 0 S pecial’ 7 Days a Week Telephone 01291 689228 For quote Special’ Abbey Mill, A bbey M ill, Wye Wye Valley, Valley, Tintern, Tintern, Monmouthshire Monmouthshire NP16 NP16 6SE 6SE Daily from 10.30am The Local Answer

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TThe he HHome omee of om of RReal eal AAle le aand nd Great Great FFood oo oodd TTraditional radition onaal pub pub cclassics lassics D G FRIENDLY more! aand nd a whole whol olee lot lot m or oree! FRIENDLY SUNDAY SUNDAY SPECIAL SPECIAL 2 Courses Courses for for £12 £12

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We have two function rooms available daytime and evenings for occasional meetings, parties or regular club/group gatherings. With capacity to cater for 6-60 people, The Orange Room or The Long Room are excellent venues for private get-togethers with family, friends or colleagues. From simple snackss and refreshments to 3-course dinners, we provide a bespoke e, personal ser vice with flexibility to match your needs. Please P lease call call or or email email for for more more information information ... ...

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

Spring S pring fashion fashion trends trends We are starting to see some signs of spring emerging, so it’s time to ditch those heavy coats and jackets in exchange for some lighter outerwear.

C Capes apes Yes, you read that correctly. Fabulous capes were featured on several autumn catwalks in 2019. Celine had a beauty in camel with a single chain clasp. The high street has been quick to follow as always, so we can look forward to seeing this style all over the shops this spring. The cape style is not just for coats, but evening gowns, dresses and jackets as well. Valentino’s bright yellow cape coat was hard to miss when Melania Trump wore it on her visit to London.

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Capes can be found with slits for arms or sleeves, and the beauty of this is you can throw a cape over whatever you are wearing, especially if it is classic knee length. On the high street, Zara has a fancy tiered cape for £77, and also offers lovely mid-thigh length capes in classic shades of black or beige. They fasten at the neck and are reasonably priced at £49.99. Not a huge investment for a look that will update any wardrobe.

Cardigans C ardigans Most of us think of cardigans on the older generation or old school uniforms. Well, think again! Cardigans are back bigtime in every conceivable shape, colour and style, and with a pair of jeans or skirt, no one will think you are wearing your Granny’s cardi. The coat-igan is useful if you do not want to wear a full coat. As its name suggests, it is a cross between a coat and cardigan – a useful addition to any wardrobe that will never go out of style. The length gives you a little more coverage and will see you through the slightly cooler weather until we hit summer. Again, Zara spoils us for choice. They have a great bright pink cardigan for £25.99 and this pop of colour will brighten up any outfit. Animal print is still everywhere and TopShop have a great animal camel print cardigan for £39. Perhaps if you are lucky you To advertise call 01242 510500

might have some cardigans in the back of your closet. Dig them out, dress them up with a sharp scarf and you’ll be right on trend.

Sportswear Sportswear I’m not talking about sportswear to work out in. No, this trend is now so popular for both men and women that active wear is being worn out of the gym for every day activities. Expect to see dressy jogging pants and tops wherever you go. The polyester look has been replaced with every imaginable fabric – even glitter tops. As so many A-listers are now wearing this look, it’s difficult to think of many places where it wouldn’t be accepted; except of course the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. Some standards must be maintained! Page 

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Tastefully decorated and homely Lovely patio and landscaped lawn area for residents to enjoy in the warmer weather ● Dedicated, caring and hardworking staffff ● Exceptional hygiene standards ● Weekly unisex hairdresser. Chiropodist, dentist, physiotherapist and optician visits arranged ● Activities Co - ordinator with an ongoing programme of events to keep residents occupied and maintain both physical and mental well being. ●

loucestershire G L4 4 QQ 1 189 89 P Painswick ainswick R Road, oad, G Gloucester, loucester, G Gloucestershire GL4 4QQ iinfo@saintbridge-house.co.uk nfo@saintbridge-house.co.uk w ww.saintbridge-house.co.uk www.saintbridge-house.co.uk

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

M Multiple ultiple S Sclerosis clerosis awareness awareness Anyone who has heard of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) will be aware of how debilitating and isolating it can become. This year, MS Awareness Week runs from 20th-26th April, and hopefully after reading this article you will have some more understanding yourself. MS is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) where the immune system gets confused and instead of attacking an infection or virus, it turns on itself and attacks the nerve cells. The ‘messages’ being transmitted from and to the brain are disrupted, causing them to slow down, become distorted or not get through at all. This process of attacking nerve cells causes many scars or lesions in different places within the central nervous system.

Patients Patients experience experience different d ifferent ssymptoms ymptoms a att different different times times The symptoms that occur depend on the site and severity of the lesions, and this is why people with MS experience different symptoms at different times. I t i s e s t i m a t e d t h a t th e r e a r e more than 107,000 people in the UK diagnosed with MS. It is commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30 and there are roughly three times more women affected than men. The symptoms of MS vary considerably but often the things that are affected are: • Balance – in some people with MS, problems with balance can cause unsteadiThe Local Answer

ness, clumsiness, and affect limb movement and posture • Bladder problems tend to fall into the areas of urgency, frequency and retention • Bowel problems to some degree – constipation and difficulties emptying the bowel are the most common • Cognition – memory, information processing, problem solving, word-finding and concentration • Fatigue • Foot drop – a weakness in the ankle that causes the foot to drag along the ground or hang down when walking • Pain • Mobility issues • Speech and swallowing disorders • Spasticity, muscle spasms and tremors Symptoms can come and go, and some of them are much more responsive to treatment, while others can be more difficult to manage. Unfortunately, there is no To advertise call 01242 510500

one single test or procedure that can be used to diagnose MS. It is often a case of watching and waiting to see if new symptoms appear or previous symptoms recur. This process can be frustrating; it is hard to accept that a conclusive diagnosis can take months or even years.

There T here a are re a variety variety of of ttreatments reatments When it comes to treatments, there are Disease Modifying Therapies (medications designed to reduce the amount of relapses), complementary therapies such as massage and reflexology, gentle exercise and good sleep routines, diet and supplements, and recent research has shown positive results using medicinal cannabis. If you are struggling with a diagnosis or managing your symptoms, talk to your GP or access support groups. Sometimes counselling, CBT or Solution Focussed Hypnotherapy can help. Page 

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

Growing Growing with with your your children children Spring is fast approaching and I wanted to explore the joys of growing with children. As I have mentioned before, kids love to be involved and get their hands on the ‘doing’ of life. Truly there is no better way to give children a sense of autonomy and responsibility than the growing of plants from seed, and now is the perfect time to prepare to grow your own garden with your little ones. You can get outdoors and prepare a small plot in which to plant up vegetables, for instance, or you can indeed ‘bring the outdoors in’ by growing houseplants from cuttings. No matter how you do it – or how nervous you may be – why not give it a go?

Ap perfect erfect n nursery ursery ffor or y your our n new ew p plant lant b babies abies Begin with simple gardening kits created especially for children, which include all the enough instructions and equipment to get you started. Most seedlings can be brought on in a propagator – a covered base, which protects seeds

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from the wind and creates a perfect nursery for your new plant babies. Once sprouted, you can then re-pot into individual pots and watch together as shoots, leaves and eventually flowers emerge. For primary aged children you may like to make a project of it – taking pictures, drawing, plotting growth on a graph, comparing growing conditions inside and out, in the sun and in the shade. In fact, there are endless ways that the simple acts of sprouting seeds can offer massive educational value to your children, as well as create a bonding experience and, who knows, a new hobby for the future? Older children and teens are becoming massively environmentally aware, so providing a small plot for growing food could be a great way to nurture their growing interest as well as teach valuable life skills – and who can resist fresh potatoes or carrots straight from the garden for lunch? Simple root vegetables, salad To advertise call 01242 510500

leaves and green beans on cane frames can be planted and interspersed with pollinator favourites such as nasturtiums, marigolds and sweet peas, to keep the bees – and your socially aware youngsters – happy! Meanwhile, inside the house there are some great plants which self propagate, making growing-on a doddle! Money Trees and Spider Plants and Aloe Vera all crate babies that can be re-potted, and you will soon have generations of plant babies to decorate your home or even give as gifts!

A Aloe loe V Vera era iiss a miracle miracle ffor or b burns urns a and nd sscalds calds I believe every home should have an Aloe Vera plant, because the gel inside each leaf is a miracle for burns and scalds, plus it speeds healing and acts as a cooling pain relief! It’s medicine on your window sill and it grows profusely so you will never run out! What are you waiting for – it’s time to get growing! Page 11

Quick Quick Crossword Crossword 2

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DOWN D OWN 1 Rotates 2 Lacking principles 3 Most populous continent 4 Sinks in middle 5 Narcotic drugs 6 Foliage part 10 Await with horror 11 Lawn tools 13 Offered 14 Tropical disease 16 Textile, woven ... 18 Flesh of fruit 19 Concludes 20 Move through water

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

P Power, ower, ccontrol ontrol aand nd a llot ot o off n noise oise I first drove the ‘entry level’ R8 from Audi several years back and was suitably impressed with the balance of power and control. With a facelift and a more potent power unit, the questions I was really asking myself were whether my memory was accurate, and if the performance pack could actually add that much more to it. I’ll come to my verdict on my memory later, but firstly I’ll answer the question about power and performance. Yes; yes it can. With slightly more than 600bhp being delivered to all four wheels thanks to Audi’s somewhat legendary Quattro system, the power is instant and, quite frankly, loud. Very loud. The true sound test is whether my daughter likes it – she has a thing for a roaring exhaust – and her approval was evident when I took her to a schoolfriend’s birthday party. So it’s fast and loud… what else? Again, Audi have made an i n cr e d i bl y g o od l o o ki ng c ar i n my opinion. But that opinion was not universal – in the

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office there were two schools of thought. On one hand, it had a lot of support and appeal to most of my team, but there were a few people who thought that it didn’t look quite nice enough – the subtext being that for the price tag, which is hefty, it should be better looking.

Aggressive A ggressive b but ut ssleek leek On balance, I side with the majority who thought it was beautiful – in a powerful, hunkered down poised way. From almost every angle, it looked ready to go. The two

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massive exhausts to the rear and the understated grille at the front complimented by the air intakes behind the doors (mid engined, after all) all make it look aggressive but sleek. Inside the cabin is a lovely place with lots of leather and one of my favourite dashboards – complete with a great red start button on the steering wheel, and one of Audi’s other innovations, a tracepad on top of the control dial that you can use to ‘write’ your destination in the sat nav. The only issue I found with this is that you have to use your left-hand – I’m righthanded, so it didn’t feel that intuitive. But that’s ultimately a very minor thing in what is otherwise a truly amazing car. So, was I impressed? Yes – every time I got in it. It’s rare to have that amount of power with four-wheel drive control and the safety net of one of Europe’s most renowned engineering powerhouses, but that’s what you get with the R8. Power, control and a lot of noise. Page 15

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

Work Work experience experience Students considering their options for post-education have so many possible routes they could take, that it can seem daunting. Some students may already have an idea of what they want to do based on their interests or what they’re good at. Others may have no clue about what job they’d like to do when they finish education. Work experience is a good opportunity to explore some of the roles that are out there. If you are a student in Year 10, work experience is often organised by your school. This might entail spending a week with a local employer doing simple tasks and learning about their values, approaches and attitudes.

IIdentify dentify y your our sstrengths trengths a and nd w weaknesses eaknesses Doing tasks that would be required in that company can help you to identify your existing strengths and weaknesses – i.e. what skills you already

possess for a working environment, and which attributes you will need to gain or improve. Chat to the people already employed there and see what their backgrounds are in terms of qualifications and what it is they enjoy about their job. Whether it is a company you might one day consider, or an employer you wouldn’t dream of working for, any form of wor k exp eri enc e gi ves you an idea of the world of work and how it operates. At the end of your week, you may then be in a position to decide whether to stay on for further education, or if you wish to finish school at 18 years of age and find a paid job. Similarly, if you’re a student who is leaving college in a few months, contact local employers to gain information about

what they do and what sort of people they’re looking for. Find a few possible companies and write to them to ask if you can work shadow one of their employees. Ensure you use a polite and professional tone, and show some enthusiasm when getting in touch so that the employer knows you’re keen to get some first-hand experience. Sometimes it can be hard to find opportunities, but persevere and ask your college or university careers advisors for help if you need it.

Demonstrate Demonstrate a positive positive work w ork ethic ethic When you get an opportunity, get to know the people there and build your contacts by networking with them. Ask lots o f qu esti ons to fi nd ou t ab out the employer and the positions available within the company. Some people go on to get a paid job with the company they work-shadowed, so it is an advantage to demonstrate your keenness and positive work ethic. Above all, explore all your options and have fun. The Local Answer

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S Sport port

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WANT W ANT TO TO SHARE SHARE YOUR YOUR SPORTING SPORTING 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

Bob Bob Purcell Purcell is is a big big fan fan of of racerunning racerunning A new event is set to be introduced at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris and Gloucester Athletic Club could, just could, have a medal contender. The discipline is racerunning and the para-athlete is Charlie Price, currently 18 who is a student at Gloucester College. Charlie is one of a number of athletes under the watchful eye of Bob Purcell, who is lead paraathletics coach at Gloucester AC. “We have about 16 paraathletes at the club and we offer athletics for everyone,” he said. Purcell, who is 71, has been a para-athletics coach for the past eight years and has become a big fan of racerunning. “Athletes run within a threewheeled frame,” explained Purcell. “There is a chest plate and a saddle but there are no pedals or gears. “The athletes run with their feet in direct contact with the ground, it’s all human effort. Specifically it is designed for

J Jonjo onjo J Jrr iis s ttop op cclass! lass! Jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jr has come a long way since the days when he used to bunk off school so that he could go to the Cheltenham Festival. In those days it was very much a watching brief for the now 22year-old, but this year he will be one of the main men at Cheltenham Racecourse when the four-day extravaganza gets under way on Tuesday 10th March. “I’d have been about 13,” recalls the former Cheltenham College pupil. And, yes, the school did find out that he was at Prestbury Park when he shouldn’t have been, but this is a story with a happy ending! “After that the school let me go to the Festival as long as I’d done all my work in the

Charlie Price

those athletes who may have balance issues such as those born with cerebral palsy or have an acquired brain injury. “It gives access to sport to people who otherwise would not be able to access a vigorous sport, it gets you out of breath, it gives you exercise and improves your health. It’s life transforming.” The event featured in a limited way at the IPC European morning,” continued Jonjo. “I’d get a taxi at 1.15 and I’d still get there for the first race at 1.30 because all the crowds had gone in.”

M Miles iles o off ssmiles… miles… “It’s cricket with a smile.” Those are the words of Jim Hyland, who is talking about indoor cricket in Gloucestershire, something he h a s b e e n a b i g s u p po r t e r o f f o r many years. The indoor version of this country’s number one summer game has been very popular around the county for some three decades now and its popularity shows no sign of waning. Hyland is the Gloucestershire Cricket Board’s indoor cricket coordinator and is a key player on the pitch as well as off it because he also plays for

Championships in 2018 and in last year’s World Championships in Dubai. Although it will not feature in the Tokyo Paralympics, it will definitely be part of the Games in four years’ time and Purcell has high hopes for Charlie Price. “Racerunning has only been competed internationally at 100 metres but I’m sure this will change up to Paris in 2024,” he said. “Nationally there are opportunities from 60m up to 1,500m.” And the more options the better for Charlie Price, of course. “She’s something of a trailblazer in the event and world ranked in four events,” said Purcell. “She’s been invited to join UKA’s Paralympic Pathway towards Paris. “I’m an athletics coach and my goal is to help people to win medals.” Full story online. Whitminster in Division Two of the Cheltenham League. The Cheltenham League is made up of 24 teams split evenly over four divisions while the Gloucester/Stroud League boasts another 17 teams who compete across two divisions.

Spring S pring iin n their their step step You’d expect trampolinists to have a spring in their step and that’s certainly the case at Aspire Springers. That’s because there is a real feelgood factor at a club that was formed back in 2004 and these days is based at Bentham Domes. The club have some 220 members and cater for people of all ages and abilities. For full verssions of all these storiies and more,, visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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Head Head ccoach oach Rich Rich Planchant Planchant iis sd delighted elighted aass C Chosen hosen H Hill ill aare re ssetting etting a fast fast pace pace Rich Planchant is a young man making a big impression as a rugby coach. The 31-year-old is in his first season as the main man at Chosen Hill and has played a key role as the club look to return to Western Counties North. To those in the know, it’s no surprise that Planchant has made such an impact as head coach at the Gloucestershire Premier high-fliers because he has enjoyed success as a coach at various levels for a good while now. He is relatively young, but that has certainly not been a hindrance after starting his coaching career early when injury forced him to give up playing at the age of 22. And it wasn’t just any old injury that forced him off the park because he fractured his neck when making a tackle and, despite trying to make a comeback, he knew after a couple of games it wasn’t going to happen. Fortunately, he was not lost to the game and it’s apparent it was always likely that he was going to get into coaching. That’s because his dad Steve was a coach back in the day and Planchant junior remembers being involved in the game from a very early age. “He was a coach at Old Cents

Rich Planchant

and Chosen Hill and I tagged along,” recalled Planchant, who moved east over the Severn Bridge to Longlevens with his family when he was aged two. “I started playing when I was under-6.” Planchant, who became a blindside flanker when he was older, played some junior rugby at Longlevens but also played for Chosen Hill School before playing all his senior rugby at Chosen Hill. After his injury, he started coaching some of the age group sides at Chosen Hill and it was soon obvious that he was pretty good because he went on to coach Gloucestershire at under16 and under-20 level. He’s also coached South West England Under-18s and at the Gloucester Academy, and is

currently in his third season as head coach of Gloucestershire’s under-20s. His dad was also involved with the county’s under-20s – he was assistant coach when they won the county championship in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Planchant junior has steered the county to the quarter-finals and the semi-finals of the same competition and it goes without saying that he would love to match the achievements of his dad over the next couple of years or so. But while he has plenty of experience as a coach in age group rugby, Planchant junior was also impressing in the senior men’s game during a fiveyear spell as coach of Cinderford United. “That was a great place to learn,” he said. “I learned a lot from Paul [Morris], Stan [Andrew Stanley] and Clive [StuartSmith].” It also meant he found himself coaching players who were older than himself, which can present some obvious difficulties. “Yes, it can be challenging,” he said. “But I believe it’s how you get your message across, I’m there to help players and to improve them.” Full story online.

Everyone Kingsholm Ever yone wants wants to to play play aatt K ingsholm “It’s a huge part of rugby life in Gloucester.” So says Andy Payne, who for the past 10 years has organised the end-of-season North Gloucestershire Combination cup competitions. He is also treasurer of the North Gloucestershire Combination so he’s going to have plenty on his plate after the clocks go forward at the end of March because the lighter nights mean

the cup games begin. “The cup games are always played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings,” said Payne. “That is the tradition, cup games in the week and league games at the weekend.” This year’s finals day is on Sunday 3rd May when Kingsholm will play host to the Senior Cup, the Junior Cup and the Glanville Cup. “That’s what makes these

competitions so special,” said Payne. “Everybody wants to play at Kingsholm. It’s one of the great rugby grounds, anyone who knows anything about rugby has heard of Kingsholm.” Old Centralians are defending all three cups after their clean sweep last season and all the action kicks off with five Senior Cup first-round ties on Tuesday 31st March. Fixtures online.

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Play Play hard, hard, recover recover h harder! arder! Recovery is the most underrated aspect of any athlete or fitness enthusiast’s preparation for optimum performance. Striking the right balance between training and recovery has a major influence on your fitness and athletic performance. Neglecting this principle is detrimental to your fitness and overall health. Managing your recovery process and active recovery workouts are just as important as your main training days. Instead of dealing with the cumulative effects of fatigue and muscle soreness by popping painkillers and “sucking it up”, try using science and common sense to help your body feel better and recover faster. By taking the time you need to rest, recover and treat your body well, you will reap the benefits in your health, performance and later years. Recovery and muscle regeneration are critical elements of the training week and fall into two main categories: • Active recovery: low intensity

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training or movement geared toward stimulating the muscles and CV system without unduly stressing them. • Passive recovery: using an external stimulus to enable the muscles and CV system to recover. When it comes to addressing the recovery and performance equation, lifestyle factors (sleep, nutrition, hydration, stress, etc.) are probably the most significant factors to consider, as so many of us are stressed at work (and home!), eat and drink poorly, and don’t get enough sleep. should include carbohydrates and protein – both 1-2g per kg Sleep S leep Sleep is the period in which the of body weight. biggest physiological and psychological restoration takes place; the harder your training program, and the more stressful your life is, the longer your sleep duration should be. Research suggests that sleep deprivation can have a significant negative effect on athletic performance and recovery because it affects the whole body and all its systems.

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Hydration is vital for performance and optimal health. One way to tell if you are well hydrated is if your urine is clear or very pale – just be aware that changes in diet can also affect urine colour. For example, beetroot can turn it reddish, berrocca can make it yellow, etc. There are many guidelines and recommendations on Nutrition Nutrition timing and volume of water It is vital athletes eat consumption, but most a balanced and important is finding a method regular diet as part that meets your unique needs. of their recovery plan, as this aims to S Stress tress restore the energy We all suffer from varying stores in muscles. degrees of stress depending on Sports drinks are our personal circumstances, also a good option and steps should be taken to as they are easily monitor these levels. When absorbed and help necessary, early intervention with hydration as via your GP, a Sport well – just watch the Psychologist, Life Coach or sugar content! Any Counselling Scheme is highly post-training snacks recommended.

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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. 1122 OCTOBER OCTOBER – 1188 A APRIL PRIL THE MAGICAL WORLD OF WILLIAM SIMMONDS An exhibition on the life and work of local artist, woodcarver and puppeteer William Simmonds. 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday. £5/£3. Museum of Gloucester, Brunswick Road, GL1 1HP. museumofgloucester.co.uk MARCH 2222 JANUARY JANUARY – 1144 M ARCH OUR FAVOURITE PRINTMAKERS AT CHAPEL ARTS

We have been lucky enough to have exhibited work by some of the most exciting and talented printmakers. This exhibition includes some of our favourites. Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com FEBRUARY – 2299 M ARCH 4 FEBRUARY MARCH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Now in its fifty-fifth instalment, see the winning images from the very latest annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which provides a showcase for the world’s very best nature photography selected from

nearly 50,000 entries from 100 countries. 10am-5pm. £5-£16. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, Gloucester GL2 9PA. natureinart.org.uk 6 MARCH MARCH ANNETTE GREGORY PRESENTS JAZZ & ME TOUR 2020 AT KINGS THEATRE Annette Gregory is a jazz singer who is blessed with incredible vocal tones that are rich, smooth and full of soul. Annette will be reflecting on her musical journey into jazz. Annette now wants to share the full insight into her musical heritage of reggae and soul music, giving some of her favourite songs a jazz feel, leaving room for those classic jazz standards. Kings Theatre Gloucester. Tickets cost £12. 01452 300130. www.annettegregory.info www.kingstheatregloucester.co.uk JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR Born in the Black Country and discovered aged 16 by Eurythmics’ cofounder Dave Stewart, Joanne has spent a decade releasing increasingly successful albums and touring the world. Along the way, she has won over fans from Joe Bonamassa to Stevie Wonder to Annie Lennox. 7.30pm. £29.50. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 7 MARCH MARCH WOMEN’S MONTH FUNTASTIC FA A IR By Love Viva Cakes and Crafts. Saturday 7th March, 10am to 3pm at St. Mary De Crypt, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1TP. Join us for cakes, crafts, gifts and more. Support local artists.

JOHN ARCHER: AGAINST THE ODDS Semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent and support act for Tim Vine on 7 UK tours, John Archer finally takes to the stage on his own one man show. A rare chance to see baffling magic with a dash of comedy thrown in by the man who many consider to be the best Comedy Magician in the UK today. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. Full details at www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 10-13 10-13 MARCH MARCH THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

From the roar of the crowd, to the thrill of the action, The Jockey Club opens its doors for four of the biggest days in sport as over 260,000 people flock through the gates when Jump racing’s top protagonists take to their greatest stage. Four days of extraordinary await as Champions return to retain their crown, while others battle to steal the limelight. A week of drama and high emotion, with moments of pure theatre thrown in for good measure. The Festival 2020 is set to have it all. For tickets please visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham

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12 & 27 MARCH FOREST SCHOOL FOR TOTS Bring your little one for some outdoor fun at Batsford! A chance for preschoolers to engage with nature and explore our Forest School site (with large covered area for wet days)! Children can enjoy bug hunting, making mud pies, craft activities, storytime and more! Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. For full details please visit batsarb.co.uk 13 MARCH ST PATRICK’S NIGHT Come and celebrate St Patrick’s Day with an Irish themed night, featuring Irish music, an Irish themed menu and Black Velvet cocktails! 6-11.30pm. Free entry. Hillside Brewery, Holly Bush Farm, Ross Road, GL17 0NG. www.hillsidebrewery.com 14 MARCH COMEDY NIGHT AT GLOUCESTER BREWERY Stand-up comedy night at Gloucester brewery, with a range of comedians and a very talented host, Nik Hill. Food and a full bar available on the night. 7pm. Foxes Kiln Malt House, West Quay, The Docks, GL1 2LG. Full details at www.gloucesterbrewery.co.uk THE STYLE COUNCILLORS – CAFÉ BLEU The Style Councillors are the world’s one and only tribute to The Style Council. Formed in 2013 by Darren Fletcher (Paul Weller) and Steve Hayes (Mick Talbot), The Style Councillors have quickly built a loyal fanbase. They will be reprising the album in full along with a set of other classics by The Style Council. £17.50. 7pm. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 20 MARCH HENRY DEANE TALK – GLOUCESTER DOCKS; PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Gloucester Docks developed rapidly at the beginning of the 19th century with the opening of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. This illustrated talk looks at the development of the port along with its buildings, people, vessels, railways and the goods handled. It will also show the major changes that have occurred in recent years and finally consider what might happen in the future. 3pm. Adults £7.50, u18s £5. www.llanthonysecunda.org 20-22 MARCH CRAFT FESTIVAL Meet TV’s Pottery Throwdown Judges at Craft Festival Cheltenham. Fresh from the success of the 3rd series of The Great Pottery Throw Down, charismatic, successful and passionate potter Keith Brymer Jones will open Craft Festival Cheltenham on Friday

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20th March. £6-£13. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. Full details: craftfestival.co.uk/Cheltenham 22 MARCH MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH Mother’s Day is a perfect opportunity to show you care for the mums in your life. Join StarBistro’s team of chefs as they serve a delicious Mother’s Day Sunday lunch, supporting National Star’s work alongside young people with disabilities. Two sittings – 12pm and 2.30pm. 01242 535984. Visit www.nationalstar.org for more details. 28 MARCH RACHMANINOV VESPERS AT TEWKESBURY ABBEY Rachmaninov loved this beautiful choral work above all his other compositions. Within the atmospheric surroundings of Tewkesbury Abbey and with the Cheltenham Bach Choir’s wonderful sound, this will be a compelling concert. Conductor: David Crown. Tickets £20 (£8 student/child) www.cheltbachchoir.com SANDFORD PARKS LIDO 2020 SEASON A great day out in the heart of Cheltenham, the lido is a children’s paradise with slides, a children’s pool and a paddling pool. The 50-metre pool is also an ideal place to train, with two lanes reserved most days. For more details please visit www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk 29 MARCH EASTER EGG HUNT Easter egg hunt at Elmscroft Community Centre, Elmbridge, Gloucester. 1.304.30pm. £2 per trail. Come and find our eggs hidden around Armscroft Park. There will be prizes, games, crafts and cakes plus a chance to vote for the best decorated Easter cake. For more information please visit www.facebook.com/friendsofelmbridge 30 MARCH – 5 APRIL GLOUCESTER BREW WEEK The first-ever Gloucester Brew Week is coming to the City in April 2020! Celebrating all things that are brewed, from a nice cup of tea to a nice cold ale, and everything in between. For full details visit www.gloucesterbid.uk 2-18 APRIL EGGSPLORE EASTER AT GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL Do you know what happened on the first Easter Day? Come and explore this amazing building to find the answer. £2 per copy from the gift shop. If bought with the Discovery Trail (£4.50), ‘Eggsplore Easter’ is free. When you have completed the trail visit the shop and claim a tiny egg! Subject to availability. Gloucester Cathedral, 12

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College Green, GL1 2LX. Full details at www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk 3-19 APRIL EASTER FUN AT PRIMROSE VALE Aimed at children between 2-13 to enjoy various activities around the farm, and to cater for younger visitors, there is a pre-schoolers trail. It is quieter than the Halloween trail, and great fun for all ages. Primrose Vale, Shurdington Road, Bentham, GL51 4UA. www.primrosevale.com 4 APRIL CLOTHES SWAP In aid of Cobalt. An ingenious and great way of swapping five items from your wardrobe and raising funds along the way. Tickets £5 – includes coffee and cake. Phone 01242 535920 for information. 10.30am. Emmanuel Church Hall, Fairfield Parade, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 7NT. ELVIS: THE EARLY YEARS TO THE CONCERT YEARS Arron Walker taking you through the 1950s, Paul Molloy taking you through the 1968 comeback special and Rob Willis taking you through the concert years. Three top acts for one night only. 7.30pm. Tickets £15 – contact Martyn Payne on 07910 959097. The Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Street, Gloucester GL1 1QX. kingstheatregloucester.co.uk 4-5 APRIL MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION Layouts, refreshments, children drive yourself Thomas. Raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support 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 ORCHARD STREET FOOD & CRAFT MARKET Discover the very finest local food, drink, art, design, vintage and modern craft carefully selected from Gloucester artisans and businesses local to the South West. Saturday 10am-6pm. Sunday 11am-5pm. Orchard Square, Gloucester Quays. www.gloucesterquays.co.uk 7-19 APRIL GORDANO TEXTILE ARTISTS: NATURE’S MESSAGES Diverse responses by 11 artists to the natural world. While some are environmental calls to action, others include threats to endangered species, the damage caused by fracking, the remarkable way trees and fungi connect, and signals given by the markings of animals. Full details: natureinart.org.uk Nature in Art, Main A38 Twigworth, GL2 9PA.

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8 APRIL APRIL JONNY FLUFFYPUNK’S ‘THE END OF THE PIER SHOW’ Renowned stand-up poet and lo-fi theatremaker Jonny Fluffypunk presents a brand spanking new little show for families, with story, song, poetry, puppetry, and a healthy dose of anarchy. Age recommendation 7+. For more details please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search for ‘Jonny Fluffypunk’. Gloucester Library, Brunswick Road, Gloucester GL1 1HT. 1111 APRIL APRIL THE BIG EASTER EGG TRAIL Come and join the Easter Bunny to find the clues around the park and win some Easter chocolate. A joint event to support Cobalt and Maggie’s. Entry £2.50 per child. 1-4pm. Sandford Park Café, Cheltenham GL53 7PU. EASTER EGGSTRAV VAGANZA AT SANDFORD PARKS LIDO Join us on Easter Saturday for a funfilled day for all the family. Meet the Easter Bunny between 11am and 1pm! There will be a variety of games and activities for both adults and children, such as egg and spoon races and ‘hook-a-duck’ in the paddling pool! The pool will be open as usual between 11am and 7.30pm. This event

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is free and welcome to all ages. Sandford Parks Lido, Keynsham Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7PU. 1199 APRIL APRIL QUENINGTON RARE PLANT FAIR

A specialist plant sale set in beautiful gardens; you will be spoilt for choice with 20 plant stalls. Refreshments available. Admission £5 per adult, children under 16 free. Cash or cheque only. 11am-4pm. The Old Rectory, Quenington, Cirencester GL7 5BN. 2266 APRIL APRIL ARTHUR’S SPRING STROLL A sponsored stroll with friends, family and your four legged friends along this seven mile walk. Sign up on the Cobalt website or phone 01242 535922. Meet outside the Nailsworth Fire Station GL6 0DU for 10am start. Free car parking in the town.

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9 MAY MAY PLANT SALE

Brighten your garden with bedding plants, perennials and shrubs sold in aid of Cobalt. Plants kindly provided by Greenway Nurseries. Refreshments available. 10am-2pm. Cobalt, Linton House, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham GL53 7AS. 18 18 MAY MAY COBALT INFORMATION EVENING Join Chief Executive Peter Sharpe for an update on the work of Cobalt. There will be an opportunity to see behind the scenes of the Imaging Centre and some of the latest diagnostic imaging equipment. Refreshments included. This is a popular event and places are limited, so please call 01242 535922 to book your place. 6-7.30pm. Cobalt, Linton House, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham GL53 7AS.

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Leader Leader s L Life ife w with ith Councillor Councillor Richard Richard Cook Cook

Tackling T ackling climate climate cchange hange in in Gloucester Gloucester It is well recognised that one of the fastest and easiest ways to make a difference in terms of climate change is to plant trees. Although Gloucester is a congested urban area, it is possible to find some space to plant trees, which will help by absorbing carbon dioxide. In November last year, the City MP met me in Westgate Park and asked me, “Why don’t we develop this as an arboretum?” So I said, “Why not”. In mid-January, over 100 trees were planted there, starting a two to three year project to create what will become Westgate Arboretum. Water levels were too high to plant many of the trees we were intending to plant, so the following week, volunteers assembled at Saintbridge Ponds to plant another 100 by the banks of the pond, which included several apple trees in what will become a small orchard slightly uphill.

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January also saw the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Gloucester Guildhall. This project has brought the Guildhall much closer to self-sufficiency in terms of its electricity needs, but over the 25 year lifetime of the panels, will return value over six times the cost of installation. The other intended side effect is that we will need to import much less electricity from the grid, much of which is still produced from fossil fuels. I was delighted to hear that Gloucester City Council licensed its first all-electric taxi, also in January – only the second in the county. I am told that business for the driver is brisk, as people call and request that specific vehicle for their ride. Such demand will make other drivers feel the need to copy, so hopefully soon there will be many more. Finally, I have been working with the County Council and other district authorities to start work on an overarching climate change strategy that all of the authorities can sign up to. I am delighted agreement has been reached that the post will be sited in Gloucester City Council – close to me, so I can influence, and close to me, so I hear ideas first. e email: mail: rrichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk ichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk

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Entertainment E ntertainment

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Project migrant P roject ccelebrates elebrates m igrant ccommunity ommunity An exhibition is underway at the Museum of Gloucester bringing light to the experiences of black and ethnic minority communities in Gloucestershire. I-MMigrate will feature the stories of 20 members of the migrant community, including members of the Windrush generation. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and has been put together by Nowans Community Trust, with the assistance of photojournalism students from the University of Gloucestershire, under the initiative ‘Lives of Colour’. “Lives of Colour has been set up,” said co-founder Florence Nyasamo-Thomas, “in order to demonstrate how diversity, inclusion and participation across all members of our community continue to contribute to our liv e s .

The exhibition features members of the local migrant community

“Our aim is to promote diversity, inclusion and representation for people from different backgrounds.” Florence says the idea for the exhibition came about when she was asked to do a keynote speech on African diaspora in Gloucestershire. “When I went to do research for the speech I was looking

FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett

through the archives,” she explained. “There was not much information at all, so for this reason I wanted to tell the stories of the people whose voices aren’t heard.” Over half a million people migrated to the UK from the Caribbean in the years following the Second World War and were labelled the ‘Windrush Generation’. In 1990, many Africans came to Cheltenham through the formation of a ‘friendship town’ link between Kisumu and Cheltenham. Florence says the exhibition is designed to tell their stories. She added: “There are pictures and also audio, so people can listen to the stories.” The exhibition will be running until Saturday 18th April. Full story online.

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Margot Robbie reprises her role as Harley Quinn in the latest instalment of the DC extended universe. Set post-break up between Quinn and the Joker, the film depicts her fall from grace and the discovery that more people want her dead than she had thought. What DC seem to be doing well in the past year with the likes of Joker (2019) is making audiences fall in love with the villains as well as the heroes. Robbie brings such fresh energy to the character of Harley Quinn, and the film really benefits on the whole as a result. It’s refreshing to see a new group of antiheroes take centre stage – superhero films are in a time of new starts and ‘Birds of Prey’ stands on its own two feet and keeps faith in the DC Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn universe alive. Picture: DC Films Full review online.

by Jodi Picoult A Spark of Light, the number one Sunday Times Bestseller, is a fantastic page-turner, tackling the controversial issue of abortion and the prochoice/pro-life debate with beautiful elegance. The story begins at 5pm in a women’s centre in America and both those inside and outside the clinic have a story to tell. A gunman, guided by his own personal agenda, has taken everyone inside the centre hostage. We are introduced to an array of characters who each tell their own story – a doctor, a nurse, patients, an anti-abortion campaigner, the gunman and a hostage negotiator. A thrilling book from start to finish, you are kept on your toes wondering what will happen right up to the very last page. Full review online.

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Artist excited exhibition A rtist e xcited for for ffirst irst ssolo olo e xhibition Alex Wallace has lived in Gloucestershire for over forty years. Originally from Edinburgh – his Scottish lilt is still clear to hear – he came to this part of the country for work, after previously living in Leeds, Sussex and on the other side of the world in New Zealand. Now settled in Hucclecote with wife Gillian, Alex has been retired for close to 15 years, which has given him time to focus on his passion – painting. The spare room in his house has been converted into a makeshift studio, and hours of hard work and practice have seemingly paid off, with Alex set to host his very first solo exhibition this month at the Gloucester Guildhall. The exhibition is entitled ‘Realism to Abstraction – An Artistic Journey’, and reflects

One of Alex’s abstract paintings

Alex’s shift into the world of abstract art. He said: “I’ve always been quite good at drawing but I’ve always wanted to break out and be a bit freer and less controlled, a bit more abstract, and its only in the last year that I’ve been able to do that.” The exhibition will feature around 30 original artworks by Alex, detailing the evolution of his own style.

“Abstraction is really quite different,” continued Alex, “because in some ways you’ve got to let go of the control a bit – you’ve still got to have the idea of what you want to produce, otherwise all you do is design a nice bit of wallpaper. “My grandson is seven and I ask him, ‘what do you think this is?’, and he comes up with all sorts of things. He usually likes them anyway! “I always ask different people what they think and they do come up with things different to what I intended – but that’s part of art isn’t it? People pick up on things that they see and that’s what makes the great paintings last a long time.” ‘Realism to Abstraction – An Artistic Journey’ will be at Gloucester Guildhall from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 28th March. Full story online.

New N ew festival festival h holds olds sshowcase howcase night night A brand new festival is set to bring music lovers to the Forest of Dean this summer. Organised by local Foresters Josh Baynham, Freya Eklof, Jonathan Powell, Steve Brown and Tom Gibbons, Broadstone Festival will feature some of the best up and coming bands from across the country. “Myself and Steve have been part of the local music community for nearly 15 years, putting on many gigs and fundraisers for Coleford Music Festival in the past,” said Tom. “We wanted to reach out and push ourselves with this new venture! “So, once a site was established, a small team of friends pulled together with the am-

Broadstone will feature some of the county’s most exciting bands

bition to create something that the Forest of Dean has never seen before. “Broadstone Park is such a perfect setting for a festival, so we just had to make it happen.”

The festival runs on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th June, with Liverpool-based band The Mysterines set to headline the Friday and Cardiff band Himalayas announced for the Saturday top spot. But before the main event gets underway, organisers will be holding a special showcase evening in Gloucester. Four of the bands set to take to the stage in June – WYNT, Mirages, Sapphire Blues and Pompadour – will be playing at the free-to-enter event at Dick Whittington’s. The Broadstone Festival Showcase is on Saturday 4th April. For more information on Broadstone Festival please visit www.broadstonefestival.co.uk Full story online.

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

Stralsund

A Along long G Germany’s ermany’s Hanseatic Hanseatic coast coast Bright spring sunshine makes rainbows among the jets of Rostock’s Joy of Life fountain on Kröpeliner Straße. As we admire the multi-coloured, step-gabled buildings around us, we’re part way through a west-to-east rail tour of four historic German Hanseatic ports – Lübeck, Rostock, Stralsund and Greifswald.

Rostock’s R ostock’s m many any d delights elights Our sojourn began in historic Lübeck, the world’s marzipan capital, with a stay at the Hotel Lindenhof just five minutes from the city’s main station. Now, days later and a couple of hours along the Baltic coast, we’re enjoying Rostock’s many delights. When we’re done with the university, Neuer Markt, botanical garden, and the fifteenthcentury astronomical clock in St Mary’s Church, Warnemünde’s lighthouse and magnificent 9.5km beach are a short S-Bahn ride away. Too soon, we’re on another train, heading for Stralsund, which was founded in easy-toThe Local Answer

remember 1234. Further east again, it’s one more Hanseatic gem with copious red-brick architecture, the fourteenthcentury Marienkirche and the ultra-modern Ozeaneum aquarium.

Seafood S eafood iis sab big ig p part art o off Baltic B altic coast coast life life Alongside typical northernGerman cuisine, seafood is a big part of Baltic coast life. If this is your taste, try delicious Fischbrötchen – fish sandwiches – at Stralsund’s Fischhalle or Nur Fisch (‘Fish Only’). Alternatively, savour simplebut-mouthwatering roast fish dishes at waterfront Speicher 8 (‘Store Number 8’). Greifswald, our fourth stop, just 50km from the Polish border, is another Hanseatic university city. Allow at least a couple of days to relish the Pommersche Landesmuseum, Gothic St Nikolei cathedral, and even more piscatorial feasting. Try the Fischer-Hütte or, after local Zwickel Bier at the Fritz Braugasthaus, head for the fishing-village suburb of Wieck To advertise call 01242 510500

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Rügen’s R ügen’s iisland sland attractions a ttractions Before leaving Germany’s Baltic coast, consider two more rail excursions. An hour to the north, the varied attractions of Rügen (Germany’s largest island) await – not least its golden beaches, white chalk cliffs and Prora’s massive Naziera, Strength through Joy (Kraft durch Freude) holiday apartments. Alternatively, an hour east of Greifswald, Peenemünde’s Historical Technical Museum, the site of WW2 V1 and V2 missile research, is also worth visiting. Whether you seek stunning beaches, Hanseatic architecture, wartime technology or superb seafood, Germany’s Baltic coast offers an interesting alternative to more predictable European coasts. So how about letting the Deutsche Bahn take the strain from Lübeck to Greifswald as you enjoy a sublime Teutonic littoral experience! Page 35

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

Organising O rganising your your garden garden plants plants March is always an exciting time in Gloucestershire with the racing buzz in the air! The daffodils are at their best on the roundabouts and verges to welcome the punters and the weather can be beautiful – we have sat outside a pub in the town at 10 o’clock at night after the races in our short sleeves! On the other hand, there has also been snow at race week, so who knows what will happen this year. Fingers crossed for sunshine!

B Bright right a and nd ffiery iery rreds eds a and nd yellows yellows Now is the time to hardprune the stems of willows and dogwoods that have been wonderful and bright during the winter with their fiery reds and yellows. Species grown for their colourful stems include Cornus alba, C. sanguinea and C. sericea (all dogwoods) and the willows (salix) include Salix alba and S. irrorata. Cut back to two or three buds from the base of the shrub. This very old technique is

called ‘coppicing’ or ‘stooling’ and will provide lots of fresh new shoots and colour for the next winter. This can be done every year, or every two years depending on how you want the shrub to grow. March is also a good time to divide Hostas if they are getting too big. Dig them up and slice them into sections, making sure each has some shoots at the top. Replant them, enriching the soil with

some compost and bonemeal. If you have too many bits to plant in your garden, pot them up and give to a friend – after all, that is one of the greatest pleasures in being a gardener! Agapanthus rarely need dividing – probably only every five years or so when they start flowering less than before. If this is the case with yours, divide them now, cutting through congested clumps with a sharp spade and replanting in nice free-draining soil. They will take a year to recover properly so don’t panic if they don’t flower in the first season.

Promoting Promoting conservation conservation of of Alpine Alpine plants plants March and April are the main repotting times for Alpine plants. If you are interested in Alpines it is worth visiting the Alpine Garden Society garden at Avon Bank in Pershore, which is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to promote the conservation and cultivation of Alpine plants and their habitats. The Local Answer

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Page 3

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The Local Answer

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

Kitchen Kitchen revamp revamp I have decided to update my kitchen as my house project this year. When we moved in ten years ago, we did a complete refit, changing the layout to reflect the way we live. This time around I am looking for a cleaner, more contemporary look. Here are some things you should be thinking about for your next kitchen project.

C Colour olour cco-ordinate o-ordinate If you’re happy with your current layout or are on a tight budget, you don’t have to rip out your old kitchen units. There are lots of companies specialising in replacement kitchen doors or you can repaint the old ones. I’m a fan of the classic shaker kitchen design for kitchen cabinets – it really stands the test of time. My original shaker units are in good condition but are painted cream, which looks dated. It won’t be too expensive or difficult to repaint them. Grey is still the go-to neutral colour and the good news is that colour is back in fashion

for kitchens – think Farrow and Ball’s Hague Blue or Green Smoke.

Small cchanges Small hanges – b big ig difference d ifference It’s amazing what a difference new taps and handles make. I am replacing my door and drawer handles with on-trend brass ones. It’s not in budget to change my existing granite worktops – if it was, I would be looking at soft grey or white quartz. I love the warmth of natural wood in a kitchen so I will be keeping my wooden benchtop, sanding it and reoiling it with Danish oil. New tiles for splashbacks can make a real statement. Fish scale shaped tiles in soft aqua tones create a contemporary look. My daughter has classic white “subway” tiles with dark grey grouting in her modern apartment kitchen – they didn’t cost too much and look great.

Storage S torage solutions solutions Having the right storage is key. My new look kitchen needs to

Image: Harvey Jones

work efficiently with clear surfaces and cupboards where I can easily find things. If your kitchen surfaces are cluttered, and cupboards stuffed with mis-matched crockery or packets of odd ingredients, it’s time to have a clear out and create some extra space. Just back from a trip to Japan, I was reminded of the Japanese approach – only keep things that are useful or that you particularly love. If you haven’t used something for a long time, the chances are you don’t need it. Keep food items in clear containers so you can see them, and if you have room, install open shelving so you can display things beautifully.

Ah happy appy sspace pace Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so it needs to be practical and reflect your personality. When I have completed my project hopefully mine will be just that. I will be treating myself to some new matching crockery in a nice bright colour, or a new kitchen clock like the one I saw in a department store in Japan – in the shape of a cat complete with swishing tail! The Local Answer

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interior interior needs needs Luxurious L uxurious Curtains Curtains & Stylish Stylish Blinds Blinddss

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Here att IInterior Needs we pride ourselves H ere a nterior N eeds w ep ride o urselves iin nh having aving tthe he kknowledge n ow l e dge a and nd e expertise xpertise tto o g give ive tthe he vvery ery b best est a advice dvice ffor or w whatever hatever p project roject yyou ou a are re u undertaking, ndertaking, ffrom rom p practical ractical a and nd sstylish tylish d design esign tto oa advice dvice w with ith ttricky ricky w window indow ttreatments, reatments, ssuch uch a as sb bays, ays, b bi-folds, i-folds, sshaped haped rroofs oofs a and nd m motorisation. otorisation.

he Wh Whatever hatever tthe pproject, roject, yyou ou kknow now you you will will be be safe safe iin n our our hands. han nds. eenquiries@interiorneeds.co.uk nquiries@interiorneeds.co.uk | 01452 01452 522 522 422 422 | w www.interiorneeds.co.uk ww.interiorneeds.co.uk Eastern Eastern Avenue, Avenue, Gloucester Gloucester GL4 GL4 3BU 3BU O Opening pening T Times imes T Tuesday-Saturday uesday-Saturday 110am-3pm 0am-3pm | M Mondays ondays by by appointment appointment only only

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

March March madness madness As we finally escape the bleak winter months and celebrate the beginning of spring, it’s time to start looking at some of the latest hi-tech gadgets hitting the high street. And if your spring clean includes sprucing up your tech, you’ve come to the right place. So, let’s get started!

Divoom Divoom T Tivoo ivoo M Max ax 2 2.1 .1 Bluetooth Bluetooth Speaker Speaker Menkind.co.uk: £119 If you want a snazzy sound system that also boasts some awesome nostalgic pixels, then you’ll be wanting the Divoom Tivoo Max 2.1 Bluetooth Speaker. This cool stereo speaker comes equipped with a programmable LED display. Just hook it up to your phone or laptop and watch the pixels jump to life in tune with your music.

This powerful speaker has a 2.1 stereo audio setup and a great bass effect. And the clear audio makes for pristine sound, perfect for parties or when you want to create The Local Answer

the perfect ambience. Every Tivoo-Max is equipped with a programmable LED that gives you a range of pixel animations. The Tivoo-Max also comes in handy as an alarm clock, with a real-life sunrise lighting effect and audio alarm to make you rise and shine.

Ryze R yze T Tello ello Drone Drone Currys: £99 What better way to appreciate the clear blue skies of spring than by getting an aerial view? Whether you’re already an experienced flyer or a novice, the Ryze Tello Drone is easy to use. With its handy app downloaded onto your smartphone, you can enjoy a breathtaking birdseye view and also snap some great aerial images in HD. The image stabilisation means that you can easily capture clear images in all their HD glory, and also get some cool footage while you’re exploring the skies. Perform cool stunts by tapping the screen and enjoy up to 13 uninterrupted minutes of flying. When your battery starts to run low on fuel, don’t panic; the drone will still be able to land safely, even if you lose connection. To advertise call 01242 510500

Sphero Sphero Mini Mini John Lewis: £49.99 Mini in name, but mighty in nature! The Sphero Mini is an adorable little robotic ball packed with entertainment! It has a little gyroscope, accelerometer, and LED lights, as well as an hour of playtime. By downloading the Sphero Edu app, you can program your Mini to do whatever you like. You can even use the FaceDrive feature to steer your mini using only your facial expressions! When you fancy a change, you can swap the interchangeable plastic shell whenever you feel like it, and use the Sphero Mini as a game controller.

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don’t p ride o urselves on We e don’t pride ourselves on being being the the biggest biggest iindependent ndependent fflooring looring shop shop in in Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, w ep ride o urselves on on being being the the best. best. we pride ourselves We e believe believe the the smallest smallest things things make make the the biggest impact. impact. biggest Firstly we we focus focus on on providing providing e xtraordinary Firstly extraordinary customer service. service. F or e xample, u nlike o ur customer For example, unlike our competitors our our expert expert ffitting eam can can – ittting tteam competitors Move your your furniture furniture • Remove Remove your your fflooring looring • Move Uplift your your flooring flooring • E ase yyour our doors doors • Uplift Ease … And e ven vvacuum acuum u pb efore w e lleave! eave! …And even up before we Selecting your your flooring flooring couldn’t couldn’t b ee asier! Selecting be easier! Our salesmen salesmen do do not not work work on on commission, commission, Our so we we can can ensure ensure o ur c ustomers a re g etting so our customers are getting the right right p roduct ffor or tthe he rright ight p rice. the product price. If yyou ou can’t can’t g et tto o tthe he shop shop then then d on’t worry. worry. If get don’t e offer offer a free free measuring, measuring, estimating estimating and and We home selection selection service. service. home Finally, speak for themselves, themselves, F inally, rreviews eviews s peak for check ours out we e are are # a above bove c heck o urs o ut … w tthe he rrest! est!

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

Why Why biodegradable biodegradable iisn’t sn’t always always sso og reat great The thing about environmental information being more freely available with the internet is that you begin to learn that things you believed your whole life might not be accurate. You read or hear biodegradable and you think that it’s planet friendly right? Well, I have some worrying news for you. Certain items will only break down (biodegrade) with a specific combination of chemicals and gasses present, and even then they convert into micro-plastics, leaving toxic residue. So just because something states biodegradable on the packet, you still need to check it’s really an ecologically sound product.

There T here a are re g genuine enuine plant-friendly p lant-friendly o options ptions It really does seem to be a scary time and so many favourite products are suddenly ecologically damaging but rest assured, there are some

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genuinely planet safe options. I want to talk about something that as a mum, was one of my parenting staples. Wet wipes! They have a multitude of uses and saved the day for me on more than one occasion, but knowing what I do now, I’d never have used the ones I did. They are one of the worst! A recent study discovered that 90% of wet wipes contain plastic. This also refers to the so-called flushable toilet wipes – please don’t flush them, despite what they say on the packaging. Wipes cause no end of problems in the sewer systems and also leak microplastics into the water! So what can you use instead to tackle these parenting emergencies? Well never fear, there are quite a lot of alternatives! Go back to a simpler time and just use damp flannel squares for sticky fingers and faces. Have a search online –

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there are so many reusable fabric wipes available to buy now that you can wash in the machine and use time and time again. There are lots of pretty designs and softer options for delicate skin.

Do D oy your our rresearch esearch a and nd ffind ind w what’s hat’s best best for for you you If you can’t face that when you are dealing with changing nappies (a whole article topic in itself!), there are wipes that are made of bamboo or cotton that state ‘biodegradable’. These genuinely do break down completely and contain no plastic. Just do a bit of research first to make sure they really are good ones. There are also compostable wipes available – a far better option, but it’s important to compost them properly, as they apparently don’t break down in landfills. The thing with the truly planet-friendly wipes is that sadly they are often more expensive than their plastic counterparts, making them out of budget for some. The most cost-effective option is of course reusable fabric wipes, but if wet wipes with plastic really are your only option, maybe simply try to limit your use of them and never ever flush them. Page 45

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T Transport ransport Divide Divide It was supposed to unite the country, but the government’s recent announcement that HS2 is to proceed ‘full steam ahead’ is set to divide the nation’s opinions, much in the same way that Brexit has done for the last four years. I have no plans to take sides. There are obvious benefits to making the country a smaller place operationally and that’s directly in keeping with our desire to isolate ourselves from the rest of Europe. One person’s economic benefit is another person’s cost, depending on which side of the argument you sit. Beginning to sound familiar yet?

T The he h human uman sside ide o off tthe he story story On the other hand, there are personal sadnesses, with homes and businesses that have been precious to people for decades being compulsorily purchased to make way for the rail line. That’s the human side of the story and you can’t help but sympathise with those directly affected. I would hate for it to happen to me. We’re all looking at environmental issues more closely these days, and in many ways rightly so. If that’s part of this argument, then it supports the government’s decision, as train travel tends to carry one of the lowest carbon footprints of long-distance transport. It doesn’t beat the bike or the feet, of course, but they’re not practical answers for the miles involved in this debate.

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There is the north v south element to the debate too. I can’t help feeling that’s politically driven. Until the current Prime Minister won so many seats north of Birmingham for the first time last December, there was only token commitment to integrating the country in this way. All of a sudden, it’s become full-on. The financial cost is huge and we can only hope that the government’s accountants have done their homework on the pay back that such investment will deliver. For me, it’s all part of the demands we all make for our daily lives to be conducted at a faster and faster pace than ever before. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s healthy, but for the moment, I can’t see a way of slowing it down.

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Index of Advertisers WHAT’S ON EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Abbey Mill Cotswold Wildlife Park The Jockey Club

5 24 23

FOOD & DRINK Cafe Rene The Fountain Inn

6 6

Marshalls Driveways NKS Contracts Oltco Pave-Drive Skyline Roofing WB Home Improvements Woodward Roofing

30 30 29 33 34 31 32

CARPENTRY Rhodes Carpentry

INFORMATION

CLEANING SERVICES

Churchdown Parish Council 4

Oven & Range Cleaning Ovenbusters

42 42

The Grooms Room

Bella’s Interiors Designex Cabinets Ltd Dream Doors Interior Needs Quedgeley Carpets

38 38 44 40 43

Phoenix Gardens Rob Cockburn Tree & Hedge Southwest Landscapes Woodlands Landscapes

36 36 33 33

BM Services C&L Windows Clearway Windows Garolla Glevum Windows

42 42 42 38

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

HEATING & PLUMBING Emergency Plumber Gloucester Plumbing KB Female Plumber Sarsen Energy

49 47 & 48 46 34 2

CARE SERVICES Coate Water Care

8 PAINTING & DECORATING Saintbridge House Michelle Powell Decorator 38 MOTORING SERVICES HOLIDAYS & TRAVEL Julian Rogers Autoservices 14 TV & AERIALS Omega Breaks 24 ELECTRICAL SERVICES 1st Choice Aerials 49 REMOVAL SERVICES GRP Electrical 42 RETAIL Little White Van Man 49 WINDOWS, DOORS & Brewers 42 FURNISHING & CONSERVATORIES SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Ermin Plant Hire 31 APPLIANCES 49 Albany Windows 16 & 52 Stevens Recycling 8

HOMES & GARDENS BATHROOMS Lifestyle Bathrooms 10 Severn Vale 12-13 & 25

BUILDING SERVICES A1 Roofing BE Rudman C&G Paving Care Construction Danny James-John Eleven Builders Ltd Home Care Roofing JHD Roofing & Building

33 28 28 31 34 29 28 29

GARDEN SERVICES Chosen Lawnmower Services G. Grant Landscaping Grass Scape GS Landscape Solutions Joe & Jamie Lawn Man Lawn Doc Mark Clifford Landscapes Master Sheds

36 36 31 36 33 33 36 36 36

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Competition Winners TLA Photography – March 2020 Cover: Keith Fairburn.

Competition Rules 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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Spring into action! Boost the growth of your business this year with a promotional campaign in The Local Answer. We’ve helped hundreds of local companies grow their customer base, so why not let us help you? Getting your message in front of potential buyers is what we do best – we have the biggest audience in Gloucestershire by far! With print and digital packages to suit all budgets, we’d love to hear about your plans for 2020 and help you achieve them!

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