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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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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
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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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Pet Pet Care Care with Oliver Oliver Wilkinson Wilkinson with of Dragon Dragon Vet Vet Centre Centre of
Food Food allergies allergies in in cats cats and and dogs dogs
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Allergic skin disease can be caused by a wide variety of factors including parasites (fleas), environmental factors (grasses and pollens), or household allergens (dust or dust mites). It can, however, also be caused by a food allergy. Approximately 1 in 5 dogs and cats with itchy skin will have a food allergy and it is important to rule this out in order to get to the bottom of a persistent skin problem. For cats, the most common source of allergens are beef, fish and chicken, and for dogs it is beef, dairy and chicken. Diagnosing a food allergy is difficult – no commercially available laboratory test will reliably diagnose a food allergy in dogs and cats, so the best way to reach a diagnosis is by an elimination diet trial.
Two T wo types types of of elimination elimination diet diet Two options exist – the home prepared novel protein diet; this could be formulated using unusual protein sources such as venison, rabbit, lamb, etc. However, care should be taken to make sure these are balanced, ideally containing vegetables and grains which are an unlikely source of allergens. The second option is the commercial hypoallergenic diet; the ones preferred by veterinary dermatologists generally contain hydrolysed proteins. Hydrolysis reduces the size of protein molecules to such a small size that they cannot trigger an immune response. These diets tend to be carefully manufactured so cross contamination with other protein sources is unlikely. They are regarded as a more reliable diet for elimination trials than a generic ‘hypoallergenic’ pet food that may use a mixture of proteins, not all of which may be mentioned on the label! Hills Prescription Diet z/d, Royal Canin Hypoallergenic/Anallergenic and Purina HA Hypoallergenic are all examples of hydrolysed protein diets. The elimination diet should be persevered with for at least two months and during that time all other dog treats, tidbits and human leftovers should be avoided. Individual proteins can then be added back into the diet once the skin itch has resolved to determine which was the offending allergen. Although not the most common cause of skin disease in dogs and cats, food allergies play their part and can be relatively easily avoided once diagnosed.
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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 01242 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 11
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G Gloucestershire’s loucestershire’s VW VW AUDI AUDI Group Group Specialist Specialist SServicing ervicing FFrom rom £ £95.00 95.00 M MOT OT £ £39.95 39.95 C Cambelts ambelts FFrom rom £ £249.00 249.00 A Air ir C Conditioning onditioning rregas egas £ £45.00 45.00 FFree ree Courtesy Courtesy Cars Cars – Collection Collection & Delivery Delivery
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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 01242 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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B Bishop’s ishop’s Cleeve Cleeve have have it it all all to to play play for for New name and loads of ambition, Bishop’s Cleeve Hockey Club have lots to play for. Previously known as Cleevillians – this is their first season as Bishop’s Cleeve – the aim of the game is to establish greater links with the village of their origin, as well as enjoy continued success on the pitch. The playing side is going pretty well and at the time of writing they were top of The Marches 2 League, but that is not the only driving force for a club who were originally known as Smiths Industries Hockey Club when they were founded way back in 1942. They were formed out of the old Smiths Industries factory in Bishop’s Cleeve – the company is now known as GE Aviation – and played their home matches on the grass at Newlands, which these days is home to Cheltenham Rugby Club. Nowadays, the hockey club play their home games on the artificial pitch at Plock Court in
A tteam eam o off ttennis ennis a aces ces It’s probably quite a good job that Peter Gold has now retired because he does play quite a lot of tennis. The chairman of Twyning Tennis Club – he has held the position for some five years – is a big fan of the sport and is one of those hardy souls who likes to play all the year round. With more clubs now having floodlights – Twyning have two floodlit hardcourts and have use of a third court which isn’t floodlit – most of the keen members play from January through to December. Gold, who is 67, is certainly one of those.
Nicky’s N icky’s iin n ccharge harge Nicky DeBonis is not so much breaking down barriers as smash-
Bishop’s Cleeve Hockey Club
Gloucester and while they are more than happy with the facilities there, it’s not a place that they can really call ‘home’. For a start it’s more than 11 miles from Bishop’s Cleeve where the newly named hockey club would like to establish much stronger roots. “We’re the same club but we’ve just got a different name this season,” said long-serving player Rob Link. “We’re pushing to try to get our own home in Cleeve, engaging with Cleeve School, local businesses and the
community in general and in so doing promoting the role that hockey can play in nurturing an active population, young and old. “We’re working with Cleeve School and Tewkesbury Borough Council to try to get funding for an artificial pitch at the school, and if not there somewhere else in the village. “Having a pitch for training and home games that we can call home would be a magnificent goal to achieve.” Full story online.
ing them into tiny pieces. And she’s doing so with the full support of everyone she has come across in football around the county. DeBonis, who doesn’t turn 21 until 19th January, is the first ever female team man- Nicky DeBonis ager in the Cheltenham Football League and as such is making a big impression in what has always been considered to be a male only environment. And it’s certainly some claim to fame because the Cheltenham League has been in existence since as long ago as 1900. She took over as manager of Bishop’s Cleeve Development – that’s the Hellenic League club’s
3rd team – at the start of the season and has enjoyed every moment of her time in charge so far.
The T he ccounty’s ounty’s finest finest 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 these stoories and more, please visit our website: www.thhelocalanswer.co.uk
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C County’s ounty’s 2 2020 020 vvision ision llooking ooking g good ood 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. “Everyone wants to play for the county. If two or three players fail, another two or three will pick it up. “Winning promotion was a complete team performance.” It certainly was. They are a young side and, apart from the final three games when West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was brought in on a contract, they short-term achieved their goal without an overseas player. “The way we won promotion is a huge credit to head coach Richard Dawson and the boys,” said Partridge. And while it was a true team effort, a quick look at the end-of season averages will tell you that one player above all others was key to their success. That player was all-rounder Ryan Higgins who scored more than 950 runs at close on 60 and took 50 wickets with his bustling medium pace at under 24. The soon-to-be 25-year-old joined the club from Middlesex for the start of the 2018 season and Partridge is a big fan. “He embodies the whole Gloucestershire spirit,” said Partridge.
Ryan Higgins
“He’s a top player and uses his head when he’s playing the game. “He gives it everything and he always seems to find a way whatever the situation in a game, he’s held in very high regard by all the players.” There are sure to be some tough situations for Chris Dent’s emerging side to cope with in 2020 so Higgins will again be a go-to player, but Partridge believes the squad have the tools to survive and eventually prosper at the higher level. “What we’re all about is sustainability,” continued Partridge. “We’re trying to create a squad and a team that can stay in Division One. “It will be a challenge but we’re all thrilled to be back and the ultimate challenge is to compete for the title in years to come.” Establishing themselves in the division and then kicking on won’t be easy of course. “There will be fewer opportunities to score runs and there will be fewer opportunities to take wickets,” continued Partridge. “So when you get those opportunities you have to take them. “But even though we’re a young side, most of them have been playing for a few years, they are mentally tough.” And the powers-that-be at the county were soon improving the squad after they secured promo-
tion in late September. Seam bowling all-rounder George Scott joined from Middlesex, while it was confirmed that Afghanistan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad will be available for the final six four-day games of the season. Ahmad will also be available for the T20 campaign and at just 19 – he won’t be 20 until August – he is certainly an intriguing signing. “Richard Dawson spotted that we needed another spin bowler for the championship,” explained Partridge. “He’s a good player and we identified him as someone we wanted. “We’ll get him playing the Gloucestershire Way, he’ll be important for us.” Partridge, now 65 and a player wit h G louc es te rsh ir e f ro m 1 976 to 1980, talks from the heart when he mentions the Gloucestershire Way. By his own admission he was never the best all-rounder – he batted in the middle order and bowled right-arm medium – but he always knew what he wanted from the game. “I was offered a three-year contract by Worcestershire when I was 20,” he said, “I said ‘no’ because I didn’t want to play for them. “I grew up in Birdlip and I always wanted to play for Gloucestershire. I watched them play as a kid and they were the only team I wanted to play for.” It’s fair to say there is more loyalty in cricket than many other team sports and the Gloucestershire Way is something that Partridge feels passionately about. It was present in his day and it’s clearly still there today. “Ryan Higgins feels it,” said Partridge. “Halfway through his first season with us he told me he felt like ‘one of us’.” Full story online.
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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. U UNTIL NTIL 12 12 JANUARY JANUARY CINDERELLLA A Polish your pumpkins, dust off your gowns and grab your glass slippers to join our biggest ever pantomime. Cinderella features the hilarious return of Tweedy as Buttons, Cinderella’s best friend in this rags to riches tale. Will Cinders get to the Ball? Will she find her Prince Charming or will the Ugly Sisters ruin the day? Various dates and times. For full details please visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 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 2019 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 at www.rosestheatre.org
31 DECEMBER DECEMBER – 3 JJANUARY ANUARY 31 CHRISTMAS CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES AT NATURE IN ART Encourage your children’s creativity with a range of art sessions including Firework Salt Painting and mosaics. 10.30am-4pm. £6, pre-booking required. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, GL2 9PA. www.discoveryzone.org.uk 22-12 -12 JANUARY JANUARY 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! 4 JANUARY JANUARY BROADCAST: ANDRE 70 YEARS YOUNG This New Year’s cinema event celebrates maestro André Rieu’s 70th birthday, looking back at his most spectacular performances throughout his career from all over the world – remastered exclusively for cinema audiences. Special surprise guests will also join the celebration by sharing their birthday messages! 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 1122 JANUARY JANUARY ANDRÉ RIEU: 70 YEARS YOUNG A live screening of André Rieu’s ultimate concert featuring musical highlights chosen by the maestro himself to celebrate his 70th birthday.
3pm. £20. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 16-19 JANUARY JANUARY 16-19 ROBINSON CRUSOE AND THE PIRATES
Panto fun’s not over yet! Escape the winter chill! Sail to sunnier climates and search for hidden treasure with Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates, courtesy of Promenade Productions. Traditional family pantomime at The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham. Thursday and Friday performances 7pm, Saturday midday and 4.30pm, Sunday 2.30pm. Tickets £11-£16 from Showcase 01242 224144 or online www.bacontheatre.co.uk 24-26 24-26 JANUARY JANUARY CAJUN AND ZYDECO FESTIVAL Back for its 27th year, featuring live performances from Sheryl & Russell Cormier, R.Cajun & The Zydeco Brothers, John Que Saute and The Bearcats Trio. £25-£70. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk
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2255 JANUARY JANUARY BURNS NIGHT WHISKY TASTING Whisky Tasting to celebrate Burns Night, featuring six very different Scotch whiskies to try, plus a range of nibbles and of course, a haggis. 7.45pm. £20. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL50 5NX. Full details at www.rosestheatre.org WINTER WILSON Kip Winter and Dave Wilson blend superb, hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with hilarious humour and tales of life on the road. £10 in advance, £12 on the door. 7-9.30pm. The John Moore Museum, Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5SN. www.johnmooremuseum.org 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 4-27 4-27 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY SEEN IN THE SHIRE A series of photos inspired by the natural landscapes and wildlife of Gloucestershire by Lesley Andrew who has lived and worked in education for the last 30 years. 9am-5pm. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. gloucesterguildhall.co.uk
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 14 14 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY MURDER MYSTERY Can you solve the St Valentine’s Day Mascara? Enjoy an evening of murder, mystery and fine dining, with a three course Victorian dinner, and put your detective skills to the test. 7-11pm. £54-£59. Sudeley Castle and Gardens, Winchcombe GL54 5JD. www.sudeleycastle.co.uk DANCE TO THE MUSIC Created, directed and choreographed by ex Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff, this show portrays the evolution of dance through musical eras and genres from the roaring 20s to modern day Ballroom and Latin. 7.30pm. £29-£45. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL50 5NX. Full details: www.rosestheatre.org
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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 what’s what’s on on in in 2020 2020 Going into 2020, North Gloucestershire looks set to offer more and more great events and activities for locals and visitors. Tewkesbury, Winchcombe and Bishop’s Cleeve all have a variety of festivals, shows and plenty of other entertainment going on throughout the year, so we’ve put together a handy guide on some of the highlights.
Festivals F estivals The Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is regularly one of the most well-attended gatherings in the town, with visitors from all over the world. The free-to-enter event returns to Tewkesbury Abbey playing fields in July. May sees the return of the Tewkesbury Big Weekend, which last year featured a parade, a fayre, stalls and more, all in aid of local charities.
In Winchcombe, the popular monthly Winchcombe Live kicks off the year with The Curst Sons on Friday 17th January, with the Winchcombe Live Blues Weekend taking place in March.
Stage S tage Sudeley Castle will host the Fantasy Forest Festival in mid-July
In the same month the weeklong Winchcombe Festival of Music and Arts will bring live music and talks, art and workshops to the town.
Music Music App Fest UK will be bringing Chesney Hawkes, The Wurzels and The Hoosiers, as well as a number of the UK’s best cover bands to Tibblestone Farm in Teddington in July.
FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett
In am-dram, the Bishop’s Cleeve Players start their year with ‘A Scottish Evening’ at the Cleeve Tithe Barn in February, whilst the Tewkesbury Manor Players will be bringing audiences their version of ‘HiDe-Hi’ in April. The Roses Theatre will feature a variety of shows from the world of music and theatre, as well as gigs by top comedians like Joel Dommett and Seann Walsh, and evenings with sporting legends Geoff Hurst and Steve Davis. 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
JJPDL PDL o on n tthe he jjoys oys of of performing performing JPDL is one of the most recognisable names on the music scene in Gloucestershire. Best known for rapping and his collaborations with local producer Yogi Beats, JPDL – also known as Dave – has become something of a go-to man for local gigs and events like the Rooftop and King’s Jam Festivals. With gigs all around the county, it’s safe to say last year was certainly a busy one for him. “2019 was definitely a lot of fun!” he said. “Some very interesting commi ss ion pi ec es , be in g n om ina te d for Gloucestershire Poet Laureate, and signing to Played Out Records, would be a few of the highlights. “But meeting all the funky party people that I have crossed paths with over the summer
JPDL
and all the other events is the real gold of the year for me.” JPDL – which is Dave’s full initials, or alternatively as he puts it “just please don’t listen” – is originally from Cheltenham, but has lived all over the county in places like Winchcombe and Gloucester. He’s been performing for over a decade, first getting on stage aged 17, and now runs rap and
beatbox workshops for people all ages. Last year he appeared at festivals including WOMAD and Kings Jam in Gloucester. “What I enjoy most about performing is the idea of someone relating to what I have written,” he explained. “For instance I’ve got songs about mental health and grief that are very honest. If someone can listen to one of those songs or pieces of poetry and feel like they’re not alone in their struggle then I find that incredibly rewarding. “I guess that’s why I write and perform. Also, I have no other skills whatsoever, I’ve got to keep occupied doing something!” To keep up to date with JPDL you can follow him on Facebook www.facebook.com/jpdl2 or Instagram @JPDLUKHH Full story online.
Promenade Promenade Productions Productions ready ready for for p panto anto Amateur theatre company Promenade Productions will be bringing their annual pantomime to the stage this month. Promenade Productions was founded in 1984 after a group of Cheltenham locals – Richard Sharpe, Anne Emery, Catherine Newman and John and Gill Pannett – got together to produce ‘Oklahoma’. Since then the society has grown and now boasts almost 100 members. “We started off performing at Shaftesbury Hall, which is now a block of flats,” said Chairman John Pannett. Promenade Productions now perform a pantomime in January, and a musical in the summer.
Promenade Productions’ 2019 pantomime ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’
2019 saw them perform ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ in January, followed by the Stephen Sondheim musical ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’. “We like doing our panto in January,” continued John, “because it’s the time of year when it can be a bit slow and
flat, and people want to see a show to brighten it up. “The pantomime is always a very popular show, tickets sell out quickly.” This year the group will be producing their take on ‘Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates’. The pantomime will be directed and choreographed by Heather M Newman and will have an onstage cast of over 40 – including younger members of the society and a troupe of dancers. “It’s a traditional family pantomime,” said John, “with plenty of audience participation. “It’s the classic story of Robinson Crusoe but with the addition of pirates, which the kids will love.” Full story online.
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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.
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JANUARY JA ANUARY RY SALE SA E Follow our Facebook Sale Page or pop into the Visit our showroom for all S9haomwroom -5p the latest offers Monday mto Friday and discounts 15 5 Isbourne Way, Way Wa ay, Broadway Road, Road, Winchcombe W Winchcombe,, Ch Cheltenham, eltenham, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL54 L54 5 5NS NS
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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 27
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 01242 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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Thinking Thinking of of replacing replacing y your our Blissful Bathrooms Showroom is based bath with with a walk-in walk-in shower? shower? in Cheltenham and we specialise in full bath bathroom installations. We offer a fully Y YOU OU C COULD BE OULD B E EELIGIBLE LIGIBLE project-managed in-house service. FOR VAT RELIEF! FOR V AT R ELIEF! We offer free delivery on all products. P lease c all ffor or ffurther urther details. details. Please call CONTACT THE SHOWROOM: Tel. 01242 678 080 Blissful Bathrooms, 3 The Green, Station Road, Woodmancote, Cheltenham, GL52 9HR
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Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ... Your local family business
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Money Money Matters Matters w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off A Andorran ndorran
S Spot 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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IIndex ndex o off A Advertisers dvertisers 24 Marshalls Driveways 20 6-7 NKS Contracts Pave-Drive 23 EAUTY BEAUTY EALTH & B H HEALTH R. Richards & Sons 2 5 Sophie Lane S.J. Lewis & Sons 22 RAVEL OLIDAYS & TTRAVEL HOLIDAYS H C LEANING CLEANING 17 Ovenbusters JustGo! Holidays 26 RETAIL RETAIL ERVICES SERVICES EELECTRICAL LECTRICAL S 17 Shurmer Electrical AW Fireplaces 26 APPLIANCES FFURNISHING URNISHING & APPLIANCES ARDENS GARDENS HOMES & G HOMES 26 Bella’s Interiors ATHROOMS BATHROOMS B 25 30 Dream Doors Blissful Bathrooms 26 8 Rapport Interiors Lifestyle Bathrooms 30 Severn Vale Bathrooms 33 & 36 Spacemaster ERVICES GARDEN SERVICES G ARDEN S ERVICES SERVICES BUILDING S BUILDING 20 Cheltenham Town C&G Paving 24 Cheltenham Town Roofing 22 Landscaping 23 20 Grass Scape Home Care Roofing 22 23 Lawn Doc JHD Roofing & Building
INFORMATION INFORMATION
NHS Gloucestershire
PAINTING PAINTING & DECORATING DECORATING Brian Mitten 22 TV TV & AERIAL AERIAL 1st Choice Aerials 22 WINDOWS, WINDOWS, DOORS DOORS & CONSERVATORIES C ONSERVATORIES AJ Windows 28 Albany Windows 10 & 35 Clearway Windows 32 Glevum Windows 31
PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES CARE C ARE S ERVICES Barnwood Trrust M OTOR SERVICES SERVICES MOTOR Cleeveline Taaxis V Hub PET SERVICES SERVICES PET Dragon Vets Tewkesbury SKIP HIRE HIRE & RECYCLING RECYCLING SKIP Stevens Recycling
4 5 12 9 34
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C Competition ompetition W Winners inners TLA Photography – January 2020 Cover: Mark Ziles. The Bacon Theatre: John Fitzpatrick.
Competition Competition R Rules ules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is
not regarded as proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party. 11 One entry per household.
BOOKING BOOKING D DEADLINE EADLINE FFOR OR N NEXT EXT IISSUE SSUE – FFriday riday 110th 0th JJanuary anuary 22020 020
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