Lincolnshire Pride December 2018 by Pride Magazines Ltd

PRIDE

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LINCOLNSHIRE

LINCOLNSHIRE’S FINEST MAGAZINE

£4.50

Spending Christmas in Lincolnshire

Festive events, food for celebrations, thoughtful gifts

Wreath Making in the Countryside

Using material from your garden to create the perfect decoration

ANOTHER

164

BUMPER PAGES

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WELCOME

ay! It’s finally here! The festive season, tinsel, baubles, mince pies, mulled wine and all things Christmas! It’s safe to say I am obsessed with Christmas and I’ve been repressing my inner elf for quite some time.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this edition, and I hope you enjoy reading it just as much. I’ve made a Christmas wreath while interviewing local florist Claire Sutton, I’ve eaten a few festive bakes with local baker Katie Jones and I’ve created a whole feature dedicated to the traditions of Christmas. I’ve also enjoyed dining at the fabulous Petwood Hotel this month, a great place to treat the family to this winter. If you’re dining in this Christmas, and you have a few sprout-haters around the table, we have a few suggestions to make Brussels tasty.

Finally, if you’re a last-minute Christmas shopper, we’ve a comprehensive gift guide with gifts from local retailers to treat your loved ones to. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! Best wishes for a great festive season,

Editor, Lincolnshire Pride tilly@pridemagazines.co.uk 3

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CONTENTS

28 88 4

148

NEWS & EVENTS

HOMES & GARDENS

WHAT’S ON The best events in Lincolnshire this month.

CHRISTMAS The story of

THE INTERVIEW Claire Sutton, owner of Fig & Fern floristry and maker of beautiful wreaths.

NEWS Our roundup of good news in and around the area.

HIGHLIGHTS

Christmas and popular Christmas traditions explained.

FOOD & DRINK

116

GIFT GUIDE Browse local suppliers’ gifts and what to wrap them with. HOME DECOR If you’re dreaming

of a white Christmas, we have the best decorations to suit.

FESTIVE FLOWERS Houseplants ideal for the holiday season.

LADIES & GENTLEMEN 122 WEDDING Clarise and Shaun’s wedding near Grimsby.

129 LADIES FASHION Stunning ladies

fashion for winter from Frank Lyman.

DINING OUT The Petwood Hotel’s beautiful oak-panelled dining room.

142 BUSINESS NEWS Local success.

even the fussiest of sprout-eaters.

150 ASTON MARTIN The brand releases

SIX WAYS with Brussels Sprouts for

CHRISTMAS BAKES Cakes and mini bakes with local baker Katie Jones.

THE HIGH LIFE

148 BALL Local charity masquerade ball.

its latest motor; we attended the launch.

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150 100

129

THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE AREA READ PRIDE MAGAZINE

Pride Magazine is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, to high value homes in the county. Our circulation is to properties in the top three council tax bands - homes which are predominantly worth over ÂŁ300,000. This guarantees the magazine has an affluent readership commensurate with our content. In addition the magazine is also sold in supermarkets and newsagents including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, WHSmith Tesco, Asda, Co-Op and Morrisons. Our in-house distribution team also works hard to hand-deliver the magazine to selected hotels and restaurants, doctors, dentists, executive motor dealerships and golf clubs. This helps to ensure we have a continued presence, right across our catchment area. Our magazines also have more social media fans than any other local magazine, and we are available to read free of charge, online on your tablet, computer, laptop or mobile phone via our website and via the Readly and Issuu platforms. If your business would benefit from being showcased to the wealthiest people in the area, please call our friendly sales team on 01529 469977.

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR HIGH QUALITY HOMES

In print, and to view on your computer, tablet or mobile device from www.pridemagazines.co.uk

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

By supplying editorial or advertising copy to Pride you accept in full the terms and conditions which can be found online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk. In the event of an advert or editorial being published incorrectly, where Pride Magazines Ltd admits fault, we will include an advert of equivalent size, or equivalent sized editorial, free of charge to be used in a future edition, at our discretion. This gesture is accepted as full compensation for the error(s) with no refunds available. Selected images in our content may be sourced from www.shutterstock.com.

THE PRIDE TEAM

Managing Director: Julian Wilkinson. Production Director: Ian Bagley. Advertising Director: Zoie Wilkinson. Telesales Director: Emily Brown. Field Sales Director: Roberta Hall. Executive Editor: Rob Davis. Editor: Tilly Wilkinson. Customer Care Manager: Mandy Bray. Distribution: Joe Proctor. Office Manager: Sue Bannister. Account Manager: Lauren Chambers. Sales Executives: Hannah Boyle, Charlotte Aiken, Cassy Ayton, Clarissa Clay, Hayley Scott and Tina Waterfall.

Pride Magazines Ltd., Elm Grange Studios, East Heckington, Boston, Lincs PE20 3QF

Tel: 01529 469977 Fax: 01529 469978

www.pridemagazines.co.uk | enquiries@pridemagazines.co.uk

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NEWS & EVENTS

New fund for street art in Lincoln

£50,000 SET ASIDE TO CHEER UP CITY WITH NEW ‘LINCOLN CREATES’ FUND

LINCOLN Barons, knights, wings...if you’ve missed seeing colourful characters on Lincoln’s streets you’re in luck, as £50,000 has been set aside for street art in the city of Lincoln. Creatives are being offered a fantastic opportunity to come-up with bright ideas and could secure funding from an exciting new fund to make them a reality! Lincoln BIG last month unveiled the Lincoln Creates Fund - a £50,000 pot of money which is designed to support new projects with awards of between £500 and £5,000. The fund has been created using some of the money raised through the public auction of the colourful sculptures which made-up the city’s much-loved Lincoln Knights’ Trail in 2017. Funding Manager Sue Bell said artistic projects chosen for support could receive funding

of up to 100 per cent towards their project. “We are delighted to announce this new fund, which aims to encourage artists and businesses to work together on exciting visual artworks which will make Lincoln city centre more vibrant and a more attractive place in which to live or work, or to visit.” “Projects might take the form of murals, sculptures, special installations, created using many different materials and traditional or new processes. But we will be giving priority to concepts put forward by artists and businesses working together,” said Sue. In some cases, Lincoln BIG may be able to match individual businesses with artists’ projects which might particularly appeal to them and be ideal for their location. n For more information on Lincoln Creates, visit www.lincolnbig.co.uk.

Spalding inventor ‘reveals’ his brand new board game JAMES SMITH’S REVEAL BOARD GAME IS ON SALE NOW, JUST IN TIME FOR FAMILY FUN THIS CHRISTMAS...!

SPALDING If you’re short of reasons to fall out with relatives this Christmas, what better suggestion could we make than to play a board game together? Our recommendation is a brand new board game courtesy of Spalding’s James Smith, who has invented Reveal. His new game has just been released for sale by publishers after the inventor signed a publishing deal with market leader Paul Lamond Games. Players are given the answer and have to guess the hidden movie, TV show or

song title just from the first letter of the word. Players collect medals as they work their way around the board, and the game can be played by children, teenagers and adults. “The idea is you can set the game up in five minutes and don’t have to try to remember all the rules like in Cluedo or Monopoly,” says James, who has spent over a year developing the concept before it was given the green light in the summer. n Reveal is available now for £19.99 from www.smythstoys.com or from online retailer Amazon.

ESCAPE VISING RELATIVES THIS SEASON

Carol singers, visiting relatives, even the odd ghost of Christmas past. They’ll never find you at this property, new to the market and located near Cleethorpes. Haile Sands Fort is a bargain, having originally cost £1.5m when it was constructed between 1915 and 1919. Today, it has gone on the market with a guide price of just £100,000 and is ideal for those seeking a rather more isolated home away from visiting relatives. CLEETHORPES

Finally abandoned in the 1950s, the structure requires more than a little TLC, but will offer its next owners a belowsea basement, four storeys of accommodation with original windows plus a two-storey observation area and a flat roof for soaking up all that January Cleethorpes sunshine. Possible uses have been mooted as an island hotel or Air-B&B style novelty accommodation. n www.uniquepropertybulletin.co.uk.

Book now for Billy in 2019

A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT? LIVE PROMOTIONS TAKING BOOKINGS FOR BILLY OCEAN IN STAMFORD FOR 2019

Worksop College musicians join National Choir...

WORKSOP Two singers from local independent school Worksop College have been invited to join a national choir. Emily Zehetmayr, 18 from Lincoln (soprano) and Ruben Dales, 16 from Newark (countertenor) were selected to join The Rodolfus Choir. Their talent was identified whilst attending an Eton Choral held at St John’s College. n

STAMFORD Searching for a Christmas gift for someone who seems to have everything? Well, Lincolnshire’s Live Promotions may have the answer. The company is bringing Billy Ocean to Burghley House on 8th June 2019, and tickets are on sale now with generous ‘Early Bird’ discounts. If you remember hits like Caribbean Queen, Love Really Hurts Without You and When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going, book tickets for your loved one and make it a weekend to remember with an overnight stay at, for example, The George of Stamford! n www.livepromotionsconcerts.co.uk.

£2,000 scheme

Deserted Des Res

HISTORIC FIGURES AND EVENTS are to be recognised in Lincoln thanks to a new £2,000 scheme which will provide blue heritage plaques around the city. Though some plaques already exist, there’s no specific scheme for the creation of plaques, and the public are now able to submit suggestions for new ones to the city council. n

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local

news GRANTHAM

local heritage comes to life thanks to new website A £40m economic growth agenda will be realised thanks to InvestSK and as part of the investment, the group has launched a new website, Heritage Alive! designed to celebrate the stories and culture of Grantham, Stamford and Bourne. “Across South Kesteven there is heritage worth shouting about,” say coordinators. “Heritage is not just our past, it impacts on our future and by highlighting, celebrating, and utilising the incredibly rich heritage resource of which everyone in South Kesteven should be proud today.” The new site is live now and features local history-themed stories and a vintage image archive from across South Kesteven. n For more information see heritagealive.co.uk

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Save The Date

Discover Regent Seven Seas, the most Inclusive Luxury cruise line offering uncompromising levels of service. You are cordially invited to an exclusive Afternoon Tea with Clare Lockett Travel Counsellors and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Wednesday, 16th January 2019 1pm to 3.30pm For further details and receive your personal invitation, please contact Clare or Lianne

Call 01778 338530 or 01733 210687 www.travelcounsellors.com/clare.lockett clare.lockett@travelcounsellors.com

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76 Spilsby Road, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 9NS

This is an exquisitely presented, Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse of significant architectural merit with the accommodation arranged on the basement, ground, first and second floors with off road parking and a rear garden. The property comprises a self-contained, contemporary guest suite at basement level with double bedroom, sitting room and modern wet room with French doors opening to a covered patio. The upper floors comprise a reception room, a kitchen breakfast room, rear utility room with shower room, 2 double bedrooms on the first and second floors with an exceptional family bathroom. The property has a number of very attractive features including hard wood flooring, HDMI and entertainment FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH connectivity, a handmade kitchen, VACANT POSSESSION underfloor heating and high quality fixtures and fittings throughout.

ÂŁ429,995 Subject To Contract

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CLAYLANDS, LITTLE HUMBY, NG33 4HW

£349,950

A well-maintained detached bungalow situated on the edge of a picturesque village with far reaching views over the adjoining open countryside with no onward chain. 1

THE HAVEN, SAXILBY

EPC Rating: E

£565,000

A versatile equestrian property set in around seven acres (STS) currently used as a family home and riding school with the appropriate planning consent and licence in place. The Haven is ideally situated about half a mile outside Saxilby. 2

EPC Rating: D

THE COTTAGE, LITTLE HUMBY, NG33 4HW £465,000 A delightful period cottage, set back from and overlooking The Green, constructed of stone under a pantile roof nestled in landscaped gardens having been refurbished . 2

ROPERY HOUSE, LINCOLN

EPC Rating: C

£415,000

Ropery House, a property with a wealth of character, is at the centre of the Ropery in the Spring Hill Character Area of Lincoln, just a few minutes’ walk from the Castle and Cathedral. It offers spacious accommodation of over 2000 square feet. 1

EPC Rating: C

Fine & Country Lincolnshire, 55 High Street, Navenby, Lincs LN5 0DZ Telephone: 01522 287008 or 01476 247070 Email: lincoln@fineandcountry.com www.fineandcountry.com Associated offices at Grantham, Stamford, Nottingham and throughout the UK

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GOULCEBY

£750,000

UTTERBY

£695,000

An appealing rural lifestyle opportunity in a scenic and peaceful setting within the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This Grade II Listed Country Manor House has grounds of 10.25 acres (subject to survey) including formal gardens, pasture land and an extensive range of outbuildings.

An extremely special, ultra-contemporary, country residence in a unique village setting at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds and directly adjacent to the 13th Century church of St. Andrew with stunning open views across rolling fields from an 'infinity garden'.

LEGBOURNE

NORTH SOMERCOTES

£475,000

This Georgian style detached family residence enjoys an exceptional, secluded, south-facing setting within large mature and typically English country gardens which contain a wealth of established ornamental trees, shrubs and bedding plants displaying a rich tapestry of foliage and flowers.

£375,000

Standing in grounds of around 1 acre (sts), this attractive detached house has well-designed, four bedroomed family accommodation and large gardens, together with a paddock on the south side of the house, garden outbuildings and a pony stable.

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OPEN DAYS

Sixth Form at

WORKSOP COLLEGE

With a brand new 300ft Sixth Form Centre and some of the best facilities in the region, it’s no wonder that many young people are choosing to move to independent school Worksop College for Sixth Form...

Set in 330 acres of beautiful Nottinghamshire woodland, and with its own transport service serving Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, the school has a full transition programme for those joining from other schools and is rightly proud of its Sixth Form offer. Marketing & Admissions Director, Leila Gold explains more. “Sixth Form is becoming an increasingly popular entry point,” she says.

“Opening last September, our new Sixth Form Centre boasts seminar rooms, a coffee bar and lots of quiet study spaces.”

“And as well as a belonging to a ‘House,’ every A level student is assigned a subject-

specialist Sixth Form Tutor to ensure they stay on target and achieve the best possible results.”

Results-wise, the school is pleased to boast outstanding progress per pupil and university entry, with the majority of students going on to their first choice of university, as well as six Oxbridge offers in 2017. And it’s not just about results. Leila explains how pastoral care is at the heart of the school’s approach to education. “Pupil mental health and personal wellbeing is vital to their success,” she says.

“Our pastoral system means that every pupil belongs to a House and so community, belonging and a deep-seated sense of friendship plays a major role in each student’s time at Worksop College.” For families helping their children consider their next step, the school would like to welcome you to their Sixth Form Open Day, being held on Monday 19th November from 5.30pm till 8pm.

“Whether you’re at the very start of the journey, or looking for a place for September

2019 at our school, we would love to see you,” says Leila.

“On the evening, you can expect a tour of the school and to visit our Sixth Form Information Fair, featuring stalls across our subject areas, university support and guidance, our extra-curricular offer and much more.” “The Admissions Team will also be on hand to talk about the process and the various scholarships and bursaries on offer.” n Worksop College and Ranby House is a co-educational day and boarding school for 3-18 year olds based in 400 acres of Nottinghamshire woodland. Find out more about the school by visiting wsnl.co.uk or call 01909 537100.

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HIGHLIGHTS

The Story of

CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there...But why? Our Christmas traditions are quite peculiar out of context, so we discovered their origins and the story behind Christmas... Christmas is of course a magical time of year but especially for children. I still remember leaving a mince pie and a glass of sherry curiously my Dad’s favourite - by the fire for Father Christmas, and a few carrots by the door to ensure Rudolph doesn’t go without. My sister and I had written our wish lists, hoped we were on Santa’s ‘nice list’ and went to bed super early to lie awake all night thinking about all of Santa’s presents downstairs.

However. If I ever had the chance to describe this sequence of events to an indigenous tribe in the jungles of Borneo - let’s face it, there aren’t many people in the world who can avoid Christmas - they’re sure to think I’ve lost the plot. A ritual of leaving food and drink out for a fat man in red who climbs down your chimney after arriving via flying deer in the dead of night to give your children

Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

gifts under a tree you’ve covered in circular objects sounds odd at best. Context is key, especially when it comes to our bizarre beliefs.

That’s why in this edition of Pride, we’ve looked into some of our weird and wonderful Christmas traditions we’ve all come to know and love, and discovered why on earth we’re setting fire to the pudding each year or shouting ‘he’s behind you!’ to a middle-aged man in drag.

We’ve mixed opinions on the festive season and to the Scrooges who disapprove, a Bah

“According to a recent survey, 39% of the population agree that Christmas is their favourite time of the year and 86% say they enjoy the festive season...”

Humbug to you. Christmas for me is the most wonderful time of year and 39% of the population agrees based on a recent survey. 86% say they still enjoy the festive season. In the poll conducted by Costa Coffee based on 2,000 adults, the top 10 favourite strange British traditions have been revealed.

Number one is having turkey on Christmas Day followed by watching a classic film and listening to Christmas songs. Unfortunately, the days of carol singing are becoming a thing of the past.

We’ve looked into all of them from brussels sprouts - this is a tradition too far for me quite frankly - to advent calendars. Read about their origins and the reasons why we carry out our odd little rituals, and a very Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Cards

A well thought out marketing strategy...

Having helped to set up the Public Records Office which is now known as the Post Office, Henry Cole (above) formed a plan to boost business. He recruited the likes of talented 19th century artist John Horsley and together they made the first Christmas card in 1843. It was used as a way of encouraging people to use the Post Office services and it worked incredibly well. Cards cost a shilling, which is almost £5.75 now, and stamps a penny - that is about 40p at modern prices. Advances in printing brought prices down, making cards hugely popular by the 1860s. By 1900 the custom of sending Christmas cards had spread throughout Europe. Nearly 100 million Christmas single cards were sold in 2017 and a further 900 million were sold in boxes and packs, bringing the total for the Christmas card market to one billion cards sold in the UK just last year. The country loves cards; in total, we spent £1.7 billion on greeting cards in the UK last year.

Fun Fact: One of Sir Henry’s first ever Christmas cards, which he had sent to his Grandmother, was recently sold at an auction for £22,500.

Christmas Crackers Designed by a sweet maker in London inspired by traditional paper-wrapped French bon bons

London sweet maker Tom Smith invented the infamous Christmas cracker in the late 1840s, inspired by traditional, paper-wrapped French bon bons.

Even though he included mottos or riddles inside each, it was not until he found a way to make them ‘crack’ when pulled apart that sales took off.

He tried to create sweets like the French delicacy in London and included riddles and mottos in each but they didn’t sell well, which prompted him to come up with the idea of crackers.

According to legend, he was sat by the fire as it crackled, fascinated by the sound, and wondered if he could incorporate that crack into his sweets and toys as a customer’s opened them.

His sons Tom, Walter and Henry later added hats and novelty gifts. They also themed them and created crackers specifically for singles, suffragettes and even the Royals who still have their own range of crackers.

Fun Fact: Crackers were originally called ‘cosaques’ and were thought to be named after the ‘Cossack’ soldiers who had a reputation for riding on their horses and firing guns into the air!

Mince Pies: Filled with fruit and spice and all things nice... Early mince pies were of course made of mincemeat, fruit and spice and inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine brought back by to England by the Crusaders.

The pies commonly had 13 ingredients representing Christ and the Apostles, and were formed in a large oval shape to represent the

manger. The cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg ingredients were included to represent the gifts given to Jesus by the three Eastern Kings.

Fun Fact: Over the years, they’ve had a flurry of names including shrid pies, Christmas pies, crib cakes and mutton pies. They were even called wayfarers’ pies at one time, as they were given to visitors during Christmas.

Christmas Plants

Holly & Ivy and Mistletoe

Holly and ivy were used in pre-Christian times to celebrate the winter solstice. As they provide a rare splash of colour in winter, their popularity has endured.

Hanging mistletoe in the home is an ancient pagan practice adopted by early Christians. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe originates from England. Each kiss required a berry to be plucked until none remained.

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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

e Tradition of the Christmas Pudding

Carols

Christmas Carols A pagan

tradition that still, loosely, exists today...

Carols were songs and dances of praise and joy in pagan times and the practice of carol singing carried over into the Christian era.

Carols have been written through the centuries but the most familiar date from Victorian times, and the word carol originally meant to dance to something. Today, popular songs such as Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody are just as much a part of Christmas as carols.

Santa’s Snacks Not excluding

Dasher & Dancer’s midnight treat too.

Leaving treats out for Santa and his reindeer is usually done as a test to see whether he exists, or as an act of good will. The treat differs between countries. In America it’s usually milk and cookies, in most of Britain it’s sherry or a mince pie (of your dad’s favourite brand ironically), and in Scotland it’s a nice big tumbler of Scotch.

Whatever you call it plum pudding, figgy pudding - this festive dessert is a staple of Christmas dinner. Even if no one likes it, we’ll still set fire to a pudding at Christmas. Here’s why...

Christmas pudding originated as a 14th century porridge called ‘frumenty’ that was made of beef and mutton with raisins, currants, prunes, wines and spices. This would often be more like soup and was eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for the Christmas festivities.

By 1595, frumenty was slowly changing into a plum pudding, having been thickened with eggs, breadcrumbs, dried fruit and given more flavour with the addition of beer and spirits. It became the customary Christmas dessert around 1650, but in 1664 the Puritans banned it as a bad custom.

Sometimes, people also leave food for the reindeer outside such as carrots and apples. The tradition is related to the northern European tradition of leaving a food sacrifice for various protective spirits, most importantly the house gnome. House gnomes were later conflated with Saint Nicholas to become the modern day Santa Claus.

In 1714, King George re-established it as part of the Christmas meal, having tasted it. By Victorian times, Christmas Puddings had changed into something similar to the ones that are eaten today.

The sprig of holly on the top is a reminder of Jesus’s Crown of Thorns he wore when crucified. Brandy is poured over the pudding and lit to make a display and to represent Jesus’s love and power. Fun Fact: Tokens used to be placed in the pudding. The Bachelor’s Button and the Spinster’s Thimble meant that the single man/woman who found it, would stay single for the following year. The Ring if found by a single person meant they would get married in the following year!

Mulled Wine: Invented by the Romans in 2nd Century to defend their bodies against the cold winter... Red Wine: Use two bottles of fairly inexpensive wine and add to a saucepan.

Port: Add two shots of port to the wine.

Orange: Cut into five segments, stuff with cloves then add to pan.

Spices: Add one teaspoon of cinnamon and one of nutmeg.

Add a stick of cinnamon and star anise for an extra kick and to make your house smell great. Brown Sugar: Add anything from two

to five spoonfuls of sugar depending on your preference.

Heat for around 20 minutes. Make sure not to boil, then strain.

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e Turkey

The luxury lean meat that was once just for royalty and high society Turkeys originated in Mexico and were first brought to Britain in 1526 by William Strickland.

Henry VIII enjoyed turkey and although the bird seemed to become fashionable in high society at this time, it wasn’t until the late 19th century when Edward VII made it de rigueur at Christmas for the middle classes. However, even by 1930 it took a week’s wages to buy one and turkey remained a luxury until the 1950s At least 76% of British homes will stick true to the nation’s favourite Christmas dinner, despite the popularity in other meat options over recent years. Even the Queen herself is a noted connoisseur of the Christmas dish, according to her former royal chef Darren McGrady, who served the British Royal Family for many years. “It was the same meal every year,” he said. “They’re actually boring when it comes to festivities! They didn’t do hams or anything, just traditional turkeys.” “We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the royal dining room, one for the children’s nursery and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas lunch.”

Fun Fact: In the UK, we eat around 10 million turkeys every year at Christmas time.

Stockings Large socks filled with wrapped goods... Leaving stockings out at Christmas goes back to the legend of St Nicholas. Known as the gift giver, on one occasion he sent bags of gold down a chimney at the

home of a poor man who had no dowry for his unmarried daughters. The gold fell into stockings left hanging to dry. St Nicholas was later referred to by the

Dutch as Sinterklaas and eventually, by the English as Santa Claus. Fun Fact: In the Netherlands, they put shoes by the fire to be filled with gifts. I suppose it’s just as strange!

Brussels Sprouts: Love them or hate them! Brussels sprouts. The destroyer of Christmas day, the cause of family disputes, but in some questionable opinions, just a tasty vegetable to enjoy during the Christmas season... Despite the smell of rotten egg when overboiled or the taste and texture of something unhuman, Britain still loves - or politely puts up with - sprouts.

The sprout industry is worth upwards of £650,000,000. Their popularity grew in the 16th century in Holland and Belgium, an indication to how the mini cabbages acquired their name. Lincolnshire is one of the biggest growers of Brussels sprouts too.

Sprouts are easily grown on our Continent and sweetest after a frost, but the association with Christmas day itself is unknown.

Fun Fact: Brussels sprouts are super healthy! They pack four grams of protein a cup, they’re full of fibre and they’re a good source of calcium, potassium, and vitamins C, A, and K.

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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Board Games

How to Win

Cluedo Win: If someone keeps repeating the same thing, is it definite? Cheat: Pretend to tick things to trick your savviest opponents.

Christmas Entertainment: Pantomimes

The Romans invented the British panto. Oh, yes they did!

Pantos are very British but they came from un-British traditions with no connection to Christmas! Pantomime really began as an entertainment for adults. It can be traced back to the ancient Roman ‘Saturnalia’ midwinter feast, at which everything was supposed to be turned

upside down. Men dressed up as women and women as men, just like the Pantomime Dames and principal boys (young women dressing up as boys in the lead role) of the modern day panto. This combined with the baddies and jesters in Italian ‘commedia dell’arte’ in the 18th century creates

what’s recognised as a British panto today. They also became an expected part of our Christmas festivities, traditionally starting on Boxing Day although most start earlier nowadays. Fun Fact: A general rule of thumb in panto is that the hero enters stage-right and the villain from stage-left.

e Ninth Reindeer: Rudolph and his shiny red nose... Rudolph and his shiny red nose was born 100 years after his eight counterparts. Robert May of Montgomery Ward department store in America wrote the story of Rudolph guiding Santa through the fog to boost

sales in the festive season. His poem sold over two and a half million copies and further three and a half million when reissued in 1946. Fun Fact: Rudolph’s message is that given the opportunity, a liability can be turned into an asset.

e Tradition of the Christmas Tree

Monopoly Win: Aim for the orange squares; people land here the most. Cheat: Get the role of banker or sit in close proximity...

I’ve always questioned why we spend hours in the cold searching for a suitable fir tree dripping with sap to place in the main room in the name of Christmas...

The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. The Romans used fir trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life with God. Nobody is sure when they were first used as Christmas trees. The first documented use of a tree at Christmas is argued between the cities of Tallinn in Estonia and Riga in Latvia. Both claim that they had the first trees; Tallinn in 1441 and Riga in 1510. Both trees were put up by the ‘Brotherhood of Blackheads’ which was an association of local unmarried merchants in Livonia (now Estonia and Latvia).

Scrabble Win: Memorise short high point words like ‘Qat’ and ‘Xu.’ Cheat: Download an app that finds all potential words for you.

Fun Fact: The first Christmas Trees came to Britain in the 1830s. They became popular in 1841, when Prince Albert and Queen Victoria had a tree set up in Windsor Castle. In 1848, drawings of this were published in the Illustrated London News. The drawing was republished in Philadelphia in December 1850 but they removed the Queen’s crown and Albert’s moustache to make it look more ‘American!’

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We wish you a local

CHRISTMAS

Lincolnshire has its own festivities and traditional events of course, including the popular Christmas market. Here’s the county’s Christmas Calendar for 2018...

That most wonderful time of the year, and where better to spend it than Lincolnshire? Of course, before the event itself, there’s gifts to purchase and a tree to decorate.

You’ll find the job a good deal easier with a visit to Oldrids & Downtown. The company has access to 250,000 lines in total and its buying power and space on its 25 acre Downtown site means plenty of undercover shopping. Beyond great shopping though, Downtown this season offers a great festive day out, with an indoor ice rink throughout December (£7.50/adults, £5/children) and Santa in his grotto from 1st-24th December. Look out, too, for the centre’s giant snowglobe where you can enjoy an ‘indoor snowball fight.’ Festive Magic

If it’s festive magic you’re looking for, nothing will feel quite as special as the Light Up a Life Event for St Barnabas on 27th

Festive Shopping Events: Thoughtful gifts and Christmas food

Fine Food Market, 6th December:

Burghley House hosts 30 local suppliers at the biggest ever four day festive celebration of local produce. Handmade cheese, organic vegetables and rare breed meats. See www.burghley.co.uk.

Christmas Market, 6th - 9th December: Visitors to the famous Lincoln Christmas Market will be sure to soak up the festive atmosphere across this large market site, with more than 280 stalls to browse. See www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk.

Food & Gift Fair, 1st December:

A mix of delicious local produce, gift stalls and workshops make the Food and Gift fair at the Lincolnshire Showground is an event that’s held every year with over 150 exhibitors. See www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk.

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Cathedral

Performances at Lincoln Cathedral

Handel’s Messiah: 24th November

Every year in the lead up to the Advent, Lincoln Cathedral Choir performs a fabulous rendition of Handel’s Messiah in the stunning surroundings of Lincoln Cathedral. This of course includes the very popular Hallelujah chorus.

November in Lincoln. Join St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice to celebrate, remember and reflect during the festive season with a service and a procession to Lincoln Cathedral. Light Up a Life is one of the best loved, most meaningful events in the St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice calendar. Another meaningful event is Santa’s fun run! Santa Claus’s of all ages will run or walk around Lincoln’s most iconic landmarks, starting and finishing on Castle Hill. This sell out event is all about raising money for charities that make a real impact to people’s lives in Lincolnshire. Festive Entertainment

Rapunzel at LPAC on 12th December is not a pantomime, but a magical musical play adapted from the original tale at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre - a festive treat for the whole family. At Gunby Hall, talented pianists Josh Wilkinson and Jane O’Farrell local to

Gunby will be playing various classical and popular pieces in the historic setting on 8th December. The Music Room is the perfect place for a concert.

On 24th November, visit the Reindeer Parade, as Santa rides his sleigh through Lincoln pulled by real reindeer. Follow the parade or watch as it passes by and get your photo taken with the reindeer.

Thor’s Tipi Bar is returning to Lincoln this year too; it’s a winter wonderland in the heart of the city centre, serving real ale, mulled wine, and hot chocolate complete with roaring fires, cosy furs and twinkling lights, for a unique bar experience. It opened on 9th November and ends on 31st December.

Nativité du Seigneur: 16th December

Join Lincoln Cathedral for the annual performance of La Nativité du Seigneur performed on Lincoln Cathedral’s Father Willis Organ by Organist Laureate Colin Walsh. A wonderfully festive and special event at the Cathedral.

Make sure you get out and explore Lincolnshire this month; there’s always plenty going on in towns, villages and churches. For more information on our listed events, look at the details below for each venue. n

lincoln cathedral: call 01522 561644 or visit www.lincolncathedral.com. lincoln Performing arts centre: call 08448 884414 or visit www.lpac.co.uk. or’s tipi bar: call 01653 610029 or visit the website www.thorstipi.com. st barnabas hospice: call 01522 511566 or visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk.

Carols by Candlelight: 19th December

Enjoy a beautiful evening in the Cathedral nave and celebrate the Christmas season with an evening of carols performed by Lincoln Cathedral’s choir. A really special celebration before in the lead up to Christmas Day.

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TH E

I N T E RV I E W

Claire Sutton MAKING WREATHS WITH

If you’re not feeling festive enough yet, we have a solution to get you into the Christmas spirit. Making a traditional Christmas wreath with Claire Sutton from Fig & Fern is just the trick to turn you from Scrooge to Santa. In December, Claire’s floral business transforms into a winter wonderland of holly and ivy... Words & Images: Tilly Wilkinson.

When it comes to the month of December - or more like October nowadays in garden centres and supermarkets - there are only two kinds of people; Christmas lovers and Christmas loathers.

I am firmly on the elf end of the spectrum and to my joyous surprise, so is Claire Sutton. Her beautiful home was glittering with candles burning scents of orange and cinnamon, and had been decorated in autumnal bouquets and table arrangements, with elements of Christmas hidden here and there.

We elves get a little too excited about the season in October and have to hide our love for Christmas from the aforementioned loathers. It was refreshing then to have a thoroughly festive afternoon without the judging eyes of others. Claire even brought out her beautiful Christmas mugs which we enjoyed with stem ginger biscuits before venturing into her wreath making workshop. I love my job.

Claire has been passionate about flowers since she was young, and actually won the Revesby Flower Show aged 11 having grown up on a farm near Louth. 28

“I met my husband just after finishing my A Levels at school and before going to study Human Ecology at Bath University!” says Claire. “I worked in London for a number of years and my career was centred around HR. I had my own HR Consultancy for around seven years, but floristry was always a hobby and a passion of mine.” Claire lives near Louth with her husband and their three children; 14 and 12 year old boys and a three year old girl who has just started nursery!

“I wanted to wait until the kids were a little older to look at my hobby as more of a business venture. I had already provided flowers for a few family weddings and funerals, and knew I wanted to make more of it. However, it all started with wreath making. I went to see a lady in Spalding, a Chelsea Flower Show winner, to do a week’s floristry course. I was a little nervous, but the course went really well. I drove back home and worked on designing a logo for my new floristry business with a local design company.” “To start with, creating products seemed strange when I had been so used to offering a service my whole life. But after a while, I really

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“

T H E I N T E RV I E W C L A I R E S U T TO N

”

In summer, 50% of the flowers I use are from my own garden. I don’t usually use any flowers or plants from further than a 15 mile radius. It’s important to back British, and reduce the amount of flowers we’re importing.

began to appreciate it. I love the feeling when you’ve completed something special for someone and the feedback you receive for it. It’s a great deal more tangible than offering a service, and they are products I love making. It doesn’t feel like work.”

Claire has a strong ethos around locally grown flowers and buying British. All of the flowers she uses in her wreaths, bouquets, garlands and arrangements don’t usually include flowers, plants or berries from further than a 15 mile radius.

“I grow flowers in my garden that I use in most of my creations. In fact around 50% of the flowers I use are from the garden in summer. The entire British floristry industry is keen on promoting our own grown flowers and against imports at the moment.”

Claire grows dahlias, roses, tulips and abundance of other favourable flowers. They grow from the end of March until as late as November, and since she’s moved to her new home just four years ago, she’s really built this up and focused on gardening.

“When I don’t grow my own flowers, I forage. If you’re looking to do this yourself, make sure you’re aware of the foraging rules and regulations. I’m lucky to be surrounded by friends that are farmers who let me onto their land to look for berries, ivy, dried oak leaves, seedheads and whatever else I can get my hands on.”

For wreath making, Claire likes to use dried flowers like hops, alliums, hydrangeas and buddleia. If she’s out of something and finds herself in desperate need, she doesn’t venture out of her 15 mile radius.

“I’ll post on Facebook to see if anyone local has a hydrangea bush that needs pruning, and usually offer them a wreath as a thank you! They get a lovely pruned hydrangea bush and a wreath, I get some more hydrangeas to dry for my wreaths!”

Claire also uses dried oranges, limes, lemons, cinnamon sticks, pine cones, some beautiful rose cones and feathers. “It seems feathers is what I have become recognised by!” says Claire. “It’s not a common item to feature in a Christmas wreath, but with a lot of country homes around here, it definitely suits their home and usually their farming background too.”

Don’t think for a second she imports feathers! They’re from the game dealer down the road, and she likes to use pheasant and guinea fowl feather. She likes to think feathers are the signature to her work now and it’s her most requested wreath at workshops. “In addition to Christmas wreath workshops, I also host spring, summer, autumn and winter flower workshops too so people know how to arrange flowers in their home. They usually have anywhere from six to eight people in a session. If anyone wanted a bespoke one-to-one session, I can offer that too, for example, if you’re looking to decorate your own wedding.”

“Some of the workshops are themed around how to grow a cutting garden, some are about arrangement. I’m looking into offering residential courses so budding young florists can spend a couple of days with me and learn everything there is to know about the 31

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Image: Lincolnshire Pride Editor Tilly Wilkinson and Fig & Fernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Claire Sutton with our finished wreaths!

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T H E I N T E RV I E W C L A I R E S U T TO N

subject. To be honest, most of floristry is about your ingredients; if you have a good mix of good quality flowers, plants, berries and other things, you can’t go too far wrong which is why the workshops are so fantastic for people wanting to try it out.”

a clipping of each over one another and create a little flat bouquet. Create about 12 of them, wrapping the bottoms of them with wire to ensure they’re secure.

For my wreath, I used fir, larch, ivy, rosemary, heather, pink peppercorns and hydrangeas, and Claire used fir, ivy, dried hops and lemons, cinnamon sticks, dried hydrangea, rose cones and of course her lovely pheasant feathers. We also both used a ribbon to finish off the wreaths.

“Repeat the process for all the little bouquets until the wreath is covered, ensuring they’re all going clockwise (or anti-clockwise, it doesn’t really matter. Just as long as they’re all going in the same direction!). Get branches of larch or fir and just cut the stem into a point. Poke these through the gaps into the moss, making sure you can’t see any of your base. Some people like to leave parts of the moss base exposed which is fine too.”

Claire has the most beautiful workshop with double doors that open onto a courtyard, ideal for her summer sessions. The ‘ingredients’ we had to work with were everything you could think of to do with the word Christmas.

“It’s important to have plenty of ingredients to choose from. We will usually get through an entire Christmas tree at just one wreath making workshop!” To start your wreath, don’t use floral foam. Oasis seems to have been abandoned by many florists nowadays. It’s practical but the manufacturing process uses arsenic and it’s very non-biodegradable; generally, not a very nice product to use. Instead, use moss.

“Moss is what was traditionally used. Use a wire wreath frame and wrap a reel of binding wire around one small part of it until it’s secure. Get a tennis ball sized handful of moss and squeeze firmly until most of the water comes out, before holding onto the wire frame and wrapping the moss with the attached binding wire.”

“Keep repeating this process, squeezing moss, adding it to the frame, wrapping with binding wire. Push the moss round as well, making it compact before adding more, and make sure the back of the frame is just as covered.”

“Once you have something that now resembles a mossy wreath and you’ve covered the whole frame, keep squeezing the water out of the moss and making it even. Wrap the binding wire around it once more just to ensure it’s all secure. When wrapping with the wire, make it tight but not too tight. Don’t cut it off yet.”

Now it’s time for the fun part! There are several ways you can go about decorating your wreath. When I visited Claire, we made mini bouquets to be attached to the moss background. You can choose what you like as the background to your wreath, but for mine I used fir, larch, rosemary, ivy and Brachyglottis. Lay

Above/Opposite: Some of the fabulous wreaths her clients have created in Claire’s workshop - this one was held at the Admiral Nelson in Long Bennington. Her wreath workshops are being held on the 11th, 12th and 13th December this year. Visit her website for more info.

“To attach your little bouquets to your wreath, using the binding wire still attached to the wreath, wrap it around the stems of your first bouquet, starting at the top. Wrap tightly three or four times. Then get your next little bouquet and place slightly overlapping and in the same direction.”

At this point, as I did, you will want to leave the wreath how it is. It now looks like a completed Christmas wreath and you have the fear of overdoing it! However, if you want a fabulous wreath like the ones Claire gets her clients to make at her workshops, using the right flowers, berries, plants and ribbons in the right spots won’t make it look over the top.

“You just have to make sure everything goes together and they match with your background colours. In floristry, the general rule is to go in threes or fives; add three hydrangeas or five groups of rose cones.” For my purple and pink bouquet, I used three dried blue hydrangeas, three dried purple hydrangeas, pink peppercorns, strands of heather and finished it with a wine velvet ribbon. Claire used rose cones, pheasant feathers, dried lemons, dried hops, cinnamon sticks and dried white hydrangea. To add these items, use a hot glue gun if very delicate like the pink peppercorns or wrap wire around the stem to poke into the moss. “I have a purpose door at my floristry workshop so you can see what it looks like! Hang it up, tweak bits and bobs, and your wreath should start looking complete. Finish with a ribbon!”

Claire very kindly allowed me to take my wreath home and I’m not ashamed to say it took pride of place on the front door from October onwards! There’s something about creating something yourself that makes you feel all warm inside, and it’s a great way of kickstarting your Christmas spirit. I would thoroughly recommend one of her courses if you’re looking to add a homemade touch to your Christmas this year!

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“Floral foam is a really terrible product to use. Arsenic is used in the manufacturing process and it’s totally non-biodegradable. I use the traditional method of ﬂoristry where I can, using moss as the base and water...”

For more information: On the 11th, 12th and 13th December, enjoy festive food, fizz and a canapé demo with chef Rosie Dickers, before enjoying lunch and a wreath workshop with Claire at her home in North Ormsby near Louth. On 6th and 7th December, Claire is hosting a workshop at the Admiral Nelson in Benington. To book, call 07976 974568 or visit Claire’s new website www.figandfernfloral.co.

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Is lease-holding the right type of property purchase for you? By Tom Hickingbottom, Solicitor in the Disputes team at Wilkin Chapman solicitors. THE DEVIL is always in the detail when purchasing a new home and that is certainly the case when it comes to buying or selling a leasehold property.

There is mounting concern in some areas of the UK that the full consequences of buying and selling such leaseholds are not being explained thoroughly during the legal process â&#x20AC;&#x201C; creating problems down the line. When you look at the amount of homes that exchange hands on this basis, you will understand the need for complete clarity. For example, of the apartments available in Lincoln in September, a quick survey of the first 50 for sale online showed that only three were freehold.

The remainder, a majority in larger and modern complexes, were available as leaseholds with varying years left to run and with differing service charges and ground rent as additional monthly or annual costs.

Put simply a leasehold means that a buyer owns the building in which they live, but not the land or any communal areas. The lease will cover a fixed term

and once that expires the holder is entitled by statute to gain an extension. However such extensions are subject to qualifying criteria and will start to get more expensive, on an upward scale, if there is less than 80 years left.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A leasehold means that a buyer owns the building in which they live, but not the land â&#x20AC;?

A shorter lease could also impact upon a mortgage application. There are also certain restrictions on lease extensions which depend on how long the home has been owned and solid advice will help both buyers and sellers to work through that. People must see a lease as a contract, which it certainly is and if a leaseholder fails to understand or comply fully with the lease, then a breach will have occurred, and the freeholder is well within their rights

to take action. Taken to the extreme, this could result in the freeholder taking that property back.

Ultimately, buyer, seller and freeholder must make sure they fully understand what they are signing up to and remember a solicitor must ensure the finer details are explained, thereby complying with professional codes of conduct. For further information, please contact Tom Hickingbottom on 01522 512345, email tom.hickingbottom@ wilkinchapman.co.uk or visit wilkinchapman.co.uk

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NEWS & EVENTS

What’s On... ALFORD

SCUNTHORPE

SaTuRday 1ST SuNday 2Nd dECEMBER

TuESday 4TH dECEMBER

aLFORd CHRiSTMaS CRaFT MaRkET

THE OvERTONES aT BaTHS HaLL

Stalls, live music and food, as well as quality Lincolnshire crafts and a chance to ‘meet the makers...’ you’re assured of a great time at Alford Craft Market, from 10am-4pm.

The Overtones have firmly established themselves as the number one vocal harmony group.

Since breaking in 2010 with their debut Good Ol’ Fashioned Love, the group has established their reputation as an act with the unique ability to deliver consistently uplifting music infused with exquisitely crafted vocal harmonies.

n Alford Corn Exchange LN13 9EB, 07817 889809. CRANWELL

SaTuRday 1ST - FRiday 21ST dECEMBER

CHRiSTMaS PRESENT TRaiL

It’s no wonder that they have sold over a million records and had five top five albums!

Help Molly the Mill Mouse, Dora the Duck and Charlie the Crane find their lost presents. Each venue has its own family trail - so explore these fascinating places looking for clues before claiming your own Christmas gift.

See them live at Baths Hall in Scunthorpe this December or buy tickets as an early Christmas present! VIP tickets are available.

n Call 0844 854 2776 or visit the website www.bathshall.co.uk.

Lincolnshire’s finest food

DELICIOUS LOCAL PRODUCE, GIFT STALLS & WORKSHOPS TO REALLY KICK START YOUR LINCOLNSHIRE CHRISTMAS...

n Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre, call 01529 308102. SWINESHEAD

LINCOLN

SaTuRday 1ST dECEMBER - SuNday 2Nd dECEMBER

LiNCOLNSHiRE FOOd & GiFT FaiR

A mix of delicious local produce, gift stalls and workshops make the Food & Gift fair at the Lincolnshire Showground the best way to kick start your Christmas preparations. The Lincolnshire Food & Gift Fair is a festive weekend packed full of fun for all of the family. Now in its 18th year, it’s one of the biggest in the county – and it’s all indoors! Shop unique gifts, handmade crafts and delicious treats with over 150 exhibitors, pick up everything you need for your Christmas celebrations.

n Lincolnshire Showground, LN2 2NA See www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk

SaTuRday 1ST dEC

CHRiSTMaS SHOPPiNG EvENT The best countryside gifts for grown ups and children, plus fun, festivities and a pedal tractor race track too.

n Doubleday Swineshead, 8am-5pm, 03336000670. TATTERSHALL

SaTuRday 1ST SuNday 2Nd dECEMBER

FEELiNG FESTivE WEEkENd Santa arrives at Tattershall Farm park and remains until Christmas Eve for lots of festive fun at one of Lincolnshire’s biggest and brightest farm parks.

n 01526 348332, or see www.tattershallfarmpark.co.uk.

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Send your press releases and events to: the Features Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

BOURNE

13TH dECEMBER

CHRiSTMaS CONCERT

Based at Bourne Grammar School, from 7pm-9pm, call the school for more details.

n Call 01778 422 288 or see www.bourne-grammar.lincs.sch.uk LOUTH

TuESday 4TH SaT 8TH dECEMBER

LOuTH PLayGOERS CHRiSTMaS dOuBLE BiLL

LINCOLN

THuRSday 6TH - SuNday 9TH dECEMBER

LiNCOLN’S aNNuaL CHRiSTMaS MaRkET

Stalls, performers, and festive cheer take over Lincoln’s Cathedral Quarter for four days of festive entertainment, local shopping plus food and drink. Visitors to the famous Lincoln Christmas Market will be sure to soak up the festive atmosphere across this large

market site, with more than 280 stalls nestled in and around Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, and many other venues and streets along the way. There is something for everyone, from unusual gifts to food and drink from near and far, not to mention a whole host of entertainment for all the family to enjoy. n Usually 10am-9.30pm, see www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk or call 01522 873503.

A Rat Pack Christmas

A SWINGING CHRISTMAS SHOW FROM LAS VEGAS - IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Twice the festivities in Louth this month as the Plagoers host Ken Ludwig’s T’was the Night Before Christmas and a Christmas Spectacular with dance and song as a wonderful double bill at the company’s own Riverhead Theatre in the town. These spectacular shows take place at 7pm with Saturday matinée at 2pm, tickets £5-£9.50.

n Call 01507 600350 or see www.louthriverheadtheatre.com

SCUNTHORPE

SuNday 16TH dECEMBER

CHRiSTMaS WiTH THE RaT PaCk

Well how do you like that! It’s a great time of year to enjoy the brassy, crooning sound of The Rat Pack, back for a festive show and Britain’s premier and its longest running Rat Pack tribute. Slick and stylish, the show has successfully toured venues throughout the UK and Europe for many years. This show amazes audiences with a recreation of a magical Christmas in Las Vegas at The Sands with

SKEGNESS

SaTuRday 1ST dECEMBER

THaT’LL BE THE day CHRiSTMaS SHOW

The UK’s most popular Rock ‘n’ Roll variety show celebrates the festive season with all your favourite Christmas classics from the 50s, 60s & 70s, plus plenty of hilarious comedy! Time Out describes this as the ‘The best Rock & Roll show on the road!’ n Embassy Theatre, Skegness, tickets £15-£26, from 7.30pm. 01507 613100, or see www.embassytheatre.co.uk. LINCOLN

SuNday 23Rd dECEMBER

CHRiSTMaS CaROLS

Join the Church of St Mary Magdalene for an evening of Christmas carols in the heart of Lincoln's Cathedral Quarter. Traditional Christmas carols will be followed by mince pies and mulled wine. n Call 01522 520401 or visit the website www.stmarym.org.uk.

Sinatra, Martin and Davis Jnr - Memories really are made of this, and the show includes all the great hits - My Way, Mr Bojangles, New York New York, Amore, Fly Me To The Moon and seasonal classics such as Winter Wonderland, Let It Snow, The Most Wonderful Time of The Year and of course Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. The event takes place at Scunthorpe’s Plowright Theatre from 7.30pm, with tickets from £25.05. n The Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe, 01724 290640, www.scunthorpetheatres.co.uk.

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NEWS & EVENTS

Send your press releases and events to: the Features Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

Chapterhouse’s Christmas Carol

TURNING ‘BAH, HUMBUG!” INTO “GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!” WITH A SHOW BY THE COUNTY’S ITINERANT THEATRE GROUP... LINCOLN

MONday 17TH dECEMBER WEdNESday 19TH dECEMBER

a CHRiSTMaS CaROL

On Christmas Eve, the most magical night of the year, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is whisked away on a terrifying journey through the past and into the future, accompanied by three fearsome ghosts determined to make him realise the true meaning of Christmas. Charles Dickens’ classic ghost story is brought alive in this most traditional of productions, complete with beautiful period costume, song, dance and a magnificent, original musical score.

Join critically acclaimed theatre company Chapterhouse as Scrooge’s frozen heart begins to melt and he finally embraces the festive spirit in this most Christmassy of Christmas tales. Established in 1999, the theatre group will celebrate their 20th anniversary next year, having become one of a number of touring theatre companies specialising in performing under the stars and at some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK. The very first performance was at Herstmonceux Castle where the company performed Romeo and Juliet by the moat of the beautiful Tudor building.

It was the start of an incredible 19 years which has seen the company go from strength to strength changing and adapting to new audiences and challenges every year but holding the same principals of producing warm, traditional and hopefully magical theatre in magical surroundings. A Christmas Carol is being performed at Lincoln’s Assembly Rooms, but the group also performs at venues like Woodhall Spa’s Petwood Hotel and Spalding’s Springfields during the summer months.

n County Assembly Rooms, Bailgate LN1 3AR, from 6.30pm, tickets £8-£15, call 01522 873894, or see www.lincolndrillhall.com.

GRANTHAM

SaTuRday 8TH dEC

yOu WiN aGaiN THE MuSiC OF THE BEE GEES

If you get the heeby geebies when you hear the Bee Gees you should heed your need and proceed with speed to this show. If you succeed, you’ll feed your Bee Gee greed with a couple of hours of the best tunes from the songbook of messrs., Gibb, Maurice, Robin & Barry.

This breathtaking concert spectacular, taking you on a musical journey through all your favourite songs, including: Night Fever, Stayin’ Alive, How Deep is Your Love?, Jive Talkin,’ Tragedy, Islands in the Stream, Grease, If I Can’t Have You and more! Tickets are £23.00/£21.00 concessions, Meres Live Leisure Centre, Trent Road, Grantham, NG31 7XQ.

n 01476 406158 or see guildhall artscentre.com.

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celebrate with santa at tattershall farm park! every Sat, Sun, Tues, Wed & Thurs during December from 11am-2pm

Father Christmas in his woodland grotto... Real Reindeer... Christmas biscuit decorating... Reindeer food... Letter to Santa... Plus: all of the usual farm park fun...!

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MISS: the singing Princesses

ON 15th December

TATTERSHALL FARM PARK

Marsh Lane, Tattershall LN4 4JR

www.tattershallfarmpark.co.uk

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re open from 10am, all year round!

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FOOD & DRINK

The Petwood Hotel, WOODHALL SPA

In Lincolnshire, one restaurant is commonly associated with its town; in Stamford, it’s the George and in Grantham, it’s the Brownlow Arms. In Woodhall Spa, it’s the Petwood, with the same calibre of cooking as the aforementioned restaurants, and this year it’s quality has been recognised... I feel like I’m preaching to the choir when I say the Petwood is a fabulous place to dine to the readers of Pride. I doubt there are many who are yet to taste the excellence of what the fabulous chefs here can create.

Words & Images: Tilly Wilkinson.

It’s certainly on Lincolnshire’s map of superb places to dine and it’s becoming a hotspot on the East Midlands map too.

It’s a month of celebration for the entire team at the Petwood Hotel; they have been nominated for ‘Best Hotel in the East of England’ in the Best Loved Awards. They have been highly commended for ‘Hotel of the Year’ in the Select Lincolnshire Awards, and of course they’re in the running for our own Restaurant of the Year awards (we’ll reveal the winners in our January edition).

Award excitement continues with the Midlands Family Business Awards where the Petwood is up for People’s Choice Award and Emma Brealey has been shortlisted for Director of the Year, something we’re not surprised about.

“2018 HAS BEEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR THE HOTEL HAS EVER SEEN. WE’RE VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM...”

meet the CHEF

ANTHONY GIBSON,

PETWOOD HOTEL

Emma and her fabulous team clearly have a lot to be proud of in this edition of Pride pardon the pun - and the success of the Petwood isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

“It has been a great year for us,” says Emma. “We’ve focused on continuing to build the family business, we’ve had our most successful year ever, and it is topped off with fabulous award nominations. Last year our gardens were announced as Grade II listed following our Peto garden restoration and we’re delighted that Whitings, our landscape contractors, are up for a BALI award this December.” The success of the hotel is certainly in line with its dining room, and it was a delight to try the dishes of the 12-strong brigade of

Food Philosophy: “Keep a level head and try not to get stressed. I really enjoy what I do and do it to the best of my ability. The kitchen can still be a stressful place so it’s important to keep calm.” Food Heaven: “I love new foods and I like to try different cultures and tastes from all over the world.” Food Hell: “Peas! I was a fussy eater as a kid and I’ll never forget the torment of peas!”

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We spoke to Sous Chef Anthony Gibson, proud to work at such a great place and with such a great team.

“I love the food we create and I’m really passionate about what I do,” says Anthony. “It’s just good quality, the ingredients are the best of the best and local too!” “The vast majority of the ingredients we use in our dishes at the Petwood are local. In fact three suppliers are just 15 minutes down the road.”

We use Graham’s Butchers in Woodhall, Wards of Ruskington, Moorcroft Seafoods of Grimsby and Pilgrim Foods in Boston too.”

OPEN FOR FOOD Evening Dining: 6.30pm to 9pm, every night of the week. Sunday Lunch: 12pm to 2pm

Lunchtime Dining: 12pm to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

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on the MENU A SELECTION FROM THE MAIN MENU AT THE PETWOOD HOTEL Starters

Chilled crab and fennel cannelloni garnished with pink grapefruit and scorched baby fennel.

Duck liver parfait on a Madeira and redcurrant glaze, with a date and apricot compote and a garlic and rosemary bread tuile. Main Courses

Pan fried chicken breast on puree potato with a rich red wine sauce and mushrooms. “All our desserts are homemade, scones, cakes, everything. It’s all fresh. The restaurant is 70 covers but across the bar and function rooms, we can cater for 300 covers and so it’s a busy kitchen.”

Led by Head Chef Philip Long, the brigade is a committed team and works incredibly hard. The talent development programme offers apprenticeships and takes on college leavers from Boston College, giving them their first workplace experience and developing their skills in a commercial kitchen.

They’ve all done a great job at retaining the dining room’s AA Rosette, the only dining room in Woodhall Spa to hold such an accolade. On our visit, we enjoyed a delicious dish of venison with figs and smoked mash. It is apparently quite a complicated process to smoke mashed potatoes in the kitchen, but it is so worth it; it’s a really unique flavour and absolutely delicious matched with the fig, the venison and a good bottle of red. We also enjoyed stuffed chicken with a charred onion and caramelised onion sauce on a bed of wilted spinach.

The starters - chilled crab cannelloni and pea & mint soup - and desserts were just as delicious. The dining experience felt like somewhere to treat the family to at Christmas.

If the previous years’ festive programme is anything to go by, expect excellent packages for Christmas parties including party nights with entertainment for the office bash, Christmas Day dining and a New Year’s Eve celebration with a Champagne reception. Incidentally, it’s not just offices that can benefit from the hotel’s provision of festive parties. The hotel’s private dining option means that if you’ve relatives visiting for a present swap or pre-Christmas catch up, you can avoid the hassle of entertaining - and clearing up - in favour of a get-together with friends or family in one of the hotel’s private dining rooms.

The hotel has its own programme of events, including the Fawlty Towers-themed interactive dining experience in the autumn plus live music and theatre in the grounds during the summer months. The Petwood is still one of the best places to dine in Lincolnshire... and we’re delighted it has retained its rosette to prove it, too!

Pan fried duck breast with a maple and marinated cherry sauce, served with a potato terrine and grilled pak choi. Dessert

Smooth crème brûlée with a blueberry and mixed berry gin sour.

Apple, brandy and cinnamon compote with crème patisserie and vanilla custard, topped with a frosted crumble. NB: Featured dishes are subject to change. £30 for two courses or £37.50 for three courses. Some menu items are subject to a supplement charge. n For more information about the Petwood Hotel, call 01526 352411 or visit the hotel’s brand new website www.petwood.co.uk. You’ll find the Petwood on Stixwould Road, Woodhall Spa LN10 6QG. 47

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THE THATCHED COTTAGE RESTAURANT & BAR • Beautiful unique thatched cottage

• Stunning 40 seater A La Carte restaurant • Function room catering for birthdays, wakes, christenings, conference, small wedding receptions • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Tel: 01205 461006

POOLS LANE, SUTTERTON, BOSTON, LINCS PE20 2EZ enquiries@thethatchedcottagerestaurant.co.uk www.thethatchedcottagerestaurant.co.uk

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Festive Set Lunch Menu 3 courses £23.95pp (not available on Sundays) Festive Sunday Lunch 2nd & 9th December 3 courses £25.00pp Festive Set Dinner Menu 3 courses £35.00pp (not available on Saturdays) Dine with Santa 16th December Adults: £35.00pp Children 5-12: £19.50pp Children under 5: £14.50pp Christmas Eve 12:00pm – 7:00pm 4 courses £35.00pp

Christmas in Sicily Tasting Menu 8 courses £49.50pp (discounts for tables of 10 and above) New Year’s Eve Dinner Cocktail on arrival Christmas in Sicily 8 course tasting menu After dinner dancing Glass of bubbly at midnight Late night munchies £89.00pp New Year’s Day Lunch 3 courses with Christmas Bellini on arrival Adults: £35.00pp Children under 12: £19.95pp

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A Steaming Mug of Mulled Wine

Season’s Cheer

Dom Pérignon 2009

Good Housekeeping announced that Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mulled Wine was the very best that shops had to offer. There really is no finer treat on a cold winter’s day than a fragrant steaming cup of mulled wine so make sure you don’t miss out and stock up on this for those nights you need it.

Vintage Champagne £120/75cl/12.5%

This particular bottle is a rich, warming mulled wine with citrus fruit flavours and spicy notes. Silky smooth Tempranillo and fruity Merlot wines are carefully blended with flavours of orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla to create this festive winter warmer. n £6/75cl/11%

The Wine Cellar WE’RE DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS, BUT IF IT DOESN’T COME, WE’VE ALWAYS GOT RED. HERE WE’VE PICKED THE BEST WINES FROM OUR CELLARS, IDEAL FOR YOUR FESTIVE TABLE FROM A SALMON STARTER TO CHRISTMAS PUDDING VIA TURKEY...

1.Balance the richness of a salmon or fish based starter with a delicious Chablis. Try the 2015 Chablis, L’Homme Mort, Vieilles Vignes, 1er Cru, Le Domained’Henri from Berry Bros & Rudd. £32.50/75cl/13.0% 2. What is Christmas without Turkey? Match its weight with a full-bodied white or a medium-full red wine, but the lack of fat means the wine must not have too much tannin; this Fog Monster, Zinfandel is ideal. £49.50/75cl/13.5% 3. And so, to pudding...! You ought to match sweet with sweet so for Christmas Pudding (you’d be mad not to) we recommend this, Royal Tokaji Five Puttonyos 2013 Hungary. £21.60 / 50cl / 11.0%

This is a top cuvée from one of Champagne’s most revered and renowned historic houses. Each vintage is a perfectly balanced blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, aged for a minimum of seven years. 2009 was an excellent vintage that, while still youthful, is showing great elegance. Exemplary in style, depth and quality, this is simply heavenly. Dom Pérignon is the sort of champagne that never ceases to fail in high expectations. This vintage isn’t the on the high end in terms of price, but is perfect for that small gathering or celebration. This particular vintage is creamy, rich, with a lush smoke apple finish. Whether you’re toasting the chef, having a champagne breakfast or drinking to celebrate the season, Dom Pérignon’s 2009 vintage remains sublime! n

GETTING INTO A

Christmas Spirit

With a smooth, fresh taste which demands your attention, Coole Swan is a liqueur which can be easily recognised. This drink swirls evenly in the glass and finishes with long legs of cream as a clear demonstration of its quality. Fresh and natural: subtle and complex; fresh vanilla cream combines with creamy chocolate and refined top-notes of rich cocoa and delicate hints of soft whisky to give your tastebuds an experience they’ll never forget. Coole Swan is best served cold – straight from the fridge and lasts six months once open. n £22.00/16%

n Our featured wines are available from the best local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary from those stated.

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{

A VEGAN CHRISTMAS Three recipes for vegans to enjoy this Christmas

A TWIST ON ROAST TATES

}

Roast Potatoes with Lemon, Rosemary & Thyme... Heat the oven to 180ºc. Cut about 1.5kg of fairly waxy potatoes into halves or quarters (washed but not peeled) and add to a pan. Bring to a boil, simmer for ten minutes then drain in a colander for a few minutes.

Transfer to a roasting pan and add two lemons cut into thick slices, seven to eight garlic cloves, unpeeled, lightly smashed, four sprigs of rosemary and six sprigs of thyme.

Drizzle over about four tablespoons of olive oil, toss with your hands making sure each potato is coated with oil then season well with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 - 40 minutes until the potatoes are golden brown and the lemons are beginning to caramelise. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with salt and serve!

>> Images and recipes courtesy of Riverford vegetable boxes, visit www.riverford.co.uk/recipes. 52

Kale, Fruit & Nut Pilaf with cranberries... Serves Two. Cooking Time: 30 minutes. Ingredients: 150g brown basmati rice • olive oil, for frying • one onion, finely diced •1½ tsps garam masala • 125ml white wine • 50g dried cranberries • 50g raisins • 500ml vegetable stock • 200g red Russian or curly kale, chopped if the leaves are large • 50g chopped nuts (hazelnuts, pistachios, almonds or walnuts), toasted • a squeeze of lemon juice • salt and black pepper

The kale and cranberries give this spiced rice dish a Christmassy colouring so it’s a good one to serve as a healthy meal among all the rich food around.

Put the rice in a bowl of cold water to soak. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large, deep frying pan or wide saucepan. Add the onion and fry on a low heat for 10 - 15 minutes, until the onion is soft and translucent. Drain the rice and add to the onion with the garam masala, then stir. Add the wine and simmer until it’s almost all been absorbed by the rice.

Add the dried cranberries, raisins and stock and season with salt and pepper. Simmer on a low boil for 15 minutes, then cover and steam for five minutes.

Add the kale, cover again and steam for a further five minutes or so, until the kale has gently wilted and the rice is just tender. Stir in the nuts, add a squeeze of lemon juice and more seasoning to taste. n

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Beetroot Potato Röstis with horseradish... Serves Four.

Ingredients: Two large potatoes • one large beetroot, peeled • one small red onion • 1tsp grated horseradish • one large garlic clove • small bunch of dill, roughly chopped • small bunch of tarragon, roughly chopped • small bunch of parsley, roughly chopped • 1tbsp plain flour (or rice flour to make it gluten free) • sunflower oil, for frying • salt and black pepper

A sure-hit for breakfast brunch or lunch. You can cook the beetroot first, but using it raw gives the röstis a nice bit of bite. If you have any leftover beetroot or potato these would work fine too.

Put the potatoes in a pan of cold salted water and slowly bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the potatoes in the hot water for 15 minutes so that they are half cooked. Drain and peel.

Coarsely grate the potatoes, beetroot and onion into a large bowl. Finely grate the horseradish into the same bowl.

Bash the garlic into a fine paste using a

pestle and mortar, or crush in a garlic crusher, then add it to the bowl with the herbs. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle over the flour and mix well.

Heat the oven to 190°C. Shape the mix into four burger-sized patties. They should hold together, but add more flour if not.

Heat a good slug of oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the röstis until golden brown on each side.

Transfer to a baking tray and finish cooking in the oven for 15 minutes, until crisp and cooked through. Ideal if you have leftovers that need using up!

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Six ways with...

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Looking for a little inspiration to turn the dreaded sprout into a real Christmas treat? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five ways you can mix up the mini cabbages and make them tasty...

Caramelised Sprouts

Vegan Brussels Salad

Charred Sprouts

Caramelize your Brussels sprouts before adding bacon sliced finely, a crumbling of blue cheese, chopped thyme and a sprinkle of balsamic. This is perfect for the more refined Christmas diner and chef.

A perfect option for Boxing Day. Mix together Brussels sprouts, squash, pomegranate seeds, walnuts, quinoa and basil. This is full of flavour and really healthy; ideal after a heavy Christmas Dinner.

The crisp, salty taste of charred sprouts is actually delicious on their own but if you want to add something special, mix with squash, finely chopped white onion and bits of bacon too.

Sprouts in Blankets

Brussels Sprout Gratin

Shredded Sprout Salad

Hide your Brussels in blankets of pancetta for unknowing youngsters as a healthier alternative to pigs in blankets. Add to a pan and fry with herbs and butter for a deliciously hidden Brussels sprouts.

The answer to anything you dislike is to smother it in cheese. If you have a sprout-hater or two at the table to feed, they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to resist roasted sprout gratin with bacon and cheese sauce.

Another healthy salad to enjoy with the leftovers from Christmas Day is shredded Brussels sprouts salad with red onion and walnuts. The crunch of the nut and crispness of the onions makes it a great palate cleanser.

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Fresh, Fresh, homemade, homemade, locally locally sourced sourced delicious delicious food food in in the the heart heart of of Lincolnshire... Lincolnshire...

Enjoy a taste of fine cuisine with our à la carte dining experience

SERVING FRESH LOCAL AND SEASONAL FOOD!

Available Available 12 12 noon noon –– 2pm 2pm and and 6pm 6pm –– 9pm 9pm Monday Monday to to Saturday. Saturday. Sunday Sunday Lunch Lunch served served 12noon 12noon –– 5pm. 5pm. BOOKING BOOKING IN IN ADVANCE ADVANCE IS IS RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED DUE DUE TO TO HIGH HIGH DEMAND DEMAND

Church Lane, North Kyme Lincolnshire LN4 4DJ

(01526) 861 400

www.theplough.restaurant 55

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CAKES&BAKES CHRISTMAS

Local baker Katie Jones owner of Cocoa & Cane has baked some delicious festive treats for you try at home this season...

Words & Images: Tilly Wilkinson.

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One for the CHILDREN

If you’re looking to bake as a family, Katie suggests these easy-to-make and super tasty Christmas cookies that the kids can have a go at decorating...

COOKIES Christmas Sugar Cookies & Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation time: 80 minutes. Cooking time: 10-12 minutes. Makes 12. Ingredients: (for sugar cookies) 100g caster sugar (or if you’re sugar reducing for your children, Katie suggests coconut sugar; completely natural and unrefined) • 200g plain flour • 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • one large egg • 90g room temperature butter • (for gingerbread cookies) 300g plain flour • 125g butter • 100g muscovado sugar • three tbsps golden syrup • two tsps ground ginger • one tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 180ºc if you’re making either the sugar cookies or the gingerbread. For the sugar cookies, start by creaming the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl add all the dry ingredients, then add this to the butter and sugar mixture, combining gently. You should be able to mould this into dough now. Roll the dough out onto greaseproof paper to roughly five millimetres depth and pop in the fridge to set for between half an hour to an hour. You can now cut out your cookie shapes and lay into greaseproof paper on a tray and bake for between 10 to 12 minutes, or until just golden brown. These are great iced, which makes a lovely Christmassy activity to do with the little ones.

If you would prefer to make the gingerbread cookies, start by melting the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly then roll out to roughly five millimetres depth. These can then be cut and laid onto a tray covered with greaseproof. Bake for roughly eight to 10 minutes or until golden brown, a little darker than the sugar cookies. These are lovely little treats to have in the house at Christmas, but Katie has a gingerbread treat if you’re looking for more of a challenge later in this feature. Use any kind of cookie cutters you like and decorate how you like! Katie used icing sugar and edible silver balls. Tie three or four of your cookies with red ribbon and give them as gifts this Christmas.

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One for the Adults

These truffles are a little messy to make but trust us, it’s worth it! Certainly more adult-only, they’re rather boozy (it is Christmas!)...

TRUFFLES Champagne Belgian Truffles & Very Boozy Gin Truffles Preparation time: Four to Five Hours. Makes 12. Ingredients: 300g quality dark chocolate (Katie uses 70% Callebaut Belgian chocolate because it’s rich without being too bitter) • 300ml double cream • 50g butter • pinch of salt • Champagne or gin or a tipple of your choice • 300 - 400g dark chocolate to coat • 100g butter • one tbsp golden syrup

First of all, melt half the chocolate, half the butter and salt over a Bain-Marie. Once melted remove from the heat and add the double cream. Once mixed add your tipple of choice.

For the Champagne truffles (with the gold leaf on top), Katie added two to three large sploshes, and for the gin truffles, she added one large splosh because it’s stronger. But it is Christmas, so the more the merrier! Put into the fridge for a few hours to set. Remove from the fridge and allow to come up to room temperature for roughly half an hour to an hour, then start spooning out portions and rolling them into the truffles in your hands. There’s no way to avoid it, it’s a gloriously messy task! Once you’ve rolled them all into truffles, pop them onto greaseproof paper on a tray or a plate.

Now pop them in the fridge or the freezer again to set whilst you melt the chocolate to coat them.

Melt 300-400g of dark chocolate, 50g butter and tablespoon of golden syrup over a Bain-Marie. The golden syrup will help to keep the chocolate glossy without having to temper the chocolate, which is quite a lengthy process and requires a thermometer.

After the truffles are nice and cold, use a couple of teaspoons to dip and cover each truffle, and replace back onto the greaseproof paper. Once all truffles are coated pop them back into the fridge to set. They’re ready to eat whenever you are... These are ideal for when you have guests over or if you want to treat yourself after a long day of Christmas shopping!

Above: Very boozy and delicious Champagne and gin Belgian chocolate truffles for adults only!

Left: Local cake lady Katie Jones of ‘Cocoa & Cane.’ For more information, visit www.cocoaandcane.com.

Alternatively, call Katie on 07961 612610 to book your next batch of tasty tray bakes and cakes today!

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GINGERBREAD CAKE a twist on a gingerbread house and the perfect gift

Prep time: 5 mins. Cooking Time: 20-30 mins. Ingredients: 170g butter • 170g caster sugar • 140g self-raising flour • three eggs • 3tsp milk • 3oz drinking chocolate • 1oz cocoa powder • 400g butter • 200g icing sugar

Whisk all ingredients until pale and fluffy, then divide into two 10cm, lined and greased cake tins and bake for between 20 to 30 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Leave to cool completely. Whisk the butter and icing sugar until white and fluffy. Add more sugar if necessary. Take your round cutter and carve out your individual slices. The example Katie has made is three layers deep. She usually pops the sponges into the freezer next for an hour or so before decorating for ease. Put a blob of buttercream on the cake board or plate and add the first sponge, then your first layer of buttercream. Repeat until you have all your layers, and then cover the cake with buttercream and smooth with a palette knife. Katie decorated it with little gingerbread cookies for a festive finish!

FLORENTINES thoroughly festive with glacé cherries and flaked almonds

Prep Time: 15 mins. Cooking Time: 15 mins. Ingredients: 50g butter • 50g caster sugar • 50g golden syrup • 50g plain flour • 25g glacé cherries, chopped • 50g flaked almonds • 200g dark chocolate • 25g butter for chocolate • 1 tbsp golden syrup

Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan on a gentle heat. Stir in all the other ingredients. Spoon onto greaseproof lined trays. You only need teaspoon sized portions and leave generous gaps between each Florentine because they will flatten and spread as they heat. Bake for eight to ten minutes. They will need removing from the greaseproof while still warm with a palette knife or fish slice; if they cool too much they will stick to the paper. If you need to, you can pop them back into the oven to warm up a bit to remove. Refrigerate until set. Melt the chocolate, butter and golden syrup on a Bain-Marie, turn the Florentines upside down and add the chocolate, then pop back into the fridge to set.

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Celebrating 'Pub of the Year' weekly specials...

Monday: Whole Beercan Chicken with veg & gravy or salad & mayo £13.99 Tuesday: Johns Curry Night with naan, rice and chutney £14.99 Wednesday: The Proper Pie Night £9.99 Thursday: Mixed Grill £12.99 Friday/Saturday: 6 course tasting menu only £35.00 Sunday: famous home-cooked carvery (kids now just £2.99) EVERY NIGHT INCLUDES VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN OPTIONS!

North Side, Thorney PE6 0RW

01733 202256 • www.doginad.co.uk

PUB • RESTAURANT • OUTSIDE CATERING • ACCOMMODATION

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Lincolnshire Pride DEC 197.qxp 29/10/2018 11:05 Page 66

Lincolnshire Pride DEC 197.qxp 29/10/2018 11:05 Page 67

CHRISTMAS

GIFT GUIDE

Celebrate the season and give your loved one a gift they’ll treasure courtesy of the county’s best independent retailers. This month we’ve asked them to suggest thoughtful gifts for ladies, gents and younger members of the family too... Compiled by: Rob Davis and Tilly Wilkinson.

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- CHRISTMAS GIFTS -

(Opposite) Labradors on Moor cushion by Country Matters £18. Palm £25. Christmas Lights in warm white £22/6m set. Resin Pheasant £49.99. Throw from a range e.g.: Old Friends; Labradors £32. Sundrop Tealight Holder £8. Stoneglow Christmas Candle Juniper Berry & Cedar £25. Thermal Mug labrador design £9.50. Compact Umbrella by Country Matters, £18. Stoneglow Reed Diffusers £22. Terrarium in gold £29. Money Houseplant £4.99.

(Main) Perfume Giorgio Armani Si, £73 - £84.15. Rocking Horse John Deere branding, Sharmans. Necklace 18ct gold locket, red enamel, diamonds, £2,995, Hewitts. Ring 18ct gold and diamond ring, £2480, Hopper of Boston. Watch Daniel Wellington Melrose, £109, Striacroft Jewellers. Stacker Rings £4,950, David Fowkes. Ring £call, Eric A Bird. Bag Fairfax & Favor Langley bag, £395, Giles & Bella. Mug Set £19.99, Scothern Nurseries.

All of our featured products on the opposite page are available from Johnson Wainfleet Road, Fishtoft, Boston PE21 9RZ, call 01205 363408 or see www.johnsonsofboston.co.uk.

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A Local Festive Hamper... from £15 upwards, to your specification with wicker or wooden hampers, Abbey Parks, East Heckington 01205 821610 n

Tea & Coffee Gifts... Who doesn’t enjoy a refreshing drink mid-morning? The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company have plenty of festive gifts, call 01522 681838. n

Whilst we’re on the subject of food, we hope that the prospect of a Hambleton Farm Foods bronze free range Turkey, proves mouth-watering, £12.65/kg, at Johnsons Garden Centre, Boston, 01205 363408. n

Angel Tealight Holder £8. Baubles & Snowflakes Shatterproof £15/set 40. (Above) Stoneglow Reed Diffuser Pink Pepper £35. Yankee Candles large sizes £23.99, small £8.99. Felt Robin, approx 30cm tall £12. Poinsettia from £6.99. Poppy Bracelet from Spilsby Jewellers at Johnsons £15. Amaryllis bulb growing kit £9.99. Wellies by Laura Ashley, £14. Diffuser by Stoneglow, Cedarwood and Cypress £29. Candle Botanical Candle £35. n

All of our featured products on this page are available from Johnson Wainfleet Road, Fishtoft, Boston PE21 9RZ, call 01205 363408 or see www.johnsonsofboston.co.uk.

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Bespoke Christmas Decoration Hire Service Commercial or Domestic Commissions Trees from 3ft-40ft, decorated trees plus wreaths, garlands & displays, all supplied, decorated and installed in situ

DECORATIVE EVENTS Christmas, Wedding & Event Decoration

01406 701912 â&#x20AC;˘ 07484 225360 www.decorativeevents.org

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CHRISTMAS BOOKS

The Best Festive Books Curling up with a good book in the chilly winter months is a profound pleasure, so we’ve asked the Pride team to review a few of this season’s recommendations from Waterstones of Boston and Lincoln. They’re great fireside reads for the long nights, but also make ideal gifts for loved ones too! Words & Images: Rob Davis.

Queen of the World

Zog

Reviewed by Julian Wilkinson, Publisher

Reviewed by Rob Davis, Executive Editor

Robert Hardman, £25

With unprecedented access to the Royal Household, Hardman has done a sterling job of creating a poignant retrospective of the life and career of our longest-reigning monarch. It’s warm, insightful but honest, as all biographies should be. It also serves as a great partner to the ITV documentary about the family. Chapters deal with topics like transatlantic relations, the legacy of the Commonwealth, HRH Prince Charles’ succession and - especially relevant to 2019 - the country’s relationship with Europe. HHHHH

Boston in the Great War Mark Green, £14.99

Reviewed by Ian Bagley, Production Director

During a year which has seen us honour the centenary of The Great War, Mark Green’s book on the subject produces a fascinating and relatable local take on the subject. There are Grimsby, Lincoln and Newark equivalents, but what impressed me most about the Boston volume was the number of illustrations and photographs, which really helped to bring home the honour and tragedy of those who fought for King and country. Sometimes a difficult read, but as history books go, there are few that can match the author’s ability to make a subject so lucid, especially as the political consequences of the Great War are still being felt around the globe today. HHHHH

Julia Donaldson, £6.99

Something high-brow and challenging to the intellect for the Editor? Nope! Instead, I’m recommending Zog by arguably the best children’s author around. Each Christmas for the past few years Julia has enjoyed seeing an adaptation of one her books The Gruffalo; Room on the Broom; Stick Man - take pride of place in the festive TV listings. This year it’s the turn of haphazard dragon-in-training Zog. Whilst this isn’t Donaldson’s newest book, it’ll be popular this season when it screens on Christmas Day. My little boy, George, loved me reading any book by the author then enjoyed them all over again when re-reading them independently. Repetition, rhyming and some wonderful illustrations by Donaldson’s publishing partner Axel Scheffler make this a great festive gift for children and a lovely book to read together this winter. HHHHH

Ikigai

Héctor García, Francesc Miralles, £12.99 Reviewed by Zoie Wilkinson, Ad Director

Ikigai is a fabulous book that professes to offer the secret of a long and happy life. In fact, despite initially sounding like a gimmick - 2019’s hygge - this little lightweight book is actually rather more rounded on common sense than its title might suggest. Stress, the importance of sleep and ‘flow’ essentially being in the moment - are all subjects dispatched in a quite down-to-earth way. This book is certainly a nice undemanding stocking filler even if its constituent elements have already been dealt with in myriad self-help books before. HHHHH

Together

Foreword by HRH Duchess of Sussex £9.99 Reviewed by Mandy Bray, Graphic Designer

This isn’t just another cookbook by a Bake-Off winner, released prior to Christmas to cash in, but an admirable take on the power of cooking to bring us together. The book’s 50 recipes come from survivors of the Grenfell Tower in a community kitchen following the disaster as they awaited news of loved ones. The diversity of recipes reflect the diversity of the Grenfell community, and tell how families came together to eat and heal their grief over shared food. Profits from the book will, of course, go to support the Grenfell community via The Royal Foundation, and there are some really interesting flavours to be found within its pages too. HHHHH

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Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Stuart Turton, £8.99

Reviewed by Tilly Wilkinson, Editor

An interesting take on the murder mystery genre, this book is a sort of Cluedo meets Groundhog Day story, with the protagonist waking up afresh on the day of Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder over and over again. Each time Aiden is too late to save her, and as he wakes up in the body of a different guest each day, the story of her untimely death unfolds in a little more detail! HHHHH

Erebus: The Story of a Ship Michael Palin, £20.00

Reviewed by Sue Bannister, Office Manager

There are few subjects that Michael Palin could cover without his trademark wit and humour. A spin-off to the Radio Four series, the ex-Monty Python travel writer tells the story of a 19th century ship commandeered by Lincolnshire’s own John Franklin for its final disastrous voyage. Well-written and rewarding, but perhaps too much of a niche subject to give it broader appeal. HHHHH

How to Give Up Plastic Will McCallum, £12.99

Reviewed by Charlotte Aiken, Sales Executive

It would be easy for a book on environmental responsibility to come across as being a bit preachy, but in fact, McCallum’s 210-page explanation of why plastic is a ticking timebomb for the planet makes a good case; calmly, accessibly and crucially without reprehending the reader. If you live or work in the country, you’ll care about this subject and this easy-to-digest book is a good point, well-made, given that we’re already hearing how, as a society, we need to scale back our dependence on plastic. HHHHH

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Lethal White

The Way Past Winter

Reviewed by Carissa Clay, Sales Executive

Reviewed by Cassy Ayton, Sales Manager

Robert Galbraith, £12.99

Robert Galbraith is a pen name of J K Rowling, who wanted to avoid comparisons with her Harry Potter canon for her follow-up literary project. This is the fourth of her Strike novels, proving that she can still be gripping even without her familiar literary device of a bespectacled wizard! HHHHH

The Little Book of Lincolnshire Lucy Wood, £9.99

Reviewed by Emily Brown, Telesales Director

This is a lovely little ‘coffee table book’ and a great stocking filler just in time for Christmas. A compendium of little stories, anecdotes and silly facts like how Lincolnshire sheep-shearers used to count their flock; ‘yan, tan, tethera and pethera...!’ It’s easy to dip in and out of, idea, dare we suggest, for the smallest room in the house! HHHHH

The Lincolnshire Dialect Lindsey Bourne, £4.99

Reviewed by Joe Proctor, Web Developer

Coming from over the border in Newark and Nottinghamshire, I find the accent and dialectic difference between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire fascinating; such a short distance, such a big difference! This amusing little stocking filler-sized book can easily be picked up and put down, and in addition to containing a list of dialect words, it offers an explanation as to their origin, and a few Lincolnshire-centric traditions, anecdotes and snippets besides. It’s certainly a great little book for ex-pats or for those who are new to the county, and a nice little volume for the coffee table! HHHHH

Kiran Millwood Hargrave, £10.99

Hargrave’s third book is for children, although perhaps young teenagers, so it was a little too old for my daughter. Nonetheless it’s a perfect winter read and an accessible ‘grown up’ book for young ladies, telling the story of Mila and Rune - a boy mage - who set off to find Mila’s missing baby brother Oskar. HHHHH

In the Shadow of the Stump R K Leatherdale, £9.99

Reviewed by Tina Waterfall, Sales Executive

A great old murder mystery starring one of Lincolnshire’s finest landmarks, The Stump. Set in 1904, with a cursory mention of a few local places. HHHHH

Becoming

Michelle Obama, £25.00

Comment by Roberta Hall, Field Sales Director

This year’s star book release and must-read autobiography will be Michelle Obama’s Becoming. As Pride goes to press copies were still not available for review - hence our inability to give a star rating - and everything bar the cover and title is still subject to a strict embargo. Nonetheless, the book promises a fascinating insight into the life of the First Lady of the US - the first African American to serve in the role - as well as talking about Michelle’s life as a powerful advocate for women’s rights, her role as a health campaigner and arguably her most difficult job, being a mum to her children. It’s set to be warm, searingly honest and very lively, with revelations and perspicacity throughout its 448 pages.

n Our 2018 winter book preview was produced in association with Waterstones. Copies of each featured book are available from 18 Pescod Square, Boston PE21 6QX, or 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF.

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THAT’S

a Wrap

The gift of giving is great, but it feels even more special when it’s wrapped in the finest paper finished with a rich velvet ribbon tied in a bow. Here’s a selection from Cox & Cox...

Above: Grey Snowflakes Wrapping paper £12.50/ 10m roll, ‘Merry Christmas’ ribbon £9.50 for 20m and gift tags £7.50 for 10. Left: Golden Star Reversible gold and star wrapping paper £12.50/ 10m, 20m Lustre ribbon £12.50 and gold star gift tags £7.50 for 10.

Opposite/Top Left: Red Red wrapping paper, 10m roll £12.50, red script ‘Merry Christmas’ 20m ribbon £9.50, 10 red and cream gift tags £7.50. Opposite/Top Right: Dot & Star Reversible wrapping paper, 10m £12.50, wide jute ribbon £8.50, ‘Let it Snow’ ribbon £10.50, 10 Dot & Star gift tags £7.50.

Opposite/Left: Marble Wrapping paper £12.50 for 10m, charcoal and silver wired ribbon £12.50 for 20m. Opposite/Right: Copper wrapping paper £12.50, opulent copper gift tags £7.50, ‘Merry Christmas’ ribbon £9.50. This gift wrap goes really well with Cox & Cox’s mini star wrapping paper, similar to the gold star paper but with smaller copper stars as the print.

For more information: Call 0330 333 2123 or visit the website www.coxandcox.co.uk for more information and to browse mores styles of luxury wrapping paper from the well known homes brand.

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Lincolnshire Pride DEC 197.qxp 29/10/2018 11:06 Page 78

Give the gift of Lincolnshire this season...

It’s easy to subscribe to the area’s Finest Magazine, either to enjoy yourself, or to be delivered to a friend or loved one as a Gift Subscription throughout 2019. Six months for £18, 12 months for £36, both delivered to you each month.

Call 01529 469977 and pay by credit or debit card, or subscribe online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk. 78

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Lincolnshire Pride DEC 197.qxp 29/10/2018 11:06 Page 80

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SILENCE THE SOUND OF

THE BEAUTIFUL HOME OF MR AND MRS TERRY IS POSITIONED IN BLISSFUL SECLUSION, BUT IT’S NOT FAR OUT OF LONG BENNINGTON EITHER. THIS IS A CONVERTED BARN THAT PERFECTLY BALANCES SECLUSION AND INCLUSION, OLD AND NEW, AND IT’S UP FOR SALE WITH FINE AND COUNTRY... Words: Georgie Fenn.

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Rowe Farm in Long Bennington has been the home of the Terry family for six years during which they’ve been getting their brood through a fantastic education.

“We’ve actually lived in Long Bennington for 12 years, we moved to this property from the centre of the village because we wanted a bit more land and some privacy,” says Sarah Terry. “The property as you see it now is extended but it offers so much more potential.” Sarah fills me in about their renovation of one of the barns to create the summer house. All of the buildings used to house animals, the beams and high ceilings give the home a Above: The bathroom has a fabulous stand-alone bath and marble floor.

Main: The light and bright sitting room has beautiful views of the countryside.

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really spacious feel and it makes it lovely and light. There are further outbuildings that the Terrys haven’t developed; these could be used as stables, garages or even converted into holiday cottages. This property has enormous potential for the right buyer! “One of the other reasons we chose this property was because of its fantastic location with regard to schooling,” says Sarah.

“In Long Bennington we’re in the catchment area for King’s School in Grantham so both of our sons went to Kings. Our eldest son Cameron has just started a Chartered Manager Course, the younger son Dylan is in his final year of GCSE’s at Kings and our daughter, Scarlett, is at Belvoir High School so only just starting to think about GCSEs.”

“Despite being far enough out of the village to have pure private bliss, Sarah says that community spirit is strong and everyone helps each other...” “I should also mention how easy transport is for our children here,” says Sarah. “As our address is registered in Long Bennington we’re eligible for school transport. For example the bus stops at the end of the drive and if there is no bus, they send a taxi service which is done through the government.” Long Bennington itself is a fabulous village

to live in. “We have everything here,” says Sarah. “There’s a Post Office, three great pubs, a restaurant, it’s got it all.”

Despite being far enough out of the village to have pure private bliss, Sarah says that community spirit is strong and everyone helps each other out. “One local farmer helps top our fields and another cuts the hedges,” she says. “The previous owners used the land and had horses in the two paddocks but we’ve only dabbled with llamas for a year or so before a University asked us if they could have them,” says Sarah. “So they’ve gone to University now where they’re part of a larger llama herd and every so often they donate their blood towards dementia research, it’s fantastic really!”

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The gardens are fairly easy to maintain at Rowe Farm, “I absolutely love roses so we’ve incorporated two rose gardens in a more formal area,” says Sarah. “One is fairly mature now whereas the other was planted more recently. We also have an orchard area where we grow apples, pears, cherries and plums. It’s enclosed and gated because the previous owners had chickens, it’s perfect for that!” Heading back into the home and you’ll see there is a delightful sky blue Aga waiting for you. “It’s one of the modern styles complete so you can cook on electric,” says Sarah. “You don’t ever have to turn it off in the summer it just stays on slumber mode and takes just 15 minutes to get hot when you want it back on again.” Left: The property’s bright yellow entrance room. Above: The main kitchen in the home features a sky blue Aga that’s perfect for entertaining.

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Doesn’t that sound sensible? Unusually for a farmhouse, they’re on Calor gas rather than oil, another money-saver that is economical for an open plan building of this size.

You’ll also see from the photos the abundance of high quality bespoke furniture in the property. For example the pale orange master suite features it’s very own walk in wardrobe, entirely designed to be in keeping with the style of the property and it’s huge! There are five bathrooms in total and two of them have the magnificent roll top baths complete with dramatic clawed feet. That’s not all, there is also a completely selfcontained cottage included in the sale of this property. It has it’s own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom and is perfect if you’d like to spend a night away from your family, move your parents in or even earn some extra money on the side running an Airbnb. However, once you get used to being alone you won’t want anyone disturbing your tranquil bliss out in the countryside. n

ROWE FARM

LONG BENNINGTON Style: A very substantial individual barn conversion. Bedrooms: Five bedrooms, five bathrooms. Receptions: A remarkable living room with vaulted ceiling, a summer house, games area and more. Features: A further 10 acres, outbuildings, further barns to develop. In an easily commutable distance to London. Price: £995,000. Find Out More: Rowe Farm is currently on the market with Fine & Country, Lincoln Office, 55 High Street Navenby Lincolnshire LN5 0DZ Call 01522 287008 or for more info see www.fineandcountry.com.

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Create a home youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud of, comfortable and attractive, with Eye4Design. The Spalding based business can provide everything from paint, wallpaper, fabrics and bespoke sofas & chairs to a full interior design service - curtains for individual windows, entire rooms or a complete redesign of your entire home... we help bring your ideas to life, rather just imparting ours!

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Quality Flooring from Karndean and Amtico... Carpets & rugs... Sofas & furniture for every room in your home...

Windsor

WONDER WINDSOR CHAIRS are a great enigma in the world of collecting. On one hand unmistakable from other forms of seating, but their unique design quirks from one area to the next makes them very individual pieces.

The term itself is slightly confusing. There is doubt the chairs originated in Windsor and gained their name because they were shipped there in great number, from the early Thames Valley makers to be sent onto London for sale.

Berry Way, Skegness, PE25 3QS

01754 896699 www.vernonsinteriors.co.uk

Over 30 years providing a quality design service you can really trust!

They were produced in a great many areas from all corners of the country with some dating back to the 17th century; examples were even imported to America as far back as 1730. English Windsors were often made with ash and elm, yew is rarer and American examples can be made of several different woods including pine.

A cabriole legged Thames Valley chair differs greatly to say the comb topped examples found more in the West Country, Gothic chairs seldom appear and differ immensely to the quaint Lincolnshire style made by a great many names including Amos, Dolby, Camm and Hubbard.

A local chair will usually have plain back legs, a single ring moulding to the front legs and a full spindle back. The most obvious sign of a definite area however is a makerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stamp, as found on the Hubbard example illustrated here. John Hubbard was a prolific maker. Mentioned in the 1841 census he is responsible for a great number of Windsors. This ash and elm example dates to the early 19th century.

This chair is textbook for an early 19th century Grantham piece. Its seat stamp makes it extremely desirable in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market; appealing to scholars, interior decorators and collectors. Although named chairs are rare other furniture is more so: named spinning wheels for example were made but have never been found and if any Pride readers should have one, they have a very rare object indeed! n With best wishes, Craig Bewick, MRICS. Auctioneer Golding Young & Mawer, Grantham.

Traditional chair types in a single county made in a catchment area of a few miles differ greatly, a chair from Caistor would look very different to a South Lincolnshire piece for example. Tens of thousands of chairs were made in the Lincolnshire and Cambridge areas, with Alford, Grantham and Louth being particularly prolific.

Find Out More: Craig Bewick is an antiques specialist with Golding, Young & Mawer: The Bourne Auction Rooms, Spalding Road, Bourne PE10 9LE, 01778 422686; The Grantham Auction Rooms, Old Wharf Road, Grantham NG31 7AA, 01476 565118; The Stamford Valuation Office, The George Mews, Station Road, Stamford PE9 2LB, 01780 751666 or The Lincoln Auction Rooms, Thos Mawer House Station Road, North Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 3QY, 01522 524984. Alternatively, see www.goldingyoung.com.

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Lincolnshire Pride DEC 197.qxp 29/10/2018 11:07 Page 89

A White Christmas

IF YOU’RE DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN YOUR HOME BUT IT’S LACKING IN MONOCHROMATIC LUXE, CHOOSE FROM THE BEST LOCAL SUPPLIERS TO GET DREAMY SOFT FURNISHINGS IN TIME FOR THE CHRISTMAS DECKS... Christmas is all about time together as a family in the home. That’s why it’s important to have a home you feel comfortable in during the festive season with soft furnishings and decorations you’re proud to welcome guests in to see.

It’s refreshing to go neutral too for Christmas rather than traditional reds, golds and greens, to lighten up the house when the sun is lacking.

Lincolnshire benefits from a wealth of superb luxury local suppliers who specialise in different rooms and areas of interior design.

Vernons Interiors (01754 896699) in Skegness can transform your living space with new furniture, unique decorations or carpets too.

Osbourne Blinds & Interiors (01522 684371) in Lincoln has a wide range of blinds, curtains, fabrics and wallpapers to choose from. So do the Cushions & Curtains Centre (01522 536856) with showrooms in Woodhall Spa, Skegness and Lincoln. There is also Roger Davis Interiors (01522 531371). The Lincoln firm offers curtains, blinds and shutters and decor too.

DT Stoves (01778 218269) in Market Deeping is ideal for getting a warm, winter fireplace in Main: Go for silvers, soft whites and hints of blue for a white Christmas setting. Right: A decorated bannister is a staple in every Christmas enthusiasts home. Images: Amara www.amara.com.

time for the festive season. It’s well worth the investment when it gets a little cooler.

For an abundance of unique home decor and furniture try Decor Clever (01777 712661), the Sack Store in Boston (01205 310101), the Rug Studio (01572 829927) or Scothern Nurseries (01673 862297). Askews of Alford (01507 462936) has been providing luxury furniture since 1992. >>

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Above: For the table decorations, keep it neutral to make the meal look extra special! Photos: Debenhams, www.debenhams.com.

BEAUTY IN THE BAUBLE

Left: From baubles to snow globes, just the smallest touches can make a home feel festive. Above: Frosted trees work well to create the white Christmas look. Right: You can still add a touch of gold and green to a monochromatic scheme as displayed here.

Featured: John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com.

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GIVE YOUR FLAT ROOF A MAKEOVER WITH LINCOLNSHIREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PREMIER FLAT ROOFING COMPANY

01522 246563 | 01205 316563 www.advancedflatroofing.com info@advancedflatroofing.com

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GARDEN ROOMS

A New Orangery: Just in time for Summer... Quality shouldn’t cost a fortune, but it should last a lifetime. That’s the philosophy of Chris Shaw of Sleaford’s Morriss & Shaw, who creates beautiful bespoke orangeries for locals to enjoy just in time for summer...

Looking across your chilly dew-laden lawns under overcast skies it’s difficult to remember the endless summer we’ve had with soaring temperatures and deep blue skies. But spring will be here before we know it and summer will follow - hopefully of the same quality, warmth and longevity we enjoyed in 2018.

This isn’t just the time of year to think about Christmas, but to look ahead to next summer. Start to plan and commission a bespoke orangery now and it can be completed in time for you to enjoy when the better weather comes along. Chris Shaw is a bespoke joiner specialising in exterior and architectural joinery and specifically orangeries for Lincolnshire’s period properties.

Working with a turnaround of about four months from planning to completion, assisting in the planning process, and specialising in full project management his firm, Morriss & Shaw Garden Houses, can extend your home and turn your vision for your property into a new space that will blend beautifully with your period home whilst affording you extra space for enjoying family life all year round, whether as an additional reception

room or to accommodate a new living kitchen. Morriss & Shaw typically work with budgets of £35,000 - £75,000 and can create roof lanterns, sash windows, and other heritage joinery products as well as creating new rooms for your home. Chris has spent 18 years in the industry having learned his craft with a Grantham-based producer of hardwood conservatories before setting up independently in April 2017, trading with partners Classical Orangeries to create and install their European orangeries.

His turnkey solutions see him liaising with trades from builders to landscape gardeners like Alan Mason Garden Design to interior designers, and he hand-builds his orangeries off-site in his workshop to ensure your project is faster and fuss-free to install once on site.

Using thermally efficient glazing, electrically deployed roof vents and external ironmongery, Chris’s orangeries are comfortable all year round and are completely bespoke to the size, shape and architecture of your property... creating a space you can enjoy all year round whilst adding style, practicality and value to your home. n

Morriss & Shaw Garden Houses is based in Sleaford and work across the whole of the UK. Call 01529 300609 or 07832 344046, or see www.morrissandshawgardenhouses.com. 94

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BESPOKE KITCHENS • FINE FURNITURE

Sue & John Gillespie

We chose Chris Sharp Cabinets to make our new kitchen. On our initial visit to the showroom. We were welcomed and then browsed the varied kitchen styles on our own and liked the quality. We were not given a hard sell but when asked were told about the process.

At every stage from planning to final touches the friendly professionals provided excellent advice and workmanship. Our new kitchen is beautiful and practical. A tip to customise the glass backsplash pulled it all together.

Premium bespoke kitchens without the premium price Come and visit our extensive showroom QUOTE PRIDE18 ON THE PURCHASE OF YOUR KITCHEN AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A FREE 30CM WINE CHILLER WITH EVERY COMPLETED KITCHEN OVER £8,000

Chris Sharp Cabinets Ltd Tillbridge Lane Scampton Lincoln LN1 2SX email: enquiries@chrissharpcabinets.co.uk www.chrissharpcabinets.co.uk www.cscbespokekitchens.co.uk

CALL US TODAY ON:

01522 504 506 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

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Nicholas Martin Cabinets High quality fitted and freestanding kitchen, bedroom & bathroom furniture

01522 789011

Bassingham, Lincoln LN5 9LL www.nicholasmartincabinets.co.uk 97

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GEORGIAN

CHARM Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

100

This stunning Georgian townhouse is just as impressive inside as it is outside. 76 Spilsby Road in Boston has been lovingly restored to a high standard throughout, offering period charm and a central location; what more could you want from a property?

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76 SPILSBY ROAD,

BOSTON

Above: The rear garden on Spilsby Road in Boston and the front sitting room.

Growing up in the beautiful market town of Boston, I’ve driven past this row of properties on Spilsby Road many times, always slowing down to take a longer look. They’re charming and really unique to any of the surrounding homes along the sought after road. It’s hard for them not to catch your eye as you go past.

It’s therefore very exciting to see what one looks like inside and it doesn’t disappoint. 76 Spilsby Road is currently on the market after being renovated to an exceptionally high standard. The general level of amenity has been greatly improved with the addition of several modern twists, whilst staying true to the original Georgian look.

The large sash windows provide exceptional levels of natural light which are further

enhanced by the clever use of cutting-edge LED technology.

The highest quality materials have been used throughout including, but not limited to; hand finished solid oak floorboards, a handmade Jonathan Ditchburn kitchen, London Radiator gun metal cast iron radiators, Riviera woven carpets, Carrera Italian Marble bathroom and a Farrow & Ball colour scheme throughout.

location: A short walk to the centre of Boston, near a hospital. style: An exceptional Georgian townhouse that has been renovated to an exceptionally high standard. bedrooms: Three/four bedrooms and four floors. These could be used as reception rooms or bedrooms. receptions: Three comprising of the sitting room, kitchen and spacious entrance hall. other features: Extensive garden to the rear, impressive LED lighting throughout and modern styling. Price: £429,995.

All of the removeable fixtures and fittings shown in the photographs are available by separate negotiation including the sofa, double beds, refrigerator and hot tub. You’re welcomed to a beautiful entrance hall that leads to the sitting room, kitchen and utility room. It’s clear to see in the photos, the kitchen is of the highest spec with marble

101

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tops, bespoke cabinetry and a butler sink. The utility is also well appointed.

A unique feature to this home is the lower ground floor. It’s a really versatile, modern space, able to function as a self-contained guest suite, two bedrooms with en-suite or as a garden room and snug. Whatever you choose to do with this space, the most impressive room is the wet room on this floor. It has a sliding oak door, tiled underheated floor, heated mirror, large multi-jet concealed shower and a stunning mix of ceramic and brushed metal wall tiles.

Going back up the stairs to the ground floor and up again to the first floor, you’ll find the master bedroom and family bathroom. The bedroom has a wall of fitted wardrobes and LED lighting throughout. It’s spacious and features two sash windows. 102

The family bathroom features Carrera Italian Marble tiling, a freestanding bath with chrome waterfall tap, walk-in twin shower, Jack & Jill basins with soft-close drawers under, two heated mirrors activated by concealed PIR sensors, and a fitted handmade wardrobe. On the second floor, you’ll reach the second bedroom that features exposed oak beams and concealed handmade wooden drawers giving this room much more space.

Outside, a brick arch opens up to a handmade oak pergola. The first garden has areas of lawn which leads you down to the private Mediterranean style garden with raised decking and pizza oven. A multi-jet hot tub is installed, available by separate negotiation. It is the perfect spot for entertaining guests in all seasons, and the perfect finish to such a superb property inside and out.

“THE FIRST GARDEN HAS AREAS OF LAWN WHICH LEADS YOU DOWN TO THE PRIVATE MEDITERRANEAN STYLE GARDEN WITH RAISED DECKING AND PIZZA OVEN...”

Above: The stunning bespoke marble-top kitchen designed and made by Jonathan Ditchburn.

Right: The beautiful Mediterranean private garden with a pizza oven and raised decking.

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“THE FAMILY BATHROOM HAS CARRERA ITALIAN MARBLE TILING, A FREESTANDING BATH WITH WATERFALL TAP, WALK-IN TWIN SHOWER, JACK AND JILL SINKS AND HEATED MIRRORS...” Above: The fireplace in the sitting room on the ground floor.

Below: The lower ground floor wet room and the property at night.

Left: The Carrera Italian marble tiled bathroom with freestanding bath.

n 76 Spilsby Road is currently on the market with Poyntons. Visit www.poyntons.com for more information or call 01205 361694, email sales@poyntons.com. Alternatively visit the estate agents at 24-28 South Street, Boston PE21 6HT.

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UNSURPASSED QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CRAFTSMANSHIP Bespoke Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms - full project management and free quotations

Peter Jackson Cabinet Makers Ltd Devereux Way, Horncastle LN9 6AU

Tel: 01507 527113 W: www.peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk E: info@peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk 104

KITCHENS • BEDROOMS • BOOT ROOMS • STUDIES INDIVIDUALLY MADE FREE STANDING FURNITURE

Call 07534 808903

richwood-cabinetmakers@hotmail.com PJCabinetMakers

BRING RICHWOOD INTO THE HEART OF YOUR HOME

Lincolnshire Pride DEC 197.qxp 29/10/2018 11:09 Page 105

THE EASY TO USE WAY TO ADD PEACE OF MIND, SECURITY AND CONVENIENCE... Electric Roller Garage Doors from Proglide Lincoln Really easy and convenient, with a one touch remote Greater kerbside appeal; add value and style to your home The most secure domestic garage door available Quiet mechanism, rustproof, fully insulated Maintenance free, installed from ÂŁ775

For a free, no obligation survey call

07808 812121 Alternatively call 01522 790014 or visit

www.proglidelincoln.co.uk

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HOMES & INTERIORS

UNIQUE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Ornaments and décor other than the Christmas tree and garland...

A Gift for Your Nearest & Deerest

Two Plush Penguins

Perched atop a weighty silver birch effect base, this beautifully detailed snowglobe contains a sweet, stargazing deer family in soft taupe and elegant white trees, finished with softly falling snow, £35.

Two standing plush penguins will add a touch of festive whimsy to your Christmas décor. Each penguin has two matching webbed feet and tuxedo style markings, with tucked wings and a gently glittered tummy, £45.

A Jar for Sweets & Tree-ats

Five Star Décor

Made from strong glass shaped just like a Christmas Tree, this large vase can be filled with a variety of different festive treats for a really unique display. Lift the top third of the tree to reveal a hollow inside and fill with sweets or décor, £45.

The perfect lit accent for a natural Christmas look, this softly whitewashed hollow wooden star is inspired by carnival lights. Peppered with starry cut outs, it creates a soft glow and throws pretty patterns across your living space, £60.

www.coxandcox.co.uk.

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On The Farm with...

Alison Pratt, NFU

Alison Pratt, at the NFU East Midlands, sums up the year for arable and livestock farmers and the effects the enormous fluctuations in our weather has had on farms in Lincolnshire ON THE FARM THIS MONTH

This year’s extremes of weather have brought food production into sharp focus for the farming community. First, the ‘Beast from the East’ delayed livestock going out to grass and farmers found they’d used up all their stocks of winter fodder and were struggling to find supplies in March and April at a reasonable price.

Arable Sector: With temperatures expected to drop ever further as Christmas approaches, farmers will be busy ploughing the field. Cereal crops may be sprayed in December.

Then the summer’s heatwave, rivalling then surpassing the records of 1976, provided a whole new set of challenges.

For livestock farmers, hoping for a good spring and summer to grow and harvest plentiful supplies of silage and hay, May’s weather proved quite helpful. Then towards the end of June it became abundantly clear that Mother Nature’s barometer was permanently stuck on hot and dry. The first cut of silage was generally good - quality was above average and volumes were as expected. However, as the drought began to bite, grass stopped growing and second cut yields and quality were both much less than was needed.

The lack of grass growth has had knock-on effects for dairy, beef and sheep producers - their animals have been fed on this year’s silage and hay since June: it should have been in store until the autumn for feeding over winter. Not good.

For arable farmers, the picture has been a mixed one. Barley, wheat and oilseed rape harvests were all early; the lack of rain and hot weather meant that fields where soil moisture was an issue basically died off. Yields have been variable: some producers have reported average or above average crops of winter barley and oilseed rape, others saying that the dry weather has reduced both quality and yield.

Unusually, oilseed rape crops have been harvested at moisture contents of less than 6% - too dry for the crushing plants - so for some farms, this has meant harvesting at night or very early in the morning to catch what little moisture there is to ensure a higher crop moisture reading. The wheat harvest began over a month earlier than usual. And vegetables, potatoes and salad crops? About 80% of the national potato crop is irrigated. Growers are already reporting that carrots, brassicas and non-irrigated crops of

Livestock Sector: Feeding is an important aspect of this month as they will be housed with no grazing access.

potatoes will be badly affected. So what are the prospects? Without a crystal ball, it’s difficult to say, but all the signs are pointing to an extremely difficult winter. Fodder stocks will be very low. Whether there will be reduced supplies of potatoes and vegetables, we will have to wait and see. There is no doubt that our climate is changing, this year’s weather has been proof of that, so all of us must change our mind set and make plans for a very different future. What we need is steady rain and warm days so our farmers can continue to produce high quality animals and abundant crops. This is my final article for Lincolnshire Pride as I move on to pastures new. Thank you for reading my ramblings for the last year or so and I wish you all health and happiness for the future, and Christmas!

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THE MONTHLY

STROLL

Our recommended walk this month is anton’s Gowt near Boston. it’s ideal for dog walkers or Sunday afternoon strollers. To get there, follow the postcode PE22 7BG. ere are two directions you can go in; left at the lock or right at the lock. if you go right, it will lead to Langrick. e highlights of this route include the sculptures and art instalments along the way, as well as the horses on the other side of the river. you also end up at the Witham & Blues with it’s fabulous american diner, a great place to stop for lunch. if you choose to go left, it leads you up the bank to Boston. is is about an hour’s walk, and ends at the Witham Tavern and Boston Lock Café. you’re also just a short walk from the centre when you reach here. Often, if you want just a short walk, it’s nice to go to the right to Langrick halfway and return to the pub. it’s very accessible with a tarmac path and there are plenty of interesting things to see along the way, not forgetting the lock itself. it’s believed that the lock, and from it the hamlet, were named after Sir anthony omas, one of a group of people who helped drain the Witham Fens from 1631 onwards. e word ‘Gowt’ is on old term for a water-pipe underground. Image: Julian Wilkinson.

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WINTER PLANTS

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Bringing the Garden

INDOORS

Winter puts a halt to anything blooming in the garden, so bring the flowers that are best suited for the colder seasons indoors. Unsure what counts as festive flowering? We’ve listed the best seasonal flowers for you to grow inside the home and how best to look after them...

There’s no shame in being a fair weather gardener. Who truly enjoys going outside in the bitter cold to pull weeds, rake leaves and enjoy the little colour left in the garden at this time of year?

If you admit to avoiding your gardening jobs in December, but miss the flora and fauna of warmer months, there are some flowers you can keep indoors that will last through winter.

Image: The red part of the Poinsettia that most people mistake as a flower is actually brightly coloured bracts (modified leaves).

Poinsettia This is a Christmas classic and an obvious choice to have blooming in your home during the festive season. The reason why Poinsettias work so well indoors at Christmas is because they’re tropical plants. If you’re placing a Poinsettia on a windowsill, make sure it’s not touching the glass as the cold will damage it. Keep it out of the cold at all costs. Be careful not to overwater Poinsettia, and never leave it sitting in water. Make sure its pot has good drainage.

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Azaleas This flower naturally blooms in spring but they’re forced into flower for the Christmas trade. Grow in a cool spot away from direct sunlight. Keep moist and place on a pebble tray to keep it humid. They’re beautiful pink flowers part of the Rhododendron family.

Cyclamen Cyclamen will bloom for several months and will flower again in future years. Occasional drying out of this plant’s soil is better than overwatering. Indoor Cyclamen are a little more showy than hardy outdoor Cyclamen, and comes in many different varieties with silver marbled leaves, frilled petals or fragrant blooms.

Holly Famously associated with Christmas, Holly has been a festive plant since the Christmas carol Deck the Halls 150 years ago. If you want to keep Holly indoors, it requires full sun and well-drained soil that’s a little acidic to grow properly. 118

Mistletoe As romantic as this flower is - one to kiss one’s love underneath at Christmas - it’s actually a parasitic plant. Growing it indoors means you have to have a host to grow it off. Seeding can occur in soil, but once roots form, the plant will need to be placed in a host tree’s bark. Paperwhite Narcissus A close relative to the daffodil and a very fragrant flower for your home at Christmas. They’re typically white but rare varieties can be orange or yellow. Rosemary Rosemary is a great house plant during the festive season; not only is it wonderfully

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- GARDENING -

Opposite Page: White cyclamen. Left/Above: Rosemary. The name derives from the latin word Rosmarinus, meaning ‘mist of the sea.’ Above: Holly, Azaleas and a beautiful Orchid. The genus Orchis comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning ‘testicle;’ because of the shape of the bulbous roots!

is is the way to amaryllis... Amaryllis is a very festive flower and now rivals the Poinsettia in popularity. Many believe they’re ‘one-and-done’ bulbs but they actually get better over time...

Once outdoor temperatures start to reach above 10 degrees at night in spring, you can move your Amaryllis to the garden. Place in a sunny spot. Make sure to bring it back indoors in late summer before the first frost.

Make sure your amaryllis plant is placed in diffused light in room temperature. Be careful not to overwater the plant; keep it barely moist.

Stop feeding and watering the plant. When the leaves turn yellow, cut them off and place the plant in a cool dark place. Let it rest for 8-10 weeks. After this time, move to a warm sunny spot and water thoroughly.

After Christmas, when the flower starts to fade, cut the flower stem off near the neck of the bulb. Keep your Amaryllis in the sunniest spot in the house and water enough to keep the soil moist.

In 8-10 weeks, your Amaryllis should be in bloom, so if you want it for Christmas, start the rest period in early September and move to a warm sunny spot in late October. n

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fragrant, it’s ideal for all the Christmas cooking and can look a little like a mini Christmas tree too. Place your rosemary plant on a small tray of pebbles and water lightly.

Orchids A popular house plant all year long, the orchid is perfect for the cooler season. Try the Christmas-flowering Cymbidium. Cymbidium needs a cooler temperature than other winter houseplants, so keep it away from heat sources. Choose a bright spot and water once every one to two weeks. Christmas Cactus This flower is a deservedly popular houseplant in winter, with attractive red, pink or white flowers. It’s best not to move the plant when in bud, as this can cause bud drop. For the rest of the year, it’s easy to keep; give it a bright spot, water when the soil feels dry, and feed every two weeks.

Hyacinth Specially prepared hyacinth bulbs are forced into growth to produce early winter displays. Their fragrance is beautiful and will infuse the whole house. Keep plants cool and the compost moist. After flowering, let the plant rest; don’t water for six to eight weeks. When new growth appears, add fresh compost and start watering. Once flower buds form, don’t move the plant or the buds may drop. Right: The beautiful Christmas Rose or ‘Helleborus niger’ is commonly used in herbal medicines.

Christmas Tree Care Tips

3 o 3 o 3 o 3 o

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Saw a couple of inches off the bottom of the trunk when you bring it home and set in water. Watering is critical. A freshly-cut tree can consume a gallon of water in 24 hours! Keep the tree away from heat sources; the lower the temperature, the better the tree will do. Some people add aspirin or fizzy drinks to the water at the bottom of the trunk to help keep the tree fresh and to feed it.

The Christmas Rose Christmas Rose or ‘Helleborus niger’ is a low-growing evergreen plant with a bright white flower. It is named the Christmas Rose because of a legend in which Helleborus niger sprouted from the snow where a young girl, who had no gift to give to the son of God, had been crying.

This flower can grow in the garden in winter but makes a good cut flower for indoors. It grows best in partial shade and can be quite particular when it comes to soil types.

The Christmas Rose doesn’t tolerate acidic soils well and prefers shade and moisture to dry, sunny spots. Humus-rich, alkaline soil is ideal and for the best results you can improve the growing conditions by digging in well-rotted leaf mould or compost.

Begonia ‘Grace’ In the Dutch florist trade, the new begonia ‘Grace’ has been highly rated and voted as the houseplant with the most promise. It is far more appealing than its bare description

- a begonia with crinkled leaves like those of holly and flowers with red and green petals. The green ones are not dominant and the red is a good deep scarlet. They can last until late January.

Hydrangeas Particularly the Ankong Blue Deluxe variety. Hydrangeas are easy to maintain indoors and, of course, the plant can then be planted outdoors for years of future flowering in the garden. It produces broad heads of flower, first greenish blue, then pale blue-white, in what looks to be a new and very civilised Christmas colour.

Princettia This is a new flower with coloured bracts like a poinsettia but smaller and much longer-lasting, even in a house with draughts and varying temperatures. The breeders are adamant that these upgrades will show colour for up to six months, brightening the entire winter in your home! We hope you enjoy our suggestions for winter flowering and that they bloom beautifully in your home.

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WEDDINGS

Top of the League

Shaun and Clarise Pearson met at work, but not your usual workplace. Shaun played for Grimsby Town Football Club and Clarise was organising a festive annual awards ceremony when this Christmas love story began... Photographer: Nick Austwick Photography, www.nickaustwick.com.

It will happen when you least expect it, with someone you’re not expecting is what many people tell girls and boys who are looking for ‘the one.’ This was certainly the case for Clarise Pearson. “I worked for a charity in Grimsby and Shaun was playing professional football for Grimsby Town Football Club,” she says. “I was organising our 2013 annual awards ceremony and I’d invited a member of the team to come along to help; it happened to be Shaun.”

“I’d seen photos of Shaun and joked about him not being my type until we met and there was something special about him. It was a twoday event and when I asked who would be returning the next day, Shaun very kindly volunteered,” Clarise says. “He asked for my number but the Grimsby Telegraph photographer teased him about this so in the end I contacted him on Facebook to see whether he would be returning the next day.”

“That night little did I know Shaun rang his best friend, who was his best man at our wedding to tell him he had met a girl that night, me, and she was the girl he was going to marry!”

“By January 2014 we were ‘official’ and in May we had moved in together. It just felt right, we worked well together and brought our the best in one another. In June we bought a Cocker Spaniel, Bella. Then two years later at Christmas, Shaun proposed! We were celebrating at our house with my family

THE WEDDING OF SHAUN & CLARISE

for Christmas and Shaun bought T-shirts that spelt out ‘Merry Xmas’ to take a photo for my Instagram apparently,” she laughs.

“Shaun asked me to go upstairs and get my phone as it takes better photos and when I came back down, everyone had reshuffled so that they spelt out ‘Marry Me’! Shaun was on one knee. I was 23 weeks pregnant at this point; I burst into tears and said yes!”

“We planned the wedding for Spring 2018 which gave me two years to make sure it would be the day I’d always dreamed of. Shaun has a huge family so we decided to keep things local in Grimsby as it was sort of a half-way point for everyone,” says Clarise. “We ended up having 100 at the ceremony and around 170 there in total at the evening reception. It was crazy, but the best night ever!”

“We got married at Old Clee Church in Grimsby and had the reception afterwards at Oaklands Hall Hotel. The venue offers a menu to guests so they choose what they want when they RSVP which I thought was a really nice touch,” says Clarise. “My mum Debbie, two sisters Charlotte and Daisy and my best friend Samantha helped with the wedding planning. They were there when I found the dress from Lincs Bridal in Grimsby. I couldn’t have done it without them.” “For the flowers, which were gorgeous, I used Crosskills in Grimsby. The owner Jane arranged everything for us, she was fantastic.

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- WEDDINGS -

“My advice would be to do everything the way you dreamt your big day to be, the cost is so worth it!” My Grandma made the cake. She did a traditional fruitcake as well as a three tiered wedding cake of vanilla, chocolate and lemon but I don’t think I got to try any! It was my Grandma’s wedding gift to us, she’s really talented as you can see from the photos!” “A friend of ours, Andy Carr, was the DJ on the night and he was actually fantastic. He does it professionally and I’d say hire him for any party of any age group, he just knows how to get people up and dancing. He’s a lovely guy as well. Shaun knows him because he is the mascot for Grimsby FC!”

“I’m really glad we spent money where we did because it just makes it all so special. My advice would be to do everything the way you dreamt your big day to be, the cost is so worth it!

“The day after the wedding we went to Las Vegas and spent four nights there before flying to Hawaii for another six nights, it was amazing,” says Clarise. “The weather was fantastic and Hawaii is a really beautiful place. We both like to get out and about so we went on lots of tours, it’s amazing how busy it is in the main tourist spots, then so peaceful out of those areas.”

“We’re settled in Wales now, Shaun’s busy playing for Wrexham and I’m pregnant with our second child! Lily knows she’s getting a sibling but her preference on whether it’s a boy or a girl changes daily! She just tells me she loves the baby in my belly. Last of all I’d like to thank our photographer Nick. He made everyone feel so at ease and gave me perfect pictures to look back on in the future.” n 124

Photographer: Nick Austwick Photography, www.nickaustwick.com.

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WINTER PARTY TIME With our LED furniture, matting and lighting we can transform any garage or outbuilding into Winter Party Central. 0808 169 1690 www.funky-tents.co.uk

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Lace & Beauty...

FOR NEXT YEAR’S WEDDINGS, WE HAVE A SELECTION OF DRESSES FROM DESIGNER BRANDS WITH LACE DETAILING AND PATTERNS IN A VARIETY OF STYLES AND FITTINGS...

Linea Raffaelli www.linearaffaelli.be

n Eddy K Collections are effortlessly beautiful. This collection is the SKY collection, with light material, expert detailing and in this example here, plenty of lace layers.

n Ellis Bridal touches on lace too with a slight hue in style ‘12318’ pictured here. It features a simple sweetheart neckline and lace overlay. The rest of the collection really focuses on A-line styles too. www.ellis bridals.co.uk

This style is called SKY143 and the simple shine in the lace really makes it stand out. We love the spaghetti straps and wide A-line skirt. www.eddyk.com

ESSENSE OF AUSTRALIA

Essense of Australia is one of the biggest luxury wedding dress designers in the world also featuring lace in this mermaid dress. www.essensedesigns.com

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JUSTIN ALEXANDER

This British brand has aimed for a more lace appliqué approach. Style ‘88047’ has an open back and a fitted look and has a blush hue. www.justinalexander.com

Lillian West is the Bohemian brand incorporated with the more classic style Justin Alexander brand. Therefore lace is a key detail in most of the dresses. www.justinalexander.com/lillian-west

Martina Liana

Martina Liana is part of the Essense of Australia brand. What we love the most about this brand is the elegance and simplicity in every single design. www.essense designs.com

Stephanie Allin, www.stephanieallin.net

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A FESTIVE

AFFAIR

FRANK LYMAN’S LATEST COLLECTION IS THOROUGHLY FESTIVE WHILE IN KEEPING WITH THE BRAND’S CLASSY STYLE. BROWSE THE COLLECTION... Main: This chic skater dress with pearl collar and sleeves is ideal for a Christmas do and matches with red heels and a red lipstick (#183089) £210.

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Main: Go for a Christmas tartan for Christmas Day at home with the family, £170. Opposite: Black top (#183028) £143 and flared red trousers (#183155) £154.

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Main: The touch of pearls in this all black outfit makes it simple, classy and just a little Christmassy (#183908) ÂŁ180. Opposite: A floral dress with flared sleeves and a touch of red (#183649) ÂŁ216.

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Main: Floral dress (#183334) ÂŁ171. For more information visit www.franklyman.com to find local suppliers.

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BEAUTY

IT’S THE SEASON TO SPARKLE AND IF YOUR DIARY IS BRIMMING WITH FESTIVE FUNCTIONS AND IDEAS FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS, WE’RE HAPPY TO RECOMMEND THE LATEST PRODUCTS FROM OUR FAVOURITE MAKEUP BRANDS TO ENSURE YOU LOOK AND FEEL YOUR VERY BEST

5. Seeing Stars

1. Let there be Ambient Light

Brand new from Charlotte Tilbury is her new Stars In Your Eyes palette which revolutionises the way you use colour. Happy Eyes are inspired by sunlit amber; Love Eyes by rose quartz; Confidence Eyes by topaz ruby and Power Eyes by gold. Four mood-enhancing eye looks to inspire love, power, happiness and confidence. £60.

Introducing the next generation of the coveted Edit by the Ambient Lighting brand. The Unlocked edition features six new exclusive shades of powder, bronzer, blush and metallic strobe powder. All six powders are formulated with pure Photoluminescent Technology to capture, diffuse and soften surrounding light for skin that appears softer and younger as though lit from within. £69.

2. Back to Black

Five star waterproof mascara from Terry. This restructuring formula is enriched with moisturising volumising Hyaluronic Acid, repairing-protecting Collagen. Concentrated glossy-care pigments, and high-definition brush, make it worth the investment. £33.50.

3. Potent Colour

Offering potent colour in one stroke, Estée Lauder’s Pure Colour is shown here in Misbehave shade. It’s one of the industry’s highest pigment lipsticks ever with 25 per cent intense pure pigment. and is available in 16 shades and two finishes; satin or pearl. £34.

4. The Right Lines

A must-have staple of your makeup bag is a decent eye liner, and Mac is one of our go-to brands. Liquid eye liner pen with a precision brush tip that wears strong all day long for 24 hours. Available in black or brown. £18.50.

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6. Nail Your Colour

Long-lasting and super-glossy, what more could one require from a nail colour? Nails Inc is superb quality colour in four shades. Fashion Therapy is a cool berry shade gives a richly pigmented result. Formulated with a long wear system and features the Nails Inc wide hugging brush for flawless application. £15.

n All our beauty products are available from local high quality independent stockists unless otherwise stated, prices are RRP. Visit each makeup brand’s website for more information on local stockists.

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BEAUTY

ScentSational

FESTIVE FRAGRANCES FOR THE PARTY SEASON OR AS A THOUGHTFUL GIFT

1. Burberry Her Eau de Parfum, 100ml, £96. 2. Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Rouge Eau de Parfum, 75ml £130. 3. Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau de Toilette, 100ml £87. 4. Cartier Carat Eau de Parfum, 100ml £111.50. 5. Floris ‘A Rose For...’ Eau De Parfum, 100ml £160. 6. Carven Paris-Sao Paulo Eau De Parfum, 100ml £140. n Featured fragrances are available from John Lewis, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough PE1 1NL. Call 01733 344644 or see www.johnlewis.com.

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SOCKS FOR MEN

best foot forward

Put your best foot forward in 2019 and ask Santa for these designer socks...

1. John Lewis, Herringbone burgundy red & blue, £15/two pairs. 2. Ralph Lauren Polo red stripe socks £24.95/two pairs. 3. Ralph Lauren Polo, cobalt, navy, green £27.95/three pairs. 4. Happy Socks Nautical, red check from gift box £29.95/four pairs. 5. Happy Socks Nautical, white ropes from gift box £29.95/four pairs. 6. Calvin Klein stripe socks £10. 7. Ralph Lauren Polo bear socks £24.95/two pairs. 8. Ralph Lauren Polo red stripe socks £24.95/two pairs. 9. Happy Socks Nautical, star design from gift box £29.95/four pairs. 10. Barbour Pheasant £10.95. 11. Barbour Blue Dog £10.95. 12. Happy Socks Nautical, white spots from gift box £29.95/four pairs. n All of our featured socks are available from John Lewis at Queensgate Centre, Peterborough PE1 1NL 01733 344644, or see www.johnlewis.com.

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Purveyors of Luxury Eyewear Since 1979

Polaris frames from O’Brien’s Opticians in stock now.

43/44 Wrawby Street, Brigg, North Lincolnshire DN20 8BS Tel: 01652 653595. Web: www.obriensopticians.co.uk

Call for an appointment or pop in to view our latest designer eyewear.

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

Tatler’s Top Schools Announced...

FOREMARKE HALL HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN TOP INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS LIST

REPTON Foremarke Hall, Repton Preparatory School has been included in a list of the country’s top independent schools produced by society magazine Tatler. Earlier this year the school was invited by Tatler to submit a range of information about itself, including details of activities available to pupils, what it feels makes the school so special and why its pupils stand out from the crowd. In the introduction to the 2019 guide, Editor Tori Cadogan says: “Sometimes choosing the right school for your child feels like a job best suited to Mystic Meg. “We’ve done most of the hard work for you. We’ve visited all the schools in this guide and I can confirm they are all amazing.” The entry for Foremarke states that, ‘Foremarke is after children with a zest for life and twinkle in the eye.’

The school’s professional sports coaches and the new ‘space-age glass dining room’ receive mentions alongside a vote of confidence for Foremarke’s new Headmaster

Knights can build bridges (or whatever else you’d like!)

FENCING, GATES, BESPOKE STRUCTURES, GARAGE DOORS AND TREATED TIMBERS

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Robert Relton: “We will remember him and are sure he’ll do great things.” “We are delighted to have been included in the Guide for the fourth year in

succession, underlining our consistent high standards, breadth of achievement and attention to wellbeing.” n Call 01283 707100 or visit www.foremarke.org.uk for more info.

B Knight & Son Ltd has traded as a timber merchant and manufacturer since 1874, being in the Knight family for over 140 years, passed through the generations and delivering a personal and knowledgeable service committed to quality and professionalism. It is situated in the village of Langworth on the A158 between Lincoln and Wragby. The business was started by Benjamin Knight, the current owners Great and Great Great Grandfather, having bought the site as a brick yard and turning it into a successful

timber yard. Currently under the family leadership of John, Ben and John’s daughter Helen, the business supplies manufactured timber items all over the East Midlands including fencing, gates, bespoke structures, garage doors, treated timbers and suppliers of hard & softwoods to the retail and trade sectors. Anything timber related would be considered for manufacture by the skilled on-site team, offering advice from design to fitting the finished product. n The firm is based in Langworth and serve the whole of Lincolnshire. See www.b-knightandson.co.uk.

LANGWORTH

LONG HISTORY CELEBRATED WITH RING

New contractor William Birch starts work at Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral has appointed William Birch & Sons to begin renovation works as part of the Lincoln Cathedral Connected project. The first phase will see the contractor restore and refurbish the Old Deanery and create a new visitor centre. Further works include landscaping works to the North Green and the Cathedral’s lighting. n LINCOLN

BOSTON This Christmas, long established Lincolnshire jeweller S T Hopper of Boston have collaborated with the multi award winning jewellery designer Andrew Geoghegan whose accolades include Jewellery Designer of the Year and Editors Choice in the International Jewellery Awards London 2015 - to create a bespoke ring with a unique design to reflect the heritage and history of the firm.

The simple Art Deco inspired design harks back to a time in 1926 when Stanley T Hopper first opened his doors in the town of Boston. The ring itself is beautifully crafted in 18ct white gold and set with a stunning aquamarine to the centre, flanked on each shoulder by exquisite round brilliant cut diamonds. n Call 01205 362087 or visit S T Hopper, Market Place, Boston PE21 6NF.

Wood Green Animal Charity giving pet owners advice...

A DEDICATED SERVICE TO HELP WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT OWNING A PET

LINCOLN Wood Green’s team is there to listen and give you the help you need. From coping with a new puppy to advice about preparing a pet if you are about to move home, their experts continuously help owners and their pets to live in harmony and get the best out of life.

If you are interested in taking home one of their pet, Wood Green carefully match every pet looking for a new home with the personalities of owners. They guide you through the process with each pet’s individual lifestyle or training needs and medical issues he or she may have - a pet they’ve taken the time to know. n Call 0300 303 9333.

£180,000,000

Hoppers Celebrates

LINCOLNSHIRE is known as the county that feeds the country, but it’s increasingly becoming the county that powers the country, with its wind farms and renewable energy facilities. Centrica’s new fast-response facility near Brigg went online last month. The first of a four-phase £180m investment, it can power 50,000 homes and fires up in less than 20 minutes. n

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business

news

in brief SPALDING

sPalding ‘royalty’ oPens new £4m centre with 60 news jobs There’s a new gateway to Spalding thanks to the completion of a £4,000,000 development at the Lincs Gateway Business Park following a six month building programme.

The site features a filling station and café/shop, a 180 seater restaurant run by Marston’s and a motel with 38 bedrooms. The site has been named as The Tulip Queen, and accordingly it was opened by three of the town’s former Tulip Queens, Janet Bray from 1958, Inca Honnor in 2013 and Amy Cook from 2014. Manager Jamie Baxter himself is a Spalding man and says: “I’ve been with Marston’s for eight years, I know the Spalding area, and I want to make sure everybody feels so welcome and we’ll be raising money for local charities.” n

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BARNSTONE ACCOUNTANCY

Someone You Can Always

ACCOUNTANT ON

Finally, an accountant who’s top dog in their industry but leaves their clients feeling like the cat who’s got the cream. With the knowledge that counts, plus a warm approachable personality, Julieanne Charles of Rutland’s Barnstone Accountancy is the animal-friendly accountant whose clients love her supportive, plain-speaking, help and reliability! Words & Images: Rob Davis.

Changing the face of accountancy, Greetham’s Julieanne Charles of Barnstone Accountancy combines the widest breadth of knowledge and expertise plus a specialisation in complex tax matters with a sometimes uncharacteristic approachability; relatively unheard of, for her industry! Julieanne is an accountant, but not like any accountant you’ve ever met before. Sitting in her office - a converted barn - I’m playing the part of client and I’m treated to not only a nice cup of tea, but the view of her lush courtyard garden, a cuddle from Narla the German Shepherd and pussy cat Tiggy - on whom Julieanne’s company mascot Barnstone is based in her Pride adverts. The log burner is on and as the wind howls around Greetham we’re treated to chartered accountant and tax advisor Julieanne’s down-to-earth explanation of

even the trickiest accountancy conundrums and the nuances of taxation.

Now semi-retired, Julieanne was raised in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire and worked latterly in the motor industry, eventually leaving General Motors (Vauxhall) after completing 12 years and 5 senior management roles in Finance. The roles varied from Project Accounting and Computer System implementations through to Audit and Tax Compliance. She moved to Rutland in 2008 and left GM three years later, setting up her private accountancy practice.

Today, Julieanne’s practice has about 50 clients, ranging from the very largest - a Leicester-based service industry firm with over 250 employees for whom she fulfils an ersatz financial director role and completes the payroll - to many specialised and sole trader businesses. These include photographers, TV presenters, engineers, chauffeurs, farmers, historians and even rugby players. Half of Julieanne’s clients are private individuals whilst the remaining half are business owners. Barnstone’s range of services span everything from day-to-day bookkeeping, monthly management accounts, quarterly VAT returns or annual statutory accounts, selfassessment, corporation tax returns. The practice also performs a payroll bureau service and has supported many businesses through the auto-enrolment process and ongoing workplace pension activities. What makes Julieanne so unique, though, is that she works with a very common-sense approach.

Left: With a rural location, and a couple of furry office assistants, Julieanne Charles is changing the face of accountancy with user-friendly help and advice for any size of business.

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“I’m trying to change the face of the profession from an industry that can sometimes be so dry and jargon heavy - so unintelligible that it becomes arcane, a dark art, something that business owners sometimes struggle to comprehend, even though they really should or need to understand.”

“The nature of the practice is such that I’m able to be really adaptable and give a client a bespoke service with just the level of attention they need - some clients want to leave a pile of receipts and files and have them checked, but others want a more involved relationship with advice, and a sounding board on hand.”

“I can set up Sage or Xero computer systems and accounting/business processes for those running a small business. I can ensure that clients have the ability to run their business confidently from their iPad or iPhone and that I can dial into their systems to offer remote technical support, when necessary.” Every business owner should have someone to help them run their business in the 21st century with processes that make doing so, simple and stress-free. I can even help with basic processes like expenses and mileage forms.” “As we approach this year’s self-assessment deadline it’s painful to me to hear that some people have stress and that they struggle with the financial administration of a business they otherwise enjoy running.”

“The nature of my business also means I can promise to be available not just during office hours, but during evenings and weekend too, and can make a promise to respond to clients’ questions and problems within 24 hours.” “More people appreciate coming to see me and stroking the dogs and cats than not. But that’s fine; we can always leave them in the house. What everyone appreciates though - without exception - is honest, jargon-free, objective advice, a service that’s tailored to suit you, and the fact that I can support your business with whatever services you need, and offer prompt, reliable help and advice. A ‘Bespoke’ accountancy service without the ‘Bespoke’ price tag!” n Barnstone Accountancy is based in Greetham, Rutland. Call 01572 811497 or see www.barnstoneaccountancy.co.uk.

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Self Assessment (Don’t wake up with a Financial Hangover...) Barnstone here is ready to party... and of course, he can celebrate Christmas and New Year without worrying about his finances, because he’s well-prepared for the Self Assessment deadline of 31st January 2019... but can you say the same? The Self-Assessment deadline is looming, so don’t wake up with a financial hangover in January. Barnstone Accountancy can help you avoid penalties and help you to get your finances in order, leaving you free to enjoy the season... cheers! We’re human (well, apart from Barnstone), so we promise to talk to you like a human; you know, in a jargon-free, no waffle way! We’re available during evenings and weekends too - even over the festive season and promise to respond to our client’s queries within 24 hours...! We’re the approachable accountants that make your life easier... so give us a call!

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ASTon MARTIn SuPERlEGGERA lAunCH • BElVoIR CASTlE • EMICS FunDRAISInG BAll

to feature your event call 01529 469977 to speak to our events desk, or email editor@pridemagazines.co.uk. 147

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MASQUERADE BALL A charity masquerade ball in aid of Breast Cancer Care hosted by Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bentley Hotel and cancer survivor Julie Taylor...

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VIP CAR LAUNCH Aston Martin has just launched the new Superleggera motor, so we went along to a VIP event in Nottingham to see it for ourselves...

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MOTORS

CHRISTMAS DREAMING OF A LIGHT

Lighter in weight, meaner, more muscular. Superleggera is a flagship version of Aston Martin’s DBS, offering a thrilling visceral experience for fans of the marque and a V12 engine with a truly dark side...

Aston Martin Superleggera, on sale now, 5.2 V12

£225,000

When it comes to performance, as a car maker, you can make your high performance model one of two things; more powerful, or lighter. Aston Martin, however, have done both for their new performance range-topper, the Superleggera. But their new model is about more than just brawn, the car is about heritage too.

Superleggera - super light in Italian - is a suffix last seen on the original 1967 model. This car, then, is a new Aston Martin that has its forebears very much in mind. What’s more, the car also returns the brand to the use of DBS as its nomenclature for the firm’s flagship grand tourer models, meaning the car essentially replacing the Vanquish S both in terms of its place in Aston’s lineage, but also in name too.

As manufacturers like Lamborghini and Ferrari surpass their supercar expertise with a new breed of hypercar, such as Ferrari’s 812 Superfast, so too does Aston Martin need a car that’s even more performance-focused than its Vantage and DB11 models. The DBS Superleggera, then, is that car, and it has a hand-built 5.2 litre V12 engine generating a colossal 715bhp. >>

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Heritage: Aston Martin’s Landmark Models...

Aston Martin DB5, 1963–1965; 1,059 produced; price new £ 4,175 (Saloon); now worth £650,000: The iconic Aston Martin was immortalised in the big-screen version of 007’s adventures, even though Fleming’s original novels had the spy driving a DBIII or (whisper the name) a Bentley Blower. Compared to the DB4, changes included 15” wheels and electric windows. Top speed was 142mph, 60mph was reached in 7.1 seconds. The 2018 Superleggera weighs 1,693kg, whereas the DB5 tips the scales at 1,468kg. n

Aston Martin Lagonda, 1974-1990; 645 produced; price new £49,933 (1979), now worth £72,500 (1985 model): Indulge me! This oddball Aston is arguably the company’s most kitsch model, a vision of the future from that stylistically unique decade... the 1970s! A limousine with a 5.3 litre V8 engine and three speed automatic gearbox, Lagonda reached 60mph in 7.9 seconds and achieved 148mph. It was too futuristic for its own good though - plagued by electronic gremlins - but this was a bona fide vision of the future. It also paved the way for Aston’s current Rapide four seater, and the firm is working on a new all-electric Lagonda, a much improved spiritual successor, which will be launched perhaps in 2023 alongside its first SUV, a Bentley Bentayga rival. n

>> The car’s engine is a fettled version of the unit fitted to the DB11 AMR, the racing version of Aston’s mid-range supercar. However, in the Superleggera, based on the underpinnings of the DB11, the extra power and torque means the company has had to design and install an entirely new transmission and gearbox capable of channeling the engine’s huge power output down and out through the 21 inch wheels. Aston Martin DB7, 1999–2003; 4,431 produced; price new £78,500 (2003); now worth £49,999 (2003 Volante): DB7 may not have had an illustrious presence in film franchises, but it’s a hero to us, as the car that saved Aston Martin. It was the best selling car for the firm by a long way, accounting for almost one third of the firm’s total production of 22,000 cars up to 1914. DB7 was the resulting car from a rescue deal by Ford, which purchased 75% of the firm in 1987 and the rest in 1994. DB7 was Aston’s last chance for survival. It was important to get the car right, so it was Aston Martin’s most developed model ever with 30 prototypes built It introduced the modern DB shape and Touchtronic gearbox. 185mph; 0-60mph 5 secs; 1780kg. n

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A new exhaust system doesn’t hold back on the noise either, giving the Superleggera a more sonorous note than the more comfortoriented DB11. Extensive aerodynamic work, and the installation of carbon fibre body panels, too, means the car Superleggera with its Aeroblade II rear wing generates 180kg of downforce compared to the

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“The car is breathtakingly pretty, especially with a gloss black roof and gloss wheels as shown here and plush inside too...” DB11’s 70kg. To cut through the jargon a little, that means that whilst the car is more powerful and lighter too, it also sucks itself down onto the road for better handling, too.

The car is breathtakingly pretty, especially with a gloss black roof and gloss wheels as shown here. Inside, too, it’s well-equipped despite being designed for performance rather than comfort. So many cars like Porsche’s GT2 achieve their weight-saving measures by stripping creature comforts back from the driver, but Aston has laudably

ensured day-to-day comfort as well as performance with the Superleggera. With a price tag of £225,000, the new Aston is eye-wateringly expensive but if you needed any justification besides wanting to get the firm’s most sophisticated model into your garage, it’s unlikely to lose any money in depreciation. Consider it, then, an investment in fun for now and in monetary value in the future when it becomes a future classic, as the DBS did before it. Meanwhile, sit back and enjoy the most driver-focused car Aston has ever created. n

ASTON MARTIN DBS SUPERLEGGERA Price: £225,000 (on sale now). Motor/Drivetrain: 5.2 litre 48v twin-turbo V12, rear-wheel drive. Performance: 0-60mph 3.4 secs 211mph top speed. Economy: 22.9mph (combined), 285g/km CO2. Equipment: 2+2 seating, alcantara/leather seats, f/r parking sensors, 360° camera, keyless entry, climate, cruise, sat nav. n 157

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MOTORS

BMW’s 200 Horse Open Sleigh

Unless you’re very brave it’s hardly the season to embrace open-top motoring, but with 200 horse power under the bonnet, there’s enough power to jingle your bells over Christmas and a folding roof for wind-in-the-hair motoring in spring too! Launching a convertible car in winter might seem like a silly idea, but order books are now open for BMW’s new two-seater roadster, the Z4, which can be on your driveway in time for - hopefully - an early, warm spring. e ﬁrst cars are due to be delivered in March 2019. Z4 will be in 20i and 30i versions, both two-litre four cylinder engines in two states of tune, 197hp and 258hp respectively. a ﬂagship M40i 340hp v6 engine.

BMW Z4 20i

Our recommendation is the base Z4 20i, which will reach 60mph in 6.6 seconds, and just shy of 149mph on a track; suﬃcient performance for anyone. Economy is 47mpg, about average for a family runabout and decent enough for a sports car that also has to perform the daily commute, whilst prices will start from about £30,000.

On Sale: Nov; spring deliveries.

Price From: £30,000 (est).

Engine: 2.0V4 197hp. Performance: 0-60mph 6.6secs, 149mph top. Economy: 47.1mpg combined, 138g/CO2.

a distinct advantage the Z4 has over slightly cheaper roadsters like Mazda’s MX5 and Mercedes Benz’s SLC is the decent level of equipment that BMW is granting the car. e ﬁrm’s Live Cockpit Professional provides a 10-inch screen, remote software updates, wi-ﬁ and Bluetooth. Navigation is standard too, as is full leather. Being a BMW, the options list is extensive, but useful options include a digital key which enables you to use your mobile to unlock the car, and automated parking. adaptive cruise control is also available for convenient cruising. Being a roadster the Z4 will inevitably be chosen or passed over on the basis of its looks. We adore the sharper, more sculpted lines of the new model, which is more muscular than its forebears. But the Z4 isn’t just pretty. it’s more modern, a better ownership prospect and it’s smarter than ever before as well. n

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MOTORS

Old dogs, new tricks!

SAT NAV AND MODERN ENTERTAINMENT TECH FOR OLD SCHOOL LAND ROVERS

JAGUAR & LAND ROVER You can teach an old dog new tricks, say Jaguar & Land Rover’s Classic division. The firm has just released a new range of aftermarket systems for cars like the Land Rover 90/100/ Defender, the 1970s Range Rover, and Jaguar’s E-Type. The units feature a touch screen interface controlling DAB and FM radio, sat nav and Bluetooth audio and

telephony functionality; they’re ideal for those who love their Landy but still crave some 21st century connectivity. All versions of the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Infotainment System are available from £1,200 (including VAT). A fitting service is offered at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Warwickshire as well as select Authorised Jaguar and Land Rover Retailers. n

Electrification for XC40

VOLVO’S SMALLEST SUV GAINS NIPPY T5 TWIN ENGINE UNIT

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Five star safety award for Volkswagen’s new Touareg...

Top marks for Volkswagen’s Touareg! The European consumer protection organisation Euro NCAP has awarded the new luxury class model the maximum possible rating of five stars. In the eyes of the independent crash test experts, the SUV performed excellently in all categories. That makes the Touareg one of Europe’s safest cars. The 4x4 costs from £48,995 - £58,195 and uses a 3.0V6 diesel engine. n VOLKSWAGEN

VOLVO Swedish motoring brand Volvo can do no wrong at the moment, producing charismatic cars with stylish interiors that rubbish its previous reputation for sober cars. We’re huge fans of the firm’s smallest SUV, the XC40, which is well-equipped, well-made, chunky and fun. With the end of 2018 set to yield the launch of a new hybrid powerplant, the car will also be a better ownership prospect than ever. The car will combine a dinky 1.5 three-cylinder engine with a 74bhp electric engine for a combined 247bhp. Expect low CO2 emissions and a range of about 150 miles, with a price tag of about £40,000. n

motoring

news in brief MOTORING

death of the handbrake: just 37% of new cars are fitted with manual Parking brake... The traditional handbrake is reaching the end of the road as car manufacturers ditch it in favour of electronic parking brakes, according to research by CarGurus. The online automotive marketplace created by TripAdvisor founder, Langley Steinert, found just 37% of new cars on sale in the UK today come with a manually-operated handbrake. Many premium car makers have phased out the part completely and replaced it with an electronic parking brake, while some use a footoperated parking brake. The CarGurus investigation found that Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes and Porsche no longer have any models on sale fitted with a traditional handbrake. An electronic parking brake is operated via a switch that replaces the traditional mechanical lever. This switch activates a pair of small motors which engage the rear brakes, making a whirring noise as they do so. Electronic parking brake requires less physical effort, holds the car more securely and doesn’t need adjusting like the traditional lever. Most electronic handbrakes disengage automatically when you pull away plus they often offer an automatic hill-hold assist function, which is an additional safety benefit. n

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