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LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK
LincolnshirePride
LincolnshirePride THE
NUMBER
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MAGAZINE
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Win meals out in 2015, by voting in our Restaurant of the Year Awards...
The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes
NEW LOOK
SAME Q UALITY
october 2014
Antiques Roadshow at Belton We Launch our Restaurant of the Year Awards HECKINgTON WINDMILL’S NEW SAILS - BOMBER COMMAND MEMORIAL CEREMONY
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ROB davis EditOR, PRidE mAGAzinEs editor@pridemagazines.co.uk
LincolnshirePride LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK
THE
The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes NUMBER
ONE
MAGAZINE
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 £3.70
NEW LOOK
SAME QUA LITY
Antiques Roadshow at Belton We Launch our Restaurant of the Year Competition
HECKINGTON WINDMILL’S NEW SAILS - BOMBER COMMAND MEMORIAL CEREMONY
This month’s cover: Over 3,000 people visited Grantham’s Belton House recently to present the 25 experts of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow with their trinkets, heirlooms and antiquities. Look out for our feature later in this edition.
Welcome to the October issue of Lincolnshire Pride Magazine, and congratulations to the staff of Heckington Windmill. They invited us along to witness the installation of their new sails recently. They’ll soon be producing their own flour once again, joining a wealth of Lincolnshire artisan food producers right across the county. They’re just the kind of food producers that we celebrate in our annual Good Food Awards - the winners of which are voted for by our readers. We’re inviting your votes for our 2015 awards in this edition, so please let us know about your favourite restaurants, bistros and food heroes, and we’ll reward one reader chosen from random with free restaurant dining in 2015. Elsewhere in this edition, we went along to Belton House to see the BBC film a forthcoming episode of the Antiques Roadshow. Also, we meet Great British Sewing Bee winner Heather Jacks, and celebrate the start of construction at the International Bomber Command Memorial at Canwick. The £5m installation and interpretation centre will recognise the sacrifice of the 25,000 servicemen who gave their lives in the Second World War. Per ardua ad astra indeed.
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LincolnshirePride LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK
LincolnshirePride
THE
Win meals out in 2015, by voting in our Restaurant of the Year Awards...
The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes NUMBER
ONE
MAGAZINE
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 £3.70
NEW LOOK
SAME QU ALITY
OCTOBER 2014
Antiques Roadshow at Belton We Launch our Restaurant of the Year Competition
HECKINGTON WINDMILL’S NEW SAILS - BOMBER COMMAND MEMORIAL CEREMONY
With best wishes from the Lincolnshire Pride team Publisher: Julian Wilkinson. General Manager: Ian Bagley. Executive Editor: Rob Davis. Features Editor: Ceri Jackson. Graphic Designer and Customer Care: Mandy Bray. Accounts Manager: Sue Bannister. Sales Managers: Zoie Wilkinson, Jayne Broughton. Sales Executives: Elaine Hall, Liz King, Carissa Clay, Emily Brown, Sami Millard, Andy Taylor, Lauren Chambers, Chloe Griffiths, Emma Barrett, Hayley Scott, Amy Whiley, Abigail Colley. Sales Support: Emily Rippin. Distribution Manager: Paul Dixon.
www.facebook.com/lincolnshirepride Why not follow us on Facebook? You can keep up to date with any news we may have for our lovely magazine!
twitter.com/@LincsPrideMag Follow us on Twitter so you can read our tweets. We’ll let you know what’s going on and keep you well informed! By supplying editorial or adverts to Lincolnshire 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.
Enjoy Lincolnshire Pride, read it cover to cover. Pick it up, put it down and when you have finished with it pass it on. When everyone has had a good read, pop it in the recycle bin!
Pride Magazines Elm Grange Studios East Heckington, Boston Lincolnshire PE20 3QF Tel: 01529 469977 Fax: 01529 469978
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Contents
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October 2014
Find out WHAT’S ON in Lincolnshire this month with an array of theatre, music and charity events. This month’s FOOd ANd driNk pages present suggestions of The White Hart Hotel and Farndon Boathouse for autumn dining. In our HOmeS section, our featured home is Clogg Hall, a former ‘plain Jane,’ now a beautiful ly restored Victorian cottage. Rediscover sewing in our CrAFTS section with this year’s Great British Sewing Bee winner, Heather Jacks. Brian and Hilary designed this month’s featured GArdeN around a man-made lake, ideal for both fishing and a round of golf. Look and feel great with Glen Eden in our HeALTH ANd BeAUTY section with the latest medical aesthetic treatments. As the cooler months draw closer, feel both stylish and comfortable with Dubarry in this month’s FASHiON feature. Exploring the county’s HiSTOrY we visit the UK’s only eight sailed mill at Heckington whose new sails were hoisted into position recently.
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County News
Corby Glen’s 776th annual sheep Fair set for this month
Work begins on Bomber Command memorial with a brand new design
received. The memorial will still feature the spire that was originally proposed, but the names of the 25,611 who gave their life will now appear on memorial walls for improved legibility.
Lincoln’s Bomber Command Memorial was a step closer to completion with a new design revealed recently to make the names of the servicemen who gave their lives more legible.
A visitor centre named the Chadwick Centre will be created as well as a landscaped memorial park. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by June 2015.
A turf-cutting ceremony took place in late August on the memorial, situated on Canwick Hill. The site will cost £1.6m, raised through charitable donations with the charity recently renaming itself the International, rather than Lincolnshire Bomber Command memorial to reflect the amount of international support it has
For more information, see www.lincsbombercommand memorial.com
Petition calls for knighthood of the last surviving dambuster
several thousand people will celebrate the village’s history with agriculture, traditional entertainment and a local food festival on 4th and 5th October... Corby Glen near Grantham will this year host the 776th annual Sheep Fair, which has grown from an agricultural event to a festival with street entertainment, live music, a parade and a wealth of local food. Last year’s event included samba dancing, plus performances by the Corby Glen Dance Academy and Bourne Borderers morris dancers. It also featured a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota. This year the event will include a rare breed show, in keeping with the event’s traditional roots, as well as a homage to the Great
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British Bake Off featuring local recipes. Organisers are seeking recipes from locals which will be prepared live on the day, and used in a spin-off cook book. Folk music from Spalding Folk Band and a choral performance by Corby Glen Choristers will take place alongside a clay pigeon shoot, birds of prey display, vintage cars, a dog show and local stalls demonstrating calligraphy, the work of the Woodland Trust, wood turning, and other craft activities. For more information see www.sheepfair.co.uk or call 01476 552305.
Lincolnshire’s last surviving Dambuster, George ‘Johnny’ Johnson should be knighted, according to a petition calling for recognition of the 92-year old veterans contribution to the famous Lincolnshire raid. George survived not only the infamous raid as part of Fl Lt., Joe McCarthy’s assault on the Sorpe dam, but 49 further wartime raids. The campaign has already received international support. The petition can be found at campaign website www.change.org.uk.
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send your press releases and county news to: Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.
Oscar-winning Jim Broadbent supports Grimsby hospice
dangling a caret - will you be the lucky one to find a diamond?
65-year old Louth actor pledges support for £6m Building on Care project which will provide 12 beds
Hunt is on for a £12,000 diamond which fell from the sky in Gainsborough as jewellery firm’s PR stunt...
Louth actor Jim Broadbent has pledged his support to St Andrew’s Hospice. The star recently met patients, volunteers and staff and visited the building site where new facilities are currently being built in Peaks Lane, Grimsby. “St Andrew’s is a fantastic place and I am very impressed. The work being done here is so important.” He said. Jim told hospice staff how his own mother had died after suffering from dementia shortly before filming Iris, based on the novelist’s experience of Alzheimer’s disease.
minimal funding from the Government when such good work is done here,” he said. “The hospice is right at the heart of the community and I hope everyone supports it.” As reported, the Building On Care appeal aims to raise £2.5 million with the help of the public, towards the project, which is costing £6 million overall. It will increase the number of adult in-patient beds all with en-suite facilities from eight to 12. Building work is set to be completed by December.
The lucky person who finds the Diamonds in the Sky sparkler can keep it, and use it in a piece of jewellery... a 24-caret piece of PR for the company!
Jewellery retailer 77 Diamonds sent the diamond up into the air using a helium balloon. Special permission was sought by the Civil Aviation Authority, and the diamond was launched from a field in Derbyshire with the CAA and 77 Diamonds checking its location via GPS. The gem is described as a modified cushion brilliant cut diamond and is estimated to be worth more than £12,000. Atmospheric pressure caused the balloon to burst after a 60 mile journey lasting 150 minutes.
The hospice cares for 1,000 adult patients in North East Lincolnshire alone and, as Lincolnshire’s only children’s hospice, 100 youngsters from around the region. “It’s hard to believe that it only receives
Now the hunt is on to find the diamond, attached to bright orange parachute and a red foil box the size of a shoebox.
Planners approve Boston’s flagship £100m Wyberton football stadium development Boston’s £100m Quadrant development has been passed by planners. The project will be “For the greater good of Boston,” according to the Borough council’s leader,
Gainsborough residents are on the look out for a diamond which has fallen from the sky within a five mile radius of the village of Lea.
Peter Bedford. Plans, put forward by Chestnut Homes and Boston United, include a new stadium for the town’s football team and 500 homes, plus retail outlets and a supermarket.
Pennells £1.8m investment will see Lincoln’s garden centre grow...
of gifts and a covered outside plant sales area.
Lincoln’s Pennells Garden centre is set to really grow, now that a £1.8m expansion is underway.
The number of free parking spaces will be increased by approximately 100.
From its humble start back in 1971, when the centre covered as little as 125sqm, it will bloom to be a multi department garden centre. Once completed, the extended centre will include a food hall featuring an award winning butcher, a wider range
The centre will also be extending its restaurant making it one of the largest in a garden centre in the country.
Chairman Richard Pennell said “The development of the centre is very exciting for us and will provide an improved shopping experience for our customers with a wider range of products. However the heart of the business will continue to be our love of plants and gardens!” 7
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What’s On
eRiC & LiTTLe eRN
THe LiNCOLN BOOk FesTivaL
What do you think of it so far? Rubbish! That’s one thing you won’t hear this month at Grimsby Auditorium, as Eric & Little Ern comes to Grimsby Auditorium on Thursday, 9th October. Seabright Productions’s tribute to the duo stars Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens - it’s the closest thing you’ll get to seeing the original duo live! Tickets £16.90-£27.90.
2014’s Lincoln Book Festival takes place over six nights with engaging talks from top authors. Our pick of 2014’s events are:
www.atgtickets.com 01472 311300
An afternoon of Lincolnshire’s WW1 heritage designed for anyone seeking to research and perhaps publish a book about the era. Bookstalls and authors’ signings.
LiNCOLN saUsaGe FesTivaL
Top/Right: Eric and Ern make a welcome return - at Grimsby Auditorium. Top: Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers comes to Boston. Above: Mrs Wilberforce is the little old lady up against a dangerous gang of criminals.
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Cookery stalls, demonstrations and a celebration of Lincolnshire produce in the grounds of Lincoln Castle. Children’s entertainment and street music help to create a festival of food in good time to make buy gifts or purchases for your Christmas table. www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincolncastle 01522 782040
Friday 3rd Oct, 6.15pm: The 60s and All That
Paul Anderson, author of Mods: The New Religion and Jenny Boyd recount the decade, including life with Donovon, Mick Fleetwood, and The Beatles during their Maharishi era. Saturday 4th Oct, 2pm-5pm: Local History
Saturday 4th Oct, 6.15pm: An Evening of Extravagance and Virtue
Hannah Greig on the Georgian beau monde and Simon Heffer on the Victorians. All lectures take place at The Collection on Danes Terrace. www.lincolnbookfestival.org.uk 01522 545458
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- WHAt’s On -
THe LadYkiLLeRs
THe sOUTH
Hosted by Riverhead Theatre from 13th-18th from 7.30pm, the classic Ealing comedy is retold, and sweet little old lady Mrs Wilberforce inadvertently foils a robbery.
The Beautiful South split up in 2007 citing, in a typically wry style, ‘musical similarities.’ Paul Heaton and Jaqui Abbott have hit the charts recently, but the rest of the band including Heaton’s songwriting partner Dave Hemingway and vocalist Alison Wheeler, continue the group’s legacy at Drill Hall on Friday 24th October from 8pm.
www.louthplaygoers.com 01507 600350
BLeak HOUse The Pantaloons play out Dickens’s dark masterpiece on Wednesday 8th October at Grantham’s Guildhall Arts Centre. Five actor musicians bring Victorian England to life with aplomb. Tickets £10-£12.
www.lincolndrillhall.com 01522 873894
BaLLeT La CLassiqUe
Les McKeown comes to Boston’s Blackfriars Arts Centre to recall his life in one of the biggest bands in the 1970s.
Moscow’s La Classique ballet company presents Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous Sleeping Beauty; music fills the air and wondrous characters come to life before your very eyes... expect a really colourful spectacle at Scunthorpe’s Bath’s Hall on Friday 17th October from 7.30pm. £22/adults.
www.blackfriarsartscentre.co.uk 01205 363108
www.scunthorpetheatres.co.uk 0844 8542776
www.guildhallartscentre.com 01476 406158
BaY CiTY ROLLeRs
Top: Ballet la Classique at Scunthorpe’s Bath’s Hall. Above: The Pantaloons’s retelling of Charles Dickens.
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The ULTIMATE Combat Gaming Experience Airsoft is a military simulation game similar to paintball. It costs a lot less to play, it hurts less and uses realistic looking replica weapons.
Two unique sites and different styles of gaming. Fight in and around buildings or in the woods and undergrowth. The games run with two teams, each are given objectives which they have to try and achieve. Competitive Prices Private, corporate and open days catered for.
01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk www.freefirezone.co.uk Designed by email: games@urbanassault.org.uk Airsoft Shop www.fire-support.co.uk
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- tHE AntiQuEs ROAdsHOW -
Filming at Belton House, it’s the
BBC’s Antique’s
Roadshow
the BBC’s flagship antiques programme the Antiques Roadshow recently came to Belton House to film two episodes for its next series. We went along to see how the 100-strong crew creates a programme which regularly attracts viewing figures of up to 8,000,000 Words and Images: Rob Davis.
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Top: The three-camera OB (outside broadcast) studio is used for objects that will definitely make the final edit. Three cameras including a boom provide greater versatility than the two single unit cameramen who also film the show. Above: Belton House attracted around 3,000 Lincolnshire people keen to have their antiques examined. Above/Right: Large or valuable items are delivered a day or two beforehand and are stored securely in the house.
it’s a sunday evening institution. A celebration of antiques that attracts between five and eight million viewers each week, and uncovers some of the fascinating stories behind middle England’s heirlooms. The BBC’s flagship antiques programme, the Antiques Roadshow, was first broadcast in 1979 and the current series is the 37th, with over 700 programmes filmed at over 530 venues. Around 9,000,000 objects have been brought to be valued in that time, and around 20,000 of those have been filmed. Each show attracts around 3,000 people and the Antiques Roadshow has had six presenters during its life, from Bruce Parker and Angela Rippon in the 1970s to Arthur Negus and Hugh Scully in the 1980s, Michael Aspel in the noughties and its current host, Fiona Bruce, who took over in 2008. “Belton House has one of the finest silver collections in the area. We were filming here yesterday and having enormous fun with a
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silver salver.” says Fiona. “We also told the story of the garrison town which was once based here. Hopefully they’ll make it into the introduction of the show.” “It’s a beautiful home; the architecture is wonderful! For us, as a venue it has everything - beautiful grounds, a fantastic story to tell. We’ve filmed at quite a few ruins this year so it’s nice to have a proper building.” “Attendance has been really good here, and there’s some lovely weather today, so hopefully we’ll see lots of people. I love going around stately homes and country properties - this is what I do on my day off !” “Not everyone who watches are necessarily antiques devotees, but you learn not just about history, our social history, but that history in conjunction with the back stories to the objects and their owners as well.” Belton House was indeed an excellent venue - as identified by the show’s designer Myra Lewis. “We make an initial visit to assess each venue’s suitability then return with the engineering manager for a technical recce.
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There are around 25 experts on each show, as well as the 100 strong crew. The crew aims to film two shows per venue. We plot the layout of the event - where the tables will be set, the route for the queues and the best camera positions established. Eight weeks beforehand, a meeting is held to finalise the venue’s suitability and the first few members of crew arrive on site a couple of days before filming. The roadshow is mainly set up the day before, with the rigs and camera cables laid for the three camera set-ups - there’s a mini-TV studio, known as the three-camera outside broadcast unit, plus two PSCs portable camera setups. The latter film much of the show, but the former is used for really interesting items with a fixed camera and a camera on a boom. The public queue up and present their items to the front desk to be triaged towards the experts. There are around 25 experts on each show, as well as the 100 strong crew, and if an expert decides that an item is worthy of filming, the guest is sent to a holding area to await the availability of a camera crew, coordinated by recording manager Jeanne Darrington who manages the show’s 15
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- tHE AntiQuEs ROAdsHOW -
recording slots. Guests are also touched up by the show’s makeup artist as the show films in full HD - which is much less forgiving for fine lines and wrinkles! There are no rehearsals for the show, everything a viewer sees is live dialogue. After filming from a wide position, certain shots are re-recorded and spliced into the main footage at the editing stage. These shows include close-ups, and ‘noddies’ where an expert or guest is filmed from a fresh angle, nodding in response to what their guest says. Cameras capture the excitement including the identification of some unexpectedly valuable items, including last year’s Van Dijk painting. “It was the most unexpectedly valuable thing ever brought to the show. It was worth from £300,000-£500,000, but was originally brought for £400!”
“There are no rehearsals for the show, everything a viewer sees is live dialogue with additional shots inserted during editing. All guests are treated to a makeup artist, as the show is now filmed in HD...”
At each venue, the show aims to film a sufficient amount of material for two shows. Lincolnshire’s contribution to the next series will air sometime in autumn this year, and in spring 2015. During the filming of the Belton shows, a large private collection of Paddington Bear memorabilia was donated to the Action Medical Research charity, with Fiona filming a piece to camera about the collection.
Other highlights include WWI memorabilia, paintings by local artists and a cabinet designed by a local maker which has been in the local family’s ownership for over four generations. “It’s great fun filming here. Belton has a fantastic story to tell. We won’t be coming back for a few years and the first people were here around 7.30 this morning so we really hope we’ve got some really good stories to tell!” says Fiona. The Antiques Roadshow will air in Autumn with an exact date to be confirmed as Pride goes to press. See www.bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow. 16
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to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
The Bomber Command Memorial
Turf Cutting Ceremony
The world’s last two airworthy Lancaster bombers and the only remaining flying Vulcan flew across the Lincolnshire skies in celebration of the turf cutting ceremony marking the beginning of the construction phase of the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. The IBCC is the brainchild of The Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth, and will serve as recognition, remembrance and reconciliation for Bomber Command. Veterans were joined by 260 guests from around the country Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Stuart Peach and Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth. Says Nicky Barr, Project Director of IBCC, “This event proved to be an extremely emotional experience for those attending. It is vitally important that the stories of those who served, supported and suffered are captured and preserved for future generations and this is a key aim of the IBCC which is planned to be completed by September 2015. Further information on the IBCC can be found at www.internationalbcc.co.uk. Images: Ceri Jackson.
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Feature your event in our magazine. 20
Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events desk...
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Purchase photographs from this event online. Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.
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Some of Last Year’s Winners: Our awards present three winners and seven finalists within each of our three categories - Restaurant of the Year, Coffee Shop/Bistro of the Year and Food Hero. Clockwise from Top Left: Food Hero Robert Myers of Horncastle, Stuart & Jacqueline Bateman, assiette of pork at The Electric Bar and Restaurant, Lincoln. The George of Stamford and Ruaridh Bealby of The Brownlow Arms, Hough.
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Lincolnshire’s many fine dining restaurants, hotels and gastropubs go to great efforts to satisfy their diners in an increasing demanding market. That’s why, each year, we seek to identify and reward the county’s best restaurants... with a little help from our readers! Once again we’re asking you to vote for your favourite restaurant, your favourite coffee shop or bistro, and your Lincolnshire ‘food hero’ nominations. In return, we’ve partnered with six local restaurants to offer you a prize of ‘on the house’ meals throughout 2015. “It’s really important to us that our Restaurant of the Year competition truly represents the good taste of our readers.” says Lincolnshire Pride’s Editor, Rob Davis. “We don’t want advertising to have a bearing on who we or our readers vote for; we want our readers to be able to vote for whoever they choose.” “Over the page, you’ll find a form asking you to submit your votes for each of our three categories.” “Votes will be calculated and we’ll reveal the three winners in each of our three categories in our January edition.” “We’ll then pick one reader at random to be the recipient of our prize; meals out in 2015 at some of our partner restaurants. Last year’s winner was Rachel Barrett of Thorpe on the Hill.” In our Restaurant of the Year category we’re looking to name three winners and seven runners-up, which we can recommend as Lincolnshire’s most popular restaurants. These will not necessarily be the most expensive restaurants in the county, they may be good quality pub restaurants too, but equally they could be fine dining establishments offering exceptional food and service. Customer satisfaction and an enjoyable overall dining experience are more important than formality. In our Bistro or Coffee Shop of the Year category, we’re looking for a venue that provides good lunchtime dining, a traditional tearoom experience or a
great place for ladies who lunch; somewhere to enjoy more relaxed dining during the daytime. Finally, we’re also asking you to nominate a Food Hero. This could be a farmer, food producer, the owner of a quality deli or a well-known county chef, who acts as a good ambassador for the county’s food culture or champions local ingredients to put the county of Lincolnshire on the map in terms of its food and drink.
Win complimentary meals out in 2015, and
Vote for Your Favourite Local Restaurants... If you value local food and talent in your local gastropub or fine dining restaurant, now is the time to show your appreciation. We’re asking readers to vote for your favourite restaurants, and in return, you could win meals out in 2015 courtesy of our partner restaurants. Our awards are completely free of advertising bias and are voted for entirely by our readers... Images: Rob Davis.
“One of my favourite jobs each year is to record the votes as they’re coming in.” says Rob. “Only by seeking the opinions of our readers can we produce a list of the county’s most popular restaurants taken from hundreds of votes, from readers who are unbiased, who are based right across the county, and who really value Lincolnshire’s best places to eat.”
>> Turn over to vote for your favourite restaurant... We’ll automatically enter you into our prize draw to win meals out at our partner restaurants in 2015...
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LInCOLnshIrE PrIDE’s - rEsTauranT OF ThE yEar 2014 -
Win complimentary meals out in 2015... We’ve partnered with these six restaurants across the county to offer a lucky reader who casts their vote in our awards complimentary dining throughout 2015... The White Hart, Lincoln is a truly cosmopolitan restaurant in the heart of Lincoln with its Grille dining room and Room cocktail both providing a great place for winter food and drink.
famous Dambusters squadron, but its current dining provision is thoroughly modern with beautifully presented, flavoursome dishes delivered courtesy of head chef Philip Long.
The Chequers at Gedney Dyke offers fine dining in a stylish environment with varied menus, set lunchtime dining and both à la carte dining and a tasting menu during evening service.
The Sebastopol Inn at Minting provides a traditional country pub restaurant feel, but with food that reflects a much higher quality than you’d expect.
The Lincoln Hotel’s Green Room is one of the city’s most innovative restaurants with stylish presentation and lots of flair. The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, is the former home of Lincolnshire’s
Toft House near Bourne offers daytime and evening dining in a pretty position overlooking the adjacent golf course. With a pretty garden too, it’s definitely one for spring dining.
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We’ll pick one voter at random to win complimentary meals in 2015. If one of your nominations wins, we may want to quiz you on why you voted for them!
Vote for your favourite restaurant, and a favourite bistro or coffee shop below. We’d also like you to nominate a ‘Food Hero’ — perhaps a butcher, baker, food producer, chef or similar.
Please provide your name, address, and telephone number (we will need to contact you if you’re our lucky winner!).
restaurant of the year (name & location):
address: ..................................................
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Alternatively, you can vote on our website by visiting
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www.pridemagazines.co.uk/vote
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Bistro/Coffee shop of the year:................
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name:.....................................................
............................................................... Postcode: ................................................
............................................................... Food hero of the year (name, location of person and reason for your nomination): ...............................................................
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Telephone: ..............................................
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Send your entry to: Lincolnshire Pride Restaurant of the Year Awards 2014, Pride Magazines, Elm Grange Studios, East Heckington, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3QF.
Closing Date for Entries: Monday 3rd November 2014. Terms and Conditions: One entry per household. Photocopies/multiple will not be accepted. Competition is available to anyone in the county or surrounding area. you must not be personally or professionally allied with nominations. Votes received for each venue will be counted up to determine eventual three winners for each category and seven runners-up. The Editor’s decision as to our competition winners is final and further terms and conditions may apply.
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Welcome to Lincolnshire Pride Magazine’s food awards, in which we want our readers to nominate their favourite restaurant, bistro/coffee shop and the county’s ‘Food hero.’ This entry form will ensure your vote is counted, and in return, we’ll pick one reader at random to win meals out at the above restaurants in 2015.
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THE BALL HOUSE Enjoy high quality à la carte dining or our delicious pub favourites.
STARTERS Veloute of celeriac and apple cider, walnut, blue cheese and crouton. Terrine of confit duck, salt baked beetroot, orange and festive Cumberland sauce. Gratin of Cornish cock crab with aged parmesan and chive.
MAINS Roast black feather turkey, traditionally garnished. Roast fillet of salmon, buttered kale, roasted Jerusalem artichokes, salsify and parsley. Butternut squash & feta cheese bake, toasted pumpkin seeds and dried cherry tomatoes.
DESSERTS Baked apple tarte tatin, clove ice cream. Christmas pudding, brandy crème anglaise. Selection of three fine cheeses, homemade biscuits and chutney.
2 COURSES £18.50 OR 3 COURSES £22.50 Available Wednesday to Saturday 12 noon – 2.30pm & 6pm – 9pm
Book now and try Boston’s newest restaurant.
Wainfleet Road, Boston PE21 9RL
01205 364478
www.theballhouseboston.co.uk
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NEW LUNCH MENU Bring this advert in with you to receive
20% OFF your lunchtime food bill
Excludes Sundays. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. Valid for the months of Sept/Oct 2014.
CHRISTMAS MENUS NOW AVAILABLE Bookings being taken
MONDAY NIGHT IS PIE NIGHT Choice of pie to choose from and served with chipped potatoes and garden peas. Only £8.95.
OPEN TO NON RESIDENTS Lunch Monday to Saturday 12 noon to 2.30pm, Dinner 6pm to 9.30pm. Food served all day on Sunday last orders 7.45pm.
The Queen’s Head KIRKBY LA THORPE, SLEAFORD
CELEBRATE THE SEASON Christmas at the Queen’s Head is always a pleasure... Maybe it’s the open fires? Maybe it’s the warm welcome? Maybe it’s the high quality English food with ingredients carefully sourced from the countryside. Call now for more details.
ON THE A17 AT SLEAFORD, NG34 9NU Call 01529 305743 | www.thequeensheadinn.com
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- FOOD -
Dining On The
Water
a riverside location and stylish dining room makes dining at Farndon’s Boathouse well worth the half-hour trip from Grantham, sleaford or Lincoln. It’s a contemporary setting offering equally contemporary quality English dining
Words & Photos: Rob Davis Lincolnshire is exceptionally well-served for traditional pub restaurants offering equally traditional English cuisine, but Farndon’s Boathouse offers something deliciously different. It’s a stylish contemporary restaurant situated, as its name suggests, by the riverside in Farndon just a few minutes from Newark. Travelling time is just half an hour from Lincoln, Grantham or Sleaford, and just an hour from Boston or Stamford. Even if you have to travel an hour, we can still highly recommend the restaurant and its unique dining experience. The restaurant is owned by Dan Garner and Nathan Barton, alongside co-directors Adam & Robin Perkins. The team also have restaurants in Nottingham, and transformed Farndon’s Boathouse - formerly known as The New Ferry Restaurant - in 2008.
Left: Chicken breast with braised chard, sweet potato mash, crispy ham, yellow tomatoes and red wine jus.
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It’s a pretty place to dine with contemporary furnishings and bright colours alongside an industrial-looking dining room with screeded floors, contemporary fires and jazz bands performing live music on selected dates.
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Left: The restaurant is open plan and comfortable with contemporary fireplaces and splashes of sage and purple. Below: ‘Egg & Soldiers’ - white chocolate mousse and mango jus with biscotti ‘soldiers.’ Bottom: Indian spiced lamb shoulder, Bombay potatoes, carrot & fennel bhaji, kofta kebab, soured cream mousse.
“The Boathouse makes its own bread, ice creams, petit fours, grows its own herbs and even roasts its own coffee...”
Local suppliers help to ensure quality, with fish arriving fresh from Grimsby, and local butchers including Ray Campbell John and Doncasters supplying meat. Maxeys of nearby Southwell provide fresh veg from local fields, and even the music is courtesy of local bands. Many of the menu’s options are prefixed with the initials EB indicating their availability for Early Bird lunchtime dining, and evening dining before 6.45pm, at a concessionary price of £14.95 for two courses and £17.95 for three courses. We consider this good value generally, but when you take into account the quality of the food on offer, it’s even easier to recommend the restaurant. It may be a stylish place to design, but Farndon Boathouse’s beauty is far from skin deep. The à la carte menu provides a choice of eight starters, three sharing platters, 10 main courses and five grill options, as well as five desserts and two cheese options. Not only are meals prepared in house by the ten-strong team, but the restaurant makes all of its bread, produces its own ice creams, makes its petit fours in house, grows its own herbs and even roasts its own coffee. This is evidence that attention to detail is important for the restaurant, and that the team values not just its meals, but the accompaniments and finishing touches that each one is presented with too, for a dining experience that exhibits quality throughout. The restaurant has the feel of a slick London bistro, but the welcome is definitely local, with an attentive team headed up by General Manager Adam Lambourne aiming to provide service which equals the dining experience itself.
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Highlights of the menu include a ‘gourmet’ burger with brioche bun and triple-cooked skinny fries, a Thai ‘fish bowl’ bouillabaisse, and - not for the faint-hearted - a 20oz T-Bone steak combining a tender fillet and flavoursome sirloin steak on either side. If your tastes are less adventurous, we’ll recommend the ham hock terrine shown opposite, presented with piccalilli purée or the king prawn & crayfish salad served with gem lettuce, Harrisa mayonnaise and confit tomatoes as starter options. Our main course options included Indian spiced lamb shoulder served with Bombay potatoes, carrot & fennel bhaji and Kofta kebab with soured cream mousse - a perfect fusion between contemporary Indian cuisine and food from our region. We can also recommend the chicken breast with braised chard, sweet potato mash and crispy ham with yellow tomatoes and red wine jus that’s featured on our opening spread - both of our main courses are Early Bird options too.
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“The Boathouse offers diners exceptional quality, with true flair and imagination!” By way of a dessert alternative, there’s also the option of a Colston Basset Stilton parfait, cheese board and a selection of home-made petit fours. There’s a choice of 21 whites and reds each, plus rosé, sparkling and dessert wines from a reasonable £15 to £75. Look out for live music on Sunday evenings, with music from 7.30pm and Early Bird dining available all night.
Desserts are exceptionally well-thought out too. Our chocolate option wasn’t the usual brownie, but instead a pavé served with peanut butter and home made salted caramel ice cream. Preferring fruity desserts, I sampled the iced cherry Bakewell parfait with granola and sticky cherries - the flavour and depth of fruitiness was absolutely beautiful, and the vibrancy of the presentation really provided a cheerful end to our meal. Speaking of desserts that bring a smile to your face, we also piloted a new dessert served in egg shells; entitled Egg & Soldiers and presented in an egg box, this white chocolate mousse with its mango coulis ‘yolk’ was served with biscotti ‘soldiers.’ 34
Just as Pride goes to press, Farndon Boathouse will be hosting its Jazz & Blues Weekender from 19th-21st September, with live jazz on Friday 19th from 7.30pm, and boogie-woogie pianist Dino Baptiste providing Jools Holland-esque music from 1pm on September 20th. Undoubtedly, the Boathouse offers diners a more contemporary dining experience, but one that’s comfortable and punctuated by continual reminders of the quality that underlies both the food and front of house service. The restaurant has earned an AA rosette for the past five years running, and it’s easy to see why. If you’re seeking stylish lunchtime food or a lively evening experience, we can definitely recommend Farndon Boathouse for exceptional autumn dining this month!
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Sample Menu sTarTErs Mushrooms on Toast Mushrooms on toast with tarragon, parsley, cream, toasted sour dough bread, truffle oil, shaved Parmesan.
£6.95
scallops Pan fried Shetland scallops, Iberico Morcilla ‘black pudding’ butterbean purée & leeks, chorizo crisps.
£11.95
ham hock Ham hock terrine, piccalilli purée, curried Scotch egg - pork quavers.
£5.95
MaIns Thai ‘Fish Bowl’ £16.95 Bouillabaisse of Thai infused coconut milk broth with chilli, lemongrass, coriander & lime, salmon, white fish, prawns, mussels, crayfish & rice noodles. Fish & Chips £12.95 Fresh haddock fillet, beer batter, fat chips, garden peas & tartar sauce. Tagliatelle £11.50 Tagliatelle florentine, leaf spinach, peas, Parmesan cream, wild mushrooms, soft poached egg & hollandaise.
PuDDInG Chocolate Pavé Chocolate pavé with peanut powder, and salted caramel ice cream.
£6.50
Cherry Bakewell Iced cherry Bakewell parfait with granola and sticky cherries.
£6.50
stilton Parfait Chef ’s signature Colston Basset Stilton parfait with pickled walnuts and grapes, cured ham and biscuits.
£6.95
The Farndon Boathouse, The Riverside, Farndon, Newark, Notts, NG24 3SX Tel: 01636 676578 Web: www.farndonboathouse.co.uk Lunches from 12noon - 3pm. Evening service from 6pm - 9.30pm, 6pm-6.45pm ‘Early Bird.’
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- FOOD -
Taking good dining to
Hart
With a brand new menu making its debut this month, Lincoln’s White Hart Hotel remains one of the most stylish places in the city to dine. Enjoy afternoon tea, à la carte dining or Christmas drinks with friends at the hotel Words & Photos: Rob Davis Lincoln is set to be very busy over the next couple of months. This month sees Lincoln’s Sausage Festival in Market Square, its Food & Gift Fair takes place at the Showground on 29th and 30th November, and Lincoln’s Christmas Market takes place from 4th-7th December. Even in between those dates, the city will be packed with Christmas shoppers. If you’re looking to take a break from buying gifts, or you’re looking for a venue for pre-Christmas drinks with friends, we’ve the perfect recommendation. Lincoln’s White Hart Hotel is a grand old building with a deceptively modern and deceptively large interior. There’s a restaurant offering à la carte dining, Grille, which seats 75, as well as a private dining room for parties of up to 15, plus five function suites for pre-Christmas parties, seating between 30 and 120.
Left: Pork Belly with apple with bubble & squeak, caramelised apples, shallots and port sauce.
The hotel also has a cocktail bar and 50 en suite bedrooms. It provides anything from good value lunchtime dining to afternoon teas to quench the thirst of weary shoppers, to quality à la carte dining. 39
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Left: Chocolate trio, presented as a hazelnut truffle cup, chocolate delice and brownie. Below: Roast breast of corn fed chicken. Bottom: The hotel offers great value daytime and high quality evening dining.
“Daytime dining is good value and is designed to provide diners with speedy service...”
accompany, a choice of 14 white, 14 red and nine sparking or pudding wines. Afternoon teas are proving one of the hotel’s most popular options, and are available with standard, Pimm’s and champagne afternoon tea options from £8.50 to £16.25. The Room cocktail bar has a dedicated menu too, and there are separate Christmas menus for the few dates remaining as we edge closer to the festive season. Local suppliers feature heavily on the menu, with Fosters on Lincoln’s Monks Road providing meat, Abbey Parks and Pilgrims of Boston providing vegetables and Direct Seafoods providing a daily delivery of fresh fish from Grimsby.
The hotel is part of the Caparo group, which used to impose universal menus but, with the arrival of current head chef Michael House nearly four years ago, abandoned this policy to enable Micheal and his team to put a unique menu together to appeal specifically to Lincolnshire diners. Dining is now by way of a daytime menu with seven starters and 10 main courses. A ‘Super Seven’ option offers discounted dining ‘off-peak,’ with two lunchtime courses for £9.95 and three courses for £11.95. “We wanted to offer good value food but with plenty of choice.” says Michael. “Being in the middle of the city we have a good mix of tourists with plenty of time to enjoy leisurely dining, but also businesspeople who want to make the most of their lunch hour.” In the evening, there are nine starters and 10 main courses with four grill options. There are eight dessert options available to both daytime and evening diners, and to 40
“We’re well-placed to take advantage of Lincolnshire’s reputation as the county that feeds the country.” says Michael. “We maintain excellent relationships with suppliers which we think is really important. A good dish begins with good ingredients, one can’t exist without the other. We can also take advice from our suppliers as to the best ingredients available that morning for dishes like our Fish of the Day.” Daytime dining in particular represents excellent value with the team engineering a menu designed to provide business people with speedy service. Our recommendations include mozzarella with roasted pepper and black olive crostini, and the chicken, leek & ham pie which, at under £10 for both, will satisfy discerning diners and provide two courses for less than you’ll pay at a chain restaurant with poor quality defrosted meals. Evening service sees a range of dishes that are slightly more complex in composition or those which utilise higher priced ingredients. During our visit, Micheal served up an excellent pork belly dish with ‘bubble
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“Customer satisfaction and a reputation for consistency and quality are what we value most.” speak for themselves without dishes suffering too much complication.” In all cases food is beautifully presented and tastefully decorated, served in a modern and well-presented open plan dining room with lots of natural light. Equally well-presented is the rest of the hotel, which has just completed a refurbishment with all of its 50 bedrooms receiving a makeover and all of the private dining rooms receiving a revamp too. and squeak’ mash, caramelised apple and a shallot & port sauce. Other dishes include roast lamb, beef, chicken and scallops plus a ‘fish of the day’ dish, so a wide breadth of tastes is catered for. Dessert wise, we’re keen to recommend the chocolate trio which included a warm brownie, hazelnut truffle cup and chocolate delice, beautifully presented on a glass platter. “We’re not chasing rosettes and accolades.” says Sous Chef Simon Oates. “It’s customer satisfaction and a reputation for consistency and quality that we value most.” “We’ve a brigade of 10 in the kitchen and all of us have been encouraged to utilise good, fresh ingredients and let the flavours 42
This has ensured the White Hart looks as polished and fresh as its provision of food. If anything, the restaurant suffers from the unfair perception of being prohibitively expensive, but with great value daytime dining, and reasonably priced evening à la carte meals too, it’s surprisingly affordable against even the chain restaurants that have established themselves in the city. We believe the White Hart Hotel offers not only high quality, but good value dining. So, when you’ve had enough of Christmas shopping this month, treat yourself to one of the best lunchtime dining experiences you’re likely to have in the city, and visit the White Hart Hotel. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
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Sample Menu STARTERS Parfait Chicken liver & truffle parfait with crisp pancetta, shallot & sultana confit, pan de Champagne.
£6.50
Risotto Pea & ham hock risotto with dolcé latté cheese & pea shoots.
£6.50
duck Leg Salad Confit duck leg salad with soused vegetables, orange & honey dressing.
£7.50
MAINS Breast of Chicken Roast breast of corn-fed chicken with wild mushroom risotto, grilled asparagus & parmesan crisp.
£15.95
fillet of Beef £28 Grilled fillet of dry aged beef with blue cheese rarebit, dauphinoise potatoes and red wine sauce. Scallops £17.95 Pan fried scallops with fennel puree, grilled asparagus tips, lemon & prawn butter.
PUddING Cheesecake Blueberry & lime cheesecake with crisp amaretto biscuit base.
£6.25
Banana Shortbread Tower £6.10 Banana, kirsch cream and crisp shortbread tower with raspberry sauce. Crème Brulée Raspberry brulée with honeycomb flakes and crème chantilly.
£6.15
Cheeseboard Local cheese & biscuits served with Lincolnshire plum loaf, celery & grapes.
£7.75
The White Hart Hotel, Bailgate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. LN1 3AR Tel: 01522 526 222 Web: www.whitehart-lincoln.co.uk Open seven days, lunchtime service from 12-3pm, evening service from 5pm-10pm (11am Friday/Saturday), Super Seven discounted dining from 5pm-6.30pm.
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- DRINK -
TheWineCellar
As we near the Christmas Party Season, you’ll be want the best Champagne to celebrate the season! We’ve five of the tastiest champagnes to help get you stocked up ready for the festive months...
Our Gift Subscriptions last a whole year
"R" de Ruinart The original taste of Ruinart, it is fresh and perfectly balanced with proportions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Crystalline with a shimmering yellow colour and golden hues. Delicate and fruity with dominant aromas of fresh white pear and dry fruits like hazelnuts and almonds, with white flower notes. £95.
Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Rose 2002
Krug Clos du Mesnil, 2000
Charles Heidsieck Rosè Rèserve
Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon
A rare Champagne, it has tones of luminous, very light gold with hints of green. Be seduced by aromas of ripe apple, toffee, barley sugar, short crust pastry, raisins, honey, acacia and citrus fruits. Indulgent flavours of peaches and white blossoms, gingerbread, honey and orange zest. £590.
Powerful and stylish, with a blend of three champagne grape varieties and selection of red wines. It has a deep taste, matured for over 3 years in 2000 year old chalk cellars. Pulpy and lively with notes of wild strawberry and fresh gingerbread. This powder pink rosé has a delicate sparkle.£55.
Vivid and rich, with nose-filling aromas and mix of scents: smoke, spices, saffron, sweet yellow pepper, mustard seed and rainwater. It’s creamy and dense, yet fresh and precise, with a composed, smooth mousse. The finish is truly majestic with earthy flavours, mineral and charcoal. £117.
every single month in 2014!
Created as a tribute to co-founder Elisabeth Salmon, it has a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with 10% red wine. Copperpink hue and exotic wood, fresh figs, candied fruits, wild strawberry and rose petal. Delicate and ripe, lively yet rich, persistent and deeply satisfying. £135.
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From Plain Jane to
Beautiful
Cottage... Matt frith and Graham Brown describe their 18th century cottage as a ‘Plain Jane’ pad turned country home. The difference from when they moved in is quite remarkable, with a ‘back-to-brick’ renovation, lasting an entire year, transforming the former farmhouse both inside and out... Words: Rob Davis 46
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Love at first sight is how Matt Frith describes the moment he first set eyes upon Clogg Hall, his late Victorian former farmhouse near Market Rasen. Originally part of a 300 acre farm estate, it was a typical labourer’s cottage; rectangular in shape and around half the size it is now. Following a year long extension and renovation project, undertaken by Matt and partner Graham Brown, the cottage is larger and much improved.
“It was a sunny August day, and the wheat was wafting in the breeze. It was derelict, but I still fell in love with the house.”
Originally from Kent, the pair moved to Lincolnshire in Hainton and had an 8,000sq ft property there, upon which they had also completed an extensive renovation.
Matt was on a bike ride when he came across the property, and ventured down its 300 metre farm track to take a look.
“We had no intention of moving, but we’re serial renovators. We seem to forget the hassle within a year or two and move on to begin a new project every single time!” The property is almost completely hidden from the main road - just the tips of the chimneys are visible.
Above/Main: The property’s size doubled when the couple embarked upon their restoration. The kitchen was extended by way of a lean-to extension to create a generous day room and kitchen. A separate larder and utility preserve the look and feel of the kitchen.
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“It was a sunny August day, and the wheat was wafting in the breeze, the property was run down and derelict, a real ‘Plain Jane,’ but I fell in love with it there and then.” A second viewing, with Graham, convinced both that within the ugly duckling was a beautiful swan, and having purchased the property in 2007, they began their year long restoration and redesign of the house. Their work involved a back-to-brick renovation with a new roof, new windows and doors, new plumbing and wiring, new kitchens and bathrooms and a complete redecoration, as well as no fewer than three extensions; a new south-west facing garden
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room, a conservatory to extend the kitchen and a rear wing of the house to incorporate a sitting room, utility and pantry, as well as two extra bedrooms. The property is now deceptively large, with four good-sized double bedrooms, two en suites, four reception rooms and a study. The garden room was completed by Vale Garden Houses of Grantham, and created a beautifully light reception room overlooking a sloping border packed with Mediterranean planting, lavender and herbs like thyme and rosemary. Meanwhile the property’s drawing room features a log burner and varnished wood floor, with coving and tall skirtings reintroduced into the property as part of the refurbishment, along with bespoke window dressings and sofas from Knightsbridge’s Harrods, plus warm Farrow & Ball tones
Left: The couple created the new garden room, south-west facing. “It’s where we live in the summer months as we love the views.” says Matt.
“The garden room was completed by Vale Garden Houses, and created a beautifully light reception room...” selected by interior designer Sara Cox, who also had a hand in choosing the arsenic coloured paint for the kitchen wall. The kitchen was hand-built and installed by Louth-based Murdoch Troon, with bespoke cabinetry in a buttermilk colour and solid timber surfaces. A butler sink and oil-fired Aga keep the traditional feel, and the adjacent day room has a log burner for the chilly months. “I can definitely recommend Murdoch Troon.” says Matt. “And having a pantry is good for maintaining the neatness of the kitchen; you can just throw all of your clutter in there and keep surfaces free.” Keen cooks will also be impressed with the kitchen garden that Matt created almost immediately upon their arrival at the property. 51
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With a total of 12 acres to play with, Matt set aside 10 raised beds and created a greenhouse nursery, with six beds set aside for vegetables and the remaining ones for soft fruit. They also created an extensive orchard growing apples, pears, cherries and plums, and planted no fewer than 4,000 trees. In addition to the 12 acres of space to the outside of the property, a quadruple garage and cart shed afford plenty of practicality if you’re planning to work from home like Matt. He’s a wholesaler of garden ornaments made in - and imported from - the far east, with examples of his products tastefully situated around the grounds of the property. Upstairs in the property, a large master enjoys one of two en suites, and each of the bedrooms features a range of well-chosen antiques from places like Hemswell Cliff. Above: The property has ten beds in the kitchen garden plus 4,000 newly planted trees.
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“The area is really well served for antiques centres, we’re really lucky.” says Matt. “We think that antiques give a home real warmth, and the right pieces suit the Victorian architecture perfectly.” Clogg Hall was an ambitious project, not just in terms of the back-to-brick renovation, but the fact that the property has doubled in size, and with the high standard of workmanship that can be seen throughout the house.
Clogg hall Location: Great Tows, Ludford, near Market Rasen. Style: Victorian farm cottage extended by Matt & Graham. Receptions: Four, currently arranged as Day Room, Drawing Room, Garden Room and Sitting Room. Beds: Four with two en suites.
Having purchased the place before putting their previous property on the market, and having rented somewhere to live during the year-long project, it’s surprising that the couple have their eyes on another project.
Other Features: Kitchen garden and newly planted orchard. Outbuildings. Study. Utility & Pantry.
Still, their loss is the house’s next custodian’s gain, and if the serial renovators’ new project is finished with the same love and attention to detail, we look forward to seeing the results of that one, too, very soon!
find out More:
Guide Price: £799,950
Estate Agency: Savills, Olympic House, 995 Doddington Rd, Lincoln LN6 3SE. Tel: 01522 508908. Web: www.savills.co.uk.
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www.mooresestatagents.com/countryandequestrian
CHURCH WING, BURLEY ON THE HILL
£1,900,000
With its own private approach and grounds this five bedroomed substantial residence has been designed to give practical homely accommodation whilst having a drawing room, a family sitting room with access out onto private gardens, four double bedrooms and two bathrooms. The first floor can be accessed via its own courtyard with attractive stone steps , entrance hall leading to the Long Room, a breakfast kitchen with Aga, and impressive master suite together with a study which could be a sixth bedroom/guest suite. Garaging and outbuildings. This home allows you to enjoy the splendour of stately home living whilst being able to lock up and leave with the grounds being looked after, together with access to woodland and southerly views towards Rutland Water.
GRIFFIN HOUSE, BURLEY ON THE HILL
£1,150,000
Griffin House is an outstanding five bedroom family home located in a beautiful parkland setting. The property forms part of a Grade I Listed country house, and enjoys views over the Rutland countryside. The house has been sympathetically refurbished and still boasts many of its original features, such as vaulted ceilings and columns which together with the expansive drawing room and traditional walled garden provide an attractive and delightful family home. In the exclusive setting of Burley House, Griffin House dates in part back to the 16th Century and has use of the grounds and ball room to the main house.
EAST COURT, BURLEY ON THE HILL
£585,000
No 1 East Court is a splendid conversion of a part of the East Court of the Grade I Listed Burley on the Hill. The property is situated close to the main body of the house with open views across the Cour d’honneur and Rutland Water at first floor level. Internally, the accommodation is well laid out over the two floors. All rooms have large sash windows with the principal rooms benefiting from a south and easterly aspect. A great deal of attention has been paid to internal fittings with a 4 door Aga in the Breakfast Kitchen & Fired Earth fittings in the Bath and Shower Rooms. Accommodation briefly comprises; Entrance Hall, Inner Hall, Cloakroom/Utility Room, Drawing Room, Breakfast Kitchen, Master Bedroom with En Suite Shower Room, Two Further Bedrooms, Bathroom. No 1 East Court is complemented by an attractive garden with walls to two sides and a garage with additional gated parking.
OAKHAM 36 High Street, Oakham Rutland LE15 6AL
UPPINGHAM 2 Orange Street, Uppingham Rutland LE15 9SQ
STAMFORD 2 St Johns Street, Stamford Lincolnshire PE9 2DB
MELTON 18 Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray LE13 1NW
LONDON 40 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NS
Tel: 01572 757979
Tel: 01572 821935
Tel: 01780 484555
Tel: 01664 491610
Tel: 0207 8390888
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Cooking Up The Perfect Kitchen
Mr & Mrs Walker’s new Alto Gloss Alabaster kitchen from the Premier Bespoke Collection.
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A place to prepare meals, somewhere for the family to dine, a home office and a place the kids can do their homework. No matter what your kitchen means to you, Lincoln’s Premier Kitchens & Bedrooms can cook up the perfect kitchen for a busy family...
The perfect kitchen has to fulfil many roles for the modern family. It’s a place to make food, a place for casual dining, it’s a home office for the grown-ups and place where mum and dad can supervise their children’s homework. Lincoln’s Premier Kitchens & Bedrooms say they can create the perfect kitchen for a busy family, but we wanted proof, so we went to the home of Washingborough couple Karen and Alan Walker who, in February this year, commissioned the local company to create their family kitchen. “Premier Kitchens were brilliant. The whole thing went really smoothly.” says Alan. By ‘the whole thing,’ he’s referring to a large extension to their modern family home which would see a smaller kitchen and dining room consolidated into a larger new family kitchen, with an extension area created to really make the most of the available space.
Karen supervises the children’s homework in their new kitchen
“Premier Kitchens were brilliant. The whole thing went really smoothly.” says Alan.
Their personal designer recommended bi-fold doors to allow in as much light as possible and blur the distinction between the kitchen and the terrace area outside. The work necessitated the usual plumbing, electrical and gas trades, but also a fair bit of building work.
The whole project was co-ordinated by Premier and in the process, a new kitchen in high gloss Alabaster, from the company’s Premier Bespoke Collection was installed, with quartz surfaces, LED plinth lighting, LED up-lighting in the ceiling, a black Geo designer sink and a suite of German kitchen appliances featuring brands like AEG. Bi-fold doors and Velux windows were also used to create a really light, practical family space.
Lincoln Design Consultant Kevin Fellows worked with Alan and Karen Walker on their new dream room.
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The company uses its ‘wish list’ questionnaire to find out exactly what a customer has in mind - it’s a useful tool to find out how a client uses their kitchen... Lincoln’s Sales Manager Kevin Fellows designed the kitchen, having worked for the company for over 13 years. The company is unique in that it works with customers to try to understand their needs before creating a first draft of the proposed design. “A customer will usually come into the showroom and have a browse of our products and they are given a brochure pack including a DVD to take away with lots of ideas and inspiration.” “The most important thing a customer takes away with them, though, is our Premier Wish List.”
“Clients are always impressed with how realistic the 3D design looks.” says Kevin. “We include the actual appliances, the wall and floor coverings, and with the design we include a complete breakdown of products with an accurate price, not an estimate or a ‘dry fit’ price.”
The Walker family’s wish list detailed, among other things, how Alan sometimes works abroad, how Karen supervises the children’s homework in the kitchen and how the kitchen is the place in which the family usually dines. “We weren’t sure what we wanted in terms of style and colour; we just wanted something that was modern, but wouldn’t date.” says Karen. “So a visit to the showroom was useful.” Kevin took all of this information into account and created the family’s kitchen, with a realistic 3D computer aided design,
Alto Gloss Alabaster
Clients have the opportunity to make tweaks to their design, but Kevin’s efforts to find out exactly what his clients are looking for, and the accuracy of his 3D design, invariably impresses his clients.
“The building work, plumbing, gas, electricity and kitchen installation were just completed, without any hassle”
“This is a short booklet with a few questions - not too many questions, but the right ones - things that the client may not have considered, to help us to understand exactly what they’re looking for in a new kitchen. It covers style, storage, appliances, and how they use their kitchen. Naturally there’s space for notes and for creating a ‘mood board,’ too.”
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then presented it to the family at their next meeting.
“We gave the go-ahead on 20th March and it took just six weeks.” says Alan.
“It was fantastic; a well-oiled machine. All contractors turned up on time and even when I was out of the country, everything just... carried on.”
Lansdowne Natural Oak
“I gather there were a few problems but they were just dealt with, and we didn’t have to co-ordinate any tradespeople, compromise or deal with any building issues.” “The building work, plumbing, gas, electricity and kitchen installation were just completed, without any hassle.” The family are delighted with the results and say they would definitely recommend Premier Kitchens & Bedrooms to others. “We came in absolutely on budget and I can’t fault the service.” says Alan. “The room looks good, it works well and it was really easy to achieve; everything a client needs a new kitchen project to be!” Remo Graphite & Dove Grey
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Cornell Painted
Six on-Trend Kitchen Styles Karen and Alan wanted a kitchen that was modern, but wouldn’t date. Their choice of a high gloss Alabaster kitchen from the Premier Bespoke Collection was just right n Alto Gloss Alabaster
Avant White
A perfect choice for today’s contemporary living. Alan and Karen chose to use stainless steel handles and a stylish Diresco solid surface to suit their tastes. n Cornell Painted
A time-honoured traditional kitchen that’s warm and charming, available in 24 painted colours - shown here is China Blue and Cornflower. n Avant White
A sleek and clean kitchen with fabulous impact. Curved doors add style and a soft edge to a striking look. Keep this kitchen as minimal as you choose or create depth by combining the look with contrasting shades and perfect finishing touches. n Lansdowne Natural oak
For a timber kitchen with a sleek look, Lansdowne in Natural Oak is both sophisticated and simple. Curved edges and sleek lines mitigate a traditional look with a modern edge. n Milton Painted
Milton is an in-frame shaker style design which evokes a country cottage feel, and is available in 24 painted colours plus a Natural Oak finish. n Remo Graphite & dove Grey
A sleek, modern handleless door in a selection of painted gloss or matt colours. Greys are this year’s on-trend choice. For more information or a no-obligation FREE 3D Plan & Design, visit Premier Kitchens & Bedrooms at Sunningdale Trading Estate, Dixon Close, Lincoln LN6 7UB. Call 01522 568700 or see www.premier-kitchens.co.uk. Milton Painted
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What is the Commercial Property Market really doing? Are there signs of growth? AND Does it really matter? Arthur Hartshorne, Associate and Head of the Valuation Department at Lincoln based Chartered Surveyors Hodgson Elkington, confirms the steady turn around in commercial property throughout our region. “The second quarter Commercial Property Market Survey carried out by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reports that both the occupier and investment markets continue to strengthen starting in the London and South East, and developing into the regions” says Arthur. The Lincolnshire and Yorkshire regions forming part of the Midlands regional sector is benefitting from this continued and positive trend. Growth in tenant demand remains firm across all sectors with the industrial sectors starting to show good overall results. The availability of space is contracting particularly in the office and industrial sectors with landlords having to give fewer incentive packages to attract occupancy. This is encouraging and there is always regional variations but the Midlands and the North are now starting to benefit from trends originally restricted to London and the South East. While there are elevated rental expectations and some modest growth has been identified, this is largely driven by lack of supply in some of the commercial sectors. The investment market also continues to build with a good level of transactions moving forward to completion. Office sector demand has been apparent for a number of months but even this is being outpaced by a revised interest in industrial and retail units. Capital values are projected to remain on an upward albeit modest trajectory as a result of improved investment activity. The prospect of capital value growth across the main four regions of the UK; London, the South, Midlands, Wales and the North, is becoming increasingly wide spread although the London Markets still performing better than the other three main regional sectors. Sam Elkington, Senior Partner at Hodgson Elkington comments “The general improved level of optimism in the economy and improved regional rental and capital expectations is undoubtedly driving this slow recovery although demonstrating a more balanced tone in the regional and more local markets that have been apparent earlier in the year.” Does all this really matter? Well, YES, it affects a lot more than many may think. The value of pension fund properties, both rental and capital values edging up following a period of falls produces a much better pension pot. The use of commercial property to act as security to fund business growth helps greater liquidity in the lending markets, leading to further business development local investment. So overall a positive picture to be painted after too many years of recession – The important trend though is to try and ensure that this recovery continues to be sustainable.
Hodgson Elkington LLP 1 Oakwood Road Doddington Road Lincoln, LN6 3LH
Telephone: 01522 698989 Email: info@hodelk.co.uk www.hodelk.com 61
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Democratising
Interior Design Lincoln Interior Designer Heather Hocking wants to democratise interior design. Rather than just providing complete rooms, she wants to provide her clients with the skills and products to complete their own design projects. Create your own home and revamp tired furniture with Heather’s classes and advice... Interior Design is a real skill, but Lincoln’s Heather Hocking wants to make it accessible to everyone with affordable design and a series of classes to show how you can upcycle old furniture and transform antiques from the region’s fairs and dealers. “Good interior design should be available to everyone, regardless of budget.” says Heather. “It should be available regardless of which room you’re looking to improve and regardless of the size of that room.” “I moved to the county in 2002 and began working for a company that provided high-end interiors. But when I set up my own business in July 2013, I wanted to change my focus.”
These include courses which run from 10am-1pm and cost from £35, with topics including paint effects, lampshade making, and a four week interior design course. “I wanted to stock a range of affordable fabrics - Clarke & Clarke’s classical and contemporary fabrics and wallcoverings, Sanderson’s ranges and collaborations with Emma Bridgewater, and traditional English prints by Morris or Osbourne & Little.”
“I don’t want to work ‘for’ a client - I want to work ‘with’ them, giving them the tools to create their own interiors and making good interior design affordable.”
“I wanted to work with people who share a passion for interiors and wanted them to take an active part in creating a room or a piece of furniture, rather than working alongside a client and just providing it for them.” Heather’s design work was, and still remains, a collaboration between client and interior designer, but now, as well as completing design projects for her clients’ rooms or the whole of their home, Heather wants to pass on her skills too. The designer is now hosting her own courses from her new studio at Wellingore Hall.
“I’m also stocking really beautiful paint like Authentico and Mylands - used by many TV and film companies, because of the quality of coverage it offers on camera and Miss Mustard Seed powder paint for transforming antique furniture with new colours and finishes.”
Heather’s studio stocks many ranges of fabrics and wallcoverings, around 10 statement chairs - re-covered in beautiful new fabrics from just £400-£1,000 with immediate delivery available - and many other ways to inspire you to create your own interior design projects. If you enjoy creating a beautiful, unique home, Heather’s inspiration can help whether you’re looking to commission a designer with a difference, or take the lead in creating your new and unique room.
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Above: Heather creates beautiful rooms and homes for clients and stocks fabrics, paints & wallcoverings. She also hosts classes for those wanting to learn how to transform furniture with specialist paints or learn interior design skills.
Visit Heather Hocking at Aitch Interiors, The Stables, Wellingore Hall, Hall St, Wellingore, Lincoln LN5 0HX Alternatively, telephone 01522 810961 or see www.aitchinteriors.co.uk. 63
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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@peterjacksoncabinetmakers.co.uk
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Peter_jacksonCM
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Inspiration and Ideas for your Home and Garden
A1, Markham Moor, Retford DN22 0QU 01636 822000 www.elizabethandstevens.com Wednesday to Saturday o the A1 signed to Lincoln A57 then take the turning to Retford A638 - come in and browse, we’re really friendly!
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Feeling
Blue
Warm neutrals are punctuated by cool, light Gustavian hues in Rose and Martin Evans’s former farmhouse. This month we find out how the couple merged the contemporary with a love of all things vintage to create a beautifully styled family home that leaves visitors feeling anything but blue... Words: Anne Armstrong. Photographs: David Parmiter.
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Rose & Martin Evans and their family live in a restored and extended period farmhouse, sitting amid a stretch of green and pleasant land, and behind its substantial stone façade, their farmhouse’s interior retains even more of the former farm’s original period character. Oak beams, mullioned windows, original floors, sash windows, and any number of interesting nooks and crannies, co-exist with stylish and comfortable furnishings, reflecting Rose’s knack for gently merging the vintage and the contemporary, which, she modestly suggests, ‘sometimes means being creative and making something out of nothing.’
“Rose has a knack for gently merging the vintage and the contemporary.”
The farmhouse and an attached barn were originally part of a local estate; “It was still operating as a working farm right up to the 1930s.” explains Rose.
Previously, Rose and Martin - who both run a property renovation company - and their children lived in another old, though much larger, house only a short distance away. 68
“That house, though, had a Grade II* listing. Fortunately where altering things around or taking things away are concerned - this house has no listing at all, and we bought it with the aim of renovating it, and remodelling the barn to lighten the atmosphere, as well as demolishing the cottage at the back, and replacing it with a two-storey extension using the reclaimed stone.” adds Rose.
Top: Walls, painted in Cornish Clay by Dulux, provide a softly neutral background in the kitchen. Rose commissioned the traditionally-crafted tulipwood kitchen cabinetry, handpainted in Salisbury Stone by Dulux, from a local company. Above: A pair of rustic French wooden doors - complete with evocative peeling paint - were bought from at the Original Reclamation Trading Company. Right: The vintage scrubbed pine table was brought from the family’s previous home - an example of Rose’s love of ‘making something out of nothing.’
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Interestingly, Rose and Martin looked around the property three times, and rejected it three times, before deciding to buy it - without commissioning a full structural survey. “It wasn’t the thought of having to do a lot of work which initially put me off. After all, as we are in the house-building business, we knew only too well what was required.” says Rose. “Really, it was more the thought of adjusting to semirural life, close to other houses.
could, Rose and Martin embarked on what was an expensive, full-on project, living in rented accommodation for eight months while the improvements were carried out alongside the creation of an open plan, living kitchen in the old barn. And it is this light-drenched living space, endowed with a traditionally crafted, hand-painted kitchen furniture, and French limestone flooring, which has done so much to re-define the interior of this old place.
“Rose & Martin looked around and rejected the property three times before buying it.”
After spending 20 years in a very private, rural spot, at the end of a long drive, I did wonder whether we could adjust.” Eventually, convinced that they
Main: Rose and Martin improved the look of the drawing room by installing Georgian style sash windows, and a new stone fire surround.
In the new kitchencum-breakfast room and sitting room, Rose commissioned bespoke Georgian style, ceiling height cabinetry, a matching island unit, and smart wooden shutters for the windows, and introduced a contemporary edge by choosing Kashmir White granite work tops, Spanish bar stools, and what she describes 71
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as ‘easy-on-the-eye’ sofas upholstered in soft, café au lait coloured leather, selected to harmonise with the stone flooring. The existing kitchen had been the thin, galley type, which didn’t exactly function well as the hub of family life. “There was an Aga, but only a small one, so we’ve replaced it with a new model.” says Rose, a long-time Aga devotee. “I know that some people think that Agas are becoming something of an extravagance, but there’s no doubt that they are perfect for old houses where generating warmth is usually a big factor.” she points out. A small flight of steps descends into the rustic dining room. This is the oldest and most subdued part of the house, due to the low, beamed ceiling, and it seems to have acquired a charming, faintly French atmosphere. “We have visited France a lot, especially when the children were very young, so I think I have become influenced by the way the French decorate their homes.” agrees Rose. Her taste, however, is definitely more French provincial than elaborate Louis. She prefers the simple, natural look, and has opted for a unifying and soothing colour scheme to tie the house together. Her favourite hues are muted neutrals, enriched with a Gustavian style blue used to paint various doors and window frames. “Everybody seems to love that tone of blue and it works very well in old houses.” reports Rose, who, for the past couple of years, has also been welcoming bed and breakfast guests to the farm. Rose’s furnishings are often tracked down in antiques emporiums or junk shops, or in independent specialist shops.
“As a child, I used to go to auction sales with my mother, who often bought whole boxes of crockery. I love bidding for vintage china, as she did. It’s great fun, but I’m philosophical. If I get the item, I get it; if I don’t, I don’t.”
She is especially nimble when it comes to seeking out attractive pieces of old furniture, which she can repaint or stylishly distress. Second-time-around textiles often get a new lease of life, too. “I like looking for nice old things which can be refreshed and recycled rather than buying cheaply made pieces from high street chain stores. I am always happy when I am doing something creative at home.” says Rose, who also spends many a happy hour browsing around auction rooms.
To create a better visual effect in the drawing room, Rose and Martin removed a pair of bay windows and replaced them with plain sashes. “We thought they would look better. The house certainly wouldn’t have had bay windows originally.” observes Rose. The décor in the drawing room is typically traditional English country house, featuring a trio of sofas arranged around a new fireplace made to Rose and Martin’s own classically - inspired design, by a local stonemason.
“Rose’s neutral hues are enriched with Gustavian style blue used to paint doors and windows...”
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Below/Left: A timbered lathe and plaster wall was uncovered during the renovation work in the attic bedroom. “We love it so much we decided to leave it as we found it.” explains Rose.
“The one we inherited wasn’t very nice.” recalls Rose. On the other hand, the distinctive timber staircase with lyre-shaped architectural detailing, which climbs to the upper reaches of the house, looked very nice indeed. “It was in good condition.” says Rose. “However, we did have to extend the flight of stairs - following exactly the same design - in order to be able to get right up to the attic.” Some re-organisation was needed on the upper floors involving turning the huge attic into two bedrooms and a bathroom. Now, all the previously small bedrooms have been appealingly furnished and decorated in a cosy, vintage style while the bathrooms have been remodelled and kitted out with traditional sanitaryware and lovely stone tiling, to blend sympathetically into the mix. The old farmhouse is now certainly fit for its 21st century purpose. “And, if I wasn’t in love with it when we first saw it, I am now.” smiles Rose. 73
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Rediscover
Sewing With Great British Sewing Bee 2014 Winner Heather Jacks sewing is enjoying a renaissance as a trend towards vintage style means a resurgence in discovering traditional skills and the joy of upcycling old material, says heather Jacks, local winner of the BBc’s Great British sewing Bee... Words and Images: Rob Davis.
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Below: Heather Jacks’s fellow competitors on series two of The Great British Sewing Bee. Opposite: Heather works from a room in her 18th century cottage.
Many traditional skills that used to be taken for granted have since been forgotten in an age of ever-increasing disposability and convenience. Baking bread, growing your own food, creating and mending your own clothes or making your own cushions and curtains are skills that have all fallen by the wayside. Our mothers would doubtless have been taught the skills needed to run up a pair of curtains, create your own cushions, make a rag rug or cover an old chair, but these skills have all dwindled in an age where clothing, furniture and food are all mass produced and disposable. Nobody regards this as a 76
shame more than the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee winner Heather Jacks, who won the second series of the BBC’s haberdashery competition in which 10 amateur sewers competed to be crowned Britain’s best. “I grew up in the area and we didn’t have a great deal of money back then.” says Heather. “For us, sewing was a practical skill, something necessary. I’ve sewn all my life, with an aunt who would encourage me to cut skirt patterns from the age of about nine, and a really good sewing teacher, Beryl Gibbins, who was a true inspiration.” “Needlework still features in the school curriculum but it doesn’t necessarily capture
pupil’s imagination as much as it could. Since winning the Sewing Bee I’ve started an initiative called Go Sew in local schools to try to recapture youngsters’ imagination and teach them a skill which will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Heather is a true renaissance woman, growing up in the country and fostering a love of horses and painting that would see her moving from a career in media sales to working on an eventing magazine, to working in London, then Sweden and Copenhagen as a portrait artist before establishing her own dressage and eventing training stables.
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“Our mothers would doubtless have been taught the skills needed to run up a pair of curtains, create their own cushions, make a rag rug or cover an old chair, but these skills have dwindled in an age where clothing, furniture and food are all mass produced and disposable...�
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“The beauty of sewing is its versatility; you can go on to create cushions, chair pads, curtains and so many other items for your home...” “I nearly fell over when the phone call came saying I had made the shortlist of applicants.” says Heather. “There were a couple of calls before I received confirmation, whilst in the middle of a dressage lesson.” Filming of the show’s eight episodes took place in an old warehouse over eight weeks back in an old warehouse in Wapping.
“As long as I have an easel, a violin and my sewing kit, I can feel at home anywhere.” she says. Home now is an 18th century country house near to where Heather still works for her local hunt teaching youngsters in the group’s pony club. Her home is bathed in natural light and there are predictably beautiful grounds - gardening being yet another of Heather’s skills - which provide a great view from the window of her sewing room, from which she has created the curtains, cushions and her couture occasionwear that can be seen all around her home.
Left: Heather created the curtains in her drawing room with a the help of a friend who specialises in soft furnishings. Whilst curtains are a little trickier, even a beginner can soon be creating cushions, seat pads and other items for the home, using fabrics from local interior design retailers. Top: Heather was crowned winner of The Great British Sewing Bee in April 2014.
Back in spring 2012, halfway through a sewing project, Heather switched off her sewing machine, and with husband Andrew working late, settled down to watch TV. A call to action invited submissions for the next season of The Great British Sewing Bee and quite on a whim, Heather found herself going online to apply.
In each show, the contestants completed a technical challenge and then spent two days in London completing a ‘long challenge,’ Heather’s raison d’être was a cocktail dress with copper coloured front pleated panel the hand-ruched finish of which took three hours alone - with a curb chain to the back of the dress to bring in an element of Heather’s passion for dressage and eventing. “As a group all of the contestants got on brilliantly.” says Heather. “We’re still in touch and a number of us have gone on to create our own sewing based projects since.” “David Dawson has created an excellent site called Dizzy Sew and Sew, with some really great video tutorials for projects like a pinny, a tea cosy and coasters.” “These are a great way to get started if you’ve not done any sewing since school.” “The beauty of sewing is its versatility - once you’ve mastered a few fundamental skills you can go on to create cushions, recover chairs by painting or varnishing their wooden frames and creating new cushion pads. Lampshades are relatively straightforward too, once you have the metal frame.” “What’s more, it’s a skill which will remain with you and that you can use in your home, 79
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“Fabric houses create collections which work beautifully together and can be used to create cushions curtains, cover chairs and more...” with so many beautiful fabrics created by fabric houses and sold at local soft furnishing specialists.” “There are a number of sewing courses and workshops hosted by local colleges and craft groups.” says Heather. “And these aren’t just limited to home furnishings there’s also a number of courses aimed at haberdashery and dress making.” “My own project, Go Sew, aims to inspire teenagers with a series of summer holiday courses. I don’t feel we should leave that generation in the lurch, and encouraging them to combine a love of fashion with a new skill will provide a hobby that’s fun and practical, and will remain with them for the rest of their lives.” “We’ve already had 11 local schools come on board, but we’re always looking for volunteers to take the project into other areas, and we’re looking for donations of fabrics too.” Heather’s time in London saw her partnered to a boyfriend who worked in 12 Downing 80
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Street. With an array of Commons functions and dinners to attend, she would always create her own couture rather than buying a dress. Recently, whilst stopping in town for a coffee one day, Heather overheard the whispers of a group of schoolgirls who recognised her from the TV. She began chatting to them and asked if they enjoyed the show and would like to learn to create their own clothes. The answer on both counts was a resounding ‘yes,’ proving that Heather can inspire that generation to be creative, rather than just purchasing ‘fast fashion’ from the High Street’s multinationals. Following the same principle, fabric houses create collections which work beautifully together and can be used to create cushions curtains, re-cover chairs and much more. With a little tuition and some inspiration from fabric designers - see opposite - it’s easy to create your own home furnishings and really make your home unique. Follow Heather’s Blog and find out about her Go Sew project by visiting her website at www.heatherjacks.co.uk.
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five Ideas for autumn fabrics The interior design world’s best fabric houses have created cohesive collections that can be combined in your home to great effect... n 1: citrus style
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Duck-egg, lime and yellow are all featured in Jane Churchill’s Medina range. Curtains in aqua Medina, cushions in Umbra yellow, Adler lime, Karim yellow and gray, Gable aqua and Karim yellow and gray. n 2: Toile de Jouy
A sort of lighthearted trompe l’oeil from Manuel Canovas, with sofa and cushion covered in Academia in prarie and matching wallpaper. n 3: Ribble Valley
Clarke and Clarke’s calming country collection, Ribble Valley, features classical chalky shades punctuated by citrus, heather and raspberry. n 4: Voyages of Discovery
Botanical wallpaper featuring 17th century etchings and a range of fabrics to complement from Sanderson. Shown here are cushions in Cocos, and Clementine. n 5: Vintage Blue
A cool colour for country homes with beautiful gingham prints. Colefax & Fowler’s Franklin collection includes Eaton Check curtains and cushions in Ravel, Franklin, Leo and Ravel. Chair covered in Simone slate. find out More: Each of our featured fabric houses are available either by supply only or supply and makeup from local interior design and soft furnishing retailers, each of whom can help you to create bespoke furnishings - until your sewing skills really develop! www.janechurchill.com www.manuelcanovas.com www.clarke-clarke.co.uk www.sanderson-uk.com www.colefax.com
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CURTAINS BLINDS UPHOLSTERY SHUTTERS WALLPAPERS
Newlin Business Park, Exchange Road, Lincoln LN6 3AB. Tel: 01522 531371
www.rogerdavisinteriors.com
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Fine Interiors
& Great Design With over 40 years of provenance in the county, Roger Davis interiors are Lincoln’s curtain, blind and upholstery specialists. Now, their new premises on Newlin Business Park allows Adrian Davis and Richard Telezynski to show off an even greater range of fine furnishings from names like JAB and Colefax & Fowler... Words: Rob Davis.
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Bespoke window treatments, and the best names in blinds and fabrics. Lincoln’s Roger Davis Interiors are the city’s specialists in the creation of bespoke curtains, blinds, and shutters, working from their new showroom on the city’s Newlin Business Park.
The retailer has a new shop in shop arrangement with JAB, one of the world’s largest suppliers of soft furnishing products. “It’s one of only four such arrangements in the UK, and we’ve been chosen because we believe that customer satisfaction depends on using high quality fabrics.
“Other brands like Linwood - with its rich collection of on-trend wool and cotton fabrics with their country motifs and Manuel Canovas, with its bold, contemporary designs - enable us to suggest a fabric to suit any room in your home from a range of thousands of collections in our library.” In addition to a large range of designers, the company also has a host of innovative products too, from no-drill Perfect Fit blinds for uPVC doors and windows, bottom-up blinds, motorised blinds all of which are fully compliant with current safety legislation; “As an independent business, our reputation means everything to us.” says Adrian. “It gives us great pleasure to help our clients choose, not just great looking home furnishings, but to provide quality products and great service that is commensurate with an independent business, specialising in fine interiors, established for four decades.”
We create and install all of our curtains and blinds personally, with real care and skill.” says managing director Richard Telezynski.
“What we offer above all is quality service, from measurement to installation for all our customers.”
“We moved here earlier this year, from our previous premises, due to the East/West link road scheme.” says Adrian Davis, who set up the business with his father 40 years ago. “What we offer, above all, is quality goods and service, with a no-obligation measuring and advice visit to your home followed by the creation of bespoke products which we personally install.”
“What we offer above all is good service, from measurement to installation.”
Above: Adrian Davis shows off the latest designs from Roger Davis Interiors' JAB shop-in-shop.
Find Out More: Roger Davis Interiors is based at Newlin Business Park, Exchange Road, Lincoln, LN6 3AB. Call 01522 531371 or see www.rogerdavisinteriors.com
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Bulbs & Bright Colours For Your Autumn Garden
Birchgrove’s simon slinger says the Pinchbeck garden centre has everything you need to create a spring 2015 garden display. Choose your bulbs ready to create spectacular borders and also during your visit, shop for your pet and equestrian needs and make a start on your Christmas shopping... As summer fades and we prepare for autumn, it’s time to get back out into the garden and look forward to spring 2015. “Autumn is nature’s natural time for planting, when the soil is still warm from the summer, when the rain starts to fall along with a little extra moisture in the air.” says Simon Slinger of Birchgrove Garden Centre. “Probably the most important flowers associated with spring colours are daffodils and tulips, and in order to benefit from their beauty, you need to be planning to plant their bulbs now.” One of the county’s best selections of these can be found at the independent centre, based in Pinchbeck, near Spalding, where at this time of year you’ll find a huge choice of bulbs which can either be planted directly into the soil in your garden or can be used to plant up pots and tubs to give superb colourful displays on your patio. Birchgrove’s association with bulbs doesn’t just come from the products they sell, they are also home of the Spalding Flower Bulb Museum. But there is so much more to Birchgrove than bulbs. Established in 1973, the garden centre has always taken pride in its traditional values. It is one of the few places left where you can buy seed potatoes loose, rather than in a pre-packed bag, meaning you pick the tubers you want rather than those selected for you, and many 94
of the bulbs can also be purchased in this way, too.
displays and ornaments to help make your Christmas really special.”
Many of the plants found in the garden centre are grown specifically on the nursery at Birchgrove and, to ensure superb selection of different and unusual varieties of plants, other stock is selected from some of the country’s finest nurseries, with each one then scrutinised for its quality by the nursery team before it makes its way onto the sales beds.
There will be static displays and of course, Santa Claus himself will be there at weekends to meet children and offer them a Christmas gift.
In addition to plants, you will find a wide range of garden accessories, compost, fertiliser, pots, planters, wrought iron work, wooden arches and trellis, and of course seeds, garden tools and lawncare products, furniture and barbecues. “In the showroom, there is a wide range of gifts, including collectables such as the ever popular cottages from Lilliput Lane, and other top brands such as Me to You.” says Simon. “There are books, cards, silk flowers and canvas prints, along with clocks and thermometers,’ in fact you could almost do your whole Christmas shopping here.” “Talking of Christmas, after a break of a few years, this year Christmas will be back at Birchgrove with a vengeance. The team has decided the time is right to re-introduce a much wider selection of Christmas lines, with trees - artificial, fibre optic and real - a full range of lights and quality baubles, table
Also on site is Megapets, Birchgrove’s pet and aquatic department offering a complete range of dog and cat products along with a large selection of products aimed at the ever growing poultry market, and Bettertack, where you will find just about everything you could possibly need for the horse enthusiast. Your visit to Birchgrove wouldn’t be complete without calling in at the centre’s on site coffee shop to treat yourself to a cream tea or speciality coffee with slice of homemade cake, or try one of their light lunches. “As an independent centre, we’re an oasis of colour and a staff with vast experience and knowledge of their products.” says Simon. “We believe it’s well worth spending a few hours walking around here. I think once you have found this place, you will be pleased you did!”
Right: Now is the time to plant bulbs in the garden - and there’s a large selection available loose or pre-packed at Birchgrove.
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Above: This display includes variegated tulips, hyacinths and narcissus - planted now, they’ll provide a beautiful display of colours in spring.
Find Out More: Visit Birchgrove Garden Centre at Surfleet Road, Pinchbeck, Spalding PE11 3XY. Alternatively call 01775 680490 or see www.birchgrovegc.co.uk
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The Water
Garden
With the help of their friend Anthony Archer-Wills, a professional water garden designer by trade, Brian and Hilary Barnes designed their garden around a man-made lake. The couple says it’s ideal for both fly fishing and golf... fortunately for Brian!
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“You can’t sail and garden, so we had to choose!” says Linda. Gardening won, and work began on their blank canvas.” the UK and Ireland in six Ryder Cup tournaments - knows a thing or two. However, it was not his expertise that was needed to tame their newly-formed 3.5-acre garden, but that of a good friend, Anthony Archer-Wills, a water garden designer, who helped decide upon the shape and size of the lake. “I intended to stock the lake with trout which need deep holes for keeping cool in summer,” recalls Brian. As a result, the lake’s average depth is more than 2.7 metres, and was excavated in 1997 by the farmer, Geoff Austin, whose help has been crucial in creating the garden.
Creating a garden is no laughing matter, so it’s refreshing to come across one that evolved from a bit of lighthearted banter. “My husband is a passionate fly fisherman and, when we first moved here, he joked about how wonderful it would be to cast out of the window into our own lake,” explains Hilary Barnes from the cottage that she and her husband, Brian, moved in 1987.
Main: The huge lake feeds a number of tributary ponds and streams, and is a hand-made lake excavated to a depth of 2.7 metres. Left: Hilary planted curved hedges along borders with mini-topiary for a really organic look. Above: Hilary takes a break from her labour of love.
At the time, it was pure fantasy because the rear garden extended from the house for just 15 metres, ending abruptly at the boundary with a five-acre boggy field; “It was just a flat field - it’s hard to envisage now, but the cattle used to sink up to their knees, so it was no good to the farmer, and he agreed to sell it to us.” explains Hilary. Overnight, Brian and Hilary had increased the size of their back garden so much that it would take a golfer an easy five iron to reach the far side, something about which Brian a professional golfer who has represented
“It’s the stickiest clay you could imagine horrible to work with, but it retains the water without any need for a lining,” says Hilary. The clay was excavated to form the lake’s banks and the spoil was formed into hillocks which were finally landscaped with the top soil. “Then we scattered grass seed, but because the spring was so wet, it failed to germinate.” she recalls. Fortunately, the second attempt succeeded and, with the mud a fast-fading memory, Hilary’s optimism returned, and with it the added possibility of constructing a golf hole. “We decided not to do so because of the maintenance - besides, our priority was planting trees to stabilise the ground.” The first trees to be planted were lanky birch saplings - one overhangs the jetty, its reflection lengthening with each passing year. There quickly followed a windbreak of Scots pines, larches, oaks, field maples, liquidambers and crab apples to shelter the garden from punishing south-westerly winds. “The pines acted as a nurse to the oaks, protecting them whilst they established,” adds Hilary. Meanwhile, the southern boundary was planted with a hedgerow of indigenous species - holly, field maple, hazel, wild rose, hawthorn and 101
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“The pines acted as a nurse to the oaks, protecting them whilst they established...” blackthorn. “The whole project has encouraged wildlife, not just birds such a kingfishers, but also a terrific variety of dragonflies.” As the years have passed, the Barnes have planted hundreds of ornamental trees, including Cercis canadensis, smokebushes, pears, amelanchiers and swamp cypresses their autumn russet colouring lies soft on the lake’s dusky surface - and, most recently, a heavily berried crab apple (Malus domestica Admiral) discovered at RHS Wisley garden. “I've lost very few trees because I’ve always stuck to those I know will survive our heavy soil,” insists Hilary. Every new tree is staked, and then given an annual health check to ensure that the ties are not strangling the trunk. “It’s absolutely essential - we lost a few in the early days, but now I always check there’s still space to fit a finger between a tree’s trunk and its tie.” As the woodland filled out, the marginal planting proved more difficult to establish because plants were repeatedly snatched by lapping water, and floated away. “It was very dispiriting at the time, but that’s what’s so interesting about new projects - you never stop learning.” Beth Chatto had become bedside reading, especially her book The Damp Garden which describes using concrete piling to edge her ponds. “She’s a fantastic gardener, and it was her book that prompted us to drive in oak slab wood to retain the marginal planting.” After properly securing the borders, Hilary soon established marginal plantings of big-leaved rheum, darmera and Gunnera manicata; pretty pink rosebay willowherb and yellow flag iris; and the invasive Persicaria campanulata and Filipendula rubra. “They both spread like billy-oh, but are so beautiful I wouldn’t be without them.” she adds. Hilary was introduced to the basics of gardening at a tender age. “I used to walk 102
round the fields of our Surrey farm, handin-hand with my grandfather who’d explain the importance of looking after the soil,’ she remembers. He gave her a first packets of seeds, white alyssum and blue lobelia which she planted in ribbons outside the drawing room window. By the time that Brian was at the height of his distinguished golfing career, Hilary had established a lovely garden, a short distance from their current home. “We moved here because I wanted a smaller house and larger garden!” Hilary says. Their newly acquired 1.5 acre garden had mature trees and yew topiary, so they started creating the borders it lacked. To the north lay an old orchard bordered by a muddy ditch. “The trees had canker, so we removed them and excavated the ditch to form a pool, tiny waterfall and stream.” she explains. A crystal clear pool is now bordered by tender Lobelia tupa, Fuchsia magellanica, Angel’s Fishing
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Main: A driftwood sculpture adds a quirky feature to the garden - and just in time for halloween, there’s even a bat! Top: Formal areas of the garden topiary whilst the less formal areas feature established trees with driftwood benches.
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a tournament and comment that, at this rate, there’d soon be no lawn left to mow.” He need not have feared because the lake is now skirted by lawn, forming a restful backdrop to autumn's vivid colouring when a sinking sun and the brilliant golds and reds of foliage float like an impressionistic masterpiece on the lake’s motionless surface.
“Hilary has little help, apart from Brian who mows the grass, and a very part-time gardener, so was thrilled when she won BBC Gardener of the Year in 2009...” Top: Hilary and Brian created a jetty to ensure they could be as close to the water as possible.
Rods, agapanthus, hostas and houttuynia, with black bamboo screening the potting shed.
Main: Hilary established marginal plantings of big-leaved rheum, darmera and Gunnera manicata; pretty pink rosebay willowherb and yellow flag iris; Persicaria campanulata and Filipendula rubra.
To the south, the lawn ran up to a laurel boundary hedge, so Hilary inserted a long metre-wide border, and gradually filled it with cut-leaved elders, sedum, miscanthus, asters, roses, rudbeckia, hemp agrimony, box balls, achillea and persicaria. “It evolved as I found new plants and experimented with different combinations.” As the plants filled out and were moved around, the border was stealthily widened. “Brian would return from
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Occasionally the fiery tones are broken by a flash of blue, as a kingfisher hunts for fish. “We positioned some upturned tree stumps so that their roots overhang the water, providing a perch for kingfishers.” They are not the only feathered visitors - there are also tree creepers, nut hatches and all types of woodpeckers, tits and finches. “And there’s always the sounds of the water fowl, squabbling mallards or coots squawking at anything that moves,” she adds. The garden is now maturing beautifully, its creation an eventful journey that Hilary describes as exciting, fun, life-changing even, but never effortless. “Brian and I’ve had more than our fair share of drama, horticulturally speaking - it’s taken blood, sweat and tears to make this garden.” Looking after a garden of this size and complexity is almost a full-time job during the growing season, so come May, Hilary is up at the crack of dawn. “It’s the start of the growing season and I feel like my plants - energised.” She has little help, apart from Brian who mows the grass, and a very part-time gardener, so was thrilled when she won BBC Gardener of the Year in 2009. “I’ve put my heart and soul into my garden.” she insists, “But then we’re so lucky to have had the opportunity to do this, to create something of such beauty. I don't know what I’d do without it it really is my life.”
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Getting ready for
Winter Time Our nature correspondent richard Owens this month urges us to look after birds and prepare for the cooler months. Look out for our prickly friends, too, as spiky hedgehogs sneak into autumn bonfires... October is due to arrive and signs that Autumn is in full swing should now be apparent. In particular, the leaves on the trees will be turning into a fiery display of reds, browns and yellows, a process speeded up by the onset of the first Autumnal frosts. I have to say this is my favourite time of year, apart from the obvious inconvenience out on the golf course - upon which I am a conservation greenkeeper - when leaves start to fall! Out and about you may notice a reduction in bird song, with the breeding season over and most of our Summer migrants departed. Some birds do, however, continue to sing throughout the Winter months, in particular the iconic Robin, which will continue to maintain dominance of its feeding territory. Bird migration will always be a source of mystery and fascination, and it would be easy to think that the departure of the Swallows and Warblers amongst others would signal the end of another birding year. However this could not be further from the truth, because the departure of these birds 106
to warmer climates signals the arrival of three other key species to another warmer climate... ours! No, I haven’t gone mad, but October does see the southern migration from Scandinavia into the UK of two of our Thrush species; the Fieldfare and the Redwing.
“We must do all we can to protect these lovely creatures or we risk losing our hedgehog population forever.” As with all Thrush species, they are quite partial to a bit of fruit, so a simple apple or two out on the lawn or leaving a few windfall apples in your orchard, if you’re fortunate to have one, may be all you need to do to attract these species, otherwise keep your eyes on the local hedgerows, in particular Hawthorn.
If you wander outdoors in the evening you may hear them overhead, a sure sign that the migration has begun. The third species to look out for is the beautiful Waxwing. Although much rarer than the Fieldfare and Redwing, these Scandinavian beauties will grace our shores most years in variable numbers, usually driven over by their quest for berries. During the Summer months at their breeding grounds Waxwings are actually insect eaters, resorting to berries during the Winter months. A Scandinavian berry failure can occasionally send huge numbers over to the UK in what is known as an irruption. October is also the time of year when many of us will be giving our gardens a good pre-Winter tidy up too. Inevitably, there will be waste to dispose of, either as green waste at a local refuse point or more commonly on a bonfire. These bonfires are also the perfect hibernation site for our declining hedgehog population. Ideally raise your bonfire perhaps on top of some old pallets - and inspect underneath with a torch prior to burning, or possibly fence off with chicken wire. We must do all we can to protect these beautiful creatures or we risk losing them forever. Finally, next month I shall be showing you how you can attract wildlife into your garden with a few simple, easy to do projects. Richard Owens was named Conservation Greenkeeper of the year at the STRI Golf Environment Awards for his efforts at the golf course upon which he and his team work.
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Farmers prepare
for Autumn...
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The largest and newest combine harvester in the world rolled into the county last month: new Holland’s new Cr10.90. It cheered up farmers following only average harvest yields; Barry Poston reflects...
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- On THe fArm -
It’s all over for another year. Arable farmers in the area have completed the harvest for another year. All the rape crop has been harvested at average yields but below last years prices. This year there seems to be more combined directly after desiccation with round-up rather than being swathed, then combined. Wheat yields, so far, have been generally slightly above average but with prices considerably lower than last year the total return will be less per hectare. The fields of wheat with bad blackgrass have produced well below average yields. They are considerably slower to harvest and also help harbour ergot, a black fungus, which generally appears in wheat crops on the heavier soils. If ergot gets into the harvested wheat crops they become almost unsalable. When I look back over 50 years, and I remember we were reasonably happy with yields of two ton per acre and three tonnes was exceptional, soon four tonne an acre became a good target and nowadays most farmers are looking for five tonnes an acre. The main reasons for the increase in yield are better varieties, more fertiliser, better cultivations and control of the many fungal diseases with fungicide sprays.
The potato crop appears to have senesced earlier this year and with many farmers taking the tops off a fortnight earlier, my initial thoughts of high yields have been slightly tempered. There are also those fields that had thunderstorms over an inch of rain in under an hour causing temporary flooding and consequent rotting the lower areas in the fields. I also get the impression of there being more scab on the potatoes thereby making them less attractive and consequently less likely to sell. Sugar beet growers were most disappointed to have the 2015 Sugar Corporation control prices reduced by nearly 25% over the 2014 price. British Sugar has considerable stocks and the European Union sugar sale prices have been falling due to them increasing the EU quota availability to other countries. Another crop which is suffering with lack of demand is Daffodil bulbs. This crop, which now is in the hand of a few specialised growers is proving difficult to sell this year. A few years ago, extract from the actual bulb was used to produce a drug which helped in the control Alzheimer’s disease. Many growers upped their acres of daffodils and now the manufacturers of this drug have found different treatments and no longer want daffodils. Growers are therefore left with considerable tonnages of bulbs with no available market. The livestock industry is also suffering from much lower prices. On a recent discussion with a large local cattle producer he told me that prices are at least £200/head down on this year compared with last. The supply of grass has been good and store prices have remained the same. No doubt the sheep flocks have also benefited by the quality of grazing available.
Barry Poston is the area’s foremost farming expert with a long history working in both arable and livestock environments. During his career he has seen a great many changes in the industry!
World’s Largest Combine Harvester Rolls into the County... Meanwhile, local farmers were given the chance to see the new king of the harvest in action recently that’s New Holland’s £500,000 CR10.90, not our Editor Rob Davis, who’s pictured above at the controls. Burdens showcased the machine as part of the manufacturer’s UK-wide demonstration tour, which reached our part of the world and included the new harvester - the largest combine in the world. Ideal for the county’s vast fields, it cuts a 40ft swathe through crops, has a 14,500 grain tank (the largest in the world) and GPS technology to automatically steer around fields. Also on display were the firm’s newest tractors, and two smaller combines. The event was a practical demonstration of how farmers can maximise productivity and achieve cleaner crop yields. For more information see www.burdensgroup.com. 109
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Those Were
The Days remember the E-Type Jaguar of the 1960s? They don’t make ‘em like that any more. unless, that is, you’ve £500,000 to spend on a new pastiche with 1960s coachwork and 2014 mechanicals Words: Rob Davis The E-Type Jaguar is still one of the most beautiful, and most desirable cars of the 20th century. Its popularity among 1960s icons like George Best and Steve McQueen has earned the car a place in the hearts of motoring enthusiasts ever since. Jaguar’s XJS, XK and its new F-Type roaster and coupé have all attempted to replicate its popularity, and whilst they’ve all been good cars in their own rights, they’ve never quite managed to achieve the E-Type’s almost religious éclat. The E-Type’s looks were so popular - even Enzo Ferrari declared it the most beautiful car he’d ever seen - that you have to wonder why, in the process of creating their new models, Jaguar didn’t just create new mechanicals and interiors, but retain the same basic shape as the E-Type for its future models. Volkswagen’s Golf hasn’t changed shape dramatically over its seven incarnations; nor has Porsche’s 911 - the 2014 model of that car still looks fundamentally the same as its 1950s forebears. That’s the premise behind David Brown’s new Speedster GT. It’s essentially a pastiche - an imagining of what the E-Type would have become, if the styling had remained unmolested for five decades whilst the mechanicals were allowed to evolve. At £499,950 it’s eye-wateringly expensive and is, essentially, just a re-bodied Jaguar XK... but what a body. The styling is part E-Type, but with a gaping, capacious grille to cool the 5.0V8 supercharged Jaguar engine from the XKR donor car. At the rear there are 1960s light clusters, but despite their retro appearance, these incorporate the latest LED light technology. Likewise, inside, there’s a wooden steering wheel and aluminium machined billets for the car’s controls, but the whole interior is still basically a modified XK cabin.
Half a Million Pounds of Car: The Speedback GT is a Jaguar XKR coupé underneath, and has that model’s 5.0V8 Supercharged engine. David Brown has repurposed the car as a new interpretation of the classic Jaguar E-Type. It will handbuild one for you for just shy of £500,000.
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“The Speedback GT is a breathtakingly beautiful car, with the paintwork alone taking 120 hours to complete by hand.” The wire wheels, too, are E-Type-esque, but are much larger, at 19”, with the rear wheels doing the driving via a modern six-speed automatic gearbox. We could easily go on, but you get the idea; this is a rebodied but mechanically modern XK designed to look like an 2014 E-Type. In a sense that means you’ve the best of both worlds. A classic E-Type would lack the reliability, day-to-day usability and performance of the Speedback GT, but well-heeled drivers are now able to choose a motor car which is still more faithful to the E-Type than any Jaguar since. With 60mph breached in 4.8 seconds, a top speed of 155mph, 503bhp on tap and modern creature comforts, like sat nav, parking sensors front and rear, climate controlled air conditioning and 18-way electrically adjustable heated leather seats, it’s a classic car for those who can’t bring themselves to part with the creature comforts of modern motoring. With beautifully milled aluminium bodywork and the car’s paintwork alone taking over 120 hours to finesse, the Speedback GT is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s not an exact copy of an E-Type, but an interesting compromise between the style of the 1960s, and the technology we enjoy in 2014. Whether it’s £500,000 worth of compromise, of course, is for you alone to determine. Left: The car may have XK mechanicals but it features bespoke coachbuilding.
Right: A pair of rear facing picnic seats flip out from the boot floor.
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Wish You Were Here: Kuoni is one of Navenby Travel’s preferred tour operators. Pictured here is the sandy paradise of Mauritius.
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Your wedding is a once in a lifetime experience and will doubtless prove one of the happiest days of your life. The day itself goes so quickly, but with a dream honeymoon, you can make the magic last a little longer. That’s why, in an age when spending on most aspects of a couple’s wedding planning is falling, the amount brides spend on their honeymoon has risen by more than 24% over the last three years. What’s more, around 15% of all brides will marry abroad in 2015.
compliant with that country’s local laws. Most overseas weddings are legal in the UK, but there are exceptions using a local independent travel company will allow you to discuss with an expert the specific rules. Weddings in Cyprus require an application to the marriage officer in the municipality they are visiting, for example, whilst Italy requires a divorcee to leave 300 days from being widowed or divorced before the country will permit the marriage.
That makes experts like Navenby Travel’s Suzanne Bracegirgle wellplaced to provide advice on marrying abroad to all of these couples. With 23 years of experience Suzanne says; “It’s a really happy industry to work in, and we’re so glad when we can be part of a couple’s big day. We don’t ‘sell’ products, we provide memories that don’t just last a year or two, but that remain with them for the rest of a person’s life.”
Pack original copies of your documents, ensure your travel insurance covers the value of your wedding rings and choose a wedding dress
Honeymoon Funds With couples co-habiting before marriage, few have a need for traditional wedding gifts such as toasters and ironing boards, so many are opting to create honeymoon funds instead, or they are asking loved ones to join them as they marry abroad. Independent travel firms like Navenby Travel can help by starting a honeymoon gift service for their couples. Friends and family can either contribute to the cost of the trip or pay for extras like the day trips on couples’ itinerary. “It’s just one way of reducing the stress of organising a wedding; let us take care of every little detail of your honeymoon, leaving you to enjoy a truly bespoke and unforgettable journey.” says the company’s Suzanne Bracegirdle. How to Marry Abroad The legal aspect of marrying abroad varies from country to country - for instance, some countries will not allow the remarrying of divorcees. In order for it to be recognised in the UK, your wedding needs to be
Our local travel expert gives advice on weddings & honeymoons
Falling in Love
in Paradise
Suzanne Bracegirdle of Navenby Travel knows that marrying abroad can make the happiest day of your life even more special. What’s more, with many brides and grooms already set up in their own home, a dream honeymoon fund means loved ones can contribute too... Words: Rob Davis.
which will travel well without becoming too creased. Top Honeymoon Destinations In January and February, warm up following your UK winter wedding with a honeymoon in the Maldives. During the UK’s cooler months, average temperatures range from 25°c to 29°c and the beaches are superb. Consider, too, Cuba and Saint Lucia, which offer
>> Wedding and Honeymoon Destinations Over the page we reveal the Top destinations for proposals, weddings and honeymoons.
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Romantic: The Ayada resort in the Maldives.
Our Top Luxury Destinations... Propose, marry or enjoy a romantic honeymoon; here are our top suggestions..
Places to Propose 1. Hot air balloon over the Maasai Mara, Kenya. 2. Undersea restaurant, at Ithaa, on Rangali Island, Maldives. 3. Helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas. 4. Eiffel Tower, Paris. 5. Gondola ride through Venice.
Wonderful Weddings
incredible Caribbean weather as well as a landscape of incredible natural beauty. Crystal clear waters will prove nothing short of blissful, and a wealth of champagne and seafood will provide a sense of real luxury. February’s Rio’s Carnival and Venice’s Carnecale make Brazil or Italy compelling destinations, with plenty of life and colour. In the spring months, consider Thailand’s shores of Koh Samui, Khao Lak, or one of its smaller islands. It’s an ideal month, climate wise, to explore the USA’s Grand Canyon with its breathtaking terrain. A little later in the year, between spring and summer, San Francisco’s climate is at its best. The city is quite bohemian; one of the most understated US destinations. “Most weddings take place in the summer months and mid-summer provides probably the widest choice for those looking for sunshine and sandy beaches.” says Suzanne. Recommendations include the Seychelles with their pearl white beaches, diving and snorkelling, and temperatures usually hovering around 30°c. 118
“The summer months provide the widest choice of sunshine destinations for honeymoons.” Bali in south east Asia is climatically comfortable and warm in July, with spiritual shores and scenery. This is also the ideal time to consider a safari holiday, with specialist providers recommending tours of areas like the Maasai Mara. “Safaris have become more popular, ideal for couples seeking something more than a beach holiday.” she adds. For autumn and winter weddings, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef still has warm weather. Alternatively, New York is popular both as a lively autumn honeymoon destination, but also an ideal one to enable you to start your Christmas shopping! Suzanne runs Navenby Travel, based at 36 High St, Navenby, Lincoln LN5 0DZ. Call 01522 811844 or see www.navenbytravel.co.uk.
1. Marry in Sri Lanka, and enjoy the beauty of Asia. 2. Mauritius has pristine white beaches and spectacular coral reefs. 3. Marry in the US: get hitched on Brooklyn Bridge, in Central Park, or on top of Hudson Rock. 4. The appeal of St Lucia’s romantic islands are boosted by its wealth of island spas and secluded, romantic resorts. 5. Finally, Antigua has over 360 beaches to choose from... each is more beautiful than the last!
Honeymoons 1. Topping 2014’s top honeymoon destinations is the Maldives with its luxury resorts and water villas. 2. Meanwhile the UAE’s luxury hotels and destinations like Dubai are very much on trend. 3. Thailand excels for smaller, rustic hideaways like Yao Noi and Khao Lak. 4. Malaysia offers honeymooners spectacular scenery and culture. 5. Finally, Mexico provides newlyweds with the opportunity to tour Cancun lagoon, swim with dolphins and explore Chichén Itzá, one of the seven wonders of the world.
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- hEALTh AND BEAuTy -
Look Younger and
Feel Great The latest medical aesthetics treatments can help you to feel good, look great and appear younger. Our recommended practitioners are Glen Eden Medical Aesthetics at Corby Glen’s Market Cross Surgery, offering a wide range of treatments with the reassurance of GP and Nurse Practitioner led care... of fine lines, injection therapies for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and chronic Migraine, sclerotherapy for leg veins, Dermaroller treatments for facial rejuvenation and acne scar treatment and Radio Frequency Skin Tightening using an Accent Spa.® They also provide prescription grade cosmeceutical peels and skin treatments from industry leaders Jan Marini and Neostrata.
Revolutionary treatments and new ways to look young. Lasers, dermal fillers and muscle relaxing injections are presenting new ways to look younger and regain confidence. Joining a host of aesthetic treatments at Corby Glen’s Glen Eden Medical Aesthetics is a new Lumenis M22 medical laser which significantly increases the range of treatments on offer. A range of conditions including sun damage, Rosacea and facial redness, spider and dilated facial and leg vessels, vascular lesions and general photo-rejuvenation can all be treated safely and effectively. “It’s a £40,000 investment that expands the range of treatments we can offer.” says Dr John Elder. “The device has two distinct modes of action; Intense Pulsed Light which is used mainly for larger area treatments such as Rosacea or hair removal, and an Nd:YAG laser for complex vascular treatments. There are important difference between the two treatments and conditions they are used to treat.” “Both treatments are safe, when used appropriately, and are relatively pain-free. They offer us a broader range of options to provide patients with the most effective and current treatments possible.”
“The latest filler treatment reintroduces volume into the face, subtly reshaping the cheeks to make them higher and firmer, restoring the mid face and jaw line… it is a non-surgical facelift and the results can be dramatic.”
Also new to Glen Eden over the past eighteen months has been the introduction of the ‘eight point’ injection technique for replacing volume loss in the mid face, cheeks and chin. Otherwise known as the non-surgical face lift, this procedure utilises the latest technology in Hyaluronic acid fillers from Allergan in the form of Juvederm Voluma.®
smoothing lines, wrinkles and folds. It lifts restores lost volume to cheeks and chin for a gentle lifting effect, and it defines - subtly reshapes and redefines lips and facial contours. “The new range of volume fillers and techniques and a great understanding of the ageing process of the face, allows aesthetic physicians and nurses to recreate more youthful facial proportions, smooth jawlines and accentuate the curve of the cheekbones; all without the need for more invasive surgery.” says Dr Elder.
The Juvederm® enhances every area of the face in three main ways. It revitalises -
Glen Eden’s other treatments include muscle relaxing injections for the treatment
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Medical aestheticians are providing better results than ever with the increasing development of this branch of medicine that sits somewhere between dermatology and plastic surgery. However with growing complexity of treatments and awareness of complications there is a growing need for tighter regulation and restriction of just who can provide injection and light based therapies. Dr John Elder and his partner, Nurse Practitioner Mary Elder, run Glen Eden Medical Aesthetics as a separate Private clinic alongside their NHS GP Practice in the village of Corby Glen near Grantham and offer up-to-date medical treatments with the peace of mind that comes from GP and Nurse Practitioner-led care. “The Keogh report in 2013 made significant recommendations about the practice of aesthetic medicine and more importantly who and where it should be performed. Significant tightening of the existing regulations regarding the prescription and administration of Botulinum Toxin means there should be an end to ‘toxin parties’ and as it is a prescription only medicine treatments should largely be provided by doctors or nurses, or by others under their direct supervision.” says Dr Elder. “However,
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Left: Dr John Elder with the practice’s new Lumenis M22 medical laser. Above: A ‘before and after’ shot demonstrating the effectiveness of dermal fillers in conjunction with the eight-point injection technique.
dermal fillers are exempt from the prescribing rules at present and are more of a problem.” “Complications arising from the use of dermal fillers are fortunately still rare however can be significant and can include infection, bruising, skin necrosis and even blindness. Inappropriate use of products, incorrect placement and just a complete lack of training and clinical skill have all contributed to patients looking to us for corrective treatment” Whilst there’s no doubt that medical aesthetics can provide great results for anyone seeking to mitigate the signs of ageing, the treatments are sufficiently powerful to warrant their use only by a suitably qualified and insured medical professional. “I’ve been a GP in the area since 1991 and having moved to our new, purpose-built premises in March 2012, we really are now equipped to be one of the leading clinics in the area and offering expertise, advice, referral and the latest treatments.” Glen Eden Medical Aesthetics is based at Market Cross Surgery, Corby Glen near Grantham. For more information call 01476 550056 or see www.glen-edenmedical.co.uk. 121
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The best of
both worlds T
he only private hospital facility in Lincolnshire, where profits are returned to the NHS for the benefit of all local NHS patients. Patients enjoy privacy and individual attention whilst having the reassurance that The Bostonian is adjacent to the sophisticated services of The Pilgrim Hospital, with its expert diagnostic and emergency medical and surgical facilities.
H Award Winning Sleep Apnoea Service Please visit our website to view the full range of services we offer
www.the-bostonian.co.uk Comfort & Peace of Mind The Bostonian is the private wing of Pilgrim Hospital and is set in its own grounds and gardens. There are 19 en-suite single rooms with digital TVs and telephone. Our dedicated housekeeping team ensure continually high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
Professional Expertise Almost any condition can be treated at The Bostonian by our dedicated team of professionals – most of our Consultants live only minutes away. We welcome self referral and provide 24 hour medical cover.
Range of Payment Options Available We deal with all the major insurance companies and also offer Fixed Price packages for the uninsured.
The Bostonian Private Wing, Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 9QS Telephone: 01205 360606 / Facsimile: 01205 311442 www.the-bostonian.co.uk • ISO 9001:2008 accredited
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Pilgrim Hospital’s Private Wing
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- BEAuTy -
Party In
Style
As we get closer to Christmas, you’ll be wanting to make sure you’re ready for the party season to begin. your local beautician will be able to advise you on the right beauty and skin care products to make sure you are ready to party with friends, family and work colleagues!
Christmas is the time for parties, so no doubt you’ll be wanting to create the perfect party look, which includes the right party frock and heels, but also the right skin care and beauty products. As the colder months draw near, it’s paramount that you look after your skin, and the key to a confident you is to pamper yourself too. The freezing temperatures during the colder months can mean dry, chapped skin, so it’s essential to choose products that can help revive and restore your skin with a healthy glow. It also tends to dry out the skin on your hands, so make sure you have regular manicures so they are in a lovely condition and properly moisturised in time. Getting ready for your Christmas party doesn’t have to be time consuming. Using the right make-up products can help you create an instantly dramatic look that doesn’t take all night - meaning more time for you to enjoy with friends and family. This includes adding a flash of bold colour like Guerlian’s KissKiss Red Insolence lipstick or a flick of Yves Saint Laurent’s eyeliner to the corner of your eye. Having enhanced eyebrows can give your face an instant lift. You can either use a pencil that is slightly darker than your hair, or enjoy an eyebrow treatment that will add definition, shape and length. To finish off the perfect look, you’ll also want to use the latest perfume products. Paco Rabanne’s Lady Million Eau My Gold!, the light and airy, Daisy Dream from Marc Jacobs and Givenchy’s Dahlia Divin are our perfect picks for the season!
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Light and airy, Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs is both floral and fruity, £70. Shiseido’s Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Balancing Softener is a comprehensive age-defying lotion that contains the effective ingredients to challenge skin aging, £44. Skin Solutions SOS Emergency Cream from Elemis is a rich moisturising cream that gives damaged skin an intense soothing and hydrating boost, £51. Guerlain’s Superaqua Full Eye Set. The eye serum intensely hydrates and plumps up wrinkles around the eye contour. Dark circles and puffiness are reduced, leaving you with a fresh, radiant and smooth look. The mask delivers all the effectiveness and pleasure of an intense moisturising anti-ageing cocoon, £59. Sisley’s Phyto-Blanc Lightening Cleansing Milk is rich in natural plant extracts and essential oils and removes make-up, impurities and excess sebum. With skin-brightening properties, it leaves the complexion looking more luminous, more even and lighter in colour, £70. Yves Saint Laurent’s Eyeliner Automatique eyeliner is effortless and precise, creating a look with a unique style, £24. Nars Nail Polish Night Series - Night Flight has knock out colour with incredible luster and UV protection to prevent polish discolouration, £15. Clarins Eyebrow Kit ‘Pro’ PaletteP includes 3 shades to make-up, shape and even eyebrows, a wax to fix them and a beige eyeshadow to enhance beautiful eyes, £33. Lips immediately regain fullness and softness with Guerlain’s KissKiss Lipstick in Red Insolence, £26. Jo Malone’s Vitamin E Nourishing Hand Treatment is a light cream that instantly soothes dry skin, while helping to hydrate, soften and restore vitality, £40. Georgio Armani £240 and Paul Smith £198 designer glasses frames, from O’Brien’s Opticians, Wrawby St. Brigg, 01652 653595, www.obriensopticians.co.uk.
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Bo Peep Boutique
Our first delivery of fabulous Frugi is now in stock 'It's the little things that make the biggest difference... Frugi baby clothes are always carefully designed to make life easier for parents and their babies. Babygrows have integral scratch mitts, trousers roll-up to give room for growing, and jumpers are reversible so they can be worn inside out or outside in. It's all part of what we call 'two-way design' and it helps ensure that the children can grow with their clothes, and wear them for a little bit longer!' We are know taking deliveries of our back to school range of coats and shoes with boys coats from ÂŁ20 and a 15% discount when purchasing girls coats at the same time as their Lelli Kelly school shoes. For more information on the Brands that Bo Peep Boutique stock please go to www.bopeepboutique.co.uk
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First in Horncastle
For Rural Style Celebrating 10 years of trading, and introducing a new season of country lifestyle-inspired fashions, horncastle’s First Clothing presents a range of wearable autumn fashions that can be successfully combined, no matter what the occasion...
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Country lifestyle brands that will enable you to look great no matter what the occasion. That’s what Horncastle’s First Clothing has been providing for nearly 10 years. Sally Speed’s Horncastle shop provides access to brands like Joules, Crew and Seasalt without the need to travel to larger cities. “I had experience working as a fashion buyer for large retailers like Debenhams and House of Fraser.” says Sally. “Horses, too, were always a big part of my life, and after retail, I worked for the Prince and Princess of Kent managing their hunters.” “I left retail to teach equine studies for a local college but even though I left retail, it never really left me.”
Joules this season provides strong, bold floral prints and key colours like mustard, raspberry and royal blue. Wear Joules with jeans and you’ll make the most of its traditional, on-trend vintage elements. Ankle-length trousers are also on trend for the season, and Joules provides just the style statement to complement wardrobe basics. Crew is another brand that proves really popular with the shop’s clients. Tweed blazers for men and smart shirts for women provide understated style against bolder prints and details when paired with Joules. Countryside style is conveyed, too, with Adini and Seasalt, a Cornish brand comprising wardrobe staples that are exceptionally hardwearing and versatile. Practicality, quality and wearability are all traits that the retailer values, and each of the store’s brands are backed up by over 10 years of provenance in Horncastle, plus the store’s support for its customers; First Fashions hosts regular fashion weekends, it has a loyalty scheme too. For hard-wearing country style, and bold, cheerful colours this autumn, your first thought should certainly be First Clothing.
“The shop provides brands like Joules, Crew and Seasalt without the need to travel to big cities.”
“Meanwhile, I began to notice brands like Joules making their way from the livery yard into mainstream fashion. I recognised the strength of the brand and wanted to provide fashions which would look equally good in a smart restaurant, or whilst spending time with the family at home or mucking out the horses and working in the garden.”
Top/Left: Joules dress in blue with floral print £49.95. Top/Right: He wears tweed jacket from Crew £250. She wears shirt £55 and jeans £50, also by Crew.
Find Out More: First Clothing is based at North St, Horncastle Lincs LN9 5DX Tel: 01507 525040. www.firstclothinguk.com.
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Dental implants look, feel & work like real teeth An attractive smile reflects a healthy life – and natural-looking teeth help us look and feel our best. Dental implants replace missing teeth and can also be used to provide a secure anchor for dentures. Choosing to have implant treatment is the easy part. Deciding where to put your business is trickier. Do you go for the cheapest option – but what about the quality? Do you go for the most expensive – but what if it’s simply over priced? At The Dental Health Centre Grantham we encourage our patients to make an informed decision so they feel reassured and confident. Here are our tips: Ask about experience Make certain you are in capable and experienced hands. Principal dentist Colin Sutton has successfully placed hundreds of dental implants since 2000 and has an excellent reputation spanning treatments from single tooth implants to complex full mouth rebuilds, including sinus lifts and bone grafting, as well as fixed teeth in a day.
Take up references If you were renovating your home you would ask your builder for references. So, ask to speak with previous patients or read testimonials. Visit our website at www.dentalhealthcentre.co.uk or call us to be put in touch with a patient. Up-to-date methods Longer-lasting materials; more precise equipment and slicker techniques all play a vital role in the success and durability of your implant. We are one of only a few UK dental practices to provide 3D CT scanning, which allows us to plan treatments with optimum precision. Book your free implant consultation by calling 01476 594480 or visit our website to find out more.
The Dental Health Centre, 3 Avenue Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6TA. Tel: 01476 594480, or see www.dentalhealthcentre.co.uk
Colin Sutton BDS
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stYle & COMFORT as the cooler months begin, make sure you feel stylish and comfortable in Dubarry - inspired by the rugged coast of ireland, their clothes are perfect this winter. Words: Ceri Jackson.
Stylish and comfortable, Dubarry is inspired by the rugged west coast of Ireland. They have created a range of clothing and accessories that perfectly complement their footwear, so you can be kitted out from toe to head at the races, in the field, in the mountains, anywhere you want to be dry and stylish... From unique waterproof and breathable jackets, to cosy PrimaLoft filled gilets, stunning
tweeds and handy accessories, they have something for everyone. So for great performance and great looks, the only name you need to know is Dubarry this Autumn and Winter. And with any trip to a county show, game fair or hunt day, Dubarry are recognised, respected and loved countrywide for their comfort, protection and style. One glance and you know they’re authentic, and there for all to enjoy.
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Previous Page: Main photo: Wilde in Autumn Gold; £169, Willow in Laurel; £399. Inset: Blackthorn in Moss; £429, Dalkey Handbag in Walnut; £199. Opposite: Leslie in Dark Olive; £449, Marfield in Connacht Forest; £499. Both are wearing the Galway Boot in Walnut; £299. This Page: Yarrow Jacket in Laurel; £299, Clover Skirt in Laurel; £149, Thyme Shirt in White; £55.
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- fashion -
Main Photo: Beckett in Autumn Gold; £269, Willow in Moss; £399. Above: Deane in Verdigris; £349, Beckett in Navy; £269. Left: Willow in Moss; £399, Honeysuckle Trousers in Merlot; £79, Galway boot in Walnut; £299, Boot liners in Black; £25.
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Opposite: Shaw in Navy; £189, Galway boot in Walnut; £299. This Page: Hawthorn in Moss; £449, Chamomile in Blue; £59, Fern skirt in Moss; £149.
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the magazine for brides-to-be in our area Our high quality wedding magazine is posted by Royal Mail directly to brides-to-be. This means if you’re in the wedding industry, it’s the best way to reach your target audience.
FREE GUIDE 2014 - COVERING LINCOLNSHIRE & RUTLAND
BRIDE GROOM
FLOWERS, CAKES AND HONEYMOONS
300 Wedding Planning Ideas in This Edition
FIND YOUR VENUE Reception Decoration and Marquee Ideas...
Wedding Inspiration Tips and Advice from Real Brides
THE ART OF FINDING YOUR
DREAM WEDDING DRESS Win a Dream Wedding worth up to £25,000
Bridal Style
Call our friendly team now on 0800 112 3 112, or for more information see www.ukbride.co.uk/mags.
Hair and Beauty... Shoes and Jewellery... Bridesmaids’ Dresses... THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR THE UK’S BRIDES... Social Networking for Brides
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advertise your wedding business in uKbride magazine.
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Bespoke & Made to Measure Suits by a Savile Row Tailor, Andrew Musson
Andrew J Musson Bespoke Tailor of Lincoln
CALL TODAY TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A BESPOKE OR MADE TO MEASURE SUIT. 39 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8AS
Tel: (01522) 520142 info@andrewjmusson.com www.andrewjmusson.com
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- Christmas -
It’s a Wrap, This Season... with Christmas just around the corner, it won’t be long before you start gift shopping for friends and family. make a statement this year with the top trends for the Christmas Gift wrapping season from local ‘Gift Wrap Guru’ Jane means... Christmas is three months away and no doubt you’ll soon be shopping and buying gifts for friends and family. This month, we spoke with local ‘Gift Wrap Guru’ Jane Means to find out what trends to look out for when it comes to delightfully wrapped gifts. “Mint and soft turquoise is trending heavily in fashion and décor, so I think there will be lots of influences for papers, ribbons and decorations this year.” A fresher approach to dark green, mint looks stunning with glassware and metallics and can compliment many looks from traditional to contemporary. Another colour that will be introduced to Christmas is vintage rose peach. It is an extremely versatile colour and looks great with metallics especially copper. “Another favourite will be understated white with a spritz of glamour. Teamed with sparkle, diamanté, crystals and glitter this is a glamorous look that will never date. “ Silhouettes are still trending this year, particularly reindeer, and Jane’s controversial British ribbon that was designed three years ago is still a top seller at Christmas, so expect to see lots of giftwrap, linens and decorations following this theme. Comforting chalkboards designs, wall art and typography are still a popular trend and 142
will enter briefly into the Christmas season, as well as rich textures including yarn pop poms, cable knit present stockings, vintage crochet decor and felt baubles. Texture is definitely in this year! “My favourite giftwrapping trend which never dates is good old-fashioned brown paper. Teamed with blood red ribbons, it's a hugely popular choice for many, plus it's a great bottom drawer choice when you have to wrap those last minute unexpected presents.” It's great to see so many new British designers entering the market, with fresh and unique creations, so you will see more unusual items away from the high street. “For a different approach this Christmas, source those must need products and produce from farmers markets, craft fairs, independant pop up shops and local artisans. You will not only be buying local but creating your own bespoke Christmas.”
Left/Main: Jane Means has landed a worldwide book deal, with her new book 'giftwrapped' is due to be launched in early November.
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www.janemeans.com.
www.allihopa.co.uk.
www.catherinecolebrook.com.
www.sophiavictoriajoy.com.
personalised Christmas sack
These personalised sacks are made in the North Pole and printed using an old typewriter font as inspiration. £20; www.catherinecolebrook.com. fern and sage
This is a reversible Fern and Sage Green Stripe Grosgrain Ribbon approximately 15mm wide. It is a classic design that will suit all occasions. The roll is 10 metres. £5.00; www.janemeans.com. festive tape
Set includes one large tape: let it snow design or robin design, one heart tape: red or white and 10 sheets of kraft paper. £13; www.allihopa.co.uk. pop the Cork! A wonderful personalised Christmas Gift the Oak Wooden Bottle Box will add festive cheer instantly. You can add your own message. Made from FSC Oak. £64.95; www.sophiavictoriajoy.com. 143
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www.theoriginalpopupshop.com.
www.noolibird.com..
www.coxandcox.co.uk.
www.jolucksted.com.
Copper Christmas
An opulent metallic copper wrapping paper, so beautiful that you may find it hard to give anything away! Looks great teamed with the Cox & Cox Midwinter Streets Gift Tags for £5.50. £12.50; www.coxandcox.co.uk. rustic Charm
Get creative this Christmas with this gift wrapping and selection of ribbons. This pack perfectly combines pretty and rustic, allowing you to create a lovely combination under the Christmas tree! £6.95; www.theoriginalpopupshop.com. Christmas stamp
These stamps are perfect to use for Christmas cards, giftwrap, tags and table and place decorations, with seven handmade designs including Folk Heart, Reindeer, Happy Christmas Tree, and Snow Bird. They look great used with red and burgundy, and also gold and silver inkpads. Just clean with a damp cloth or brush and some washing up liquid. £18; www.noolibird.com. porcelain Doves
A beautiful personalised decoration handmade in porcelain, perfect for Christmas. A sweet, simple Scandinavian style dove handmade in Jo’s ceramics studio. Each bird is decorated on one side with a red heart painted with underglaze colour and personalised with a name/names. £7.50; www.jolucksted.com. 145
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- christmas countdown -
Great Gift Ideas from Quality Local Businesses
Endless Jewellery selection of bracelets from £65 from Moore and Scrupps Jewellers, 01778 424228, www.mooreandscrupps.co.uk.
Hatley Farmer Jack Raincoat, £31 from Bo Beep Boutique, 01522 529318, www.bopeepboutique.co.uk.
Collection of children’s ride on toys and collectibles, £POA from DoubleDay, 0333 6000 670, www.doubledaygroup.co.uk.
Vierzonord Le Chameau Wellies, £165 from Robinsons of Stamford, 01526 860436, www.robinsonsofstamford.com.
Modalu Phoebe Handbag, £189 from Oldrids, 01205 350505, www.oldrids.co.uk.
KitchenAid Artisan Mixer in ice blue £429 from Chilli Peppers Cookshop, 01507 608787, www.chillipepperscookshop.com.
Nicca Handbags available from £39 at Eve & Ranshaw Ltd in Louth, 01507 602902, www.eve-ranshaw.co.uk.
Barbour Chevening Quilt Parka, £329 from Thomas Bell, 01652 600690, www.thomasbellcountrystore.co.uk.
Wooden Sailing Boat with canvas sails, £169 from Elizabeth and Stevens, 01636 822000, www.elizabethandstevens.com.
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- history -
The Miller’s
Tale
£1.2m is quite a windfall for a windmill, but the cash is essential to keep heckington windmill’s new sails turning. Last month the uK’s only eight sailed mill had its new sails installed by alford millwright neil medcalf, and we were there to see them hoisted onto the mill during an historic eight hour project... Words & Photos: Rob Davis. Heckington Windmill last month gained new sails. It was an exciting day for the Grade I listed 30m tall mill, but a moment of real pride, too for Jim Bailey and for Alford millwright Neil Medcalf. The mill dates back to 1830, and though it’s the sole surviving eight sailed windmill in the UK, it originally had just five sails when it was constructed by the original miller, Michael Hare. “She did 60 years as a five sailed windmill and in 1890, the top mechanism was requisitioned from the remains of Skirbeck Mill by John Pocklington. It took him a year to demolish Skirbeck and bring the mechanism across by horse and cart - he couldn’t afford to use the railways.” Opposite: Jim Bailey is one of the Friends of Heckington Windmill, which was established in 1982 and brought the mill back into operation.
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The mill continued to operate until 1946 whereupon it was purchased by Kesteven County Council. It then passed to Lincolnshire County Council in 1974.
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“We arrived just before 8am to see the huge crane on site, and saw Neil tie the sail to the crane then watched it being raised, the first of eight sails to be hoisted up...” Top: Millwright Neil Medcalf bolted the first of eight sails to the mill’s ‘Lincolnshire cross’ just before 9.30am. Above/Right: Neil with one of the bolts that will fix the sail to the cross.
The Friends of Heckington Windmill were established in 1982, facilitating the opening of the non-operational windmill. The group established early on that the mill was in such a condition that it could be made to work again. The sails were, at that point, present, but in a poor condition. The group ensured the mill was working, milling grain by 1987. Disaster struck when the windmill’s sails were condemned in July 2010, and since that point Jim and the team have relied on Sibsey Trader Mill to grind their corn, which they then dress back at Heckington.
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The county council are responsible for the fabric of the building, and are therefore responsible for the sails. They commissioned Thompsons of Alford to create new sails for the mill, which were installed last month by Neil Medcalf and his team. We arrived just before 8am to see the huge crane on site, and saw Neil tie the sail to the crane and watched it slowly being raised, the first of eight sails to be hoisted up in the same day which is, in itself, an unprecedented workload for a millwright. Once in the air, Neil bolted the sail to the spider with two clamps and enormous bolts. Traditionally windmills had four sails. These are fixed to the mill’s shaft, interlocking via a lantern box. A greater number of sails allowed them to turn in lighter wind - but only once the Lincolnshire Cross casting was invented as a means of attaching them, by the county’s John Smeeton.
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However, the greater expense of creating and maintaining more sails often offset the increased productivity they brought, hence the reason few windmills had as many as Heckington.
a bright future for heckington windmill...
Once bolted onto the Lincolnshire Cross, the crane supported each one tonne sail as it was lowered into a downward-pointing position, with the sails being attached on opposite sides. Neil then used his cherry-picker to untie the rope and free the sail from the crane.
Heckington’s £1.2m windfall will see the creation of an exhibition area in the former cart shed and the bakehouse reinstated for the teaching of traditional baking skills for community groups like schools.
A sunny morning soon gave way to grumbling skies and lunchtime storms. At around 5.30pm, the final sail was hoisted into position, with the first flour due to be ground a week later as Pride goes to press.
the granary will form a spacious new visitor centre with educational displays and interpretation. it will also provide, for the first time, disabled access to the mill.
Running in conjunction with the replacement of the mill’s sails is a £1.2m project part-funded by East Midlands Lottery - who contributed 81% - along with money from the county, district and parish council, Bicker Trust and other private donations. Roughly a third of the money will be used to purchase the building from the Trust which currently owns it, whilst a third will be used to extend and repair the site’s buildings, and the remaining third of the money will be used to create interpretation on the site to increase the windmill’s potential for education and encourage the public to visit - see right. “We’re really excited that the mill is now complete.” says Jim. “For the first time in four years the mill will be able to turn its own stones, and there’s definitely a sense among its custodians that this will usher in a new era for the mill, an era that we hope the public will be able to share in, too.”
the mill house will retain the existing tearooms and bistro, but these will be improved and extended, and access to a new mill house garden will be created. when the current gift shop and interpretation are moved out of the mill’s ground floor, the mill will also gain a new set of stones to increase its output. the heritage Lottery Bid which will facilitate the improvements was originally submitted in august 2012.
Find Out More: Heckington Windmill is open to visitors from October to Easter on Sundays from 1pm-4pm on Hale Road, Heckington NG34 9JW. For more information call 01529 461919 or see www.heckington windmill.org.uk.
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to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
Under Starters Orders at the Macmillan Race Night Macmillan Cancer Support will this month receive a £2,000 cheque thanks to a race night organised by a team of volunteers and held at Southwell Racecourse. The fundraising group Chair, Rebecca Collin, a Newark based Marketing Manager said, “When I first began fundraising I was aware of the great work that the Macmillan nurses do. However, as I became more involved I realised that Macmillan touch cancer patients and their relatives and friends in so many ways. “It is not just about medical issues, but about providing support in whatever way is needed such as counselling for friends and relatives as well as the sufferer, providing financial support and even practical help like gardening services to help alleviate the stress suffered by, for instance, a keen gardener who could not get the work done due to their illness.” Images: Rob Davis.
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- BusinEss in LincoLnshirE -
The Retail Champion’s advice for
Businesses
in Lincolnshire...
compete on quality, not on price, and offer your customers something unique. these are just two of the many pieces of advice for businesses which retail expert, author and industry spokesperson Clare Rayner has to share with Lincolnshire. here, the Sleaford based consultant explains why the future’s never been brighter for small firms... Small businesses make up a significant percentage of the UK economy. The retail sector alone accounts for £310bn of the UK’s total economy, with nearly 190,000 retail businesses accounting for 9% of the UK’s total number of businesses. Over 170,000 of these firms employ fewer than 10 people. As we emerge from recession, it has never been more important to value the mix of small businesses but also larger companies on our High Streets and in our towns. Someone who agrees is Clare Rayner. The author of The Retail Champion has made numerous appearances on BBC, Sky and Channel 5 news programmes as a retail expert. She has also worked as a business consultant, professional speaker, coach and mentor, and has worked for companies including M&S, Dixons, Argos and McDonalds. Living in Sleaford, Clare has witnessed first hand the polarisation of opinion as Tesco seeks to create a new store in town - a bid that has the support of the district council, NKDC, but is strongly opposed by Sleaford Town Council.
Growing Pains: Sleaford’s development depends on ensuring a mix of national retailers and specialised independent retailers on its Southgate.
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Clare believes the argument represents a broader view that small businesses are struggling against online and national retailers, but is quite adamant that it doesn’t have to be that way. “Tesco and other major retail chains aren’t always the enemy of the high street, and
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their presence certainly doesn’t indicate the death of local businesses. Carefully planned and considered development can be the catalyst necessary to bring a town back from the death throes and transform it into a thriving, buzzing community.” “There are a few people against the Tesco development, but I’m all for it. Sleaford’s independent businesses offer what Tesco can’t - so there’s no threat, only the promise of more shoppers on the high street.” “Moaning about competition, online shoppers, out-of-town retailers, rent, business rates and lack of footfall can be fair, but surely this energy could be better invested embracing online strategies, e-commerce, social media and mobile, and opening when customers will actually visit the store? Moves like this are more likely to create greater revenue, from which the heavy overheads such as rent and rates can be paid so they become less of a problem. So stop whining and find solutions!”
“More importantly, we need independent retailers who embrace big players’ in-town investments and evolve with changing trends to keep shoppers in our towns!” Sleaford’s situation is echoed around other Lincolnshire towns too. A mix of out of town, national and local independent retailers is key to ensuring success for all of the county’s market towns. A good blend will ensure consumers shop locally and seek out the unique products and services that independent retailers have the ability to deliver, against multinational retailers with their huge, unwieldy supply chains. “As consumers we ALL need to set an example too. If we, as small business owners, and independent retailers, don’t spend enough locally, it is really hypocritical to expect other people in our communities to spend with us.”
“Carefully considered developments can be the catalyst to transform Lincolnshire towns into thriving communities.”
“I always say ‘don’t compete on price; compete on service.’ If a major supermarket range poses a threat to your products, make sure your products stand out from them.” “You’re unique: so give the consumer a reason to visit you, and a reason to come back in the future. Get the best quality and the best merchandise; offer the best customer experience and give the biggest smile.” “As the founder of the Support for Independent Retail campaign, I’m passionate about small, micro and independent businesses, and I’m well aware of what’s needed for High Street regeneration. We need more councils who are willing to risk their reputation and costs in order to ensure that towns all over the UK get the benefit of much-needed regeneration, which in turn will help to create a real upward spiral for the local economy.”
“The pledge I want the public to make is to divert 20% of what they currently spend with chain stores or big online brands and spend that with your local indies instead; retailers, cafés, bars, restaurants, salons etc.” “By supporting our local businesses, we’ll ensure our market towns enjoy prosperity and in turn, we as customers will enjoy a greater diversity of products and services than ever before. We’ll secure not just our own future, but Lincolnshire’s future, too.”
Sleaford’s Clare Rayner, ‘The Retail Champion,’ is one of the most well-known and well-respected retail experts in the UK. She is regularly interviewed as an industry expert on BBC, Sky & Ch5, and is the author of The Retail Champion 10 Steps to Retail Success, published by Kogan Page, £22.49. For furtherinformation on Clare, see www.retailchampion.co.uk.
clare’s top Five tips for retailers Business mentor and provider of one-to-one coaching, we asked clare for five tips for independent retailers... 1. Focus on who your ideal customer is - those who are loyal and high spending - and make sure that everything you do is with your customer in mind. 2. Remember the merits of cost-cutting: as the old saying goes, ‘look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.’ Instead, shop around for the products and services that will save your business money, without compromising on quality. 3. Focus on your product, pricing and promotions - think about that ideal customer; make sure everything you present to them is aligned to their needs and wants and is clearly priced. Run engaging promotions that increase sales, don’t drain margin and which won’t devalue your brand. 4. Make sure you are online. You don’t need to be trading online (though it helps) but you do need to be findable. Spend some time to ensure you can be found for what you offer in your area. Make sure you add your business to Google Places and as many free directories as you can. 5. Make sure you get social - retailers are using tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and blogs to stay in contact with customers. If you’re not yet familiar with using social media then choose just one and learn how to use it. 155
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Business News directors’ Briefing at Lincolnshire
accountants duncan & toplis high-Profile speakers Lined up for directors’ Briefing British Chamber of Commerce Director General John Longworth, and Neil Rhodes, the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police, will both speak at the sixth annual Duncan & Toplis Directors’ Briefing in November. The Directors’ Briefing will take place at the Belton Woods Hotel near Grantham on Friday 21st November 2014. It offers high-level advice and insights to business leaders from across the region.
Neil Rhodes became Chief Constable of Lincolnshire in 2013, having joined the force in 1986. During 15 years with Lincolnshire Police he progressed from Constable to Superintendent before leaving, returning as Deputy Chief Constable in 2008. Attendance at the event is free and includes a buffet lunch. To book your place visit www.duntop.co.uk or call Hannah Clark on 01522 507000.
materialistic take on iLiv From this month iLiv’s stunning new ranges of co-ordinating fabrics and wallpapers which have been carefully chosen to work in harmony to produce a perfectly co-ordinated look oozing style and elegance will be available from Materialistic Interiors’ fabulous showroom in Cannon Street.
Materialistic Interiors’ stunning new showroom in Cannon Street sets new standards for Interiors retailing and is definitely the place to go for your next project. For more information, visit the shop on Cannon Street, Louth, call 01507 609500 or see www.materialisticinteriors.co.uk.
Business law specialists...
Having originally trained as a scientist, John Longworth was appointed Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce in 2011. He is currently Chair and founder of a venture capital-backed science and professional services business, SVA Ltd, Non-Executive Director at the Co-operative Group Food Ltd and Nichols Plc and a trustee of the social enterprise P3.
Lincoln minster school celebrates as pupils achieve best ever a-Level results Lincoln Minster School Students celebrated exceptional successes last month as the school’s best ever A-Level and AS Level results were announced, marking another year of really tremendous academic and personal achievements. Principal Clive Rickart said: “After weeks of waiting we are celebrating outstanding results at A-Level. Students achieved a pass rate of 99%: 15% of grades at A*; 40% A*-A; 65% A*-B and 85% A*-C. 156
Former Head Girl Olivia is over the moon to be accepted by Bristol University to read English and Philosophy. She said: “I needed three As but am ecstatic to have three A*s!”
Do you own a business or are you thinking of starting one? Or do you simply need help regarding some form of business law? Why not contact Chattertons Solicitors who offer a full range of business services for companies of all sizes. From the employment process to joint adventures, Chattertons cover the entire business cycle from diversification to financing, disputes and closure. They aim to provide cost effective, practical advice and one of their experienced solicitors is always happy to help.
resolution and agriculture. As one of the leading law firms in the East Midlands the firm feels it is important to maintain strong relationships with not only the local community but also local businesses. With offices in Boston, Horncastle, Grantham, Lincoln, Newark, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford Chattertons are never too far away to offer advice and support.
Chattertons are experienced in commercial work with particular strengths in commercial property, corporate law, dispute
If you would like to know more about our services whether it be personal, business or financial see www.chattertons.com.
In addition to the service provided for businesses, Chattertons also offer legal and financial services for individuals.
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send your press releases and business news to: Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.
First class healthcare courtesy of Boston west hospital... clinical Lead sue harvey delighted with the hospita’s favourable patient outcomes... Boston West Hospital is a purpose built facility which provides services for assessment, diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, and has a suite of outpatient and treatment rooms which has recently been refurbished to create an additional spacious consultation room. A well-equipped modern theatre undertakes a range of surgical procedures. The Hospital provides first class healthcare to both NHS and private patients with a range of excellent premium care packages for self pay and insured patients. In addition to excellent clinical outcomes the team at Boston West pride themselves on providing a positive patient experience and patient feedback reflects this with currently 98% of patients stating that they would recommend the Hospital to friends and family. In an unannounced visit to Boston West Hospital CQC inspectors found the Hospital to be compliant in all areas inspected including; Respecting and involving people who use services, care and welfare of patients and management of medicines, staffing and complaints. Sue
Harvey,
the
Hospitals
Clinical Lead, explained “We work hard to ensure that as well as providing excellent clinical outcomes our patients also have a positive experience of care at Boston West Hospital” Inspectors interviewed a number of patients and relatives and feedback about the hospital was excellent. One patient commented “I wouldn’t have thought it could be any better. I find it a really wonderful service” Another described the Boston West staff saying “I find that they are all friendly and professional” The full CQC report can be found on the Boston West Hospital website www.bostonwesthospital.co.uk
Below: Boston West is a purpose built day case hospital run by Ramsey Healthcare. Bottom: Clinical lead Sue Harvey.
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Business services... What can Chattertons offer you? Company and Commercial Our specialist team covers the entire business cycle from business start ups to growth, diversification, restructuring, financing, disputes and closure.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution Disputes are part of the risk of running a business. Our specialist lawyers deal with all kinds of business disputes in the Courts, by arbitration, mediation and other forms of ADR.
Employment It is difficult to escape the fact that Employment Law is fast moving and constantly changing. Our specialist team can help and assist you in this very complex area of the law.
Consumer Matters Your business will need to comply with consumer legislation if you are dealing direct with consumers. It is better to be prepared than fall foul of consumer legislation which can cost your business time and money.
www.chattertons.com | Company & Commercial | Banking | Employment | Commercial Property | Dispute Resolution | |Agriculture | Insolvency | Pensions | Intellectual Property | Debt Recovery | Consumer Matters |
Boston | Grantham | Horncastle | Lincoln | Newark | Sleaford | Spalding | Stamford
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Crosswords CRYPTIC CROSSWORD test your lateral thinking skills with this month’s cryptic crossword. Each puzzle has a set of perplexing clues to unravel, and as every lover of logic knows, the frustration is all part of the fun!
ACROSS 1. French composer’s freedom restricted by returning offspring (7) 5. Group of schoolchildren stumped by paper (6) 9. See 10 10,9. Economist, one foregoing Keynes, famed in Republican manoeuvring (6,8) 12. PROFIT? (7,5) 15. Foul reek — old and new sewers produce it (10) 17. Novelist lacking close friend (3) 19. Online paper shows amphibian (3) 20. One raising issue about letters backing the legislators (10) 22. Borderline character with impudence remains wild (12) 26. Novel that’s hilarious, one getting thanks (6) 27. Complaint about jerk being an MP (8) 28. Filthy place was first to be knocked into shape (6) 29. Stop media manipulation happening! (7)
DOWN 1. Take off from party with maximum volume (4) 2. Frenchwoman’s distant, a bit of a cow, perhaps (4) 3. Very hot in Spain, the poor young socialite’s overcome (8) 4. Eastern mystic's morning in the Belgravia area (5) 6. Model having shoots (6) 7. Old pet, heard outside, is set free (10) 8. Car goes around in gear just over bottom (10) 11. Police trap criminal with heart of gold (6) 13. How 10’s 18 25 starts abrupt current decline (5,5) 14. Whence one gets milk and a sandwich very regularly (3,7) 16. Starbuck's first found here, healthier and with topping (6) 18. Garden is planted in March (8) 21. Woman eating cheap products displays figure (6) 23. What journalist wants — Sun to shut up (5) 24. See 25 25, 24. What one makes up for depraved sentence (4,4)
DOWN
1. Secret listening devices (4) 3. Opposite of legato (8) 8. Nose (slang) (4) 9. Diminished (8) 11. She’s expecting (6-2-2) 14. Drink of the gods (6) 15. Bother (6) 17. Canadian province (4,6) 20. Fiddle-faddle (8) 21. Scottish dance (4) 22. Plant with a two-year life cycle (8) 23. Lifeless (4)
1. Comme il faut (8) 2. Study of heredity (8) 4. A score (6) 5. Bogart movie (10) 6. Skin complaint (4) 7. Likelihood (4) 10. Hurry up! (3,1,4,2) 12. So to speak (2,2,4) 13. Remembered (8) 16. Use an ‘a’ (anag) (6) 18. Rebuff (4) 19. Formerly (4)
CRYPTIC ANSWERS
QUICK ANSWERS
QUICK CROSSWORD
ACROSS
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