Rutland Pride May 2015 by Pride Magazines Ltd

Rutland Cover (154) _Layout 1 30/03/2015 13:57 Page 1

STAMFORD AND RUTLAND RutlandPride

RutlandPride THE

NUMBER

ONE

MAGAZINE

M A Y 2 0 1 5 ÂŁ3.70

Visiting Open Gardens in Stamford and Rutland...

The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes

Open Gardens in Rutland MAY 2015

Falklands Veteran Simon Weston at Barnsdale Lodge ROckiNGHAM HORSe TRiALS - RUTLAND SHOW PReVieW - LOcAL FOOD & DRiNk

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 2

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 13:58 Page 3

It’s curious how easy it is to overlook the attractions, events and places to visit that are right on your doorstep. When did you last visit Burghley House, for example, or enjoy Tolethorpe’s open air plays? When was the last time you visited Exton’s Barnsdale Gardens? Living in Rutland and Stamford affords an excellent standard of living, but also a wealth of activities for families or couples to enjoy, too. ROB davis Editor, PridE magazinEs editor@pridemagazines.co.uk

This summer I’ve made a promise to myself; I’ll enjoy as many days out in the area as possible with my family, beginning with a visit to Barnsdale Gardens this month. It’s constantly evolving, so there’s always something new to see, and it’s a stunning site with 39 inspiring gardens to enjoy. Elsewhere, we’ll be attending this year’s Rutland Show on Sunday 31st May, so we hope you’ll join us there. We can also recommend Stamford’s Sacrewell Farm - find out more about the attraction later in this edition, too. This month, we enjoy meeting Falklands hero Simon Weston in Exton, we preview the Rockingham Horse Trials, and we’ve images from events including The Cottesmore Hunt Ball and the opening of North Luffenham’s new pub, The Fox.

RutlandPride STAMFORD AND RUTLAND

THE

M A Y 2 0 1 5 £3.70

The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes

NUMBER

ONE

MAGAZINE

Open Gardens in Rutland

Falklands Veteran Simon Weston at Barnsdale Lodge

ROCKINGHAM HORSE TRIALS - RUTLAND SHOW PREVIEW - LOCAL FOOD & DRINK

This Month’s Cover: Burghley House, which this month hosts the Living Heritage Game & Country Show on 24th and 25th May. www.livingheritagecountryshows.co.uk for further information.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 13:59 Page 4

RutlandPride STAMFORD AND RUTLAND

RutlandPride

THE

M A Y 2 0 1 5 £3.70

Visiting Open Gardens in Stamford and Rutland...

The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes

NUMBER

ONE

MAGAZINE

Open Gardens in Rutland

MAY 2015

Falklands Veteran Simon Weston at Barnsdale Lodge

ROCKINGHAM HORSE TRIALS - RUTLAND SHOW PREVIEW - LOCAL FOOD & DRINK

With best wishes from the Rutland Pride team Managing Director and Publisher: Julian Wilkinson. General Manager: Ian Bagley. Executive Editor: Rob Davis. Features Editor: Tilly Wilkinson. Graphic Designer and Customer Care Manager: Mandy Bray. IT: Joe Proctor. Accounts Manager: Sue Bannister. Sales Managers: Zoie Wilkinson, Jayne Broughton. Sales Executives: Liz King, Roberta Hall, Carissa Clay, Emily Brown, Sami Millard, Lauren Chambers, Hayley Scott, Amy Whiley and Katie Lynch. Distribution Manager: Paul Dixon.

www.facebook.com/rutlandpride Why not follow us on Facebook? You can keep up to date with any news we may have for our lovely magazine!

twitter.com/@RutlandPride 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 Rutland 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 Rutland 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

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

Contents

06 26 32 38 52 85 98 110

May 2015

A round-up of neWs and events on our What’s on pages, with information from around Rutland and Stamford. Elsewhere in the area this month, we visit Sacrewell Farm to enjoy a family day out, and preview this year’s Rutland Show. This month we consider ourselves privileged to meet Falklands hero simon Weston, who attended a charity supper in Rutland. This month’s food & dRink pages feature North Luffenham’s new restaurant, The Fox, and recommendations from Oakham Wines. Our homes section this month looks around a stunning country property, and provides ideas for home improvements. This month’s gaRdening pages see a visit to Barnsdale Gardens and a preview of the season’s NGS Open Gardens. For equine enthusiasts, we this month preview the Rockingham International Horse Trials in the castle’s grounds. This month’s fashion pages presents ideas for occasionwear for summer weddings, society events or a day at the races.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 5

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:01 Page 6

County News

Send your press releases and county news to: Features Editor via tilly@pridemagazines.co.uk.

Oakham adventurer takes a bite of the big apple Oakham’s very own Sarah Outen MBE arrives in New York as she reaches the end of her 25,000 mile expedition for charity... Oakham explorer, Sarah Outen MBE, recently arrived in New York after a journey, that started at Tower Bridge back in 2011. Her expedition, ‘London to London via the World’ is a loop of the planet powered by sheer human strength. Sharing stories with cultures and communities all around the world and raising money for four charities, there is no stopping this 29-year-old explorer. She has kayaked from London to France, cycled 11,000 miles across Europe and Asia, rowed across the Pacific Ocean to Alaska, kayaked from Russia to

Japan, kayaked 1,500 miles along the Aleutian Islands and has now cycled 4,500 miles through the United States in one of the most dangerous winters the US has ever seen. She is soon set to prepare for the final leg of the expedition, after spending two weeks in New York and then rowing completely on her own across the Atlantic Ocean back to the UK. This incredible journey of 25,000 miles in total will have taken her four and a half years and she will raise so much money for so many people.

New Chief Executive for local hospice LOROS Loros is our county’s hospice care company and is set for some big changes as it celebrates 30 years of history...

Rutland’s hospice care charity, Loros, celebrates its 30th anniversary year by appointing a new chief executive, John Knight who brings a wealth of experience in the care sector. He has taken over from Simon Proffitt who has retired after being in charge of Loros since 2008. For the past 14 years, Mr Knight has been chief executive of Rutland’s local Children’s Centre. Mr Knight believes that giving people the very best in end-of-life care is important and he thinks Loros really gives this experience as you start to get a feel for the people and the culture and the friendliness as soon as you step over the threshold.

Loros is celebrating the 30th anniversary this year of the Hospice opening with many events and fundraising initiatives planned so watch this space. They’ve been enhancing the quality of life of adult patients with cancer, some progressive neurological conditions and end-stage organ failure for whom curative treatment is no longer possible for thirty years. They are continuing to develop and grow and now care for more than 2,500 people every year. There are 31 inpatient beds, outpatient clinics, lymphoedema services and a growing number of community services and they hope to offer these services for the next 30 years as well.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 7

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:02 Page 8

County News

Send your press releases and county news to: Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

Windfall for Rutland sports and leisure clubs Our county is having a health boost with a huge amount of grants being offered to sports and leisure clubs across Rutland... Rutland sport and leisure clubs are celebrating after £250,000 was shared out in grant money recently. A sum of money donated by developers was given to Rutland County Council with which they chose 15 groups to receive shared out amounts of it. One of the biggest beneficiaries was Oakham’s Royce Rangers Football Club in need of a new clubhouse on the showground which received £74,000 from the County Council. The club has been around for 40 years and with this, members believe they’ll be set for another 40 years.

There are about 230 players registered currently but with the grant, they’re hoping to expand with both boys and girls teams for youngsters aged five to seventeen. Another sports club to benefit was the Oakham Artistic Gymnastics Academy, which received around £15,000 going towards new equipment and mats at its new home at Oakham Enterprise Park. The County Council believes the money will improve health, quality of life and well being for local Rutlanders and the profits from the clubs will be multiplied in the county.

Local dancer Cassidy Little sets dance floor alight for charity... Cassidy Little has scored tens across the board in People’s Strictly as he performed his passionate pasodoble and flaming flamenco with dance partner Natalie Lowe, winning the competition..!

Market Deeping is home to a former Royal Marine well known to viewers of the dance series Strictly Come Dancing. Cassidy Little recently set the Strictly ballroom alight with his passionate pasodoble and fiery flamenco. He’s scored tens across the panel of judges. Cassidy is a former Royal Marine medic who lost his right leg below the knee during a tour of Afghanistan in 2011, in an explosion that killed three of his colleagues and seriously injured four others. Cassidy not only has coped tremendously with situation at hand but he also helped other Marines through rehabilitation, being rewarded in the BBC Red Nose Day programme, The People’s Strictly.

Everyone here in Rutland has supported him profusely and he’s come home as not only a hero in the world of the Marines, but also The People’s Strictly Champion. Support has come in from all over the country thanks to The People’s Strictly for comic relief as he has helped to inspire people with his determination and enthusiasm. His dance partner, Natalie Lowe, and every member of the People’s Strictly BBC programme and audience are inspired by how he can ignore the injuries and dance to such a high standard and this is shown through the judging and the floods of votes received which crowned him champion.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 9

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 10

NE W

£850,000

Empingham, Rutland

This elegant barn conversion is set in extensive secluded gardens and retains many striking original features such as exposed stone walls and a stunning vaulted ceiling in the first floor Living Room. More recent additions include a stylish Kitchen and luxurious bathrooms: excellently located for Stamford and Rutland Water this is a welcoming and unique village home. EPC Rating: E.

NE W

Aslackby, Lincolnshire

£885,000

Set in an idyllic location, this wonderful, light-filled barn conversion has stunning accommodation, original features such as exposed brickwork and oak beams, and modern additions including under-floor heating and a ground source heating system. The spacious interior offers open-plan informal living space, impressive reception rooms and five bedrooms and there is the further benefit of a self-contained office and around 8 acres of gardens and paddock. EPC Rating: D.

Fine & Country 2 St. Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2DE Telephone: (01780) 750200 Email: stamford@fineandcounty.com www.fineandcountry.com

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 11

NE W

£1,500,000

Uffington, Lincolnshire

A stunning contemporary property with superb views towards Stamford and open-plan living spaces that are flooded with light. Sliding glass doors open the house seamlessly to the garden, whilst the interior design features a ‘floating’ oak and glass staircase, Italian lighting and an impressive bespoke ‘Cesar’ kitchen. Additions such as an integrated sound system, under-floor heating, solar panels and air-source heat pumps make this an energy-efficient property. A particular highlight is the Pool Room. EPC Rating: B.

NE W

Bisbrooke, Rutland

£579,950

This charming house retains much of its original character, whilst the interior has been refurbished to the highest standards with details such as solid wood floors, stylish bathrooms, and a sociable live-in Kitchen. There is an easy flow between the main living spaces and bi-fold doors from the Family Room extend the house out to the garden where a sunny terrace has views to open countryside beyond the village. There is the further benefit of a self-contained one Bedroom Annexe. EPC Rating: E.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 12

COTTESMORE HOUSE, RUTLAND

A beautifully converted and stunningly presented family home standing in approximately 4 acres of garden.

GUIDE PRICE £1,150,000

• Beautiful drawing room with log burner • Immaculate kitchen • Family room • Large conservatory • Study/gym

• Master bedroom & bathroom • Three further bedrooms • Family bathroom & shower room • Extensive gardens & tennis court • Large garage & outbuildings • EPC D

m rt

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 13

Witham Manor, Witham on the Hill A substantial family property, Witham Manor is situated on the edge of the conservation village of Witham on the Hill, constructed mainly of stone with a rosemary tiled roof.

Hillcroft, Easton on the Hill A superbly renovated and extended stone village house with far reaching views towards stamford, with planning permission for a 3 bedroom house and barns affording a variety of uses.

GUIDE

£POA

• Breakfast kitchen, 4 reception rooms • Study, utility, boot room • 6 bedrooms, 2 with en suites • Landscaped gardens and grounds • Approximately 1.39 acres (0.59 ha)

GUIDE

£1,400,000

• Breakfast kitchen, 3 reception rooms • Study, utility, cellar • 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms • Barn with planning for 3 bed house • Approximately 0.813 acres (0.329 ha)

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 14

NORTH LUFFENHAM

Asking Price £999,000 A fine 17th Century Grade II Listed property which has been extensively refurbished and updated to present a beautifully finished country residence, offering substantial accommodation with 5 Reception Rooms, 5 Double Bedrooms (2 of them en-suite), further ancillary accommodation, great potential to convert second floor, garaging and gardens.

WEST DEEPING

STAMFORD

Asking Price £550,000 Delightful period 17th century townhouse on one of Stamford's quaint cobbled streets, once featured in Middlemarch. With character in abundance, accommodation brieﬂy comprises: Garden Room, Lounge/Diner, Kitchen, Utility/WC, three Bedrooms (2 of them with Dressing Rooms and En-suites). Outside: Garage and walled rear courtyard garden with outbuildings.

SOMERBY

WYMONDHAM

BARROWDEN Asking Price £495,000 A beautiful Grade II Listed quintessential Country Cottage with delightful gardens in a private location within this premium Rutland village. The property has been well maintained and improved by the current owners retaining a host of original features (Inglenook ﬁreplaces, exposed beams and stonework). 3 Reception Rooms, Living Kitchen, 3 Bedrooms.

No Chain £425,000 Delightful and beautifully maintained period cottage with Annexe standing in good–sized private gardens overlooking village Church. The property oﬀers potential for expansion STPP. HOUSE: GROUND FLOOR: Entrance Hall/Boot Room, Kitchen, Utility Room, Dining Room, Living Room, Study, WC; FIRST FLOOR: 3 Bedrooms, Bathroom. ANNEXE: Living Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom.

Asking Price £1,250,000 A unique, beautiful Grade II* Listed property within approx. 12 acres of magniﬁcent gardens and grounds, with 3 Reception Rooms, 5 Bedrooms (one en-suite), a superb range of outbuildings and ancillary accommodation including: Work Shop with Green House and First Floor Gym/Store Room, Triple Garaging, Orangery, Stables, Wine Store.

Asking Price £595,000 A substantial family home set on a good size plot with mature wrap-around gardens and dbl Garage in a picturesque village. The property features a number of good quality ﬁxtures and ﬁtting with accommodation comprising: GROUND FLOOR: Entrance Hall, WC, Lounge, Family Room, Kitchen/Diner, Dining Room, Study, Utility Room; FIRST FLOOR: 4 dbl Bedrooms (2 en-suite), Bathroom.

W NE

THE OLD VICARAGE, MARTIN

GUIDE PRICE £775,000

Recently restored Georgian residence situated within grounds and paddock of approximately 3.25 acres. Enjoying far-reaching views across open countryside over the Lincolnshire Wolds. The Old Vicarage provides well-proportioned and beautifully presented living accommodation whilst incorporating original features. Accommodation comprises; Dining hall, study, cloakroom, sitting room, drawing room, kitchen breakfast room, utilty, pantry, five good sized bedrooms, two of which are en-suite and a family bathroom. On the second floor is a further bedroom plus an attic room.

GUIDE PRICE £850,000

Substantial stone farmhouse with two paddocks totalling seven acres, stable block, tack room, hay store/barn and ménage horse walker. The property has private grounds with walled garden area. The accommodation consists; entrance hall with attractive staircase, large sitting room with open fire, dining room with wood burner, breakfast kitchen with Aga, boot room, cellar. The property provides five/seven bedrooms with two bathrooms. Accommodation is flexible due to first floor rooms currently forming what could be a self contained annexe - currently used for business purposesbut has separate access, WC and kitchenette.

Entries are now being taken for homes which would like to be displayed at the Move To The Country Show, ran in conjunction with We have booked an even bigger stand this year so if you would like your home to be put in front of commuters and buyers looking to move out of London and the South East, there is no charge for this extra service. The closing deadline is the end of April.

The show is to be held at Chelsea Town Hall on Wednesday 13th May.

W E NE IC PR

THE GRANGE, LANGHAM

W NE

OFFERS IN REGION OF £895,000

An attractive character property situated centrally to the village with south facing stone walled gardens and a separate two bedroom cottage. There is a large driveway with a courtyard, detached two bedroom stone cottage, triple bay garaging, workshop, six stables and a good sized barn, all of which could be converted into further accommodation STPP. There is a small paddock area to the rear and a further five acres situated just outside of the village which is available to purchase by separate negotiation. The main residents comprises of: sitting room, dining room, farmhouse kitchen, study / snug, large utility / boot room and downstairs cloakroom. To the first floor are three double bedrooms, master with en-suite plus a family bathroom. To the second floor are two further bedrooms.

LAUNDE HOUSE, LAUNDE

OX ES PR CR AP 4 A 4 8.

TE GE RA TA PA OT SE D C BE

n rk).

HILL FARM, GREETHAM

BE SEEN IN LONDON

ge cer,

AN RI S ST ITIE E U L EQ ACI F

NO AIN CH

d nle

www.mooresestatagents.com/countryandequestrian

25 S 3. RE AC

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 15

GUIDE PRICE £1,750,000

With idyllic views overlooking Launde Abbey’s parkland, Launde House provides substantial family accommodation, incorporating a contemporary open plan living arrangement whilst maintaining the Grade ll listed farmhouse character throughout. Set in its own 8.44 acres, with a separate driveway into its own newly built stable yard this home has been sympathetically remodelled to an impeccable standard incorporating both original and bespoke features. The three storey accommodation gives a teenagers suite to the top floor, leaving the first floor to have a master suite, with its own dressing room and shower room, three further double bedrooms and four bathrooms. The ground floor has an impressive oak built sitting room with panoramic views over its own grounds and land.

OAKHAM 36 High Street, Rutland LE15 6AL

UPPINGHAM 2 Orange Street, Rutland LE15 9SQ

STAMFORD 1 Sheep Market, Lincolnshire PE9 2RB

MELTON MOWBRAY 18 Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray LE13 1NW

GRANTHAM Platform 1, Grantham NG31 6BT

LONDON 40 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NS

01572 757979

01572 821935

01780 433000

01664 491610

01476 855618

0207 8390888

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 16

CML Tenerife Crossley Morfitt & Lennox

Tenerife Property for Sale

1 BED APARTMENT

GOLF DEL SUR

€130.000

A beautiful apartment with fantastic views over the golf course and sea. Ocean Golf is a beautifully maintained complex just a 10 minute walk from Marina San Miguel. There are shops and restaurants adjoining the complex. Ref. AP2415-1

2 BED BUNGALOW

VALLE SAN LORENZO

€379.000

A lovely 2 bedroom detached bungalow in a quiet cul de sac position in Valle San Lorenzo. Privacy is the keyword here, the property is in a secluded plot which is not overlooked at all and there are superb panoramic coastal views. Ref. V848-2

2 BED APARTMENT

CHAYOFA

Luxury apartment in this quiet residential complex, 5 minutes drive to Los Cristianos. Lounge with patio doors to large terrace with sea and mountain views. Sold furnished. Parking and store room included. Community pool. Ref. AP2421-2

4 BED VILLA

SAN MIGUEL DE ABONA

€630.000

If you are looking for a luxurious property located in a quiet but accessible location, this is the right product. This villa has a large lounge with sea views, kitchen, storeroom, 4 bedrooms, 3 with en suite bathrooms and private pool. Ref. V849-4

CML Tenerife is a bespoke real estate company catering for Residential, Commercial and Corporate Investment needs in Tenerife with local representation here in Rutland... • Apartments, Houses and Villas • Land and New Developments • Exclusive and Luxury Properties

0747 998 2649

€225.000

To find out how we can help you, call us NOW on 0843 290 5160 or +34 922 792 952, email paul@cmltenerife.com or alternatively visit our website www.cmltenerife.com

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 17

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 18

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 19

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 20

What’s On

eXTOn day

OsPRey WaTCh

Exton Day is a quintessentially British fête with dog shows on the green, a raffle, children’s games and competitions, stalls in the paddock, various family entertainment and table top sales around the village. The event is organised to raise funds for Exton Church on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2015 10.30am - 4.30pm.

One of the most exciting ways of seeing ospreys at Rutland Water is to take a guided trip with members of the project team at Rutland Water aboard the Rutland Belle. You can sail to the parts of the reservoir where you’ll stand the best chance of seeing fishing ospreys and, with a bit of luck, are rewarded with spectacular views. Ospreys have a diet of exclusively live fish so it’s a spectacle to watch them dive for the fish. On many occasions members aboard the Rutland Belle and the Project Team have enjoyed breathtaking views of the birds diving for fish very close to the boat, making it a trip to remember for those lucky enough to be on board. Call the number or visit the website for more details on ospreys, how to get tickets, prices and dates. Also visit the Rutland Ospreys website for osprey info.

01572 812233 www.discover-rutland.co.uk

BadgeR WaTChing Top: The fête of Exton is in your hands this month. Above: Paul Martyn at Kilworth House. Top/Right: Ospreys catching live ﬁsh at Rutland water.

Join the trainee reserve officers for an evening of badger watching from the badger hide at Egleton nature reserve. The hide is situated near the badger set and you can enjoy a fantastic view as the reserve’s resident family comes over for an evening of foraging! Wednesday 6th and 20th May at certain times; £10/person. 01572 770 651 www.rutlandwater.org.uk

01572 770 651 www.rutlandwater.org.uk

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 21

- WHat’s on -

PhOTOgRaPhy TuiTiOn

evening WiTh Paul MaRTyn

This beginner’s course will show you how to take better pictures and develop a photographic eye for of a range of natural history subjects, on a day in the Egleton Reserve. In each session, you’ll be shown how to set up and use your camera for a specific picture style, including habitat pictures, portraits of plant and animal subjects in their natural settings, and how to capture close-up detail. You’ll finish with a review of the techniques covered during the day and provide summary handouts for each of the photographic sessions. The course is limited to eight people to ensure you get the most from your day and any type of digital camera is suitable for the course. Saturday 9th May 10.00am-4.00pm. Admission is £55/person. See the website or call the number below for more details.

The versatility of Paul Martyn as a performer at Kilworth House is well known to many guests of the hotel and he’ll be there to entertain throughout the evening with his wide range of musical styles on the saxophone along with soft vocals to accompany. Tickets are £30/person which includes a three course meal with five dishes to pick from per course at Kilworth House.

01572 770 651 www.rutlandwater.org.uk

01858 880058 www.kilworthhouse.co.uk

CaRMen aT sTaMfORd A unique performance of Carmen will be displayed at the Stamford Corn Exchange by the Peterborough Opera. Carmen is a mainstream opera and is a wonderful interpretation of Bizet. The production will be sung in English and admission varies. Performances will be on 14th - 16th May at 7.30pm everyday. 01780 766455 stamford-corn-exchange.co.uk

MadaMe BuTTeRfly BalleT Be moved this spring and let Europe’s leading dance actors captivate you through a mix of powerful storytelling and classical dance as Northern Ballet perform two breathtaking ballets in one evening. Be inspired by Japan as the company presents a new and unique adaptation of its much-loved and heartbreakingly tragic Madame Butterfly. This is the story of a doomed love affair between an American Naval Lieutenant and his young Japanese bride, Butterfly. Also, experience Perpetuum Mobile which doesn’t tell a story but does show off the dancers at their athletic best. The incredible strength and prowess of Northern Ballet’s dancers will leave you breathless. Tickets and admission is £32.50/adults and £12/children and there are special offers on for larger groups. 0116 242 3560 www.curveonline.co.uk

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 22

The 183rd

Rutland SHOW The arrival of summer means we can once more enjoy the action, traditional crafts, equine fun and livestock competitions that have made The Rutland show famous for 183 years. This month, Tilly Wilkinson previews the second event to be held at the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new showground at Barleythorpe... Words: Tilly Wilkinson. Images: Rob Davis.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 23

- tHE rutLand sHoW sundaY 31st maY 2015

“We love local food and really want to champion the area’s best producers and farmers,” says Show Director Emma Dodds... kitchen in their new Pavilion this year, with local chefs keen to demonstrate their signature dishes to the public. The Cottesmore Hunt is a favourite with the crowd every year and it will be making a welcome return to the main ring this year with five additional packs of hounds from around the region. The hunt is one of the oldest foxhound packs in Britain, and audiences will have the chance to see the hounds, the horses and the riders in action. Children will also be encouraged to enter the main ring and stroke the hounds. The Mounted Games of Great Britain will also provide one of the fastest moving equestrian arena displays in the country. This year marks the 183rd county show, which will be held for only the second time at its new showground home of Oakham, and it’s a show that will not disappoint. With an incredible line-up of new and traditional activities and attractions, this year’s show is bigger and better than ever with an addition of the Rutland Ring where local clubs, groups and societies can be part of the show and showcase themselves. For 2015, the show’s committee want more local food and drink producers to have a presence; “We are working to get more local food, farming and drink producers involved in the show,” says Show Director Emma Dodds. “We love local food and really want to champion the area’s best producers.” Top: There will be a keen contingent of livestock at the show. Above: Livestock is a mainstay of the event, which began life as a way of promoting selective breeding.

One of last year’s exhibitors was The Rutland Charcuterie Company who used the event to launch their new business selling artisan smoked deli meats. The company’s Nick Brake said “We were a new business, on a new showground reaching new customers; it was the perfect place to launch.” The show is also installing a demonstration

Teams of young riders on fast ponies compete in a series of obstacle and relay type races. The speed of the ponies and the agility and athletic skill of the riders is breathtaking and really has to be seen to be believed. Also in the main ring, itness the unique highlight of the show when these little daredevils perform the famous Ring of Fire! For more acrobatic animals and familyfriendly entertainment this year, John ‘Polly’ Pollard presents a unique and totally different style of parrot educational entertainment with rescued macaws, cockatoos and other small parrots. With more than thirty years of experience with rescued parrots and other animals, John often quotes the old adage, ‘never work with animals and children!’ with parrots having the active mind of a five year old child, you should expect the unexpected. Dogs feature highly on the day. Bring your own four legged friend to the new Dog Zone to try the agility course, get a free health check and prepare to be amazed as the Defence Animal Centre’s dogs and handlers along with 23

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 24

Canine Partners assistance dogs demonstrate their skills in the ring. Elsewhere in the show, visitors can enjoy over 100 trade stands selling everything for you, your home and your garden and vintage and modern farm machinery, and classic cars will be on display once again. Other attractions will include a funfair, British Showjumping, and nearly 50 equestrian showing classes. A growing rural education zone will feature willow weaving, dry stone walling, bee keeping alongside chickens, ferrets and racing pigeons. Last year, the high numbers of visitors were matched by record entries in many of the livestock classes, and exhibitors came from all over the country to show off their breeds with over 150 cattle, 200 sheep and 100 goats. 2015 is expected to prove even more popular. This year the Rutland Show will cover a larger area and feature a revised layout based on feedback from last year’s event with easier access to car parking and advance E-tickets online. Discounts of 20% are available until the 15th May for online bookings. “It’s the county’s very own show, so we really hope we’ll be well-supported,” says Emma. “We are always looking for new enthusiastic stewards and organisers to join the team on the day. It also really pays to become a Member of the Agricultural Society. For just a few pounds above the gate price, an annual membership gives you free entry to the show, forward parking and entry to the members’ enclosure and fully glazed marquee, sponsored once again by Frontier Agriculture. 24

This year the Rutland Show will cover a larger area and feature a revised layout based on feedback from last year’s event with easier access to car parking... The Rutland Show will attract around 10,000 people, with free shuttlebuses available from Oakham and Uppingham. The packed main ring programme timings are due to be confirmed as Pride goes to press. It promises to be a fabulous day for all the family. n The 183rd Rutland Show takes place on Sunday 31st May 2015, from 8.30am with tickets £12.50/adults,£10 concessions and Under 14’s free. 20% discounts for advance tickets online before 15th May. Call 01572 757110 or see www.rutlandcountyshow.com.

Top: Classic cars and vintage farm machinery will feature once again. Above: Over 100 trade stands will ensure plenty of shopping opportunities. Opposite: Children always enjoy making a fuss of the Cottesmore Hunt’s hounds during a parade in the main ring.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:15 Page 25

- tHE rutLand sHoW sundaY 31st maY 2015

See us at the Show... n Welland vale garden inspirations – serving every gardener's taste! the comprehensive range of plants, shrubs and trees on offer, many of which are grown on-site at the nursery, are sure to delight any gardener. the much anticipated opening of the orchard Café will now truly make a trip to garden inspirations a fruitful experience. Produce for the Café has been locally sourced, offering freshly prepared wholesome food with knowledge of provenance. our staff have years of horticultural knowledge which means we are able to give you help and advice whether that be in choosing the right plants for your garden. in addition to selling plants and sundries there is also a plant hire service available, ideal if you’re planning a special event and want your garden or venue to have that ‘wow’ factor. See our inspirational display of plants at this year’s Rutland Show.

n diamond Mowers 25 years experience... diamond mowers has over 25 years of experience providing sales, servicing and spare parts for lawnmowers from a dedicated 3,000sq ft premises in market Harborough. We are approved main dealers and approved service agents for most leading Brands such as Honda, Countax, stihl, Echo, Cub Cadett and many more. take advantage of our specialised garden machinery sales service. We can visit your property to evaluate your land and advise you on the best equipment for your garden. Bath St., Market Harborough, LE16 9EQ 01858 463932 www.diamondmowers.co.uk

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 26

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 27

- WHat’s on tHis summEr -

Fresh air on the

FARM

this month is the perfect time to rediscover life on the farm at sacrewell near stamford. if you’ve children in the family, it’s a great place to enjoy an educational day out, but offers as much entertainment and education for adults, with over 50 acres of attractions, soon to include its newly refurbished grade ii* listed watermill... Words: Rob Davis. farming has changed so much in recent years, with ecology and diversification changing the way we think about food production. Farm parks have emerged but often these appeal only to those with small children. Sacrewell, near Stamford, is different - an educational trust and heritage site that’s entertaining for all ages. “We’ve always been a farm which educates and entertains people of all ages,” says the Wansford-based farm and activity centre’s Megan Allen.

pigs plus cattle in the spring, donkeys, ponies and shire horses.” “We’re a working farm though, with 500 of our total 550 acres farmed by Riverford, which grows its organic vegetables on the farm to distribute via their veg box scheme.”

Animal Village has rabbits and guinea pigs to cuddle, as well as chickens and peacocks wandering around. “There has been a farm on the site since Roman times, with the name derived from one of the fields where we believe - a sacred well has since been covered over.” “The farm was taken over by William Scott Abbott in 1917 upon his return, as a Red Cross driver, from the First World War. He worked hard to prove the success of his progressive farming methods, and to educate the public how to feed themselves through WWII’s Dig for Victory trend too.”

“A tractor ride around the site underlines the fact that, despite its appeal as a visitor attraction for both children and adults, this is also a real modern working farm...”

As we were sitting in the centre’s new Origin8 café enjoying barista coffee and home made cake, we saw, through the window, the farm’s Orpington chicken Brunhilde wandering around the farm’s Animal Village. This makes a good point about Sacrewell’s ethos. “The place is an authentic modern farm. Sacrewell has 10 Lincoln Longwools, 10 Jacobs, a few Soay sheep and rare breed

A tractor ride around the site underlines the fact that, despite its appeal as a visitor attraction for both children and adults, this is also a real arable environment showing how a modern farming operation works. When the public visit, interaction with the animals is greater than at many of the area’s other farm parks. The Discovery Centre has small animals like chicks and degus, whilst

It was his wish, upon his death in 1959 that the William Scott Abbott Trust was founded to continue his legacy. In 1981 Sacrewell opened as a visitor attraction and has served to train farming students, and provide education in a broader sense, to teach people about food and farming. 27

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 28

“The new watermill is due to open in July, and it’s been an extensive project, but a necessary one to preserve the fabric of the building and its inner workings...”

building and its inner workings for future generations to enjoy,” says Megan.

This summer, one of the site’s other popular elements will reopen too, as work is completed to renovate its 18th century Grade II* listed watermill with the addition of a new Centre for Milling Excellence.

“All through the summer we’re providing entertainment for adults and families alike, with our new Playbarn for children to enjoy, plus plenty of locations around the site for enjoying picnics, walks or just the chance to sit and enjoy the fresh air.”

Top: Sacrewell Farm provides open air theatre in the summer with The Cambridge Touring Theatre Company returning on 13th June. Above: The centre is due to reopen its Grade II* listed watermill this summer following a £1.7m project which was part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Semi-professional millers and bakers will both receive training in their craft at the centre, and with its idyllic location, it will also prove popular with visitors. “The new watermill is due to open in July, and it’s been an extensive project, but a necessary one to preserve the fabric of the

“This summer is an especially good time to see the centre for the first time or to revisit if you’ve been before. In May we’ve young lambs gambolling around the fields, we’ve a spring fair and weekends celebrating sheep shearing and Sacrewell’s milling heritage.”

“The feedback we receive is that there’s something for everyone here,” says Megan. “We certainly hope so, because we all enjoy our role here, allowing everybody to appreciate the countryside and learn a little more about it.”

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 29

sPending suMMeR aT

saCReWell May and June are the perfect months to discover sacrewell with the last of the centre’s lambs being born and a packed summer programme of events...

n 3rd and 4th May: spring fair spring Fair at the farm attraction with a 1960s theme designed to recognise the anniversary of the William scott abbott trust’s foundation. 60s soundtrack, morris men, games of horse shoes and tug-of-war events. n 9th and 10th May: Milling Weekend though the centre’s watermill will still be undergoing restoration work, sacrewell will still provide a programme of events as part of national mills Weekend. n 16th and 7th May: sheep shearing see the centre’s ﬂock receive their annual haircut and ﬁnd out more about how the wool industry works. n 21rd-31st: Wildlife Week Keep the children amused with mammal safaris, pond dipping and other fun participatory events. n 13th June: Robin hood Live theatre performance with the Cambridge touring theatre.

Finding Out More: Sacrewell Farm and Activity Centre is open seven days a week 9.30am-5pm. Admission is £7.50/adults; £5.50/children; under twos free. Sacrewell Farm and Activity Centre, Thornhaugh, Peterborough PE8 6HJ. Tel: 01780 782254, www.sacrewell.org.uk.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 30

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 31

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 32

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 33

- simon WEston in rutLand -

hero. It’s a term which we feel should never be applied to mere pop stars, movie stars and the like... only to bona fide heroes like Simon Weston.

A brush with the law at the age of 14 led to Simon receiving a police caution, and compelled his parents to recommend a career in the forces.

Last year a life-sized portrait of Simon was unveiled at a ceremony attended by the Falklands veteran, wife Lucy and his three children James, Stuart and Caitlin. It’s a portrait designed to reflect Simon’s status as one of the UK’s most respected, well-recognised heroes.

“I did blot the old copybook. Only once; I was just a stupid kid and made the mistake of getting into a stolen car. I joined the army and the rest is just history.”

Even though, during our interview, Simon was keen to downplay his status, stating that he doesn’t accept the application of the word celebrity - he isn’t entirely comfortable with the term inspiration - Simon was nonetheless voted Britain’s most heroic figure in a poll conducted in 2014. “I don’t class myself as anything. Others class you as whatever they choose to. I’m not into pigeonholing. I can’t get away from the fact that I’m in the public eye but I really don’t have an ego,” he says. Last month, Simon appeared at Barnsdale Lodge near Exton to support the Children’s Air Ambulance charity. “It was a great night, and went really well. Everyone seemed to enjoy the event. There are two or three main speaking seasons, so I do anywhere from 80-140 speaking engagements.” Simon’s week comprised four speaking engagements around his visit to Rutland, but the bulk of his speeches occur in October and November during remembrance when, by his own admission he’s “most relevant.” “People tend to want someone who’s done something with their life, lived a bit. You can be a singer, an entertainer but how much relevance does that have to everyone’s life? That’s why they ask me, to hear about the challenges I’ve faced, because everyone faces challenges at some point or another.” The Falkland veteran was born and raised in Caerphilly, his father serving in the RAF, so it may come as somewhat of surprise that the discipline of life in the military wasn’t something that Simon immediately took to.

“If you believe in existentialism, it set in motion a series of events. I signed up in 1977; it was tough, a real shock. The military isn’t designed to be easy and perhaps it’s become a bit too easy for some people. For me it was a real culture shock.”

Nearly 50 crew - 22 of Simon’s 30-strong platoon - were killed in the subsequent explosions, which set light to ammunition on board the Sir Galahad, plus thousands of gallons of diesel and petrol. At the age of 20, Simon survived, but with 46% burns and was airlifted off the vessel by helicopter before being taken to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. “We were all ready to get off, but there was no transport. The back doors had jammed. We had no real idea the attack was coming, just a 10 second air raid warning. Then boom; that was it. I’d like to make it sound more dramatic but it

Simon Inspires in

RUTLAND the term hero is sometimes used too loosely, but it’s never more justly applied than when describing falklands veteran and burns survivor simon Weston. He’s well recognised as the face of the 1982 conﬂict and in 2014 was voted Britain’s most heroic ﬁgure. at a fundraising dinner in Rutland last month, simon gave a keynote speech in support of the Children’s air ambulance charity, and spoke candidly about his injuries and his life... “I loved being a soldier. It has its drawbacks but the discipline was a good thing. Discipline is a good thing to have in your life... a little more wouldn’t go amiss with people today.” Simon began a tour of duty in the Falklands on 12th May 1982 and was blown up whilst on board the 3,000 tonne Sir Galahad logistics vessel just 27 days later. The ship was waiting to unload soldiers from Simon’s Welsh Guards regiment when it was struck by three of the Argentinian force’s 500lb bombs just before 2pm.

wasn’t like that. The bomb just came ripping through the side. It went in, it blew burning fuel over us and after it did so, it just went bang.” At no point Simon was rendered unconscious, which he claims saved his life. “It is what it is... it’s war, it’s not designed to be friendly,” he says. “Getting over it was a combination of many things. I was very fortunate to have a combination of great people around me and a lot of love in my life. A low point was when they wheeled me 33

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 34

- simon WEston in rutLand -

“Adopting a positive attitude afterwards takes time. Some heal mentally and physically quicker, some never get over it. I know people who have never got over the Sir Galahad...” into a corridor and my mother said to my grandmother, ‘look at that poor boy’ and I cried out. As she recognised my voice, her face turned to stone.” “Adopting a positive attitude afterwards takes time, it’s a slow burn... if you’ll pardon the pun. Some heal mentally and physically quicker, some never get over it. I certainly know people who have never got over the Sir Galahad.” Not withstanding the horrific experience though, Simon wanted to turn what happened to him into something positive. He has used his experiences to motivate others, writing no fewer than three autobiographies, and using his public speaking engagements to encourage others by talking about strategies for overcoming adversity and dealing with challenges. “I talk. I don’t give advice, but if people can make it relevant to themselves, that’s great; if they can extrapolate motivation. I don’t tell people how to do things but I’m very aware that there are issues people face, through the course of their own lives.” “If I can talk in a way which has resonance with the audience’s own issues and the things they’re trying to cope with, then that’s what I hope to achieve... and of course to be a bit funny and entertaining too.” 34

Simon is, indeed, very funny with a keen sense of humour and a relaxed manner. “It can be very serious, depressing, if I talk about my experiences, and I’m not a depressing person, I’m positive, a happy guy.” “People sometimes expect me to be a little more sombre, they’re sometimes surprised by that. But I don’t fit into stereotypes, I’m very much an individual, and do my own thing.” Today, in addition to his motivational speaking, Simon is also involved with a travel agency which provides numerous opportunities for disabled people, a housing opportunity making properties available to veterans, and in a new charity, Care After Conflict. The latter was set up in association with comedian Jim Davidson. The latter aims to help former servicemen who are struggling to rebuild their lives after leaving the forces, many of whom are suffering from what’s now regarded as posttraumatic stress disorder. “We set the charity up to deal with those who have fallen foul of the law, those who are either in jail or on probation. It dovetails nicely to the accommodation charity. You can’t have people from the forces living on the streets and trying to deal with problems.”

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 35

“It’s about getting people the appropriate mental healthcare, and helping them to deal with their demons. Helping them to solve accommodation problems is central to that.” “PTSD wasn’t accepted then. I’d have experienced more support if what happened to me had happened in Afghanistan.” “However the people of this country have been hugely supportive of me. The British public, are unbelievably caring, supportive and generous, but the MoD and the Government of the day didn’t want to know... they kicked me out and that’s it; you’re on your Jack Jones. It was the same for everybody, though. I’m not unique in that regard.” It has taken over 70 major operations to rebuild Simon’s body and his life. The overwhelming sense from talking to the veteran, though, is one of working hard to overcome adversity. “I tell people during my speeches to set your sights as high as possible but to remember that it’s not the getting there that matters, but what you learn about yourself along the way.” Simon spoke at Barnsdale Lodge at a supper in support of the Children’s Air Ambulance, which is unique in providing a rapid paediatric emergency response service.

The Children’s air ambulance simon’s life was saved when the veteran was airlifted from danger, and the Children’s air ambulance service also provides assistance by air... The Children’s air ambulance service is the only paediatric helicopter emergency transfer service in the country, a flying intensive care unit dedicated to children. the helicopter transfers critically ill children to specialist paediatric intensive care units across the uK where they can get the treatment they desperately need. the service receives no government funding and is only able to provide its assistance thanks to its supporters. on average, two children every day require the skills of the service, but each transfer costs around £2,800. “our flight frequency is growing all the time. With every day that passes, as the service becomes more established, demand from our nHs partners is rapidly increasing,” said a spokesperson for the service. “the speed and efficiency of our unique service affords clinicians less time away from bedsides, meaning more time with children under their care. time saved that commonly means lives saved.”

n See www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk. 35

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:16 Page 36

to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

Simon Weston in support of The Children’s Air Ambulance... Barnsdale lodge recently welcomed Falklands veteran and burns survivor Simon Weston OBE to the hotel for a charity supper in aid of The Children’s Air Ambulance. The service is the only paediatric transfer service in the country, a flying ‘intensive care’ dedicated to children. A drinks reception and welcome by Lord Lieutenant Dr Laurence Howard preceded dinner and a performance by singer Katie Marshall before Simon delivered a keynote speech which recognised the parallels of his own helicopter rescue and those facilitated by the service. For more information on The Children’s Air Ambulance see www.thechildrensairambulance.co.uk.

Feature your event in our magazine. 36

Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events desk...

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 37

Purchase photographs from this event online. Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 38

Main Course: Duck breast with port & redcurrant sauce, served with a quenelle of creamy mash.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 39

Sharp as a

FOX the rutland village of north luffenham is celebrating the relaunch of its village pub. the county’s Jason allen has completed his latest project; a £250,000 renovation to turn The fox into a great venue in which to enjoy dining and real ale... Reopening The fox was a move as cunning and bright as the new North Luffenham pub restaurant’s namesake. The village is home to around 650 people and as new owner Jason Allen points out, it’s a Rutland village with a broad age range and a real sense of community. “The village deserves a good pub. A pub fulfils an important role in village life, bringing people together and ensuring they’ve somewhere to eat and drink without having to drive,” says Jason.

Words: Rob Davis.

Following a successful career in retailing, his first pub venture took place in 2002 when Jason acquired and refurbished The Kings Arms in Wing. He then moved on to an even bigger challenge when he purchased the Horse & Jockey in Manton. The Jockey, as it’s affectionately known by locals, also underwent a complete transformation and is now one of the busiest and best loved pubs in Rutland. It has won numerous awards. These include Camra Pub of The Season, 39

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:02 Page 40

Left: The pub restaurant has undergone a £250,000 refurbishment. Below: A main course option of herb-crusted salmon ﬁllet with watercress sauce.

“A new commercial kitchen and upgrading all of the utilities to the pub were just a few of the tasks that the £250,000 refurbishment of the pub restaurant necessitated...”

The results are, however, really impressive. There’s a cosy dining room for 28 diners with Lloyd-Loom style chairs, Farrow & Ball hues, seagrass carpet and reclaimed pine tables. The lounge area has timber flooring and a wood burner for 18 drinkers or diners, and there’s a dedicated drinking bar with flagstone flooring and an additional wood burner. “It’s nice that we have various areas in the pub to accommodate everyone,” says Jason.

Below: Goat’s cheese and ﬁg salad. Opposite Page: Game pâté with brioche.

The East Midlands Tourism Silver Award for Best Pub Experience and most recently, in 2014, the Visit England Bronze national award for best tourism pub. Unfortunately, The Fox has not been so successful in recent years, being brewery owned and had previously suffered a lack of investment. When Jason purchased it in April 2014, it took nearly a year to restore it to former glory. “The brewery which owned it before seemed to view it as a liability - I’m not sure if that’s strictly true, but it seemed that way. As for me, I saw it as an opportunity, one which just needed to be realised.” If restoring a period home is timeconsuming and expensive, restoring a pub is even harder work. Not withstanding taking the pub back to its raw stonework, the team have installed a new commercial kitchen and upgraded all of the utilities to the pub, just a few of the tasks that the £250,000 refurbishment necessitated.

Dining at The Fox is by way of a single menu which changes monthly and is available during both daytime and evening service from Wednesday to Sunday. There’s a choice of seven starters, ten main courses and six desserts prepared by Chef William Piggott and the team. Richard Page is the pub’s Operations Manager and brings years of experience and knowledge with a background in hospitality and catering, both operationally and as a senior college lecturer. Richard now oversees both the day to day running of The Horse & Jockey and The Fox with a commitment to exceeding customers expectations and providing a satisfying experience, rather than one characterised by formality. “We want to provide good wholesome fresh home cooked pub food, with ingredients sourced locally where possible,” says Jason. “We’re using Faulkners as our preferred veg supplier, Pheasant’s Roost at Manton, Grasmere Farm and R&P for our meat. We’re using M&J for our seafood because of their ability provide consistency and once we’re established, we hope to bake our own bread and develop a cottage garden on site.” As well as an à la carte menu, The Fox will provide a range of sandwiches at lunchtimes as well as speciality coffee and homemade Fox shortbread biscuits.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 41

Dessert: Coconut pannacotta with caramelised pineapple and pineapple sorbet.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 42

“With excellent food and a well-thought out environment, plus attentive service, The Fox really is one of this summer’s best new dining prospects in Rutland...” Our meal began with a goat’s cheese and fresh fig salad, and a game pâté with brioche and redcurrant jelly. Main course options to try included a herb-crusted salmon fillet with watercress sauce and new potatoes, and a delicious duck breast with port & redcurrant sauce, mashed potatos and vegetables. There are always two vegetarian options, but the pub also provides a very well executed version of the traditional pub staple, a steak; in this case rump, with Stilton topping and a little cage of skin-on fries, grilled tomato and a flat mushroom. The Fox’s homemade desserts were robust favourites too, with a warm bread and butter pudding swimming in lots of creamy custard, and a warm chocolate brownie dish served with ice cream. Cheesecake, apple pie and an assiette of local cheese with chutney and biscuits were three other options. To accompany, there’s a choice of 42

six red wines, six white wines, a rosé all available by the bottle or glass and a couple of sparkling options, with all but the fizz available for under £17 a bottle. In addition to each of the main area’s downstairs, Jason and the team have also created a small function room and games room upstairs, which they’ve termed The Den. This is an area that locals can use for clubs, meetings, or private functions. There’s also a patio garden outdoors and plenty of parking. If you’d like to see the results of The Fox’s reinvention for yourself, we’d suggest you book in quickly. We’ve a strong suspicion the place will become extremely popular extremely soon. With excellent food and a well-thought out environment, plus attentive service, The Fox really is one of this summer’s best new dining prospects in Rutland.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 43

Sample Dishes startErs game Pâté

£5.75

Home made game pâté with lemon and port glaze, redcurrant jelly and brioche. Fishcake

£5.50

Smoked haddock and leek fishcake with mixed leaves and citrus mayonnaise. salmon & Prawns

£5.95

Salad of smoked salmon and prawns with brown bread and butter.

main CoursEs duck

£13.95

Baked duck breast with port & redcurrant sauce, mashed potatoes and vegetable medley. salmon Fillet

£12.95

Fish & Chips

£10.95

Herb crusted fillet of salmon with a watercress sauce, new potatoes and vegetable medley. Beer-battered fish, chunky chips and mushy peas, tartare sauce and lemon wedge. rump steak

£13.50

Rump steak with Stilton topping, skin-on fries and grilled tomato & mushroom.

dEssErts Bread & Butter Pudding

£5.25

Cheesecake

£5.50

Home baked bread and butter pudding with custard.

Tia Maria cheesecake with fresh cream. Cheese option

£5.75

Selection of three local British cheeses, with crackers and chutney.

Find out more: The fox, Pinfold lane, north luffenham le15 8le Tel: 01780 720991 www.thefoxrutland.co.uk 43

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 44

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 45

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 46

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR HIGH QUALITY PUB RESTAURANT DINING Main Street, Great Bowden LE16 7HB For table reservations call 01858 463571 www.redlion-greatbowden.co.uk

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 47

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 48

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 49

TheWineCellar

deliciously different wines this month as the exceptionally knowledgeable harish khanderia of Oakham Wines presents his recommendations for wines that are a break from the norm. the little-known rasteau appellation and Picpoul, a white Châteauneuf, a red sancerre and an award-winning montagne... each of these wines are in a class of their own!

Our Gift Subscriptions last a whole year

Beaurenard Rasteau Rhone, france £call

Picpoul de Pinet luanguedoc, france £9.99

Château Montaiguillon, Montagne st-emilion £19.95

Châteauneufdu-Pape Blanc Rhone £29.99

sancerre Rouge, loire france £22.50

A hearty wine offering red fruits, spice and earthy notes on the nose, then a spicy, full-bodied palate. This blend of Greanache and Syrah comes from the Coulon family at Domaine de Beaurenard, who have combined ambition and modesty to great effect over seven generations.

Elegant aromas of citrus, pear and white flowers, and a crisp, mineral palate ideally suited to seafood. This winery was founded in 1932, and specialises in the Côtes de Thongue area. The vines are planted sites a few kilometres from the Etang de Thau and its famous oyster beds.

A gold award winner in the International Wine Challenge - this is wine with expressive nose of roasted plums, dried herbs and fresh earthy notes leads to a full, plush palate. From the Amart family’s 28 hectares, situated between Saint-Emilion and Pomerol.

White Châteauneuf is unusual, but this is definitely worth pursuing. Gently aromatic, with notes of pears, apricots, hawthorn and fennel, then round and textured in the mouth, with a seam of minerality providing focus. The Coulon family have run their estate for seven generations.

A red sancerre to follow a white Châteauneufdu-Pape! Aromas of cherry, strawberry, blackberry and some vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied and silky on the palate, displaying red berry fruit mixed with savoury notes. Lovely Red wine from Lucien Crochet’s 31 hectares.

every single month in 2014!

Each of our wines have been recommended by Harish Khanderia of Oakham Wines - visit Harish on High Street, Oakham LE15 6AH. Call 01572 757124 or visit www.oakhamwines.co.uk. 49

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 50

to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

The Fox Reopens

North Luffenhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Community Pub north luffenham has a new pub courtesy of Jason Allen with the landlord, who already owns Mantonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horse & Jockey, refurbishing the village pub over the course of a year. The pub reopened in early March with a VIP night for press before launching to villagers on Friday 6th March. This month in Rutland Pride, we profile the new pub restaurant, see page 38.

Feature your event in our magazine. 50

Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events desk...

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 51

Purchase photographs from this event online. Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 52

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 53

- HomEs -

Commune with

NATURE For those who want to blend modern living and a high speciďŹ cation home with the beauty of a traditional-looking property, Hatton Lodge is perfect. Best of all, it affords its current owners the opportunity to commune with nature and enjoy a panorama of attractive countryside... Words: Rob Davis. 53

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 54

- HomEs -

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 55

Modern life makes the world a great deal smaller. Little did we know that when we called Robin Johnson for an appointment to find out more about this month’s featured property, he’d pick up his phone from deep in the Malaysian jungle, with its 36°c heat and 80% humidity. A week later, Robin returned to a somewhat chillier Rutland and I remarked on how easy technology makes it to communicate... and to do so many other things. The Uppinghamschool educated business coach has always been a fan of technology, and has incorporated as much into his Bulwick home as possible. “The new house has been constructed on the grounds of two previous cottages on the Bulwick Estate,” says Robin, of the house which he has just put on the market with estate agency Moores of Oakham. “We were living in London, running our business from the capital, but with clients in the north, south, east and west of the country it was necessary to find a place to

Above/Main: The whole property features underfloor heating, whilst the Poggenpohl kitchen has satin macassar wood, ivory Corian surfaces plus top spec appliances from Siemens, Küpperbusch & Gaggenau.

“The underlying structure is hidden but it’s a timber-framed building with recycled materials and locally sourced stone...” live that’s centrally located, which would also offer a really good standard of living.” Working in conjunction with McDonald Architect’s Dan Kantorowich, Robin and his partner designed a new property which would discreetly incorporate as much technology as possible to ensure not only a great place to live but also one which would demonstrate great environmental sensitivity too. “The underlying structure is hidden but it’s a timber-framed building with recycled materials and locally sourced stone,” he says. The property has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and is arranged over two floors, set in just under an acre of grounds. Where once there were two cottages dating back to 1870, there now stands a contemporary stone property designed and built within one year, 2007, boasting all the mod cons. 55

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 56

- HomEs -

Corby builder AF Dickson helped to create the property, with a large drawing room featuring a multi-fuel stove, wood flooring, and one of six sets of double doors opening out onto the property’s south facing aspect. The kitchen features Poggenpohl cabinetry with ivory Corian surfaces, and integrated appliances from names like Küpperbusch, Siemens and Gaggenau... there’s a separate utility room for greater practicality, too. Also on the ground floor is a study, cloakroom and access to the house’s double garage with its electrically operated doors. On the first floor, a principal bedroom affords its owners a Juliet balcony, generous suite of dressing rooms plus an en suite. A guest suite provides another en suite and there are two more bedrooms plus a family bathroom. “The plot was a great find because we especially love nature,” says Robin. “The location of the house allowed us to take advantage of 360° views of the countryside. Unbelievably though, Corby station is approximately 15 minutes away by Above: The property’s first floor has a large master suite with Juliet balcony and also houses Robin’s office.

“On the first floor, a principal bedroom affords its owners a Juliet balcony and a generous sized dressing room...” car and so good, that our transport links are some of the best in the country.” “In that sense it’s as practical for commuting as it is a great place to live. We’re keen gardeners and have landscaped the grounds in a really traditional style. It’s excellent for birdwatching, we’ve spotted osprey carrying fish, red kites almost daily and even the occasional common crane, one of Europe’s largest birds, with a wingspan of up to 2.2 metres, now on the endangered species list.” Clients from London, visiting the house for meetings, are often envious of the space its occupants are afforded and the wealth of nature in the grounds. The discreet employment of technology is designed to be kind to nature too, with two air-source heat pumps providing hot water and underfloor heating both upstairs and downstairs.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 57

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 58

- HomEs -

The property also harvests its rainwater to use for ‘grey’ purposes - loo-flushing and watering the garden - and there’s integrated home audio, solar-magnifying glass, and remote-controlled automated heating and lighting to ensure maximum environmental sensitivity. “We wanted to incorporate all of the technology that we enjoyed in our London home but combine that with a really super location. We enjoy spending a great deal of time in the garden and have a really productive garden which yields several varieties of apples, pears, plums, greengages and a medlar, plus my own favourite,

Above: Set in just under an acre of grounds, the property is a haven for wildlife.

raspberries; we’ve a good crop of those each year, and the rest of the garden has herbaceous borders which look good all year round.” With mature planting and many trees on the site of the former pony paddock just adjacent to the old stable building, the house affords its owners a really practical family home that costs little to run and provides so much pleasure. “We found such a pretty spot,” says Robin “It’s not uncommon to see a string of classic and vintage cars pass by on their way to Rutland Water. Occasional groups of a hundred cyclists go by as we are located on one of Sustrans’ picturesque cycle routes.” “We’re looking to begin a new project so we’ve put the property on the market but we’re really looking for custodians that will love the house as much as we have. We’ll make this summer a really good one as it’ll be the last we get to enjoy here!”

Hatton Lodge, Bulwick near uppingham Location: Uppingham 14 miles, Corby 6.2 miles, P’Borough 19.6 miles. Style: Eco-house created in stone in the grounds of old farm cottages. Receptions: Three, currently arranged as drawing room, family room and living kitchen. Beds: Four; principal with dressing rooms and en suite plus Juliet balcony. Other Features: Study, underfloor heating and air source heat pump. Guide Price: £799,995

Find out more: Estate Agency: Moore’s Country & Equestrian, Orange Street, Uppingham Rutland LE15 9SQ. Tel: 01572 821935. Web: www.mooresestateagents.com.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 59

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 60

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 61

- FinE art -

Spencer Coleman Fine Art Gallery Hosts an exclusive solo exhibition featuring the work of Geoffrey Humphries - Saturday 16th May Those who love fine art won't want to miss this exciting opportunity to view this stunning artwork and meet one of Europe’s ﬁnest ﬁgurative artists right on their doorstep. Trained at the Chelsea School of Art, Geoffrey established his worldwide reputation after gaining the highest honour in his degree course at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Italy. Today, he works from his famous studio on the island of Giudecca in Venice. It is very rare for a

provincial gallery to enjoy an exhibition of this calibre (his ﬁrst on British soil for over 20 years) and a real coup for Stamford and the surrounding counties. “This exhibition is testament to the sublime talent of an artist whose chosen themes capture the little things which are essential to the power, grace and mystique of the sitter,” says Spencer Coleman. n The exhibition takes place from 16th-31st May at Stamford’s George Hotel Mews gallery. Call 01780 480800 for details.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:17 Page 62

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 63

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 64

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 65

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 66

An Evolution in

HOME

IMPROVEMENTS Caythorpeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Window Company this month celebrates its 20 year anniversary providing high quality timber and uPVC doors and windows to ensure your home is secure, warm, and energy efficient no matter what the time of year... Words: Rob Davis.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 67

- HomEs -

Caythorpe’s New Window Company is this month celebrating 20 years providing customers with the highest quality doors and windows. “We’ve two main product lines,” says Darren Elmes, who runs the business with wife Tracey. “Our engineered timber windows and doors are guaranteed for up to 30 years, with a multitude of styles to choose from, a choice of ironmongery, and bespoke paint finishes available in any RAL colour or matched to Farrow & Ball shades if required.” “Then, we have our Evolution range of timber alternative windows and doors, which are almost indistinguishable from their timber counterparts, guaranteed for 10 years and available in a range of styles and colours.” The company frequently works on period homes or rural properties, often receiving commissions for the replacement of all windows and doors in a family home. “We have always had a strict no pressure selling approach,” says Mike, a member of the sales team. “Usually customers come into our showroom - a converted barn near

Grantham - to see our product ranges, and discuss their requirements over a coffee.” “Sometimes they revisit three or four times before making their final decision. We carry out a site survey, where we take specific measurements and check that building regulations are complied with, as all our products are manufactured on a completely bespoke basis.” “Customer satisfaction is incredibly important to us - we achieve a large proportion of our business from clients recommending us.” Established in 1995, the business has moved premises twice due to expansion, settling in their current location in 2011. With a team of seven members of staff, and hundreds of satisfied customers, it’s easy to see why increasing numbers of home owners are trusting the New Window Company to install their new windows and doors. “Modern windows are designed to make your home more secure and more energy efficient, enhancing the appearance of your property as well,” says Darren. “Visit our showrooms and see for yourself !”

find Out More: The New Window Company is based at The Old Barn, Elms Farm, Frieston Heath, Grantham NG32 3HD. Call 01400 272538 or see www.newwindow.co.uk.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 68

THE LARGEST RANGE OF RECLINERS IN THE AREA Riser Recliners

from only Three Piece Suites

Care Recliners

Fireside Chairs

ÂŁ349 VAT Exempt*

PETERBOROUGH RECLINER CENTRE LTD www.peterboroughreclinercentre.co.uk T: 01733 325566

1B Mancetter Square, Lincoln Rd, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6BX Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Sun 11am-4pm

FREE DELIVERY WITHIN 25 MILES

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 69

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 70

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 71

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 72

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 73

Houses and Parliament Finding your dream home can be difficult in a stable market, let alone when there is political uncertainty on the horizon and a lack of confidence affecting market sentiment. Local property expert Kate Vincent discusses some of the challenges that buyers are facing in 2015 so far. a year of potential change In line with previous years, the May 7th General Election has had a notable affect on the UK housing market in the early months of the year as many buyers and sellers alike have seen this period of uncertainty as a reason to hold back their plans to move home. In Rutland and the surrounding area, the beginning of the year saw a significant shortage of mid to top range properties entering the market and agents reported a sluggish start to the year. Better weather has prompted a pickup in activity and there has been a noticeable surge of homes in the £500,000 £600,000 price band being marketed. At the top end of the market, stock shortage continues to play a role. Interestingly, the number of prime £1m+ homes being sold discretely away from the public eye has reportedly grown and Garrington has received an unprecedented number of calls from homeowners who are willing to sell quietly if the right buyer is introduced. It appears that homeowners are in two minds over whether to enter the housing market with the current uncertainty, but some are willing to move if the circumstances and price are right. Once the new Government is elected and policies confirmed, we could well see a three month flourish in buying and selling activity which is noted as a trend seen in previous election years. Whichever party wins, their housing policies, if

Kate Vincent

implemented, will certainly have significant implications for both buyers and sellers alike.

scheme’s future is uncertain, it could be continued, adapted, or scrapped altogether.

Tax on property

Finally, changes are already underway to bring Capital Gains Tax liabilities for overseas owners in line with UK nationals. Currently only UK residents are subject to CGT on gains made on residential investment properties. If new plans are introduced, overseas owners of UK properties would become liable for CGT from April 2015. Whilst this tax will mean increased costs for overseas buyers disposing of property in the future, there has been little evidence that this is a concern for investors and equally little evidence that they are looking to sell up.

Chief amongst the policies which could make the greatest impact is ‘The Mansion Tax’. Similar to the LibDem proposal first outlined in 2010, under a Labour government we would see a tax on properties over £2,000,000 in bands mirroring a four-tiered system applied to annual tax. As yet, these band rates are unknown but Ed Balls estimated that those owning property in the £2-3 million band will pay an extra £250 a month. Those owning properties over £3 million however will pay substantially more. Admittedly, this will affect a limited number in our region but owners and buyers in this price-bracket will need to factor it in to their decisions as the election approaches. help to Buy At the other end of the spectrum, we have the Conservatives’ promise to further develop their Help to Buy scheme, assisting first time buyers by reducing deposits on properties up to £600,000 to 5%, a significant incentive for more first time buyers beyond the 70,000 helped so far. New build sales have also increased as a result of the scheme. Add to this Mr Cameron’s pledge to build 100,000 new homes on brown-field sites for those under 40 and the future looks brighter for many. Should the election go the other way, the

Whilst we can’t predict the election result, it is likely that the property market in Rutland and the surrounding area will share in the expected post-election transaction boom. Garrington work on behalf of clients who want to buy, rent or invest in property throughout the UK. They also provide a negotiation only and overseeing of sales service. For further information or to arrange a no obligation meeting contact Kate Vincent at Garrington’s Stamford office on 01780 408 377 or email info@garrington.co.uk www.garringtoneastmidlands.co.uk

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 74

Main: Prestigious Textiles Eden collection features jacquards with graceful satin motifs, twill bands and embroidered foliage trails with some striĂŠ geometrics.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 75

- HomEs -

A Primary

COLOUR a warm shade with a wealth of hues, perfect for both formal and informal reception rooms. the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interior designers and soft furnishings retailers can present you with a wealth of ranges to allow any room in your home to take advantage of bespoke furnishings in both contemporary and traditional styles...

Words: Rob Davis. 75

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 76

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 77

- HomEs -

a red hot look for summer is easily achievable with the wealth of shades that red can yield, providing a bold statement colour or warming up your room with an easy to live with tone, lifting neutral schemes. Our enduring advice is to seek out the expertise of one of the county’s interior design specialists, who can help to provide bespoke soft furnishings, cushions and window treatments to make the most of the wide range of fabrics available to you. Soak up as many ideas from interiors magazines, restaurants you’ve visited and hotels you’ve stayed in, and from room sets in paint and wallpaper manufacturers’ or furnishings retailers’ brochures and catalogues. Then, take them to an local independent specialist and enlist their help in creating bespoke chairs, sofas, curtain and pelmets to suit the size of your room and the architecture of your home. They’ll also be able to advise of collections within their preferred brands.

“Our enduring advice is to seek out the expertise of one of the county’s interior design specialists, who can create bespoke chairs, cushions and window treatments...” Summer 2015 has seen the release of new collections from Manuel Canovas with brighter pinky-reds, with lots of bright, tactile fabrics ideal for more contemporary rooms. The firm’s Grasse and Esterel collections feature Indian-inspired swirls. The firm’s sister brand Colefax & Fowler is more muted, with linen Baptista and Merrick fabrics plus its Levan fabrics which features ticking stripes. Geometric patterns feature heavily in three new collections from Prestigious Textiles, like Secret Garden with its multi-coloured ferns & floral trails; Rocco, which is a bolder, brighter range, and Eden, featured on our opening spread with its smart twill bands, satin motifs and jacquards. Look at British brand Voyage, too. Its Glendale takes its inspiration from its country of origin, Scotland, with a range of rich, warm

Top: Prestigious Textiles Secret Garden collection. Curtains in Flora Tropical, sofa in Heligan Tropical. Above: Osborne & Little’s Jaipur. Left: Colefax & Fowler’s Martinex in red (back) Padova in orange and Fabien in red (front). Opposite Page: Curtains in Baptiste linen, sofa in Merrick, red.

1 - Rutland Pride JUNE 155_Layout 2 31/03/2015 16:20 Page 78

- HOMES -

russets, whilst its Camilla range of statement chairs feature bold ﬂoral designs in a whole range of reds and pinks. You can use shades of red either sparingly, as an accent colour to white schemes to create a summery cottage look or more extensively to create a warm primary scheme, or even as a bright statement colour in modern rooms. Rusty red shades will pare down the boldness of the colour and will pair well with cream and gold colours. Using red in kitchens to create accents will lift a country kitchen, whilst for contemporary kitchens, bright high gloss cabinets are on trend, though these may be a little too bold for some. It’s telling that Farrow & Ball have 17 shades of red and Little Greene 23 different hues. From softer reds creating a cosy, relaxed feminine feel to bolder reds which can be intense and dramatic, to neutral schemes that take advantage of red purely as an accent colour. The county’s interior designers can help you to achieve the perfect look using this warm, versatile colour.

“It’s telling that paint manufacturer Farrow & Ball has 17 shades of red and Little Greene 23 different hues within its collection...” Above: Voyage Maison’s Camilla in three ﬂoral colourways. Right: Manuel Canovas cushions in Bandol pivione, Esterel in cerise, Marmande in pivione. Far Right: JAB’s Flying to Montreux.

Rutland Suppliers: Elizabeth Stanhope: Mill St, Oakham, Leicestershire LE15 6EA, 01572 722345, www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk. Furleys: High St, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6AH, 01572 755539, www.furleys.co.uk. J&L Ball: North St, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1EH, 01780 481416, www.jandlball.co.uk. Sarah Harding Interiors: Market St, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QH, 01572 823389, www.sarahharding interiors.co.uk.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 79

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 80

FINE ART for Sale S

■ Kitchen things by Crin Gale, Oil on canvas 16 x 12, Signed. Price £675 ■ Strawberries by Crin Gale, Oil on canvas 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 Signed & dated 1994 Price £600

For more information or to arrange a viewing:

Call John Chatterton of Spalding on 01775 840648 80

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 81

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 82

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 83

Home, Garden, Gifts, Vintage and Retro Finds at Elizabeth & Stevens Elizabeth and Stevens has a unique, stylish and unusual collection of ideas for your home & garden. Our showroom is an emporium of the unexpected. We would love to see you!

The Showrooms, Great North Road, Markham Moor Retford DN22 0QU Telephone: 01636 822000

www.elizabethandstevens.com

Open from Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, with free parking.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 84

Everything you need to ensure your garden blooms this summer...

Plants • Hanging Baskets • Pots & Stoneware Barbecues & Garden Furniture • Water Features

Gates Nurseries

& Garden Centre Somerby Road, Cold Overton, LE15 7QB 01664 454309 | www.gatesnurseries.co.uk

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 85

- gardEning -

Rediscovering

Barnsdale

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a keen gardener or you just appreciate beauty, Barnsdale gardens will allow you to enjoy no fewer than 39 gardens and while away a sunny afternoon, appreciating the work of nick Hamilton, son of tV gardener geoff... Words: Rob Davis.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 86

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 87

- gardEns -

Whether you’re a keen gardener with lots of technical understanding, or one with slightly more modest abilities, an afternoon exploring the county’s best gardens will yield inspiration for your own plot. It’s an incredible coup that Rutland has one of the most famous garden in the UK, and yet, so many Rutlanders overlook the place because it’s right on our doorstep, or neglect to revisit the eight acre attraction in the mistaken belief that little will have changed since they last visited. “We bring in around 30,000 visitors each year but would really love to attract more local visitors,” says Nick Hamilton. The gardens were, of course, created by his father Geoff, of BBC Gardeners’ World fame. Five acres of the site, formerly owned by the Exton Estate, were created in 1983 when gardening expert Geoff, who had been broadcasting since 1979, wanted to design and build a site upon which he could create individual plots to explore different styles of gardening, creating individual show gardens. The site, a former Victorian farm, was extended in 1989, opening to the public for the first time with an honesty box that the public could drop their entrance donation into. In 1997 the place opened formally, and has continued to evolve ever since. “My father was determined that we wouldn’t live our lives obsessed with money. The best advice he ever gave us was to pursue a career that we really enjoyed.” “He remarked - half-jokingly - that he wasn’t going to leave us anything, and though it was true financially he did, in 1996, leave us the gardens as his legacy, so we could continue to develop and care for them.” “We are still funded by visitors, a tourist attraction that’s hard work but rewarding to look after. We work all year round, completing larger projects in the winter months and maintaining the garden in the summer months as visitors come to see us. If our summer trade isn’t good, winter is hard.” The business currently employs 12 full time members of staff, with four senior gardeners and two apprentices alone.

‘People come to visit us with all sorts of levels of interest, from people who aren’t keen gardeners but who still appreciate the serenity and beauty of the place, to those who really are looking for ideas for their own gardens.” Nick believes that everyone who visits the garden will go away with at least one idea that they can employ in their own garden. Described as a gardener’s theme park, the site consists of 39 different gardens from more formal designs like the Knot garden with its formal pond and hard landscaping, to the more relaxed appearance of the Artisan’s Cottage Garden and the Stream and Bog Garden. A visit every few years is highly recommended given the garden’s tendency to gently evolve with each passing season. The most recent additions at Barnsdale were the creation of Garden Studio in 2012 and the Children’s Garden a year later. The Studio was created by Adam Frost and is now Barnsdale's education room, whilst The Children’s Garden was the result of a garden design competition open to nine and 10 year olds, the winner of which enjoyed seeing her garden created by the team. Featuring lots of wildlife, a pond and planting designed to attract the most amount of insects and bird life as possible, The Children’s Garden is an example of how sustainability and environmental sensitivity are integral to the team’s approach to gardening. “We’ve been organic here for three decades and we’re peat-free,” says Nick. “There’s no need to destroy peat bogs when alternative compost is so renewable.” With so many different gardens on the site it’s unsurprising that there’s no single garden which proves more popular than the others. However, Nick has noticed that the allotments and vegetable gardens have generated much more interest in recent months with the TV programme The Great British Allotment Challenge and as the public demonstrate a much greater awareness of where their food comes from. The Barnsdale Gardens allotment provides an abundant supply of vegetables and salads for the family and the garden’s staff, as well as supplying the site’s tea room. “We don’t grow for show,” says Nick.

“We bring in around 30,000 visitors each year but would really love to attract more local visitors!” says Nick Hamilton... Above: A bust of Geoff Hamilton, who died in 1996. Son Nick continues his legacy. Left: The apple arch and courtyard and knot gardens.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 88

- gardEns -

May at the garden will see an abundance of blossoms and a wide variety of fruit trees. Walking through the apple arch, varieties of apples and pears from Discovery and Spartan to Conference, Comice and Williams can all be seen. Other highlights this month include alpine features around the garden coming into flower with Pulsatilla, Helianthemum and Antennaria all in abundance. A little later in the summer, Barnsdale will also demonstrate why its rose population is so well-regarded, with its eponymous Geoff Hamilton and Gertrude Jekyll varieties and the crimson flowers of the cottage garden creating a spectacular display. Throughout the summer, both Nick and head gardener Jon Brocklebank give talks to groups visiting the garden, and all through the year there’s a packed programme of courses and events covering everything from creating art inspired by the garden to growing your own vegetables - the subject of this month’s course. With the forecast for a long hot summer, and the inevitability of wondering how to 88

“With the forecast of a long hot summer, and the inevitability of wondering how to dispatch a few hours, Barnsdale Gardens is a definite recommendation...” dispatch a few hours without having to travel far, Barnsdale Gardens is a definite recommendation, even if you’ve visited a few years previously. Seeing how the garden has evolved is a real treat, and as Nick acknowledges, even throughout May the garden changes so dramatically that it’s a pleasure to behold. “There’s a danger that as a garden we might be seen as a place that only those with lots of knowledge on the subject should visit,” says Nick. “But we try to dispel that myth. Even if you’re not a keen gardener, we believe that the surroundings and the beauty of the place have a much broader appeal. It really is a spectacular place to work in the summer, and a place that both gardeners and non-gardeners alike can enjoy a great deal.”

Top Left: A Cottage Garden. Top Right: The Town Paradise Garden. Right: Barnsdale’s Japanese Garden with Cherry Blossom.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 89

WhaT’s On aT BaRnsdale gaRdens This MOnTh...

n spring Birdwatch: 26th april, 12pm-4pm meet experts from the rutland osprey Project and take a special twitcher’s tour of the gardens this spring. You can chat with our clever makers of bird boxes and bug hotels or make a simple bird feeder yourself to take home. Barnsdale provides a home for a huge variety of garden birds, with guest appearances by the residents of nearby rutland Water, so there’ll be plenty to see, and even the youngest visitor will be able to get a great view on the woodland webcam. n spring vegetable Weekend: 16th–17th May, 11am–4pm if you love growing your own food then Barnsdale is the place to be this weekend. We'll be opening up all the productive areas that are normally off-limits to visitors and our expert growers will be available to advise you on your own veggie production and chat about their favourite subject! n Watercolour Painting: 'Paradise garden' 21st May, 10.30am-4pm Capture a glimpse into one of the prettiest gardens at Barnsdale, with minimum drawing and lots of drippy paint; sandra Peck’s special painting day combines a simple step-by-step demonstration with a delicious buffet lunch, and everyone is welcome, from the more experienced artist to the absolute beginner. Price £75; materials pack available for £5.

Visiting Barnsdale Gardens: Barnsdale Gardens is located on The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8AH. Call 01572 813 200 or see www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk, open 9am-5pm, £7.50/adults, £6.50/conc.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 90

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:18 Page 91

Visit Rutland Gardens with

THE NATIONAL

Gardens Scheme gardeners all over our county are hosting open days to raise money for charity, share experience with others, and let the locals enjoy the tranquility of their gardens... Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

since its foundation, the National Gardens Scheme has donated over £42.5 million to nominated beneficiaries, of which nearly £23 million has been donated within the last ten years. Their continuing support means that for most of their beneficiaries, they are the largest cumulative donors in these charities’ histories. We wanted to discover how they managed such an enormous achievement so we found the gardens in Rutland that have contributed to the impact NGS has had on charities all over Britain and how they helped out. What garden lovers all over the county have done is open their garden up to the public with a small admission fee. This allows members of the public to enjoy the space created by those with green fingers, with a chance of a cup of tea and a slice of cake, too. It’s bringing communities all over Rutland together, making the gardening world grow and giving back so much to people who really need help. Macmillan, Marie Curie and Hospice UK are just three of the beneficiaries supported by NGS along with several others. So, who are the gardening gurus in our county opening up their green space? We found several opening this month for everyone to visit…

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 92

Manton Gardens Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8SR There are five gardens in the small village on the south shore of Rutland Water. Manton Grange, which is 2½-acre garden with interesting trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders. It includes a rose garden, water features, and a lime tree walk and clematis pergola. Shapinsay, is a 2/3 acre garden with mature trees framing views over the Chater Valley, including a woodland walk, perennial borders, island shrub borders and a stream linking numerous ponds constructed in November 2011 by a local RHS gold medal garden designer. 22 Lyndon Rd, is a beautiful combination of cottage garden and unusual plants in overflowing borders, hanging baskets and decorative pots. 3 St Mary’s Road, is a tiny garden where the use of every available space is maximised to create a series of areas within which to sit 92

and enjoy beds, and numerous pots, packed with plants. Manton Lodge Farm is a stone country house (not open) nestled into hillside, with wonderful views from the steeply sloping gardens. Paths lead through borders of shrubs, roses and perennials. n Admission is £5 and children enter for free. The open day is Sunday 17th May.

The Old Vicarage Church Road, Burley, Nr Oakham, LE15 7SU This is a three-acre country garden, looking out over the Vale of Catmose in a westerly direction and over park and to Burley House in the east. By the mid 1990s the garden was mainly laid to grass and the most remarkable features were some fine, old trees and a fabulous display of snowdrops in the winter. In the last fifteen years, the garden has been redesigned to introduce some structure and

the ground landscaped to give a series of terraces. Hedges of yew, beech, hornbeam and box have added definition and divided the whole into parts united by common themes such as border colour or type of plant. There is now a rose garden, home to a mixture of traditional old roses and David Austin’s English roses with geraniums, peonies and clematis and another of white roses planted with Siberian irises, aconitum and geraniums. A terrace that links the two rose gardens has white standard wisteria trees and purple irises behind lavender edging. Completing this corner of the garden is a rill, which runs out from a circular pond though an avenue of purple standard wisteria and symmetrical beds. Paths lead from the rill, through the white rose garden on to a lawn surrounded by borders in various colour combinations. Beyond the lawn is the ornamental kitchen garden with high brick walls; here there is a wide variety of fruit, together with herbs, and cutting beds for flowers.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:06 Page 93

Four pairs of vegetable beds, edged with step-over apples and alpine strawberries are managed in crop rotation. The vine-house provides shelter for grape vines, peaches and nectarines and tomatoes and peppers in season. A path leads from the walled garden, behind hornbeam cloisters, into an orchard of plums, gages, cherries and apricots planted in a wild flower meadow and then on into an old apple orchard.

Burrough Gardens Burrough on the Hill, Nr Melton Mowbray, Rutland, LE14 2QZ If you’re looking for something a little further away, Burrough Gardens provides the opportunity to enjoy two large gardens, each with magnificent rolling views over High Leicestershire.

“The vine house provides shelter for grape vines, peaches and nectarines.”

Across the paddock, the ground falls away towards the wild pond and a wild area planted with acers and native wild flowers, and returns to the house though a graveled walk of pollarded lime trees, hardy geraniums and Japanese anemones. n Admission is £4, the open day is on Sunday 24th May.

Burrough House, in the middle of the village, has an extensive garden situated around a former stone farmhouse with views over the surrounding countryside.

The current owners are adding to the former established garden to create a series of vistas and spaces and maximise the views in and out of the garden with the use of clipped hedges and avenues.

Burrough Hall, outside the village between Somerby and Burrough, was built in 1867 as a classic Leicestershire hunting lodge. The garden, framed by mature trees and shrubs, was extensively redesigned by garden designer George Carter in 2007. This family garden, which continues to develop for the enjoyment of all generations, consists of extensive lawns, mixed borders, a vegetable garden and woodland walks. There will be a small collection of vintage and classic cars on display at Burrough Hall and cups of tea available, too. n Admission is £5 per person, children enter free, most of the garden has wheelchair access with the grassy areas being flat and level. The open day is on Sunday 31st May.

Opposite: The Old Vicarage at Burley on The Hill.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 94

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 95

Barleythorpe

Yellow Book 2015

Barleythorpe, Nr Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7EQ

The perfect companion for your garden visiting needs.

visit three beautiful gardens in this Rutland village. Dairy Cottage is a cottage style garden at rear with interesting and unusual shrubs and spring bulbs. There’s a paved and walled garden to front with a pond and lime hedge. Also, you’ll discover an orchard with spring bulbs and unusual shrubs and trees.

The so-called ‘bible’ of garden visiting and the key to discovering the secret gardens of England and Wales, The Yellow Book 2015 is your essential guide to the thousands of gardens that open for the NGS.

The Lodge with mixed flowers within a walled garden, ½ lawn and part walled kitchen garden with small stretch of gravel path between lawned area and vegetable garden. By following the path alongside Dairy Cottage, turn left into Barleythorpe House, 8 Manor Lane - offering both water and woodland. n Admission is £5 with free child entry and the open day is on Sunday 3rd May from 2.00pm till 5.00pm.

With a new look for 2015 and full colour throughout, finding a garden to visit near you has never been easier. Look out for water gardens, sensory gardens, gardens offering accommodation and learn how to create your own patch. Remember, when you buy a Yellow Book, you are helping The National Gardens Scheme raise funds for the nursing, caring and gardening charities. The cost of the Yellow Book is £11.99 and can be bought from the website and good local gardening centres.

Top Right: Get out and get growing for charity yourself by inviting family and friends round to see your garden. Top left: Make sure to visit the Old Vicarage in Burley to experience their NGS garden.

Find Out More: To find NGS gardens near you or to open up your garden this summer, visit www.ngs.org.uk. Also, look out for the Yellow Book 2015, the so-called ‘bible’ of garden visiting. 95

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 96

- naturE -

Catching a sight of

Wise Owls

this month our nature writer Richard Owens describes one of his favourite creatures. Proliferating easily around our open farmland, the Barn Owl is a silent assassin which is as wonderful as it is deadly to small mammals...

spring has hopefully well and truly arrived now, however in the world of journalism we write several weeks in advance. As I write this month’s feature though, it’s noticeable that the evenings - and in particular the mornings - are getting lighter. Many of us make an early start driving to work and I’m no exception, hitting the road just after 6am, on my daily commute along the county’s backroads. A recent experience has compelled me to write about a species very special to the Midlands and in particular our county. A creature of beauty that graces us with its presence, usually at dawn or dusk, swooped out of roadside ditches and wowing us with its mere presence, to the point where I’m sure many of us have stopped to observe and enjoy.

It’s long been accepted that our county has the highest density of Barn Owls of any county in the UK. In fact it has been suggested that the overall population has doubled since the 1980s.

countryside that you don’t have to look too hard to notice a nesting box, usually high up on a telegraph pole, with many landowners doing their bit to help this iconic farmland bird.

The reason the Barn Owl is doing so well is probably due to the vast open farmland habitat within which it usually lives, where there is an abundance of its favoured diet of small mammals living within the long grass, particularly along roadside verges and ditches, although sadly this is one of the main causes of Barn Owl fatalities in the county.

Some sites have also created purpose built Barn Owl towers made from brick or stone, I’ve even built one myself – it’s pictured below. One particularly impressive structure has been built by the local woodland trust incorporates not just a nest site for Barn Owls but other species too.

“Owls use their unique soft, serrated feathers to break up any turbulent noise, as they swoop down on their prey...”

I am of course talking about the elegant Barn Owl - Tyto Alba - which simply translates as ‘White Owl,’ and a few days ago I counted no fewer than 12 individuals over a 10 mile stretch of my journey. 96

They are able to hover silently using their unique soft, serrated feathers that break up any turbulent noise and using the heart shaped recessed disc on their faces to absorb the sound of their prey before swooping in for the kill like a silent assassin.

Apologies for the drama, but we know, from dissecting pellets, that they will also prey on small birds and amphibians. It’s also noticeable as you drive around the

The success of these nest sites is usually monitored by licensed bird ringers who will not only count the number of owlets but also give them a unique ring number and identity for the future. Barn Owls are a schedule one protected species. More information can be found by visiting the website of the Barn Owl Trust.

Richard has spent his career promoting bio diversity within the world of turf and is a former UK's Golf Course Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 97

Main: Barn Owl, Tyto alba, which simply translates as ‘ White Owl.’

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 98

- tHE roCKingHam CastLE HorsE triaLs -

Jumping

FOR JOY

at the Rockingham International Horse Trials From zara Phillips to William Fox-Pitt, oliver townend and sir mark todd, the best riders in the eventing world can be seen this month at the Rockingham international horse Trials, just over the border in northamptonshire. Hilary manners previews the event, which takes place from 22nd – 24th May at the 11th century home of the saunders-Watson family. World class equestrian talent, in a stunning setting; it goes without saying that the eventing will be top notch at this year’s Rockingham International. Many of the biggest names in the sport will be galloping out of the cross country start box as top riders from around the world fight for the spoils, the most notable of which is a hand made £7,500 watch donated by the Official Timekeeper, Robert Loomes & Co from Stamford. Last year Ireland’s Austin O’Connor was the proud recipient, having finished closest to the optimum time allowed in an Open/Advanced Intermediate section. The best British riders are expected in 2015; Zara Phillips, William Fox-Pitt, Oliver Townend, Pippa Funnell, Piggy French and Nicola Wilson were all spotted last year. New Zealand CCI4* and medal winners Caroline Powell, Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd were also among the stars, Mark winning the Advanced Intermediate class ahead of Australia’s multi-medal and CCI4* winner Andrew Hoy. In fact over 16 nations have been represented over the past two years, with most of the names at the top of the World Rankings among them. 98

The excitement in the office gains momentum once entries open; this year that is on 17th April, as Pride goes to press. “Even knowing that we have done everything we can, within reason, to make the event a success, it is still a mixture of apprehension, anticipation and delight to see the entries roll in. Watching them pass the 1,000 barrier is a real buzz, although that is when I become obsessed with checking weather forecasts,” admits Event Administrator Andrew Norman. A further sign of the Event’s growing prestige is the appointment of Captain Mark Phillips as this year’s CIC2* cross country course designer. His world wide reputation as a course designer at the

“A sign of the event’s growing prestige is the appointment of Captain Mark Phillips as one of this year’s cross country course designers...”

highest level will add to the challenges faced by this year’s competitors. Now in its third year, Rockingham International Horse Trials has gone from strength to strength. It has become a firm favourite with both competitors and spectators, and this year looks set to be no different. A fairytale castle complimented by the breathtakingly beautiful backdrop of the Welland Valley make for a stunning venue, even before all the action and excitement has been added to the mix. Rockingham Castle stepped on to the eventing calendar in 2013 following the sale of long-term Horse Trials host, the Brigstock Estate. As happens so often in the sport of Eventing, key members of the Brigstock team threw their experience into the hat to ensure a fabulous event from the off. Andrew Norman remembers that first year very clearly. “I had plenty of sleepless nights,” he confesses. “There is nothing quite like being faced with a challenge when you have no experience of the specific task. I might have organised hundreds of events before, but my knowledge of anything horse-related was close to zero. Having such

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 99

Rider: William Fox-Pitt.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 100

- tHE roCKingHam CastLE HorsE triaLs -

“Eventing is an extraordinary sport; I was overwhelmed by the extent of knowledge sharing by those involved with other horse trials, from small events right up to Burghley...” an experienced team behind me was very reassuring. “Eventing is an extraordinary sport; I was overwhelmed by the extent of knowledge sharing by those involved with other horse trials up and down the country, from small events right up to Burghley. There can be few areas of business where this happens, and it was incredibly inspiring and refreshing.” With Rockingham Castle already an established visitor attraction, the team recognised the importance of laying on a wide range of activities from the start – and this has grown, year on year. “We bring in the sort of attractions and activities that we think will entertain those less horse-minded, so there truly is something for every member of a family,” Andrew explains. When energy levels start to drop, there is a range of food outlets catering for every taste, and not forgetting the all-important bar for those in need of a stronger form of refreshment. Last year Hugo, the lovingly restored Citröen van of the Little Soup Kitchen Company was hugely popular, as was the stand shared by The Marquess of Exeter, Lyddington, and Launde Farm Foods, who ran a very successful BBQ , drawing crowds from every corner of the show ground. Alternatively, why not pack a picnic? There can be few better settings in the Midlands to enjoy a relaxing lunch with entertainment laid on, with friends and family. With the clock ticking, work both on the ground and in the office is picking up pace. Volunteers are being allocated their roles, stables have been ordered, 100

tentage confirmed, tradestand bookings finalised... and all the while that allimportant ground work continues. Local hotels, pubs and restaurants, who also benefit from event-related bookings, are also looking forward to the annual surge in business. There is no reason for those less-horsey members of the family to stay at home – there really is something for everyone to enjoy at Rockingham International Horse Trials. For the children there is a fabulous climbing wall, bouncy castle and a petting farm. For would-be naturalists and country lovers, Xtreme Falconry will give regular displays, and there will be terrier racing, a shire horse and dray, courtesy of the Shire Horse Society, and a fly fishing demonstration. Also, let’s not forget over 70 trade stands ready to sell their wares; everything from clothing to cupcakes, lawnmowers to Land Rovers, horse feed to handbags and jewellery to jetskis. If you felt so inclined you could spend a whole day barely setting eyes on a horse! “Expanding the number and type of classes that we can offer at the Horse Trials is very exciting. The more riders and spectators who can experience our ever-more action packed programme, and enjoy the stunning parkland at Rockingham Castle, the better. “We are counting down to the arrival of the riders, horses, owners and spectators with a wonderful mix of elation and trepidation; visitors can be sure of a warm welcome at this year’s Rockingham International Horse Trials!” Andrew concludes.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 101

Competing at Rockingham... You don’t have to be a household name to ride at rockingham Castle, says Hilary manners...

British showjumping classes return to Rockingham on the Saturday, 23rd May, with classes from Newcomers to Open. For younger showjumping fans the Pony Club will also be running a team competition. New for this year, Rockingham plays host to the very popular Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse classes, in which riders bring their top four- and five-year old horses in a bid to qualify for the Young Horse Championships at Burghley in September. See if you can spot the stars of the future! 1. Zara Phillips at last year’s Rockingham Horse Trials. 2. Plenty of fun for the family in addition to equine thrills. 3. Robina Hill and Robert Loomes present Ireland’s Austin O’Connor with a beautiful hand-made watch. 4. Emily King rides against a background of the stunning Welland Valley. 5. There will be a range of show jumping classes at the event. 6. Family entertainment this year includes The Sheep Show. 7. Over 70 trade stands will be selling their wares. 8. Obstacles include fences from 2012’s Olympic games. Photos © Adam Fanthorpe and Hilary Manners

Rockingham will also host a qualifier for a brand new series, launched this year by British Eventing (BE); Arena Eventing. This two-phase competition is open to both BE Members and Non-Members, and is held at BE90 and BE100 level (with jumps a maximum of 90cm and one meter respectively). With the choice of Championship destinations named as Blenheim Palace and Blair Castle, competition is bound to be fierce. n The Rockingham Horse Trials takes place over the weekend of the 22nd – 24th May in the Park at Rockingham Castle. For more information on the event visit www.rockinghamcastlehorsetrials.com, or call 01536 770240. 101

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:21 Page 102

102

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:21 Page 103

- countyfile -

The Badger

WaTch

Badger watching is a lot more popular in our county than you might imagine. this month, we take a look into what makes Rutland a hotspot for the animals, what we’re doing for the creature’s families, and how we can appreciate the badger right here in Rutland... I can’t say that I had any special knowledge in badgers before researching them a little more and speaking to the county’s badger experts. I did, however, have a degree of affection for these fascinating creatures which are right on our doorstep, just waiting for us to enjoy their elusive company. Rutland badgers are in abundance, as any farmers out there will, we’re sure, be aware. In fact, the UK has the highest density of badgers in the world, which is down to our vast areas of farmland and wealth of unlucky earthworms. a boar (male badger) can eat up to 200 earthworms in just one day and can weigh around 30kgs. So why are there so many badgers in Rutland?

Words: Tilly Wilkinson

Well, I spoke to Dale Martin, Trainee Reserve Officer at Rutland Water Nature Reserve to understand a little more about the size of the population in Rutland and what they were 103

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:21 Page 104

Left: Badgers have long claws, which makes them one of the only predators of hedgehogs as they can easily kill them and eat them without being stabbed with hedgehog spikes.

“In our county, we take a different approach to the spread of disease in dairy cattle created by badgers. It allows badgers and livestock to live, and Rutlanders to see them in their natural habitat...”

other counties will adopt the approach of vaccinating the badgers which yields many more benefits compared with culling them. On a badger watch at Rutland Water, everyone who has booked a slot on the event meets at the car park in Egleton Village at around 7.30pm with the reserve officer. The times change depending on when the sun sets as badgers come out just before dusk. The reserve officer organising the watch will then lead you to the badger hide, which is about a five minute walk from the car park. You will then wait until it’s dark and the reserve officer will put some peanuts out for the badgers. Other than 200 earthworms a day, badgers will eat pretty much anything but they especially like peanuts and golden syrup.

Below: One of the badgers at Rutland Water eating peanuts.

doing to actually encourage the growth in numbers. “It’s the way we treat the badgers compared to other counties,” explained Dale. “Badgers aren’t exactly favoured across the country due to them catching and spreading tuberculosis very easily to livestock such as cows.” Because of this - and that they’re in such high density across the country - lots of people in other counties are trying to make the culling of badgers legal. In our county, we take a different approach which allows the badgers and livestock to live. This is simply vaccinating all of the badgers against TB. By doing this, we would be able to appreciate the company of the badger and allow Rutlanders to watch them in their natural habitat whilst saving livestock from the disease.” To encourage Rutlanders to find out more about badgers and see them in their local habitat, Rutland Water Nature Reserve puts on badger watches around four times a month. By getting the community involved, hopefully

The badgers will start appearing after the nuts are put out for them. at the very end of april and the start of May, the cubs will have started to come up so there’s a good chance of seeing baby cubs. anywhere from five to seven badgers will come out at this time of year. Dale also explained to me that, sometimes, you’re able to see more than just badgers. Barn owls, tawny owls, muntjac deer, foxes and bats have also been known to join the badger watch. Due to the badger’s love of golden syrup, Rutland Water Nature Reserve have started to put it in the crevices of big logs and trees to attract more badgers to the area so when you go on a badger watch in Rutland, expect to see some really sweet-toothed creatures! There’s also been a hut built specifically for badger watching as it’s the perfect place to catch them in their natural habitat. In June, the cubs will be a lot bigger and a lot more playful, perhaps not as shy. I wanted to know the facts about badgers and there are, in

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:21 Page 105

Swimming Badgers: In common with most mammals, badgers can swim but they usually try to avoid doing so.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:21 Page 106

- countyfile -

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 14:21 Page 107

The Question of

culling

fact, quite a lot of quirky, interesting ones which, I’m sure, you’ll hear about on the badger walks... but here are a few Dale mentioned. Badgers live in big social groups - families - and their complex underground setts are dug out together as a team effort. They’re incredibly clean creatures and will not defecate in their setts; they have special latrines comprising of shallow pits placed away from the setts on the edge of their territory. They will not bring food into the sett either. The sett is also split up into chambers to sleep in and chambers to give birth in which is where the sow (female badgers) will be this month in Rutland as the new cubs appear.

“Rutland’s wildlife groups are trying hard to keep badgers alive and ensure the whole community is involved in protecting the creatures...” This is why other counties are finding difficulties in culling the badgers, although, badgers are still under threat of being killed in large numbers in misguided attempts to control the TB in dairy cattle and they can be caught in indiscriminate snares.

Badgers have been present in the British Isles for at least 300,000 - 400,000 years. Because they have very thick skin and long claws, they are one of the few species that can kill and eat hedgehogs.

This is why Rutland’s wildlife groups are trying hard to keep them alive and are making sure the whole community is getting involved in protecting badgers. There is actually a Leicestershire and Rutland Badger Group involved in protecting badgers.

These long claws a very powerful, particularly on the front feet, and, unlike dogs and foxes, they have five toes. Badgers are protected in the UK by the Protection of Badgers act 1992 and Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and countryside act 1981.

You can see the fascinating creatures for yourself at Rutland Water Nature Reserve, with a regular groups meeting to study the animals. Remember to book early as there are only six places for each event, so they get booked up very quickly, especially on Saturdays.

We spoke to the Badger trust to hear more on what they had to say. they said; “the previous labour Government accepted the conclusion of the independent Scientific Group that a cull (in reality a non-selective badger slaughter) would have no meaningful impact on the disease and determined to press ahead with a range of cattle-based measures and badger vaccine trials. Sadly, the current coalition government has rejected that approach. As part of its attempts to control - or even eradicate bovine tB - the coalition Government, urged on by farming unions, appears determined to slaughter tens of thousands of mostly healthy badgers. this highly contentious proposal is justified with a mixture of assumption, ‘spin,’ myths, half-truths, and the distortion of peer-reviewed science. Badger trust has always argued that slaughtering badgers is not the way to beat tB - and overwhelmingly the public and the country’s leading independent scientists agree.” they favour proven disease reduction initiatives, improved testing, vaccination and tough, sustained controls which minimise the primary cause of tB spread, cattle-to-cattle transmission. Bill oddie, tV wildlife presenter, has joined protesters in the past to stop the culling of these poor, innocent creatures.

Find Out More: Rutland Water’s Badger Watch group meets regularly throughout the year, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The group meets at the reserve at Egleton, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8BT. Call 01572 770651 or see www.rutlandwater.org.uk

107

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 108

to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

Cottesmore Hunt Ball

2015’s event was held at Keythorpe Manor supporters of The Cottesmore hunt recently attended the group’s annual hunt ball at Keythorpe Manor near Leicester. 400 attendees enjoyed a champagne reception before sitting down to a three course meal courtesy of Sarah Rivett, The Rutland Gourmet. “The event was organised by John Greaves, Jo Rutter and Charlotte Farmer-Day, who did a superb job, it was a superb party!” says Cottesmore Hunt Secretary Clare Bell. “If you missed out, don’t worry; we’re also hosting a Day at the Races themed summer ball at the Rutland Showground on 29th May.” For more information about the hunt or the summer ball, call 07854 587366 or see www.cottesmore-hunt.co.uk. Images by Nico Morgan: 07515 029261, www.nicomorgan.com.

Feature your event in our magazine. 108

Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events desk...

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 109

Purchase photographs from this event online. Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

109

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 110

- FasHion -

Whiter Than

WHITE Brighten up your summer with a range of innovative, fresh blouses, embellished plains and exclusive prints courtesy of Just White...

high summer means soaring temperatures, but you can stay cool and fresh in Just White’s range of attractive, feminine, easy to wear casuals, from light blouses and t-shirts to quality tailoring in the evening when the sun sets, to comfortable trousers and skirts in hard-wearing stretch denim. We’ve selected what we think are the key pieces from the brand to 110

create a capsule wardrobe for your summer. Mix and match our suggested items to create a cohesive look and enjoy practical fashions which will suit summer days enjoying drinks outdoor with friends, walks in the countryside or for your summer holiday. We love the brand’s accessibility, quality and hard-wearing design as well as its overall look.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 111

Inset: White and indigo marl knit jacket £149. Main: Light blue shirt with appliqué design £109.

111

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 112

- FasHion -

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 113

Opposite: Printed top £85; yellow jeans £85. Left: T-shirt £75; jacket £139. For Stamford and Rutland stockists see www.blusen.de.

113

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 114

- FasHion -

Above: White blouse with ethnic appliqué detail £109. Right: White lace and mesh blouse £99. Opposite: White t-shirt with embroidered ﬂoral detail £85.

114

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 115

For Stamford and Rutland stockists see www.blusen.de.

115

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 116

116

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 117

Bespoke & Made to Measure Suits

Andrew J Musson

by a Savile Row Tailor, Andrew Musson

Bespoke Tailor of Lincoln

by a Savile Row Tailor, Andrew 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

117

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 118

- FasHion -

DRESSES TO

Impress red Carpet ready, located eight minutes from Lincoln City Centre, has dresses to impress for every occasion plus bags, jewellery and shoes to match... high summer is time to enjoy a day at the races, weddings, and so many other functions. Summer is set to be especially busy for Kirsty Gale and her team at Red Carpet Ready. 2014 was the retailer’s first year of trading, but the firm has rapidly established themselves as one of the largest dress stockists in the UK with 25 worldwide brands and over 1,000 dresses covering both short and long lengths 118

whatever your budget, they’ve the perfect dress for you. Their unique shopping experience offers unrivalled pricing and choice. The firm has made numerous TV appearances and has just been awarded New Startup Business of the Year. Kirsty explained “We’ve just launched our spring and summer ranges perfect for weddings, parties and days at the races plus matching hats & fascinators and more.”

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:19 Page 119

Inset photo, Opposite Page: Cobalt blue cinnemay fascinator £95, back detail of blue dress with crystals and open back, available in other colours too £225. From Left: White lace fascinator £95, short blue dress with cutaway panels £220. Blue appliqué and nude short dress £250 with nude fascinator £45. White off the shoulder dress £225 and blue cinnemay hat £110. Blue knee-length dress with appliqué and open back with crystal embellishment, available in other colours too £225. White and cobalt knee-length dress with embroidered layer £135, hat available in several colours £80. All from Red Carpet Ready, Lincoln 01522 793777; www.redcarpetready.co.uk or search on Facebook for redcarpetready.

119

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 120

Right: Scarlet dress with lace sleeves and black neck detail £125, lace hat £125. Scarlet and black dress with appliqué bodice £225, red and black cinnemay hat £125. Scarlet dress with ruched frills £110, black lace fascinator £95. Below: Magenta dress with embroidered layer £145 with magenta cinnemay hat £100. Pastel yellow dress with magenta lace overlay £145. Magenta cinnemay hat £100. Hats Opposite Page: Scarlet hat with Swarovski crystal detailing £265. Red and black cinnemay hat with feather trim £125, available in different colours. All from Red Carpet Ready, Lincoln 01522 793777; www.redcarpetready.co.uk or facebook.com/redcarpetreadyltd

120

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 121

- FasHion -

Left: White knee length dress with black and gold crystal embellishment £300. Black fascinator £95.

Gold and nude dress with frills to shoulders £Call. Black cinnemay hat £95.

Black dress with gold shoulder detailing £220. Fascinator £95.

Top: Chartreuse yellow dress £98 with black fascinator £99.

Black dress with white centre panel and gold belt £230. Black and white fascinator £95.

Above: Blue and white knee-length dress £195 with matching hat £125.

our Photoshoot: Our photoshoot took place last month at Red Carpet Ready, located eight minutes from Lincoln. The retailer has over 1,000 dresses from 25 different designers, as well as accessories including hats, fascinators, shoes and jewellery. Red Carpet Ready is open seven days a week until 9pm but you must call and pre-book to reserve a changing room on 01522 793777. Walk-ins welcome but please note appointments take priority. Visit Hall Lane, Branston, LN1 1PY. Call 01522 793777, visit www.redcarpetready.co.uk or search on Facebook for redcarpetready.

121

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 122

122

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 123

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

Pilgrim Hospital’s Private Wing

123

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 124

- motors -

An Executive

EXPRESS

audi’s rs7 is suffering an identity crisis. it’s not sure if it’s a spacious saloon or a coupé, a sports car or an executive express. Whatever it is though, its performance is never in question, dispatching the 60mph dash in fewer than four seconds and reaching 155mph... Words: Rob Davis. some time ago, you could easily identify a sports car. Two doors; two seats; large spoilers and perhaps a soft top would mark vehicles build for speed, rather than comfort or practicality. Then, cars like BMW’s M5 and Audi’s RS6 arrived, offering a large boot, five good-sized seats and plenty of standard equipment. These machines could easily dispatch hot hatches and many sports cars, offering a blend of punchy performance and discreet styling. The modern incarnations of these vehicles are even reasonably economical, with Audi’s A6 saloon based RS6 providing incredible performance whilst using cylinder shutdown technology to operate at half its potential engine capacity, when you’re not squeezing the most of it.

Whilst the RS6 will offer more than enough technology and luxury, if you’re a driver who still craves the swoopy lines of a coupé, there’s a new Audi which may appeal even more. The firm’s RS7 is a mixture of RS6 saloon and RS8 supercar in its styling. It’s a performance car, doubtless, but with four good sized seats and a boot offering 535 litres of storage space, which is somewhere between Focus and Mondeo sized, in practical terms.

Performance and Luxury: Despite its £85,000 price tag the Audi offers plenty of standard equipment. Its 4.0V8 engine can utilise cylinder shutdown technology to half its capacity when it’s not being asked to unleash all of its 700nm of torque and 560ps of power.

124

Audi’s previous generation of executive saloons were powered by 5.0V10 engines, so the new model’s 4.0V8 is an exercise in downsizing, and with its engine shutdown technology halving its engine, it will achieve nearly 39mpg on the motorway, 21mpg in town, despite reaching an electronically ‘limited’ top speed of 155mph and reaching 60mph in just 3.9 seconds - bettering the performance of most Porsche 911s.

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 125

125

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 126

- motors -

126

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 127

“The RS7 is a technically flawless example of compromise-free executive motoring with lots of performance...” When you want to waft down the motorway, the eight speed automatic gearbox makes accessing the RS7’s power easy, and in the corners, the firm’s Quattro four wheel drive system provides more secure handling. In the cabin there’s a slightly firmer ride owing to the 20” wheels. This is a penalty incurred for choosing any of Audi’s S-Line models though. It’s mitigated slightly by the car’s standard Drive Select mode which allows you to select comfort, dynamic or custom modes, and by the car’s air suspension, but you should still expect a sports-car like dynamic. Mitigating the car’s £84,480 price is a generous tally of standard equipment, from electrically adjustable and heated leather seats, a Bose-branded stereo, Bluetooth, power windows, sunroof, mirrors and adjustable steering column, cruise and climate control and parking sensors. Options include ventilated, massaging front seats, a TV tuner and adaptive cruise.

Left: The RS7 offers as much performance and luxury as any driver could crave, but Audi’s lesser models still offer lots of performance. We’d consider a standard Audi A7 saloon with one of the firm’s excellent diesel engines.

Being an Audi, interior finish and quality is light years ahead of competitors, it’s a beautifully engineered vehicle and its ergonomics are perfect. The RS7 is a technically flawless example of compromise-free executive motoring with performance and luxury delivered in equal measure. If the car can really be said to have any flaws, it’s that accessing its huge bank of performance is so easy that it requires so little effort, making the car deceptively dangerous. If there’s only one other flaw it’s that Audi’s lesser models may offer perhaps not as much performance as the RS7, but at least enough to keep most drivers happy, and for a substantially lower cost. 127

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 128

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

128

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 129

Subscribe today and receive four issues for free! You can choose to have a six month subscription for £14.75 or a twelve month subscription for £29.50 We’ll deliver Pride free of charge to your doorstep - every month! You’ll never miss a single issue!

CaLL us on

01529 469977 RutlandPride ONE

MAGAZINE

THE

NUMBER

The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes ONE

MAGAZINE

...

our Spring Restaurants...

in Stamford and Rutland

Dine Out in Rutland with

Visiting Open Gardens

A P R I L 2 0 1 5 £3.70

The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes

NUMBER

RutlandPride

THE

RutlandPride STAMFORD AND RUT LAND

LAND STAMFORD AND RUT

APRIL 2015

nd’s Cotterstock Hall Take a Tour around Rutla EASTER - SPRING HOMES

BER IN OAKHAM - DAYS A NIGHT TO REMEM

OUT THIS

MAY 2015

Castle The History of Oakham

Open Gardens in Rutlan d

Falklands Veteran Simon Weston in Rutland ROCKINGHAM HORSE TRIALS - RUTLAND SHOW PREVIEW

- LOCAL FOOD & DRINK

or visit our website www.pridemagazines.co.uk

M A Y 2 0 1 5 £3.70

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 130

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. Where some nurses work in advance (7) 5. Continue to lust after image-maker (7) 9. Finally arrive in topless burlesque (3,2) 10. Enterprise has the last word by Tuesday? Heavens! (9) 11. Considered giving shop censure (10) 12. Weaken, having no pudding (4) 14. The epitome of a popular motor race (11) 18. Way some paper was inlaid is efficient (11) 21. Always cut head off (4) 22. Out of difficulties, we veto Arab involvement (5,5) 25. Military unit makes strike thanks to brave man (9) 26. Resting place for map-makers in bunk (5) 27. See about wrong move with precision (7) 28. Student's small choral composition (7)

dOWn 1. Oscar studies nymphs (6) 2. Women confuse totter (6) 3. Politician contrived Cuban peril (10) 4. Chesterfield's right up to now (2,3) 5. Incinerator insufficient to retain rare insecticide (9) 6. Somewhat demoralised in exam (4) 7. Irate cop becomes histrionic (8) 8. Cajole alien, within reason (3,5) 13. Baton briefly has value in jail (10) 15. Star born during expedition (9) 16. Marshal's clever about upcoming confusion (8) 17. Teenager brewed beverage (5,3) 19. Stone on level promenade (6) 20. Old car runs into gaping hole (6) 23. Love endless tryst with Pole (5) 24. Dutch painting is flash (4)

dOWn

1. Someone who directs clandestine intelligence activities (9) 8. Spin with a humming sound (4) 9. Route (9) 10. Mixture of fat and flour used for thickening sauces (4) 13. Pay out (5) 15. Deep sleeplike state (6) 16. Bumper car (6) 17. Innumerable (6) 19. Hair-splitter (6) 20. Lustrous globule prized as a gem (5) 21. Fortune (4) 24. Duvet slid (anag) — strong miniature whirlwind (4,5) 25. Average (4) 26. Broke (9)

2. White inner skin of an orange (4) 3. Plant — in perfect condition (4) 4. Chevron on a uniform (6) 5. Short trip to do a job (6) 6. Straight close-fitting dress worn by Chinese women (9) 7. Closeness (9) 11. Pick-me-up (9) 12. Constellation known as The Goat (9) 13. Waste (5) 14. Peg used for fastening two adjacent parts of a structure (5) 18. Flood (6) 19. Elementary particle found in all atomic nuclei (6) 22. Shout loudly (4) 23. Nervous twitching in a golfer (4)

CRyPTiC ansWeRs

QuiCk ansWeRs

QuiCk CROssWORd

aCROss

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 131

1 - Rutland Pride MAY 154_Layout 2 30/03/2015 11:20 Page 132