Rutland Pride June 2020 by Pride Magazines Ltd

PRIDE RUTLAND

RUTLAND’S FINEST MAGAZINE

£4.50

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WELCOME

o the people of Rutland and Stamford, we salute you. From the NHS and front line workers and carers, to those stocking our shelves and making sure our county continues to run, and even to those staying in isolation, we’re all doing our part to support each other in such uncertain times.

We believe our role in this crisis is to spread positivity, keep morale up and support our local area. With that in mind, we have nothing but good news, interesting reads, activities for those in isolation and plenty to add to the diary for the future. In regards to the continuity of our printed magazine, you will certainly see us on the shelves and through your letterboxes once more when it’s safe to do so. This month’s edition is free to read online. The app that we’ve been working so hard has finally been released by the App Stores, so you now have yet another way to read Pride wherever you are and at any time. To support local businesses, our loyal advertisers have benefitted from free advertising in this edition as well. After nearly two months of isolating, we’ve had time for reflection. This county does a fantastic job of supporting itself whether that’s dining locally, buying local, fresh produce or attending fantastic local events. With that in mind, we’ve features that reflect on what makes this area so brilliant. For your days of isolation, we spoke to Sarah Outen, a local adventurer who is used to spending months in isolation on a rowing boat in the middle of the Atlantic. We also feature some beautiful ideas for your home and garden and recipes for delicious food to keep you occupied. Best wishes and good health,

Julian Wilkinson, Managing Director, Pride Magazines Ltd.

CONTENTS NEWS & EVENTS

HOMES & GARDENS

WELCOME HOME We take a look inside a grand home on Uppingham’s High Street.

SUMMERTIME BLUES We have ﬁfty shades of blue to decorate your home.

GARDENS A local garden recently featured on Gardener’s World.

NEWS The best ‘good news’ stories from across the area.

HIGHLIGHTS

SARAH OUTEN Global explorer and Rutlander advises on how to best cope with months of isolation.

CARVING OUT A LIVING Meet travellers Wilf and Steph doing things the traditional way with a wagon and horse, utilising their crafty skills.

FOOD & DRINK 40

134 115 4

LADIES & GENTLEMEN 96

WEDDINGS Andrew and Annabel at Stapleford Park.

103 FASHION Betty and Co’s comfy yet stylish at home collection.

DINING OUT We can’t ‘dine out’ this month so we feature some of the very best restaurants to visit after lockdown.

112

DINING IN Create your own cherry and vanilla custard tart at home.

THE HIGH LIFE

WINE We’ve a local spin on things this month with locally produced wine and Rutland’s very own gin!

JIMMY CHOO An interesting history of this iconic brand and shoemaker.

123 HIGH LIFE We reminisce on the past few years of the Rutland Show.

134 MOTORS Million pound sports cars.

73 123 63

THEW EALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE AREA READ PRIDE MAGAZINE Pride Magazine is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, to high value homes in the county. Our circulation is to homes in the top three council tax bands, which are predominantly worth over £300,000. This guarantees the magazine has an afﬂuent readership commensurate with our content. The magazine is also sold in supermarkets and newsagents and our in-house distribution team also works hard to hand-deliver the magazine to selected hotels and restaurants, doctors, dentists, executive motor dealerships and golf clubs. This helps to ensure we have a continued presence, right across our catchment area. Our titles also have more social media fans than any other local magazine. In addition we have over 24,000 online readers each month who view the magazine free of charge, online, on their tablet, computer, laptop or mobile phone via our website and via the Readly and Issuu platforms. If your business would beneﬁt from being showcased to the wealthiest people in the area, please call our friendly sales team on 01529 469977.

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FREE ONLINE

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

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THE PRIDE TEAM Managing Director: Julian Wilkinson. Production Director: Ian Bagley. Sales Director: Zoie Wilkinson. Sales Manager: Charlotte Daubney. Sales Supervisor: Cydney Dyson. Editors: Rob Davis and Tilly Wilkinson. Photographer: Jonathan Scrimshaw. Illustrator: Jocelyn Lawman. Features: Laurin Dempsey. Customer Care Manager: Mandy Bray. Web Developer: Joe Proctor. Ofﬁce Managers: Sue Bannister and Sinead Holland. Sales Executives: Cassy Ayton, Emily Brown, Grace Mumford, Sami Millard .

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NEWS & EVENTS

Sending Hugs to Those in Need LOCAL ILLUSTRATOR IS GETTING CREATIVE TO KEEP RUTLAND’S SPIRITS UP... KINGS CLIFFE Katie Cardew who has an illustration design studio in Kings Cliffe in Rutland has launched a new colouring and activity book which will help to keep children entertained during the coronavirus lockdown.

Katie’s interactive book will not only allow children to colour in her illustrations but also draw their own and get creative. A number of colouring books have been made specifically to be donated to charities - either nationally or locally - which help children who may be struggling during this tough time. The 36 page ‘Colour with Katie’ book is available to buy from her website www.kcillustrations.co.uk. As well as this fantastic idea for parents struggling to keep

the kids entertained, Katie has also launched four new greetings cards which are also available to buy from her website, and are designed to help those in self isolation without friends or family. Her new range of cards which display the messages like miss you, thinking of you and our personal favourite ‘Don’t Worry, Be Hoppy’ with a picture of a rabbit - aim to spread happiness to people’s friends and family and keep everyone in contact from a safe distance. This ingenious idea is just one of many that Rutland’s community is coming up with to support each other during these difficult times. n For more information about Katie’s illustrations, please call 01780 662800 or visit the website www.kcillustrations.co.uk.

Best in the Midlands UPPINGHAM NAMED THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN THE MIDLANDS BY THE SUNDAY TIMES!

UPPINGHAM If you are currently in isolation in Uppingham, you are in the best place. Literally.

Coventry, IImington in Warwickshire and Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

Uppingham has been named the best place to live in the Midlands as named in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide out of 101 locations across the UK.

It’s not the first time our area has been recognised in this prestigious list of best places to live. Rutland has been named the best county several times, Oakham has seen recognition and Stamford wins a similar competition regularly.

It has been described as being ‘as pretty as the Cotswolds, but without the price tag and the tweeness.’ The top five saw Uppingham at the top followed by Digbeth in Birmingham, Earlsdon in

Although isolation is no fun for anyone, it’s a lot better in our humble county that we call home than it is elsewhere according to the Times!

RUTLAND “I have been truly overwhelmed by the local organisations and individuals playing their part to help our communities defeat Covid-19,” says MP Alicia Kearns.

“I want to celebrate kindness and good deeds in these difficult times and am immensely pleased to be launching ‘Rutland and Melton’s Unsung Heroes,’

where I will highlight the outstanding local contributions that are bolstering our reaction to the pandemic.”

WYMONDHAM Vernon Moore, who owns Moores Estate Agents, was joined by his sons Max and William to deliver 96 orders of venison around the village. Max who usually supplied venison to the local pub was happy to supply and prepare one for free. They came up with the idea to deliver the lean meat to vulnerable people who are self-isolating in the village. However, news of Max’s service spread through the village becoming very popular and Max ended up providing three deer.

Rutland Plastics were one of the first to be recognised, producing medical equipment for the Nightingale Hospital. Also, Oakham School’s Design and Technology Team has created hundreds of face shields for NHS ICU staff.

Swimathon for Spinal Injury MARIA ALAM WITH HER MUM AND BROTHER COMPLETED A GREAT CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY...

BARLEYTHORPE Local keen swimmer Maria Alam of Barleythorpe who likes to raise money for charity enlisted the help of her mum and brother for her latest challenge.

Starting in 2018 swimming 22 miles to support people with spinal cord injuries, this year Maria along with her mum and brother swam 5.4km - the equivalent of 216 lengths of the pool at Catmose Sports Centre in Oakham (before lockdown). Together they raised £250 for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie, which supports patients and their families through a terminal illness.

120 Clocks

RUTLAND’S MP SAYS THANK YOU...

LOCAL

FAMILY RUN Stamford business, Ravencourt, supplied clocks to Nightingale Hospital in Birmingham after receiving a call from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust asking what clocks were available. Managing Director Oli wanted to fight back against coronavirus rather than making profit from it and supplied Nightingale with 120 of their clocks made for school exams.

MP’s Gratitude

Family Deliver Venison to Over 96 Vulnerable Villagers...

NEWS In Brief TALLINGTON

FREE VEG BOXES FOR THE KEY WORKERS Tallington Farm Shop has handed out over 70 free fruit and veg boxes to key workers. They wanted to do something to thank the area’s dedicated health and social care workers. Curtis who runs Tallington Farm Shop expressed that they have been rushed off their feet with so many orders. One receiver of the fruit and veg boxes was Wright Care at Home in Stamford whose care manager Sarah Poulton picked up a box. The home took to social media to thank the farm shop, saying, “a huge thank you to Tallington for being so kind.” “It means so much to our team who are out every day delivering care to keep us all safe.” Well done Tallington Farm Shop keep up the good work!

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BASTON, LINCOLNSHIRE Guide Price £450,000

A classic chocolate box thatched cottage - mainly yellow stone with red brick detailing, and timber lintels over the charming leaded windows. The property is surprisingly light and spacious inside. The little porch opens into a large room which has been set out as a dining area at one end, and a reception room at the other. Continuing from here there is a sitting room, study (which could be used as a bedroom), kitchen and a fully-tiled bathroom. There are two sets of timber stairs, one at each end of the cottage, leading up to the two bedrooms, each with its own dressing area. The property has a mature garden enclosed by walling and fencing with lots of different areas including two pagodas and a barbeque area. There is also a carport and off-road parking area.

Tel: +44(0)1780 750200 Email: stamford@ﬁneandcounty.com

Tel: +44( 0)1572 335145 Email: rutland@ﬁneandcounty.com

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DEENETHORPE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Guide Price ÂŁ625,000

225 offices across Great Britain Plus 75 offices globally

A very attractive, honeyed stone house under a slate roof, is the last property at the end of a quiet lane in a pretty, rural hamlet with less than sixty properties. The house is well maintained and offers four double bedrooms, two en-suites and a family bathroom on the first floor, a spacious living room with stone fireplace and French doors onto the garden, a study, dining room, kitchen and breakfast room on the ground floor. Outside, the mainly laid to lawn garden is fully enclosed by post and rail fencing within evergreen hedging, secure for young children and dogs. Stamford is approximately 10 minutes drive, Corby and its train station is just a few miles and Oundle with its highly rated independent school is only six miles away.

Bespoke Property. Bespoke Advice. ER R D E UN FF

A superbly appointed detached house with versatile accommodation and attractive gardens, set in a popular village, conveniently located for Oundle, Stamford and Corby.

Four bedroom attached barn conversion, situated down a quiet lane in the popular conservation village of Tinwell.

• Built in 1999 but significantly improved • Close to Oundle and Stamford • Good access to towns and cities with train links into London • Stone built home set centrally within its grounds • Spacious sitting room with French doors

• Popular village location next to Stamford • Kitchen with large utility and boot room • Dining room, sitting room and garden room • Entrance hall with WC and cloaks cupboard • Three double bedrooms and family bathroom • Principal bedroom with ensuite shower room

• Breakfast kitchen, separate dining room & utility • Principal bedroom with ensuite shower room • Guest bedroom with ensuite shower room • Two further dbl bedrooms with family bathroom • Double garage and further off-road parking • Beautiful landscaped garden with dining terraces

TINWELL – GUIDE PRICE £750,000

DEENETHORPE – GUIDE PRICE £585,000

ER R D E UN FF

• Beautiful garden with views over grazing land and church • Garage with access into the rear garden • Communal grounds to the front, including a duck pond • Potential for modernisation

ER R D E UN FF

Attractive 5 bedroom detached house with stylish interiors, south facing garden and A substantial detached residence set in the heart of a popular village with swimming pool double garage set in an enviable village location within easy reach of transport links. and grounds of approximately two acres. • Large breakfast kitchen and separate utility room • South facing Orangery with access to garden terrace • Sitting room with wood burning stove • Second sitting room/playroo /separate wine room/office • Master bedroom suite with dressing area and en suite bathroom

• Vaulted guest bedroom suite • Three further bedrooms with family bathroom • Landscaped gardens, dbl garage & off-street parking • Edge of village location, extensive countryside views • Modern stone property recently refurbished throughout

NASSINGTON – GUIDE PRICE £795,000

• Over 5,000 sq/ft of internal accommodation • Gated driveway leading into a dble open garage • Breakfast kitchen, drawing room & garden room • Separate dining room, study & utility/boot room • Principal bedroom suite, dressing room & en suite

• Guest bedroom with own staircase & en suite • Three further double bedrooms & cinema room • Family bathroom and separate shower room • Swimming pool with terrace and changing room • Grass tennis court, paddock and alfresco dining with bar/BBQ

GLATTON – GUIDE PRICE £1,550,000

NEW

LANGHAM

NEW

£1,150,000

A superb, substantial, individual family residence set on a private plot of approx. 0.5 A on the edge of a highly regarded village enjoying countryside views. The property was constructed using many reclaimed quality materials and offers spacious, flexible accommodation full of character. 2 Rec. Rooms, farmhouse Kitchen/Diner, ample Ancillary Accommodation, 5 Dbl Bedrooms, 5 en-suite Bath/Shower Rooms; Outbuildings, Garaging. Energy Rating: TBC.

SOMERBY

£875,000

Stunning individual house providing high-standard, substantial, flexible character accommodation (including Annex) with south-facing garden, extensive garaging and car port in a picturesque village location with far-reaching rural views. 3 Rec. Rooms, Kitchen/Diner, Utility, Wine Cellar, Clrkm, 5 Bedrooms, 4 Bath/Shower Rooms. Energy Rating: D.

NEW

SOUTH LUFFENHAM

£575,000

Character Barn Conversion set in a popular village and enjoying stunning countryside views. The spacious accommodation features a full two storey height lounge with exposed roof timbers, stone Inglenook-style fireplace and partially vaulted ceilings. 2 Rec. Rooms, Brkfst Kitchen, Utility, Clkrm, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bath/Shower Rooms; dbl Garage, Gardens. Energy Rating: E.

SOMERBY

£420,000

Delightful period 3-storey property dating back to 1818 and offering substantial accommodation with incredible character and a host of original features set in a sought-after, picturesque village. 4 Reception Rooms, Kitchen, Utility, Clkrm, 5 Dbl Bedrooms, Bathroom; single Garage, private cottage Garden. Energy Rating: G.

NEW

Cottesmore

£395,000

Delightful new-built, detached stone cottage under thatched roof appointed to an exceptional standard and occupying an attractive plot enjoying views over open countryside to the front and village church to the rear. Sitting Room, Dining Kitchen, Utility, Clkrm/WC, 3 Bedrooms, En-suite Wet Room, Family Bathroom; 2 Parking Spaces, south-facing rear Garden. Energy Rating: B.

NORTH LUFFENHAM

£325,000

Beautiful Victorian townhouse providing elegant, stylishly appointed accommodation arranged over three floors and retaining many original features. Open-plan Sitting Room and Dining Area, Breakfast Kitchen, Clkrm/Utility, 5 Bedrooms, Family Bathroom, separate small Shower Room; walled, hard-landscaped rear Garden with summerhouse. Energy Rating: F.

PROPERTY FINDERS

CHANGING HOMES Kate Vincent, local property expert and buying agent discusses how the enforced lockdown may have affected attitudes towards our homes and how this may affect future property plans once life returns to normal For all of us, the recent lockdown will mean that we have probably spent more continuous time at home than ever before, and for most this will have resulted in many of us viewing our abodes with ‘new eyes’. No doubt most of you will have attempted to de-clutter, re-vamp and re-arrange your properties and if social media is to be believed, many hours have been devoted to DIY and decorating. Property reflections For some, the re-organisation and updating work will have enhanced your space. At my home in Ashton, we have decluttered a junk space and re-named it the ‘Reading Room’. Sounding rather pretentious but still, this sun-filled corner has been enjoyed by various family members to quietly read or attempt a tricky jigsaw puzzle. It had taken this crisis to help us find this peaceful corner in our home and enjoy it all the more. I’m sure many of you will have made enhancements to your home and found a new affection within but of course, many will not have had such a positive experience. Having a full family at home may have highlighted the fact that your home is too small or impractical for the life you live and for others, income changes may mean that going forward they can’t really afford a larger

house bought ambitiously in better times. For some of the older generation, self-isolating may have made you realise that the family home lived in for years really is excessively large. Housing market ready and waiting Until this crisis has passed, none of us can predict how the housing market, and specifically, house prices will have been affected by this forced slowdown. It is likely that house prices may drop significantly with various industry authorities predicting anywhere between -3% and -15% but this said, there are still many would-be buyers desperate for the restrictions to be lifted so that they can go ahead with a long-planned move. Indeed, as the lockdown was announced, I was actively property searching for a handful of cash-buyers looking around Stamford and Rutland and as at this moment, they are still keen to proceed when possible and adopting a longer-term pragmatic view. Start to get ready If you are one of those people who are starting to think that a future home move would be a good idea but are concerned about how to prepare and what to expect then now is an excellent time to talk to a

Kate Vincent Garrington

local property expert. At Garrington, we have started to do ‘virtual viewings’ around large properties which is proving to be an effective way to assess if a home may be suitable for our clients. We are regularly in touch with homeowners who are interested in selling their properties ‘off-market’ and in these uncertain times, when attending a viewing is not allowed, exploring alternative means to put buyers and sellers in touch is an interesting challenge. If you are interested in obtaining some advice and perspective on property in the comfort of our own homes, then I would be happy to have a face to face meeting using one of the many social media apps. Times continue to be uncertain but putting plans in place now so that you are ready for when some form of normality returns could be time spent well indeed. Garrington work on behalf of private clients who want to buy, rent or invest in property throughout the UK. They also provide a negotiation only and overseeing of sales service. If you are thinking of moving this year and would like further information on how Garrington can assist, contact Kate Vincent: Tel: 01780 408377 Email: info@garrington.co.uk www.garringtoneastmidlands.co.uk

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LONELY PEOPLE Isolation can be a very dangerous place for many. Being alone and away from friends and family is a very real struggle. To help you through this hard time, we sought the wise words of explorer Sarah Outen, who has spent years away in complete isolation on land and sea during incredible missions... Photos: Sarah Outen, Justine Curgenven, James Sebright and Jim Shannon.

THE INTERVIEW

ISOLATION IS TOUGH. As I’m writing this, we’re three weeks in to the lockdown the entire country is facing, and I’m scared to say how many conversations I’ve had with my dog. Jokes aside, a month or two without seeing friends or family is really difficult. To help put things into perspective, we spoke to Sarah Outen, the expert in self isolation resilience. Sarah Outen is a record-breaking adventurer by land and sea and a huge inspiration to many. By the time Sarah was 30, she had rowed the Indian Ocean solo, looped the world using a rowing boat, bike and kayak and picked up an MBE on the way. Sarah grew up in Ashwell and went to Stamford High School, so being a local herself, we wanted to know how she managed such a long time alone and how she completed such an incredible journey. What made you become an adventurer?

“When I was younger, I was always out exploring and loved the outdoors. I completed the Duke of Edinburgh, I was part of the local canoeing club at Rutland Water and I would go cycling for miles around the Rutland countryside.” I always knew the outdoors would play an important part in my life and I have always wanted to journey.” Why does the outdoors mean so much to you?

What inspired your first challenge, going solo across the Indian Ocean?

“I did this journey to accomplish two needs. The first was my need for adventure and the second was to help deal with the grief and emotion of my Dad’s death three years earlier. I became the first and at that time, the youngest woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean and it was life changing.” “I always knew I loved the ocean and you can’t help but be changed by the ocean, what you see and feel. I felt truly alive in the ocean and at one with my surroundings. It was this excitement and the idea of seeing other oceans, lands and the way nature changes across the globe that made me want to take on my next expedition called London2London.” Sarah’s ‘London2London: Via the World’ expedition saw Sarah loop the planet using a rowing boat, bike and kayak - a phenomenal journey of some 25,000 miles that took four and a half years to complete in total. She went through deserts, snow, rough terrain and choppy seas to do so.

“I remember stepping out onto the deck of my rowing boat one morning to see a herd of four sperm whales looking at me from the surface of the water...”

“When I’m outside, I just love the connection between myself and nature. Nature is real and essential to me. I find it connecting and balancing and a space for me to be whatever I need it to be. The outdoors is bigger than me and helps me gain perspective.” “It makes me feel calm and I find elements of the weather hugely comforting. I enjoy slow journeys, especially seeing how landscapes and seascapes change. The outside challenges, teaches me, and it inspires me. I also think a lot of our issues - physical and mental can be healed outside.” Did you have any heroes when you were younger?

“I wouldn’t say I had any heroes as such but I found Ellen MacArthur hugely inspiring especially during my teenage years. Ellen was eight years older than me and her sailing exploits inspired me. I knew that one day I would follow in her footsteps and make a sea journey.”

So, tell me a little bit about London2London.

“This was my once in a lifetime journey and I cannot express in so many words the impact of this journey. Even though the journey started nearly a decade ago, it will always be a huge part of my life and influence and affect my future decisions.”

“The London2London expedition pushed and challenged me to my limits and beyond. There were many moments when I wasn’t sure if I would make it out alive but I was determined to see it through to the end. I have been humbled and inspired by the places I’ve been and the people I’ve met, which made for an amazing few years.” If you could name one unforgettable moment of the London2London expedition, what would it be?

“It’s very difficult to choose just one and I am so grateful for the journey. If I had to choose, I would say the ocean phases are among my most memorable - for the vistas and scale of it, the dynamism, the storms, the calms and wildlife.” “I remember one day on the Atlantic Ocean in 2015 when I stepped out on the deck of my tiny rowing boat to see a herd of four sperm whales, logging and rolling and spy hopping at the surface. They

Opposite: Sarah spent months in isolation on her very small rowing boat. If she can do it, you can too! Finding enough water to wash when cycling on the road can be tough. This mountain river in China was a welcome break from the sticky heat and dust for Sarah.

“I went to some frightening lows after capsizing in a tropical storm between Japan and Canada. I would advise anyone struggling with their mental health to be brave, stand up and ask for help...” Below: Sarah cycled, kayaked and rowed across all kinds of terrain across the world, meeting incredible people along the way and seeing some truly incredible sights.

were a boat’s length away and we watched each other for about 20 minutes - that sense of connection was very humbling.”

itself onto everything. All of my combined emotions of all of this trauma certainly took its toll.’’

In June 2012 on Sarah’s solo row from Japan to Canada across the North Pacific, Sarah and her boat were hit by Tropical Storm Mawar. Unfortunately, the damage that was sustained meant that it was not possible to continue the row. Sarah was rescued by the Coast Guard and she soon flew home to the UK.

“Having been to some frightening lows, I am keen to encourage anyone in that position to be brave and stand up and ask for help, and for anyone near those facing such lows, to be brave enough to take an active interest in supporting them. It is never enough to assume that someone is fine and coping you need to ask questions and find answers.”

How did you recover from this experience?

“Some of the most powerful moments in my recovery were hearing some well-respected sponsors and friends of mine tell me of their own battles and sources of strength, and the reminder that nothing will last forever. For me, my most important fixer was Dr Briony Nicholls, psychotherapist and friend, but

“My life post ocean was also just a crazy storm. There was the expected culture shock that came with coming home from a 15 month expedition, the grieving and sense of loss for my boat Gulliver, and the huge trauma of that final storm which blanketed

there are plenty of people who helped me get back to the surface and I am so thankful for them all.”

heart and soul, of struggle and joy and one extraordinary woman’s trek towards true emotional acceptance.

How did you keep positive and sane when it was just you and the boat?

Why did you choose a film to tell your story?

“Every day and especially on the down days, I made a conscious effort to the make the most of the good things. I would make sure I found one thing every day to be grateful for. Sometimes this would be easy as there were hundreds of good things and other days this was much harder.” After London2London, Sarah decided to tell her story by book called ‘Dare to Do’ and now she’s telling it by her film ‘Home’ too. Woven out of hundreds of hours of footage, Home intimately and unflinchingly captures Sarah’s journey, telling a story of

“It was always my intention to share my journey and my story through film. Film is a different form of storytelling and the film is made with raw footage from my journey.” “There wasn’t any set vision for the film, and I turned down a number of opportunities as I knew I had to find the right film maker, given that I was trusting something so precious to them. I eventually worked with Jen Randall who is a fantastic film maker. Jen is bold, brave and also a compassionate storyteller whilst being creative, intuitive and playful.”

Your film has won nine international awards including British Adventure & Exploration film at Banff Mountain Film Festival. Did you expect such success?

“I knew we had made a really special film and I am honoured by the awards it has achieved but the most important part to me is how people have connected with the film, related to my struggles, fears and the ups and downs of the journey.” “Throughout the film I have shared my mental health challenges and in turn this has really helped others. I am humbled by the response it received. I am also extremely thankful as half of the funds for the project were crowfunded. It was backed by so many people and I am extremely thankful for that.”

Images: Sarah saw all sorts of wildlife on her travels from turtles to sperm whales and very cute birds too. Canada looked like an especially beautiful part of her trip. The image to the far right is Sarah celebrating after completing her London2London expedition!

“Be positive where possible and hold in your mind that this period of distress will end. It is difficult, but it will end. Try to find something to be grateful for...” What are your future plans?

“My life and relationships are now quite different - I am married and I have some pet donkeys - so I would never make a journey like London2London again.” “My spirit of curiosity is still there so I will do smaller trips and journeys. In September this year I was planning a six-day hike exploring Mulanje Mountain in Malawi to raise money for Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust. However due to the current crisis this has been delayed.” “I am also starting a new adventure and training as a psychotherapist. As well as this, I am involved with local charity Inspire+, a sports and education charity for school pupils. The legacy of inspiring folks, especially school children, is something I am very proud of.” From experiencing plenty of isolation yourself, what advice can you give to our readers with the current social distancing measures?

“Firstly, be positive where possible and hold in your mind that this period of distress will end. It will be difficult, but it will end. It will not be possible all the time but find something to be grateful for.” “Also, embrace your feelings and do not be scared to admit feelings of fear and worry. Acknowledge these feeling alongside your positive feelings. I also think it is important to go outside where possible but abide by the social distancing guidelines.” With everything that Sarah has experienced and the long days, weeks and months she has spent entirely alone, you can get through this time - we can all get through this time as difficult as it may be. If you have been inspired by Sarah and want to find out more about her expedition, watch her feature film ‘Home’ on Vimeo or purchase her book ‘Dare To Do’ available at all good bookstores and Amazon. 27

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Truly Independent Financial Planning • Efficient Portfolio’s Charlie Reading • Author of The Dream Retirement

Creating a Legacy by Minimising Tax Why do we want to build wealth? Is it so we can buy plush homes, drive fast, sleek cars or sun ourselves in exotic climes? Or is actually for a far more personal reason?

OR SOME PEOPLE, ﬁlling our lives with luxury is a key motivation to make money; however, most of us also want to help those who we love by leaving behind a legacy that will give them the best start in life, or enable them to continue to live out their lives with conﬁdence and certainty.

it is important that any plans you make are lawful, accurate and fair. Achieving the balance between what you want to do and what you have to do is a little bit of a mineﬁeld, so we have created a lunchtime talk to demonstrate what your obligations are, and what options are available to you. Our event will explain key areas and show you how you could: l Avoid hefty Inheritance Tax Charges. l Ensure that your house and capital are protected against third-party risks. l Take measures to prevent your assets disappearing if a divorce in the family were to happen.

But is just making money enough to guarantee this? Inheritance Tax is currently set at 40%, meaning that, if your estate exceeds the threshold (currently £325,000 for a single person and £650,000 for a married couple) you could end up giving away nearly half of your wealth to the Government. I’m sure that you don’t want them to become the single largest beneficiary of your hard-earned money! That’s why protecting your wealth in later life is becoming more and more poignant. Historically, Inheritance Tax has been the preserve of the super-wealthy, but this is changing. The ever-evolving world of tax, especially Inheritance Tax, is not just targeting the very rich; in fact, it is beginning to hit the average family too. Last year alone, we saw HMRC collect £5.1 billion in Inheritance Tax - a rise of 9% from 2016 . And with the conventional Nil-Rate Band is fixed at £325,000 until April 2021, this trend looks set to continue. But what can you do? Careful planning around your finances is one of the key steps to take now in order to protect your wealth for the benefit of your loved ones. A former Chancellor once said, that “Inheritance Tax is paid only by those who distrust their family more than they dislike the Inland Revenue.” But was he right? To use a palatable analogy, this planning is very much like

Understanding these areas could be the diﬀerence between you leaving your family ‘a life changing sum’ and a ‘life changing lesson’.

Tax, is not “ Inheritance just targeting the very rich; in fact, it is beginning to hit the average family too...

”

n The event will take place on Wednesday 16th September at 1200 at Portfolian House, 30 Melton Road, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AY. To book your complimentary place, please contact us on hello@eﬃcientportfolio.co.uk or 01572 898060.

baking a cake. First, you need to identify what could ‘spoil the mix’- in this case Inheritance Tax. Next, you need to choose the best ‘ingredients’ to minimise the amount of tax you pay and ensure that your loved ones will receive the most they can. Only then can you ensure that you are in the best position to ﬁnancially feed your own future as well as that of your loved ones; so, you can have your cake and eat it! Any planning around tax can be confusing, time-consuming and controversial! In the UK, we all have to pay tax in some form, so Charlie Reading created Efficient Portfolio to offer entirely independent financial advice and helping people clarify and realise their dreams and goals through financial planning.

Call 01572 898060, see www.efficientportfolio.co.uk or visit Portfolian House, 30 Melton Road, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AY

Main: Fort Henry has an interesting story in regard to its construction, once used as a viewing point for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sea battlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the lake.

HISTORY

Rutland’s Mini Castle Rutland’s slogan Multum in Parvo - meaning Much in Little - is an accurate description for the county’s little castle Fort Henry! With its battlements, imposing façade and spires, it’s a very impressive building if somewhat small, a little like Rutland... Fort Henry is a magical, gothic folly sitting beside a picturesque lake on the Exton Estate. The charming, Grade II listed building represents Victorian history but what was the purpose of this unique building and how is it used now? We have spoken to Harry, Viscount Campden to find out more about this intriguing building. Fort Henry was built in 1789 by local architect, William Legg of Stamford. In April 1786, William Legg first visited Exton Park and his instructions were for a gothic building by the pond. Henry Earl of Gainsborough who was described as ‘a bit of an old eccentric,’ commissioned the building of the boat house or as it was known back then, Pleasure House or Pond House. In Victorian times, the building was a place of escapism where the 6th Earl of Gainsborough would have hosted parties with his friends and family. Thanks to well preserved receipts and notebooks, the history of Fort Henry has been well recorded. Records show that there was already a basic structure in place for Fort Henry and Legg drew up rough plans around the existing structure. In two months, Legg had produced ‘three finished Gothic elevations and a plan of the different floors.’ By 1787, Legg had produced several different designs for Gothic pinnacles, ornaments and pedestals ‘for the end of the battlements in the front of the building.’ By the summer of 1789, it would seem that the finishing touches were being put to the building. The total cost of building was £1426, of which Legg took a commission of 5%, receiving £71. As far as is known, most of the craftsmen were local with George Beaver being the principal mason. Beaver’s accounts show how parts of the old structure were pulled down and foundations were dug for the wings and other parts of the new building. From other bills we know that the stone used came from the local Clipsham quarries, which later provided stone for the renovation of the Houses of Parliament in the 1930s, and bricks were obtained from Lord Winchilsea’s brickhills at Burley. A magical building such as this was bound to have elaborate interior decoration and typical of the gothic style fashionable at the time. From the accounts of the plasterer and stucco

worker John Tillson, there are descriptions of a ‘gothic groin ceiling’ and a circular ceiling ornament as well as gothic panels, enriched cornices and gothic beads. Decorations included husks, gothic flutes, astragals, a frieze with ruffles and water leaves and moulding with bands, leaves, diamonds and gothic flowers. The lime used by the plasterer came from Greetham and the sand for the stucco from Tallington. Rats were a common problem for waterfront buildings and Tillson had a unique method to deal with these rodents. In October 1789, Tillson’s bills record payment to a man sent to ‘get broken bottles and counter lathe to prevent rats.’ The painter of the finished rooms was Joseph Everard. A basic ‘drab’ colour - dull light brown - was used with white margins. The oil on stucco was finished sea-green with green wood panels with white margins and silvered knots. The husks were picked out in green as were the caps to the pilasters, the enriched pilasters and the large flowers, with the water leaves veined green. Everard’s bill came to £36. Legg wasn’t finished yet, though! In 1788 the ground round the summer house was levelled and in 1789 iron gates and railings were erected around it by Robert Hunt. The area around the summer house was planted with clover thus completing the gothic folly. It is not known when exactly the summer house came to be called Fort Henry, though presumably it was named after the 6th Earl who commissioned it and who died in 1798. Now Fort Henry was finished the Earl and his friends could start having some fun. In 1761 Lord Gainsborough paid for a boat to be brought from London to Stamford via Spalding. Viscount Campden tells stories of how the 6th Earl ordered wooden galleons and the 32

HISTORY

“In the 1700s, reenactments of sea battles would take place on the lake and ladies would sit in Fort Henry and watch in amusement. Our family has a deep history in sea battles with Admiral Baron - Nelson’s boss - being a part of our family’s history...” lake became an area for re-enacting sea battles and firing water cannons. The ladies would sit in Fort Henry and watch in amusement, there to patch them up at the end. “Our family has a deep history in sea battles,” says Viscount Campden. “Admiral Baron, who I suppose you could call Nelson’s boss, was part of the family.” Nowadays, Harry and his family choose sensibly not to recreate naval reenactments but have boated on the lake with the family. Fort Henry is a small building, fitting 24 people for dining and a maximum of 60 people in a theatre style setting. Half a century or so after the completion of Fort Henry, another building was constructed a little way up the bank presumably to hold larger numbers of guests. In a report on the wedding of Lady Louisa Noel from the Chronicle in 1846, there is a reference to ‘the fairy temple now in the course of erection.’ This was the Bark Temple, so called because it was constructed of wood and covered with

bark and moss. The Bark Temple was listed Grade II, but was in a perilous condition by the mid 1990s. The family tried unsuccessfully to get a grant from English Heritage to restore it. Sadly the temple collapsed in the winter of 1997. In 2014, Fort Henry was granted civil ceremony license and several weddings are held within the building every year. Various birthday parties and tea parties have also been held here and the family are delighted to be able to share such a special and peaceful place with others. “We are very lucky to have this beautiful building in our family history. The Fort sitting on the lake is stunning and in the summer, it is really something special. The Lake is full of waterlily and home to wildlife. A rare and wonderful site is watching Osprey fishing on the lake,” says Harry. “I am a firm believer that the more something is used the better it is looked after, and this is what we aim to achieve with Fort Henry.”

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Barnsdale Lodgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chef David Bukowicki presents pan fried fillet of hake with rosemary gnocchi, Jerusalem artichoke and red onion.

FOOD & DRINK

Local Chefs

Showcase their Talents We’ve missed dining in our favourite restaurants so much so that we’ve decided to feature Rutland and Stamford’s top chefs and their top dishes from sea bass to salmon... This feature is like Marmite; you’ll love it or hate it. Those who love it will be getting excited for a time where we can enjoy these delicious dining experiences once again. Those who hate it just miss it a little too much to bare.

It’s tough work, but over the years, our hard work has paid off. We now have a huge collection of information and photographs of what can be expected at Lincolnshire’s very best bistros, gastropubs, a la carte restaurants and eateries.

We’re somewhere in between. As much as we adore looking at beautifully crafted dishes, we would love to taste them too!

We’ve looked back over the past year of visits and have compiled a selection of our favourites, in the hope that when the lockdown is lifted, you have a good idea of where to head first, whether you’re into a Sunday roast or Japanese food is more your preference.

Each month, we usually have the particularly difficult job of visiting one of our recommended restaurants, interviewing the chef, taking photos and sampling around six dishes. I know what you’re thinking - how do we do it?

Below are the chefs responsible for the fabulous creations you’ll see throughout this feature. >>

Below: Some of the county’s most talented chefs - Fuel Tank’s Chris Ansell, Tom Hall at The Petwood Hotel; Chris Huggett of The White Hart, Ufford, Sean Hartnett of The Admiral Hornblower, Tony Fitt at Stapleford Park, Michael Prescott, Head Chef of The Griffin Inn, David Bukowicki, Chef at Barnsdale Lodge and Holly Withers of Hoppi Dorri.

“We would love to be able to visit each and every one of these restaurants right now. When we’re out of lockdown, let’s back Rutland and Stamford’s superb provision of chefs and dining rooms. For now, we can admire their incredible skills and talents in the field of food...”

Tony Fitt dishes up cured salmon, Brentingby gin lemon puree, cucumber and caviar at Stapleford Park Country House Hotel.

Michael Prescott presents this glazed pork belly, champ mash, apple chutney, crackling and sage at The Griffin Inn, Irnham.

Fillet of sea trout with a lemon and dill dressing at The Fuel Tank based at Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle, home of chef Chris Ansell.

Sean Hartnett presents his pan-fried salmon fillet with English peas, chorizo and creamy mash at The Admiral Hornblower in Oakham.

OUR FEATURED RESTAURANTS

Tom Hall at the Petwood serves up beer-glazed chicken breast with sprout leaves, bread sauce foam, roast cauliflower and cauliflower carpaccio.

Please note, featured dishes are representative examples of our featured chefs’ skills... the menus of our featured restaurants change often, so dishes remain subject to availability. Check each restaurant’s website prior to your visit for a fresh menu to avoid disappointment.

The Admiral Hornblower: Oakham, LE15 6AS, 01572 723004, www.hornblowerhotel.co.uk. Hoppi Dorri’s Holly Withers serves up this wonderful dish.

Barnsdale Lodge Hotel: Exton, Rutland, LE15 8AH, 01572 724678, www.barnsdalelodge.co.uk.

The Fuel Tank: Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle NG32 1PA, 01476 247059, www.engineyardfueltank.co.uk.

The Griffin Inn: Irnham, NG33 4JG, 01476 550201, www.thegriffinirnham.co.uk.

Hoppi Dorri: Stamford, PE9 2AR, 01780 766 772, www.hoppidorri.co.uk.

The Olive Branch: Clipsham, LE15 7SH, 01780 410355, www.theolivebranchpub.com.

The Olive Branch at Clipsham presented us with this stunning dish.

The Petwood Hotel: Woodhall Spa, LN10 6QG, 01526 352411, www.petwood.co.uk.

You will find this amazing dish served up by Chris Huggett at The White Hart, Ufford.

Stapleford Park Hotel: Stapleford, LE14 2EF, 01572 787 000, www.staplefordpark.com.

The White Hart: Ufford, PE9 3BH, 01780 740250, www.whitehartufford.co.uk.

Stay at The White Hart, Ufford call 01780 740250 Main Street, Ufford Stamford PE9 3BH lisa@whitehartufford.co.u www.whitehartufford.co.uk @WhiteHartUfford The White Hart, Ufford

The White Hart has 12 beautifully appointed bedrooms, all offer complimentary WiFi, t ea and coffee making facilities, television and hairdryer. Dogs are welcome in two of our bedrooms 49

In The KITCHEN This delicious tart takes mere minutes to create and can be left baking whilst you get on with the main course. It’s also versatile enough to accommodate other fruit such as berries and plums...

CHERRY & VANILLA custard tart Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Cooking Time: 1 hour 25 minutes. Serves 10. Ingredients: Plain flour for dusting, 215g pastry, 4 egg yolks, 75g caster sugar, 250ml double cream, 1½ tsp vanilla extract, 400g can black cherries in light syrup drained, fresh nutmeg, to grate over Preheat the oven to 200˚C, gas mark 6. Unroll the pastry sheet and put it on a lightly floured surface. Roll so that it becomes slightly thinner, until it’s large enough to fit a 20cm fluted tart case (ideally about 3cm deep). Carefully lay the pastry in the tin, prick the base, then line with baking parchment and baking beans. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the parchment and beans and bake for another five minutes; set aside to cool for five minutes. Lower the oven to 170˚C, gas mark 3.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar, then whisk in the cream and vanilla extract. Scatter the cherries into the tart case and pour over the cream mixture. Grate over a little nutmeg and bake for 45 minutes to an hour until set with a slight wobble in the centre. Cool to room temperature (or chill overnight) before serving. If you prefer, you can replace the cherries with your favourite berries or perhaps sliced plums. n

Recipes & Dishes: Find thousands of recipes online at www.waitrose.com/recipes.

Wine of the Month

The spirit of summer Rutland distillery creates wonderful summer drinks

Ovens Farm, Bacchus, Louth, Lincolnshire. £12 / 75cl / 13%

Multum ‘Gin’ Parvo is the local distillery providing another reason to look forward to summer afternoons in the garden. The firm’s mission statement is simple; to provide beautiful gin from a beautiful county. Strawberry and Rutland Lavender gin must be the most wonderful flavour ever created by a local distillery, but the firm’s Earl Grey & Rutland Honey gin is also worth a look (and a sip). n £call / 40cl / 40% ABV

A wonderful white, and it’s local, produced in one of the most northerly vineyards in England. Pale gold hue. Aromatics of cut grass, complexed with lime blossom. The palate has notes of citrus fruits, hedgerow herbaceous character and a hint of green pepper to the finish. Dry, crisp, and clean palate with good structure and a long finish.

The Wine Cellar WE ARE CELEBRATING THE BEST OF BRITISH AS WE TOAST GREAT BRITISH FIZZ AND LOCALLY PRODUCED SPIRITS... PERFECT FOR AN AFTERNOON IN ISOLATION! ENGLISH ROSÉ GARDEN: Great British ﬁzz for those who ‘think pink...’ 3. Created in Kent, Hush Heath’s Balfour has a great mousse, summer fruit flavours and is regarded as one of England’s most exclusive pink fizz options; £38.99 / 75cl / 11.5%.

2. Predominantly Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier too, Nyetimber is produced in West Sussex. Red fruits but with lavender and anise to create a more complex flavour profile; £34.99 / 75cl / 12% ABV.

3. Produced in East Sussex, Ridgeview is as dry as they come, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with raspberry, strawberry and redcurrant flavours; £35 / 75cl / 12%.

Partner this wine with goats cheese or feta; herby dishes, particularly with basil, or coriander; or grilled sardines or mackerel. n 07919 320290, www.ovensfarm vineyard.com.

The Perfect Partner for your Pimm’s: Cucumber Spirit! A Great British Spirit, master distillers English Spirit have created the perfect partner for your Pimm’s, using sugar beet vodka and fresh cucumber. Fresh, fragrant, crisp cucumber on the nose, with a hint of white pepper. Silky smooth on the palate, with a honey-dew melon finish. A great partner to Pimm’s, but you can also serve it one to one with tonic and crushed ice; or use its as a great base for a Martini; see www.englishspirit.uk. £38 / 50cl / 42%

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

WELCOME HOME

Home on the HIGH STREET Uppingham’s old features and crumbling bricks is what gives the town its undeniable charm, and heritage is what Uppinghamians particularly adore about living here. It’s refreshing however to come across one of Uppingham’s historic townhouses that has retained these historic features but has also given way to comfortable modern living and contemporary style... Words: Tilly Wilkinson.

Simplicity, elegance and less is more is a style that is too often lost or overlooked nowadays with our transatlantic counterparts boasting bigger is better on all forms of media. There are still some people out there who fight to conserve a minimalist modern style of living, as is evident in this month’s featured home the Chesterton. Jamie and Louisa Coles with their two sons Jackson and Dylan have lived at the property for over three years, and are responsible for its renovations. “We moved to Uppingham from an old Victorian townhouse in Leicester,” says Jamie. “Prior to moving to Uppingham, we had frequented the town to visit my brother and his family who have lived here for over 15 years.” “On one occasion I recall in July 2017, Louisa and I walked through the town and up the High Street. The sun was shining and it was very peaceful, reminding us of various Cotswolds holidays.” “It was at that point that we decided that we would love to live here ourselves. We just fell in love with Uppingham as well as all of the surrounding villages, towns and the countryside. Rutland just has so much to offer for a young family.” Jamie is a professional photographer working out of Leicester and Louisa is a full time mum and part time interior design enthusiast.

“We purchased Chesterton in early 2017. We knew we wanted to buy it within five minutes of stepping through the front door onto the beautiful flagstone floor, making our way through into the walled garden at the back. The size of the property was another big attraction for us.” “The condition of the house was very tired; poorly lit with very old carpets, curtains and décor. The garden was overgrown and the 400 year old garden wall was falling down in places due to ivy ravaging it for the past 30 years. We knew we had a huge project on our hands but we could see the potential.” “On top of having all 16 rooms and the hall way decorated and new lighting throughout, the entire exterior has been painted including all 25 windows. The most difficult part of the renovation was having the garden wall rebuilt. It took months. The scaffolding was disruptive for our family and neighbours too.” The property dates back to 1849. Jamie and Louisa have all of the deeds from when it was 55

WELCOME HOME

Right: The main en suite. Top: The front sitting room is ďŹ lled with soft colours. Main: This is the main bedroom. Above: The gorgeous Butler sink in the kitchen.

first purchased up to the mid-1900s. “We love its period charm. One of our favourite rooms is the sitting room at the front. It’s just the right size to be cosy but not too small. Then through into the breakfast room, which we also use as a lounge in the evenings. It’s especially cosy when the wood burner is fired up.” The breakfast kitchen features flagstone floors, a Range style cooker, a Belfast sink with mixer taps, integrated fridge, three sash windows and a door onto the terrace. “Jackson and Dylan love their rooms and spend hours playing up there. For Louisa and I, our favourite is the master bedroom and ensuite. We have often used the dark grey Downpipe paint on previous houses but not to the extent we did here. Because of the huge sash windows, the room is flooded with light in the day and is nice and dark in the evening.” “The ensuite is right at the back of the house overlooking the garden. It’s perfectly quiet

and when lying in the bath, you can look out to the sky in summer and stars in the winter.” “There is so much we love about the house but for us, its the garden that we adore as a family. In the summer months, the sun hits the garden from 10am until it sets at around 8pm. We couldn’t believe how quiet it is too.” “The raised deck is perfect for entertaining, for barbecues and watching the sun set. The huge stone wall that surrounds the deck soaks up the sun all day and acts like a storage heater that keeps you warm for hours.” The garden also features storage space and studio above, perfect for those who from home with heating and lighting. It has a fabulous view of the gardens and the 17th century walls that surround it. “We believe the next owners will enjoy its serenity the most. It’s simply put a beautiful, quiet and private townhouse on the bustling Uppingham High Street, with an amazing private garden.”

CHESTERTON, UPPINGHAM Location: Right in the heart of Uppingham. Bedrooms: Six bedrooms, two with ensuites. Receptions: Three, currently arranged as a sitting room, breakfast room and study. Other Features: Separate office, walled garden and a cellar. Guide Price: £800,000. Find Out More: James Sellicks, 6-8 Market Place Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DT. Call 01572 724437 or visit the website www.jamessellicks.com.

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HOME FURNISHINGS

Summertime

BLUES According to the song by Eddie Cochrane, there ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t no cure for the summertime blues... but this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice of blue fabrics and wallcoverings is a veritable panacea for your home...

Each of our wallcovering and fabrics brands are stocked by local interior designers who can create bespoke furnishings for your home...

Top: Jane Churchill fabrics on cushions, Marley, Enmore, Calla, Brock, Lyra, Ellwood, Silvan, Rydall. Chair in Brock. Top/Right: Lotus wallpaper in Indigo by Harlequin. Right: Philippine Wallpaper designed by William Yeoward for Designersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guild.

Top: William Yeoward fabrics & wallcoverings for Designersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guild. Bottom: Florian fabrics by William Yeoward for Designersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guild.

Left: Clarke & Clarke, curtains in Glenmore Denim, sofa in Caledonia Navy, footstool in Loch Denim. Cushions in Aviemore Denim; Loch Denim; Glenmore Denim. Above: William Yeoward Delcia.

Right: Harlequin Parapet Indigo from the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Textured wallpaper collection. Top/Right: Zoffany Colmea lamps; Cushions in Zoffany Cassia.

Local Suppliers... Corner Farm, 01778 561333, www.cornerfarminteriors.co.uk. Delcor Interiors, Stamford 01780 762579 www.delcor.co.uk. H Works, Stamford 01780 754605 www.hworksdesign.co.uk. Hunters Interiors, Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD, 01780 757946 huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk. Lumison Lighting, Oakham, 01572 724600 www.lumisonlighting.co.uk. Sarah Harding Interiors, Uppingham, 01572 823389 www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk. n

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GARDENING

A GARDENER’S

WORLD The Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Sarah Furness, has a simply stunning garden, attracting many visitors year on year for her open day. She did not however expect to attract the attention of the BBC Show Gardener’s World...

WITH THE SUN SHINING across the county, it’s becoming difficult now more than ever to stay indoors. Rather than getting down about it, we thought we’d bring some outdoor beauty to you as we (figuratively speaking) wander the gardens of the Old Vicarage in Whissendine.

Gardener Adam Frost Adam Frost from Stamford is a regular on Gardener’s World, and visited Sarah’s garden for a feature on the TV Show. flowers of red, orange, blue It resulted in plenty and purple. The large borders of visitors!

Sarah Furness, Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, representative of her Majesty the Queen in the county of Rutland, loves allowing others to see the beautiful gardens she has created in the village.

“We open for the NGS and I occasionally open for local garden groups to visit,” says Sarah. “It is disappointing not to be able to do any of this this year.” Sarah has traced The Old Vicarage back to the 1700s but believes it is built on an older building. In the 18th century church records there is mention of a flower garden so there is history of gardening here. The house backs onto the churchyard and with help from the Brownies and village volunteers, it is now filled with flowers to encourage insect life within the grounds. There are 4,000 Camassias which form a sea of blue in early May, followed by Oxeye daisies. Sarah and her husband moved to The Old Vicarage over 30 years ago, overrun with bindweed and ground elder. For the first two years, every available moment was spent killing weeds. “It looked like a field with the remnants of a ‘dig for victory’ veg patch in the middle. We planted a yew hedge to divide off what became the main lawn surrounded by very deep borders from the orchard, greenhouse, hen home and beehives.” Sarah has certainly focused on theming her garden with colours. You’re greeted by Sarah’s ‘flame border’ bursting with bright 74

surrounding the lawn boast different shades of pink, while a secret path is lined with white flowers. Within the garden you can find an arched wisteria tunnel complete with a pebble mosaic path Sarah made herself. With the help from a famous local designer Bunny Guinness, the couple remade the terrace in front of the house. “It was a lesson in how a designer can help and save you money. Bunny suggested that I should not divide the terrace off from the lawn with a wall but instead have wide steps and a slope planted with box.” “Later, we knocked down a single garage, built an old brick building to house wood, working tools, cars, logs etc and create a fountain garden. I love this area especially.” Sarah acquired an old fountain at Newark Antiques for the garden. At the back of it sits a small Gothic orangery made by her husband, the windows echoing those of the church next door. The area is surrounded with soft orange and pink flowers.

Right: Sarah is the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, welcoming the royals on any duties they have in the county. She is responsible for most of what you see in the garden, with a helping hand from expert Bunny Guinness and her husband.

Main: Sarahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garden features an unbelievable amount of beautiful elements from the tulips and fountains to the topiary and handmade greenhouse.

Sarah’s garden produces eggs, honey, apples, pears, quince, greengages, gooseberries, black, white and red currants, asparagus, kale and a few other vegetables. “I love my hens - they are companionable and make such expressive noises. Happy hens make a contended murmur that is very soothing. With most of my appointments cancelled I now have time to stop and stare.” “Watching seasonal change is also a delight. Early in the year there are winter aconites and snowdrops followed by crocus, scillas, cowslips, oxslips and fruit blossom. May is full of flower. This year the peonies promise to be exceptional because we had such a lot of rain and they like water.” “I adore scented plants and in early summer there are lots of roses climbing into the trees. On a warm evening the scent is stunning.”

“After my garden was featured on Gardener’s World, Monty Don recommended visiting on our open day. As a result, hundreds of people came!” Not only has the garden attracted the attention of the public and gardening enthusiasts, but producers too. Sarah was asked to be featured on Gardener’s World earlier last year. “They rang me at the end of April last year out of the blue with about four days’ notice! There was some frantic gardening done in the intervening time fitted in between my Lord-Lieutenant commitments. Adam Frost, a local and a hero of mine, was delightful,

complimentary and made me relax. I had thought it would be nerve wracking but actually it was very enjoyable. The camera crew were fantastic and did a great job.” “Monty Don recommended visiting on Gardener’s World two days before the NGS opening. We were inundated!” “The takings for charity were tremendous and the church served hundreds of teas. The poor ladies were run off their feet but we all enjoyed introducing people to our stunning village of Whissendine. We’re so grateful that last year’s event was such a hit, since we won’t be able to raise any money for the various charities this year.” Sarah assures us that they will be back up and running next year and we’ll keep you in the loop for when the dates are made to see this incredible garden for yourself.

BUTTERFLIES

Earning Their

WINGS Butterﬂies are fascinating creatures that we should be starting to see more of this summer. This month we’re discovering why the species is so special, what butterﬂies you should be able to spot and looking at some particularly rare ones... Words: Sami Millard.

AT A TIME WHEN WE are being encouraged to spend more time in our homes, a way to look after our mental health is by spending time in our gardens. Gardens across the UK have already started waking up to spring and a new addition is the majestic butterfly. Many butterflies have already started to come out of their winter hibernation from the dry cracks in rocks or protected tree hollows to welcome in the new season and be the first to show their wings. You may have even spotted some of them exercise their wings during the sunnier days in early spring. Soon, all of the freshly emerged butterflies will open their wings for the first time and take flight. The sight of brightly coloured butterflies gliding across the garden or feasting on flowers is a welcome sign that the warmer months are coming and everything is about to be green and colourful again. Brimstone butterflies are the first to be seen each year. They have bright yellow-green markings on the wings which makes them hard to mistake for anything else, and they are usually seen feeding on buckthorn plants. You should be able to see newly emerged orange tipped butterflies - the males are easily identified by the orange tip on the forewings. It’s very hard to miss the peacock butterfly with its bold red colour and four beady ‘eyes’ on its wings. These markings are to deter predators and the peacock even creates a

hissing sound as protection. Keep a look out for blue markings at the edge of the wings as you might be mistaking a peacock for a tortoiseshell butterfly. We spoke to Richard Fox, Associate Director of Butterfly Conservations, in early April when we had a bout of warm weather. “There are a surprising number of species of butterfly which are going out of hibernation already,” says Richard. “In just the last few days we have had recorded sights of brimstone, peacock, small tortoiseshell and red admiral all getting active as the weather is warming.” “There’s so much life waking up for spring in our gardens and outdoor spaces and many of us might have a bit more opportunity to explore them than usual,” says Julie Williams, Chief Executive at Butterfly Conservations. “It’s proven that time in nature can have beneficial effects on your mental health.” 81

BUTTERFLIES

Right: The orange tip butterfly covered in a dusting of pollen. Above: Small tortoiseshell butterfly. Top: The swallowtail butterfly. Main: Probably the most recognisable and the one you will most likely spot out in the garden, the peacock butterfly.

Butterflies are such a special yet vital creature that also happens to make our world a little more colourful. The distinct patterns and colouration of each species and the dainty fluttering of their wings through our gardens and parks is a welcome sight, but importantly, they drink nectar from blossoming flowers, accidentally pollinating other flowers to keep our green spaces flourishing. Like bees, butterflies pick up pollen while they sip a flowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nectar. They fly off to other plants carrying the pollen with them, helping to pollinate the plant species.

is part of what makes watching butterflies so fascinating. When a butterfly first emerges with wings crumpled you will often see the butterfly hang with its wings down, pumping the wings to straighten them out. The lifespan of most adult butterflies is about two to three weeks but varies greatly among species. In their lifespan, the female butterflies must find a mate and the right plants on which to lay their eggs to begin the butterfly life cycle all over again.

It is said that around one third of the food people eat relies on the work of pollinators such as butterflies so we need to do all we can to keep them in our ecosystem.

As summer starts to arrive, many butterflies start to disappear and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for some of the most beautiful butterflies to shine. This includes the swallowtail, black hairstreak, large blue, marsh fritillary and the glanville fritillary.

The life cycle of a butterfly is truly amazing, each following the same four life stages; the egg, the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and finally the magnificent adult butterfly. Each stage is unique to each species of butterflies, which

Sadly, the butterfly populations are at risk due to environmental pressures like habitat loss. Fortunately, we can all take small actions that can help ensure the survival of the butterfly race.

One way to do this is to create butterfly habitats and bug hotels in your own garden, with three key factors that allow butterflies of all varieties to thrive; food, water and a safe space to lay their eggs. Each different variety of butterfly chooses different plants to lay their eggs on and different plants to feed on but with a little research, each one of us can help keep these sun-loving creatures alive. By creating more butterfly-friendly gardens, you are helping to restore the species. Some species can be helped by simply taking care when choosing garden flowers and selecting ones that help them flourish. Introducing flowers such as bluebells, lavender, primrose or red campions will help the butterflies flock to your garden, enjoying the sunshine sheltered from the wind. If you have a garden to enjoy, why not plant some butterfly-friendly plants of your own and see these beautiful creatures flutter through your gardens for years to come. 83

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1. The Camberwell Beauty This pretty little chocolate butterﬂy visits from Scandinavia very occasionally, ﬁrst spotted in London in 1748. It was so unexpected that is was named the Great Surprise for a period of time.

4. Large Blue The remarkable life cycle of this butterﬂy involves the larvae dropping from wild thyme to be picked up by red ants and carried back to their nests where they feed on ant grubs. As this occurrence is rare, the species is therefore very rare.

6. Essex Emerald So this is more of a moth, but the Essex Emerald is so rare that it is presumed extinct. The last time it was spotted was in Essex in the 1990s. They hide themselves by attaching plants to their bodies. The question is are they extinct or are they just good at hiding?

8. Silver Washed Fritillary This beautiful spotted butterﬂy was declining towards the end of the twentieth century, but it has seen a rise in numbers recently! It’s more common further south but there have been sightings around these parts so look out for them in your garden!

2. Swallowtail This poor butterﬂy is suffering badly. Milk parsley, on which its larvae mainly feed, is now becoming increasingly rare because the fenland areas on which it grows are being drained for agriculture, and because of the use of agricultural weedkillers.

3. Adonis This beautiful bright blue butterﬂy is also in decline. This is largely due to the sheep numbers dropping due to economic pressures and rabbit populations as a result of myxomatosis; coarse grasses now replace what they fed on and what the Adonis feeds on.

10 RARE BUTTERFLIES TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR GARDEN

5. Monarch You will have most likely heard of this butterﬂy. It’s rare in the UK but common in America. It’s mostly known for travelling incredible distances from Canada to Mexico, one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world.

You may be used to seeing the peacock butterfly bless your garden with its bright colours and unique predator deterring spots, but what about this collection? This is a handful of some of the more difficult to spot species. It’s worth clarifying that these species are not particularly in danger, but they are rare to be spotted in Britain...

9. White Admiral The butterﬂy has seen rapid decline in recent years. They lay eggs on honeysuckle in shady areas and are often confused with purple emperors. They are found nectaring on bramble ﬂowers usually in rides and clearings. Sometimes it doesn’t have a blue trim.

7. Purple Emperor This very bright butterﬂy can be seen in the treetops of well-wooded landscapes where it feeds on aphid honeydew and tree sap. It’s elusive and a lot more common further south and very rare round these parts of the country.

10. Speckled Yellow This is actually a common moth in the UK but it’s not often spotted around these parts. It’s often found in woodland but you will also be able to ﬁnd them in scrubby areas. They like to feed on wood sage mainly.

Danish Dreams Works from the Royal Copenhagen factory continue to be collected in great number, with buyers continuing to purchase figure groups from this European heavyweight in large number. Looking at the Post Modern design and style associated with the pieces commonly seen at our three Lincolnshire salerooms, one would assume the history of the Royal Copenhagen factory was a recent one. Nothing could be further from the truth as you have to go back to 1775 to find its starting date. The chemist Franz Heinrich Muller is credited for its creation and with his 50 year monopoly gave the factory a firm footing. By 1779 its finances were the responsibility of the Danish Royal Family when it was rebranded as the Royal Porcelain Factory. It was indeed Royal links which assumed the more famous designs of the company with the most famous Floral Dancia pattern pieces being made as gifts for Catherine II of Russia. With the familiarity of the green three wavy line mark and the post modern later pieces being made in association with the likes of Georg Jensen and the Holmegaard Glass works, it is somewhat a surprise that Royal Copenhagen has been in existence for the thick end of 260 years producing elegant tableware and high class and large pieces which would grace any sideboard throughout Europe from the Royal Family downwards.

Production has remained in rude health since its inception. Bing and Grandahl added a collectable edge to the works with the introduction of their Christmas plates in 1895, with moulds being destroyed, so more could not be made. This led to a large collecting field which has continued along with the popularity of the more traditional figures, animals and birds we see today. The large horse illustrated proves the skill of the factory. A rare, enormous piece which proves the ability of Royal Copenhagen; a work immensely difficult to fire at such size and an object which has been produced that classically illustrates the modernist pieces associated with the factory in recent times, it sold recently at our Grantham Rooms for £360. Objects are now produced under the name Royal Copenhagen at sites in Thailand. What hasn’t been lost from this Far East move is the quality, craftsmanship and modern design associated with this magnificent factory, which continues to attract buyers in large number who collect nothing other than this most famous of names. n Find Out More: Craig Bewick is an antiques specialist with Golding, Young & Mawer: The Bourne Auction Rooms, Spalding Road, Bourne PE10 9LE, 01778 422686; The Grantham Auction Rooms, Old Wharf Road, Grantham NG31 7AA, 01476 565118; The Stamford Valuation Ofﬁce, The George Mews, Station Road, Stamford PE9 2LB, 01780 751666 or The Lincoln Auction Rooms, Thos Mawer House Station Road, North Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 3QY, 01522 524984. Alternatively, see www.goldingyoung.com.

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Visit goldingyoung.com for catalogues, sale results, services & contact details. 86

LIFE ON THE ROAD

Carving Out a

LIVING Gypsies are surrounded with negative stereotypes, but the simple and traditional way of life Wilf and Steph live - away from the gaudy white caravans - is admirable. The couple are creative, crafting sculptures of wood and painting beautiful ﬂoral slates... Images: Jonathan Scrimshaw at Instinctive Photography.

THERE’S A REAL BUZZ surrounding Wilf ’s work. Chainsaws are of course not one of the traditional implements we’re encouraged to play about with, but rather, entirely lethal devices which should be used solely for their intended purpose and even then, with great respect and conservatism. But whilst Wilf has a tremendous sense of respect for the machines, and rather soberly acknowledges the potential consequences of one slip up, the fact remains his deft touch with a 60mph petrol-powered chain does yield the ability to create incredible woodwork for all to enjoy. Chainsaw carver Wilf and artist partner Steph have been enjoying meeting and greeting the good people of Rutland, inspiring and educating people on the traditional folk way of living. There is a lot of misconceptions and a huge stigma around the subject of travellers and their chosen lifestyle but everything the couple do is designed to educate and treat the environment well. People are often surprised and happy to find how kind and down to earth the couple are. After meeting Wilf and Steph, the feedback from people is 99% positive. Although not every person chooses to say it, the truth is visible in the amount of returning customers and positive messages left on their social

media of people remembering their names and checking how they are. “We have been overwhelmed by the interest and kindness people have shown,” says Steph. “Everyone is interested in our lifestyle and artwork, it’s so lovely and we seem to make new friends everywhere we go. This leads to commissions for our pieces and invites to show what we do at local events. People are just so kind.” Wilf and Steph have both built their own wagons and are self-taught in their respective arts, with a little help from other travellers. The horse drawn travelling lifestyle is new to both of them, only taking up the lifestyle in recent years, but they have already clocked up a few miles touring the Midlands, West Country and further south with their two horses and amazing dogs Blue and Bodger. They love the pace of travel, which really helps them look at everything to be seen. 89

When asked what the initial appeal to living in a wagon was, Wilf explained that it wasn’t a ‘big white caravan,’ which is the alternative for travellers on the road all the time. Both Wilf and Steph were drawn to the life as they like the old school way of doing things. They both foraging for wild greens and going hunting for rabbits. “The appeal of the old-fashioned way for me was that I always wanted a horse,” says Steph. “The idea of doing it really slowly and being more environmentally conscious is a big pull for me.”

Gloucester-born Wilf spent his childhood with his new age traveller family, living on a bus and working festivals and events across the country before they set up residence in a house. At the age of just 16, Wilf set out travelling again as he simply couldn’t adjust to being in one place. He’d grown up with travel and nature and longed for it back. Wilf has been a self-taught chainsaw carver from the age of 19 but he picked up his first chainsaw at the age of 11 when his friends showed him how to make a mushroom.

Steph built a wagon on an old caravan chassis towed by a four wheel drive that used a lot of fuel. It was around the time when there were huge protests about environmental awareness and it hit home with Steph.

His skills have come a long way since then and he’s even started to do hand carving, creating all sorts of cutlery. Wilf works entirely by eye, letting some timber grains guide him in his creativeness.

She began to feel hypocritical when she agreed with a lot of what they were saying, so she found a driving horse to steer her living in another direction.

Steering away from using specialist tools, occasionally he’s found using chisels but is usually drawn towards tools that you would find in your local hardware store.

“We like to support the local economy wherever we go, using wood from local tree surgeons and fresh produce from local farm shops...”

“90% of my work is chainsaw apart from the eyes and smooth textures. All the details from the texture of fur to the ears is mainly chainsaw.” With Wilf and Steph choosing to live off the grid, they use solar energy, but the tools of his work are powered by a 750-Watt suitcase generator. From chainsaws, angle grinders die grinders and even blow torches, he creates his pieces of art. Steph is from Croxton Kerrial and is relatively new to the travelling life. Steph is a chef turned artist and has always loved her horses. She fell in love with new horse drawn travelling, which also brought her and Wilf together. Painting in several styles, which she also teaches on site at their camp, Steph’s work ranges from painting on wagons, narrow boats and vintage cars to slate and metal household goods. Her main painting style is traditional folk art using flowers and scrollwork like what you would see featured on traditional

old carnival rides or on gypsy wagons. She gets the majority of her commissions through social media. Not one to waste a thing even down to the paint she mixes, Steph has started to paint wooden pegs in the same style as thank you gifts to people that buy from the pair or even as a little gift to share the love and passion for their work. Wilf and Steph are big believers in supporting the local economy and community wherever they go, sourcing well-seasoned larch and western red cedar from local tree surgeons and fresh produce from farm shops and local groceries. Not forgetting farriers and vets to look after their horses and dogs. “I don’t really have a favourite piece that I’ve done,” says Wilf. “It’s less about the finished piece but more about the reaction and thanks he gets from the owner of it.” “Wilf once made a little wooden bear that a man had bought for his baby granddaughter

and he got all choked up when he saw a photo of the two together,” says Steph. “It’s more rewarding than anything when someone is really happy and appreciating of what we have done. We get more joy out of that than anything.” Their simple way of life really does mean going back to basics. “A great bonus of outdoor living is the beauty of a campfire; we seldom resort to the gas stove, cooking all of our meals outdoors.” Their Jack Russel Bodger is named after woodsmen who would make chairs in the woods. Blue is wall eyed, named after his one blue eye. Both dogs are adored and spoilt by everyone who meets them.

LIFE ON THE ROAD

Above: One of the beautiful horses that carts the couple around the country, Wilf carving an owl, a selection of tools he uses and Blue and Bodger. Main: The couple enjoying the view from their wagon, with their very talented pups!

This summer will be spent in Oakham. With the current situation, all the festivals they were planning to attend have been cancelled. The couple are a little worried but with the old school way of living, they have found ways to adapt. Instead of nipping to the local shop, with the permission of a local farmer, Wilf is shooting game birds for meat and Steph is foraging along the hedgerows. They’re close to Steph’s mum’s house currently which means they can get eggs and homemade bread. “We have had to slam the breaks on and re-adapt to live, making spoon carvings and fixing things that we have been putting off because we were just too busy.”

“I get so much more satisfaction from the happiness of my clients than I do from finishing a piece of work...” much more detail behind how they got into the lifestyle and how they do it. To this day, Wilf carries around a newspaper cutting in his wallet from their visit to Stratford Upon Avon where one lady praised how they left the site.

They are starting to venture into click and collect for online orders where people can pay online and come to collect their items.

They both show pride in what they are trying to achieve, getting the positive image across, being tidy and horse drawn. They treat it as a public service.

Steph has also taken the extra time as an excuse to sit and finish typing up a book she has been working on. She is hoping for it to be out this summer, and it tells the story in

“We let the children see the horses. There are so many children that have had their first sit on a pony with my girls. It’s been fantastic over the last couple of years.”

The couple are still hopeful for a good year despite the circumstances, with a long-term plan of owning a small piece of land, following in the footsteps of their parents with a small holding. It really is inspiring what they have been able to create. From the detailed carvings in their woodwork to the soft strokes of paint on the wagon, and just their way of sustaining themselves and living this unique life is admirable. It’s something many people dream of doing; simply getting away from the nine till five and just living life. I have all the hope that this astounding couple will reach their dreams and continue to bring joy to all the people they meet. Check out Wilf ’s Wonky Woodwork on Facebook to buy or commission your own wooden structure. Steph is currently writing a book about the couple’s unique way of living. Find updates on her Facebook Page called ‘Midnight Flit - Stories from the Wagon.’ 93

How beautiful looking Windows and Doors can add value to your house Selling your house and hoping to move in today’s tough market conditions isn’t easy and where there is property for sale, it’s certainly is a buyers’ market... So much so, in fact that most people are just not taking the chance as there is uncertainty regarding the value to be achieved. Notwithstanding the improving economy and jobs market the recent threat by a change in Government to introduce penal taxes on middle incomes and a mansion tax hasn’t helped but that is now behind us, with a new decisive administration the whole of the housing market is about to start moving from the top end to the bottom so all this will result in increased housing transactions. Few would argue that the street presentation of the house is the biggest selling feature and nothing adds more to this than well designed and made windows and doors, these can easily sway potential buyers from the very first look when approaching the house, if you do not have this wow! Factor and you are in the fortunate position of having the extra spending power; then now its springtime it is time to act. New windows and doors will really turn your house into something to admire and want. Timber has become the first choice to be used as the frame material to support the glazing now used in the products. Whilst this is largely driven by the very real ‘green’ credentials that timber offers it is also due to the massive improvements in product design and quality, made by the timber windows and doors manufacturing Industry.

Today’s timber windows and doors are built using engineered timber components made up of clean laminated and finger jointed sections. These are produced at the source in or near the sawmill and forests which are recognised as being sustainable. They are also finished using environmentally friendly long-life paint finishes with 8 to 10 year in use warranties, giving maintenance costs favourable to other frame materials. Timber windows and doors which are made from the earth’s only renewable natural material can provide your required light and energy efficiency requirements for the future and meet the drive for Zero carbon. But it’s not just the performance of the products that win the day when choosing the material for your frames, look what timber can do for the look of your house. Fine joinery joints and sections were used traditionally in the period houses that still stand today and are what most people aspire to own so when it comes to replicating those features timber as always must be the choice today. Timber is natural, warm to the touch; double glazing is standard and now can be maintained just like other materials. It seems to be the material now and for the future. The New Window Company has extensive showrooms at Freiston Heath Caythorpe where you can touch and feel real working models. All products offered are installed by The New Window Company’s own and experienced fitters. n

Find Out More: New Window Company is based at Elms Farm, The Old Barn, Frieston Heath Lane, Grantham NG32 3HD. For a free no obligation discussion about your property’s needs call 01400 272538 or see www.new-window.co.uk.

WEDDINGS

LOVE IS BLOOMING Andrew and Annabel chose to trust their suppliers with their creativity and in turn, had the wedding of their dreams at Stapleford Park. From the designer wedding dress to the cascading displays of ﬂowers, this couple saw their creative vision for a ‘happy ever after’ successfully realised... Photographer: Rachael Connerton, www.rachaelconnertonphotography.co.uk

Stapleford Park is a gorgeous venue, but when a couple like Andrew and Annabel choose to put it in the hands of a dream wedding team, it’s incredible. Locals Andrew and Annabel met on a night out through mutual friends seven years ago in 2013 and have not looked back.

WEDDING SUPPLIERS ANDREW & ANNABEL

“I purchased my dress from Suzanne Neville’s flagship Knightsbridge store which meant that Suzanne herself did my first fitting that was a very special experience!”

“We started planning our wedding in the October following our engagement. Our venue was the first thing that we planned, we went to view a couple of different venues but Stapleford Park was the one that stood out. We just fell in love with it as soon as we saw it.”

“We also wanted a venue which had a Church in the grounds so that we could have the ceremony and reception in the same location. The staff were wonderful and their attention to detail meant that the whole day went smoothly.” “We have already been back to Stapleford several times to celebrate family occasions as it holds such special memories for us.” “I didn’t have a set vision for my wedding dress; once you start trying on different styles in boutiques you soon realise that the styles

“When I tried on the dress that I eventually chose, I knew immediately that it was the dress for me. It is hard to explain but you definitely get a feeling which means you know it is right for you!” Annabel’s wedding dress was designed by Suzanne Neville. It was a classic elegant style and long sleeved in crepe with a lace back which she had beaded.

“Andrew proposed in September 2017 whilst we were away for weekend at Sopwell House in St Albans,” says Annabel. “It was the most beautiful luxury country house, and the perfect setting.”

“Stapleford Park has an impact from the moment you drive through the entrance towards the main house as it is surrounded by open fields and beautiful gardens. The gardens were the perfect backdrop for our wedding photographs!”

you first have your heart set on are not neccessarily the styles that suit you best.”

“Once I found my dress I kept any details a secret from everyone but my Mum and Sister. It was interesting to hear what friends and family thought I might have chosen.” Andrew and Annabel chose local businesses to help them with their special day. Wedding Venue Stapleford Park, 01572 898687, www.staplefordpark.com. Florist Sophie’s Flower Co., 01949 81199, www.sophiesﬂowerco.co.uk. Cake The Confetti Cakery, 07595 340032, www.theconfetticakery.co.uk Stationery Rose Press www.rosepress.co.uk Toastmaster Geoffrey Harris, 01664 434565, www.classinacoat.co.uk.

“They were amazing and exceeded our expectations. Andrew and I are not that creative so with all the suppliers, we gave them our trust to design something based on the preferences we had given.” “In the lead up to the day, everyone tells you that it goes by in a blur and it certainly does! It is definitely one of the most surreal and memorable days.” “It is very hard to narrow down the most memorable moments of the day. The first time your family and bridal party see you in your wedding dress, those precious moments with your family, walking down the aisle there are so, so many!” 97

- WEDDINGS -

“Your wedding day is definitely one of the most surreal and memorable days. Just trust your suppliers and enjoy it!”

“Before entering our wedding breakfast, our Toastmaster Geoff - who is amazing - gave us a few minutes to spend together, just the two of us, which was really needed as it was probably one of the few times we had together during the day.” “We also had a firework display in the evening which was fabulous and one of the most memorable things.” “It can at times feel like things might not be going your way but it is a day for you two so it is important to remember that as long as you are happy together, that is all that really matters.” “You can spend a lot of time worrying about guests and making sure everyone else is happy but our venue kept reminding us “It’s your day, go for what you want!” and I couldn’t agree more.” “Our honeymoon was beautiful. We got married on the Saturday and flew to the Seychelles on the Monday. We fell in love with the Indian Ocean on a previous holiday to Mauritius and couldn’t wait to get back and explore a different Island. It was simply the finishing touch on a fabulous wedding.” Photographer: Rachael Connerton, www.rachaelconnertonphotography.co.uk

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COMFORTS You may be in isolation but there’s no reason why you can’t do it in style! Instead of ball gowns and bespoke suits, this month we present outﬁts that are a little more comfortable from designer Betty & Co... This This Page: Page: Colourful Colourful patterned patterned blouse, blouse, £45. £45.

The blonde model wears a suede cardigan (£70), simple, neutral top (£45) and light grey comfy trousers (£80) to finish the look. The brunette model sports a cardigan (£90), striped top (£45) and navy trousers (£80) that tie at the waist as seen on this image.

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- FASHION -

On this page, the blonde model wears a beautiful teal pullover (£80) and navy trousers with an elasticated waist (£80). For a look that’s a little less casual, the brunette model wears a gorgeous cashmere cardigan (£115), printed blouse (£85) and navy trousers (£115).

Betty & Co can be found at House of Fraser and John Lewis.

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On this page, the model’s cardigan (£80) goes together effortlessly with the matching baby blue top (£45) and floral printed skirt (£80). On the opposite page, the model is positively pink with a beautiful pink blouse (£80) that allows the punchy floral trousers (£80) to really stand out.

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- FASHION -

Top/Left: Denim jacket (£115) and dress (£105). Top/Right: Navy jacket (£90), blouse (£70) and chino trousers (£90). Bottom/Left: Top (£45) and trousers (£105). Bottom/Right: Striped summer dress (£90). Opposite: White pullover (£80), white top (£20) and trousers (£80). Blouse (£55) and trousers (£70).

You can find all featured products online at www.johnlewis.com or www.houseoffraser.co.uk.

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T H E

L U X U RY

B R A N D

From a cleaner to a celebrity shoemaker, Jimmy Choo’s career is one of hard work, style and elite clientele. Style icons from celebrities to royalty, musicians to heads of state have all fallen head over heels for Jimmy Choo... Jimmy Choo is now a household name, associated with glamour, luxury and most iconically, shoes. Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat was born in Penang in Malaysia in 1948. Jimmy’s father was a shoemaker and Jimmy was immersed into the world of shoemaking from an early age. He made his first shoe - a pair of slippers - when he was just 11 years old. “When I first started, my father wouldn’t let me make a shoe,” recalled the designer. “Instead, he told me to ‘sit and watch, sit and watch.’ I did just that for months and months.” Jimmy moved to London in the early 1980s to study at Cordwainer’s Technical College, now part of the London College of Fashion. He worked in restaurants and often took work as cleaner in order to pay for his studies. In 1983, Jimmy graduated with honours and chose to remain in England, opening his first shop in Hackney in 1986 in an old hospital building. Jimmy designed custom-made shoes, an idea that spread like wildfire, and it wasn’t long before Jimmy’s craftsmanship and designs were noticed by the fashion world. Jimmy had an eye for detail that no one else seemed to offer and in 1988, British Vogue featured Jimmy’s shoes in an unprecedented four-spread feature. Jimmy Choo soon became the darling of the celebrity world and his shoes were particularly patronaged by Diana, Princess of Wales.

handmade pairs of shoes per week. Tamara Mellon, Accessories Editor of British Vogue magazine approached Jimmy about partnering to create a line of ready-to-wear footwear for the global jetsetter. In 1996, Jimmy co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with Tamara Mellon and his niece, Sandra Choi. The company quickly established its brand as the height of glamour with fashionable designs and exceptional Italian craftsmanship. The first Jimmy Choo store opened in 1996 on Motcomb Street in London and the brand went global. “The lightbulb moment was when Princess Diana first stepped on to the red carpet wearing our shoes in 1997,” says Sandra Choi. The image of Princess Diana emerging from her car in a powder blue mini dress with matching Jimmy Choo slingbacks was shared around the world, cementing Jimmy Choo shoes in the hearts, minds and on the wishlists of women everywhere. By the late 1990s, Jimmy Choo had stores in Los Angeles and New York and a lineup of adoring Hollywood celebrities that included Julia Roberts and Renee Zellweger. The television program ‘Sex and the City’ increased the shoes iconic status. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw has a Cinderella moment in season three whilst running for the Staten Island Ferry exclaiming “I lost my Choo!” Featuring heavily in the programs, the Jimmy Choo shoe became a status in popular culture. “With no man in sight, I decided to rescue my ankles from a life of boredom by purchasing far too many pairs of Jimmy

Despite the rise of his popularity, Jimmy was still a very small operation, producing just 20

Three Things You Didn’t Know About Jimmy Choo... HIS FIRST STORE WAS A HOSPITAL Choo’s story really is one of rags to riches. His very ﬁrst shop was in the former Metropolitan Hospital in Hackney in London, selling bespoke handmade shoes under the name of Lucky Shoes.

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HE IS A TEACHER AND LECTURER TOO As a devout Buddhist, he places great emphasis on education and shares his trade secrets to a select group of pupils. He has been awarded an OBE and the Malaysian Dato title for his services.

77 PAIRS WERE MADE FOR LEGALLY BLONDE 77 custom Jimmy Choo shoes were designed and made especially for the film Legally Blonde 2. Reese Witherspoon (Elle Woods in the film) wisely added to her contract that she would keep all 77 pairs after filming!

Main: The worldrenowned master shoemaker, Jimmy Choo holding one of his latest designs.

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Choo shoes,” Carrie Bradshaw proclaimed in one of the episodes. The huge success of the womenswear oriented brand led to a menswear collection which launched in 1999. By the turn of the century, Jimmy Choo’s footwear was available at high-end retailers including Harrods and Saks Fifth Avenue and the brand chose to expand to handbags and other accessories. International expansion continued with Jimmy Choo securing locations in the premiere luxury shopping destinations of the world’s most prestigious cities including Sloane Street and Bond Street in London, Avenue Montaigne in Paris, Via Condotti in Rome, Madison Avenue in New York, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and Ginza in Tokyo. Even though the brand was reaching heights every designer dreamed off, all was not well in the background. Jimmy and Tamara were at odds with one another which became one of the most fascinating rifts in the history of the fashion industry. 114

“Jimmy Choo wanted to go back to his roots, making bespoke shoes for individual clients and walk away from the global fashion brand...” Jimmy didn’t think bigger was better and longed for the days when he was back in his shop in Hackney making a small number of customised footwear for specific clients. In 2001, Jimmy sold his half of the company to Robert Bensoussan of Equinox Luxury Holdings for the eye-watering amount of $30,000,000. Since 2001, parts of the company have been sold and acquired. In 2014 Jimmy Choo became the first luxury footwear brand to go public, and about 25% of the company was sold giving it a market capitalisation of about $870,000,000, and its latest sale was in July 2017 when Jimmy Choo was acquired by the fashion brand Micheal Kors.

Sandra Choi is still creative director of the company and her shoes are a favourite of Michelle Obama and the Duchess of Cambridge. Sandra Choi has let slip than she owns at least 600 pairs of shoes in her own private collection! “I remember moments in life by the shoes I had on,” says Sandra. “For example, the first time I met my husband, I was wearing tan sandals with studs.” Today, Jimmy Choo has returned to his roots and is the owner of a small boutique in London, which services as the headquarters for the exclusive Jimmy Choo couture line. Jimmy hand crafts a small number of pairs of shoes each week and trains a select group of students on how to make high-end footwear. Over 24 years Jimmy Choo has grown from a modest start up to a global and iconic brand. Jimmy Choo is a pioneer in the fashion industry and most certainly A-List approved.

SUMMER SHOES

The Lance

The Romy

The Annie

One of Jimmy Choo’s most iconic heels, the Lance has been a red carpet regular, £595.

The classic pump, Jimmy Choo includes this in every season in a plethora of styles, £550.

This retro-inspired heel is reminiscent of old Hollywood and is simply glamorous, £525.

IF THE

CHOO FITS

The Ivy Choo’s classic sophisticated slingback pumps are best represented in the Ivy, £495.

If you’re looking for the very best Choos, we’ve picked a handful of the most iconic styles from the brand that will make you fall head over heels in love...

The Bing You can see a princess attending a ball with these slip-on style bling pumps on, £750.

The Baily

The Alia

The Love

It’s the glitz and glamour of pearls and crystals that makes Choos so recognisable £1,995.

Layered in Swarovski crystals, the Alia should belong in a glass display cabinet, £2,995.

These glitter dégradé fabric pumps cut a little higher on the foot for more coverage, £550.

All of our featured shoes are available online and at selected retailers. Visit www.jimmychoo.com for more information.

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COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE VERY BEST DENTAL HEALTH CARE... “Before I joined the Dental Health Centre about two years ago my teeth weren’t in good shape. I happened to pick up a copy of Lincolnshire Pride in my local restaurant and read a feature on the Dental Health Centre. I have since had two implants, one at the front and one at the side, which is a double one, as well as a bridge. The care I have received has been absolutely fantastic and the change my treatment has made to my life has been very dramatic...” Steve Finn, Newark

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SUMMER BEAUTY

Falling for Florals THIS MONTH WE’RE TAKING INSPIRATION FROM AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN TO SUGGEST SUMMER COSMETICS WITH A FEEL GOOD FACTOR AND SOME GENTLE FRAGRANCE TOO...

1. Summer Daydreams from Diptyque... Telling the story of daydreams, says the blurb. L’Ombre dans l’Eau from Diptyque is a new limited edition perfume with floral scents. It is said to evoke ‘a calm river, a summer slumber under a weeping willow...’ Combining the floral intensity of roses with the acidulated accents of blackcurrant leaves and buds. £98 / 100ml.

5. All White, Day or Night... We adore The White Company and its clean, crisp, fuss-free approach to style, as well as the quality of its products. Enjoy a little bit of White Company luxury every day with the brand’s bath and shower gel and body lotion in Flowers scent. The company says it has ‘uplifting notes of just-picked jasmine, rose, neroli, lavender and geranium. Just lovely...! £15 / 250ml.

2. Cheek to Chic... New from Nars is Overlust. This trio of powder blushes provide gentle warm colour, while gel-to-powder highlighters provide a pearlescent shimmer on top. Shimmering Champagne, golden bronze and rose bronze highlight shades, and soft rose, nude peach and dusty mauve blushes, £46.

3. YSL’s Hot Shot... Pure Shots is YSL’s new range of serums, from Night Reboot, Light Up, Y-Shape and Lines Away. The serum is lightweight in texture and robust in performance, for lighter, softer, healthier looking skin, £59.

6. A Corrale that’s more than just OK... Great news for anyone with frizzy hair to heat up and money to burn. Bagless vacuum cleaner brand Dyson has supplemented its Supersonic hair dryer with its new Corrale hair straighteners. Justifying the eye-watering price of £399 are corded and cord-free use and flexing plates to better gather hair. n

4. Rose Hydration... For English roses seeking a little hydration around the delicate skin of the eye area comes Rose Hydrating Eye Gel from pure beauty specialists Fresh. Rosewater, cucumber and HLA based, £34.

n All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, please note that prices stated are RRP and may vary according to retailer. 117

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THIS MONTH: REFLECTING ON FOUR YEARS OF THE RUTLAND SHOW... Unfortunately, the event of the year - the Rutland Show - has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus. We’ve been attending the show for years and it breaks our heart that we can’t see all our lovely readers this year. To make up for it, we’re reﬂecting on the past few years of the show and some of the highlights. Thanks for always supporting us and coming to say hello - see you next year!

To feature your event call 01529 469977. Our magazines are free to read online, so you can share the magazine with your friends. Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk. 123

A Rainy Day at the

Rutland Show 2019 THE RUTLAND SHOW is the main event in our calendar. The annual show is always incredible but it’s with deep regret that this has been understandably cancelled this year due to the pandemic. Instead of getting upset about it, we’re reﬂecting on the last four years of the Rutland Show! We’re blessed with scorching early summer weather at the Show or drizzly overcast skies. There seems to be in between, and unfortunately 2019’s show had more of the latter! Despite the cold weather, crowds of people still turned up to the event to see the horse jumping, dressage, sheep shows, hounds and of course all the farming and livestock shows. I think what we love so much about the Rutland Show is the resilience of Rutlanders; even on the coldest of days, thousands of people will still attend to browse the stalls, watch main ring entertainment and support the local area.

Photos: Rob Davis, Rutland Pride. Call 01529 469977 or visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

A Summer Celebration at the

Rutland Show 2018 THE 2018 EVENT was blessed with much better weather than the year that followed. With bright blue skies came crowds of people, all enjoying the sun, the ice cream and the Pimm’s of course! We loved it too, especially when we saw how many people were loving their Rutland Pride bags, magazines, stickers and foam ﬁngers! The hounds returned to the main ring for children to meet, and they added to all of the other four-legged friends everyone brought with them to the show. The horse shows were fabulous as always and entertained us throughout the day as well as Broke FMX and their incredible stunts on two wheels. This year’s show was certainly one of our favourites, and as always we loved to meet all the readers who came over to say hi and give positive comments so thank you!

Photos: Rob Davis, Rutland Pride. Call 01529 469977 or visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

Daring Horse Shows at the

Rutland Show 2017 BROKE FMX makes an appearance at many county shows and awes spectators with phenomenal jumps, flips and new heights on two wheels, but the 2017 Show presented a new adrenaline-pumped performance on four legs! Incredible stunt riders took over the main ring, riding horses in ways you’ve never seen before! It really was phenomenal and a great addition to the 2017 show. It was one of many incredible fixtures and main ring entertainment. The weather was fine in the morning but took a dreary turn, but it didn’t put anyone off! The crowds stayed on to see the tractor show, and the various livestock shows that take place throughout the afternoon. The agricultural area really was a sight this year as well, showing what can be done with willow branches to create incredible sculptures and getting up close with birds of prey.

Photos: Rob Davis, Rutland Pride. Call 01529 469977 or visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

Feather Hats and Furry Friends at the

Rutland Show 2016 WHAT A THROWBACK! The Rutland Show 2016 seems a distant memory now yet it was just four years ago! So much has changed and happened with the Show in that time, including our own cover style and marquees. Of course, all the staple shows remained the same from agriculture to ﬂoristry to arts and crafts. The weather was fantastic, everyone came out to see what was going on at the Show and the hounds were in the main ring once more being cuddled by children! It was the year Sarah Furness (right) served as High Sheriﬀ of Rutland and the year that the Morris dancers could put on a fabulous show minus the rain. An all round great year. We really hope you enjoyed this Show throwback and hopefully next year’s event is bigger and better than ever after such troubling times.

Photos: Rob Davis, Rutland Pride. Call 01529 469977 or visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

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MILLION POUND MOTORING

MILLION POUND

MOTORING Good news for anyone adverse to retaining their money or their sanity. Four Great British motoring marques are keen to ï¬&#x201A;ex their engineering know-how with no-holds-barred hypercars of the sort which make most sports cars look like mere family runabouts... Words: Rob Davis.

“Whilst million-pound motoring may seem a mere triumph of excess, manufacturers can use the development of such cars’ technology as the bedrock for their future models... WE BRITISH DO SOME THINGS REALLY WELL. Sunday lunch, for instance. Small talk pertaining to the weather. Sarcasm, and its common bedfellow, understated indignation.

That’s what four highly esteemed and very British manufacturers have set out to find out, each designing million-pound hypercars for extremely well-heeled customers.

We’re also good engineers. Very very good engineers, but only for small-scale, very specialist applications. The Germans can design and build things en masse really well, hence good mass-market cars hail from brands like BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

Lotus has created its Evija hypercar thanks to a huge investment by parent company Geely - Chinese motoring brand in its own right - which also owns Volvo and its Teslarivalling sub-brand Polestar, as well as the London Taxi Company.

But when those companies try to build hypercars - small volume, specialist vehicles which playfully pinch the bottom of the rules of physics - they’re all a bit mainstream, boring.

The logic, we suppose is that development cash invested in the Evija, the world’s first all-electric hypercar, will yield technology which can filter down to more commercially mainstream models.

Conversely the British can do it, but we’re largely hopeless at manufacturing things in large quantities. Hence we can design Dyson vacuums; the Arm chips which power the iPhone, or the Savile Row suit, which though beautifully designed remains bespoke, never to be replicated in large quantities like today’s fast fashions.

Evija produces 2,000ps of power (equivalent to the combined output of over 28 Ford Fiestas) and reaches 200mph. It has a range of 250 miles and is the world’s most powerful production car. Just 130 will be made, with a price of £1.7m each.

Happily, then, hypercars play right to our strengths. A supercar by definition is a couple of hundred thousand pounds worth of turbocharged motor car produced in quantities of hundreds, rather than thousands. As supercars has become catnip for oligarchs and footballers, they’ve become rather more ubiquitous and so a new breed of car, hypercar, has emerged to reinstate a class of high-end car that is characterised by rarity and boundary-pushing engineering. Internationally, products from a British brand are seen as more exclusive than massproduced goods from even the most credible German brand, and cars like Bentley’s £176,000 V12 Continental GT convertible or Aston Martin’s £225,000 DBS Superleggera are pretty phenomenal. But what could a car maker do if they had an unlimited budget, if no holds were barred? 136

Never one to be outdone, Aston Martin’s Valkyrie uses a Cosworth-developed 6.5 litre V12 engine producing 1,160bhp with a hybrid assistance motor. Only 150 cars will be produced, and the firm will use the Valkryie as a sister car to its Valhalla, expected to make an appearance in 2021, with a V6 engine and greater dependence on electric drivetrain technology. For now, the Valkyrie will set you back around £2m depending on specification. It’s the latest in Aston’s flagship ‘V-Car’ releases; Valkyrie, Valhalla, Vanquish, Vulcan, Virage... models which reflect at their respective time of design and production the very pinnacle of engineering prowess from the company. An hour and half away from Aston’s Gaydon HQ , the folks at McLaren have been working on its Speedtail. For a cool £1.75m, this 4.0 V8 engine hypercar is also supplemented with an electric motor.

MILLION pound MOTORING Lotus Evija Cost: £1.7m Engine/Motor: Four independently controlled motors, one per wheel, 500ps per motor, totalling 2,000ps. Performance: 0-60mph: three seconds. Top speed 200mph. Uniqueness: 250 mile range, production run of just 130 cars. Cabin: Controlled via smartphone, remote control of climate, carbon ﬁbre seats covered in Alcantara.

Aston Martin Valkyrie Cost: £2m-£3m per conﬁguration. Engine/Motor: 6.5 litre V12 1,000bhp, with Rimac motor for extra 160bhp. Performance: 0-60mph: 2.5 seconds. Top speed 250mph. Uniqueness: Track and road versions available, production run of 150 cars. Cabin: Custom built driver’s seat 3D printed to suit owner.

McLaren Speedtail Cost: £1.75m Engine/Motor: 4.0V8 twin turbo with electric motor, 1,035bhp. Performance: 0-60mph: 2.5 seconds. Top speed 250mph. Uniqueness: Teardrop glass roof. Cabin: Milled aluminium, three seats.

Bentley Bacalar Cost: £1.5m Engine/Motor: 6.0W12 petrol. Performance: 0-60mph: 3.5 seconds. Top speed 200mph. Uniqueness: Production run of 12 cars. Cabin: Two seat roadster, Riverwood veneer, three ‘portfolios;’ Classic, Collection, Coachbuilt. n

Top/Left: Lotus’s Evija uses an all-electric drivetrain to produce the equivalent of over 28 Ford Fiestas! Bottom/Left: The McLaren Speedtail utilises the ﬁrm’s F1 engineering heritage, distilled into a road car.

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Power output is a combined 1,035bhp, and the car has a top speed of 250mph in case you’re on a track and have an overdeveloped sense of hubris. Looking like a concept car, a teardropshaped glass window floods the three-seater cockpit with light whilst cameras replace conventional side mirrors. And finally, a snip at just £1.5m, Bentley’s Bacalar cares not for the consumption of fossil fuels and has no hybrid component to its drivetrain. There’s an uprated, twin-turbo version of its 6.0 W12 engine generating 650bhp. Less than the other hypercars here, but still somewhat muscular. Whilst the other cars major on raw power, Bentley is instead intending the Bacalar to position itself in terms of its luxury. Its yellow paint is specific to the Bacalar and uses ash from rice husks to shine through with a 90%

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pigment platelet, an eco-friendly and very metallic type of metallic paint. Still, yellow? Really, Bentley? Elsewhere there’s 5,000 year old Riverwood veneer, matching luggage, and a quilted pattern to the upholstery that consists of nearly 150,000 stitches. Bacalar is also the first car to be produced in the world’s first certified carbon neutral factory for luxury car production. Garish yellow paint aside, the Bacalar will prove the ultimate expression of Bentley, with just 12 examples of the coachbuilt GT due to be produced. Exclusivity comes at a price but with a new demographic of oligarchs, footballers and rappers showing off their supercars in London as well as canny collectors of automotive legends plus the commercial necessity of ongoing innovation at all costs, could we see many more hypercars in the future? That, it seems, is the million dollar question. n

These million pound motors will appeal to automotive collectors as well as oligarchs... Below: Aston Martin’s Valkyrie marches out. Right: Bentley’s £1.5m Bacalar. Only 12 cars will be made!

MOTORS

SHORT BUT

SWEET

Oh hell yes. This is what we’ve been missing. A Land Rover Defender the way it was always meant to be. Following the hugely popular response to its longer, five door sibling, the shorter, three door model reaches showrooms... and we are not disappointed with its evolution! WE WEREN’T EXPECTING THAT. When the first test vehicles of Land Rover’s Defender were released to motoring journalists, we expected epic off-road ability, practicality and a rather more modern, more civilised ownership experience. What nobody expected, though, was that the car would be so civilised on-road, that it would be epic fun to drive, and that its on-road manners weren’t compromised by but if anything enhanced by chassis and all of its off-road kit. At launch we saw the 110 model - five doors and five metres in length, with up to seven seats. Now though, there’s a new 90 model which, at around half a metre shorter, should be better around town and shaves a metre off the car’s turning circle making it potentially easier to use off-road too. With three doors, arguably it lacks the practicality of the 110, but its packaging may suit those who don’t have kids or rear passengers, and the 90 will be even more fun to drive. We’re almost inclined to suggest that for driving pleasure, it’ll match a go-kart-like Mini Cooper. Whilst air suspension is standard on the 110 model, the 90 can have conventional springs. Should budget allow though, we’d suggest speccing it optionally. We’d also

A modest engine will help keep your Defender budget in check, which is a good thing because whilst the three door 90 is £5,000 cheaper than the longer ﬁve door 110 model, prices start at £40,290.

plump for the steel wheels, not the alloy ones if you’re going to be venturing off-road, or at least fitting the smallest wheels and fattest tyres possible. Even the standard car, with a 2.0 Ingenium four-cylinder engine, badged P200, is brisk enough. Hardly a sports car but with plenty of cruising ability on-road and torque off-road. We’d eschew the larger P240 or the two petrol units, a P300 and P400 mild-hybrid. A plug-in engine will follow and whilst that might sound off for a car which is supposed to be as rufty-tufty as its forebear, we think it’ll actually be a good fit, with instant torque and much better fuel economy. The mild hybrid doesn’t offer a great enough incentive for owners, but the plug-in might be worth waiting for unless you need your Defender now, now, now.

As standard there’s a heated windscreen, 360° parking aid and 3D surround camera, heated and semi-powered front seats plus power windows, mirrors, air con, cruise control and navigation, so the 90 is very well-equipped. Stepping up to S spec provides part-leather seats and alloy wheels, plus a leather steering wheel, giving Defender a little more car-like feel. We’d opt to add that air suspension, trade the very wide centre console for a third seat in between driver and front passenger, turning the 90 into a six-seater and add adaptive cruise control via the Driver Assist pack. Never missing a trick to upsell, upsell, upsell, there are other packs - Urban; Country; Adventure; Explorer - to specify, plus the usual contrast roof and so on. We’d keep it simple. The 90 looks smartest when it’s not been gussied up, and our favourite colours are the Pangea Green and Santorini Black. Inside, there’s a smart Acorn beige or Khaki green colour scheme, both of which look great with a rough-sawn walnut veneer.

“The Defender may not be basic anymore, but by golly it’s well-equipped, capable and engineered to last. It is very much a Land Rover for the 21st century...” Both schemes lift the cabin in terms of light but whilst the 110 is available with a glass panoramic roof, the 90 can only have a fabric sunroof. Forget it. For around £45,000, then, a more sensibly specced lower-end Defender will offer a surprising amount of luxury and decent off-road manners. But of course, the car also features all-wheel drive, low-range gears, Terrain Response off-road software, plus epic ground clearance

and the ability to wade through water nearly a metre deep. Add to that a more modest length for in-town driving, plus a look more faithful to the original Defender, and the 90 could present a more compelling prospect than the longer 110. The Defender may not be basic any more, but by golly it’s well-equipped, capable and engineered to last. A Defender for the 21st century it may be, but it’s also a car with a formidable breadth of ability and in more basic form, it’s decent value too. n

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 Price: £40,290; order now. Engine: D200 2.0 200hp, four-cylinder diesel. Drivetrain: Auto gearbox, all wheel drive, high/low ratios. Performance: 0-60mph 9.6 seconds (est); 109mph top speed. Economy: 32.2mpg (combined). Equipment: Navigation, cruise, air con, heated seats. n

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