19 minute read
NEWS The best ‘good news’ stories from across Rutland & Stamford including the arrival of dinosaurs at nearby Peterborough Cathedral!
Rutland makes plans for Jubilee...
LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE MAKING PLANS TO CELEBRATE HER MAJESTY’S PLATINUM EVENT
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Plans to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in Rutland are well underway, with local communities encouraged to take part in a host of local celebrations. Her Majesty the Queen will shortly become the first Monarch to celebrate 70 years of service, after ascending to the throne in 1952. Lots of activities are planned as part of a huge national celebration, including the lighting of beacons, festivals, and the Big Jubilee Lunch. Communities and local businesses are being encouraged to decorate their village, street and home during Community Decorations Week from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th May, with bunting and flags to start the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in Rutland. There will also be Beacon Lighting ceremonies in both Oakham and Uppingham, plus a series of Jubilee Festivals on Friday 3rd June. During the Rutland County Show on Saturday 4th June, organisers are planning a Platinum Jubilee theme which will run through the whole event, and on Sunday 5th June, Big Jubilee Lunch events will also be held across the county.
RUTLAND Services of thanksgiving will be held throughout Rutland to celebrate the Jubilee, with details of these services to be confirmed later this month. n
Location, location, location!
ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK MARKET WITH A SPECIAL FILM AND TV TOUR AROUND TOWN
Ever had that feeling of déja vu when you’re watching a costume drama set in the Georgian era? Unsurprisingly, Stamford has proved a popular location for film and TV crews over the years, and most recently, Burghley House has served as a stunt double for Windsor Castle in The Crown, which will recall HM The Queen’s annus horribilis in 1992 when the new series airs in autumn. Meanwhile, in recognition of English Tourism Week in late March, a special walking tour of Stamford will be held, taking in some of the
STAMFORD locations used for filming in and around Stamford. The tour will take in filming locations for Middlemarch, Pride and Prejudice and The Crown. The tour will take place on 26th March, and on 21st May, organised by Stamford Arts Centre. Tours leave from the Arts Centre around 11am and pre-booking is strongly recommended. n Elsewhere, Burghley House will host its exhibition ‘William Cecil & Stamford 500 Years of Royalty and Politics’ on 16th April.
Matt collects OBE...
RECOGNITION FOR SERVICES TO CHARITY
Local sporting celebrity and former Leicester Tigers player Matt Hampson has been recognised with an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for his services to charity. Since establishing his Foundation ten years ago, hundreds of people suffering a life-altering injury through sport have joined the special community at the Get Busy Living centre and received support to rebuild their lives. Tommy Cawston, CEO of the Foundation and close friend
RUTLAND of Matt’s said: “Matt has dedicated his life to helping others in a similar situation to him and this recognition is well-deserved. What he’s achieved since his injury is remarkable and here at the Foundation we are all really proud of him.” “Next year we celebrate our tenth anniversary and I’m really excited about what we have planned for the future.” Matt received his OBE in late February from HRH The Princess Royal. n
MP Alicia shows off Rutland to Minister...
RUTLAND MP for Rutland and Melton, Alicia Kearns, recently invited the government minister for sport, heritage and rural society to Rutland to show off the very best that Rutland has to offer. Alicia and Nigel Huddleston visited Oakham Castle and Rutland Water: “It was a such a joy to show the minister just some of what Rutland has to offer, and how tourism in Rutland can grow and thrive with government support.” n “Rutland has so much to offer tourists already and he certainly enjoyed boating on Rutland Water
Town council’s shopping spree
SEVERAL SITES TO BE PURCHASED FOR A BARGAIN £1, ALTHOUGH THEIR UPKEEP WILL COST RATHER MORE...
STAMFORD We all love a bargain, and Stamford Town Council is no exception. The council is set to enjoy a shopping spree, acquiring St Peter’s Bastion, St Leonard’s Priory and playing fields on Empingham Road and Uppingham Road for £1 each, although the council will need to maintain those site, adopting responsibilities like grass cutting. The council could also purchase the public toilets in Red Lion Square, again for a nominal fee of just £1, on the assurance of funding their upkeep and cleaning... which gives a new meaning to the expression ‘spending a penny...!’ n Tickets are on sale now for the 2022 season at Stamford
STAMFORD Shakespeare Company’s Tolethorpe Hall. This year’s productions will
be Romeo & Juliet and three non-Shakespearean plays too. n A Star Cross’d Summer
LOCAL NEWS
In Brief
RUTLAND x
The area’s best dining rooms are celebrated in 2022 Michelin guide...
A trio of absolutely exceptional restaurants are featured in the 2022 Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland. Of course, Hambleton Hall retains its star for the 40th consecutive year, continuing to offer impressive dining in a comfortable and welcoming country house setting. Clipsham’s Olive Branch is praised in the guide as a ‘Characterful village pub providing rustic British dishes that are fiercely local.’ Mentioned as a Bib Gourmand restaurant is Hitchen’s Barn, run by Neil & Louise Hitchens. n
Dinosaur exhibition in Peterborough
PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL WILL BE DOING A ROARING TRADE THIS YEAR
A two-year wait due to Covid-19 may seem a long time to us, but it’s no time at all when you think that T-Rex and his fellow dinosaurs lived nearly 70,000,000 years ago! Peterborough Cathedral has announced that the Natural History Museum’s touring exhibition, T-Rex The Killer Question, will be shown in the 900-year-old building from 18th July to 3rd September 2022. Plans to present the exhibition in 2020 and 2021 had to be shelved due to the pandemic. The exhibition poses the killer question: was T-Rex a ferocious hunter or a mere scavenger? To help visitors think about this, the exhibition presents scenes showing the behaviour of several different dinosaur species, from the small and agile Sauronitholestes, to the savage Dromaeosaurus and the plant-eating Tenontosaurus. It also shows examples of bones and fossils to see what they can tell us about T-Rex. “We’re excited that after a long wait due to the pandemic we are now able to bring this wonderful exhibition to the Cathedral. We know that many people, children especially, are fascinated by these pre-historic creatures and this
PETERBOROUGH will be a fantastic opportunity to see them right here in Peterborough rather than travelling to London,” says The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough. n
LOCAL NEWS
In Brief
LOCAL POLICE HIT THE ROOF OVER DANGEROUS DRIVER...
A dangerous driver was stopped by police recently after CCTV operators noticed a vehicle driving around Stamford’s Cattle Market with a folding garden chair strapped to its roof with bungee cords and a passenger on top... the driver was arrested and charged for what was described as a ‘stunt.’ n
Discipuli thermas Romanas visitare...
OAKHAM Latin students from Oakham School travelled to Bath, to see the Roman Baths Museum and examine firsthand some of the artefacts that appear in their textbooks. Head of Classics, Dr Will Leveritt, said: “Pupils were impressed by the steaming water emerging from the ground and the amazing remains of the Roman structure. The lead piping and the underfloor heating were particularly impressive, as was the enormous brick spine supporting the huge high roof with which pupils came face to face. Particularly interesting was the display of curse tablets or ‘defixiones...!’” n
Highcross Shopping Centre, Leicester
Sitting within easy reach of Stamford and Peterborough is a unique, spacious,
contemporary home providing six bedrooms, four with en suites, two further bathrooms, an open plan kitchen/diner/sunroom with separate reception room divided by a double-sided fireplace, a study, a purpose-built cinema, a gym and a triple garage integral to the house. The private plot is circa 3.5 acres and includes a paddock behind a well-appointed one-bedroom annex. The main house is an exemplary, state-of-the-art residence with attention to detail. It is rare to find something produced to this extreme level of sophistication outside London. Outside, a granite terrace extends across most of the back of the house, a continuation of the kitchen dining area. The gardens are predominantly lawn interspersed with a variety of mature trees and shrubs. The property also benefits from a recently refurbished annex fitted with a kitchen and a wet-room, with vaulted ceilings and exposed timbers.
CROWLAND, LINCOLNSHIRE Guide Price £1,300,000
A superb, recently built, contemporary property sits on 2 acres in an extremely
tranquil position just on the edge of the market town of Crowland affording stunning, far reaching views across the fenland landscape. Peterborough with its fast rail service to London, and the A1, is about a 15 minute drive south, the pretty market town of Spalding the same to the north, and glorious Stamford about half an hour west. The beautifully designed house provides open plan living downstairs plus two more reception rooms, four upstairs bedrooms - three with en suites, three utility rooms and two adjoining garages. Outside, a vast but very attractive new building gives huge scope for developing the property further, and an enclosed paddock of around an acre is ideal for grazing horses.
NEW
BISBROOKE £625,000
An attractive detached house offering spacious accommodation with high quality fixtures and fittings set in a desirable village location, close to the historic market town of Uppingham. Sitting Room, Family Room, Study, feature Dining Kitchen, Clkrm/WC, 4 Bedrooms, Master En-suite Shower Room, Family Bathroom; single Garage, off-road Parking, enclosed rear Garden. Energy Rating: C.
NEW PRICE MARKET OVERTON £695,000
Charming mid-19th century detached cottage with sympathetic modern extension combining character with contemporary style, occupying a large plot with stunning views over the village cricket ground. The property provides spacious and flexible accommodation, immaculately presented throughout whilst retaining an array of period features. 3 Reception Rooms, Conservatory, Living Dining Kitchen, Utility, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bath-/Shower Rooms; Dbl Garage. Energy Rating: F.
NEW
SOUTH LUFFENHAM Offers in Excess of £650,000
Immaculately presented, substantial detached family home enjoying far-reaching countryside views to the rear. The generously-proportioned and energy-efficient accommodation is appointed to a high standard throughout. Lounge, Snug, Living Room, open-plan Dining Kitchen, Utility, Cloakroom/WC, 4 large Double Bedrooms, Master Dressing Room and En-suite Shower Room, Family Bathroom; ample Parking, fully enclosed Garden. Energy Rating: B.
UNDER OFFER UPPINGHAM £550,000
Substantial detached house providing immaculately presented accommodation with 4 good-sized Double Bedrooms and 3 Bath/Shower Rooms situated in a sought-after residential area of Uppingham. Built of a unique design to this development, the property provides exceptionally well-planned and spacious accommodation and benefits from a double Garage, Car Port, ample off-road Parking and fully enclosed west-facing rear Garden. Energy Rating: C.
NEW
BRAUNSTON IN RUTLAND £645,000
A delightful character property set on a select development of seven Mews Style houses set in the heart of a fine conservation village. The well-proportioned and tastefully appointed accommodation sympathetically combines period features and charm with modern high quality fixtures and fittings. Sitting Room, Conservatory, open-plan Kitchen/Diner, Clkrm/WC, Master Bedroom with en-suite Shower Room, 2 further dbl Bedrooms, Bathroom. Single Garage, Parking, Mature, Private Garden. Energy Rating: TBC.
OAKHAM £460,000
Well-proportioned detached house with Garage, off-road Parking and fully enclosed Garden providing tastefully appointed four-bedroom accommodation with good quality fixtures and fittings set in a highly sought-after location. Lounge, Dining Room, Brkfst Kitchen, Utility, refitted Clrkm/WC, 4 Double Bedrooms, refitted Master En-suite Shower Room, Family Bathroom. Energy Rating: C.
Guide Price £900,000 Guide Price £575,000
The Laurels, Wymondham
A substantial iron-stone and brick village home with expansive and beautifully- presented accommodation, sitting on a generous plot in a quiet backwater of this popular rural village.
Guide Price £350,000 Chaffinch Close, Oakham
A spacious and immaculately-presented, five-bedroom detached family home sitting in a sought-after location just a short walk from the centre of the historic market town of Oakham.
Guide Price £310,000
The Old Bakehouse, Barrowden
A pretty, detached two bedroom stone-built cottage well positioned in the centre of the sought-after village of Barrowden. Adderly Street, Uppingham
A charming town house set over three floors and offering spacious and well- presented accommodation with garden and outbuilding in the heart of Uppingham.
Do I need a property finder?
Local property finder, Kate Vincent shares some of the questions frequently posed by buyers to better understand how Garrington can help them purchase their next home in a fast-moving, competitive market.
Kate Vincent Garrington
What exactly does a property finder do?
We act exclusively on behalf of property purchasers: sourcing and pre-viewing homes, negotiating the best possible price and then nurturing the purchase and due diligence process through to completion.
What can you do that I am unable to do myself?
Our sole focus is to help clients find their perfect property, then acquire it at the best possible price and ensure that the transaction goes through as smoothly as possible. In a fiercely competitive market, where there is an acute lack of stock, Garrington can offer a competitive advantage for its clients against other buyers. Professional representation frequently enables priority access to opportunities, and off-market houses may be uncovered due to the long-standing relationships between Garrington’s consultants and their local property network. Being immersed in the Stamford and Rutland property market means no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of the perfect property.
Sounds promising, but still, why should I pay a fee?
Most of our clients see our fees as an investment rather than a cost. As a client, you will benefit from working with someone truly independent who is on your side and spends time properly understanding your full requirements. Our advice is objective, takes market conditions into account, considers your priorities, and advises what can realistically be achieved – both in terms of property prices and timescales.
In a fast-moving and competitive market, having the knowledge and experience that a local professional buying agent offers allows a buyer to be decisive under pressure and can avoid the potential pitfalls of buying in a market that can sometimes feel frenzied.
We often hear about properties that have sold but we didn’t see them advertised. How do we find out about these?
Off-market properties are homes that are sold away from the public eye with no advertising (certainly not on web portals!) or publicity. To hear about these properties, you need to be very well connected or willing to actively approach homeowners to gauge if there is an appetite to sell. Sourcing and negotiating this type of property is a specialist skill, so it is best to get expert advice from a property professional like myself. Whilst this method of sourcing property is not guaranteed to always yield results, Garrington regularly unearths exciting opportunities in this way.
Can you give me an example of how you have helped one of your clients move home and the difference you made?
Garrington has recently helped a client move from an urban setting seeking more space and a great work-life balance now that their job allows greater flexibility. Not being familiar with the area and unable to be in constant contact with local agents, they had missed out on several properties that would have suited them well.
Having looked tentatively at homes for several months they had become disconcerted by the lack of choice and the advice from local selling agents, fearing they might have to rent in the interim. Being conscious of timing due to planning for moving schools and needing a location that would suit an occasional commute, the client was concerned about exactly where to buy and securing a property within the desired time frame.
We made a critical difference by offering advice on locations, focusing the search area, and then actively pursuing suitable homes to buy. Due to our local contacts, we were able to access homes to view that were not yet on the open market, and then secured the chosen property pre-market before competition from other buyers arose.
If you are considering your property options and would like more information about how to better navigate your local property market, contact Kate Vincent to arrange a no-obligation discussion. Tel. 01780 408377. Email info@garrington.co.uk www.garringtoneastmidlands.co.uk
The Time is Ripe
As the end of the 2021/2022 tax year approaches, the time is ripe to ensure the fruits of your labours aren’t lost to tax inefficiency. Thankfully, whatever your financial goals, advice from Oakham-based Smith Eliot – which is a Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management – can help, with unique advice tailored to your circumstances...
Now is the ideal time to seek professional advice to ensure your finances are as efficiently organised as possible. It’s not too late to take full advantage of the tax reliefs and allowances available to you before the end of the tax year.
Smith Eliot of Oakham was established in 2009 and has been providing financial advice on investment planning, retirement planning, tax, trusts, ISAs and mortgages to individuals and businesses across Rutland and the surrounding area ever since.
Recently the team have made available to both existing and potential customers an easily digestible 20-page guide to getting the most from your 2021/2022 tax allowances.
“The advice is broken down in such a way as to encourage you to think systematically about your goals – shorter term and longer term – then the booklet offers a jargon-free explanation how those aims might be achieved,” says the Practice’s Stephen Smith.
Building a Foundation “If you’re building a foundation for your finances, your aims might include buying your first home, planning for a family and starting to create a portfolio of investments. ISAs, a Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) and pensions are all financial tools that you might consider,” says Stephen.
Secure Your Family’s Future... “The next state of your financial life is a period when you’ll probably want to make the most of your investments, give your children a good start in life – fund their University education, or help them get a foot on the property ladder – you’ll also want to evaluate your personal circumstances to ensure you’re sufficiently funding a comfortable retirement. At this stage, ISAs, PSAs and issues pertaining to pensions, Capital Gains Tax and the payment of dividends all become more relevant.”
Retire in Style and Pass on Your Wealth... “If your investments are performing well, your priority will be evaluating how and when to retire. It’s at this stage of life you’ll also be concerned with helping your family to avoid paying too much Inheritance Tax. The booklet that Smith Eliot is offering clients provides an explanation of ISAs, PSAs, pensions and inheritance tax as well as an explanation of dividends before providing a year-end tax checklist. “Wealth management can be a technically in-depth subject, and it’s one that changes at every stage of your life and as new rules, guidance and legislation are issued,” says Stephen. “For that reason there’s absolutely no substitute for professional advice.” “The more a wealth management company understands your personal circumstances, the better-placed they are to ensure that the advice you’re offered is responsible and consistent with best-practice across the profession.” “Putting our clients firmly at the heart of everything we do enables us to run a genuinely client-focused business. In our experience, no two clients are the same and we therefore ensure that we understand your personal or business objectives and deliver solutions that are right for you.” “We do not provide off-the-shelf solutions, but we offer the benefit of a single relationship for all of your financial planning needs. We recognise the value of face-to-face consultations, regular reviews and client feedback to ensure that the advice we offer doesn’t just provide sound financial advice, but peace of mind too.” Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.
Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. n
Smith Eliot Financial Management Ltd is an appointed representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.
Chat to Smith Eliot, based at Market Place, Oakham LE15 6DT. Call 01572 492359 or see www.smitheliotfinancialmanagement.co.uk.
