KATHERINE OF ARAGON The life

THE SPANISH PRINCESS - RESTING IN PETERBOROUGH

Catherine or Katherine?

Katherine’s baptismal name was Catalina, hence it sometimes begins with a ‘C,’ for instance, in The Spanish Princess. Catherine though signed her own name Katherine or Katherina.

Her tomb in Peterborough Cathedral is marked Katharine, Queen of England.

>> In 1527 Henry asked Pope Clement to annul the marriage, but the Pope refused. The failure to get the annulment caused Henry to sack his chief minister, Cardinal Wolsey in 1530. Wolsey headed north, and spent Easter at Peterborough Abbey – now Cathedral – while he was en route.

In 1532 Henry was proclaimed the Supreme head of the Church in England. In 1533 Katharine’s marriage to Henry was proclaimed invalid on the grounds that it was against canon law because of her previous marriage to his brother.

Katharine was now referred to as the Dowager Princess of Wales and exiled to More Manor in Hertfordshire, Buckden Towers in Cambridgeshire and latterly to Kimbolton Castle, south of Peterborough.

Katharine died at Kimbolton in January 1536, most likely of cancer. Before she died, she sent a letter to her ex-husband, stating ‘Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things. Farewell.’

“Before she died, Queen Katharine sent a letter to her ex-husband, stating ‘Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things. Farewell...’”

She was ordered by Henry to be buried at Peterborough Abbey deemed the nearest great religious house that befitted her status, whilst not giving her a burial in London since this may have been seen as politically ‘embarrassing.’

The funeral cortege, which left shortly after her death included a coffin wagon covered with black velvet – as were the six horses pulling it – heralds and fifty servants in black carrying torches, four banners in crimson taffeta and four golden standards.

At the door of the abbey church, the body was received by four bishops and six abbots, and placed under a canopy lit by a thousand candles. She has been buried there ever since, but even her tombstone suffered hardships.

Katharine’s tomb of gilded black marble was vandalised by Oliver Cromwell’s troops in April 1643, and the black marble was removed in the 1700s for lining the floor of the Dean’s summerhouse.

The current memorial slab was installed in 1895 after a national campaign for the Katharines of England to all donate a penny to the cause, organised by the wife of one of the Cathedral canons, Katharine Clayton.

Today Katharine is remembered annually by a commemorative service and series of events at the Cathedral. Visitors place pomegranates on her tombstone every year; her royal symbol. n

Queen on the Small SCREEN

KATHERINE OF ARAGON’S STORY IS BROUGHT TO LIFE IN AN EIGHT-PART TV SERIES REVEALING THE QUEEN’S OWN LIFE BEFORE SHE MARRIED HENRY AND BECAME QUEEN...

The story of Katherine of Aragon is brought to live in The Spanish Princess, the drama series about Katherine’s life before marrying Henry VIII. The first series is available to stream now, whilst a new series is airing as Pride goes to press. The first eight episodes centre on Katherine of Aragon, the beautiful teenage princess of Spain who has been promised the English throne since she was a child.

She arrives in a grey, rain-lashed England with her glorious and diverse court including her lady-in-waiting Lina – an African Moor.

Katherine is Princess of Wales now, but when her husband Prince Arthur dies suddenly, her line to the throne seems lost… until she claims her marriage was never consummated and that as a virgin she may set her sights on the new heir – the charismatic and headstrong Prince Harry – who will one day rule as King Henry VIII. Series two sees the more mature Katherine in peril as The Great Plague ravages London and Henry’s court descends into anger, affecting the King’s mental health and endangering Katherine herself.

n The Spanish Princess is now available on Amazon Prime, see www.amazon.co.uk.

n Katherine of Aragon’s tomb can be seen in Peterborough Cathedral. For more information on Katherine and events in January to celebrate her life, see www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk or call 01733 355315. You can also visit Peterborough Cathedral, Minster Precincts, Peterborough PE1 1XS.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

Experienced team of vets and nurses providing quality healthcare at a sensible price. l The practice is fully equipped with excellent facilities. We offer in house blood results, microscopy, digital X-ray, ultrasound and have a large operating theatre. l Separate dog and cat waiting areas and kennels ensure your pets feel more relaxed. l A team of animal lovers, we treat and care for your pets as though they were our own and make the time to get to know you too. l Guaranteed same day appointment for any pet if the owner thinks it is needed. l We offer Deferred Payment Plans for those unexpected expensive procedures with no interest and no fees. l Owners can stay with their pets while sedated before routine operations. l We offer and encourage open visiting for hospitalised patients during opening hours.

LUXURY on the LUXURY on the WATERFRONT WATERFRONT

If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that life’s too short not to live in comfort. If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that life’s too short not to live in comfort. Whether you want to enjoy lakeside living in luxury, downsize and free up capital, Whether you want to enjoy lakeside living in luxury, downsize and free up capital, or invest in a place where the family can join you to make memories, you’ll find or invest in a place where the family can join you to make memories, you’ll find a luxurious new home on the waterfront at Tallington Lakes near Stamford... a luxurious new home on the waterfront at Tallington Lakes near Stamford...

A luxurious home, that’s easy to maintain. Perhaps a second home if you split your time between Stamford and the capital. A place to live that allows you to downsize and frees up capital. A place for your family and friends to come and stay. A home to return to near Stamford if you’re planning a move elsewhere or you’re planning to live abroad. There are a number of answers to the question of ‘why,’ but very few to the question of ‘why not!’ As well as nationally renowned leisure and watersports facilities, Tallington Lakes is also home to 400 lodges and a friendly community of around 700 people. And with lakeside sites for brand new lodges still available, you too could enjoy lakeside living in an easy to maintain property with stunning views for little over £100,000. The Good Life Lodge Company is a sister company to Tallington Lakes and as well as the site near Stamford, it has three other UK sites too. The company’s lodges are two or three bedroomed properties, brand new and ready furnished; ready to move into with just a suitcase. Underfloor heating and en suite bathrooms are typical, and kitchens are equipped with new appliances including dishwasher, with some featuring built-in coffee machines, wine coolers and with utility rooms featuring washers and dryers. >>

Left/Above: The lodges are solid, warm, light and modern. Each comes fully furnished with modern appliances, kitchens and bathrooms... you can move in with little more than a suitcase!

“The quality of the properties is stunning. They’re warm, they’re solid and well-made with quality kitchen and bathroom fittings and appliances. Moving into a brand new lodge means hassle-free living with great views...”

>> There are no restrictions regarding living on the site 365 days a year, and residents can choose to use a lodge as their permanent residence or as an investment, renting their lodge out to holidaymakers.

Bespoke options allow owners to tailor the decoration of layout to suit or to incorporate disabled accessibility. Meanwhile, residents enjoy lakeside views, leisure facilities and the sense of community Tallington Lakes has, with an on site bar and restaurant.

Mark Shrosbree, shows people around the site, and enjoys hearing how the lodges will fit into their lives: “We’ve been really busy since summer.”

“With fewer people taking holidays recently and a greater number of people realising the importance of spending time with family or close friends, we’re finding our lodges are a more popular lifestyle choice.”

“Residents can use them as their home and live here all year round; they can keep a foothold in the area if they have property abroad or in London; use them to accommodate children and grandchildren when they visit the area or just downsize to a modern property that’s maintenance free and brand new, freeing up equity in the process.”

“The community is a joy. Everyone waves and says ‘hello’ as they pass you on a dog walk, and in ordinary circumstances there are activities throughout the year from quizzes at the pub to summer barbecues.”

“The quality of the properties themselves is stunning. They’re warm, they’re solid and well-made with quality kitchen and bathroom fittings and appliances. Moving into a brand new lodge means hassle-free living with great views.”

“If you were to look for a coastal property in Devon or North Norfolk the price would be much higher and with Stamford just a few minutes away and London within easy reach, there’s little wonder that the lodges are proving so popular right now.”

“We think they’re a brilliant lifestyle proposition and our residents clearly agree, so if you’d like to take a look around and discover the Tallington lifestyle for yourself, we’d be delighted to show you around!” n

Find Out More: The Good Life Lodge Company provides spacious, modern, solid and light lakeside properties at Tallington Lakes (Stamford PE9 4RJ) with prices from £100,000. For a free no obligation tour and more information call Mark Shrosbree, 01778 381144 or see www.goodlifelodge.com.

Family Friendly LUXURY

If you’re looking for a luxurious but family-friendly destination for a holiday that’s a million miles away from a grey old England, Helen Dooley of More Travel introduces us to Ikos Resorts and Sani Resort, which are especially popular with her clients...

So-called ‘travel confidence’ is growing, but the market is still uncertain, so now is definitely the time to book in order to secure the best prices on luxury travel. We’ve asked Helen Dooley of Stamford-based More Travel for her solid gold luxury travel recommendations, and happily, she has just the tip: a couple of beautiful family-friendly resorts on the Greek Islands...

IF, LIKE US, you’ve spent the past rew months dreaming of white sandy beaches, azure seas... and of course, being able to enjoy venturing out without wearing a face covering, we’ve the perfect answer. Travel confidence is growing but the market is still recovering post-Covid, so now is the perfect time to book a break whilst securing exceptional deals on luxury travel. Happily, Stamford based More Travel has the perfect destinations in mind, too. Ikos Resorts are situated in breathtaking Mediterranean locations, whereas Sani Resort is a collection of five award winning hotels on the Kassandra Peninsular, Halkidiki. Both offer all the luxury you could wish for, and are family-friendly, too.

Ikos Resorts... Ikos is a collection of five luxury resorts, with locations including Halkidiki, Corfu and Kos

Opposite: Poolside views in Ikos Dassia. Top: Ouzo Restaurant Ikos Aria resort. Above: Porto Sani Balcony Suite with Marina views.

with the latest – Ikos Andalusia – opening in April 2021. Ikos Resorts are defined by their Infinite Lifestyle concept which offers a luxury all-inclusive stay characterised by contemporary five-star accommodation. The resorts’ facilities are adored by both families and couples alike. Guests can enjoy distinctive touches such as menus created by Michelin-star chefs, cocktails curated by top mixologists, premium spirits and over 300 wines to choose from, 24 hour room service and kids clubs. Ikos also offers unique touches such as their Dine Out concept, where guests can enjoy a meal with drinks at a local restaurant or explore the local area on a MINI Drive Adventure – all included in the cost of the holiday.

Sani Resort... Sani Resort, meanwhile, comprises five properties set in a 1,000 acre ecological site in Halkidiki, with pine forests and crystal-clear waters. A sporting academy provides treetop ziplines and Chelsea-affiliated football and Rafa Nadal tennis academies, with water-skiing, sailing and yoga also available. Whichever resort appeals, multi-generational families, couples and those with youngsters will enjoy luxury and an exceptional climate.

n Based on 10th May departures, Halkidiki, flights from Stansted, seven nights, two adults; Ikos £2,500; Sani £1,700. Based on 19th July departure, Halkidiki, flights from Stansted, seven nights, two adults and two children Ikos £7k; Sani £5k; NB: Book from early holiday dates 9th July and significant savings are possible.

Golf at Ikos Andalusia and the Golf at Ikos Andalusia and the spa at Ikos Aria. Seen right, a couple spa at Ikos Aria. Seen right, a couple exploring Estepona Old Town exploring Estepona Old Town from the Ikos Andalusia resort. from the Ikos Andalusia resort.

Top: Sani Asterias beach. The resort offers a ‘Babewatch’ babysitting service! Also seen here is an aerial shot of the Sani resort. EXPECT MORE, WITH MORE TRAVEL... ...and enjoy a better luxury travel experience!

There are of course, many travel companies. But few travel specialists. Stamford-based More Travel is definitely the latter, with a remit not just to ‘retail’ holidays, but to provide expertise and knowledge – plus the kind of service you’d expect from an independent business – in order provide a totally bespoke and wholly enjoyable travel experience. “The myth persists that independent travel companies have a narrower number of travel options available to them and will be more expensive,” says Helen. “In fact, completely the opposite is true. We can offer at least as broad a choice of travel options, but we can also create tailored travel packages to make sure your destination, itinerary or activities are completely suited to you. From a pricing perspective we see the whole range of offers available in the market place and can use those that have the greatest impact.” “Using an independent specialist like More Travel, you speak to just one person, who gets to know you, understands what you’re looking for and remains accountable for your satisfaction.”

“Our customers have reported that they’ve been glad to have someone they recognise and trust on the phone over the past year, with its travel disruption.” “The advantage of booking via a company like More Travel is trust, accountability and much greater customer satisfaction. You’ll be supporting a local business whilst enjoying direct access to the very best travel arrangements. All our flight inclusive holidays are ATOL covered so and we follow FCDO advice as standard - and we’re always on hand to help you whatever the day or time! n More Travel is based at St Mary’ s St, Stamford PE9 2DF, call 01780 433333 or see www.more-travel.co.uk.

Tricolore pizza with mozzarella, roasted peppers, spinach and onions.