SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE AND NORTH COTSWOLD NOW FEBRUARY 2019

Warwickshire South

AND NORTH COTSWOLDS

Now

Bromford Retirement

COLOUR-POP KITCHENS CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING VENUE RECOVERING FROM A HEART ATTACK FEBRUARY 2019 | Issue 32

PI C I’m K M FR E U EE P

Fabulous apartments for luxury living.

Turn to page 25 for more details

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HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD & DRINK • WALKS • HEALTH & BEAUTY • WHAT’S ON • COMPETITIONS

Health & Beauty

n 2 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 32 | February 2019

04

South

Warwickshire AND NORTH COTSWOLDS

Now

Contents

06 12

FEBRUARY 2019

HERE & NOW 04 Fundraise for local charities

Home & Garden 06 Colour-pop Kitchens 12 Pollution tollerant plants

HEALTH & BEAUTY 16 Valentines Gifts

Weddings 18 Choosing the perfect wedding venue

16

22 Wedding favours

KEEPING ACTIVE

18 31

28 Alcester to Weethley Ridgeway

education 31 Top homework tips

28 south

warwickshire

NOW

editor

design

competition winnerS

Dawn Pardoe PW Media & Publishing Ltd dawn@pw-media.co.uk

Daisy Bennett daisy@pw-media.co.uk

One Gin: D Walker, Alcester

Advertising

Contributors Daisy Bennett Glynis Dray kudos-sports.com Wyevale Garden Centres

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without permission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictoral media for this publication are sent at owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PW Media & Publishing Ltd or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorial submissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope. DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, PW Media & Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. Please note that if you enter a competition in the Wye Valley Now magazine your name and address may be forwarded to the host of said competition.

01905 723011

Mel Penkoks 01905 727901 mel@pw-media.co.uk

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THE LATEST NEWS FROM YOUR AREA

Help to raise money for local hospice The Shakespeare Hospice is asking the local community to help safeguard its future.

Last year the Hospice supported over 1000 adults and young people, including patients and their families, from South Warwickshire and the North Cotswolds affected by a life limiting illness.

“Simply put, we need to raise more money in order to help more people. By working closely with our community supporters, we will help to raise awareness of the tremendous support the Hospice offers local people.

There are so many ways that you can get involved; visit our website for our calendar of events and see what takes your fancy https://theshakespearehospice.org.uk/Event or maybe consider organising your own For more information or to offer your community event? support please contact Jo Hassall in first It can be as simple as a coffee morning with instance on 01789 266852 or email jhassall@ friends, a cake sale or maybe a quiz at your theshakespearehospice.org.uk local pub!

Alternatively, it is really easy to set up Regular We welcome ideas from individuals and Giving for The Shakespeare Hospice by visiting businesses alike.

Dragonboat Race 2018

the website www.theshakespearehospice.org. uk or simpler still, you can *text to donate from your mobile device: to give £3 text tshdonate3 to 70500, to give £5 text tshdonate5 to 70500 or to give £10 text tshdonate10 to 70500. n *Visit Privacy Policy for Text to Donate terms and conditions.

Fundraisers can glow for Myton The Myton Hospices is encouraging

pay just £15 to take part in this event!

people to walk, dance or jog 5k around

Registration will cost £20 per person

Coventry city centre to raise money so

after this date.

it can continue providing its services to people with life limiting and terminal

As well as enjoying an evening out

illnesses, and their families.

with friends and family, people are

Taking place on March 30th, people can wear their best – and worst – neon gear and flashing accessories to take on the course which features neon powder paint, a UV bubble tunnel, Zumba warm up led by Matt Print, an international DJ and much more!

encouraged

to

raise

sponsorship

money to help the charity hit its ambitious target of £61,000. n If you would like to walk, dance or jog in memory of a loved one, or just for fun, whilst raising money for Myton, sign up online at www.mytonhospice.org/glow

Anyone who registers by March 3 will n 4 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 32 | February 2019

Health & Beauty

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Home & Garden Here &&Now Home Garden

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n 6 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 32 | February 2019

The Window Film Company, MissPrint - Frontier, www.windowfilm.co.uk

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Home & Garden

Give your kitchen a new zest for life, by adding a few splashes of colour this coming spring.

coloured back panels included with each machine, you can switch the colour depending on how you choose to decorate your kitchen.

As the winter months come to a close, pay attention to the finer details and upgrade everything from your cabinets to utensils.

Pastel pinks For something a little more subdued, try pale candy-coloured pinks for a playful twist when brightening up your food preparation space.

Breaking away from the simple monochrome style kitchen we’ve seen in recent years, it’s time to embrace a new colour scheme.

Spice it up Take inspiration from the spice rack and go for deep earthy reds. Amica’s new retro style fridge freezer combines good looks with practical features. At just 55cm wide, the model is ideal for smaller kitchens, but makes a quite statement in a fiery red hue.

The Nescafe Dolce Gusto Colors coffee pod machine has a unique and modern design. With three interchangeable

The faded blush tones of ‘Millenial Pink’ is also a popular shade to decorate your home at the moment.

From coasters and mugs to dinner plates and wine glasses, there is an abundance of appliances to give your kitchen a fresh and modern feel without going too bold.

Pictured below is Hampton in Vintage Rose from Masterclass Kitchens.

Available in a choice of 25 colours including the new Vibrant Colour Palette, Hampton is a ‘flat slab’ painted

RVC931 90cm range cooker from CDA

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Nescafe Dolce Gusto Colors

Hampton in Vintage Rose from Masterclass Kitchens

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Home & Garden

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Maison Wall Tiles from www.cravendunnill.co.uk

Original BTC May Size 2 Pendant Light

door with a tactile and super-smooth silk finish.

Go green Bring the outside in, and surround yourself with leafy greens. Pot plants or indoor herb planters will enhance your surroundings as well as provide a tasty addition to home cooking.

Craven Dunnil’s new Maison wall tile collection is brave and exotic, fusing rich, pooling pigments with Moorish and artisan, textured styling.

Choose your mood and palette from mysterious inky blues to burnished gold or a lush moss green (featured above). Finished with a gloss glaze, the colours are achieved with a special shaded application that creates depth and character.

Bright yet simple additions to the kitchen like like these pendant lights (pictured opposite) by Original BTC. Manufactured in the UK, they make for a highly adaptable light, suitable for a wide range of interiors.

Its striking hand-painted detail that extends to a complementary ceiling rose, adds a fresh and contemporary feel to this classic bone china.

Hubble Kitchens & Interiors have introduced a new concept design by next125, finished in warm saffron yellow, which stages the kitchen as the heart of the room. The velvety matt, lightly textured finish makes the front very easy to care for. n

By Daisy Bennett

Sunshine yellow Give your kitchen a fresh and exciting burst of colour with deep shades of yellow.

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next125 NX500 Kitchen in Saffron yellow satin

Home & Garden

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Home & Garden

Ten Pollution-Tolerant Plants

and How to Care For Them

Just like humans, plants that live in cities, industrial, or built-up areas are susceptible to pollution. As they rely on carbon dioxide in clean air for photosynthesis and to prevent fungal diseases, most plants struggle to thrive in polluted areas, however there are some species that will stand the smog, says Wyevale Garden Centres.

Platanus x hispanica, better known as the London plane tree is the city’s most common tree and it’s because it does so well in highly polluted areas.

Other varieties that will also do perfectly well include the ornamental pear, an exceptionally good tree for small urban gardens, buddleja, well known for attracting butterflies and buxus sempervirens, the classic British native evergreen that has formed the backbone of formal planting schemes for hundreds of years.

David Mitchell, Buying Manager for Horticulture at Wyevale Garden Centres, says: “Plants do have a hard time with pollution. Since the leaves need to ‘breathe’, anything that limits that exchange, such as airborne gasses or if the pores are blocked by dust and grime, will limit their potential.

Fruit trees in particular can struggle and yields can be as low as half of what they would be in cleaner air.

Never water the leaves as if they are coated in grime, salts or pollutants it will get right into them, so always water from the base. Every n 12 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 32 | February 2019

so often take time to wipe the leaves down and clean them to get the grime or dirt off. A good time to do it is when it’s raining heavily.

You might not clean every leaf at every level but it will make a difference. I use an old paintbrush to do this. Time spent on this will be very worthwhile. Also, expect plants in pots in cities to need a bit more feeding.”

Wyevale Garden Centres lists 10 pollutiontolerant plants and how to care for them: 1. Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’: This ornamental pear is an exceptionally good tree for small urban gardens, with its upright, narrow shape and branches that are smothered with white blossom early in spring (April to May). The leaves turn a vibrant red and purple in the autumn before falling and some years, the tree will produce small inedible brown fruits. It does best in a moist but well drained soil (clay, sand or loam) and in full sun.

2. Buddleja: Known as the butterfly bush, Buddleja produces clusters of deep scented flowers from midsummer into autumn (July to September). Rich in nectar, Continued over the page

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this fast-growing, hardy deciduous shrub attracts butterflies, bees and other insects and thrives in any well-drained soil (chalk, loam or sand).

love it! It doesn’t have the twining branches that many other honeysuckles do, so needs to be supported. It’s best in moist but welldrained soil (chalk, loam or sand) in sun or partial shade and ideal for informal borders and cottage garden style planting.

3. Camellia: Producing rich, colourful flowers with ruffled petals and golden stamens in late winter into spring (February to April), which are offset by glossy evergreen leaves, the Camellia proves that beautiful plants can also be tolerant to pollution. Plant in light shade and in shelter and in moist but welldrained, humus-rich, lime-free soil (loam) or in a container, in ericaceous (lime-free) compost.

6. Ginkgo biloba: This large deciduous tree will be too big for small urban gardens, but it’s worth mentioning, as it’s very tolerant to pollution. It has fan-shaped leaves, which turn yellow in autumn and on female trees, produce yellow fruits which smell rather unpleasant! It will thrive in well-drained soil (chalk, loam, sand or clay).

4. Buxus sempervirens: This classic British native evergreen is ideal for low hedging, boundaries or divisions in formal gardens in both modern and traditional settings.

It responds well to being trimmed and thrives in the shade and most well-drained soils (chalk, loam or sand). It’s excellent for growing in containers, as topiary and for training as feature plants.

7. Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’: This is a superb variety of viburnum as it has bright pink, sweetly scented flowers which open on dark stems from November to May. It’s a vigorous, upright shrub, that looks good all year and is easy to grow in moist but well-drained fertile soil (chalk, loam or sand), in sun or light shade and sheltered from cold winds.

5. Lonicera x heckrottii ‘Gold Flame’: This honeysuckle flowers in summer (June to August) and bears tubular pink flowers with warm orange-yellow petals. It has a delicious fragrance and bees and butterflies

8. Berberis: This easy to grow barberry has spiny shoots and simple leaves. Soft yellow or orange flowers appear in spring (April to

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Continued over the page

May) and are followed by small berries in the autumn. This deciduous or evergreen shrub will succeed in a wide range of conditions.

Plant in full sun or partial shade in welldrained humus-rich soil (chalk, loam or sand), although it will be tolerant of most soils as long as they are reasonably well-drained.

9. Chaenomeles: Chaenomeles flower in spring and produce edible fruits in autumn, which can be used for jelly-making. It provides early nectar for bees and thrives in any welldrained, fertile soil (chalk, loam or sand), in sun or light shade. It’s great for training under house windows or on low walls and fences.

10. Escallonia ‘Iveyi’: This is a handsome, vigorous, large evergreen shrub, quite different from other escallonias, with larger, glossy, rich green leaves and clusters of scented white flowers in mid and late summer (July to August).

Plant in well-drained, fertile soil (chalk, loam or sand) in full sun or partial shade, sheltered from cold winds. It can be grown in the open in mild areas, but it’s best grown against a south-facing wall in cold areas. n For more information Wyevale Garden Centres, www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk.

about visit

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Health & Beauty Health & Beauty

Be mi

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Hot Pink Blush by English Mineral Makeup The top-grade mineral ingredients nourish the skin and provide a natural, flawless look. £25 www.englishmineralmakeup.co.uk

Instant Poreless A revolutionary pore-blurring, mattifying primer. £24 www.clarins.com

Sterling Silver Entwined Open Heart Stud Earrings This pair of sterling silver studs flaunt an elegant heart design on a post and butterfly back that is perfect for everyday wear. £38 www.anjapotze.com n 16 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 31 | December 2018/January 2019 n 16 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 32 | February 2019

Glow 2 Go Duo Stick Contour, sculpt and highlight in just one twist with these double ended, multi use sticks. £26 www.clarins.com

Personalised Love Hearts Pack of 30 They come delivered wrapped, tied with a red ribbon and ready to give! £9.99 www.swizzles.com

Health & Beauty

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Hot Pink Eternal Blooms by Victoria Bespoke hat boxes filled with preserved roses. www.eternalbloomsbyvictoria. com

Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm This powerful cleanser easily dissolves make up, for a soft and glowing complexion. www.elemis.com

Limited Edition Ready in a Flash Eye Palette Illumiate and sculpt the eyes in three easy steps. ÂŁ32 www.clarins.com

Ref Enzyme Peel Face Mask 100% Vegan self peeling mask, cleansing skin instantly.

Availble at Mavericks Hair Salon, Alcester.

Chance Eau Tendre Eau de Parfum

by Chanel A floral-fruity fragrance in a round bottle with soft and tender top notes. ÂŁ113 www.chanel.com t @NowWarwickshire | G South Warwickshire & North Cotswolds Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 17 n

WEDDINGS

How to Choose Your Wedding Venue Choosing a wedding venue is so important, that it should be at the top of your to-do list, when planning your special day.

Of course, this isn’t an easy task at all, so before you go rushing to see every possible wedding venue within a 100 mile radius, here are our top tips to help you with your search.

1. What suits you Nobody knows the type of wedding you want better than you! Deciding on the type of wedding you want and how your venue can reflect your tastes is all part of the fun.

Are you going for a church wedding?

Do you want to have your ceremony and reception in the same place? If so, then you’ll need to find somewhere with a license for civil ceremonies.

Logistical details aside, choosing a venue has much in common with falling in love,sometimes you just ‘find the one’, and that’s it.

2. Your wedding date If you have your heart set on getting married on a particular date like an anniversary, you’ll need to choose a venue that’s available on that day. It really depends on what’s more important to you: the time or the place.

Remember that some venues are incredibly popular during the summer months and can get booked up years in advance. High summer is also peak wedding season so venues are often priced accordingly.

more unusual. If you are absolutely set on

If you’re after some savings and are flexible about your dates, weddings on Sundays, weekdays or in the winter can offer a great reduction.

bringing your own suppliers, you’ll need

3. Size

Think about whether you would like a formal or traditional wedding, or whether you’re going to do something

to choose a venue that will allow you to do so.

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WEDDINGS What comes first, the guest list or the venue? In a chicken and egg conundrum, one can determine the other. If your plans are for a small wedding with a small guest list, it makes sense to choose a smaller venue.

However, if you fall in love with a venue but it can only cater for a party much smaller or larger than you’d planned, what will you do? You can make your guest list first then shop around for a venue to fit, or find your venue first and compile your guest list to size both can work.

4. Price Talking about the costs of a wedding is a very real part of choosing your wedding venue: knowing your wedding budget is key and can dictate your choice of venue to some degree.

If you’re on a tighter budget, decide where you will splash out and where you will try to make savings.

Do you want to spend more on your food and less on your venue, or vice versa?

Or treat your guests to some stunning entertainment?

Decide how much in total you have to

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spend, add a contingency amount for unexpected costs and then be prepared to have some discussions about what to spend on each wedding element!

5. Location Whilst it used to be tradition for a bride to get married in her hometown or at least where the parents live, but this is increasingly impractical for many couples.

These days couples are more likely to choose a venue close to where they currently live, or a destination that is close to their hearts. One of the key decisions you have is choosing city or country.

Both have their pros and cons: country weddings mean a good choice of venues and beautiful scenery for the photographs, but can be remote, inaccessible and have a lack of other amenities.

Although your feelings about your venue are paramount, you may want to consider whether the location is a reasonable travel distance for your friends and family.

If you have guests travelling from afar, is there plenty of other things to do in the area to allow them extend their wedding attendance into a mini break? n

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GOLDEN YEARS

Moving forward

after a heart attack

A heart attack prompted former sprinter Mark Bannan to reassess his priorities and take time to enjoy life, as he tells British Heart Foundation’s Rachael Healy.

“Aged 54, I felt at rock bottom,” says Mark Bannan, who suffered a heart attack in May 2009. “But gradually, I treated it as an opportunity to build a new and different lifestyle.”

Mark, from Plymouth, was once a keen sprinter.

When he turned 50, he’d challenged himself to see how fast he could run. He became serious about the sport, reaching the 100m final of the British Veterans Athletics Championships.

But after his heart attack, Mark was no longer able to sprint. He now enjoys a slower pace of life, embracing hobbies that keep his mind and body active.

Two years after that 100m final, Mark was on a lunch break from his busy job as regional manager for a housing association. He took a stroll and felt a tight sensation in his chest.

“I honestly had no idea that it was anything to do with my heart,” he says. “That’s the scary thing.”

Don’t take things for granted. Be open to change in your life The pains continued intermittently for a couple of weeks. In the early hours of one morning, Mark was woken by extreme tightness in his chest. His wife, Heather, drove him to hospital.

Mark was told he’d had a heart attack. He was given a clot-busting drug and an angiogram was performed. “The consultant said a stent would be no good because I had a number of blocked arteries,” Mark explains.

“When he told me it was five, I couldn’t believe it.” After a week on the ward, Mark was given a n 22 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 32 | February 2019

quintuple heart bypass. I was quite weak when I came out of hospital,” Mark says. He felt uncertain about exercising again and feared sprinting had contributed to his heart attack. “It worried me,” says Mark. “I thought I’d been stupid.”

Mark’s doctor reassured him this was not the case; his fitness had likely helped him survive the heart attack. But he was told he may never sprint again.

“I felt very sad,” says Mark. “It was a loss, almost a grief. But, in the bigger picture, it’s not a big deal because I’m lucky to be alive.”

Changing pace Mark took three months off work and a referral to cardiac rehabilitation provided much-needed reassurance. “It felt very supportive and safe, and I got advice about lifestyle, dealing with stress, diet and lots of other health issues,” he says.

Although the sessions involved physical activity, Mark felt some anxiety about exercising alone. “I was quite nervous,” he says. “It kind of throws you back to the experience. You have to rationalise it.”

Talking to people about how he felt helped Mark cope with these feelings. “If you keep it bottled up and try to be big about it, it doesn’t do you any good,” he says. “Talk to someone – whether it’s friends, family or, in my case, a cardiac nurse counsellor.”

Mark found yoga helped him cope with stress while staying fit. Mark also began walking. “I started doing short walks, down the garden and to the end of the road,” he says. “Before long I was doing half a mile.” He soon found solace in coastal walks. “It gave me time to think and share the experience in a way sprinting never did.”

This new pace of life shifted Mark’s priorities.

Continued over the page

Home & Garden Food & Drink

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GOLDEN YEARS “I saw it as an opportunity to change things,” he says. “I had become conscious that I was probably devoting too much time to work and sprinting.”

During time off work after surgery, Mark reflected on the stresses of his managerial job. He decided to hand in his notice and found a new part-time role placing people with mental health issues into volunteering.

“It was much more hands-on: dealing with people, rather than managing,” he says. “I found I had the most precious thing: time. That was life-changing.”

Mark loved his new job. The part-time element made him think, for the first time, about retirement.

This feeling intensified when, in 2010, Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer. “When you’ve both had a life-changing event, it makes you think,” he says. “Don’t take things for granted. Be open to change in your life.”

Adventure time Mark decided to retire when he turned 60. “Once I’d stopped part-time work, I had a lot of time,” says Mark. “I started to take up all the things maybe I would’ve tried earlier. The first thing I took up was yoga.

“It helps you to relax and helps with breathing, strength and flexibility. I do it once a week and try to do relaxation once a week on my own, too.

A piece of advice I would give to people is that something like yoga or relaxation exercises are a good thing if you have anxiety.”

About a year after Mark retired, Heather also finished work. Soon, they were joining clubs and starting new hobbies together – a huge contrast to Mark’s race-training days.

For lots of people, doing smaller, low-key things is

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really good “I’d just go off and do my thing,” he says. “Sprinting is very selfish; you’re not really thinking about anybody else apart from yourself and your own performance.

“Heather and I are doing a lot of things together now. It has brought us closer together in many ways.

We’ve joined walking groups with the University of the Third Age, which is really nice and very sociable, in beautiful countryside and by the sea.

“We also just joined a community choir in Plymouth.

It takes a bit of courage to start, but it is good fun and quite therapeutic. At least, it’s therapeutic for us – I’m not sure about the audience!”

Mark has also joined a poetry club and an architecture group and has begun writing articles on subjects that interest him.

“It’s great if you can go out and run marathons and do big stuff,” he says. “But for lots of people, doing smaller, low-key things is really good. That can be enough.”

Mark and Heather have plans beyond their new hobbies too. “Now that we’re both retired, we feel freer and we’d like to do a bit more travelling, maybe visiting our three children more often and other family all around the country, and seeing old friends,” says Mark.

“A heart attack is a horrible event, but if you come through it, it gives you the chance to rethink things.

It’s the start of a new stage in our life.” n https://blog.kudos-sports.com/2017/11/britishmasters-athletics/

Health & Beauty Health & Beauty

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KEEPING Golden Years ACTIVE Golden Years

Start / Finish: The walk starts at Parish Church in High Street.

Public Transport: Nearest railway stations at Redditch, Evesham, Stratford upon Avon. Please use ‘Traveline’ and local bus timetables.

Parking: Check for long stay car park or park in outer streets avoiding driveways. WC behind shops in the High Street.

O/S Map: Explorer Map 205 Distance: The main walk is 8 miles. Shorter ‘There and Back’ walk.

Time: Allow all day for the main walk and leave early on winter days.

Refreshments: There are plenty of cafes, pubs and food shops in Alcester or enjoy a picnic along the way.

Terrain: The walk trends uphill outward and downhill on the return. Boots are recommended and poles can be useful on the downhill slopes. Most paths well maintained, many with substantial ‘wildlife’ margin shared by horse-riders on ‘toll routes’. Wheelchair users and pushchairs can explore Alcester with its accessible parks and riverside walk. There is also a stretch of dismantled Railway line that leads to an orchard and open space. The museum and library welcome visitors to the town.

History: Alcester is a Roman Town on Ryknild Street that grew on the bank of the River Arrow. The museum in the town is excellent. The main walk goes up and over a ‘Ridgeway’ in both directions. You can visit St. James Church on the Ridgeway itself at Weethley. The return half of the walk follows the boundary of Ragley Hall which can be visited at a later date. Step back in time and enjoy this rural walk.

1. Walk starts at Parish Church with clock facing down High Street.

Walk down High Street to alleyway on right leading to Bull’s Head Yard. Pass WC and on to ‘Moorfield’. Turn left then diagonally right through park to ‘Nelson Tuery’ and ‘Lord Nelson’. Cross Priory Road, turn left then right along ‘Priory Tuery’ leading to Cross Road. Cross Allimore Lane, turn right up Roman Way and just before Hadrian’s Walk there is footpath on right between houses

Alcester to Weethley Ridgeway

7. Cross to stile opposite and walk down slope past woodland with boundary on right for nearly a mile to ‘Park Cottage’.

8. From ‘Park Cottage’ walk along track for a further mile with parkland of ‘Ragley Hall’ on right as far as A422 at Arrow.

9.Cross road walking right briefly to continue along path on left.

Follow hedge on right to path followed on outward walk.

to kissing-gate.

2.Cross field diagonally to another kissing-gate following path round to stiled footbridge over brook then straight across field to by-pass. Once over stile, cross dual-carriageway in 2 sections to stile and walk straight across field ahead. Walk along left side of next field to corner. Turn right along edge of same field with hedge on left.

3.Shortly you will reach a right of way on left where return route joins this path. Continue walking alongside stream on left, passing through gap between two fields. At next boundary, fork left along path which, at next corner, will cross tiny brick bridge over stream.

Continue walking west along left side of field, passing woodland on left. ‘Clarks Barn’ is over to right). At far end of woodland is a memorial bench. (Note, if you want a shorter walk you can turn back here and retrace your steps back to start.)

4.Walk into next field and keep straight on with ‘Belt’ and ‘Old Park Wood’ on right. This mile-long section exits onto A422. Cross with care!

5. Cross road and walk straight down slope. At woodland turn left with Weethley Wood on right for 1.5 ‘miles taking in several ‘inlets’.

6. At sharp corner, turn left and walk uphill along edge of woodland to next corner. Turn right to ‘cross-roads’ in paths, turn left and walk up hill-side for ¾ mile to top exiting between Weethley Manor on right and Church Farm on left. Turn right to St. James Church.

Retrace steps to ‘Ridgeway Road’.

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10.Turn right retracing steps to by-pass. Cross fields to housing estate then left to the ‘Truery’ paths and via park to ‘Moorfield’.

Cross road to footpath opposite that leads to Alcester High Street via alleyway and left to Parish Church where walk ends. n Written and illustrated by Glynis Dray

Vintage watches are worth a fortune If a spring clean beckons and

around the world, including Hong Kong,

an old watch is discovered in a

competed against internet and advance

dusty drawer, never dismiss it

bidders to secure the item.

because it might be worth a life-changing sum.

“The watch was finally sold to a French internet bidder competing against a UK

Hansons Auctioneers, which holds free

phone bidder. Though the hammer price

valuation events in Warwickshire, witnessed

was £51,100, the buyer’s premium took the

this at its recent Fine Art Auction when a

total price to £63,364.

vintage watch sold for £51,100.

“Desirable watches are likened to rare cars

The Tudor Rolex steel Oysterdate watch,

and wealthy collectors will stop at nothing

which had been worn down the garden and

to acquire the best examples for their

at work in the construction industry, had an

collection.

original estimate of £3,000-£5,000.

“The watch belonged to the late husband of

Bought for around £300 in the early 1970s,

a 74-year old retired office worker. Naturally,

it sparked an international auction room

she was over the moon. Never in her wildest

bidding battle eventually selling for more

dream did she expect it to fetch that kind of

than 17 times its low estimate.

money. Her husband was a keen collector of

Hansons’

Associate

Director

Adrian

Rathbone, said: “We’d love to see more vintage and designer watches like this. They are highly collectable right now.

“Such was the battle to own the Tudor watch, which is related to superstar brand Rolex, six phone bidders from the UK and

This rare Tudor watch sold for £51,100 at auction.

watches. The Tudor watch soared at auction To find out more, email arathbone@ because it was a rare and early example in hansonsauctioneers.co.uk. n exceptional condition. Omega, Cartier or Hansons hold free monthly valuation events Longines watches are also sought after.” in Knowle, Stratford on Avon, Kenilworth and Entries are invited for Hansons’ March Bishops Cleeve. To find out more, call Carol 28-April 4 Spring Jewellery, Watches and Jones on 07802 839915.

Fine Art Auction.

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EDUCATION

Choosing the right

primary school

As the deadline has just past for the 2019 entry for state schools perhaps it is good time to start planning for 2020. It is not too late to visit private and fee paying schools as they have a more flexible approach for their 2019 entry.

After deciding to embark on parenthood the next major decision is schools. For local state schools the application deadline is the 15 January.

As your children must be in education from the term after their fifth birthday but can join reception class aged four. The application needs to be in the January before you would like them to begin. In a lot of cases your local primary school or pre prep school will be the best option for you but what if you don’t think it is or you just want to find out if it is good match for your child before purchasing the uniform.

So where do you start? A good place to start is by going to visit the schools within the distance you want to take your child to and from school each day, to see them for yourself.

Talking to other parents in the area can also help give you a basic understanding of the pros and cons of the school that their child attends, but what is right for them may not be right for you and your child.

So how do you work out which is best for your child? As a parent you know what is best for your child, but people can often be swayed by a reputation. Before going to visit a potential school write a list of questions that are important to you and don’t be afraid to ask them.

On the visit, insist on going in to see lessons and trust your instincts on the atmosphere of the school. Children will only take the

risks they need to – to learn and push themselves – if they feel happy and secure in the environment. What can an Ofsted report tell you?

Ofsted reports are usually the first thing people reference when looking at a school.

They can be useful, but there are other considerations too. For example, some schools that hold an ‘outstanding’ status may have been given it over six years ago under the old framework.

When reading a report, look at when it was done and think about the things the report seems to be focusing on. In a two-day inspection, it is impossible for them to see all elements of the school and the school community. If you are concerned about an area that has been flagged up, go and visit the school and ask what has been put in place to tackle that area. Before inspectors visit a school, the first place they reference is the school’s website. Have a look at this to see how informative it is and what impression it gives you.

OK, well what should ring alarm bells? Lots of things can raise concerns about a school.

The first would be a school which is reluctant to have you visit or on a visit not wanting to let you in the classrooms. Another would be a school where there are no senior management present or available to meet potential new parents. Additionally, when a school is unable to give you clear answers, for example, if your child has extra needs and you don’t feel they were able to give you a satisfactory explanation of how they would

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support their needs. Always do the drive pass in the morning as the children arrive and in the afternoon for home time. It is enlighting to see a school in Surrey I visited using their beautifully behaved children to steward the parking of wayward parents! Now that is good school management. If you decide to visit have a look at these questions… only a few will suit your child but they are just to get you started with your planning.

• How many educational visits will they go on each term?

• What extra curricular activities are provided for younger children?

• What outdoor learning facilitates are available?

• If my child needs speech and language therapy, how would the school provide this?

• What is a typical day for my child and how is the learning time distributed between the different areas of learning?

• What is your homework policy?

• What makes this school unique?

• If I have a concern what should I do?

• How can I get involved in the school?

• What before and after school care provision do you have?

This list is not exhustive and you may feel like a pushy parent but better this than having a child that has an unhappy school life. n

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What's On

OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST EVENTS THIS MONTH

Sunday 3rd, 12th, 17th Snowdrops at Rodmarton Manor

FEBRUARY Until March 16th Family Sculpture Trail Join our Creative Learning Team on a free guided Art and Nature trail around Warwick Campus. You will discover some of the newest sculptures in our collection, find out about the wildlife on campus and have a chance to sketch and make as you walk around. The trail will happen whatever the weather, and some of the paths can get muddy, so remember your welllies and coats! Toilets and cafe facilities will be pointed out around the trail. To find out more, go to www.warwickartscentre. co.uk

Sunday 3rd, 12th, 17th Snowdrops at Rodmarton Manor Snowdrops

(Genus

Galanthus)

feature

strongly at Rodmarton Manor where there are at least 150 different sorts, some small, some huge, with many different markings – some

may close and it is advisable to ring before visiting. There are likely to be other winter flowers such as Crocus, Hellebores, Cyclamen, Aconites. In the event of hard frost or snow it is advisable to telephone before visiting. The event is open from 1.30pm.

Attend Paris’ most fashionable parties, meet

Thursday 7th

a V.I.P. tour of Paris and a timeless love story.

Roderick Williams – baritone and Christopher Glynn – piano Schubert Winter Journey. Roderick Williams and Christopher Glynn perform Schubert’s winter song cycle in English, echoing their critically acclaimed CD release of the work earlier this year. This concert forms part of Roderick’s Schubert Project in which he has sung Schubert’s three mighty song cycles all over the world alongside work in schools to teach youngsters how to sing the music of the great composer. The event starts at 7.30pm at Warwick Hall. Tickets available at Warwick Visitor Information Centre Box Office or call 01926 334418.

celebrated beauties and wind down in the Café Anglais surrounded by wealth and a cast of attractive hedonists. But will the bright young party-goers be rich in love?

Skip queuing for the Eurostar and join us for Stand back from the platform’s edge, relax, and join us for an off-the-rails evening of “La Vie Parisienne”. The event starts at 7.30pm at the Theatre, Warwick Arts Centre, £13 a ticket.

Sunday 10th Warwick Masterclass 2019: The Principles of Garden Design During this lively seminar, you’ll learn the principles of good garden design, as well as how to strike the right balance between beauty and practicality. This class is an opportunity to be inspired and to glean useful tips to help you create your own dream garden. The masterclass teaches you about different styles

yellow and some green and including many

Thursday 7th- Saturday 9th

of gardens, from sleek modern designs to

rare ones. In the event of severe weather we

La Vie Parisienne

rustic cottage gardens, and how to maintain

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What's On

OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST EVENTS THIS MONTH

a beautiful garden all year round, as well as providing an introduction to understanding garden shows and giving you a Q&A session with one of the UK’s most respected garden designers. The session is run by James Alexander-Sinclair, who has been working in garden design for 30 years. He has designed show gardens at both the Chelsea Flower Show and the Westonbirt International Festival of the Garden, and writes monthly columns in Gardeners World Magazine. James has also presented television programmes on both the BBC and Channel 4, and acts as a judge in many popular garden competitions.

The event runs from 10-5pm at Warwick Arts Centre, with tickets costing £120.

a similar situation. With this in mind, Age UK Warwickshire have partnered up with Warwick based Law firm - Moore and Tibbits Solictors to hold a ‘Coffee and Cake Morning’. This is the perfect opportunity for local people to meet socially in an easily accessible location as well as having the chance to speak to representatives from Age UK Warwickshire at the same time. If you would like to join in or know someone who would benefit from this event you can book your place using the following details; Location: Queensway Court, Leamington Spa, CV31 3JZ. Time: 1112pm. To book your place contact Amy on 01926 458113.

Monday 11th

In The Ballroom In The Ballroom is a social gathering with tea, cakes. talks and conversation, organisd

by Warwick Town Council and Unlocking Warwick. The event takes place at Court House, Jury Street in Warwick, 2-4pm, and costs £2.

Mark Thomas: Check Up - Our NHS at 70

Coffee and Cake Morning The fight against loneliness and social isolation in the elderly has been well publicised in recent months and as we enter 2019, the ongoing battle continues.

One way to try and reduce loneliness in later life, is to encourage meeting up with others in

Wednesday 13th

If Mark makes it to 84 the NHS will be 100.

When that time comes, what will they both look like? Based on a series of interviews with leading experts in and on the NHS and residencies in hospitals and surgeries, Mark Thomas explores what state we’re in. What’s going right, what’s going wrong and how does it get better? The performace starts at 7.45pm at the Theatre at Warwick Arts Centre.

Tickets are £17 (£13 including NHS staff).

Thursday 14th Baroque and Roll A frequent traveller between the worlds of jazz and baroque, harpsichordist, jazz pianist and composer David Gordon joins OOTS in a scintillating, genre-busting journey taking in Biber, Corelli, Bach and his own incredible Baroque influenced compositions. The harpsichord as you’ve never heard it before.

The event takes place at No.1 Shakespeare Street Cocktail Bar & NightClub, 8pm. For more information, contact 01789 267567 email: info@orchestraoftheswan.org.

Saturday 16th- Sunday 17th Warwick Beer Festival

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Golden Years

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What's On Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook Katie Markham delivers this celebration of one of our generation’s finest singer-songwriters with performances of songs from the three record-breaking albums 19, 21 and 25 at the Core Theatre in Solihull. Someone Like You (The Adele Songbook) is an immaculate celebration of one of our generation’s finest singer-songwriters. Hand-picked by Adele herself on Graham Norton’s BBC Adele Special, the outstanding Katie Markham has the show-stopping voice and captivating charisma to deliver all your favourite Adele hits in an enthralling concert performance, including ‘Chasing Pavements’, ‘Make You Feel My Love’, ‘Set Fire To The Rain’, ‘Someone Like You’, ‘Hello’, ‘Rolling In The Deep’ and the multi-million seller ‘Skyfall’.

Someone Like You will take you on a soulstirring journey from break up to make up!

Tickets are priced £24.15. For more details, call 0121 704 6962.

Saturday 16th Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour – Red Programme Experience an extraordinary collection of short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival at the Royal Spa Centre, 7.30-10pm. Follow the expeditions of some of today’s most incredible adventurers, see amazing footage of adrenaline packed action sports and be inspired by thought-provoking pieces shot from the far flung corners of the globe. This year there are two evenings that will ignite your passion for adventure, action and travel. For double the adventure come along both nights for two entirely different film programmes. Two night discounts are

OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST EVENTS THIS MONTH

available. Exciting events not to be missed with free prize giveaways! Visit www.banff-uk. com for more details

Saturday 16th -Sunday 17th Warwick Beer Festival There will be 20+beers to try plus 7 plus ciders.

Entry includes a commemorative glass. Hot food available both days. All money raised goes towards the ongoing restoration cost of this iconic building. Admission £5. Tickets available from Warwick Visitor Centre, Jury Street Warwick.

Thursday 21st Kate’s Story Tree This February Half Term Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall is brimming with family fun for all. Open daily,visitors will discover an immersive and creative experience that gets even more colourful when Kate’s Story Tree brings a sprinkle of magic to the 15th century building, with an event that will give children the opportunity to make their own story jars.

In a day that begins and ends with story telling, the morning session for Young Shakespeare’s Stratford with Kate’s Story Tree takes place at Stratford Library from 10.30am to 11.15am.

Then walking the same walk that young William Shakespeare would have taken, the young wordsmiths will make their way to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, where the event continues until 12.15pm. Their stories will be made and told through the creation of story jars, which will be inspired by the tales featured in Shakespeare’s As You Like It and The Winter’s Tale. Tickets are free, with all materials provided, but must be booked

Monday 25th Wonderful Winds

in advance via eventbrite athttps://www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/young-shakespearesstratford-tickets-54518392981. The event is suitable for children of primary school age, who must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Monday 25th University of Warwick Wind Orchestra Wonderful Winds Join us for this festival of wind and brass instruments. at Butterworth Hall. With performances by the University of Warwick Wind Orchestra, Feeling Saxy and a range of other ensembles, there’ll be something for everyone in this uplifting showcase. Music to tap your toes to! Tickets start from £7. To book go to www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Wednesday 27th Saturday March 2nd MTW present: Guys and Dolls MTW proudly presents: Guys and Dolls, the classic Broadway musical which tells the story of lovers, gamblers and showbusiness, set in vibrant 1950’s New York. Following the success of Rent and Spring Awakening, the critically acclaimed Music Theatre Warwick return to the theatre with this fun, glamourous production. Frank Loesser’s charming score includes instantly recognisable songs such as Luck be a Lady and Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat. This, combined with a witty and playful script and energetic dance numbers creates, a much loved musical comedy!The musical starts at 7.30pm with a matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday, March 2nd. Tickets: £15 (£11). n

Warwickshire South

AND NORTH COTSWOLDS

Now

If you would like to advertise in our next issue please contact one of our sales team.

n 34 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 32 | February 2019

Mel Penkoks

Emma Cox

Tel: 01905 727901 Email: mel@pw-media.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727902 Email: emma@pw-media.co.uk

Health & Beauty

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