Round & About Magazine: Henley Edition - January 2020 by Round & About Publications Ltd

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JANUARY 2020 | www.roundandabout.co.uk

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YEAR!

HENLEY WATLINGTON

planet Save our

Eco-friendly steps we can all take

8-page Education Report inside Kenton Theatre highlights Biologist Liz Bonnin Q&A

Win! Blue Planet II live tickets ~ A luxury spa package ~ Dinner & a stay at The French Horn

W HAT ' S I N SI D E

Contents JANUARY 2020 | Vol. 24 | No. 1

5 Disjointed Ramblings

34 Witness the fitness!

9 Help save the planet!

36 Food revolution!

16 Liz Bonnin Q&A

38 Don Giovanni highlight

21 Education for all

40 Competitions

32 January as a gateway

43 Classified

Local news and charity events

Environmental advice

Biologist’s wisdom

Our guide to learning

Rev Sue Morton reflects

Trends for better health

Delicious green recipe

Merry Opera in Henley

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The monthly magazine delivered to homes by The Royal Mail across Oxon, Berks, Bucks, Hants, Surrey, W Sussex & Wilts

THIS EDITION IS DELIVERED TO ALL 12,175 HOMES IN RG9 & OX49 P ublisher: Chris Savage Editor: Liz Nicholls email: lnicholls@roundandabout.co.uk Production Editor: Karen Neville email: kneville@roundandabout.co.uk Ramblings Editor: Peter Savage Sales Director: Luke Maitland Advertising Manager: Katie Marlow Display Advertising: Steve Warner, Sam Gillespie, Simon Johnson, Jennifer Sanders, Glynn Humphreys, Tara Harris Classified Advertising: Antonio Capuzzimati email: sales@roundandabout.co.uk Accounts: Vicki Charles, Stephen Clapton Production Manager: Michelle Miley email: mmiley@roundandabout.co.uk Design: Angus Scripps, Grace Tracey

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Tel: 01491 837621 enquiries@roundandabout.co.uk www.roundandabout.co.uk February publication date 3rd February 2020 COPY DATE LATEST – 1st of PRECEDING MONTH The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted without prior permission. The publishers cannot accept liability for loss or damage of material submitted to the magazine. LOOSE INSERTS delivered with your copy of Round & About have absolutely nothing to do with the magazine. Our inserts are secured into the magazine with staples. WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OTHERS. Round & About Publications Ltd does not endorse any advertisements published in Round & About Magazine. Please note all phone calls to and from Round & About are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

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RAMBLINGS

Ramblings Local news & events

Promoting your event in Ramblings is FREE I'm pledging, right here, right now, to attempt a Dry January – that's 31 days without alcohol. Even though I've always hated those bossy themed months. Yes: I've changed. I turned 40 last month (in a blur of merriment) and my relationship with alcohol is basically an abusive one.

If you’re holding a charity event, fete, fair or anything of a non-commercial nature email it in by the 1st of the month prior to publication to psavage@roundandabout.co.uk

Max. 150 words. We cannot guarantee all entries will be published.

Liz Nicholls

your RamblER...

f you didn't grow up in a family whose drinking behaviour was only really "normal" around Christmas time, this might seem alien to you. But it's hard to break patterns – jolly ones, too – that you're soaked in. And to concede that the British way of using a depressant drug to cheer yourself up is neither logical nor sustainable. So, without being evangelical about it, I'm doing it & hope the January Blues will be lighter! Rossetti's Women is a great subject to start off a new year of Ramblings! Linda Smith will explore Rossetti's influence over British art at the end of the 19th century as the special guest of Arts Society Henley. From the days of his early involvement with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to his death, women were enormously important in Dante Gabriel Rossetti's life and art. Linda will introduce the various personalities involved and examine Rossetti’s painted representations of these women, in the rather complicated context of attitudes towards women at that time. Visitors and new members are welcome to listen to the talk, on Thursday, 16th January, 2.15pm in the Ballroom at Phyllis Court Club; £10 entry. Visit www.henley. theartssociety.org or email henley@theartssociety.org

I’d like to raise a toast to two newcomers to Henley who had the bright idea of setting up an evening book club as a gateway to meet people, chat over a book or two, and may be sip some wine together. Sarah Aston and Helen Barnes were each searching for a local book group to join and failed to find one but connect with each other, leading them to start their own! After our mention last month, there are now about 14 people interested in being part of the group. This pair of proactive ladies suggest having an initial get-together to discuss, as a group how they will work, how often to meet, what to read and all the other finer details. I’ll be sure to bring you more details as they’re finalised but, in the meantime, email henleybookandwine@outlook.com for more details. Small is beautiful! And so is moss! Yes: here’s a lovely nature-friendly idea for you to enjoy some fresh air. Join Peter Creed in the first of a series of walks to discover the tiny but beautiful world of mosses at Warburg Nature Reserve, on Sunday, 26th January, 10.30am to 12.30pm. For more events of this nature, please visit www.bbowt.org.uk

d...Continued on page 6. R&A | 5

RAMBLIN G S

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Head along to see the most ancient textile structure being made thanks to demonstrations at The Old Fire Station Gallery, behind the Town Hall in Henley’s Market Place. The demonstrations are part of Fibre Fusion, an exhibition of wearable art by local artist Gwen from Thursday 23rd to Tuesday, 28th January. Enjoy demos on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday mornings. The OFS gallery opens daily from 10am-6pm and entry is free. Here at Round & About, we adore the Women’s Institute (WI) and all it stands for! Greys Women’s Institute meet monthly in Rotherfield Green near Henley. Unlike the HOT (Henley On Thames) branch, they meet in the afternoon. Members are very aware of the hidden problem of loneliness, and this friendly branch is warm and welcoming for this reason – all are welcome along. Greys WI is one of the oldest WIs in Oxfordshire and is celebrating its centenary this year. They meet on the third Wednesday of each month in Greys Village Hall, RG9 4QG (where there’s free parking), at 2.30pm. On January 15th Jane Pryce, clerk to Rotherfield Greys parish council, will tell the group about the work of the parish councils, then and now. After the talk, you can enjoy tea, sandwiches and cakes. For more information email greyswi20@gmail.com, or just turn up – visitors are always welcome.

6 | JANUARY 2020

Thames Valley Chorus is a choir that sings songs in four-part harmony. Starting on Tuesday, 7th January, the group will hold a four-week course to give men the full harmony experience. For most people, the last time they sang properly was at school and it might not have been a great experience (not just me, surely?!). This course will teach you how to be a better singer. They will find the correct vocal range for you and you'll experience the fun of singing with like-minded people. Head along to learn some short songs, ready for a performance in front of friends and family at the end. The course is at Bulmershe School in Chequers Way, Woodley, RG5 3EH, 7.30-9.30pm and is free! To register, visit www.tvchorus.co.uk. You can email comeandsing@tvchorus.co.uk for more information. We hope you enjoyed our pantomime special last month (it's behind you! Sorry). Well, panto season romps on, including St Mary's Players' Aladdin written by Eddy Hildred. It's the 20th year the group have been doing the pantomime and have from the beginning always written (or made up) their own scripts so no one will have seen this before – all very homegrown! All profits are split between the village (church, hall, anyone in need) and charities that the cast and crew are involved in such as Hands Around The World, Great Ormond Street and Sue Ryder. Tickets are kept as affordable as possible to keep it accessible to all,

d...Continued on page 14.

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E N VI RO N M E N T

Go green!

If we each make small changes to our lives we can collectively make a huge impact to protect our planet for future generations. Here are some positive ideas…

ere we are, at the dawn of a new year, a new decade. Recent news has delivered bleak news. We all know – thanks to Greta Thunberg et al – our species must take action now to mitigate the damage wreaked upon our planet. We believe positivity is the only way toward change so consider these tips inspirational rather than guiltinducing. Some might seem like common sense (especially to those who’ve always been frugal) but together we can make a huge difference.

Tree’s company

Scientists have found billions more trees could remove two thirds of all the carbon dioxide created by humans. The Woodland Trust is working hard to protect the 1,064 ancient woods threatened by development in the UK. Buy saplings to plant yourself or donate at www.woodlandtrust.org. uk. Also plant bee-friendly plants and wildflowers. Aim to use only naturally derived products and fertilisers and keep lawns real rather than paving.

Your council cares!

Garden compost bins will reduce your household waste. Ensure you utilise food waste, green waste and recycling schemes in your area – they vary greatly but all local authorities are under pressure to hit targets so you might be surprised. Do check online what can and can’t be recycled to reduce landfill, e.g. Christmas trees. Reusing, and buying

less packaging in the first place is still the best way to lessen your carbon footprint. Monitor and aim to reduce your levels over time.

Shower power

Just 2.5% of the world’s water is freshwater (the rest being saltwater) and most of it is frozen or deep underground so we can’t afford to waste a drop. According to the Environment Agency, we could run short of water within the next 25 years. We’re not asking you to be stinky, but shortening your shower will save 10 litres per minute. Look for a water-saving shower head. An average fiveminute shower uses 40% less water than a bath. R&A | 9

ENV I RON ME N T

Feeling flush

Using the small button on your loo saves half the water. Or fit a low-cost water saver in your cistern. Perhaps surprisingly, dishwashers use far less water and energy than washing up. Run taps slowly & less frequently and get a water butt if you can.

Home heating

Turn radiators off or down in less-used or unused rooms. It sounds obvious but popping a jumper on or snuggling under a warmer duvet might mean you don’t need the heating on. Turning down your thermostat by just one degree can save up to £80 a year. Home boiler heating is responsible for nearly 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Bright sparks

You can save electricity – and about £30 a year off your energy bills – just by remembering not to leave your appliances on standby (and more by unplugging). Don’t leave devices charging unnecessarily. Switch to energy-efficient LED lightbulbs and save about £40 per year.

People power

Switch to renewable electricity and green gas at home and reduce your carbon footprint and bills. Leading providers include Bulb, Octopus Energy and Ecotricity. The average home can stop 1.5 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Install a Smart Meter too – get inspired at www.uswitch.com

Holiday

at home

Consider a UK staycation for your next holiday. A longhaul return flight, say to New York can generate 1,000kg of CO2. A flight to America’s west coast would 10 | JANUARY 2020

produce 50% more emissions, and a flight to say China or Australia double that.

Web wise

Forget the big search engines and instead switch to Ecosia which commits 80% of its profits to supporting reforestation projects. To date, it’s helped to plant more than 70 million trees.

Shopping savvy

Shop responsibly to significantly reduce your output. And “punish” big supermarkets for their inaction! Look for local suppliers of milk, bread, fruit and veg, meat, dairy and more. Buy products made or grown in the UK, less wrapped, such as loose veg. Sign up to Freegle and for clothing, join the kids & buy vintage on apps such as Depop.

Waste not

Switch to a disposable safety razor, a bamboo toothbrush, planet-friendly deodorant, bamboo loo roll, soap bars or refillable shampoo and shower gel. Plus Mooncup for women. More zerowaste shops and pop-ups are appearing across the UK: we will keep bringing you news of these locally.

Cleaning up

There are great eco dishwasher and washing machine aids, from brands such as Ecoleaf to soap nuts, household cleaner such as Koh, refillable detergent and more (try Splosh or Smol) and plasticfree cloths and scourers (Ecococonut or Loofah).

Avoid palm oil

Research by Rainforest Rescue shows the equivalent of 300 football fields are destroyed every hour to produce palm oil, which can be found in close to 50% of the packaged products. Visit www.wwf.org.uk for a list of ingredients to avoid.

Drinking problem

Invest in a reusable cup (from R Cup or Stojo) or bottle (Klean Kanteen /Jedz / One Green Bottle).

Food for thought

Every year in the UK we throw away £13 billion worth of food (an average of £500). See our monthly Ramblings for a wealth of gardening clubs to grow your own or share the fruits of others’ labours in various swap sales in your community. Visit www.sustainweb.org, www.ilovefreegle. org and www.theplasticfreehome.com

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AD F EATURE

Warm

welcome Henley Manor, a new residential, nursing and dementia home in Mill Lane, will welcome you at their upcoming community open days

n Saturday, 25th January, and Saturday, 1st February, between 10am & 4pm, you are invited to have a look round guided by the friendly team. Members of the local community are welcome to visit and take a guided tour of the 80-bed care home, which will have its official launch on Thursday, 30th January. As well as the tour, visitors will have the opportunity to meet the manager Liz Clements along with the rest of the care team who will be working within the home once it opens. Facilities at the industry-leading home will include; a cinema, hairdressers, music room, sensory room and therapy room. Each bedroom will be elegantly furnished, have an en-suite bathroom and those on the ground floor will have access to their own patio. Other communal areas comprise of a café, a celebrations room and several dining rooms, including a unique farmhouse style kitchen which will enable relatives to have a meal with their loved ones on occasion. 12 | JANUARY 2020

Outside there will a sensory courtyard garden, aviary, water wall and raised planters, giving residents the opportunity to get involved in the gardening at the home. Even if you can’t make these two open days you will be welcome to find out more. To arrange a visit to see what Henley Manor will look like and discuss whether they will be able to assist you or your loved one, please contact customer relationship manager Charlotte on 01491 418000 or email Charlotte.Bennett@ hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk  Henley Manor is in Mill Lane, Henley on Thames, RG9 4HD

We’ve put the finishing touches in place at Henley Manor …and now we’d like to show you in person. We’re holding two open days for people to come and see for themselves what makes Henley Manor a care home with a difference. Industry-leading residential, nursing and dementia care are just the beginning at Henley Manor. This care is supported by award-winning facilities that mean residents can carry on with their fulfilling lives from gardening and baking, to enjoying the cinema and café right here within our community of care.

Open Days: Saturday 25th January and Saturday 1st February, 10am to 4pm To see for yourself what makes Henley Manor a care home with a difference, make an appointment to visit us at Henley Manor Care Home, Mill Lane, Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4HD, call Henley Manor, on 01491 454202, or for more information, go to hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk

RAMBLIN G S

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especially families. It promises to be noisy, fun and chaotic and everyone goes away with something. There's a licensed bar with snacks, sweet throwing, live music and nothing goes to plan! Shows take place at Ipsden Village Hall, OX10 6AG on Thursday, 23rd January at 7.30pm (all tickets £2), Friday 24th at 7.30pm (all tickets £5) and Saturday 25th at 2.30pm (adults £5, under-16s and concessions £2.50) and 7.30pm (all tickets £5). Buy at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ ipsden/e-kyrgvr or from Shirley at Ipsden Stores.

The Berkshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has been in touch regarding its biennial awards for Berkshire schools. The Dorothy Morley Conservation Awards is a great opportunity for local schools to develop conservation projects with the chance of winning a first prize of £1,000 (or second prize of £500) for their school. Past examples include tree planting, waste recycling, promotion of organic and local food, projects to promote conservation, and creating and developing school

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gardens. For more information and competition guidelines call Gloria on 0118 930 6756 or email cpreberkshire@ btopenworld.com The deadline is the end of January. Some of you lot are very organised! I’m trying to be, so, in the spirit of advance notice… Pianist Danny Driver will perform pieces by Beethoven and the Loss of Vital Senses as part of Chiltern Arts Festival 2020 this spring. Danny will perform at the beautiful St Mary the Virgin Church in Hambleden on Friday, 6th March, at 7.30pm. For tickets please visit www.chilternarts.com/event/dannydriver-beethoven-hambleden/ or call 01442 920303. Follow @chilternartsfestival on Facebook or @chilternarts on Twitter or Instagram for more highlights. The Gardening Influences of Beatrix Potter is the lovely topic to be explored before members of the Marlow and District Horticultural Society who have asked me to spread the word. Chris Day will explore this topic at Liston Hall, SL7 1DD, on Tuesday, 14th January; doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Refreshments are available over the evening. Meetings are open to all and if anyone attends on a regular basis, it may be worth becoming a member for half-price talks. For further details visit their Facebook page. Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society (Oxon, Berks, Bucks) hold their next talk on Saturday, 11th January, 2pm at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley (RG5 4JZ). The talk is on Bolton’s Egypt: The Making of a Museum by Ian Trumble. Bolton Museum’s new Egyptian display is one of the UK’s largest and best Ancient Egyptian collections which has grown from its foundation by a mill owner’s daughter in 1884. Visit www.tvaes.org.uk for more information.

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d...Continued on page 18.

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S TAR Q&A

Heal

the world

Liz Nicholls asks award-winning presenter and biologist Liz Bonnin about school, the live tour of the BBC’s Planet Earth II this spring and how we can all do our bit.

Which early experiences or teachers sparked your love of nature? “I grew up in France, in the mountains above Nice. My sister and I were always out in the wood near our house with our two dogs, having adventures with hedgehogs, snakes and spiders. Nature just works its magic if you plonk kids in the middle of it. At school, I was fascinated by little birds, how everything worked inside that perfect little body, which led me to biology. Then I wanted to understand how everything worked in every living system and I had a great chemistry teacher in Ireland who nurtured my passion. A good teacher will do that. I wasn’t very good at physics or maths but I loved school.” Q. Do series such as Planet Earth, and Sir David Attenborough’s latest Seven Worlds, One Planet have an inﬂuence on how we treat our planet? “We’ve reached a tipping point in terms of our impact, and one of the things I’m most astounded by is that petrochemical companies are just seemingly carrying on as if it’s ‘business as usual’. I believe we can make a difference, but need to be aware of the facts. I think series like Planet Earth can both move and inspire people.” 16 | JANUARY 2020

Q. Has ﬁlming Meat: A Threat To Our Planet changed your eating habits? “I already was eating less meat. The show certainly made me think again about how we treat a food that, considering its impact, should be a luxury rather than an everyday staple. I don’t eat red meat and any chicken I eat is free range, high welfare.” Q. How do you feel about Planet Earth II’s live tour? ”It hasn’t quite sunk in that I’ll be involved. So, to be stepping out as part of the tour and getting to see it all on a gigantic screen with a full orchestra as well... I think I’ll be quite emotional.” Q. What is it like working with a national treasure Sir David? “I’ve met Sir David on a few occasions now, and I’ll never forget the first time I saw him about 12 years ago when he was talking at an event. I was a bit starstruck; he was my hero when I was growing up. He went from production work into inventing natural history programming with the BBC. There really is nobody else like him and I doubt there ever will be again. He’s not just a national treasure, but one for the whole world.” ● For Planet Earth II Live in Concert 2020 visit www. planetearth2live.uk and see our competitions.

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At the time of writing this, ABBA fans, I’m getting glammed up & glittered to go and enjoy Bjorn Again at Shepherd’s Bush Empire – The Winner Takes It All! Another mighty ABBA act, Abba Sensation, are performing at Henley’s Kenton Theatre on Friday, 17th January, at 8pm. They are widely recognised as one of the best ABBA tribute acts with their stunning stage show, combining costume changes, lighting effects and a true reproduction of the Abba sound. Further further details on the show please visit www.kentontheatre.co.uk/event/abba-sensation On Sunday, 12th January, at 3.30pm at Wycombe High School Hall (HP11 1TB), The Wycombe Sinfonia present a Musical Rides concert for children who are encouraged to come dressed in transport-themed fancy dress, such as a pilot, horse rider etc. For further details please visit www.wycombesinfonia.co.uk/concerts We hope you enjoy our education guide in this edition. Did you attend Henley Grammar School? The lovely Lynn Hart – who is also the Cupidlike founder of Hart To Heart parties for single professionals (more of which later), did. Lynn and Sandra Wickens are inviting anyone, including staff, who went to the HGS/KJC up to 1978 to a reunion on Saturday, 18th July. “We’d like everyone to register their interest and shall send out more details over. I already have over 50 names, including some 80-year-olds, one ex-pupil from the US and others from overseas” Email lynn@harttoheart.co.uk or write to Sandra Wickens at The Henley College, Deanfield Site, Henley, RG9 1UH. Another highlight as part of Chiltern Arts – Dame Evelyn Glennie and Trio HLK: Extra Sensory Perception will perform on Wednesday, 4th March, 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church in Henley-on-Thames. Tickets £20-£35. To buy yours, visit www.chilternarts.com/event/evelyn-glennietrio-hlk-henley/ or call 01442 920303.

Back to Arts Society Henley who have given us an heads-up on their February event. Much-loved speaker Peter Medhurst returns with a talk on The Secret Mozart. Writing to his father on 28th December 1782, Mozart remarked of his latest batch of Piano Concertos Nos. 11-14 ‘[They] are just the medium between being too heavy and too light… here and there it is possible for the connoisseur alone to get satisfaction but such that the laymen can be contented without knowing why’. Although Mozart speaks a musical language that's universally understood by his admirers, as he himself implies, there is much that remains hidden. Peter explores some of the less well trodden areas of Mozart’s music on Thursday, 20th February at 2.15pm in the Ballroom at Phyllis Court Club. £10. Visit www.henley. theartssociety.org or email henley@theartssociety.org

d...Continued on page 30.

A D F E AT U R E

Your Future Matters The Future Care Group has 19 care homes in the South East of the UK

e are proud of our staff and the care they provide. We invite you to visit, view our homes and meet our staff to discuss your care needs. Our motto is “Your Future Matters”. We recognise that making a decision to move into a care home is likely to be one of the most difficult a family or individual may face. We appreciate that no two situations are ever the same! But our experienced and fully trained staff make every effort to care for our residents the way, they want, empowering people to have choice. Through our core values; Care, Comfort, Compassion and Credibility, we work together with families

to achieve the outcomes that our residents and their families desire.

this, regardless of how an individual’s care needs may change.

Our homes offer a full range of care options from residential care to nursing care and support for people living with dementia. We feel it is important that once a person selects a home, it should remain a home for life and our care pathway provides

We always recommend that families exploring their care options visit several care homes to help make an informed decision. So if you are starting your journey and exploring options, drop into one of our homes for free care advice.

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Education Guide d Winter 2020

Find your brave S

uperheroes would probably feature highly for most children if they were asked who they thought was brave. However, bravery comes in all shapes and sizes as this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is out to prove. The week from 3rd to 9th February invites schools, youth groups, organisations and individuals to take part with one goal to “Find Your Brave”. Bravery is about so much more than just fighting evil villains, it can be about fighting your own enemies, sharing worries and not being afraid to ask for help. Perhaps you want to try something new or push yourself outside your comfort zone, build your self confidence, improve your selfesteem and feel good about yourself.

Wellbeing is becoming as much a part of the curriculum as maths and English. Find out how it can help you and your school

Children’s mental health charity Place2Be which provides counselling and mental health support and training in schools, says bravery is all about finding positive ways to deal with things that may be difficult, overcoming physical and mental challenges and looking after yourself. Place2Be launched the first Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to highlight the importance of children and young people’s mental health. Now in its sixth year, they hope to encourage more people than ever to get involved and spread the word.

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Friday 14 February 2020

Saturday 25 April 2020

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R&A | 21

EDUC ATION

Berkshire schools encouraged to enter conservation awards

Pupil power!

chool children in Berkshire are being invited to do their bit for the environment by taking part in the 2020 Dorothy Morley Conservation Awards in honour of a pioneering campaigner. The awards are promoted by CPRE Berkshire and recognise the two best school projects promoting environmental conservation with prizes of £1,000 and £500 on offer. CPRE Berkshire branch secretary Gloria Keene said they were encouraged by young people’s desire to change their local environment. She said: “By promoting this award scheme throughout the county, we hope that we can help school children feel that they can really make a difference, particularly when news about the climate change emergency might feel overwhelming.

d Continued...

“We believe local action can bring big changes and look forward to hearing about pupils, teachers and parents working together on what we know will be some fantastic projects.” Past examples of projects include tree planting and waste recycling, partnerships with organisations in towns and villages, promoting organic and local food, creating and developing school gardens and creating and maintaining wildlife friendly community areas. The award reflects the work of Dorothy Morley who died in 1995 and was a strong campaigner on environmental issues. In addition to the £1,000 first prize and £500 for the runner up, all shortlisted schools are invited to display information about their project at CPRE Berkshire’s July presentation event. The deadline for schools to register their interest is 31st January. For more information contact Gloria on 0118 930 6756 or email cpreberkshire@ btopenworld.com

Last year, Place2Be worked with 639 schools in England, Scotland and Wales, reaching 364,080 children and young people. In the same year, more than 300 schools took part in Mental Health Champions programmes, equipping school leaders, teachers and staff with the skills and confidence to support pupils’ mental health. Over 1,600 child counsellors took part in training on various levels, building an ever-growing number who specialise in working with children and young people.

dance, run, swim, jump or walk, it’s a great way to deal with negative thoughts and feelings.

The Mental Health Foundation offers The 5 Ways to Wellbeing, a set of actions which have been proven to improve wellbeing, offering a starting point for schools.

Lifelong learning is the way to keep the brain healthy, the sense of achievement from learning something new can be great for your mood, or try a quiz or a new skill.

Connect

Be mindful Take time to check in with your thoughts and feelings, you may notice things you’ve missed, try a yoga session or mindfulness, breathing techniques can be a real help especially at exam time. Keep learning

Give to others

Get to know your classmates, it’s a great support network, get together over activities or just tea and a chat.

Helping others can help reduce your own stress, improve your own emotional wellbeing and even benefit your physical health.

Get active

● To find out more about how these charities can help you or your school, visit www. childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk and www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Exercise can be good for your mind as well as your body, whether you cycle, 22 | JANUARY 2020

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For more information contact our Registrar Tel:

01189 478 684 • Email: secretary@cavershamschool.com R&A | 23

EDUC ATION

Banbury Chipping Norton 26

Bicester 24

AYLESBURY

8 36

OXFORD 27 4

15 23

Abingdon 18

11 20

Wallingford 3

Wantage

32 6

14 13

25 38

33 1

28 30

Marlborough 19

5 7 21

READING 37

Newbury 39 10 34 17 29

Bath

Basingstoke

Slough 31

E D U C AT I O N

THAMES VALLEY

d Schools & organisations

Oratory Preparatory School, RG8 7QA, 0118 984 4511

Abingdon Preparatory School, OX13 5NX, 01865 391570

Brightwell cum Sotwell C of E Primary School, OX10 0QH, 01491 837024

Oxford Science Studies Ltd, OX4 1BD, 01865 240637

Hemdean House school, RG4 7SD, 01189 472590

Herries Preparatory School, SL6 9BD, 01628 483350

Caversham Preparatory School, RG4 8JZ, 0118 947 8684

www.oratoryprep.co.uk/ www.abingdon.org.uk/prep/ www.brightwell.oxon.sch.uk/ https://www.oxss.co.uk/ www.hemdeanhouse.co.uk/ www.herries.org.uk www.cavershamschool.com

Summer Fields School, OX2 7EN, 01865 459204

Little Ducklings Day Nursery, RG5 3NA, 0118 430 2822

www.summerﬁ elds.com

10.

Newbury College, RG14 7TD, 01635 845000

www.newbury-college.ac.uk

11.

Abingdon & Witney College, OX14 1GG, 01235 555585

www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk

12.

Abingdon & Witney College, OX28 6NE, 01993 703464

www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk

13.

Cranford House School, OX10 9HT, 01491 651218

14.

Moulsford Boys Prep School, OX10 9HR, 01491 651438

15.

Chandlings, OX1 5ND, 01865 730771

www.littleducklingsdaycare.co.uk

www.cranfordhouse.net www.moulsford.com www.chandlings.org.uk

16.

Puddleduck Nursery, OX10 8BA, 01491 839815

17.

St. Gabriel’s, RG20 9BD, 01635 555680

www.puddleducknursery.com

18.

The Manor Preparatory School, OX13 6LN, 01235 858462

19.

Marlborough College Summer School, SN8 1PA, 01672 892388

20.

Our Lady's Abingdon School, OX14 3PS, 01235 524658

21.

Queen Anne’s School, RG4 6DX, 0118 918 7333

22.

St. Laurence C of E School, OX10 7DX, 01865 858270

23.

Buckland Church of England Primary School, SN7 8RB, 01367 870236

24.

ARCh Oxfordshire, OX26 6AA, 01869 320380

25.

Checkendon Church of England Primary School, RG8 0SR, 01491 680693

26.

Kingham Hill School, OX7 6TH, 01608 658658

27.

NTC – School De Droomtorens, OX1 4NA

28.

The Downs School, RG20 6AD, 01635 270000

29.

Horris Hill, RG20 9DJ, 01635 40594

30.

Pangbourne College, RG8 8LA, 0118 984 2101

31.

St John's Beaumont Preparatory Boys, SL4 2JN, 01784 432428

32.

Little Roos Marlow, SL7 1JW, 01628 476672

33.

Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, RG4 9LN, 0118 972 1500

34.

Mary Hare Primary School, RG19 8XA, 01635 244215

35.

Mary Hare Secondary School, RG14 3BQ, 01635 244215

36.

Dragon School, OX2 6SS, 01865 315400

37.

Practical Philosophy Berkshire, RG1 4HJ, 01628 947 848

www.practicalphilosophyberkshire.org/

38.

Practical Philosophy Berkshire, SL6 6JE, 01628 947 848

www.practicalphilosophyberkshire.org/

39.

Progressive Technology Ltd, RG14 5TS, 01635 500480

40.

Kingswood School, BA1 5RG, 01225 734210

41.

Master Builders Club, info@masterbuildersclub.co.uk

www.stgabriels.co.uk www.manorprep.org www.summerschool.co.uk www.olab.org.uk/open-morning www.qas.org.uk/ www.st-laurence.oxon.sch.uk/ www.bucklandprimaryschool.org.uk www.archoxfordshire.org.uk www.checkendon.oxon.sch.uk www.kinghamhill.org.uk www.dedroomtorens.org.uk/ www.thedownsschool.org.uk/ www.horrishill.com/ www.pangbourne.com/ www.sjbwindsor.uk/ www.littleroosdaynursery.co.uk www.maidenerleghchilternedge.co.uk www.maryhare.org.uk www.maryhare.org.uk www.dragonschool.org

http://progressive-technology.co.uk www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk www.masterbuildersclub.co.uk

R&A | 25

EDUC ATION

Story

competition winners Our younger readers have proved to be a very talented imaginative bunch if the entries for our short story competition are anything to go by. We received a great variety of stories demonstrating there could well be some future David Walliams’ and J K Rowling’s out there. Well done to all who took part, here are their winning entries… Keep Dreaming by Bethan Hopton

ethan’s entry charmed us for the way she showed how small random acts of kindness can make all the difference, often in the most unexpected ways and how dreams can come true Sam was cycling down a hill when all of a sudden… ”STOP”. He looked behind him and saw an elderly man next to a road. “Little boy” he croaked “can you be a dear and help me across the road?” Sam flinched at the word “little” but he couldn’t help stopping his bike and going over to help the man. He checked the road to see if there was any traffic. He was used to checking the road as he was twelve. He went out on his own all the time! They walked across the road really slowly because it took ages for Sam to walk whilst carrying all of the man’s heavy bags. Sam checked his watch. He had been helping the man for almost five minutes 26 | JANUARY 2020

and they were barely quarter of the way across the road! Sam sighed as he thought of the football match he had intended to watch when he got home from school. It would be starting any minute! “Did you have a good day at school?” the man asked in a suspiciously high voice. ”I guess,” murmured Sam. Eventually, they got to the end of the road. “Bye,” Sam said and began to climb onto his bike. “Bye,” the old man called after him. When he got home, Sam slumped onto the sofa and switched on the television. He groaned as he looked at the time. He had missed a whole half an hour of the game. “Mum” he called ”can I have a drink?” ”Sure” she answered. The next day at school started normally. Sam met his friends outside the gates and cast a cheeky grin at Ffion, his girlfriend who was d

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EDUC ATION

standing outside the assembly hall when he got in. Everybody was sat down when the head teacher entered. ”So,” she said, “we have a special guest today and I’ll let them introduce themselves.” She walked off the stage and an elderly man walked on. Sam instantly realised that the man was the same man that he had helped yesterday and smiled at him. “Hello,” the man said, peeling off a mask, “I am Harry Kane.” Sam stared at Harry and gasped. He recognised him! “You will be pleased to know that I have chosen Sam Jeffers to be my mascot at our next game because of his kindness to elderlies.

I disguised myself as an elderly man yesterday, waiting for someone to help me. Many people ignored me but Sam helped me even though he didn’t seem to particularly want to.” Beeep! Sam’s alarm clock was beeping. ”Are you awake?” his mum called from downstairs. “Yes” Sam shouted back. He quickly got changed in the uniform that Harry had told him to wear and jumped in the car. They got to the stadium early so that Harry could go over things with him. Sam gasped “It’s amazing!” “I know” whispered Harry “Good luck!”

Turning over a new leaf by Elijah Mayers

lijah’s use of description, painting pictures through words made it easy to visualise the story he was telling and again showed the value of being kind and thinking of others Sam was cycling down the hill when all of a sudden, his mother appeared by the roadside with her hands firmly placed on her hips. He knew straight away that something was very wrong. Sam got off the bike and walked sheepishly with his head down towards his mum. Sam’s mother Simone was a stout overweight woman who always wore clothes two sizes too small. Her face was as round and pale as the moon. Her eyes were cold and blue like the sea. Her black hair was long and thin like liquorice running down to her waist. Simone in her high-pitched voice shrieked at Sam to “Get in the house!!!”. Sam made his way into the house and went straight into the living-room. The house was a mess and Dad lay spread out on the sofa fast asleep. Sam’s dad was a skinny man with a potbelly who loved to wear string-vests. He had thick Ginger hair covering his entire body, making him look like an orangutan. As he slept, Sam’s dad snored. In fact, he snored so loudly that the glass of water on the table next to him shook and eventually fell on the floor. Ever since Sam’s dad had been sacked for stealing a pair of pink pyjamas from the warehouse where he worked, all he did was lay around the house snoring like a tractor. Simone soon 28 | JANUARY 2020

followed Sam into the living-room and scream at him “What have you done!!!”. Simone went on to explain that the Headmaster’s office had called her, and they wanted a meeting tomorrow. “I can’t miss work and your dad is useless, so your grandad will have to go with you,” Simone yelled. A wave of fear spread over Sam and that night, he had a horrible nightmare about being told off by the Headmaster. The next day, the doorbell rang as Sam was getting dressed for school. It was his grandad Jonas wearing a bright green suit and a blue tie shimmering in the sun. Sam sighed and let him in. Later at school, the Headmaster’s secretary told them to wait in the Headmaster’s office. Sam was so worried that he started to feel nauseous. A moment later, a tall skinny man entered the room and introduced himself as Mr Pearce the Headmaster. Mr Pearce explained that in the past, Sam had been in trouble a lot of times for bullying. Sam was known for Kicking, punching and pushing the smaller pupils in the school. Recently, Sam has changed his behaviour and now actually helps the other pupils when they hurt themselves. Mr Pearce went on to say how pleased he was that Sam had turned over a new leaf and made himself a better person. Sam nearly fell off his chair when Mr Pearce told him they had awarded him a commendation. When Sam got home, he showed Simone the commendation and she was so pleased that she nearly fainted. From that day on, Sam’s mum stopped shrieking at him and started praising him instead.

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NARNIA is the ever-popular interactive exhibition returning to Dorchester this month. Contact the team for further details or to advance book your school visit! Visit www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk/narnia-2/ where you can also find out about the Aslan-making outreach session. Local charity Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire is celebrating 30 years of helping families! Over the last three decades, the charity has supported thousands of vulnerable families with a child under the age of five who are experiencing difficult times. The charity runs baby support groups and helps serving families at Armed Forces bases. Details about volunteering at www.homestartsouthernoxfordshire.org.uk or call 01235 511152.

Free computer help is on offer which anyone can attend as many times as they need: if you had a shiny new a smartphone, tablet computer, laptop or voice assistant for Christmas and would like to get the best out of it, Soha Housing’s free Get Online sessions are just what you need. Take your own device or borrow one of Soha’s for the session. The groups are designed for anyone from beginners to those looking for job skills and take place regularly in local venues including Abingdon, Benson, Berinsfield, Cholsey, Didcot (2 locations), Goring, Henley, Thame and Watlington. Call 0800 014 15 45 (freephone) or email digital@soha.co.uk. Booking is essential!

Would you like to test drive watercolour painting without having to enrol on a regular class or buy the materials? Join professional artist Denny Webb at her studio in Ipsden for a watercolour taster morning for beginners on Saturday 11th January and 8th February. The courses are held at Boundary House, Crabtree Corner, Ipsden, OX10 6BN, 10am to 1pm.For further information call Denny on 01491 680942, email redkites1@gmail. com or visit her website www.dennywebb.com

Pets As Therapy are looking for trustees to join the board. This unique Chalgrove charity supports volunteers and their dogs (some cats) who do amazing work in the local communities, bringing joy and happiness to those they visit. For more details please contact Anne Clilverd on 07401 763003 or email anneclilverd@gmail.com. For more about this great charity please visit www.petsastherapy.org

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The Henley Repair Café, next a great way to reduce landfill in the make-do-and mend spirit! The Henley Repair Café, run by volunteers, aims to repair or repurpose goods and teach others how to do the same. The project has been spearheaded by Helen Barnett with environmental campaign group Henley in Transition, among others. Ms Barnett is looking for a manager to run the café. Please email h.barnett@henleytowncouncil.gov.uk

d...Continued on page 33.

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g n i S

Jam THeatre presents

Rev Sue Morton looks at January as an opportunity to feel gratitude & start afresh

t! u O

The end and the beginning of a new year can feel rather like standing in a gateway – looking back on the past year with its joys and challenges and forward to the new year and all that it may bring. So, as 2019 ends and 2020 begins, how was the past year for you and what are you hoping for 2020?

As we stand in this gateway, it can be helpful to ask A Giant ourselves two questions about the last year, which maySinging help Workshop us with the coming year and beyond: What am I most grateful for in 2019? Sunday What am I least grateful for in 2019?

19th January 202

These two deceptively simple questions can be quite revealing. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, there is usually something we can be grateful for: a text, a kindness from someone, a bird singing just outside the window… these can be things that give us life and build us up. And the things that we are least grateful for can help us to discern a way forward. Are there things we need to leave behind, to start afresh? It is not always possible to avoid difficulties, but can we build more of the life-giving things in our lives to help us through these hard times? These and similar questions were put together by a young Spanish nobleman in the 16th century. As a knight, Ignatius of Loyola had dreamed of doing great deeds, but had been injured in battle and confined to bed for a lengthy recovery. During this time, he began to explore faith in God; subsequently he devised these questions, known as the examen, encouraging his eventual followers to reflect on them twice daily and to notice where God was present in their lives. I invite you to try it yourself and may God bless you in 2020!

RAMBLINGS

á ...Continued from page 30.

Do you play chess? A local appeal for all interested players has had a solid start! Now the new club – Watlington and South Oxfordshire – is playing in the West Room in Old School Place, every Thursday from 7.30pm. Organiser Tim Horton says: “We've members who have not played since school, some who have played the odd game on the internet and accompanied young people who want to test their brain cells in a real, friendly and supportive place! We are the only club for 10 miles registered with the English Chess Federation. We ask all who might have some interest in the ancient game and who live in south Oxfordshire – and Buckinghamshire too – to try the new venue. We can guarantee a warm welcome and tea and coffee – all for a small weekly cost.” Email timhorton1664@gmail.com

Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale is looking for volunteers to work in their offices in Abingdon, Didcot, Faringdon, Henley and Thame. As well as volunteer advisers, they need receptionists, IT specialists and administrators. Once trained, volunteer advisers can make a difference, helping with benefits, debt, employment, housing or family issues. Volunteer advisers can, if they wish, progress to being paid supervisors in a flexible and supportive environment. If you have eight hours a week (can be flexible) and would like to help, gain skills and meet people, visit www. citizensadvice.org.uk/local/oxfordshire-south-vale/ volunteer/. Or email jon.bright@osavcab.org.uk

Volunteers and staff from Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale celebrated 80 years of service to the local community at a ceremony recently. Citizens Advice was founded on 4th September 1939, the day after World War II was declared, to help people deal with the impact of war. Volunteers gave advice on evacuation, ration books, new housing for those whose homes had been bombed, and even provided recipes using the limited ingredients available on rationing. Eighty years on, the issues may have changed, but the core values of Citizens Advice remain the same: to provide free, confidential and impartial advice to everyone everywhere. Contact Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale on 01235 550553 or email recruitment@osavcab.org.uk Fresh Air Fridays are coming to Oxfordshire! These are gatherings which take you outside, so you feel good inside! Each month has its own theme, and January’s is “Filling Yourself Up First”. Walkers share thoughts and observations about the importance and benefits of putting yourself first. This is an opportunity to spend quality time with like-minded people while exploring a theme that supports your personal development and wellbeing. The best part is your first session is completely free. Please register your intention to attend by visiting www.freshairfridays.co.uk

d...Continued on page 41.

J & R Collier BUILDERS

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for more local news & events d /roundandabout

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R&A | 33

F I TNESS

2020 trends The ways of getting in shape are constantly changing – as this year’s trends suggest

t’s the new year which means it’s time for that annual search for the “new you”. However, the hot trends for 2020 mean it’s not just all about sweating it out at a gym. The emphasis is as much on mental wellbeing as it is on physical activity. Here are a few things to tempt you this year…

Wellbeing workouts More workouts are putting mindfulness and mental health at the fore with spiritual wellbeing and nurturing the soul becoming more important. The focus will be on strengthening your mind as much as your body. Push yourself out of your comfort zone with bootcamp-style exercises, build mental resilience, as well as improve fitness levels.

Mindful running This can be a great way to put your worries and stresses to the back of your mind, disconnect from what is overwhelming you and allow you some “me time”. Mindful running encourages you to focus on your training and yourself.

Group workouts Group sweat classes could replace happy hour and team lunches swapped for team outings to a spin or trampoline class. Working out increases team bonding, productivity and improves culture. It can be a great way to develop friendships too and reduce some of the self-consciousness and anxiety of exercising in a room full of strangers. 34 | JANUARY 2020

Hybrid yoga Combine types of exercise. Yoga HIIT (high intensity interval training) balances stretches with sharp bursts of intensity, ensuring you use all your muscles and are buzzing with endorphins.

Snooze time More technical equipment can help fight lack of sleep and more fitness studios offer sleep space for an after-workout rest with sleep pods popping up for a rest on your lunch break.

Shorter workouts It seems HIIT is not intense enough, say hello to micro HIIT. The recommended amount of HIIT is 20 minutes, three times a day but get set for an even more intense version with two or three minutes’ worth throughout the day! Feel exhausted yet?

At-home workouts The popularity of Peloton, the home-spinning bike sensation shows no signs of abating in 2020. Without having to leave home and in your pjs if you wish you can join in thousands of on-demand classes. Look out too for the Peloton Tread (running treadmills) with training and recovery tips.

Smart boxing High tech punch trackers worn on your wrist track the velocity and intensity of punches to measure your progress.

in a variet of sports y

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RECI P E

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • •

Vive la

revolution!

• •

•

We share an exclusive recipe from Ollie Hunter’s upcoming sustainable cookbook with two copies up for grabs

•

Ä Chicken breast tagine

•

with locally dried fruit

Method:

reheat the oven to 180°C fan/200°C/400°F/gas mark 6. Mix all the spices together and set aside. Rub the chicken breasts with 1 tbsp of the spice mix. Add a few glugs of oil to an ovenproof saucepan and place over a medium heat. Quickly fry the chicken breasts – just to sear the outside on both sides – then remove from the pan and leave to one side.

Win!... We have two copies of Ollie Hunter’s book to give away. Visit www.roundandabout. co.uk to enter

Add some more oil to the same pan and then sauté the diced onion, garlic, coriander stalks and chilli until soft. Once soft, stir in the rest of the spice mix and cook for a few minutes. Add the wine, cider or water to deglaze the pan. Add the tomatoes and molasses and give it a little stir. Simmer for 10 minutes to reduce the sauce.

Add the drained beans or pulses and dried fruit, stir and season with salt. Nestle each seared chicken breast into the sauce, then add 100 ml/31/3 fl oz/1/3 cup cold water and transfer to the oven to cook for between 30 and 35 minutes. Serve the tagine scattered with fresh coriander leaves and perhaps some edible flowers, with dollops of yogurt and some spelt or couscous.

36 | JANUARY 2020

•

1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tbsp ground coriander 1 tbsp ground turmeric 1 tbsp paprika Two raw chicken breasts Oil of your choice, for frying One onion, diced Six garlic cloves, diced A handful of fresh coriander (cilantro), with stalks diced and leaves left whole One red chilli, diced 100 ml/31/3 fl oz or 1/3 cup red wine, water or even cider (hard cider) 1 x 400g/14oz can of chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp apple molasses, or use whatever molasses is locally produced 1 x 400g/14oz cooked beans or pulses – cannellini beans are delicious Handful of local dried fruits such as prunes, damsons or apricots, pitted Salt

To serve • Dollops of plain yogurt • Grains such as spelt or couscous, cooked

Prep: 25 minutes Cooking: 35 minutes Serves: Two

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R&A | 37

TH EAT RE

Opera Don

Merry Opera return for their eighth visit with Don Giovanni on 1st & 2nd February

thrill for the clueless, a delight for the connoisseur and a supernatural comedy/ thriller set to the marvellous music of Mozart. That’s what’s offered with Don Giovanni, Mozart’s setting of the last day of the legendary seducer; the epic downfall of a man who always makes us happy, but eventually realises he is out of time.

murder and ends with a hellish sentence. The version performed by Merry Opera is in English and has been written by Amanda Holden. It is directed by international opera star John Ramster, with music direction by Cannes prize-winner Gabriel Chernick. John began his career assisting esteemed directors such as Sir Trevor Nunn (who worked on Cats

Don Giovanni is based on a fictional Spanish tale of a rake and libertine who befriended many ladies across Europe. According to his longsuffering servant, the list includes 640 in Italy, 231 in Germany, 100 in France, 91 in Turkey, but in Spain, 1,003. Things went well until this fateful day which begins with a

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in the West End) while a director at Glynebourne. Since then he’s directed in the UK, Ireland, France, Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Finland, Norway and Iceland, as well as teaching at Guildhall. This will be his seventh production for Merry Opera – one of his others, a staged production of The Messiah, had its one hundredth performance last autumn. Merry Opera like to take opera to the masses. They were founded by someone who was fed-up of falling asleep in opera, and their productions were described by Opera Now magazine as having “a nice line in slightly offbeat touring shows, performing them with energy, charm and wit.” The show is at Kenton Theatre. Visit www.merryopera.co.uk

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www.stratusguttering.co.uk 38 | JANUARY 2020

TOGETHER WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO MORE

Part time Secretary/Administrator Being a member of Foresters Friendly Society is incredibly rewarding, allowing you to share your skills, give back to your community and make new friends. We’re currently looking for a Secretary/Administrator, which will be homebased, for our branch in

Henley on Thames. You will need good organisational and basic financial skills, the ability to enthuse and socialise with people. The positions offer an honorarium for 4/5 hours per week of circa £2,400 per annum plus reasonable expenses. Training will be given. To apply or seek more information, please contact Sharon Blunsdon at sblunsdon@ forestersfriendlysociety.co.uk or phone 01869 240528. Closing date for applications: Friday 31 January 2020.

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R&A | 39

Competitions

Closing date for competitions is 12pm on 31st January

FREE to enter online OR via post (use the address on page 4) * To check results, call 01491 837621* Winners will be notified * Postal entries are accepted. Please include a “yes” or “no” if you wish to opt in or out of marketing communications from the competition supplier and Round & About Publications Ltd. Entries without a name, address or telephone number will not be valid. Full terms & conditions online* STRICTLY ONE ENTRY PER COMPETITION PER HOUSEHOLD To enter all competitions, visit

www.roundandabout.co.uk

Win! Two VIP pairs of tickets to the spectacular

Planet Earth II Live in Concert 2020 up for grabs

From BBC Studios and the acclaimed BBC Natural History unit behind Blue Planet II and Dynasties, this UK & Ireland arena tour is a must-see experience. Hosted by Liz Bonnin and featuring music by Hans Zimmer performed by the City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, audiences can enjoy sensational footage from the BAFTA and EMMY® award winning BBC series. The show brings you closer to the planet’s spellbinding animals, landscapes and wildlife dramas than ever before. The arena tour runs from 26th March to 4th April and our two lucky winners can choose between London or Birmingham shows. Enter as above & visit www.planetearth2live.uk for more info about the show or to book.

Win! A luxurious Sonoma Indulge spa day for two at Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa in Hampshire

Surrounded by stunning parkland, Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa is a privately owned hotel, spa and golf club. Awarded the prestigious ‘5 Bubbles’ by the Good Spa Guide, the hotel’s spa is a light, uplifting space with heavenly treatments and a menu designed to leave you feeling relaxed and revitalised. One lucky reader will win a luxury Spa Day for two worth £250. The winner and guest will enjoy a welcome smoothie or hot drink, light breakfast, delicious Bento style lunch or classic afternoon tea, plus 55-minute treatment per person and full use of the spa facilities. Enter as above or, for more information or to book, visit www.donningtonvalley.co.uk

Win! Dinner, bed & breakfast for two at The French Horn in Sonning on the banks of The Thames

Alongside the bridge in the busy village of Sonning, The French Horn (originally a coaching inn) has been run by the Emmanuel family since 1972, with a focus on excellent food and service. It has a reputation as one of the area’s finest restaurants with comfortable rooms. Head chef Josiane Diaga and her team use the best seasonal produce to create delicious classical meals, allowing flavours to speak for themselves. There’s an extensive wine cellar to complement the fine food. Our winner can stay with a guest, enjoying dinner and breakfast (excl drinks, dates subject to availability). Enter as above and find out more or book at www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk 40 | JANUARY 2020

RAMBLINGS

á ...Continued from page 33.

Oxfordshire Grandparents' Support Group (OGSC) looks forward to 2020 in which the Campaign to Protect Grandchildren's Rights will become a force for an amendment in the Children Act. This will give grandchildren an automatic human right to see their grandparents. At present an estimated 2 million are denied access. OGSG is a supporter of the newly launched campaign and of estranged grandparents across Oxfordshire. They meet every second Tuesday of the month in a Faringdon home setting and our next meeting is on Tuesday, 14th January, 10.30am-1pm. Newcomers always receive a warm welcome with support and understanding over coffee and cake. For further details contact Diana Dunk on 01367 244636, email oxfordshiregsg@gmail.com or text 07979 410998.

Are you single and in your fifties or sixties? Valentines Day is just around the corner. If you are keen to meet someone new, head along to the next Hart to Heart party on Monday, 10th February, in Henley. The format is simple: fine wine, good conversation, great venue, personal introductions and warm, friendly people, with an equal ratio of men to ladies. 2020 is Hart to Heart's seventh year and they’ve set four weddings in motion so far! For more information and how to sign up please email lynn@ harttoheart.co.uk. You can also read some fabulous feedback from earlier parties at www.harttoheart.co.uk

Specialists in the hire of Access Platforms, Wood Chippers & Stump Grinders

Could you help a child to read and change their life forever? Volunteers are needed in schools across Oxfordshire. ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children) is a local registered charity which helps children who are struggling with reading. All it takes is one and a half hours twice a week during the school day. To find out more, visit www. archoxfordshire.org.uk or call 01869 320380. Right, history fans: 2020 is the 850th anniversary of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket’s death, which shocked England and its king. Goring dramatises this famous medieval murder this month. TS Eliot's celebrated play, Murder in the Cathedral, recounting the murder of the Archbishop in 1170, will be performed at St Thomas’s church on 30th, 31st January and 1st February. In the play Becket returns from exile having been in conflict with the king, and has to decide to give way, become Chancellor again, side with the king’s enemies or oppose him. The play is about having to make a choice in difficult circumstances and face the consequences – which makes our current political landscape seem tame by comparison, no? The knights who kill him had to make their own choices and at the play’s end ask the audience to exonerate them. Tickets £10 from Inspiration in Goring Arcade, or call 01491 873341 or email nigelfountain@tiscali.co.uk

Right, that's all for now – wishing you a joyful January LN

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R&A | 41

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Call Gillian Cottle on 01491 614663 / 07554427645 46 | JANUARY 2020

Liquid Gold Has Whiskey become a better investment than Gold, Property and Stocks? Find out the answers...

his headline is likely to ruffle a few feathers from avid investors in gold, property and stocks, but casks of whiskey are fast becoming the go-to investment for people looking to hedge against inflation and the uncertainties of the financial markets. Knight Frank has included whiskey in its wealth report for the first time in 2019; a key indicator that this asset class is favourable with HNWI & UHNWI who are securing their wealth by owning casks of whiskey. This is not about being speculative and buying rare bottles of whiskey in the hope they go up in price. That style of investing requires skill and knowledge of the market while still being a gamble. This article is specifically about owning casks of whiskey. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS You buy casks of whiskey straight off the still. Because the whiskey is brand new, it hasn’t aged and therefore is far most cost effective. Whiskey must be at least three years old to be bottled and sold, and most would agree at least five + years old to be desirable and palatable enough to drink. The cost of maturation over five years can hurt distilleries, as it is quite a capital- intensive model. Some distilleries, therefore, opt to sell a small percentage of their whiskey right off the stills. They do this to cover running costs while the rest of their production matures over five years or longer. This opens up a great opportunity for investors to buy off the stills and hold for those five years, then releasing at a profit.

WHY IS WHISKEY BECOMING FAVOURABLE WITH INVESTORS? Unlike most commodities, whiskey increases in quality and value as it matures. Its price increase is inevitable over time. It doesn’t tend to suffer the highs and lows of financial markets and it’s also a major exported product, where demand significantly outstrips supply. The Irish variety is the fastestgrowing, brown spirit in the world. The International Wine & Spirit Record (IWSR), which is the global benchmark for alcohol data and intelligence, shows the growth of Irish whiskey will continue to outstrip that of Scotch and Bourbon for at least another ten years. What’s more, it has been outperforming both for the last twenty years. The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) echoes the same data and statistics and predicts the rise to continue, as Irish whiskey comes back to where it once was on a global stage. So, Irish whiskey specifically offers a mix of stability and huge growth upside. The Whiskey industry in Ireland is set to soar above €1 billion euros per annum — which is predicted to double again by 2030. There simply isn’t enough mature Irish whiskey available to supply the demands of the market today — and especially not in five or ten years time. Join a number of Richmond residents who are choosing to secure their wealth with Whiskey & Wealth Club. Based in the centre of Richmond the club offers private clients the opportunity to invest in casks of Irish, Scotch or Bourbon Whiskey. The casks mature and increase in value over time, whilst

safely secured in government-controlled bonded warehouses. Investors are seeing returns above 8% per annum with little downside risk as all casks are fully insured against fire, theft, etc. Single casks of Irish whiskey are being sold for between €5,500 and €7,850 by competitors. The model at Whiskey & Wealth Club is based on small margin, high volume. For an equivalent cask from the same distilleries, it buys in bulk and can sell to its clients for only €2,900 a cask. However, it requires a purchase of at least one pallet (6 casks) or more. This includes five years of storage and bonded warehousing fees, plus five years of insurance. Annual returns are being achieved above 8% and as high as 54.5% a year, depending on an investor’s chosen exit strategy. WE HAVE VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE To receive a prospectus and a deeper understanding of this opportunity, please call today on 0203 129 1639 and quote ‘Round & About Magazine’. Ask to speak to Senior Wealth Advisor Martin Bates, for this exclusive offer. He is always happy to meet faceto-face with investors to discuss the investment and answer any questions you have.

Whiskey & Wealth Club

Martin Bates Wealth Advisor 51A George Street Richmond TW9 1HJ 020 3129 1639 07456256433 QUOTE : whiskey 1 m.bates@whiskeywealthclub.com

whiskeywealthclub.com

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