Cheltenham YO U R F R E E LO C A L COMMUNIT Y MAGAZINE
January 2020
SHORT STORY
A New Year Break UPCOMING EVENT
Light Up Cheltenham RECIPE
Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
HOME | GARDEN | LEISURE | COMMUNITY NEWS
THE ROTARY EFFECT The Rotary Club of Cheltenham North has been around for almost 50 years and is one of four Rotary Clubs in Cheltenham. Together we will be celebrating 100 years of Rotary in Cheltenham in 2021/22. We are part of Rotary International, the world’s largest service organisation with 1.2. million members and 35.000 clubs in over 200 countries. We empower youth, improve health, promote peace, and advance our communities in all corners of the globe. Our global community’s impact has never been greater – and it continues to grow.
End Polio Now Polio Plus, Rotary’s most ambitious program to date, has been described as 'the finest humanitarian project the world has ever known' by a non-governmental organisation. Polio has no cure and though the results have been astounding thanks to a massive immunisation program with two billion children now protected from the disease, we still need to eradicate the virus completely.
Rotarians spend many hours on service projects Our club’s members dedicate their time, expertise, and talents to provide support in the local community, help charities, and internationally through the programs of the Rotary Foundation. Locally we raise funds through yearly events such as the Rotary Carol Concert, the Wine Festival, the Beer and Cricket Fest, and others.
For further information about Rotary and our club please visit www.cheltenhamnorthrotary.org. 2
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Could you help a child at a local primary school discover the magic of reading? National charity, Coram Beanstalk, is seeking volunteers in the local area to become reading helpers. You’ll help a child at a local primary school on a one-to-one basis by reading together, talking and making books fun to help transform their reading ability and confidence. Training, ongoing support and resources are provided.
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Step by Step Whether it’s the New Year that’s driving change, or a forthcoming ‘big’ birthday, those milestones act as a motivation for change. But whilst short term action is fairly easy how do you keep it going? The trouble is we are wired for short-term satisfaction and many ‘life improvements’ really deliver no instant or tangible benefit. E.g. “I’ll exercise more so I have a longer life.” Difficult to think that far ahead if you are in your early 30s. I have found what works best is to set yourself a specific goal and to start small. So if, for example, you are planning to read more this year, instead of making your resolution just that, try and come up with a specific plan like 'This year I am going to read one new book every two months'. It's certainly achievable, you can measure your success (did you read a new book
every two months or not?) and once you are into it, you can reevaluate your target and put the goalpost up (e.g. read a book each month). What also helps is telling others, so if you are serious about making a change, tell somebody about it - it can be a friend, a family member or a colleague. They might even be able to help you reach your goal or join you on your journey. One of our goals this year here at Love Local is to make this magazine even more locally relevant (see page 9 for more information on how you could help with this). There will also be other exciting changes taking place in the next couple of months, so watch this space! Have a wonderful January,
Anne x
T: 01242 388 366 | E: Anne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk
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Councillors Corner Naunton Park area parking survey Thank you to all who took part in the parking survey I conducted in the Naunton Park area. There was a good response and I will be reporting back to those who provided an email address. As was the case with the previous survey I did a few years ago it seems that whilst most people think there is a parking problem in their street or wider area, there is not a majority who support a permit scheme being introduced for the area. LINC Sanctuary Garden The beautiful LINC Sanctuary Garden in Sandford Park is cared for by LINC volunteers, but more help is always needed. The work parties are held on the last Friday of every month at 10am. If you can help tend the borders, please call 0300 422 4422 or email ghn-tr.linc@nhs.net.
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Road resurfacing I am pleased that the County Council have agreed to my requests to resurface Montpellier Drive and Montpellier Parade. My two Highways Local projects for this year are Suffolk Parade and Naunton Way. All these roads should be resurfaced before the end of March. Cllr Klara Sudbury, Charlton Park & College Ward Suffolk Parade
Page 7
Town Centre Talking The lights are off – let’s turn on some lights! One of the most depressing things about the start of a new year is when the Christmas Lights disappear across Cheltenham town centre. The lights sparkled across the town this year, with Cheltenham BID adding Winchcombe Street to the areas covered. But although everywhere seems a little dull when the lights go off on January 5, don’t worry too much. Light Up Cheltenham, an event which the BID first launched in 2018, will return for three weeks from 1st February. Not only will more than 30 buildings be lit, the event will also see the return of the Observation Wheel, which proved extremely popular when it came to Imperial Gardens for the first time last year. People riding the wheel chose not only to see the many floodlit buildings after dark but also as a day time activity, getting a very different bird’s eye view of the town. In a new venture this year, we will be doing fully guided tours of the buildings involved. On several nights across the three weeks, the guides will give informative walking tours. Look out also for our launch event, which will see illuminated street theatre drumming group Spark! parade through the town from The Brewery Quarter to Imperial Gardens on Saturday 1st February. And what better way to spend Valentine’s Day during Light Up Cheltenham than by visiting one of our great restaurants, pubs or bars? Some of our features will be turning red for one night only.
Kevan Blackadder, Cheltenham BID Director 8
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We are passionate about making the Love Local Publication locally relevant to our readers, and we are looking for a local 'news and views' contributor in your area. If you have a few hours per month to write and send us informed, important, local news and views that matter in your area, then we'd love to hear from you.
To find out more about becoming a local contributor, email us at:
anne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk
A New Year break
A short story written by local writer Geraldine Faulkner Unusually for Henry, because he would normally be outside in the garden or taking their neighbour’s dog for a walk, he was sitting on the sofa in the living room in front of a warm wood-burner. He had already checked the greenhouse that morning to make sure his wintering plants were doing well and filled the bird feeders so that the robin, dunnocks and hedge sparrows had something to squabble over. Now at four o’clock in the afternoon and with the light fading outside, the only decision he had to make was whether to have some mixed nuts or a hobnob. His wife, Annie, was in the kitchen making them both a cup of tea. “I know most people find January a gloomy month,” said Annie cheerfully as she came in with the tea tray. “But I rather like hunkering 10
down in front of the wood-burner and enjoying a movie.” She handed Henry his tea before settling down in an armchair so they could watch ‘The Secret Garden’ together. Years ago, Annie had discovered that the only way she could get her husband to watch a film all the way through was to ensure it featured a garden. Henry finally came to a decision. He opted for a hobnob, dunked it in his tea and leaned back to watch the film. All told, it had been a good Christmas. He and Annie had even enjoyed a second Christmas celebration when their adored granddaughter, Rosie, who had fallen ill with chickenpox just before the festivities, had come with her parents to celebrate a belated festive family day. Together with one of Annie’s famous roast dinners, they had opened presents, watched Rosie enjoy her toys and all played
charades. Yes, it had all worked out rather well. The only thing to mar the occasion was the unexpected gift from their two daughters who had presented Henry and Annie with a week’s stay in a four-star London hotel at the end of January. Annie had been so delighted that no one had noticed the horrified expression on Henry’s face. The thought of being in an over-heated hotel with lots of other people, rather than enjoying the crisp fresh air of a January day when he could be planting dahlias, begonias and petunias, was anathema to him. Even a suggested visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew had not cheered him up.
A week before they were due to leave for London, Annie had a phone call from Rosie’s mum, Claire. “The poor girl is exhausted. Work has been manic and she’s finding it hard to sleep at night,” she told Henry. “In fact, she is the one who could do with a break.” Henry saw his opportunity and grabbed it. “Why don’t you suggest Claire accompany you to London? It’s been ages since you two had time together, plus you could go shopping in Oxford Street.” Annie hesitated. “Are you sure, love?” Henry assumed his most saintly expression. “Anything to keep my girls happy,” he said.
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Pictograms
PICTOGRAMS
4 words
AUTUMN 05:41 11:29 5 words P P P 3 words HA HA LIQUID
GAS
WORDWHEEL Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.
A O
R R
P T
TARGET Excellent: 18 or more words Good: 15 words Fair: 10 words 12
QUIZ REVIEW OF THE YEAR
HA HA SOLID
SUDOKU
Puzzle Page
1. In August, Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Denmark after the Danish Prime Minister said that what was not for sale? 2. In August, which team were expelled from the English Football League due to unpaid debts? 3. To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th, which TV soap opera aired a special episode featuring an all-female cast? 4. What was the specific date in 2019 on which the UK was originally due to leave the European Union? 5. In July, 15-year-old Jaden Ashman from Essex won over one million dollars after coming second alongside his Dutch teammate in the World Cup finals of which video game? 6. In January, who wrote to Emma Fairweather, saying “I have since learned you suffered a broken arm. I am deeply sorry about this injury.”? 7. A McDonald’s restaurant in Edinburgh was asked by police to stop selling what in May due to a visit from Nigel Farage? 8. In June, 89-year-old Colin Thackery became the oldest person to win what? 9. In September, what became the first ever British-made TV show to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series? 10. After talks with Irish leader Leo Varadkar in February, who said there is a “special place in hell for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely”? Answers on p. 18
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Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
This soup is packed with flavour and makes a great winter-warming lunch served with crusty bread.
Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes | Serves 4
Ingredients
750g large ripe tomatoes 4 red peppers
4 shallots, peeled and halved 2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 tbsp dried Italian herbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato puree 400ml vegetable stock 1 tsp sugar
TIP
Crème fraiche, roasted pumpkin seeds and shredded fresh basil leaves, to serve
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Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Score a cross in the top and base of each tomato and place in the roasting tin with the peppers, shallots, garlic cloves, olive oil and Italian herbs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast for 2530 minutes until the tomatoes are soft with charred, peeling skins and the peppers have blistered and blackened skins. Carefully place the hot peppers in a large freezer bag and leave until cool enough to handle (this will help to make peeling them easier). Leave the tomatoes and shallots to cool in the roasting tin.
Peel the peppers, discarding the seeds and pith, and remove the skins and any tough core from the tomatoes. Place both in a food processor or blender with the shallots and any juices from the roasting tin. Process until very smooth – you may need to do this in two batches. Transfer the pepper and tomato mixture to a large pan and stir in the sun-dried tomato puree, vegetable stock and sugar. Slowly bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, top with a swirl of crème fraiche and some pumpkin seeds and basil.
To make crunchy roast pumpkin seeds, spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven with the tomatoes and peppers for 7-8 minutes.
Auction Anecdote Smith’s Auctions final sale of 2019 included several four-figure prices, including a stunning pair of garden urns measuring an impressive 1.5 metres high. A number of prospective buyers had shown interest, with three telephones booked and a buyer in the room, who had confidently travelled down from London intending to take the urns back with him. However, the pre-sale estimate of £400/£600 was soon left behind and they were eventually knocked down at £1,350 to a local specialist in garden antiques who was bidding by phone. A further successful result was reached by another telephone bidder when an 18thcentury oil painting of a gentleman was offered up from a local house clearance. Estimated at £300/ £500 the oil was unsigned, but it had attracted some modest attention from the local art trade. Several commission bids had been left with me around the £300/£500 level and bearing in mind we had two telephone lines booked I was rather hoping for a result approaching £600/£800. During the bidding the successful buyer dropped out several times and seemed to be re-thinking his final maximum price on at least three occasions. Eventually, after much hesitation and deliberation, the painting was knocked down at a surprising £2,000. I wondered if the successful buyer (a London picture dealer) had been rather egged on in his strategy by the enthusiasm of the underbidder - who turned out to be a family friend trying to buy it as a memento. We shall have to hope he is pleased with his purchase! Smiths’ next sales are on 24th January & 28th February. Entries are invited on the 28th & 30th Jan and 4th, 6th & 11th February. Please call 01531 821776 or visit www. smithsnewentauctions.co.uk for further details. - Written by Rita Kearsey, Manager of Smiths Auction Room at Newent
Monthly Sales of Antiques & Collectables 24th January and 28th February includes Coins, Silver, Gold, Jewellery, Vintage Fashion, Ceramics, Glass, Furniture, Pictures & Collectables
Viewing Day prior 10am - 7pm and morning of sale Fully illustrated catalogues available online
Gold Diana £5 Proof Coin Est £1000/£1500
Victorian oil King Charles Spaniel Est £200/£400
Entries invited for our February Antiques & Collectables Sale including Militaria & Medal Section
28th & 30th Jan and 4th, 6th & 11th Feb
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Home visits for larger consignments
Live online bidding available at
www.smithsnewentauctions.co.uk Page 15
New Year - New Books From poetry to decorating, we’ve got a pretty mixed bag of books for you this month… A Year of Reading Aloud – Georgina Rodgers (editor) If you love poetry, try this collection of ‘52 poems to learn and love’, where you’ll find well-known names such as Sylvia Plath, E.E Cummings, William Blake and Maya Angelou alongside newer poets. Most of the poems are short enough to learn without too much difficulty, and they’re accompanied by a paragraph about the poet and the reason why the poem has been selected. Take up the challenge of learning one each week, or just dip in and out when you need an extra dose of beauty in your life. Booker Prize Shortlist 2019 – Various Looking for a new fiction book to lose yourself in on a long winter’s night? Fancy trying something a bit different to your usual genre? Treat yourself to the six novels from the Booker Prize shortlist. Stories range from Chigozie Obioma’s An Orchestra of Minorities to Elif Shalak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World. Read them all to see whether 16
you agree with the judges’ final decision. 365 Days of Creativity – Lorna Scobie As the blurb says, “Creativity is not just about making your mark on the paper. It’s about looking at the world a little differently.” If you’re stuck in a creative rut, this book might help you get out of it. The daily artistic challenges are split into how they help you feel, so you can choose one based on whether you want to feel calm, inspired, energetic or reflective. They range from drawing patterns on a snake to capturing the view through a doorway. Whether you take five minutes or five hours on each one is up to you. Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating – Joa Studholme Planning to redecorate this year? This book might help you come up with a plan. There are thirteen case studies, from city centre apartments to a classic Georgian house, as well as tips and tricks for decorating each room of your home. There’s also plenty of advice on decorating in general,
including making small rooms look bigger and using colour to make an impact. Grow Cook Eat Diary 2020 – Sarah Raven If you love gardening and cooking this could be the diary for you. Each month has a short list of what to sow, plant and harvest in your garden, along with other garden-related tasks and a simple recipe using in-season produce. Dishes range from Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry to Beef Carpaccio with Fennel Flowers. As you’d expect, there are plenty of stunning flower photographs throughout the diary, with one image for each week. A Year of Living Thankfully – Lois Blyth: Can being more grateful change your life? According to this book it can, and Lois Blyth is on a mission to show you how. Each week, you’ll work through an activity to help you embrace gratitude and take pleasure in the little things. There’s guidance on turning negative thoughts around, learning to appreciate what you have and not letting others spoil your mood.
Page 17
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GARDENING
Gardener's Resolve... Happy New Year! Now that 2020 is here, what are your garden resolutions for the year ahead? Here are my suggestions… Re-cycle pots Save all the pots and trays you get when buying plants and rinse them out to use next time you need one. Store the pots away from sunlight to prevent the plastic disintegrating. Cover it up! Make a resolution to dry off and cover up garden furniture once the summer is over, to protect it from rain, cold, ice or even fungi! Buy furniture covers or, better still, store the furniture in a shed or garage if you have one. Stored properly, it will last much longer. Grow your own Aim to grow more of your own fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. This could be buying a couple of tomato plants for the first time, or creating a small herb planter, or it could be 20
larger scale and more complex plans if you’re already big on grow-your-own. Compost more Once you get in the swing of it, composting becomes second nature. Make sure you include kitchen waste such as vegetable peelings and apple cores. The amount of extra compost you’ll generate will be well worthwhile. Many local councils offer a good deal on basic plastic composters. Use that space! If you have a cold frame, porch, conservatory or greenhouse, put it to use! Any sort of protected growing area has the ability to increase what you can grow and when you can grow it. So raise your own summer flowers in it, force some bulbs in it in the winter or make off-season sowings of salad crops… make it work, but whatever you do, don’t use it as the family rubbish dump! Mulch more Make use of any organic matter that
is bulky – mulch with it. Whether it is well-rotted manure, garden compost, the used compost from a seasonal bedding display or growing bag, or leaf mould, make it into mulch! Applied a couple of inches or more deep over the soil surface, a mulch like this will improve the soil’s ability to conserve moisture (so saving you both watering time and water) and may also help to keep weeds at bay. A win-win situation.
be able to squeeze into your garden.
Pause before you buy When you’re looking through the seed, plant and bulb catalogues, browsing online or wandering around a garden centre, pause before you buy. I know I’m not alone in having eyes that are much bigger than my plot! It is very easy to order more seeds than you’ll ever be able to sow and plants that you’ll never
Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening things: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ (where you receive your chosen garden-ready vegetable plants in the spring accompanied by weekly advice and tips from Pippa) plus gardening tools, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, signed books and more!
Seasonal saver Make sure you recycle your Christmas tree. Real trees can be recycled at locations up and down the country – many garden centres and councils offer the service. The trees will be shredded and added to other green materials to make a great soil conditioner and planting mix.
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V I S I Tly
w Our ne d he refurbis OM RO SHOW y toda
Established 1995
SHOWROOM & WORKSHOP
The Workshop Bye Street Ledbury HR8 2AG Mon-Fri 8.00am-4.30pm Sat 8.30am-12.00 noon
Tel: 01531 635338
Multi-Award Winning WWW.SHANEHOWELLS.CO.UK
24
CON SER VATORIES ● S U N L OU N GES ● W INDO W S ● DO O RS FASCI A & GU T T ER IN G ● GL AS S CENTRE
The Club would like to thank everyone who has supported them in 2019 and is hoping for continued support (all money collected will go to good causes). The Club looks forward to helping many more local and international causes in 2020 and will be celebrating 60 years of service in Cheltenham this year.
Cindy's
Mobile Hairdressing Hairdressing in the comfort of your own home Shampoo, conditioning and towels provided Fully insured Friendly service
Mature and very experienced in ladies’ and gentlemen’s hair styling
A personal approach to accounting and tax
The money to facilitate all of the above was raised through book sales, plant sales, an Easter Egg raffle, the Treorchy Male Choir concert and various street collections organised by the Club.
www.crowther.co.uk www.crowther.co.uk
A personal approach to accounting and tax
The Club also made donations through the Lions Club's International Foundation to Sight Savers, the Mozambique Disaster Appeal and the Bahamas Disaster Appeal.
Find out about our range of accounting taxation services: Find out and about our range of Cheltenham: 01242 309 001 accounting and taxation services: enquiries@crowther.co.uk Cheltenham: 01242 309 001 enquiries@crowther.co.uk
Find out about our range of accounting and taxation services: Cheltenham: 01242 309 001 enquiries@crowther.co.uk
Donations have been made to the Suicide Crisis Centre, Headway Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Senior Citizens, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham Hospital (incl. Oncology Unit), Churchdown Cancer Centre, Marie Curie, the National Star College, the Open Door Christmas Project, The Music Works and the Club's holiday caravan in Burnham-on-Sea. Smaller donations have also been made to various local people and organisations, and shortly the Club will present the Acorns Children’s Hospice with £3,000, which have been raised through the recent Treorchy Male Choir Concert.
www.crowther.co.uk
The past year has seen the Cheltenham Lions Club actively involved in many local service projects.
Find out about our range of accounting and taxation services: Cheltenham: 01242 309 001 enquiries@crowther.co.uk
REVIEW OF 2019
A personal A personal approach to approach to accounting accounting and tax and tax
www.crowther.co.uk
CHELTENHAM LIONS CLUB
Call 01242 467637 or 07368 334633
If you wish to leave a message, I will return your call as soon as possible. Page 25
WINTER DIARY Your useful guide to local events in and around the area
ALADDIN PANTO Ongoing until 4 Jan, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury. Tickets: £15 - £25. T: 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org NEW YEAR'S DAY RACING 1 January, Gates open 10.30am, first race 12.15pm, Cheltenham Racecourse Seven quality races & family entertainment. Tickets from £10. U18's go free. www.thejockeyclub.co.uk LINC LUNCH CLUB 3 Jan, The Old Courthouse, Regent Street, Cheltenham For supporters of LINC. New guests always welcome. The lunch typically costs £20 with £6 going to LINC. To join, email Louise at l.adkins@nhs.net. GUIDED BATTLEFIELD WALK. 5 January 2pm, Meet at Abbey Lawns car park, Gander Lane, Tewkesbury. 2-mile walk. Booking not neccessary. Stout walking shoes recommended. Families and dogs welcome. T: 01684 855040 WINCHCOMBE MUSEUM WINTER TALK 9 Jan, 2.30pm, Methodist Church Hall, Winchcombe ‘Michael Cardew at Winchcombe (1926-39), a pottery and its customers‘; speaker: Helen Brown. Entry: £4, incl. refreshments. 26
Everyone welcome. EPIPHANY CAROL SERVICE 12 January, Tewkesbury Abbey Sung by Tewkesbury Abbey Choir. Candle Celebration attended by Bishop Rachel. WEDDING SHOWCASE 12 Jan, 10am - 3pm, Tewkesbury Park Hotel. Explore the venue and meet suppliers. Free event, but registration advised. T: 01684 272300 RUBBER DUCK RACE 12 January, 11am - 1pm, Pittville Boating Lake In aid of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice. FAMILY PANTO: ROBINSON CRUSOE & THE PIRATES 16 - 19 January 2020, The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham Thursday - Friday: Evenings: 7pm; Saturday: midday & 4.30pm; Sunday: 2.30pm. Tickets: £11 - £16 from Showcase on 01242 224144 or visit www.promenade productions.co.uk.
Mainly flat course. Standard entry fee: £45. Reg. deadline: 17 Jan. Contact Norman Wilson on 01452 722720. WEDDING OPEN DAY 19 Jan, 11am - 3pm, Ellenborough Park Hotel Explore the venue and meet suppliers. T: 01242 545454 BULLY WEE BAND CONCERT 19 Jan, Doors open 7pm for 7.45pm start, Tithe Barn, Bishop’s Cleeve Tickets: £16, available online: http://www.wegottickets.com/ smedsongs or from Simon Medhurst (0797 0078220 or smed@smedsongs.com). FESTIVAL TRIALS DAY 25 January, Gates open 10.30am, first race 12.40pm, Cheltenham Racecourse Catch a glimpse of Festival contenders as they show the world what they're really made of. u18s go free. Free parking. Tickets from £10. www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
WINCHCOMBE LIVE 17 January, Doors open 8.15pm, The White Hart, Winchcombe. The Curst Sons. £10 on the door.
BURNS SUPPER 25 January, 6.45pm, Reddings Community Centre, the Reddings, GL51 6RF. Scottish Dance with Haggis Supper. Tickets in Advance: 01452 614995
GLOUCESTER CITY MARATHON 19 Jan, from 9am, Severn Vale Sports Centre, Quedgeley, GL2 4PR
QUIZ NIGHT 25 Jan, 7pm, St Michael's Centre, Bishop's Cleeve With supper. For more information/to book
email: stmichaelscentre bookings@gmail.com. WINTER WILSON CONCERT 25 Jan, Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start, Old Baptist Chapel, Tewkesbury, GL20 5RZ Kip Winter and Dave Wilson blend superb, often hardhitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with hilarious humour and tales of life on the road. Tickets: £10 from The John Moore Museum or £12 on the door.
February LIGHT UP CHELTENHAM 1 - 23 February, Cheltenham town centre. See Cheltenham lit up in beautiful colours (there will be walking tours) or go for a ride on the observation wheel at Imperial Gardens. Drumming group Spark! will open the event with a parade from The Brewery Quarter to Imperial Gardens on 1st February. GUIDED BATTLEFIELD WALK. 2 February, 2pm, Meet at Abbey Lawns car park, Gander Lane, Tewkesbury. 2-mile walk. Booking not neccessary. Stout walking shoes
recommended. Families and dogs welcome. T: 01684 855040
from Chelt. Town Hall, 0333 666 3366 or www.cleeveconcerts.com.
TEWKESBURY ALES FESTIVAL 7 Feb, 11am - 11pm & 8 Feb, 11am - 8pm, Watson Hall, Barton Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PX. 80 Winter ales, food and local cider and perry. Judging of the CAMRA South West Perry final. Car parking provided a short walk away - look out for signs. Entry fee incl. glass and beer voucher. T: 01684 855040
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING. 27 Feb, 2 5pm, Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham. Scottish dancing to CDs. £5, pay on the door. T: Derek Latham 01452 306857 or Andy Clark 01452 614995.
LINC LUNCH CLUB 7 Feb, Wesley House, Winchcombe. For supporters of LINC. New guests always welcome. The lunch typically costs £20 with £6 going to LINC. To join, email Louise at l.adkins@nhs.net. COFFEE MORNING 8 February, 10am - 12pm, Methodist Church, Bishop's Close, Off Tobyfield Rd, GL52 8NT. Fairtrade stalls, raffle, cake, refreshments. Join us for a firendly conversation. All welcome. CLEEVE CONCERTS 9 February, 7.30pm, Tithe Barn, Bishop's Cleeve John Adams. Tickets
POLAR PLUNGE 29 February, 10am 12pm, Sandford Parks Lido, Cheltenham. Swim 50m in the freezing water and help raise money for Winston's Wish and the St Vincent's & St George's Association. 17+ only. Registration fee: £10 pp; min. fundraising amount: £50. Swim begins at 10.30am. Spectators welcome. www. sandfordparkslido.org.uk
Local Markets FARMERS’ MARKET 2nd & last Fri/month, 9am - 2pm, Pedestrianised area outside Cavendish House, Cheltenham
Page 27
MOTORHOME & CARAVAN BODY REPAIRS
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Gadget Insurance
Does your home insurance cover your gadgets? If not, beware: a cracked screen on a recent Apple Watch costs £286 to fix; smash the back of an iPhone XS Max and you’ll be quoted £596.44. Those are official prices and your local repairer can almost certainly beat them, but it’s still a lot of money.
Motorhomes and Caravans Repaired and Painted
Some home insurance policies cover accidental damage to your gadgets but the excesses can be very high, and some policies don’t cover damage that occurs outside the home. If you have several devices, especially if there are children around, consider dedicated gadget insurance instead. There are lots of policies available from all kinds of names, including big-name retailers; expect to pay around £5 per month for one phone or about £15 to cover multiple devices.
Insurance and Private Work Undertaken Accident & Insurance Work High Quality Workmanship Competitive Prices Fully Qualified & Skilled Staff Insurance Approved Low Cost / High Standards
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Advertisers index ADVERTISING Love Local Magazines ACCOUNTANTS Crowthers Chartered Accountants
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AERIALS & SATELLITES Digital Tv & Satellite Systems 8
AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS Patrick Oliver Antiques 13 Smiths of Newent A. 15 BATHROOMS BB Services MRE Contracts
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BEAUTY & HAIR Cindy's Mobile Hairdressing 25 BIKE & CAR REPAIRS Bod's Custom Cycles Fix My Van P J Lane BUILDING & HANDYMAN SERVICES BB Services MRE Contracts
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BUSINESS Compton G. Business Park 18 CAR & VAN HIRE Go Vehicle Services
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ELECTRICIANS BB Services 17 David Richards Electrical 31 ESTATE AGENTS Perry Bishop & Chambers
LEGAL & FINANCIAL Caple Banks Dee & Griffin Solicitors PET SERVICES Ally's Mutley Crew
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VACANCIES Accolade Support & Care 5 The Jockey Club 29
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Coram Beanstalk
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GARDENING & LANDSCAPING SERVICES (cont'd) MC Gardens & Landscapes 31
GARDENING & LANDSCAPING SERVICES Cheltenham Town Landscaping & Driveway S. Clive Pardoe, Gardener Highnam Landscaping James Bubb
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WRITING Love Local Contributor WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES Ledbury Door Supplies Shane Howells Steamy Windows
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To include your business in the February issue call 01242 388 367 or email Anne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk. We publish 6 magazines in the Gloucestershire area.
Andrew Jones - Carpenter All aspects of carpentry & general building work undertaken
Call 07818 253455 or 01242 251714 Email: abrettjones@hotmail.co.uk
MC Gardens & Landscapes Creative Garden Design • Fencing • Turfing • Tree Care • Tree & Garden Clearance • Hedge Cutting • Garden Maintenance • Hard & Soft Landscaping • Planting Call Martin Carter on 07787 400221 or email martincarter592@gmail.com
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MRE CONTRACTS
01242 690 907 / 07748 987 895 www.mrecontracts.co.uk
Bathroom, wet room & cloakroom installations Professional & reliable service | Complete guarantee | Competitive prices | High standard of craftsmanship
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• Plumbing & electrical work • Plastering • Carpentry • Tiling • Painting & decorating • Flooring & heating • Installation & maintenance
Here is one of our 5-star reviews. For more, please visit www.yell.com and search for MRE Contracts. Cloakroom refitting with building works to accommodate a shower. “An excellent job that started and finished on time. Moreover Matt had allowed sufficient margin for including significant additional work we requested. A good team who adapted to circumstances and tried to minimise the inevitable dust and mess. Highly recommended.”
Free initial survey & consultation Page 31
Meet your local Perry Bishop and Chambers team Thinking of selling or letting? Just call 01242 246980 perrybishop.co.uk
Estate Agents • Lettings & Management • Land & New Homes