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January 2017
January What‘s On Guide
Recipe
Squash & Spinach Lasagne
Gardening
Local News Local Businesses
by Pippa Greenwood
Home & Interiors
Martin Lewis
MONEY SINS
by Katherine Sorrell
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Import Furniture Depot
NE E P R O O T W S O NE IN 2 577006 E R O L T B S A ENHAMAVAIL Tel: 0124
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2000 Square Foot Showroom
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272 - 274 High Westgate RetailStreet Park (Opposite the Brewery) Westgate Retail Park (OppositeDunelm Dunelm Mill) (Opposite Cheltenham, GL50Mill) 3HQ Gloucester GL1 2RU (Opposite Dunelm Mill) Tel: 01242GL1 577006 Gloucester 2RU Tel: 01452GL1 524545 Gloucester 2RU
Mon Mon-Sat - Sat 9.30am - 5.30pm 9.30am-5.30pm Sun 11.00am 272-274 High- 4.00pm Street Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm Sun 11.00am-4.00pm Sun 11.00am-4.00pm Cheltenham GL50 3HQ
Westgate Retail Park
(Opposite 01242Dunelm) 577006 Tel:Tel: 01452 524545 Tel: 01452 524545 Gloucester, GL1 2RU Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm
Sun01452 11.00am-4.00pm Tel: 524545
To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
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To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
From the Editor
Local Magazines Published by Glos Directories - connecting local businesses with local people
Dear Reader, Here's hoping you had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you have been able to take some time out to relax and enjoy the festive season with family and friends. I would like to thank all our readers for supporting the local businesses that have advertised with us in 2016. Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions for 2017? I'm feeling quite motivated right now and I'm convinced that 2017 will be the year where I really get fit, eat more healthily and have a major declutter. Yes, I received the KonMari book for Christmas...! Don’t forget the Everyman Theatre still has Jack and the Beanstalk on until Sunday 8th January, so if you haven’t already, why not take the family along to watch this very funny pantomime. To see what else is on in January, have a look at our “What’s On” section towards the back of the magazine. Our monthly articles are always a great read and there are lots of puzzles for you to enjoy over the last few days of the holidays, so grab a cup of tea and that last slice of Christmas cake and sit back with your January issue of the magazine. Happy New Year from all of us at the Cheltenham Magazine! Best wishes, Vicky Muller
- Editor Cheltenham Magazine Distribution Areas
Distributed in Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec Charlton Kings, Charlton Park, Moor End, Prestbury, Pittville, Fairview. (10,000 copies)
Distributed in Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov Leckhampton, Montpellier, Tivoli, The Park, Bath Road, Town Centre, Naunton Park, Sandford Park. (10,000 copies)
Cheltenham Magazine prints 10,000 copies per month. All our magazines are also available to view online. Please visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk, email us on office@glosdirectories.co.uk or call us on 01242 500 028 to request advertising rates for Cheltenham or should you like information on any or all of the other publications which we publish in Gloucestershire.
Please like us on Facebook.com/CheltenhamMagazine Follow us on Twitter @CheltenhamMag
Tel: 01242 500 028
www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
Request list online call to book your Aug/Sept Magazine Book now a toprice be included inorthe next Issue andspace growinyour business locally.
Exciting News! OUR DAVAL FITTED BEDROOM SHOWROOM WILL OPEN THIS MONTH ABOUT DAVAL Founded in 1978, Daval remains quintessentially a British family business with a passion and heritage in the design and manufacture of fitted furniture. Designed and manufactured in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire by our specialist craftspeople in our 100,000 sq ft facility, each piece of furniture we produce is functional, attractive and makes an enviable statement in any home, blending seamlessly into
Page 6
your living space. In 2007 we developed Option-i, a market leading production technology which allows us to produce made to order/made to measure kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. This technology means you can have your furniture your way, thanks to our uncompromising approach to quality, style and attention to every last detail. INDIVIDUAL POSSIBILITIES Stunning design teamed with quality workmanship are the cornerstone of a Daval kitchen or bedroom. Innovative technology allows each and every order to be made
specifically for each individual customer, whilst maintaining efficiencies and the ever high standards. BEDROOMS A bedroom should be the ultimate place to relax and recharge. Comfortable and restful, simple or opulent, a bedroom is the ultimate expression of your personality within your home. That is why Daval bedrooms are all bespoke. Manufactured individually and made to measure, a Daval bedroom fits perfectly into your home and your life.
To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
leckhampton
T: 01242 262606 onbathrooms and kitchens
T: 01242 262606
MODERN DESIGNS, FIRST CLASS SERVICE ensMODERN DESIGNS, FIRST CLASS SERVICE
Leckhampton Kitchens are pleased ns are pleased to be ableBathrooms to announce&our ablebytoJanuary announce owroom willto bebe ready 2017our new Daval Fitted Bedroom Showroom will open this month STUNNING BEDROOMS tailored to your needs and personality
s a
We believe in creating a made-to-measure environment that’s as unique as you are, making your home a reflection of your personailty. A statement of who you are, and what you believe in.
cestershire, GL53 7EG
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Please mention Cheltenham Magazine when responding to advertisers
Page 7
Cake and Bake Mulled Pears This is a lovely winter pudding that tastes just as delicious served warm or cold. Choose firm but ripe small pears, and use a vegetable peeler to scoop out the core from the base of each one.
Ingredients: • 450ml red wine (see Tip) • 150g caster sugar • 1 pared strip of lemon rind • 1 cinnamon stick • 2 whole cloves • 8 small Conference pears • 2tsp arrowroot • Softly whipped double cream or crème fraiche, to serve
Serves 4 Ready in 1 hour, plus cooling time Page 8
1. Pour the wine into a large pan
and add the sugar, lemon rind, cinnamon stick and cloves. Heat gently, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Meanwhile, peel the pears, leaving the stalks on.
Gently lower the pears into the hot liquid. Cover and simmer for 35-40 minutes until the pears are tender.
3. Remove the pears with a slotted spoon and
set aside in a heatproof serving dish. Blend the arrowroot to a paste with 1tbsp cold water and stir into the poaching liquid. Simmer gently for a further 5 minutes, stirring, until syrupy. Remove the lemon rind and cloves from the syrup.
4. Pour the hot syrup over the pears and leave for 30
minutes. Serve the pears and syrup, warm or cold, with a dollop of whipped double cream or crème fraiche.
TIP
Choose a full-bodied red wine such as Merlot or Burgundy. If you prefer, replace half of the red wine with clear apple juice or cranberry juice.
To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
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www.greyholmedental.co.uk | 01242 802935 Why going to the dentist is not just about your teeth
Over 1 million people in the UK have never been to the dentist with over one-quarter of adults admitting they have not been to the dentist in the last 2 years. This is a huge concern of mine because problems in your mouth can affect the whole of your body. HOW? Your mouth is populated with bacteria which if not kept under control can reach levels causing gum infections and tooth decay. Gum disease/infection is linked to serious conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s. There are estimated to be over 4 million people with diabetes in the UK, with so many people not visiting a dentist regularly they are at risk of not managing their diabetes well due to poor mouth health. It really is vitally important for people with diabetes and heart conditions to visit the dentist and dental hygienist regularly. There are more and more people out there taking multiple medications and most people don’t know that the side effects of their drugs can have a huge impact on their mouth health and in turn their general health. The biggest side effect of a lot of medications is a dry mouth. This means that you have less saliva to protect your mouth. Unless you go to the dentist and have your saliva tested you don’t know whether your saliva has become destructive rather than preventative, until it is too late. A good dental team will be able to use the results of saliva testing to provide you with preventative measures to stop mouth disease before it has even started, thus preventing treatment in the long run.
Don’t let the fear put your health in jeopardy I know that almost half of all adults have a fear of going to the dentist, which is why I have a passionate team who go above and beyond to make our members feel at home, here is what one of our members said... (For more success stories visit www.greyholmedental.com) “I have not been to a dentist for almost 10 years, I have HAD a massive phobia, until I visited Greyholme Dentist in Bishops Cleeve, they made me feel at more ease and explained everything very clear. I am so happy I have found a dentist that I trust and a place that makes me feel more comfortable on going back for work. Many thanks, R Teakle”
Don’t put it off any longer! Come in for your full mouth health assessment. Call Lydia today on 01242 802935. Greyholme is a private Dentist GDC 68770
Page 10
To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
COUNCILLORS CORNER Many residents in the St Luke’s area have told me that finding a space to park near their home is becoming more difficult. The area has permit parking and is part of a larger Zone covering some of the town centre. I have created a simple online survey to find out in a bit more detail how residents in St Luke’s feel about this issue. To complete the survey online please visit: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ stlukesparking When I have the responses I will collate the data to produce a report for the Parking Manager at the County Council. This will ensure that suggestions made by local residents are being considered. A new Residents' Association has been formed for people living
in the Naunton Park/Bath Road area. The area includes Exmouth Street, Naunton Crescent, Langdon Road and other streets nearby. It is early days but the group wants to protect and enhance the area, working alongside the council and others to keep it a great place to live. If you would like to know more, please get in touch with me and I will pass your details on. The poor state of our pavements, road markings not being repainted and gullies not being emptied are just some of the highway problems I deal with on a regular basis in my role as local county councillor. I have recently managed to get some paving resurfaced, for example in Francis Street, Southgate Drive, College Road and Bath Road, although there
is so much more that needs to be done. I have also reported many locations where road markings need repainting and gullies need clearing and progress is being made on these issues. I would be interested to hear your views on the new street lights being rolled out through Cheltenham. I have had some complaints about lights now shining directly into peoples' homes and have asked for hoods to be fitted to the lamp posts that cause this light pollution. In some areas the new lighting really doesn’t seem adequate and more lamp columns should be considered. - Cllr Klara Sudbury, Borough Councillor for College Ward and County Councillor for Charlton Park and College
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To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Would you like to join our team? We organise a successful monthly social club for visually impaired people in Cheltenham. We want to hear from people who would like to be volunteer drivers taking members to the meetings which take place on the first Wednesday of each month, 2pm - 4pm at Highbury Congregational Church.
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Page 13
A
Alex Burn 10 Year Anniversary:Layout 1
18/03/2016
11:56
Page 1
NDER BUR XA N LE
R 10 YEA versary S
Anni
FU
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RAL DIRE CT
O
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SOLICITORS
ALEXANDER BURN FUNERAL DIRECTORS Alexander Burn is an independent family business with four offices covering the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury area. COURTEOUS, EFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL 24 hour personal service | Private chapels of rest HM Coroner and NHS Funeral Director for Gloucestershire Bishops Cleeve 22 Church Road 01242 673300
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It even includes a installing and main are highly trained Complete Peace system and controls, hot water Provider. for several large us in theBOILER prepaidSERVICE envelope and FREE in Fast, Relb3 boilers locally for registered tradesm Of Mind –internal For Your system, radiators, manufacturers anF you are covered. A ScotiaCare HomePlan Service each year of the policy. Experienced in all Heating, Hot plumbingBoiler, and household Johnston Scotia h of spareAn parts. Ou protects your boiler, heating Expert the industry, we a Water, Plumbing & Electrics. electrics. It even includes a installing and main are highly trained Complete Peace system and controls, hot water Homeserve Homeserve Provider. for several large b FREE BOILER in Cover 7 boilers locally for 3 registered tradesm MindSERVICE –internal For Your system, Of radiators, manufacturers an A ScotiaCare HomePlan each year of the policy. Experienced in all Heating, Hot plumbingBoiler, and household Johnston Scotia h of spare parts. Ou protects your boiler, heating the industry, we a Water, Plumbing & Electrics. electrics. It even includes a installing main are highlyand trained system and controls, hot water for several large FREE BOILER SERVICE in boilers locally forb3 registered tradesm system, radiators, internal manufacturers A ScotiaCare HomePlan each year of the policy. No EXCESS charges – You pay no hidden charges for callouts, Experienced in an all plumbing and boiler, household of parts. protects your heating thespare industry, weOu a electrics. It even includes a parts or labour. It is all covered by our policy. are highly trained system and controls, hot water for several large b FREE BOILER SERVICE in registered tradesm system, radiators, internal manufacturers CheckCheck your your existing policy to see what excess you repairs couldbebeasas much as £50! an each yearfor of repairs the policy. existing policy to see what excess youare arecharged charged for – -itItcould much £50! plumbing and household ofasspare parts. Ou electrics. It even includes a Please mention Cheltenham Magazine when responding to advertisers are Page highly15 trained Page 24 To advertise call 01684 772572 or 07912 575741 or visit www.glosdirectories.co.uk FREE BOILER SERVICE in A Fixed Low Cost Of £7.99 A Month, For The First 12 Months.
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Squash & Spinach Lasagne Serves 4
Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes
If you fancy a meat-free supper this week then try this delicious filling vegetarian lasagne. Serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread.
Preheat the oven to 200C, Fan 180C, Gas Mark 6. Place the diced butternut squash, onion, garlic and oregano in a large roasting tin and drizzle over 2 tbsp of the olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and toss to mix. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the squash is very tender. Cool for 10 minutes.
Ingredients: • 1 butternut squash, peeled and flesh diced • 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
Transfer everything from the roasting tin (including any pan juices) to a food processor and process until smooth, adding a little hot water if needed to give the mixture a spreadable consistency.
• 1 tsp dried oregano • 3 tbsp olive oil
Steam the spinach for 1-2 minutes until just wilted. Place the lasagne sheets in a large shallow heatproof dish and cover with boiling water. Leave for 3-4 minutes to soften then lift out of the water and drain on kitchen paper. Mix together the ricotta and cottage cheeses in a bowl along with half the mozzarella cheese.
• 200g baby spinach leaves • 250g pack fresh egg lasagne sheets • 250g ricotta cheese • 300g cottage cheese
Spread a third of the squash mixture in the base of a square medium-sized ovenproof dish. Top with a layer of wilted spinach followed by a layer of the cheese mixture and a layer of lasagne sheets, cutting them to fit if necessary.
• 150g ready-grated mozzarella cheese • 25g pine nuts • Green salad, to serve
TIP
Instead of the spinach you could use lightly fried slices of courgette or sliced beefsteak tomatoes. Page 16
5
Repeat the layers two more times, finishing with lasagne sheets and a thin layer of the remaining cheese mixture. Scatter over the rest of the mozzarella cheese and the pine nuts, and drizzle over the rest of the olive oil. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese topping is golden and bubbling. Serve with green salad.
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Page 17
MARTIN LEWIS Money Sins
By Martin Lewis @moneysavingexpert
Are you a sinner? Financially that is. There are a host of everyday money misdemeanours that millions of people do, costing them thousands, without being aware of it. These aren’t horrors like grabbing a payday loan, but the result of simple misunderstandings, bad habits or inaction. So having recently toured around the UK doing roadshows for the sixth series of my ITV show, I’ve collated five of the most common. 1. Saving while you’ve expensive debts Savings rates are depressingly low – the top easy-access rate is 1%. Credit card and other interest rates are depressingly high. So, £1,000 credit card debt at 18% costs you £180 a year, the same amount saved in top paying savings account at 1% interest only earns you £10. If you had both, pay the debt off with your savings and you'd be £170 a year better off. Many of you will be thinking, "but I want to keep my savings, what if the boiler packs up or the roof falls in?" However, that’s a sentimental strategy, not a logical one. Let’s carry on the £1,000 debt and £1,000 savings scenario to show you why. • If you don’t pay the debt Page 18
off with the savings and an emergency happens that costs you £1,000 to fix, you’d use all your savings and still have £1,000 of credit card debt. • If you do pay off the debt with the savings, and a £1,000 emergency happens, you’d need to pay for it on your credit card, meaning you still have no savings and £1,000 of credit card debt. The end result of them both is the same, yet by paying off the debt with the savings, you save in the meantime. The only exception is if the debt is at 0%. Then the financially savvy and disciplined can do what’s called stoozing, where you deliberately build up 0% debt only to save it and earn interest. Though with current saving rates so low, it’s not as easy as it used to be. Full help on that at www.mse.me/ stoozing 2. Not at least asking your energy firm if you are on its cheapest deal Most people in the UK are on their energy firm’s standard tariff, which typically means they’re overpaying by £300 a year. I’ve talked about switching until I’m blue in the face, and, of course, the best plan is to take five minutes to do a full market comparison via my www.CheapEnergyClub.com
or any www.Ofgem.gov.uk approved comparison site. Yet for some that doesn’t hit home. So, let me be plain. Even if you won’t do that, just pick up the phone and ask your current provider “Am I on your cheapest tariff?” and, if not, switch to that as there’s no change but the price! For example, as I write (it can change daily), on EDF’s standard tariff someone with typical usage pays £1,070/year. It also has a 12-month fix at £880/year - £190/year less. The British Gas’s standard tariff with typical use is £1,044/year, but it also runs Sainsbury Energy (i.e. it’s the same company but a different name), and its cheapest fix is £804/year – saving £240/year. This don’t ask don’t get saving works at all the big firms, so if you won’t do a comparison, at least do this. 3. Only making the minimum repayments on credit cards Credit card minimum payments are based mostly on a percentage of the balance, which only just covers the interest. So, you hardly clear any off. A 30-year-old with £3,000 debt on a credit card at 17.9% interest, who made only typical minimum repayments, would take 27 years to clear it. By then, they’d be 57 and have paid a
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total cost £4,000 in interest (see my minimum repayment calc at www.mse.me/minrepay to work out how long it’ll take you). Now you may be thinking ‘easy to say, but I can’t afford more than the minimum.’ Well, I have a solution. On £3,000 debt, the current minimum is around £70 a month. If instead of opting to pay the minimum, fix your repayment at £70. The debt will clear in five years at a total cost of £1,500 in interest, saving £2,400. Though if you’ve debt on more than one credit card, focus all spare cash on repaying the most expensive, making only the minimums on the others. That way you get rid of the most expensive debts first. 4. Don’t cover your home’s value on buildings insurance Your house price is the wrong figure; you only need to insure the usually much lower rebuild cost – literally how much it would cost to rebuild your
home should it get knocked down. This is often far less than the market value. There’s information and a calculator on this at http://abi.bcis.co.uk.
higher rate taxpayer”? An extreme example provides clarity. Imagine your child goes to uni and becomes a brilliant poet, who never earns above the £21,000 threshold. They would never repay a penny. So, if you paid the fees for them, you’d throw £27,000 away. Most of course will earn over the threshold. However only high earners will earn enough to repay in real terms what they borrowed within the 30 years. If not, again it means pay their tuition fees and you’re paying more than they’d need to repay. For most parents if you want to help them, a better thing to prioritise is building up a mortgage deposit. For far more on this see my mse.me/ dontpayupfront guide.
5. Saving or borrowing to pay your children’s tuition fees I’m often freaked out by parents telling me they’re saved up so their child won’t have to pay tuition fees at uni. Worse, some even extend their mortgage. My problem isn’t just that it’s actually students’, not parents’ responsibility to repay this… All new English full-time students can get a tuition fee loan and a living loan to help pay for uni costs. You’re eligible to start repaying in the April after leaving, but only if you earn over £21,000, and you repay 9% above that. Repayments stop after 30 years. In many ways, it acts far more like a tax than a loan, and how many would save “in case my child earns enough to be a
Martin Lewis is the Founder & Editor in Chief of Money Saving Expert. To join the 10 million people who get his Martin’s Money Tips weekly email, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/ latesttip
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Page 19
Home & Interiors Declutter for the New Year holding onto things that you really need and/or love.
What could be a better New Year’s resolution for your home than to eliminate mess, create space and generally have a good sort out? If too much mess and clobber has built up in your home over the past year, then it’s time to declutter your stuff and sort your storage, so that your home will be mess-free and super-stylish in time for 2017. First, grab some rubbish bags and a few boxes or baskets. Work methodically through each room and sort out obvious rubbish, things that can go to a local charity shop, items that could be sold second-hand, anything that needs mending, little-used things that can be put away in the garage or loft, and genuinely great stuff that you want to keep. Try to get rid of as much as possible, only Page 20
With what’s left, it’s now time to work out where it will go. Label your storage if necessary, and make sure the whole family knows what’s meant to go where. If you still need extra storage after your clear-out, look for all the areas where you could fit more in, whether built-in or free-standing: from backs of doors to under the stairs, tops of wardrobes to under the bed. Think racks, hooks and shelves as well as conventional cabinets and chests of drawers and, where possible, ensure they coordinate with existing furniture. You can also relocate some storage; for example by adding a storage unit in the living room to avoid having to tidy toys away upstairs every day. There are a few rules of storage that might be helpful. First, store like with like and match the size and shape of the container to what’s being kept inside (in other words, find small, lidded boxes for things like Lego and big squishy baskets for teddy bears). Store as much as possible near to where it’s most needed, but don’t store frequently used items below knee level or above shoulder height, especially if they’re heavy. Avoid storing things on surfaces such as tables or desks, and allow yourself
By Katherine Sorrell room to expand – but only within reason. If you have allowed extra space, and then filled it… it’s time to start all over again. Easy ways to banish clutter • Write a list of where you want to declutter. • Have an intensive declutter workout and spend five minutes clearing as much as you can in one area. You’ll be amazed at the difference you can make. Repeat as often as you can. • Hang your clothes up with the hooks all facing one way, and only turn the hook the other way when you wear something. After, say, six months, you can easily assess which items you never wear. You could try the same idea in the kitchen (turn mug handles in one direction, put glasses upside down, and so on), the playroom, the living room… • Make it a family competition with prizes. Who will be the fastest to find three things to throw away, three things to give away and three things to tidy away? • If what you need is some emergency decluttering, pop everything into a big box and hide it somewhere until you have time to go through it properly. Main Image: Mazeballs bed, £625, Loaf: 0845 468 0698; www.loaf.com
To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
Your help is required! My name is Linda Pike and I am a student at the University of Worcester. For my final dissertation I am researching the impact of the North American military in World War Two. This specifically involves the presence of American GIs at Ashchurch Camp in Tewkesbury and the Royal Canadian Air Force at RAF Pershore.
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I am particulary interested if anyone has any specific memories, either as a child or young adult, during this period concerning these troops and are willing to talk to me, (confidentially if you wish), to help me undertake my research topic. This is due to finish in Spring 2017.
You can reach me on 01684 772028 or 07971 623767 and my email address is Linda.pike54@hotmail.com. It would be great to hear from you! Thank you.
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Page 21
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Across 1. Deviant seeing second birth (7) 7. Fine part of leaping animal (5) 8. House going to popular rogue (7) 9. Large part of a church failing (5) 11. Conversations about headwear (5) 12. An odour an Italian reduced (5) 14. Angry redhead one preceded (5) 16. Back-to-front top, a novel problem (7) 18. Speed sports team reduced by half (5) 19. Contempt aids cast in a row (7) Down 1. Hammer handed to student (5) 2. African flower cut for nothing (3) 3. Hackneyed start of short story (5) 4. Sound of coins being tossed (5) 5. Her pal set out with a painter (7) 6. Sign for a takeaway, perhaps (5) 10. Word for ‘semi-transformed’ (7) 12. A counterpart of the Greek variety (5) 13. More detailed snake diagram, initially Page 22
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Republican in the beginning (5) 17. A bird from Palermo, allegedly (3)
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Page 23
Town Centre Talking Who you gonna call? Not the Ghostbusters – it’s time for the Ambassadors Imagine two scenarios. One involves a visitor to Cheltenham, the second a business in the town. Our visitor is Jackie, who is here for the first time after getting off a tourist bus at Royal Well. There is no-one around. Royal Crescent looks very nice but she’s not impressed with the view of the rear of the Municipal Offices. She manages to find her way to the Prom and there are some lovely shops. But she was looking for some independents as well. Jackie finds the High Street and there are more popular brand-names. There seem to be
plenty of restaurants but where can she get a nice home-made sandwich? Before she has chance to find out, it’s time to get back on the bus and Jackie’s time in Cheltenham is over. Business owner Brian has been in the town for some time and is used to the same problem every year. The leaves fall from the trees and everything looks beautifully autumnal when the sun is in the sky. But those pesky leaves cause chaos. They lie across the entrance to Brian’s shop and, no matter what he does to clean up, they are there again the next morning. Each year, he thinks he should ring the council. But which council? Is it Cheltenham Borough or Gloucestershire County? And if he gets through, who should he ask for? He’s sure nobody will be remotely interested in helping him. It’s for events just like this that Cheltenham BID has hired three part-time Ambassadors. The message on their
Page 24
uniforms is “Here To Help You” and that’s exactly what they’ll be doing. Tess Beck, Abbie Friis and Darren Young all live in Cheltenham and have all said they’ve taken on the roles because they want to make the town a better place. When Jackie gets off her bus, we’ll try to ensure one of them is there to meet her. Independent shops? They’ll be quick to direct her to Montpellier and to places like Pittville Street, Winchcombe Street and Grosvenor Terrace. They’ll also have top tips on where to go for that sandwich. And they’ll spread the love around so that all our cafes and bars benefit. The Ambassadors will also be dropping in regularly to see Brian. When he raises the issue about the leaves, they’ll know just who to call. And if they don’t get a response fairly quickly, they’ll be right on the case. The Ambassadors are here for our businesses – and for the whole town.
- by Kevan Blackadder, Cheltenham BID Director
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Page 25
Gardening Fighting the Frosts
by Pippa Greenwood
if the container is in a very prominent position. If very harsh weather is forecast or a spell of mild weather has promoted some soft, new growth, drape a double layer of horticultural fleece over the top growth of the plants and anchor it well. Alternatively, consider Easy Fleece Jackets: they come in three sizes and have a draw-string and toggle so that you can easily insert the plant and then secure it – find out more on my website www.pippagreenwood. com/products/protectyour-crops. With frost, rain and perhaps even some snow, at this time of year our gardens can be in for quite a battering. Although most of your garden plants are probably fairly frost resistant, what can you do to minimise the damage to those which are not so hardy? It’s time to get outside and take some precautions. Plants in containers are particularly vulnerable to freezing or frosting, and thin-walled containers pose the greatest threat. Where possible, plunge your pots by digging a hole in the soil and placing the plant in its pot into the hole. If it is too heavy to move then wrap it well in several layers of bubble wrap, polythene or old curtains, using lengths of hessian to create a more appealing outermost layer Page 26
A double fleece layer can be used on plants in beds and borders too, or to protect slightly tender wall shrubs. Much larger plants can be protected with a home-made ‘cage’ – wrap a framework of four stakes or sturdy canes with netting or chicken wire, then fill the central space around the plant with dry bracken, straw or leaves. Evergreens in containers and in open ground may suffer from drought as well as foliage or stem growth, so continue to water these, especially if they are in a sheltered spot or the weather has been dry. A deep mulch applied to the soil or compost surface before the ground freezes will help to keep water available. Although most fruit trees - like apples and pears, cherries and
plums - are hardy, they are also prone to damage. The main risk is to newly opened blossom, though the buds themselves may be damaged too, with late frosts being the most harmful. If you are planting new fruit plants, it really pays to buy from a specialist nursery and to get late-flowering varieties, as they are less likely to be flowering when there is still a risk of frost. Finally, use fleece to cover any seeds already sown out of doors. A double layer of wellanchored fleece or a fleececovered pull-out EasyTunnel is quick and easy to install, and will help to provide protection and that bit of extra warmth for germinating seeds and seedlings. If you are planning on sowing any early varieties of crops such as broad beans or lettuce, then I’d also suggest that you cover the soil before you sow. A layer of wellanchored polythene will keep off excess rain and allow a little warmth to build up, so when you sow the seeds they won’t suffer from excess sogginess and won’t get such a cold shock. Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and book Pippa for a gardening talk or peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items, including pop-up crop covers, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, fleece jackets for plants, pull-out EasyTunnels, ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Voucher cards, signed books and lots more besides.
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IS YOUR PENSION WORKING FOR YOU? • Do you have any personal pension arrangements? • Would you like to consider consolidating your pensions? • Do you have a ‘paid up’ or preserved personal pension? • Has your current pension suffered from poor investment returns? • Might your current pension company have high charges? • Do you feel you would benefit from an annual pension review? • Are you concerned about how Brexit may effect your retirement?
DID YOU ANSWER ‘YES’ TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS? IF SO YOU MAY BENEFIT FROM A PENSION TRANSFER REVIEW The value of pensions and investments and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested. Call Tony Smith on 07703 584354 email anthony.smith@charlesderby.com, www.charlesderby.com Please mention Cheltenham Magazine when responding to advertisers
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To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
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Page 29
Health
By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
Realistic Resolutions for a Happier, Healthier New Year
New Year resolutions sound like a great idea: a fresh year and a fresh start. So why do they often fail? Setting YourSelf up for failure At New Year, festive goodwill and New Year enthusiasm can entice us into making a multitude of overly ambitious resolutions, setting ourselves up to fail and often, give up completely on our goals. So let’s turn three popular, doomed-to-failure aspirations into realistic resolutions. More exerciSe Your resolution: I’ll go to Pilates, do my dance DVD and walk two miles every week! You didn’t manage any of these things every week last year - ask yourself why. Identify activities you enjoy and can most easily fit in. a Better resolution: I’ll do at least an hour’s exercise every week. Weather too bad for walking? Missed Pilates? Resolve to do your exercise DVD instead. Anything else is a bonus. Better to do some exercise consistently than none. leSS alcohol Your resolution: “I won’t drink Page 30
on weekdays/at home/EVER AGAIN!” Recent research shows that even alcohol intake under the recommended limits of 2-3 units daily and 14 units per week increases your risk of many serious conditions, including dementia and some cancers, so reducing your intake is great – but tough if you’re a regular drinker. a Better resolution: Think about when and where you drink alcohol, and reduce your intake gradually. Try: • Matching every alcoholic drink with a soft drink, or buying a large soft drink later in the evening to last until home time. • Finding other ways to relax if you always have a drink on returning from work (or make it a Friday-only treat). Feeling you ‘need’ a drink is a warning sign; consider if you need to make changes in your work life. • On alternate nights, swap that wine with dinner or beer with friends for low-alcohol or nonalcoholic versions. no SMoking Your resolution: “I smoke 30 a day, but I’m quitting for good at New Year!” It’s probably quicker to list conditions not aggravated or caused by smoking than to list those that are, and accepting you’re addicted to nicotine can be hard. But that twitchiness you
feel – the need for a cigarette to ‘calm your nerves’ - is nicotine withdrawal, which can occur very quickly. This can make smoking hard to kick, particularly for moderate or heavy smokers. While a few successfully go ‘cold turkey’, gradually reducing your nicotine intake is the most reliable and angst-free method. a Better resolution: Try the options below and keep going until you find a strategy that works. • Visit your GP. They can prescribe some nicotine replacement products and refer you to counselling. You can also buy nicotine replacement products; experiment and see what works best for you. • If you don’t already, make yourself smoke outside; it takes more effort. Toxins from your cigarette linger in the air (second-hand smoke) and settle on surfaces, where they’re re-released (third-hand smoke), so you’ll be improving the health of housemates and visitors too. • Smoke to a timed schedule and gradually increase the time between cigarettes. Even if you smoke 25 a day and only drop one daily cigarette per fortnight, you’ll still be a nonsmoker in under a year. • Keep nicotine but eliminate cigarette toxins like cyanide and arsenic by swapping to e-cigarettes or vaporisers. ‘Resolution’ has an array of scientific and historical meanings, including ‘reduction to a simpler form’. So keep your resolutions simple – and realistic!
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Cheltenham Calendar Happy New Year to you all! Anyone else really looking forward to 2017? I don’t think I’ve never counted to New Year so eagerly, or sung Auld Lang Syne quite so cheerily. After a year of unexpected political firsts and celebrity loss it’s time to focus on a fresh new start. With December always being such a whirlwind of a month in many aspects, it's often nice to sit back in your chair and take a minute for yourself. Kids are either at school or preoccupied with new toys and nobody has quite got over the New Year's hangover enough to be productive. I assure you it is completely acceptable to let the days wash over you.
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However, this can be a slippery slope and soon you may find yourself in six-day-old pyjamas, eating your way through a mountain of turkey and cranberry sauce sandwiches. Maybe wrap up the leftovers and brave the cold with a walk around the recently renovated Pittville Park. Events tend to be more thinly spread over January, usually due to everyone having to get back into gear for the coming month. So take the month for yourself, start those New Year’s resolutions that we all struggle
by Olivia Scull to maintain past midFebruary, head to the gym, start eating healthy, learn a language. I mean it wouldn’t be January without all these things, would it? And if in between all your yoga sessions and selfdefence classes you have a spare evening for a laugh then hit up Ross Nobel on the 12th at the beautifully quaint Everyman Theatre or Jimmy Carr at the grand Town Hall at the end of the month. Santa’s hung up his hat, you deserve to do the same.
You can find more of my work and reviews of shows, plays, etc. I’ve seen on my blog www.watchingfromthecheapseats.wordpress.com
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A Year with the Lions In the past year, the Club has had many requests for help and in most cases has been able to oblige. Donations included: • £100 to Dream Holidays for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers • £500 to SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) towards a new rescue vehicle • £75 to Lions Disabled Sports • Money given to local schools to be used for the purchase of special equipment: £333 for Cleeve School, £200 for Hester’s Way School and £298 for Widden Primary (Gloucester) • £360 towards a specially adapted wheelchair for a local resident • £100 to HRH Countess of Wessex, sponsored cycle ride (over 400 miles). The Countess is patron of the British Lions Clubs. • £200 to Open Door • £5440 towards a specially adapted tricycle for Charlton Kings resident,
Ray Blackwell, who suffered severe brain damage six years ago. • Support given to twenty families who enjoyed holidays at the Club’s Holiday Caravan at Burnham on Sea. The cost of the caravan is in excess of £4000 per year.
through Lions International. • £100 to Ecuador (earthquake) • £100 to Japan (earthquake) • £120 to aid people with disability in Mombasa • £250 towards the L ions International Sight Savers Project which aims to cure blindness in Africa The Club also provided administrative help and marshalling at the British Heart Foundation cycle ride at the Racecourse, and marshals for the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike.
The Club will also shortly present two reclining chairs/beds to the Cheltenham Oncology Unit (cost: £2302). John Grover, a member of the Club for forty-four years, has received excellent treatment at the unit over the past three years. The chairs will be donated in his memory. The prime aim of the Club is to provide help within the Cheltenham/the local area, however, in the past year the following donations have also been made: • £1000 to provide water treatment equipment to Haiti following the tornado. This was administered
The money for all these causes was raised at various events including book sales, plant sales, Easter Egg Raffles at various pubs in the area, and a concert with the Treorchy Male Choir at Cheltenham Town Hall. We thank everyone for their support and look forward to 2017, which starts with a Book Sale in Regent Arcade between the 13th and 19th of February. The Club meets at the Victory Club on the second and fourth Monday of the month. For more information, please contact Peter Weir on 07973 807159 or President Ron White on 01242 675286. - by David Green, Club PRO
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A Fresh Start The start of a new year is often the time when we take a critical look at our lives and think about making some changes. Whether you want to take up a new hobby or start your own business, this month’s books are for you… The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A Simple, Effective Way to Banish Clutter Forever – Marie Kondo If you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of ‘stuff’, this book might help. Kondo encourages us to only keep those possessions that ‘spark joy’. There is some waffle in places, but stick with it. There are some great tips and tricks. Most importantly, Kondo helps the reader to think about the emotions connected to items, and the kind of life they could have if they lived in a simpler, less cluttered space.
this genre, it’s also actually enjoyable to read.
The Idea in You: How to Find It, Build It, and Change Your Life – Martin Amor and Alex Pellew If you’re fed up with the daily grind and thinking of starting your own business, this book could give you the kick start you need. It’s packed with advice and encouragement for turning ‘your daydream into dynamite’. There are case studies, exercises, and useful resources, along with plenty of practical information. And, unlike many other books in
The Great British Sewing Bee: From Stitch to Style – Wendy Gardiner Those looking to indulge their creative side in 2017 could find plenty to tempt them here. The companion book to the fourth series of the BBC2 show The Great British Sewing Bee, the book offers advice on everything from choosing fabric to altering designs. There are also more than 25 patterns included with the book, with projects ranging from a Babygro to a cocktail
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The Girl in the Garden – Melanie Wallace A single teenage mum, a grieving widow, a photographer, a recluse, a man trying to do what’s right. Characters with very different outlooks and lives, but their stories are all entwined. And their flaws, hopes and buried dreams are all too identifiable. They all need to allow themselves to heal and trust if they’re to take those first tentative steps towards a better life.
dress. Aimed at all abilities, this could well prove to be indispensable for new and experienced sewers alike. Bloom: Navigating Life and Style – Estée Lalonde Beauty and lifestyle vlogger Lalonde has gained a legion of fans, and much critical acclaim, for her daily musings on style, beauty, food and life in general. In Bloom, Lalonde talks about the highs and lows of her life, including overcoming depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. A beautifully designed book for dipping in and out of when you need a bit of inspiration. Making It Up As I Go Along – Marian Keyes In this collection of essays, Keyes gives us a hilarious insight into her daily life and thoughts. While it’s laugh-aloud funny, there’s also a good dose of reflection. Keyes isn’t afraid to poke fun at herself and reveal her own vulnerability. By doing so, she reminds us that often we’re our own worst critics and sometimes we need to just go easy on ourselves.
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Chalk Talk We’re told that nearly 50% of us make New Year resolutions. In 2016, the nation’s favourite was to ‘lose weight’, closely followed by ‘get more organised’. Then we have the other usual suspects: cut down on the drinking, chocolate, smoking and fast food, get fitter, go to the gym, and so on. Alas within a few weeks, most resolutions have been quietly abandoned. Congratulations to everyone who is still going strong.
Cheltenham needs improved 24-hour care and support. Please give me your support in fighting for this. If you haven’t already, please go online and sign the petition at www.alexchalk.com/ CheltHealth or simply email me at alex.chalk.mp@parliament.uk.
So, what do I want to see in Cheltenham for 2017? Well, there is an important event coming up and I would really value your support.
I’m getting an absolutely fantastic response from local people. Over 1,000 households have already been in contact. Thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to speak up. Your support is helping me build a strong case to our local NHS and I’m meeting regularly with the Health Secretary in Parliament.
Gloucestershire’s NHS Trust will soon be firming up plans for the future of our health services. The proposals are all part of the so-called Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP). The STP sets out their vision for the next five years. Every family will be touched by health issues over the next five years. We all have a stake in getting this right.
There are four limbs to my plan. First, I’m calling on Gloucestershire NHS to introduce an Urgent Care Centre at Cheltenham Hospital throughout the night, following the night-time downgrade of A&E services in 2013. Second, I’m campaigning too for more GPs and specialist nurses. Third, we need reduced waiting times for children’s mental
health services. And fourth, I’m calling for investment in the latest LINAC radiotherapy technology for our excellent oncology centre. For far too long Cheltenham felt like the Cinderella of Gloucestershire NHS. Between 2005 and 2015 we lost Battledown’s Children Services. We lost doctor-led maternity services. We lost blue-light night-time A&E. Now we can finally make a difference. With your help we can turn things around and make sure that Cheltenham’s voice is heard in 2017. That’s a resolution worth keeping. - by Alex Chalk
Review Of The Year 2016 1. After winning their first ever Olympic medal in 2016, which country's prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, announced they would no longer be progressing plans to change the country’s flag and that the union jack would stay part of it? 2. On March 1st, screenwriter Tony Warren died at the age of 79. Which longrunning TV show did he create? 3. Which three members of the Spice Girls reunited in 2016 and launched a new website called "The Spice Girls Gem"? 4. After a 12 year absence, which TV show returned in 2016 and was won by Apollo? 5. Words such as wondercrump, snozzwanger and scrumdiddlyumptious were included in a new dictionary that was compiled to mark the centenary of which author's birth? 6. Who was in the news in March 2016 for her use of meldonium? 7. In football, which Englishman refereed the final of Euro 2016? 8. Which country won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with a controversial song about Joseph Stalin's deportation of the Tatar people from Crimea in 1944? 9. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated in September 2016, with which one of the two filing for divorce? 10. In the week following the death of David Bowie, which five of his hit singles reentered the UK top 40 singles chart? Please mention Cheltenham Magazine when responding to advertisers
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Do You Let Your Age Do The Talking? by Kate McLelland
The invitation arrived via social media: “A group of us are going to Glastonbury Festival for the day. Do you fancy coming along, too?” I had been to the festival twice in the early 1980s, watching sets by artists like Elvis Costello and the Style Council. I’d loved it all - the mud, the dodgy burgers from a van, the opportunity to bond with thousands of other young music fans, but now, at the age of 56, I just couldn’t see myself fitting in (even though I still have the same pair of wellies). Almost without thinking, I replied, saying that I would be busy on the day my friend had suggested. It was an instinctive reaction, but as I pressed ‘send’ and watched my reply appear online, I immediately regretted my decision. My husband and I have watched Glasto on TV many times in recent years and we’ve often remarked on the number of older people we see in the crowd. Page 38
This reaction made me think about other times when I have refused to do something, or hesitated to take part in an event, because of my age. I realised that since turning 40 I have begun to censor everything I do, looking at life through an ‘age appropriate’ lens rather than thinking about what I really wanted. It was a sobering thought, but within ten minutes I had come up with a list of things I could do differently in future:
on the dance floor. From now on, although I may not be the first on the dance floor, I certainly won’t be the last. don’t be an ageconscious shopper Worries about not dressing appropriately for our age can hold us back when choosing what to wear. We opt for ‘safe’ styles that often have the effect of making us feel even older than we are.
MuM and dad dancing The jokes about “Dad dancing” have no doubt been responsible for millions of older men making an excuse to visit the loo as soon as the music starts playing at a family wedding.
It may have been different in the Seventies and Eighties, but these days you’ll find a real cross-section of ages browsing through the clothing rails: what’s more shop assistants don’t seem to care that the person entering the fitting rooms isn’t a size 10, aged twenty-something.
We’re all probably a little self-conscious when it comes to dancing, particularly if our kids are watching, but provided you’re not planning to moonwalk or point at the ceiling, Saturday Night Fever style, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t strut your stuff
Short skirts, revealing tops, body-hugging clothing and huge heels will still be out for me, but I’m giving myself permission to drop into some of the more youthful stores I used to shun, just in case there’s something that catches my eye.
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You’re never too old for adventure We may be less physically able than we once were, but this doesn’t rule us out from ever enjoying another adventure, whether that’s climbing Machu Picchu or pony trekking in Bridlington. Nowadays we may be more inclined to stay in a hotel than camp out at a music festival, but at least we are still taking part. It’s important that we keep our minds and bodies active, staying open to experiences and interests that enrich us. Next time I receive an invitation from friends to go somewhere unusual, I won’t come up with the kneejerk response of saying (or thinking) “I’m too old for that.”
don’t disappear into the crowd A lot of my older friends complain about feeling invisible, and that’s because they’ve lost confidence. Their body language says “don’t look at me, I’m not worth your attention”, so it’s hardly surprising that people no longer notice them.
help me with my posture, but keep my body flexible. As older people we have surely earned our place in society? That means we have every right to enjoy life and express ourselves without fear of an adverse reaction. The truth is that we are often the harshest judges of our own behaviour, setting limits and curtailing our ambitions to avoid the slightest risk of criticism.
A long, hard look in the mirror at home showed me that I was beginning to slouch - shoulders rounded, tummy sagging, head down – but when I lifted up my head and straightened my shoulders, I seemed more alert, more engaged with the world and – dare I say it – more youthful.
Teenagers are blissfully unconcerned about the views of their elders, and recently I’ve come to the conclusion that older people should take a leaf out of their book. I’ve decided that even if I live to be 100, nothing can stop me from living my life to the full.
I’ve decided to join a local yoga class that will not only
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Seventy years ago - the winter of 1946-47 Four years have passed since I wrote about the harsh winter of 1962-63 which had happened exactly fifty years earlier. This month I'm taking readers back seventy years to the winter of 1946-47. I suspect not so many readers can recall that winter! The big freeze really set in at the end of January and lasted until mid-March, but the snow which fell as early as Thursday 19th December had a tragic consequence. Shortly after mid-day two Royal Naval Air Service officers were killed when their plane crashed into the lower slopes of Nottingham Hill above Gotherington railway station. The inquest heard how the plane had probably hit wires as it was flying too low in a blinding snow storm. The following week brought a familiar scenario as ice and snow led to multiple bangs and scrapes on the
treacherous roads. A collision on the Evesham Road near The Newlands led to a traffic jam a mile long; not helped by the queue of buses waiting to leave Smiths factory there. Yet the weather was not considered bad enough to prevent the prisoners of war still held at Sudeley from attending the carol service at St Peter's church in Winchcombe on the Sunday after Christmas. It was on Tuesday 28th January that the snow began in earnest and 20° Fahrenheit of frost was recorded in Cheltenham. The next day the bus service from Cheltenham to Winchcombe was suspended. When it restarted on Thursday, the late night 10pm bus from Cheltenham could not negotiate over Cleeve Hill and had to turn back. The headline for the Cheltenham Chronicle on Saturday 8th February
read CHELTENHAM IN THE GRIP OF THE BIG “FREEZE UP”. It carried a story that a hardy crew of men from Winchcombe had helped to dig out ten foot drifts on the road linking Cutsdean to the B4077. The article reported that they took only tea and sandwiches to keep them going. We can only wonder how they managed to struggle through the snow to Cutsdean in the first place! The next week things became worse as homes had no electricity from 9am to noon and from 2pm to 4pm, because national coal stocks were running low. On Wednesday 26th February a thaw set in and the worst winter for more than a century looked to be coming to an end. But it was a false hope. The next week brought renewed snowfall accompanied by high winds. These whipped the snow so much that it piled
My good friend Tim Curr has allowed me to use two of his archive photographs showing snow clearance in Station Road, Woodmancote. Page 40
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up to the roof level of houses in Bushcombe Lane in Woodmancote. The Evesham Road was blocked at both The Newlands and the Farmers Arms and the River Avon froze over in Tewkesbury and Evesham. However, this turned out to be the last blast of that harsh winter. A week later the temperature had risen by 20° Fahrenheit and a rapid thaw led to extensive flooding. No doubt the snow which had piled up in Woodmancote was largely responsible for the three foot deep flood under the railway bridge as water 'surged down' from Cleeve Hill. Even after the snow had all disappeared,
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Station Road today. The trees on the left are instantly recognisable even after seventy years.
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Finance
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With interest interest rates ratesset setto toremain remain With low for for aa while, while, it’s it’sworth worth low considering what whatyou youcould coulddo do considering with the the spare spare cash cashyou youmight might with now have. have. It’s It’s always alwaysaagood good now idea to to pay pay off off your yourdebts debtsfirst, first, idea but there there is is also also some somebenefit benefit but to starting starting aa small smallnest-egg. nest-egg. to From April April 2016 2016 everyone everyonehas has From Personal Savings SavingsAllowance, Allowance, aa Personal which means means that thatmany many which people won’t won’t need needto topay paytax tax people on their their savings savings (subject (subjectto toaa on maximum limit). limit).This Thismakes makes maximum the Individual Individual Savings SavingsAccount Account the (ISA), although although still stillaagood good (ISA), choice, perhaps perhaps no nolonger longer choice, the automatic automatic first firstchoice choicefor for the savers. savers. This broadening broadening of ofyour youroptions options This means you you could couldswitch switchyour your means current account account to tobenefit benefitfrom from current the credit credit interest interestoffered offeredby by the different bank, bank, or orperhaps perhaps aa different opt for for aa fixed-term fixed-termISA ISAthat that opt removes the the temptation temptationto to removes spend. spend. With each each bank bank applying applyingtheir their With own rules rules for for eligibility, eligibility,here here own Page 42
Bank Bank current current accounts accounts It’snot not It’s something something thatwe weare are that usedto, to,but but used currently currently somebanks banksare areoffering offeringhigh high some creditinterest interestrates rateson ontheir their credit currentaccounts. accounts.Most Mostofof current thesedeals dealsonly onlylast lastfor foraa these year,however, however,and andare areused used year, attractnew newcustomers, customers,but but totoattract manyalso alsooffer offercash cashback backororaa many monetaryincentive. incentive. monetary
regularsavings savings regular accounts accounts Asthe thename namesuggests, suggests,these these As accountsrequire requirea aregular regular accounts paymentininorder ordertotobenefit benefit payment fromthe thehigher higherinterest interestrates. rates. from Theyare areoften oftenlinked linkedtotoa a They currentaccount accountwith withthe thesame same current bank,ininwhich whicha aminimum minimum bank, balanceneeds needstotobebeheld, held,soso balance thiscould couldaffect affectyour youreligibility eligibilityif if this you’renot notable abletotomaintain maintainthis this you’re balance. balance. Again,some somehigh highinterest interestrates rates Again, areonly onlyavailable availableforfora ayear yearasas are thebanks banksuse usethem themasas‘loss ‘loss the leaders,’assuming assumingtheir theirnew new leaders,’ customerwon’t won’tbebeinclined inclinedtoto customer moveonce oncethe therate ratefalls. falls. move FirstDirect Directoffers offers5% 5%AER AER • • First forone oneyear, year,totocustomers customers for holdinga aFirst FirstDirect Direct1st 1st holding Account.You’re You’reallowed allowedtoto Account. savebetween between£25 £25and and£300 £300 save permonth, month,but butif ifyou youmiss miss per onedeposit deposityour yoursavings savings one accountwill willclose closeand andthe the account balancewill willbebeplaced placedinto intoa a balance low-interestaccount. account. low-interest
Nationwideoffers offers5% 5%AER AER •• Nationwide fixedon ontheir theirFlexDirect FlexDirect fixed accountfor forbalances balancesup uptoto account £2,500.This Thisrate ratelasts lastsfor for £2,500. oneyear yearonly onlyand andthen thendrops drops one 1%,so soyou’ll you’llneed needtotobe be toto1%, TheHSBC HSBCRegular RegularSaver Saveris is preparedtotoswap swapagain againififyou you • • The prepared availabletotocurrent currentaccount account available wanttotoget getaahigher higherrate rateafter after want customers(Advance (AdvanceAccount Account customers this.To Tobe beeligible eligiblefor forthe the this. orPremier PremierAccount). Account).It Itoffers offers or accountyou youhave havetotopay payininatat account creditinterest interestrate rateofof5% 5% a acredit least£1,000 £1,000per permonth. month. least AERononsavings savingsupuptoto£3,000 £3,000 AER TescoBank Bankpay pay3% 3% •• Tesco peryear, year,but butif ifyou youmiss missa a per variableAER AERon onbalances balances paymentyour yourmoney moneyisisput put variable payment intoananaccount accountwith withlow low uptoto£3,000. £3,000.There Thereisisno no into up interest. interest. minimumpay-in pay-inamount amountwith with minimum thisaccount, account,and andyou youget get this cashisa isa cash Clubcardpoints pointswhen whenyou you Clubcard Oncethe theobvious obviouschoice choicetoto Once spendusing usingyour yourdebit debitcard. card. maximise spend maximiseyour yoursavings, savings,a acash cash Bearininmind mindthat thatthis thisrate rateisis Bear ISAcan canbebea agood goodplace placetoto ISA variable,however. however. variable, startyour yournest-egg nest-eggif ifyou youdon’t don’t start
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want to switch bank accounts or save a regular amount each month. In the 2016/17 tax year the ISA limit is £15,240, and you have a choice between a variable and fixed rate account. • The Coventry Building Society Easy Access ISA offers a rate of 1.1% AER. There is no limit on the number of withdrawals, and you can replace money that you’ve taken out in a tax year without it becoming part of the ISA limit. • Paragon Bank’s three-year fixed term ISA pays 1.5% AER at the time of writing, with a minimum of £500 being required. Although you can access your money in a fixed term ISA if you need to, the banks make hefty charges for doing so.
Fixed-rate accounts If you want to guarantee your rate of interest and are sure you won’t need the money for some time, a fixed-rate account could be a good option. You need to factor in the likelihood of rates rising again in the future, however, and try to determine the best length of time to lock your money away, otherwise you might lose out if the interest rate goes above that of your account. • Atom Bank offers 1.4% AER for a one-year term, but you must open the account with their Android or iOS app, which won’t appeal to everybody. You can deposit between £50 and £100,000, and the interest is applied either monthly or annually. • Tesco Bank has a fixed-rate account over three years,
offering 1.2% AER. You can open it online with a minimum deposit of £2,000. Savings accounts offer a guaranteed return on your money, which can grow surprisingly quickly, especially if the interest is applied monthly. Having some cash to one side gives you a degree of control to deal with unexpected life events such as redundancy, or simply the reassurance that you have a ‘cushion’ to fall back on. http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/banking/compare-bestbank-accounts#interest http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/best-regularsavings-accounts#bb http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/best-cashisa#manipulate http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/savings/fixed-rate-savings
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14
St Stephen’s Church hits fundraising target OCTOBER There was a flurry Middleton building, following of roof appeal a five-year building inspection excitement at report which identified urgent St Stephen’s works. Phase One of the Church in Tivoli repair project was completed last month! in October. The remaining The Church has and final phase of the repairs been awarded will be made to the North DINE WINE OF and THE three heavenly grantsWITH – elevationIN of AID the Church ST STEPHEN'S ROOF one for £20,000 from The will include the APPEAL! replacement Gloucestershire Environmental of thousands of roof tiles, Lunchgrants at The Daffodil, 1pm of the Trust, which allocates a complete overhaul Address: 18-20 Suffolk Parade, Cheltenham, GL50 2AE from the Landfill Communities rainwater system and seriously Enjoy a delicious 2 course lunch (main and dessert) with a glass of red/white wine or orange Fund provided by Cory downpipe, rejuicedamaged for just £20 per person. Slow Cooked Pork Belly & Crackling, creamy mash, glazed carrots, green beans, red Environmental,Main: £5,000 pointing and much more. wine jus. Dessert: Lemon Posset, blackberry compote, shortbread biscuit (vegetarian). from The Garfield Weston Team Rector Father Nick basmati Vegetarian option main: Butternut Squash & Bean Chili, spring onions, coriander, Foundation and £1,000 from rice. This menu can also be made to accommodate gluten free. Davies speaks of the The Alan Evans £6Memorial Trust. from each lunch will directly go towards the St Stephen's Roof Appeal, set up to repair pure delight he and the beautiful Church. These grants, accompanied by our congregation feel from the PLEASE EMAIL NATALIENORMAN2014@GMAIL.COM OR CALL a variety of fundraising events 01242 573 508 TO REQUEST A RESERVATION FORM AND RESERVE YOUR recent achievement: “It is PLACE. and community donations, without doubt one of the most enabled the Grade II* listed wonderful feelings to have Church to reach its grand raised the funds needed to target of £120,000, just repair our beautiful Grade II* in time for Christmas. listed Church. We have raised St Stephen’s Church has been so much in such a short space working tremendously hard of time and we are so very since June 2015 to raise the grateful to everyone who has funds needed to repair their supported the appeal. The much-loved building and they Gloucestershire Environmental had the ambitious aim of Trust, The Garfield Weston trying to raise all the funds by Foundation and The Alan Christmas 2016. They were Evans Memorial Trust have dancing from the rooftops made our dreams come true when they realised that their and we really couldn’t have goal had been achieved. done it without them and The recent grant awards and all the other grant funders. donations really have made We would also like to wholea significant difference to heartedly thank the community the Church and will ensure and congregation for all their that Phase Two of the repair incredible support and hard works can commence in May work with helping us to reach this year. St Stephen’s Church our goal so quickly.” would like to thank everyone Father Nick continues “To for making this possible. have raised such a brilliant The roof appeal was set up amount since June 2015 is to raise vital funds to repair a real testimony to just how and safeguard the fine special St Stephen’s Church Saint Stephen's Church PCC is an excepted charity under The Charities Regulations 1996
is. We have seen a whole host of fundraising events taking place over the last 18 months, and most recently, over a two-week period, we have benefitted from a delicious fundraising dinner held at The Spice Lodge, kindly organised by Councillor Tim Harman raising £525 for our appeal. An amazing concert with James Hill and Anne Janelle was also held in November with over 100 guests, and £1,157.70 were raised. This was organised by Friends Uke-nited who were an amazing support to the appeal. Finally, in December a Christmas concert entitled ‘Sing, Good Company, Glad and True’ was held in the Church to raise further funds. We are so lucky and thank everyone for fully supporting the appeal and guaranteeing that St Stephen’s Church can continue to stand with pride at the heart of the local community and be a safe place for people to visit for many years to come.” If you would like to find out more about the ‘St Stephen’s Roof Appeal’ please call Natalie Norman on 01242 573 508, email natalienorman2014@ gmail.com, follow @StStephensChelt or visit saintstephenscheltenham. org.uk/appeal/ For more information about grant eligibility and the work of the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, please visit www.ge-trust.org.uk
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Fussy Eaters by Kate Duggan
Ah, fussy eaters. Don’t you just love them? And don’t you just love those parents who gloatingly tell you that their child eats whatever they’re given, or goes to bed hungry? (Obviously these people have never been woken up at 3am by wails of, “I’m so hungry. Please can I have some porridge?”) Remember the days when your kids would eat most things, as long as it was blended with carrot? Or when you smiled smugly because your nine month old would happily chew on broccoli? It’s like they hit two and then develop taste buds that despise anything other than pasta, bread and sweets. Forget five a day, sometimes you wonder whether your child has eaten so much as a grapesized portion of fruit and veg all week. If you’re at your wits end trying to get them to eat some vegetables, these tips might just help. We know it’s winter, but there are few kids who’ll refuse ice-cream or lollies, even if it’s snowing outside. Try blending two small frozen bananas with a couple of handfuls of frozen raspberries or mixed fruit, and about a third of a cup of yoghurt. It makes a great Page 46
ice-cream and uses up those bananas the kids have been turning their noses up at. Or, even simpler, buy a readymade smoothie, pour it into lolly moulds and freeze. While too much fruit juice isn’t great for a child’s teeth, one glass is fine. Ideally, give it to them with a meal. Keep an eye out for mixed juices and smoothies too. (Some even have added multivitamins.) Contrary to popular belief, not all kids like tomato-based sauces. Most do however. Cooked tomatoes are even healthier than raw, so try whizzing up a batch of sauce with a few hidden veggies. Cook a couple of cans worth of chopped tomatoes, along with some salad peppers, carrots, leek and any other vegetables you have languishing in the fridge. You can add a tiny bit of sugar if you want. Blend until smooth if your kids are particularly fussy, then use it as a pasta sauce, or add it to mince to make bolognaise, or cottage pie. Freeze what you don’t use – it’ll keep for months. You can also disguise veggies in other ways. Cauliflower mixes well with potato for
example. Or try finely slicing a sweet potato, tossing it in olive oil and roasting it to make ‘intergalactic orange crisps’. (It’s all in the name.) Kids often prefer raw vegetables to cooked. You could offer them raw carrot, cucumber and salad pepper crudities as a side dish or snack. Some kids will surprise you by loving quite strong flavours. (Mine go mad for olives for example.) And strong flavours can be great for masking the taste of vegetables. So try pesto, garlic or mild curry. Children also like having some control. You could give them a list of five vegetables some days, and ask them to choose two for dinner. Or start a reward chart where they get a sticker for each type of vegetable they eat that week. And try setting out various raw veg with tortilla wraps and letting them make fajitas. Or doing the same with pizza bases. When all else fails, my fussy five year old will eat most things if I pretend it’s a fish that doesn’t want to be eaten, and he’s a shark. The things we do as parents…
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Word Ladder
Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.
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insomnia l confi dence / self esteem confidence l panic attacks/phobias l dealing with nerves (exams, interviews etc.) l wellbeing in pregnancy and childbirth l sports performance l support to stop smoking l weight management
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stress / anxiety
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to discuss how hypnotherapy works and whether it’s right for you.
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THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROFESSIONAL HYPNOSIS AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
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Stoke Orchard Cheltenham Cheltenham, GL52 7SJ GL52 7SJ Page 47
Pictograms
AB R W LE
4 words
You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.
A.M. 2 words
3 letters: 14 4 letters: 13 5 letters: 3 6 letters: 1
COM PANY
Puzzle & Crossword Solutions Review Of The Year
2 words FETA
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.
TARGET Excellent: 50 or more words Good: 40 words Fair: 33 words
1. Fiji's 2. Coronation Street 3. Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Mel B ("Gem standing for the first letters of their first names") 4. Robot Wars 5. Roald Dahl's 6. Maria Sharapova (after failing a drugs test) 7. Mark Clattenburg 8. Ukraine 9. Angelina Jolie 10. Heroes, Life On Mars, Starman, Let's Dance and Space Oddity
Codeword 12
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Mini Cryptic Crossword Solution
Word Ladder Here is one possible solution (others may exist) FORK - pork - park - dark dirk - disk - DISH
Easy Crossword ACROSS: 7 Voyage, 8 Tongue, 9 Lime, 10 Executed, 11 Seaside, 13 Clasp, 15 Bagel, 17 Bicycle, 20 Indicate, 21 Shut, 22 Vipers, 23 Attack. DOWN: 1 Docile, 2 Base, 3 Depends, 4 Utter, 5 Annually, 6 Buyers, 12 Specimen, 14 Liberal, 16 Auntie, 18 Launch, 19 Balsa, 21 Sett.
Pictograms 1. Top Of The Morning 2. Part Company 3. Say Cheese
Sudoku 3 Letters ALE ARE AWE AWL BAR BRA EAR ERA
LAB LAW LEA RAW WAR WEB 4 Letters ABLE BALE
BARE BAWL BEAR BLEW BREW EARL REAL WALE WARE
WEAL WEAR 5 Letters ABLER BLARE BRAWL 6 Letters WARBLE
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What's On in Jan/Feb The Roses Theatre Panto – Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood Ongoing until Saturday 7th Jan Morning, matinee and evening performances, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX
Tewkesbury's traditional family pantomime is guaranteed to hit the mark. Robin Hood & The Babes In The Wood delivers everything you've come to expect from a Roses pantomime, and so much more; a gallant hero, a feisty damsel, a villainous baddie to boo off stage and plenty of comedy slapstick, dazzling costumes and fairy tale sets. Combine all this with non-stop music, dancing and laughter from start to finish and you're left with an unbeatable choice for a fun-filled festive outing for the whole family this Christmas. Sponsored by Peter Ball & Co. Tickets range from £13.00 £25.00. For more information and to book please call 01684 295074 or visit www.rosestheatre.org. Jack and the Beanstalk Ongoing until Sunday 8th January, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ
Tweedy the Clown and William Elliott as Dame Trott return for what will be the Everyman's most gigantic pantomime yet. Don't miss
Jack's adventures in Cloud Cuckoo Land, packed with laughs, slapstick, a giant and even a comedy cow. Written and directed by Phil Clark. For tickets please call 01242 572573 or visit www. everymantheatre.org.uk. Churchdown Book Fair First Sunday of every month, 10.00am - 3.30pm, Churchdown Community Centre, Parton Road, Churchdown, Gloucester, GL3 2JH Gloucestershire’s longest running independent book fair attracting between 20-25 dealers from all over the country. 1000s of quality second hand an antiquarian books, postcards and Ephemera. Refreshments and easy parking. Admission 50p (under 16s free). Enquiries and bookings: Terry Sims 01452 546879 or email terry_ bookworms@hotmail.co.uk.
New Year’s Day at the Racecourse Sunday 1st January, 10.30am 4.00pm, Cheltenham Racecourse Celebrate the New Year in style! Whether it be with friends, family or colleagues, Cheltenham is the place to be on New Year’s Day. This hugely popular race meeting takes place on a Sunday, which means that the following day, Monday 2nd January will be a Bank Holiday – another perfect reason to come racing and round off the festive season! For more information and tickets, please visit www.cheltenham.thejockeyclub. co.uk or call 0344 579 3003.
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Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Events Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, The Railway Station, Toddington, GL54 5DT Monday the 2nd of January will be the last chance to ride on the railway until March 2017. For further details and tickets please visit www.gwsr.com. Winchcombe Folk Night Tuesday 3rd January, 8.00pm - 11.00pm, The White Hart Inn, High St, Winchcombe, GL54 5LJ A lively friendly atmosphere welcomes all – whether singer, musician or just a member of the audience. Free entry for everyone.
Cheltenham Town Hall Events Saturday 7th January, 7.30pm: New Year Strauss Gala. Friday 13th January, 7.30pm: ELO Experience. Saturday 21st January, 7.30pm: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Hits to Blues. Tuesday 24th January, 7.30pm: Philharmonia Orchestra. Thursday 26th January, 7.30pm: Kast Off Kinks. Friday 27th January, 7.30pm: The Magic of Motown. Tuesday 31st January, 8.00pm: Jimmy Carr 2017; Tuesday 14th February, 7.30pm: Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter, Valentine’s concert and film screening. Tickets available from the Box Office – 0844 576 2210 or www. cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk. Brass Monkey Swim Sunday 8th January, 12.30pm - 2.00pm, Sandford Park Lido, Cheltenham Two races, two different distances (500m or 1km) and both are freezing cold! This event is for
events cont'd... Page 49
...events cont'd the most hard of swimmers only! Spectators welcome – come and support the swimmers! For more information, visit www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk
Pitville Pump Room Events Wednesday 11th January, 7.30pm: Juliette Bausor (flute) and Alasdair Beatson (piano). Saturday 28th January, 7.30pm: Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra – Old Worlds, New Worlds 1. Thursday 2nd February, 7.30pm: Masterworks Concert 60 – Schubert and Chopin series. Tickets available from the Box Office – 0844 576 2210 or www. cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk. Beyond the Barricade Friday 13th January, 7.45pm, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ Beyond the Barricade has delighted audiences throughout the UK and mainland Europe for more than a decade, with its exciting concert portrayal of the greatest songs in musical theatre, all performed 100% live! Recreating original West End/ Broadway musical hit songs with amazing authenticity, this cast of past principal performers from Les Miserables, present a blockbusting two-hour show. Tickets cost between £20.00 and £25.00. For more information, please call 01242 572573. Cheltenham Civil Service Club Over 30s Disco Friday 13th January & Friday 3rd February, 8.00pm - 12.00am, Cheltenham Civil Service Club, Tewkesbury Road, Ukington, Page 50
Cheltenham, GL51 9SL Over 30s disco playing all types of music from the 50s to the present day – disco, jive, motown, Rock n Roll. A friendly group, everyone welcome. Dress code is smart casual (no jeans please). Bar and large car park. Admission: £5.00. Sleeping Beauty at The Bacon Theatre Wednesday 18th - Sunday 22nd January, 7.00pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2.30pm, The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Cheltenham, GL51 6HE Chase away that winter blues with Sleeping Beauty and be transported to a fairy tale world with a beautiful princess, a handsome prince, good fairies and one beastly fairy, plus all the crazy characters you expect to find in a pantomime. Can a kiss awaken the princess? Join in the fun and find out for yourself! Tickets start from £10.00, call 01242 224144.
Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival Friday 27th January - Sunday 29th January, various times, Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1NS The Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival brings the best bands and musicians from around the world to Gloucester for non-stop partying, music, dancing, workshops, authentic Cajun cuisine and an atmosphere that’s become legendary on the international Cajun and Zydeco scene. Over 14s only. For more information and ticket prices please call 01452 503050.
Festival Trials Day Saturday 28th January Cheltenham Racecourse Come to what's known as the best one day jump fixture in the UK, and get notable pointers of horses ahead of The Festival in March. For more information and tickets, please visit www. cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk or call 0344 579 3003. Burns Supper Saturday 28th January, 6.45pm, Reddings Community Centre, North Road West, GL51 6RF Tickets in advance, please call 01452 614995. Forever Jackson 30th Anniversary Tour Saturday 11th February, 7.30pm, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 5NX Saluting 30 years of Michael Jackson masterpieces. With supberb musicianship, stunning video projections, electrifying choreographies and jaw-dropping special effects this is an event not to be missed. To book tickets please visit www.rosestheatre.org or call 01684 295074. Elizabeth's Footprint Charity Ball Saturday 18th February, 7.00pm - 1.00am, Cheltenham Town Hall Come along to this black tie charity event and enjoy a reception drink, live music from local band Swing From Paris and a 3-course meal with wine. There will also be an auction hosted by celebrity auctioneer Phillip Serrell, and a raffle (raffle and live music courtesy of Pelican Groove). Tables of 8 are required. Tickets: £100 per person. To purchase
To advertise call 07740 784 444 or 01242 500 028 or visit www.cheltenham-magazine.co.uk
tickets or a table please contact Kelley on 07932 321757 or Jo on 07738 522470 or email elizabethsfootprintcharityball@ gmail.com. Elizabeth's Footprint supports The Wallace and Gromit Appeal.
in White Satin, Go Now, Tuesday Afternoon, Legend of a Mind and many more. To book tickets please visit www.rosestheatre.org or call 01684 295074.
LOCAL CLUBS & CLASSES
Youth @ Heart Charity Ball Saturday 25th February, 7.00pm - 12.00pm, Eastington Park, Stonehouse, GL10 3RY Back by popular demand, this is a second chance to enjoy a delightful charity ball at the beautiful Eastington Park. Set in a beautiful Georgian Manor house there will be hot food, live music from Dancin' Easy and a Pledges Auction. For more information, please contact Kelly Cornish on 07951 835360.
Cheltenham Parkinson’s Group Last Tuesday of the month – evenings or daytime depending on the activity, St Mark's Methodist Church Hall, Gloucester Road, Cheltenham, GL51 8PX
Legend of a Band A tribute to The Moody Blues Friday 3rd March, 7.30pm, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 5NX Moody Blues fans are invited to enjoy the music of the Moody Blues in the company of a supergroup of legendary musicians, singers and songwriters. Drummer Gordy Marshall played with The Moody Blues for over 25 years and he is joined by gifted performers drawn from a pool of equally talented artists. You can experience impeccable performances of classic Moody Blues hits that include Nights
We offer information, friendship and support to local people with Parkinson's, their families and carers. We also organise regular events and social activities, all are welcome to join us. Contact Jane Henderson, Volunteer Coordinator, on 0344 225 3694 or jhenderson@parkinsons.org.uk if you are interested in coming along. See more at www.parkinsons.org. uk/local-support-groups/regions/ cheltenham-and-district-branch Heidi's Heroes Mondays 11.30am - 12.30am and 8.00pm - 9.00pm, Cheltenham Ladies College Sports Centre, Malvern Road, Cheltenham Cancer patients past and present are invited to join a unique fitness
class being run and funded by the Cheltenham based charity Heidi's Heroes. Classes are being held on Monday mornings and evenings and are open to patients with all types of cancer, irrespective of their prognosis. The classes are jointly run by Clare Lait, a Specialist Cancer Physiotherapist, and Brendan Ward, Senior Gym Instructor at Cheltenham Ladies College's Sports Centre. For more details please contact Clare on 07738 709072 or email clare. lait@cancer-physio.com.
LOCAL MARKETS Cheltenham’s Farmers’ Market Every second and last Friday of each month, 9.00am 2.00pm, Pedestrianised area of the Promenade outside Cavendish House, Cheltenham A great opportunity to sample and buy locally grown and made produce from Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.
David Richards on 01242 898 750 or 07725 722132 Please mention Cheltenham Magazine when responding to advertisers
Page 51
New Year, New Tech, New You The gadgets that can help you reach your New Year goals
It’s that time of year again: gym owners rub their hands together in glee as the entire world makes New Year resolutions to sort out their health, their fitness or their looks. But while many of those gym memberships will turn out to be expensive mistakes as the initial fervour fades, a few wellchosen gadgets could keep you on the right track all year round. Health and fitness tracking is huge in technology right now, largely because it’s still a relatively untapped market: even the best-known fitnesstracking smartwatch, the Apple Watch, has only sold a few million units. That means there are plenty of firms hoping to win over everyone from casual dieters to mountain explorers. For the latter category, outdoor watches such as the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch are built to military specifications for toughness and deliver accurate GPS, as well as recording your hikes and climbs. If that sounds like overkill, and for most of us it probably is, the £170 Garmin Vivosmart HR+ is one of the best all-round fitness trackers for monitoring your heart rate, recording your activity and tracking GPS. It’s pretty, too - and the Misfit Ray is prettier Page 52
still, resembling a bracelet rather than a watch. It’s half the price of the Garmin and offers good all-round fitness-tracking features. Over 2017 we’ll see a lot more wearable trackers, many of them odd: fancy a Welt, a sensor-enabled belt that tracks your steps for as long as you keep your trousers on? If you’re more concerned about what you’re putting into your body than what you’re sweating out, smartphone apps offer all kinds of diet and lifestyle tracking - and increasingly those apps tie in with platforms such as Apple Health, WiThings’ HealthMate, Microsoft Health, Jawbone UP and many more. Platforms are designed to enable data sharing from multiple trackers, so for example Apple’s Health app can get data not just from the iPhone it’s on but also from the Apple Watch, from wireless scales and from a wide range of wired and wireless health-monitoring devices. If you haven’t already committed to a particular health-tracking platform, it’s a very good idea to check out sites such as Wareable.com to find out the latest news and rumours about the different manufacturers. For example, at the time of writing Microsoft has announced
the end of its Microsoft Band tracking device, so if you buy one now you might not be able to get a repair for it or a replacement one if it breaks. It also means that if you want to upgrade from a Band 2, there won’t be a Band 3 to fulfil your wishes. Gadgets don’t just help you when you’re exercising or watching what you eat. They can help you when you’re asleep too. Many wearable devices such as the Fitbit Blaze and Surge, Fossil Marshal, Pebble Time and Apple Watch (via third-party apps) can monitor your sleep, gathering data to help you identify the triggers of a poor night’s sleep and the best times to set the alarm for, and the best times to head up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire. The data recorded does vary from device to device and some are more practical than others - wearing a smartwatch in bed all night means you’ll have to charge it in the morning - but the insights can be useful.
Images L to R: Casio Smart Outdoor Watch; Garmin VivoSmart HR+; Misfit Ray fitness tracker; Fossil Marshal smartwatch
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Cheltenham Useful Numbers DOCTORS SURGERIES
COUNCIL
Leckhampton Surgery
01242 539080
Underwood Surgery
01242 580644
UTILITIES
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Gas Emergency
Springbank Surgery Overton Park Surgery The Portland Practice
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HOSPITALS
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01242 580248 08444 772551 01242 246549 0300 422 2222
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POST OFFICES
Cheltenham Post Office 08457 223344 Bath Road Post Office, 170 Bath Road, GL53 7NF Charlton Kings, Budgens, 12 Lyefield Rd. W, GL53 8EZ Hesters Way, 8 - 10 Hesters Way Road, GL51 0DA Prestbury, 6 High Street, Prestbury, GL52 3AS 107 Salisbury Avenue, Warden Hill, GL51 3DA Shurdington, 2 Yarnolds, Shurdington, GL51 4SH
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EMERGENCY NUMBERS Ambulance (Emergency Only)
999
Fire (Emergency Only)
999
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999
Gas Emergency
Police (non-emergency) NHS Direct
0800 111 999 101 111
St Marks, 255 - 257 Gloucester Road, GL51 8NW Tewkesbury Road, 93 Tewkesbury Road, GL51 9DB Up Hatherley, 238 Hatherley Road, GL51 6HB Whaddon Road, 112 Whaddon Road, GL52 5NQ
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advertisers index Accountants Cheltenham Tax Accountants 21 Aerials & Satellites Digital TV & Satellite Systems 29 Bathrooms & Kitchens Adam Boothroyd Designs 23 Leckhampton Bathrooms & Kitchens 7 Bedrooms Leckhampton Bathrooms & Kitchens 6&7 Boat Moorings The Old Rectory 43 Building, Maintenance, Repair, Carpentry & Handyman Services, Painters & Decorators Cakebridge Home Improvements 23 Dave Dowell 12 Decor by Makeover 21 GFC Property Maintenance Ltd 11 Business Parks Basepoint 28 Compton Green Business Park 33 Caravan Repairs PJ Lane 17 Caring Services C & D Domestic Services 25 Carpets Goodrum Carpets 33 David Cleevely Carpet Edging 33 Cleaning C & D Domestic Services 25 Churchdown Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning 14 LMC Cleaning Company 37 Clearance & Rubbish Removals Crown Clearance 9 Dentists Greyholme Dental Suite 10 Driveway Services Cheltenham Town Landscaping & Driveway Services 4
Electrical Services Flexitest Ltd Pro Electrical
Entertainment Sunshine Radio 6 Estate Agents Errington Smith 3 Events Charity Ball for Elizabeth's Footprint 33 Cotswold Ghost Tours 11 St. Edward's School Open Day
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Funeral Directors Alexander Burn 14 Food & Drink Gloucester Biltong 13 The Ox 17 Wiltshire Farm Foods back page Furniture Gloucester Import Furniture 2 Gardens & Landscaping Cheltenham Town Landscaping & Driveway Services
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Cotswold & Vale Supplies 37 Edward Price 9 The Tree Shop 27 Host Families Quest Guardians 13 Hypnotherapy Advance Practice 47 Interior Design Bella's Interiors 29 Kingdom Interiors 21 Uptec Sofa Makers 9 Legal & Financial Services Anthony Smith, Financial Adviser 29 Dee & Griffin 17 DF Legal 14
Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Glos Directories does not officially endorse any advertising/editorial material included within the publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systen or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise - without the prior consent of the publisher. The use of this magazine for canvassing or direct marketing is strictly prohibited.
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Letting Agents Comfy Lettings Northwood Lettins Smart Lettings Opportunites Voluntee Driver Pets The Luxury Dog Hotel Plumbing, Heating & Boiler Services Boilerfixers Ltd Intergas Cheltenham Johnston Scotia Red Panda Heating Removals Crown Clearance DRL Removals Swift Removals & Storage Roofing Cathedral Cladding LCM Flat Roofing Schools St. Edward's School Storage Compton Green Business Park Swift Removals & Storage Television Aerials & Satellites Digital TV & Satellite Systems Video Cameraman Cameraman Dominic Isles
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wiltshirefarmfoods.com
01242 820764
Call us today for your FREE brochure
Those clever chefs at Wiltshire Farm Foods know how to make really healthy food, really tasty. Every dish uses tasty ingredients that are perfectly cooked, then quick-frozen to lock the goodness in. Each meal is under 400 calories and contributes to your 5 a day. All available no-contract, no-commitment – order what you want. Try our menu now with our Nutritious & Delicious Menu Pack.
Looking after yourself has never been so enjoyable. Introducing the Nutritious & Delicious range.
Low on calories, salt and fats. Not on taste. Nutritious & Delicious Menu Pack only £26.95 7 main courses: Roast Pork with Cider & Apple Gravy, Chicken & Spring Vegetable Casserole, Sliced Beef in a Red Wine Sauce, Moroccan Chicken, Diced Beef Chilli, Butternut Squash and Butterbean Stew, Salmon Provençale ORDER CODE: ND2
Diced Beef Chilli £3.65