Tewkesbury YO U R F R E E LO C A L COMMUNIT Y MAGAZINE
January 2020
SHORT STORY
A New Year Break LOCAL HISTORY
By David Aldred RECIPE
Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
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Step by Step Whether it’s the New Year that’s driving change, or a forthcoming ‘big’ birthday, those milestones act as a motivation for change. But whilst short term action is fairly easy how do you keep it going? The trouble is we are wired for short-term satisfaction and many ‘life improvements’ really deliver no instant or tangible benefit. E.g. “I’ll exercise more so I have a longer life.” Difficult to think that far ahead if you are in your early 30s. I have found what works best is to set yourself a specific goal and to start small. So if, for example, you are planning to read more this year, instead of making your resolution just that, try and come up with a specific plan like 'This year I am going to read one new book every two months'. It's certainly achievable, you can measure your success (did you read a new book
every two months or not?) and once you are into it, you can reevaluate your target and put the goalpost up (e.g. read a book each month). What also helps is telling others, so if you are serious about making a change, tell somebody about it - it can be a friend, a family member or a colleague. They might even be able to help you reach your goal or join you on your journey. One of our goals this year here at Love Local is to make this magazine even more locally relevant (see page 9 for more information on how you could help with this). There will also be other exciting changes taking place in the next couple of months, so watch this space! Have a wonderful January,
Anne x
T: 01242 388 366 | E: Anne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk
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Local History In my November article, I identified five of the six entrepreneurs behind the local tobacco growing venture in 1619. This month I identify the sixth entrepreneur and outline their story. Sir John Tracy of Toddington completes the list. By far the most illustrious member, his ancestor William was one of the four knights who killed Thomas à Becket in 1171. Sir John had served as a member of parliament for the county since 1597; had been high sheriff in 1609-10 and was created a viscount in 1643. It is likely that he was invited into the venture by John Stratford, a close friend to whom he was related by marriage. However, it was John Stratford who seems to have been the chief instigator of this tobacco growing venture.
Tobacco growing 400 years ago Part Two year lease at £80 per acre but he argued it was only worth £15 per acre for any other crop. Six acres were planted on Thomas Loreng's Haymes estate but in very small parcels; one of which probably lay along Butts Lane in Woodmancote. Three acres were planted somewhere in Bishop's Cleeve and Giles Broadway of Postlip had five small plots. Sir John Tracy planted eight acres at Coneygree Layes, wherever that might have been. It is possible tobacco was also grown near John Stratford‘s house in Farmcote and in the Wickfield between Cleeve and Nottingham Hills, whilst Tobacco Close in Winchcombe could commemorate a folk memory of growing there.
So where was the tobacco grown? I have found it very difficult to answer As we have seen, the motives behind this question. At the time it was reported the venture were to make a profit and that over 100 acres had been planted but it seems this total was made up of many small plots scattered throughout the area and I only know of a very few locations. We know that ten acres of old orchard were rented by John Stratford from John Lygon near Arle Court from a court case when John Lygon refused to accept John Stratford's attempt to pull out of his lease when tobacco growing was declared Sir John Tracy had Toddington Manor built in the 1620s. illegal after just one harvest Today only the ruins of the gate house survive as the rest was demolished and replaced in the 1820s by the present manor house. in 1619. He had taken a four6
also give employment to the local poor. Joan Thirsk has calculated that at the busiest time of the year from May to November 196 men could have been employed at 8d (3 ½p) per day or 262 women at 6d (2 ½p) per day; enough to enable every poor family in the Bishop's Cleeve and Winchcombe area to have had one member so employed. We know definitely that John Stratford paid out £1,400 in labour costs - but he overstretched himself. Not enough of the tobacco was sold for a good profit and he found himself in deep financial trouble. It was said he had borrowed £5,000 to finance his venture but had to sell £6,000 worth of tobacco in Holland and Ireland at a considerable loss. This is the reason he tried to cancel his lease on John Lygon's land at Arle Court. The lack of clear profit and crucially the government's ban on growing tobacco at the end of the first season in 1619 led these entrepreneurs to abandon the venture. Members of the Tracy family emigrated to Virginia in North America to continue tobacco growing. John Stratford turned to flax growing to pay off his debts (and that’s another story!).
However, tobacco growing was not abandoned completely as it was taken up by local people, even though it was now illegal. In 1654 we know that 300 of them armed themselves to prevent the king's troops destroying their crop. In 1667 Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that lifeguards had been sent to Winchcombe 'to spoil the tobacco which people do plant there contrary to law'. The last reference I have found comes from 1691 when Richard Teale, a miller of Cheltenham, demanded recompense because the king's officers had destroyed his crop, despite being planted 'in ignorance of the law'! You can read further about this fascinating story of tobacco growing in the recently published Winchcombe History Journal which contains a much more detailed account of the venture. The journal also contains an extended version of my article on Sudeley Castle which appeared in the September edition of this magazine. Copies are available from Keeling's newsagents in Winchcombe for only £5. David Aldred
'Tobacco barn' in the fields above Woodmancote carries a folk memory of the venture, but it is more likely to have been built for flax. Page 7
© Dave Cooper Photography 2018
Tewkesbury Big Weekend's 2020 Boat Race Tewkesbury Big Weekend will hold its annual Boat Race on 17th May and we want YOU to be involved. We have always had great support for this event, but this year we want to make it even bigger and better and a great family event for all.
There are four cups up for grabs: ● Most money raised ● Fastest time ● Champion of champions (winners of 2018 vs winners of 2020) ● Best dressed – Theme: ‘Where’s the beach?'
The 2020 boat race is sponsored by Halford Traditional Butchers and includes a brand new category with a cup that you can win and a new finish line.
It is a great team-building event and always a lot of fun. The reigning champions are Lakes Bathrooms, have you got what it takes to take their title?
Working alongside Sail & Paddle we have chosen to use the KataKanu for this year's races as it is a versatile and safe design for larger groups. You will need five people in a team and we will provide the sixth as your Helmsman.
To enter a team or for further information, please email kimbigweekend@outlook.com.
To take part you will have to pay a £20 entry fee, which will go to our designated charities. We also encourage you to raise sponsorship money as a team which will then go to further charities. The more people get involved, the more we can help those in need. There is even a prize for the team that raises the most! 8
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED Come and join our team for one afternoon a month at Tewkesbury Baptist Church where we organise a social club for elderly visually impaired residents.
FREE TRAINING PROVIDED Contact Volunteer Organiser Christopher Chapman for an informal chat on 01684 293527 or mail@cchapman.co.uk
We are passionate about making the Love Local Publication locally relevant to our readers, and we are looking for a local 'news and views' contributor in your area. If you have a few hours per month to write and send us informed, important, local news and views that matter in your area, then we'd love to hear from you.
To find out more about becoming a local contributor, email us at:
anne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk
A New Year break
A short story written by local writer Geraldine Faulkner Unusually for Henry, because he would normally be outside in the garden or taking their neighbour’s dog for a walk, he was sitting on the sofa in the living room in front of a warm wood-burner. He had already checked the greenhouse that morning to make sure his wintering plants were doing well and filled the bird feeders so that the robin, dunnocks and hedge sparrows had something to squabble over. Now at four o’clock in the afternoon and with the light fading outside, the only decision he had to make was whether to have some mixed nuts or a hobnob. His wife, Annie, was in the kitchen making them both a cup of tea. “I know most people find January a gloomy month,” said Annie cheerfully as she came in with the tea tray. “But I rather like hunkering 10
down in front of the wood-burner and enjoying a movie.” She handed Henry his tea before settling down in an armchair so they could watch ‘The Secret Garden’ together. Years ago, Annie had discovered that the only way she could get her husband to watch a film all the way through was to ensure it featured a garden. Henry finally came to a decision. He opted for a hobnob, dunked it in his tea and leaned back to watch the film. All told, it had been a good Christmas. He and Annie had even enjoyed a second Christmas celebration when their adored granddaughter, Rosie, who had fallen ill with chickenpox just before the festivities, had come with her parents to celebrate a belated festive family day. Together with one of Annie’s famous roast dinners, they had opened presents, watched Rosie enjoy her toys and all played
charades. Yes, it had all worked out rather well. The only thing to mar the occasion was the unexpected gift from their two daughters who had presented Henry and Annie with a week’s stay in a four-star London hotel at the end of January. Annie had been so delighted that no one had noticed the horrified expression on Henry’s face. The thought of being in an over-heated hotel with lots of other people, rather than enjoying the crisp fresh air of a January day when he could be planting dahlias, begonias and petunias, was anathema to him. Even a suggested visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew had not cheered him up.
A week before they were due to leave for London, Annie had a phone call from Rosie’s mum, Claire. “The poor girl is exhausted. Work has been manic and she’s finding it hard to sleep at night,” she told Henry. “In fact, she is the one who could do with a break.” Henry saw his opportunity and grabbed it. “Why don’t you suggest Claire accompany you to London? It’s been ages since you two had time together, plus you could go shopping in Oxford Street.” Annie hesitated. “Are you sure, love?” Henry assumed his most saintly expression. “Anything to keep my girls happy,” he said.
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Pictograms
PICTOGRAMS
4 words
AUTUMN 05:41 11:29 5 words P P P 3 words HA HA LIQUID
GAS
WORDWHEEL Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.
A O
R R
P T
TARGET Excellent: 18 or more words Good: 15 words Fair: 10 words 12
QUIZ REVIEW OF THE YEAR
HA HA SOLID
SUDOKU
Puzzle Page
1. In August, Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Denmark after the Danish Prime Minister said that what was not for sale? 2. In August, which team were expelled from the English Football League due to unpaid debts? 3. To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th, which TV soap opera aired a special episode featuring an all-female cast? 4. What was the specific date in 2019 on which the UK was originally due to leave the European Union? 5. In July, 15-year-old Jaden Ashman from Essex won over one million dollars after coming second alongside his Dutch teammate in the World Cup finals of which video game? 6. In January, who wrote to Emma Fairweather, saying “I have since learned you suffered a broken arm. I am deeply sorry about this injury.”? 7. A McDonald’s restaurant in Edinburgh was asked by police to stop selling what in May due to a visit from Nigel Farage? 8. In June, 89-year-old Colin Thackery became the oldest person to win what? 9. In September, what became the first ever British-made TV show to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series? 10. After talks with Irish leader Leo Varadkar in February, who said there is a “special place in hell for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely”? Answers on p. 18
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Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
This soup is packed with flavour and makes a great winter-warming lunch served with crusty bread.
Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes | Serves 4
Ingredients
750g large ripe tomatoes 4 red peppers
4 shallots, peeled and halved 2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 tbsp dried Italian herbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato puree 400ml vegetable stock 1 tsp sugar
TIP
Crème fraiche, roasted pumpkin seeds and shredded fresh basil leaves, to serve
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Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Score a cross in the top and base of each tomato and place in the roasting tin with the peppers, shallots, garlic cloves, olive oil and Italian herbs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast for 2530 minutes until the tomatoes are soft with charred, peeling skins and the peppers have blistered and blackened skins. Carefully place the hot peppers in a large freezer bag and leave until cool enough to handle (this will help to make peeling them easier). Leave the tomatoes and shallots to cool in the roasting tin.
Peel the peppers, discarding the seeds and pith, and remove the skins and any tough core from the tomatoes. Place both in a food processor or blender with the shallots and any juices from the roasting tin. Process until very smooth – you may need to do this in two batches. Transfer the pepper and tomato mixture to a large pan and stir in the sun-dried tomato puree, vegetable stock and sugar. Slowly bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, top with a swirl of crème fraiche and some pumpkin seeds and basil.
To make crunchy roast pumpkin seeds, spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven with the tomatoes and peppers for 7-8 minutes.
Auction Anecdote Smith’s Auctions final sale of 2019 included several four-figure prices, including a stunning pair of garden urns measuring an impressive 1.5 metres high. A number of prospective buyers had shown interest, with three telephones booked and a buyer in the room, who had confidently travelled down from London intending to take the urns back with him. However, the pre-sale estimate of £400/£600 was soon left behind and they were eventually knocked down at £1,350 to a local specialist in garden antiques who was bidding by phone. A further successful result was reached by another telephone bidder when an 18thcentury oil painting of a gentleman was offered up from a local house clearance. Estimated at £300/ £500 the oil was unsigned, but it had attracted some modest attention from the local art trade. Several commission bids had been left with me around the £300/£500 level and bearing in mind we had two telephone lines booked I was rather hoping for a result approaching £600/£800. During the bidding the successful buyer dropped out several times and seemed to be re-thinking his final maximum price on at least three occasions. Eventually, after much hesitation and deliberation, the painting was knocked down at a surprising £2,000. I wondered if the successful buyer (a London picture dealer) had been rather egged on in his strategy by the enthusiasm of the underbidder - who turned out to be a family friend trying to buy it as a memento. We shall have to hope he is pleased with his purchase! Smiths’ next sales are on 24th January & 28th February. Entries are invited on the 28th & 30th Jan and 4th, 6th & 11th February. Please call 01531 821776 or visit www. smithsnewentauctions.co.uk for further details. - Written by Rita Kearsey, Manager of Smiths Auction Room at Newent
Monthly Sales of Antiques & Collectables 24th January and 28th February includes Coins, Silver, Gold, Jewellery, Vintage Fashion, Ceramics, Glass, Furniture, Pictures & Collectables
Viewing Day prior 10am - 7pm and morning of sale Fully illustrated catalogues available online
Gold Diana £5 Proof Coin Est £1000/£1500
Victorian oil King Charles Spaniel Est £200/£400
Entries invited for our February Antiques & Collectables Sale including Militaria & Medal Section
28th & 30th Jan and 4th, 6th & 11th Feb
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New Year - New Books From poetry to decorating, we’ve got a pretty mixed bag of books for you this month… A Year of Reading Aloud – Georgina Rodgers (editor) If you love poetry, try this collection of ‘52 poems to learn and love’, where you’ll find well-known names such as Sylvia Plath, E.E Cummings, William Blake and Maya Angelou alongside newer poets. Most of the poems are short enough to learn without too much difficulty, and they’re accompanied by a paragraph about the poet and the reason why the poem has been selected. Take up the challenge of learning one each week, or just dip in and out when you need an extra dose of beauty in your life. Booker Prize Shortlist 2019 – Various Looking for a new fiction book to lose yourself in on a long winter’s night? Fancy trying something a bit different to your usual genre? Treat yourself to the six novels from the Booker Prize shortlist. Stories range from Chigozie Obioma’s An Orchestra of Minorities to Elif Shalak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World. Read them all to see whether 16
you agree with the judges’ final decision. 365 Days of Creativity – Lorna Scobie As the blurb says, “Creativity is not just about making your mark on the paper. It’s about looking at the world a little differently.” If you’re stuck in a creative rut, this book might help you get out of it. The daily artistic challenges are split into how they help you feel, so you can choose one based on whether you want to feel calm, inspired, energetic or reflective. They range from drawing patterns on a snake to capturing the view through a doorway. Whether you take five minutes or five hours on each one is up to you. Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating – Joa Studholme Planning to redecorate this year? This book might help you come up with a plan. There are thirteen case studies, from city centre apartments to a classic Georgian house, as well as tips and tricks for decorating each room of your home. There’s also plenty of advice on decorating in general,
including making small rooms look bigger and using colour to make an impact. Grow Cook Eat Diary 2020 – Sarah Raven If you love gardening and cooking this could be the diary for you. Each month has a short list of what to sow, plant and harvest in your garden, along with other garden-related tasks and a simple recipe using in-season produce. Dishes range from Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry to Beef Carpaccio with Fennel Flowers. As you’d expect, there are plenty of stunning flower photographs throughout the diary, with one image for each week. A Year of Living Thankfully – Lois Blyth: Can being more grateful change your life? According to this book it can, and Lois Blyth is on a mission to show you how. Each week, you’ll work through an activity to help you embrace gratitude and take pleasure in the little things. There’s guidance on turning negative thoughts around, learning to appreciate what you have and not letting others spoil your mood.
Page 17
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GARDENING
Gardener's Resolve... Happy New Year! Now that 2020 is here, what are your garden resolutions for the year ahead? Here are my suggestions… Re-cycle pots Save all the pots and trays you get when buying plants and rinse them out to use next time you need one. Store the pots away from sunlight to prevent the plastic disintegrating. Cover it up! Make a resolution to dry off and cover up garden furniture once the summer is over, to protect it from rain, cold, ice or even fungi! Buy furniture covers or, better still, store the furniture in a shed or garage if you have one. Stored properly, it will last much longer. Grow your own Aim to grow more of your own fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. This could be buying a couple of tomato plants for the first time, or creating a small herb planter, or it could be 20
larger scale and more complex plans if you’re already big on grow-your-own. Compost more Once you get in the swing of it, composting becomes second nature. Make sure you include kitchen waste such as vegetable peelings and apple cores. The amount of extra compost you’ll generate will be well worthwhile. Many local councils offer a good deal on basic plastic composters. Use that space! If you have a cold frame, porch, conservatory or greenhouse, put it to use! Any sort of protected growing area has the ability to increase what you can grow and when you can grow it. So raise your own summer flowers in it, force some bulbs in it in the winter or make off-season sowings of salad crops… make it work, but whatever you do, don’t use it as the family rubbish dump! Mulch more Make use of any organic matter that
is bulky – mulch with it. Whether it is well-rotted manure, garden compost, the used compost from a seasonal bedding display or growing bag, or leaf mould, make it into mulch! Applied a couple of inches or more deep over the soil surface, a mulch like this will improve the soil’s ability to conserve moisture (so saving you both watering time and water) and may also help to keep weeds at bay. A win-win situation.
be able to squeeze into your garden.
Pause before you buy When you’re looking through the seed, plant and bulb catalogues, browsing online or wandering around a garden centre, pause before you buy. I know I’m not alone in having eyes that are much bigger than my plot! It is very easy to order more seeds than you’ll ever be able to sow and plants that you’ll never
Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening things: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ (where you receive your chosen garden-ready vegetable plants in the spring accompanied by weekly advice and tips from Pippa) plus gardening tools, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, signed books and more!
Seasonal saver Make sure you recycle your Christmas tree. Real trees can be recycled at locations up and down the country – many garden centres and councils offer the service. The trees will be shredded and added to other green materials to make a great soil conditioner and planting mix.
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CON SER VATORIES ● S U N L OU N GES ● W INDO W S ● DO O RS FASCI A & GU T T ER IN G ● GL AS S CENTRE
Keeping your dog warm and safe in winter requires a little forethought, but then you can have plenty of fun without worrying about the cold. www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-care-advice/ winter-dog-care
How to keep your dog safe and warm this Winter Although it’s a beautiful season, winter brings unique challenges when you’re caring for a dog. Keeping them safe and warm in these colder months isn’t difficult, however – it just needs a little foreword planning and awareness of the dangers. Keep them warm after walks Walks can be cold, wet, and muddy at this time of the year, so make sure they’re dried off well when you get back home. They’ll probably want to rest in a nice warm bed that’s away from draughts. Don’t leave them in the car It’s not just summer heat that’s dangerous for dogs. Leaving your dog alone in the car in winter exposes them to the danger of hypothermia, which can be fatal and is characterised by shivering, lethargy, and shortness of breath. Check for snow in their pads It’s a good idea to check for compacted snow between your dog’s pads – longhaired breeds are particularly prone to this. The snow forms balls of ice that can be very painful and should be removed or melted as soon as possible. Don’t forget visibility The dark, short days of winter introduce a visibility problem for you and your dog when you’re out walking. It’s advisable to buy a light for their collar, an LED lead, or use a reflective coat to ensure they’re readily visible.
www.purina.co.uk/dogs/health-and-nutrition/ symptoms-to-watch-out-for/hypothermia-in-dogs By Ann Haldon
CLIVE PARDOE Gardening & External Property Maintenance
Knowledgeable Gardener Reliable Service at Competitive Rates
Tel: 01989 562330 | Mobile: 07912 359034 Email: Clivepardoe@btinternet.com
Could you help a child at a local primary school discover the magic of reading? National charity, Coram Beanstalk, is seeking volunteers in the local area to become reading helpers. You’ll help a child at a local primary school on a one-to-one basis by reading together, talking and making books fun to help transform their reading ability and confidence. Training, ongoing support and resources are provided.
Volunteer reading helpers are needed for schools in your local area. Apply today at www.corambeanstalk.org.uk, call 020 7729 4087 or email info@corambeanstalk.org.uk Page 25
WINTER DIARY Your useful guide to local events in and around the area ALADDIN PANTO Ongoing until 4 Jan, The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury. Tickets: £15 - £25. T: 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org NEW YEAR'S DAY RACING 1 January, Gates open 10.30am, first race 12.15pm, Cheltenham Racecourse Seven quality races & family entertainment. Tickets from £10. U18's go free. www.thejockeyclub.co.uk LINC LUNCH CLUB 3 Jan, The Old Courthouse, Regent Street, Cheltenham For supporters of LINC. New guests always welcome. The lunch typically costs £20 with £6 going to LINC. To join, email Louise at l.adkins@nhs.net. VISITING CHOIR 4 & 5 Jan, 5.30pm, Tewkesbury Abbey Priory Singers. GUIDED BATTLEFIELD WALK. 5 Jan, 2pm, Meet at Abbey Lawns car park, Gander Lane, Tewkesbury. 2-mile walk. Booking not neccessary. Stout walking shoes recommended. Families and dogs welcome. T: 01684 855040 ART LECTURE 9 January, 2pm, Highnam Community Centre (Gambier Parry Hall), GL2 8DG. L. S. Lowry - Should we 26
celebrate his contribution to British Art. Visitors welcome. T: 01684 833701 WINCHCOMBE MUSEUM WINTER TALK 9 Jan, 2.30pm, Methodist Church Hall, Winchcombe ‘Michael Cardew at Winchcombe (1926-39), a pottery and its customers‘; speaker: Helen Brown.Entry: £4, incl. refreshments. EPIPHANY CAROL SERVICE 12 January, Tewkesbury Abbey Sung by Tewkesbury Abbey Choir. Candle Celebration attended by Bishop Rachel. WEDDING SHOWCASE 12 Jan, 10am - 3pm, Tewkesbury Park Hotel. Explore the venue and meet suppliers. Free event, but registration advised. T: 01684 272300 RUBBER DUCK RACE 12 January, 11am - 1pm, Pittville Boating Lake In aid of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice. ART LECTURE 13 February, Highnam Community Centre (Gambier Parry Hall), GL2 8DG. Three Andalusian cities and their history, architecture and paintings; with Gail Turner. Ticketed event. ROBINSON CRUSOE & THE PIRATES 16 - 19 January 2020,
The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham Family panto. Thursday Friday: Evenings: 7pm; Saturday: midday & 4.30pm; Sunday: 2.30pm. Tickets: £11 - £16 from Showcase on 01242 224144 or visit www. promenadeproductions.co.uk. WINCHCOMBE LIVE 17 January, Doors open 8.15pm, The White Hart, Winchcombe. The Curst Sons. £10 on the door. GLOUCESTER CITY MARATHON 19 Jan, from 9am, Severn Vale Sports Centre, Quedgeley, GL2 4PR Mainly flat course. Standard entry fee: £45. Reg. deadline: 17 Jan. Contact Norman Wilson on 01452 722720. WEDDING OPEN DAY 19 Jan, 11am - 3pm, Ellenborough Park Hotel Explore the venue and meet suppliers. T: 01242 545454 BULLY WEE BAND CONCERT 19 Jan, Doors open 7pm for 7.45pm start, Tithe Barn, Bishop’s Cleeve Tickets: £16, available online: http://www.wegottickets.com/ smedsongs or from Simon Medhurst (0797 0078220 or smed@smedsongs.com). FESTIVAL TRIALS DAY 25 January, Gates open 10.30am, first race 12.40pm, Cheltenham Racecourse
Catch a glimpse of Festival contenders as they show the world what they're really made of. u18s go free. Free parking. Tickets from £10. www.thejockeyclub.co.uk BURNS SUPPER 25 January, 6.45pm, Reddings Community Centre, the Reddings, GL51 6RF. Scottish Dance with Haggis Supper. Tickets in Advance: 01452 614995 QUIZ NIGHT 25 Jan, 7pm, St Michael's Centre, Bishop's Cleeve With supper. For more information/to book email: stmichaelscentre bookings@gmail.com. WINTER WILSON CONCERT 25 Jan, Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start, Old Baptist Chapel, Tewkesbury, GL20 5RZ Kip Winter and Dave Wilson blend superb, often hardhitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with hilarious humour and tales of life on the road. Tickets: £10 from The John Moore Museum or £12 on the door.
February LIGHT UP CHELTENHAM 1 - 23 February, Cheltenham town centre. See Cheltenham lit up in beautiful colours, go on a walking tour or ride on the observation wheel at Imperial Gardens. Drumming group Spark! will open the event with a parade from The Brewery Quarter to Imperial Gardens on 1st February. GUIDED BATTLEFIELD WALK. 2 February,
2pm, Meet at Abbey Lawns car park, Gander Lane, Tewkesbury. 2-mile walk. Booking not neccessary. Stout walking shoes recommended. Families and dogs welcome. T: 01684 855040
CRICKET PRACTICE Sundays, 10am - 12pm, Bushley Cricket Club More players wanted, esp. for ladies team. Kit & coaching provided. Any experience catered for. 01684 292350 or 07812 179002.
TEWKESBURY ALES FESTIVAL 7 Feb, 11am - 11pm & 8 Feb, 11am - 8pm, Watson Hall, Barton Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PX. 80 Winter ales, food and local cider and perry. Judging of the CAMRA South West Perry final. Car parking provided a short walk away - look out for signs. Entry fee incl. glass and beer voucher. T: 01684 855040
DANCE WITH PARKINSON'S & MS. Tuesdays, 1.15pm, Marina Court, Trafalgar Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5AY. £5 per session, incl. refreshments. A friend or carer can come too for a £1 suggested donation towards costs. 01242 603207 for details. Term-time only.
Regular Events COMMUNITY FOSTER CARE INFO SESSIONS Wednesdays, 3 - 6pm, Unit A Kingsholm Mews, 76 Kingsholm Rd, Gloucester, GL1 3BD. Are you interested in fostering children and young people? Then come along and find out more. T: 01452 849301; www. communityfostercare.co.uk COUNTRY MARKET Fridays, 9 - 11.30am, Tewkesbury Town Hall Homemade cakes, savouries, preserves, crafts, seasonal vegetables/fruits, plants & shrubs. Refreshments. CRAFT FAIR 2nd Sun/month, 11.30am - 2.30pm, Bishop's Cleeve Community Centre Wide range of stalls; refreshments. Free entry. Libby Cleal: 07776 301767.
FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET 2nd Sat/month, 9am - 1.30pm, Abbey Lawns Car Park, Gander Lane, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PG. Local produce and local arts and crafts. T: 01684 855040 GENERAL RETAIL MARKET Weds & Saturdays, 9am 3.30pm, Spring Gardens Car Park, Oldbury Rd, Tewkesbury, GL20 5DN. More info Dave Joynes, 01386 840138. MEMORY CAFÉ 4th Wed/month, 2 - 4pm, Tewkesbury Day Centre, Station Road. For those with memory problems and their carers/ companions. Tea and cakes. Free entry. T: 01684 296238 TEWKESBURY CARE TO SING 2nd Weds/month, 2 - 4pm, Tewkesbury Day Centre, Station Rd, GL20 5DR. For those with memory problems and their carers/companions. Sing your favourite songs together. Tea & cakes. £2.50/person. Tel. 01684 772559
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HEALTH
Six Tips for a Healthy Winter The shorter, darker, colder, wetter days of Winter can leave even the fittest and chirpiest people feeling run-down. To feel better through the Winter: 1.) Reduce infection risk While being cold cannot give you a cold or the flu (only viruses can do that), it can stress your body and lower your immunity. Practise good hygiene and take antibacterial hand gel out with you. If you’re recommended to have a flu vaccine or are eligible for a free one, get it early. Rest assured it can’t give you flu, as it contains no live viruses. People who get flu after vaccination may have a rarer flu strain not covered by the vaccine or a strain contracted before it became fully active. 2.) Keep exercising Exercise can warm you up, boost your immune system and release endorphins that make you feel good. If you’re exercising outdoors, bundle up, avoid exercising when it’s icy and wear bright, reflective clothes if it’s dark. Consider indoor alternatives: swimming, indoor climbing, exercise classes, short-term gym passes, exercise DVDs or buying your own exercise bike or weights. Check out www.nhs.uk/live-well/ 28
exercise and click on ‘fitness guides’ for free ten-minute workouts, or www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitnessstudio for online exercise videos, including yoga, pilates, strength exercises, aerobic workouts and more. 3.) Get enough daylight, fresh air and vitamin D Your body uses sunlight to regulate your body clock and create vitamin D, essential for strong teeth, muscles and bones, so don’t hibernate! However, in the UK, there’s not enough sunlight between October and early March to make sufficient vitamin D, nor can you get enough by eating vitamin D-rich foods, so the NHS recommends a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement. 4.) Stay warm When the temperature drops below 8°C, those who are over 65, disabled or
pregnant, or have children under school age, or have a mental or long-term health condition are more vulnerable to illness. Low temperatures increase vulnerability to heart attacks, stroke, flu, pneumonia, hypothermia, falls and injuries, and can worsen depression, dementia and Raynaud’s Disease (which interrupts the blood supply to the extremities, causing pain, numbness, stiffness or tingling, most commonly in the fingers).
top-up while you’re out.
Keep your home heated to at least 18°C and use hot water bottles, heat packs or electric blankets if necessary. Try a hot bath before bed, and have hot meals and drinks. Pre-warm clothes on radiators or in your airing cupboard. When outdoors, wear warm gloves and a hat, and use hand dryers for a warmth
6.) Look after your mental health Stay active, warm and sociable: exercise, time spent outdoors and the company of others can all help stave off winter blues. However, if you think you may have full-blown SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), see your GP for help.
5.) Eat healthy comfort food Choose healthy comfort foods like stews and soups (but watch your fat and salt intake and include plenty of vegetables). Homemade soups are easily made with a simple blender, and cooked fruit with low-fat custard makes a great winter pudding. Visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/ eat-well and click on recipes to find healthy, warming dishes.
By Alison Runham
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Advertisers index ADVERTISING Love Local Magazines
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AERIALS & SATELLITES Digital Tv & Satellite Systems 2 APPLIANCES Godsell's Domestic Appliances
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AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS Patrick Oliver Antiques 13 Smiths of Newent Auctions 15 BATHROOMS & KITCHENS BB Services 17 Fresh Doors 2 BUILDING & HANDYMAN SERVICES BB Services Tewkesbury Exterior Painting
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BUSINESS Compton G. Business Park 18 CAR & BIKE REPAIRS, MOTs Bod's Custom Cycles 18 Fix My Van 23 V-Hub MOT Centre 2 V-Hub Service 29 CAR & VAN HIRE Go Vehicle Services back page
CARPETS & FLOORING Goodrum Carpets Ledbury Carpets
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CLUBS & CHARITIES Coram Beanstalk New Start Cat Rescue
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CURTAINS, BLINDS & SHUTTERS Chosen Curtains Sheila's Shutters UK Blinds
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ELECTRICIANS BB Services
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EVENTS Boat Race Tewkesbury Big Weekend
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GARAGE DOORS Garolla
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GARDENING & LANDSCAPING SERVICES Cheltenham Town Landscaping & Driveway S. Clive Pardoe, Gardener Highnam Landscaping James Bubb
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LEGAL & FINANCIAL Caple Banks Dee & Griffin Solicitors
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REMOVALS & STORAGE Compton G. Business Park 18 Swift Removals 3 ROOFERS SD Roofing Tewkesbury Flat & Pitched Roofing
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WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES Shane Howells Steamy Windows
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To include your business in the February issue call 01242 388 367 or email Anne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk. We publish 6 magazines in the Gloucestershire area.
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