NWTC September

TownCr er FREE

NORTH WILTSHIRE

Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Royal Wootton Bassett and Villages

SEPTEMBER 2017

LOTS OF LOCAL EVENTS See Inside

Back to

SCHOOL

We visit

FOODALICIOUS

and

BLACK DOG SMOKERY

Bring in the Autumn

HARVEST WHAT’S ON l FOOD l HEALTH & BEAUTY l MOTORING l HOME & GARDEN l PETS The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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Abbeyfield Abbeyfield Abbeyfield Abbeyfield School School School We invite you you to to our our We We invite Weinvite invite you you to to our our

OPEN OPEN EVENING OPEN EVENING OPENEVENING EVENING We invite you to our

OfSTED March 2017 Outstanding Leadership and Management For further information please contact either main reception 01249 464 500 contact@abbeyfield.wilts.sch.uk or our Transition co-ordinator on 01249 464542 visit www.abbeyfield.wilts.sch.uk

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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www.thameswoodvets.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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SEPTEMBER 2017

86

Editor’s Letter !

Welcome to the September edition

kids go back As the the days grow shorter and the mnal autu an has ly itab to school this issue inev e. harvest food them ember.

There is so much to see and do in Sept many local with er emb Sept 9th on is Heritage Day lic - see pub the buildings in Wiltshire open free to what is of ils deta for k rg.u www.heritageopendays.o open near you. ntry Comes Other dates for your diary include Cou Calne er, emb Sept 23rd on izes Dev To Town in ock Peac er, Wordfest starting on 25th Septemb er emb Sept 30th on ing Arts Trail in Corsham start 30th on tion peti Com r Crie n Tow and The Calne the details.

September. See “What's On” for all in contributions Many thanks to everyone who sent d in receiving reste to this issue - we are always inte ers. read our items of local interest from Until next time ...

Annie

TownCr er NORTH WILTSHIRE

5b Wood Street, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 0BZ Tel: 01249 811068 www. towncriermagazine.com Deadline for submissions for the October 2017 issue: 6th September 2017

Editor: contact@towncriermagazine.com Advertising: contact@towncriermagazine.com Artwork: production@towncriermagazine.com CONDITIONS OF ADVERTISING: The Editor reserves the right to refuse any copy which she feels may not be appropriate material for print. No responsibility will be taken for any damage or loss of material caused by inaccuracy or omission of any advertisement. Artwork prepared by us remains the property of The Town Crier Magazine and reproduction in any form is expressly forbidden without prior permission from the Editor. We provide artwork free of charge and where possible we will adhere to your request on layouts and type, but we cannot guarantee an exact copy. If you wish to produce your own artwork to a specific layout, or have any changes to an existing advert, please ensure your copy is with us by the 1st of month prior to publication at the latest. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the The Town Crier Magazine.

Front Cover photo: iStock.com

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

48

66

56

MAGAZINE SECTIONS What’s On and Community News

6-42

Food & Drink

52-63

Health & Beauty

64-71

Pets 74-77 Motoring

78-83

Gardening 86-91 Building & Home Improvement Index of Advertisers

95-107 106

76

68

Welcome!

FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING & RENEWABLE REQUIREMENTS Electrical Rewires, Alterations LED Lighting, Test & Inspecting, Domestic, Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural

54

Plumbing Refurbishment, Central Heating, Hot Water & General Repairs, Wood Burners & Flue Installations

46

6

Contents

Local Focus

Local News and Events

46 Back to School Forest School

Uke can do it St Margarets

52 Food & Drink Foodalicious

Love British Food Baked Apples Coronation Chicken Veggie Burgers

54 The Interview

Iain Murray Clarke

64 Health & Beauty How to wear Red

Time to Relax

74 Pets

Check for Ticks Gordon Buchanan

78 Motoring Peugeot 3008 SUV

VW Passat GTE Calne Bike Meet

84 Gardening

Blackberries

Jobs for September

90 Rev Sam King How much are you worth?

92 Jo Deacon Don't write in the Dust

Renewable Solar PV & Battery Storage, Solar Hot Water, Air/Ground/Water Source Heat Pumps & Biomass Boilers Wilts Electrical Contracting Ltd, 10 Harris Road, Porte Marsh Ind Est, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 9PT

Tel: 01249 812850

Email: enquiries@weclimited.co.uk www.weclimited.co.uk

94 A Good Read Tom's Midnight Garden

Phone Call from Heaven

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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ON W NE HAT A R ’S YO U

Local Focus

SEPTEMBER 2017

What’s happening locally • News • Events • Charities • Community

Royal Wootton Bassett Orchestra Open Rehearsal Saturday 7th October 2017

Orchestral instrumental players of all standards and audience members are invited to join Royal Wootton Bassett Orchestra for their Open Rehearsal on October 7th.

The Open Rehearsal will be held in Royal Wootton Bassett Methodist Church from 11am to 4pm. This is a community event which is free to attend – no booking required!

Led by our regular Musical Director Alan MacRae, we will be playing Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture and the Overture to Nabucco by Verdi.

Can’t make the whole day? No problem, come along for the morning or afternoon session.

Audience are welcome to the performance at 4pm or come earlier to watch the rehearsal.

Children and young people are especially welcome. This is a great opportunity to see how an orchestra rehearses, ask questions, and perhaps even try an instrument!

Lunch will be provided for players and refreshments for all throughout the day.

The day will culminate with a performance of the two overtures at about 4pm. Open Rehearsal performances are shorter and somewhat less formal than concerts, so for new audiences and younger children they are a brilliant introduction to the full orchestral experience. We hope you can join us. For further details: contact@rwbo.org.uk 6

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

David Hide (centre) MLOF chairman, presents one of the two ECG machines to the MPCC, with senior partner Dr John Pettit ( right) and Practice Nurse Val Smith

Malmesbury League of Friends make further £18,000 donations The Malmesbury League of Friends (MLOF) have made further recent donations, totalling £18,000, following requests from a number of local individuals or organisations: • Two electrocardiography (ECG) machines for Malmesbury Primary Care Centre (MPCC) • Three dermoscopes for MPCC • Special lifting cushions for Athelstan House Care Home, Malmesbury • Artlift – art classes at MPCC for patients with serious mental health issues • Childcare – to support a local resident with a severe disability • 10 special chairs for Tolsey surgery, Sherston This latest tranche of financial support follows a recent major donation of £25,000 to Julia’s House, a hospice for terminally ill children, which was opened in Devizes in May. MLOF chairman David Hide said: “These latest requests are typical of those we receive for support . Although some of them involve quite modest sums, each one will nevertheless make a major difference to the lives of those who will benefit. “ We are always happy to consider requests for help for those living in the Malmesbury area, who have a special need.”

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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Tel: 01249 470067 • www.boatmanfinancial.co.uk @BoatmanIFA The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017 7

WHAT’S ON

Calne Town Hall Moviola

Moravian Church The community of Malmesbury, Wiltshire is today celebrating the news that Friends of Athelstan Museum has received a £10,000.00 funding boost from The Hills Group Limited. This company supported the Athelstan Museum ten years ago when the museum was being built in the Town hall and it is wonderful they are continuing to do so. This money will go to help the repair and restoration of the Moravian Church which will enable the friends to expand and extend their activities.

Summer is nearly over, Autumn will soon be here and we are starting off a new year of films with Viceroys House. (12a) starring Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson. The final governor of India ,Lord Mountbatten is tasked with overseeing the transition of British India to independence but meets with conflict as different sides clash in the face of monumental change. Showing in Calne Town Hall on Weds 20th Sept.at 7.30. doors open at 7.00pm. Refreshments available. Tickets £6.00 from the Info office or on the door. Maybe some of our regulars can persuade some younger ones to come along and see a bit of important British history.

The money has been made available through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) which is administered for Hills by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire. Although the Landfill Communities Fund is a national scheme it is funded and administered locally and the Friends of Athelstan Museum are appreciative that they have been given this grant and that Hills join all the other local firms and individuals who have supported the museum so helping it to increase the role it plays in the local community.

Calne Men’s Shed Although our shed at the Repair Academy on Porte Marsh in Calne is open each day to members, a number of us have been meeting on Tuesday afternoons in order to renovate the rooms allocated for our use.

We also need to discuss the projects which are on the cards and decide which items of machinery recently donated can be brought into full working order.

Much interest was shown in our Men's Shed exhibit at the Calne Summer Festival, with new members signed up. Likewise our showing at the Calne Bike Meet was equally popular with a steady stream of bikers visiting the display.

For more information: enquiries@calnemensshed.org 8

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

The Rotary Club of Calne Classic Car Rally Cheque Presentation to Dorothy House Calne Rotary Club celebrated their successful Classic Car Run held in May presenting of a cheque for £1000 to Dorothy House Chief Executive John Davies at the White Hart in Calne in August.

Rotarians were joined friends and family who helped make the event such a success and Rotarian Graham Smith paid tribute to everyone involved including the Marden Belles WI, Calne Lions and Westbury Rotary Club.

John Davies spoke about the future plans of Dorothy House which currently cares for over 1000 people across 700 square miles. Like birth, death is a natural part of life and Dorothy House wants to raise awareness that with support and care, a sense of ‘wellbeing’ for whatever time remains is the goal.

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Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

9

COMMUNITY NEWS

MAMS October Concert Saturday 7th October 2017

Malmesbury Abbey Music Society’s October concert will be an organ recital by Jonathan Hope, Assistant Musical Director at Gloucester Cathedral and Festival Organist for the Three Choirs Festival.

Jonathan is quickly gaining a reputation at home and abroad as one of the most dynamic young organists of his generation. He is the principal organist for the cathedral services, director of the Cathedral Youth Choir, accompanist to the Gloucester Choral Society, Musical Director of the Saint Cecilia Singers, and Accompanist to the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival Chorus.

Diana Boulton (left) & Bron Maclennan in training for their fund raising cycle marathon.

Malmesbury Fundraiser for 3 Child Cancer Charities Two Malmesbury women, who will be getting on their bikes to cycle over 450 kilometres through Vietnam and Cambodia this autumn to raise funds for three child cancer charities, are holding a major fund raising event, featuring the legendary Dubious Brothers, in Malmesbury Town Hall on 30th September, as part of their fund raising campaign.

Bron Maclennan and Diana Boulton will be joining a team of cyclists riding through the two Asian countries to support CLIC Sargent, Children with Cancer UK, and Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Malmesbury fund raising dance will help Bron and Diana towards their individual targets of £1,800, every penny of which will be shared among the three charities as they will be paying all their expenses, including return flights.

Bron, who has raised thousands of pounds for both local and national charities, said: “We both feel passionately about these three charities, me especially, as my son, age four, had leukaemia and I know the terrible traumas children and families go through. These wonderful charities are real life lines and give so much support to everyone involved. So we do hope many local residents will support what we promise will be a fantastic evening”.

Tickets for the dance, at £15 each, can be purchased at the Persephone Violet Flower Shop in Malmesbury High Street, or through: http://mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/bronmaclennan1 or http://mydonate. bt.com/fundraisers/dianaboulton1 More information from: Bike for Young Lives at www.actionforcharity.co.uk Bron Maclennan : Tel: 07764 688346 Diana Boulton : Tel: 01666 829538 10

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Increasingly in demand as a recitalist, Jonathan’s career to date has taken him throughout the UK, as well as France, Germany, Italy, the USA and Australia. He has performed solo recitals at Westminster Cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Saint-Sulpice, Paris. Recitals abroad in the 2016/2017 season include visits to Germany and Italy. Jonathan often broadcasts live as a performer on both BBC Radio 3 and 4 and BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

The recital will take place at MALMESBURY ABBEY on Saturday 7th October 2017 at 7:30pm and include pieces

by Vierne, Bach and Vaughan Williams. Tickets £15 (£5 students) can be purchased at mamsmusic.co.uk in the Abbey bookshop or by telephoning 01666 824924

Calne Summer Playscheme The staff at the Calne Summer Playscheme have been putting old copies of the Town Crier Magazine to good use by getting the children to make them into these lovely paper birds.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

11

COMMUNITY NEWS

Sing Pop, Soul & Gospel with PSG

Formed in Derry Hill, PSG is a growing choir organisation focused on providing a great social experience whilst still creating an exceptional sound and putting on several concerts every year!

Each choir rehearses weekly and once every 4·6 weeks is joined by a live session band to add extra flair to the sound and performance. Choir Rehearsal is Monday night in Devizes, Tuesday Afternoon Choir 12.15-1.15 in Marden House, Calne, Tuesday night in Derry Hill, Wednesday Night in Melksham and Thursday night in Calne.

Whether you are an experienced singer or just someone wanting a fun way to meet people from your community, PSG is definitely for you. We have opportunities for confident singers to sing solo, or if you just want to take a back seat then just sing what you feel comfortable with.

We don’t require any audition, so just come along

and start singing, dancing and having a laugh as we create fantastic Pop, Soul and Gospel music.

A normal PSG rehearsal costs £4 which you simply pay on the night, however if you would rather pay termly, that is also an option. Just have a word with the person on the door when you arrive at your first rehearsal. On live band nights the PSG rehearsal costs the slightly higher price of £5 to cover the cost of the musicians.

New Choir on Thurs 14th September at Marden House, Calne 8pm - 9.30pm For more information please call:

07751 697388

psgchoirs@gmail.com www.psgchoirs.co.uk facebook.com/psgchoirs

‘Au Revoir’ Singchronize Calne Community Choir, Singchronize, gave their last performance in Calne Town Hall packed with friends and family in July. An occasion full of singing, dancing, laughter and tears as members celebrated the unique friendships and experiences shared during Singchronize’s lifetime.

Formed in 2010 by Sarah and husband Thomas Mouille, the choir’s percussionist, Singchronize has regularly participated in local community events including CalneFest.

Although extremely difficult for Sarah after the death of Thomas in 2015 she has continued to get the best out of Singchronize with her talent for unusual arrangements. Her parting gift to us is a beautiful musical composition to the famous poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling before she moves to France with her children.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

The members of Singchronize will still meet weekly as part of Will Blake’s PSG Choirs.

The first rehearsal is on Thursday 14 September at 8pm in Marden House, Calne. Come along and join us!

Burnham Court, Malmesbury Beautifully finished one and two bedroom Abbeyfield Apartments with 24/7 staffing available Whether you’re thinking about housing for yourself or a family member, or you’ve just started exploring options, come along to Burnham Court to meet with us and find out more about our full range of services and just what makes Abbeyfield the trusted organisation that it is to this day.

Call us on 01666 825582 or email malmesbury@abbeyfield.com for more information `

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7 Burnham Road, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0BQ The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Local firm celebrates 30 years in Swindon help people in their own homes enjoy the best sight and hearing possible”.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary, The Outside Clinic is planning a number of events to raise awareness of the home visit service, which is available at no cost to anyone provided they are aged 60 or over and cannot get out without help.

It is not necessary to be registered disabled, and no referral is needed.

O

NE of Swindon’s best kept secrets is the astonishing success of The Outside Clinic, which this year celebrates thirty years in the heart of Old Town.

Occupying a prime spot on the High Street, the blue and white fascia is a familiar sight to locals. Yet it seems that very few are aware of the important service it provides to elderly patients all over the country.

Every year The Outside Clinic visits around 100,000 people in their own home to give them a much-needed eye test, free of charge. The cost is funded by the NHS and the work is carried out by The Outside Clinic, which is now the UK’s largest and oldest home visit eye and hearing specialists.

All sight tests are carried out by highly qualified opticians, using high-tech portable diagnostic equipment. It’s just like the tests that take place in a normal high street optician, but more personal because the optician gets to spend longer with the patient, sees them in their everyday environment and can see how they like to watch tv or sit and read a book.

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Every day up to 90 opticians go out on the road to see patients the length and breadth of the country, supported by a professional services team at Headquarters. They are the master planners, plotting the route to make the best use of time and constantly staying in touch to alert the optician of any last minute cancellations or traffic problems in the area to keep the day running smoothly. Meanwhile Patients Services are busy manning the phones to book new appointments or answer queries as part of the free, all year round aftercare service that every patient receives.

Although The Outside Clinic is a national company, it is proud to support the local community at events such as the Old Town Festival which occurred in July. “It was great to meet so many Swindon people”, said Wendy, Team Learning & Development Advisor, “but we were surprised that so few people know about the valuable work we do to

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

The home hearing service is also an NHS funded service in many parts of the country. If you have difficulty getting out to have your eyes or hearing tested, or know someone who could benefit from our service, call now for more information on freephone 0800 60 50 40.

It’s a fantastic thing to do for someone who can’t easily get out alone to help them get the most out of life – and it doesn’t cost a penny.

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15

COMMUNITY NEWS

Woodbridge Park Golf Club AUTUMN SPECIALS

AFFORDABLE GOLF is on offer for local golfers at Woodbridge Park Golf Club this Autumn. See the voucher below for 3 fantastic offers: 18 holes for up to 4 golfers at a discounted £10.00 each, a one-off green fee of £99.00 for 3 month’s unlimited golf and 4 golf lessons for the price of 3 with James Broughton, our new PGA Golf Professional.

Please telephone in advance for a tee time or lesson and simply bring your voucher with you to take up any of these offers.

Woodbridge Park is set in 150 acres of scenic Wiltshire rural countryside. 18 well shaped golf holes with natural hazards that offers a challenge to all golfers, whilst remaining sympathetic to those new to the game. There is a friendly atmosphere in the Clubhouse – everyone is welcome.

For further information please contact jamesbroughton@woodbridgepark.co.uk or visit our website www.woodbridgeparkgolfclub.co.uk for an overview of the Club.

GOLF AUTUMN SPECIALS £10.00 each for 18 holes anytime (up to 4 golfers) On production of this VOUCHER

£99.00 green fee for 3 months (unlimited golf) On production of this VOUCHER £75.00 - 4 lessons for the price of 3 with James Broughton PGA Professional On production of this VOUCHER

For the golfing specials simply redeem your voucher at the Clubhouse or contact: info@woodbridgepark.co.uk To redeem your golf lesson voucher or for any information on the golf course/membership benefits please contact: James (PGA Professional) jamesbroughton@woodbridgepark.co.uk

www.woodbridgeparkgolfclub.co.uk 01666 810277 16

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

T&C’s apply

Lockside WI - Pewsham “Bathing in Bath” was the subject of a talk given by Mr Gwyn Rees at our meeting on 25 July. It was a most fascinating journey tracing the changes in Bath. With some amusing anecdotes we learnt the history of the spa waters from Roman baths to the Thermae spa as we know them today.

On Tuesday 26 September we will be having a talk and demonstration on Container Gardening.

If you would like to join us we meet from 10.00am to noon at Pewsham Community Centre, Lodge Road, Chippenham.

Street Names of Malmesbury Between them the two authors have lived in Malmesbury for over 110 years and yet they didn’t know why some of the roads are called what they are. Now there is no excuse.

This booklet, which is available from the Athelstan Museum in the Town Hall Malmesbury price £4, lists every street, road, close or avenue and attempts to explain the reason behind every title. Some are obvious and straight forward like Bristol Road – but do you know where it used to run? Others, like Athelstan Road, again, are obvious but do you know what his connections with Malmesbury were? Some are named are after local worthies -like Alexander, Morse, Lipman, Hodge and Jenner. This book tells you who they were and what part they played in Malmesbury’s story. Some names, like the Lyte, Newton, Gaston, derive from geography but do you know the connection? Some names are plain boring but we won’t list those. There is a lot of fun to be had from this book as well as offering a multitude of small glimpses of Malmesbury’s past and present.

We have one copy of “Street Names of Malmesbury” to be won by one lucky reader.

To be in with a chance of winning please email your name and a contact number to production@towncriermagazine.com by 30th September 2017. The Editor's decision is final.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

An Introduction to Buildit Malmesbury Many people will not have heard of Buildit, we as a company are new to the Wiltshire area.

We have been trading in Gloucestershire exclusively for over 7 years, until May 2016 when we opened our third store near Malmesbury.

Buildit is a private, locally owned company. We pride ourselves on offering a more personal service to our customers, compared to larger national merchants. We offer a comprehensive range of products for construction, maintenance and DIY projects at competitive prices.

Quality, experienced staff ensure that as a company we continue to deliver the high standards we set ourselves, with customer service at the heart of our success.

Local man Mark Pemberton is our store manager and with his team they are focused on delivering the service and products you need for all your projects large or small, advice is always on hand along with good stocks of leading brand products. We offer a daily

delivery service and the store is conveniently situated between the M4 and Malmesbury near Corston.

Whatever your project is, a new bathroom, or perhaps a new patio, some decorating, or a fencing repair, give Mark and the team at Buildit a call !

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Experience • Knowledge • Competitive Pricing • Outstanding Customer Service The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

17

WHAT’S ON

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

A sustainable future for wildlife and people

Country Comes To Town Saturday 23rd September from 10.00am – 4.00pm Devizes Market Square Have a go at country crafts and explore your creative side with natural art. Get involved in identifying wildlife, learn about Forest School, and meet our precision grazing team of cows and sheep.

Experie n Wild W ce iltsh in the h ire eart of Dev izes

A great FREE day out for all the family For full details, visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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WHAT’S ON

Heritage Week 4th to 10th September 2017 Bringing Calne’s past to life with a week of open days, talks and guided walks.

Many events are FREE to enjoy.

PROGRAMME OF 27 EVENTS ©Anna Stowe/Bowood

Calne Our Place

P

Two hours free parking Calne Heritage Quarter Car Park accessed from the A4

Movies@Malmesbury SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE Monday 4th at 8pm The Beguiled Friday 8th at 2pm Hampstead Friday 8th at 5.30pm Captain Underpants Friday 8th at 8pm Dunkirk Friday 15th at 5.30pm Cars 3 Monday 18th at 8pm Hampstead Wed 20th at 7.15pm ROH: The Magic Flute* Friday 22nd at 2pm Dunkirk Friday 22nd at 5.30pm Cars 3 Friday 22nd at 8pm Alone in Berlin Tues 26th at 7.30pm Canaletto* 2pm and 5.30pm shows £5 & £4; 8pm £6 * Magic Flute & Canaletto £10 Tickets for all events available from Malmesbury Town Hall, online at www.oxboffice or on the door. Full details of all events on our website at www. malmesbury.gov.uk/cinema. html or our Facebook page: Movies at Malmesbury

Tel: 01666 822143 20

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Diary Dates SEPTEMBER 2017 MALMESBURY CARNIVAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE Sunday 3rd September – 4.00pm (outside weather permitting) Come dressed in your carnival costume – BBQ to follow the service. All welcome.

EMERGENCY SERVICES SHOW Sunday 3rd September 10am-4pm Cotswold Airport (GL7 6BQ) Adults £6.50, under 16s £3.50, under 3s free CALNE HERITAGE WEEK 4th-10th September 2017 27 events at various locations in Calne. For full programme visit www.facebook.com/ calneourplace/ Malmesbury Jazz Society presents JAZZ CREAM TEA Celebration Jazz Quintet Friday 8th September – Malmesbury Town Hall – 3–5pm Tickets in advance £10 from Tourist Information Centre or from Jazz Society Secretary Email: suejpoole48@gmail.com In aid of Mayor’s Charity CHIPPENHAM HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 6th – 10th September Step inside some of Chippenham’s most intriguing buildings and hidden places with Chippenham Heritage Open Days this September. There will be a programme of free walks, talks, behind the scenes tours and open days from Wednesday 6th

September to Sunday 10th September. For more details see Chippenham Museum’s Facebook page, visit www.chippenham.gov. uk or collect a programme from the museum.

RIDE & STRIDE FOR CHURCHES 9th September 2017 Sponsored Cycle Ride or Walk to raise money for the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust & your own Church. Please call 01666 824005 for more information.

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 9th September 2017 www.heritageopendays.org.uk GUITAR WORKSHOP Saturday 9th September 10.30 – 12.00 South Cerney Village Hall With Samantha Holmes & Allan Greenwood both prize-winning professional guitarists. Gain some expert tips and advice about all aspects of guitar playing. All abilities and ages welcome! Try out some warm-up exercises; explore tab and music; develop your technique, musicianship and performance skills. Bring an acoustic guitar to take part or simply listen and learn! Come along and play a tune together, meet other guitar enthusiasts and have some fun! Adults £10 - Teenagers £5 Children FREE (when accompanied by an adult).

For more info and to book your place please call: Samantha or Allan 07941 239093 OAKSEY “DISNEY” SCARECROW TRAIL & PRODUCE SHOW Sat 9th & Sun 10th September Refreshments, Stalls, Tombola and Children’s Lucky Dip 1.00pm in Oaksey Village Hall Scarecrow and produce entry forms available from Village Shop Malmesbury Abbey BABY LOSS SUPPORT & REMEMBRANCE Saturday 9th September 3.30pm Service for anyone touched by any form of baby loss and children are welcome to attend, organised by the Mariposa Trust www.sayinggoodbye.org

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WHAT’S ON SWINDON RAILWAY FESTIVAL Sat 9th – Sun 10th September 10am – 5pm Steam Museum, Firefly Avenue, Swindon SN2 2EY Enjoy UK’s finest model railway layouts and many more attractions! Admission: Adults: £12. Senior: £9, children 3 – 15 £8, family tickets £32 Including 2 exciting new exhibitions: King George V: A Locomotive Legend and Going to America ROTARY WALK IN THE PARK We will be walking again on Sunday 10th September, once again in Corsham Park. This year the money raised will be distributed between two great charities: Waste Not Want Not and Marie Curie. www.facebook.com/ chippenhamrotary/ TASTE WILTSHIRE 10 Sept 2017 Urchfont, Nr Devizes Wiltshire Producers - nearly 40 - Michelin demos - 8 Wiltshire schools involved - fab day out!!! £1 adults...kids free.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

MALMESBURY & DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB Monday 11th September 7.30pm Charlton Village Hall An illustrated talk by Mr. RICHARD CRIPPS on Pruning Trees and Shrubs Richard is a senior lecturer at Lackham Agriculture college.

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT September 14th 2017 Conservative Club Function Room, 53 High Street, Wootton Bassett The Finest Contraption in Christendom: Aspects of Aviation and Archaeological History Speaker: Dr. Bob Clarke This illustrated talk focusses on just one aspect of aircraft test and development—The Blower Tunnel. Using contemporary film clips and images it asks the question ‘just what do you do with four merlin engines?’ - you will be surprised! The ‘Blower’ was initially introduced to the group back in 2016. Dr. Bob Clarke is the site archaeologist at Boscombe Down and a

leading authority on the archaeology of aviation development. https:// www.facebook.com/ HistoricalWoottonBassett/ CALNE FLOWER CLUB Thurs Sept 14th 7.30pm Marden House, Calne. £5 This month’s demonstration Sallying Forth Again by Sally Taylor. Enjoy an evening with a friendly crowd and maybe take home a beautiful flower arrangement in the raffle.

Everyone welcome.

HOBBIES AND CRAFT SHOW 16th September 2017 St Bart’s Church, Corsham 11 am to 4 pm, and ENTRY IS FREE. Displays of Models, including an operational model railway.

Photography, Paintings, Quilts and many more crafts.Some Craft items will be for sale. The will also be refreshments - teas, coffees and cakes - available during show opening times. Do come along, have some refreshment, view the exhibits and the wonderful Church itself!

Healthwatch Wiltshire CAMPERVAN & COMMENTS TOUR 2017 Monday 18th September AM – Malmesbury Town Hall Talk to us about your experience of health care in Wiltshire (and enjoy a free cupcake too!)

More information at www.healthwatchwiltshire.co.uk CALNE TOWN HALL MOVIOLA Weds 20th Sept.at 7.30. doors open at 7.00pm. Calne Town Hall Viceroys House. (12a) starring Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson. The final governor of India, Lord Mountbatten is tasked with overseeing the transition of British India to independence but meets with conflict as different sides clash in the face of monumental change.

Refreshments available. Tickets £6.00 from the Info office or on the door. Maybe some of our regulars can persuade some younger ones to come along and see a bit of important British history.

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WHAT’S ON Wiltshire Wildlife Trust COUNTRY COMES TO TOWN Saturday 23rd September Market Square, Devizes 10am-4pm A great FREE day out for all the family. For full details visit: www.wiltshirewildlife.org CALNE WORDFEST 25th-30th September 2017 Literacy Festival at various locations in Calne - including a Planetarium!

- see this page or www.facebook. com/calnewordfest/ for details.

MOVIOLA @ GRITTLETON VILLAGE HALL Wednesday September 27th We start our Autumn season with Viceroys House. (12a) Tickets £6 adults from Lesley on 01249 783157 or email l_palmer@ btinternet.com. Doors open 7pm, programme starts at 7.30pm Future dates for your diary All Wednesdays 25th October Their Finest 22nd November Miss Sloane CURRY AND A QUIZ Friday 29th September 2017 7pm – 10pm (over 18’s only) The Corsham School Teams of 6, £8 per person Curry included, Paying bar Raffle, Ccontact: community@corsham.wilts.sch.uk Telephone 01249 713284 ex 296

OUT OF T H WOR IS LD 25th- 30th September 2017

@calnewordfest 24

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

ART EXHIBITION Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October From 10.00 am until 5.00 pm Minety Art Club will be holding its annual exhibition and sale of work There will be work in progress tables with members in attendance to answer questions and show some ‘Tricks of the Trade’ in various media. There will also be refreshments available.

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY TO THE DUBIOUS BROTHERS 30th September at 8pm Malmesbury Town Hall For Children with Cancer UK, Teenage Cancer trust & Clic Sargent £15 per ticket from 01666 829538/07764 688346 or Persephone Violet Flower Shop, High Street Malmesbury.

PIP UTTON: PLAYING MAGGIE Saturday 30th September Kington Langley Village Hall, Church Road, Kington Langley, Chippenham SN15 5NJ You are invited to a live audience with Margaret Thatcher. Pip Utton IS The ‘Iron Lady’! Love her or hate her? Not for Pip to decide, only to portray. She divided the nation like no other politician, she changed the face of British politics forever.

Listen to her philosophies, her inspiration and her logic, and then take the chance to question her.

Pip Utton is a Fringe legend. 01249 750362 events@klvh.org www.klvh.org and www.pip-utton.co.uk PEACOCK ARTS TRAIL 30 September – 8 October Corsham, Chippenham and villages Opening times vary Celebrating the wealth of creative talent in Corsham, Chippenham and surrounding villages. This fabulous FREE event features almost 70 artists, sculptors, photographers and craftspeople in exhibitions and in their own studios. Explore places you did not know existed, chat to some fascinating people, see some brilliant art and perhaps have a go at something yourself! For more details, visit www.peacockarts. co.uk or look out for one of the free brochures at various local outlets.

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25

WHAT’S ON

SHERSTON ARTS FESTIVAL

Look out for the programme of the whole festival, available locally, but here are some key dates:

Trek the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon & Zion Canyon and make a real difference to patients at the RUH

CALNE TOWN CRIER COMPETITION 2017 Saturday 30th September Beach Terrace will be transformed into the most mesmerising spectacle.

Town Criers from across the country will descend upon Calne, to cry their Home Town Cries. The event will start with a precession 11am, and afternoon Cries start at 2:45pm.

Find out more from the experts...

Information Evening 5th October 2017 6.30 - 8pm at the RUH To RSVP or for more info contact

01225 821535 / laurapearce1@nhs.net or visit

Royal United Hospital Charitable Fund Registered Charity Number 1058323

www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk

Supported by the National Churches Trust Charity Number 1119845

JOIN US FOR A SPONSORED CYCLE RIDE OR WALK Visit Wiltshire’s beautiful churches and chapels to raise money for your own church and the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust.

6th to 15th October 2017

OCTOBER 2017 Rural Arts Touring presents Pip Utton in PLAYING MAGGIE Saturday 7th October 2017 doors 7.30pm for 8.00pm start Grittleton Village Hall Not merely a reflection on how to portray this lady, but a live audience with Margaret Thatcher. Pip Utton IS The Iron Lady! Tickets - Jan on 01249 782798 dandjjeffcoate@ btinternet.com Adults £8, Concessions £7, Children (under 16) £5, Family (2 adults/2 children £21.

Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust 01672 514301 (Wilts South) 01666 824005 (Wilts North)

Sunday 24 September 2017

ctg100@hotmail.com

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The Scarecrow Trail on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th is fun for all ages, the theme this year is Fables and Fairytales. For the first time we will also have a Window Wanderland Trail over the same weekend as the Scarecrows, but more especially in the evenings.

If you are an artist or know of one living fairly locally, prepare your pictures and submit a form, the Art Exhibition runs for the whole festival in the Church, with a Preview on Friday 6th.

On Saturday 7th October at 7.30pm the Church will be filled with the amazing sound of the Bath Community Gospel Choir.

Young children and their families will be entertained on Sunday 8th October at 2.30pm by ‘Shackleton’ (an adventurous puppet dog !)in the Village Hall. This is a Rural Arts Touring event.

On Tuesday 10th in the Rattlebone at 7.30, join in with a book group discussion of ‘Vinegar Girl’ by Anne Tyler.

On Thursday 12th at 7.30pm in the Village Hall local author Nick Perry (‘Peaks and Troughs’) will give a talk entitled Unconventional Chronicles about his new book ‘Escape to Ikaria’.

Wiltshire

Over the weekend of 14th and 15th October we will have the Photographic Exhibition in the Village Hall, free entry.

Bottle & Collectors Fair

On Saturday 14th we have Willow Sculpture workshops,in the village hall, (run by Linda Rees) bookings are now being taken, £35 for a half day including materials. Also on the 14th Young Musicians will perform in the Church from 5.30.

Corsham School • The Tynings • Corsham SN13 9DF Eight miles from Junction17 on the M4.

Old Bottles • Pot Lids • Antique Advertising • Kitchenalia Salt Glaze • Breweriana • Early Glass and much more

Early Entry 9am £2.50 • Admission 10am £1 Free Parking • Refreshments available • 6ft stall @ £12 Cheques payable to The Corsham School.

Enquiries/Bookings Chris Bultitude 16 Sawyers Crescent • Corsham SN13 9EG 01225 810212 • chrisandcarole@btinternet.com

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Design by penningtondesign.co.uk

All details of ticket prices, application and forms at: www.sherstonartsfestival.com/ Tickets are on sale at Sherston Post Office or phone 01666 840375.

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27

WHAT’S ON

looks at the causes of the failures CALNE MUSIC AND that led to her execution.

ARTS FESTIVAL https://www.facebook.com/ 5-15 October 2017 m HistoricalWoottonBassett/ Classical concerts, recitals, choral Animal Far works, jazz, folk, talks, dance and GOATS NORTH WILTSHIRE drama. There are also excellent GUINEA PIGS SUSTAINABILITY DAY musical events for children on #1 attraction: Royal Woootton Bassett CHIPMUNKS Saturday 14th October – 10am to the Saturday mornings and 8pm – Town Hall Malmesbury LLAMAS Saturdays performances of music until and drama & Sundays November + special extra selected date Speakers, exhibitions & displays, ALPACAS by students of local schools and activities, films and music. Tickets: CHICKENS talented young performers during Free entrance to exhibition, and see over the week.

Details of all the events 100 animals, including HORSES Come displays & activity area. Alland art and poetry competitions DONKEYS petting zoo and rare breeds! inclusive ticket including talks and for children and adults can be FALLOW DEER music: Adults £7.50 Children 16 found on the Festival website: and under free. Tickets available BARN OWLS www.cmaf.org.uk Brochures activities, picnic and lots more.. from:area www.jumblebee.co.uk/ and many more ... Family are available from Bank House/ northwiltshiresustainabilityday Calne Information Centre SN11 ENTRY PRICES: £6.50 per adult, £5.50 per child (2Email: campbellgpnw@gmail.com 0EN where the Box Office is sited.

16 years), £2.50 per toddler (18 months - 2 years) £6 per adult Lidats Tickets are also available on-line AN AUTUMN CONCERT WITH Meadow Children under 18 months free - all children must Farm, Grittenham at : www.ticketsource.co.uk/cmaf WESSEX MALE CHOIR £5 per child be accompanied by an adult at all times. www.cmaf.org.uk Saturday 14th October, 7.30pmSN15 4JW £22.00 per family (2 adults + 2 children) St Lawrence Church, Lechlade HEALS JAM – LIVE MUSIC 25p off entry price per person if travelling to us by Wessex Male 01666 Choir will be 510 477 £20 per family (up to 4) Saturday 7th October 7.30pm bicycle, public transport or walking. performing with Thomas Graff St Mary’s Hall, Malmesbury from Faringdon and a group Featuring The Dirty Smooth and known as TATT (Tunes At The Big Kipper. Disco & Raffle £6.00 www.farmtasticanimalfarm.co.uk Trout). Tickets from Lechlade Post entry on the door 50% of all Lidats Meadows Farm, Grittenham, SN15 4JW Office £15. U16 £5. All proceeds profits will be donated to Heals to Lechlade Memorial Hall Fund. www.healsmalmesbury.co.uk *subject to weather conditions - please check our website or call

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# l0VElECHLADE Autumn Concert St Lawrence Church, Lechlade

7.30pm SATURDAY 14th October 2017

Featuring

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MALE

CHOIR

Guest appearances Tom Graff— Piano Tunes At The Trout (TATT) — Instrumentalists

In aid of Lechlade Memorial Hall Fund Tickets £15. £5 under 16yrs old - available from Lechlade Post Office Includes a glass of wine or soft drink.

Lechlade Memorial Hall and Recreation Charity 1056163

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

for up to date opening times and special dates

CASTLE COMBE AUTUMN CLASSIC RACE DAY Saturday 7th October 2017 The event at Castle Combe Racing Circuit involves seven races from vintage sports cars to single seaters from the 1960s. There will be themed stands around the circuit during the day. Tickets are £20 for adults and £15 for seniors (under-17s get in free). For details visit: www.autumnclassic.co.uk

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT October 12th 2017 Mary, Queen of Scots Speaker: Dr. Gillian White Mary, Queen of Scots, became Monarch at six days old and by the age of twenty-five had lost three kingdoms, three husbands and would never see her only child again. Mary’s life is undoubtedly wrapped in tragedy. This talk explores her remarkable story and

APPLE FESTIVAL 2017 Saturday 21st October Following the huge success of Apple Festival last year, this special event returns on Saturday 21st October. Please join us at Sunday Hill Farm for Apple Festival: the literary festival combined with the farmers market. Already confirmed: Sir Roger Scruton, Apple Expert ­ Andy Howard form The Heritage Fruit Co and live music from Newton Country. More information can be found at www.horsellsfarment.com Entrance to the Farm is FREE Gates open at 10.30am.

Please send your What’s On and Events to www.towncriermagazine.com

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WHAT’S ON

Calne Town Crier Competition 2017

Photos of Mark Wylie by Paul Stallard of www.candidpictures.co.uk

This year’s Town Crier event is set to be the best yet; there are sure to be fantastic Cries, and the attire will be a sight to behold.

Mark Wylie went on to say “Some cries will be historical, some will be hysterical - all will be entertaining and, who knows, some may even be educational! So I heartily recommend the Calne Town Criers Competition as a perfect way to celebrate this country’s traditions and have a great day out to boot!”

Support for Home Town Criers will be appreciated, so be sure to visit Calne on Saturday 30th September on Beach Terrace. It is completely free to watch, so bring your picnics and prepare yourselves!

On Saturday 30th September, Beach Terrace will be transformed into the most mesmerising spectacle. Town Criers from across the country will descend upon Calne, to cry their Home Town Cries.

The event will start with a procession at 11:30am, and afternoon Cries start at 2:45pm.

Calne’s Town Crier, Mark Wylie (above), defended the title of top International Town Crier this year. He first won the competition in 2015, but returned to Bermuda this year and was again crowned as the victor. Mark Wylie has held the title of Calne Town Crier since 2007, and attends a wide variety of civic and community events in Calne.

When asked about The Town Criers Competition, Mark Wylie said “The Calne Town Criers Competition is a wonderful event that brings colour, drama, comedy and history to Beach Terrace. September is when Calne celebrates its historical traditions with the Calne Heritage Week. What better way to do this than spend an afternoon in the sun by the River Marden, perhaps enjoying a picnic with your family, while Criers from all over the country regale you with fascinating facts about their home towns, and our theme for this year – ‘Regalia’ ”.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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To discuss your personal insurances, contact Robin Nathan for a complimentary and completely confidential review.

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T: 07557 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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33

S

D

WHAT’S ON

Swindon Museum & Art Gallery Swindon Borough Council are delighted to announce their most recent acquisitions to the Collections via the Creative Wiltshire project.

T

HESE new works include a stunning landscape painting and prints by local artist David Bent.

The painting, Beach House West of Looe, from David’s Landscape Geometry series will go on display until 18 November as part of The Lie of the Land exhibition, which explores Modern British Landscapes from the Swindon Collection. This exhibition will also feature artists such as Richard Long, Mary Fedden, Roger Fry and Vanessa Bell.

The Museum and Art Gallery has also obtained two prints from his innovative Aerobot photo collage collection which were first exhibited at the nearby Royal International Air Tattoo. David is credited as leading a new movement in modern aviation art.

This work has been purchased by the Creative Wiltshire project, which aims to acquire works by creative people across Swindon and Wiltshire. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and also recently secured a work by Swindon artist Ken White for the Swindon Collection as well as ceramics by Sasha Wardell, Trevor Chaplin and Patricia Volk, paintings by David Rolt, and prints by Howard Hodgkin and Joe Tilson.

Creative Wiltshire has also purchased David’s work (including books, a box set of Movement 2000 and prints) for the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre and said “We are delighted that Swindon has acquired these wonderful works by David Bent. David is a talented and popular artist who has such a strong connection with Swindon and the surrounding area. It has been a pleasure working with David to select the works for Swindon and for the History centre and we feel they provide a fitting tribute to David’s long career.

We hope visitors will enjoy discovering his work in forthcoming exhibitions.”

Above: Beach House West of Looe by David Bent.

Below: Aerobots by David Bent.

David said: “I am proud to have my work represented in the prestigious Swindon collection, sitting alongside works created by a number of great artists that have inspired and influenced me. I am equally pleased that the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre have chosen to acquire a number of pieces.”

David Bent lives and works in Swindon. His long career has taken him all over the world. Born in Dover, he has travelled extensively. His art shows the influences of the places he has visited, as well as his fascination with current affairs. In recent years he has been strongly associated with the Red Arrows, who have inspired a number of paintings within his Art of Flight series. David was recently awarded the rare distinction of Honorary Companionship of the Royal Aeronautical Society in tribute to his work. He is the first artist in 30 years to be awarded this.

Creative Wiltshire is a five year project which started in 2015 and aims to acquire work by creative people from Swindon and Wiltshire to fill significant gaps in the collections across Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Local Studies, based at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham, received £178,000 HLF Collecting Cultures grant towards the five year project totalling £213,550 and materials are being acquired by accredited museums in the county of Wiltshire and Borough of Swindon, including Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and the Salisbury Museum.

For further information please contact Nicki Western, Marketing Manager, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, 01793 466560 or email nwestern@swindon.gov.uk

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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Overdrawn Director’s Loan account s.455 tax explained……

This tax is the result of an overdrawn Director’s Loan Account (DLA). Here is a brief explanation of how they can arise; the implications, and what to do.

An overdrawn Director’s Loan Account (DLA) can often arise accidentally when a Director/shareholder takes money out of the Company bank account (believing it to be dividends), not realising there is no profit left in the Company, and they are effectively taking money owed for taxes.

If a DLA isn’t repaid to the Company within 9 months of the accounting year end in which it arose, 32.5% of the outstanding loan is payable to HMRC (s.455 tax). HMRC will eventually repay this tax once the Director has repaid their Company and cleared the DLA. What to do: Stop s.455 tax by repaying the DLA (if under £15,000) and not re-borrowing it for 30 days. If it’s over £15,000, you can stop s.455 tax by repaying the DLA – but this won’t work if you re-borrow soon after, and HMRC believe there was always an intention to re-borrow.

Longer term: Set aside 20% of the Company profits for Corporation Tax - plus any VAT due and don’t touch it!

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

35

WHAT’S ON

Calne Music and Arts Festival Patron, Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music

5-15 October 2017 This year’s Festival will be will be opened on Thursday 5th October at the Art Exhibition Preview, by well-known local artist Charles Rodwell. This is the start of ten days of diverse events, including classical concerts, recitals, choral works, jazz, folk, talks, dance and drama. There are also excellent musical events for children on the Saturday mornings and performances of music and drama by students of local schools and talented young performers during the week.

As well as being the main concert hall venue, Marden House will be home to an Exhibition of Art by local amateur and professional artists and will be open to the public throughout the Festival. Meanwhile, in the Heritage Centre, the Calne Camera Club will be exhibiting their work. And for those who cannot make the main evening concert there is a later evening concert –a CODA- in which local performers are showcased, starting at 9.30pm and free. The bar will be open and coffee and cake also available.

Lunches are served in Marden House each day after the lunchtime concert, and, in the evening, there is a festival bar, coffee and cake.

Details of all the events and art and poetry competitions for children and adults can be found on the Festival website: www.cmaf.org.uk Brochures are available from Bank House/Calne Information Centre SN11 0EN (opposite the Town Hall) where the Box Office is sited. Tickets are also available on-line at : www.ticketsource. co.uk/cmaf

www.cmaf.org.uk

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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37

On Saturday 12th August, Chippenham saw its first Carnival for 16 years, brought to the town

by Chippenham Connected in partnership with Chippenham Town Council.

A huge array of activity took place from 12noon8pm and featured food and trade stalls, a main stage packed with back to back live music, face painting, arts and crafts, circus skills, stilt walkers, children’s rides and characters who entertained the crowds into the early evening.

The town saw 17,708 people visit across the course of the day, and Emery Gate Shopping Centre reported 1,427 more visitors than average for a Saturday.

Title sponsor, Faresaver Buses, said, “We cannot remember an event in Chippenham which has drawn in so many people. The atmosphere was great and certainly all the people we met appeared to be having a lovely time.”

Chippenham Carnival had a walking procession for its first year back, and the organisers were delighted by the effort made by the entrants (135 humans and a dog!) who walked proudly to showcase what they bring to our community. The streets were lined with the public who had come out to support the procession, and the community spirit was palpable.

Feedback from the event has shown that there is a real desire for Chippenham Carnival to grow, and the organisers hope to be able to include floats in next year’s procession.

The chosen charity for this year is Chippenham Street Pastors, and their Local Coordinator, Michael Weeks, said, “The team loved every minute of the Carnival. It was a real privilege to be involved.”

Kathryn Crosweller of Chippenham Connected said, “The company behind the Carnival is Chippenham BID, whose aim includes encouraging local people to reengage with Chippenham and draw them into town to shop, eat and dwell. We are delighted that so many people came into Chippenham for Chippenham Carnival 2017 and we have been humbled by the words of support from many, many people in the town. We are looking forward to releasing the date for 2018 very soon!”

Photos: Redhouse Photography

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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39

CHARITY NEWS

Paralympic Champion Stephanie Millward supports new airbase

Sydney before she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 17.

She qualified for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, followed by the 2012 London Paralympics and Rio 2016 Paralympics and has won 10 Paralympic medals, including two golds. She is also a multiple World and European Para Swimming champion. She will be competing in the World Championships next month and hopes to compete at her fourth Paralympics in 2020 in Tokyo.

PARALYMPIC swimming champion Stephanie Millward MBE is encouraging people to help build a better future for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and complete the fundraising for its new airbase.

Stephanie, from Box in Wiltshire, has become a Charity Ambassador with Wiltshire Air Ambulance and on Friday (11 August) she visited the site of the new airbase at Outmarsh Farm, Semington, near Melksham, to see the progress of the construction.

Stephanie said: “The new airbase will be an incredible facility benefitting the whole county. It will enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work and help more people in the future. Wiltshire Air Ambulance is a charity that is close to my heart and

I’m so proud to be an Ambassador for it.

“The charity needs the public’s help to complete the fundraising for the new airbase. Every single penny counts and if people put their hearts into it and raise the money needed by the end of this year, what a Christmas present it would be for the county.”

Stephanie was close to a place in the British international ablebodied swimming team and hoped to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in

Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charity Ambassador Stephanie Millward at Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s new airbase under construction at Outmarsh Farm, Semington, with (l-r) Paramedics Steve Riddle, Jo Munday, Richard Miller and Kevin Reed, Head of Operations at WAA. 40

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Work on building Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s new airbase began in April this year and is due to be completed in Spring 2018. The charity has received a donation of £2.5 million from a benefactor and £1 million from the LIBOR fund towards the airbase.

The charity’s Airbase Appeal to raise the remaining £1.25 million to complete the building and equipping of the airbase has raised £403,981, leaving £846,018 still to be raised.

Kevin Reed, Head of Operations at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We’re so grateful to Stephanie Millward for supporting us and becoming a Charity Ambassador. What she has achieved is inspirational and as a resident of Wiltshire she understands the importance of Wiltshire Air Ambulance providing an essential helicopter emergency medical service.

“We’ve had a really good response to our Airbase Appeal from individuals, community groups, schools and businesses, but we still need to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the building and equipping of the new airbase. If you would like to donate you can find out more by going to our special website www. wiltshireairbaseappeal.co.uk or call the charity team on 01380 739453.”

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

41

CHARITY NEWS

Take the plunge, be rescued by a Newfoundland dog Members of the public are invited to take the plunge at Portishead Marina in Bristol and experience a water rescue by a 14 stone hero, a Newfoundland Dog to raise funds for the Royal United Hospitals (RUH), Bath.

Local Charity Celebrates its 25th Birthday in Adventurous Style Running a marathon, skydiving, mountain survival, kayaking from Wiltshire to London… they’re not your usual party activities but this is no ordinary birthday!

This year local charity the Youth Adventure Trust is seeking some special local people to help celebrate its 25th birthday by taking on a personal challenge. It could be a hike, a run, a cycle, a swim or anything you fancy, the challenge is personal!

With adventure at its core, Wiltshire based, Youth Adventure Trust (YAT) gives vulnerable and disadvantaged 11-14 year olds the hope, confidence and skills to face the challenges in their daily lives. Using outdoor adventure to inspire these young people over 3 school years, YAT help them to overcome their challenges, make positive decisions, form friendships, exceed their expectations and achieve their full potential.

CEO, Mark Davey explained the challenge, “We are celebrating our 25th anniversary milestone by launching ambitious plans to grow and help even more vulnerable young people fulfil their potential through outdoor adventure. We receive no statutory funding and so we are asking local people from Wiltshire to support us by taking on their own personal challenge for our young people.”

Are you up for a little adventure? Want to give the gift of outdoor adventure to Wiltshire’s vulnerable young people? If so, don your super-hero cape (or whatever safety equipment you might need!) and get in touch with the Youth Adventure Trust who will support you every step of the way.

To find out how you can help Wiltshire’s Youth Adventure Trust to double the number of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people we reach in Wiltshire email: louisa.oldfield@youthadventuretrust.org.uk or visit: wwwyouthadventuretrust.org.uk/get-involved/ team-25 or www.twitter.com/youth_adventure 42

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Taking place on Saturday 30 September, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience an ‘at sea’ Newfoundland water rescue. Newfoundland dogs have been the St. Bernard’s of the sea for hundreds of years.

They are natural swimmers and have webbing between their paws to help them swim, making it an impressive sight to see them in action.

This is the first year when both the RUH’s fundraising charity, The Forever Friends Appeal and Newfound Friends, the Bristol-based charity have teamed up to offer an exciting event to raise vital funds towards the Appeal’s Cancer Care Campaign as well as wards and departments at the RUH.

Emily Lynch, Events and Community Officer, The Forever Friends Appeal said: “We’re excited to be working with Newfound Friends and we’re now asking people to sign up online to take part in our first Newfoundland water rescue day. Anyone aged 8 years old and up can take part, including non-swimmers as everyone will be given a lifejacket on the day.

“If you want to take part, all we ask for is a £30 registration fee to secure your place and for you to pledge to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship money. You can choose to dedicate your fundraising to a ward or department in the RUH or towards the new RUH Cancer Centre.”

Participants will be provided with a wet suit (hire fee included in entry fee) and will be taken out into the marina by boat. Once they are in the water, one of the Newfoundland dogs will join you to take you safely back to the boat.

To take part, simply sign up at www.foreverfriendsappeal. co.uk or call: 01225 821535. Book early to avoid disappointment as there are limited places for this event.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet these amazing dogs and be rescued one of them.

Tony Warren

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Tel: 01249 812158 Mobile: 07860 366880 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Residents of Hill House say that it is their ...

‘Home from Home’ Hill House is a Country House set in open countryside once owned by the Chamberlain family.

We offer nursing, residential, respite, day care and end of life care. Please give us a call if you would like more information on our lovely Home.

‘Person centred care sees residents as equal partners in planning, developing and assessing care to make sure it is the most appropriate for their needs. It involves putting residents and their families at the heart of all decisions.’ Norma & Chad Doveton (Owners of Hill House) The recently opened new wing has large living and dining areas overlooking the Dauntsey Vale.

There are many new features including community coffee hub, bar, hairdressing salon, nail bar, ensuite shower in each room, large assisted bathrooms, WiFi throughout. The gardens are a magnificent feature of Hill House where you can enjoy peace and

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We continue to drive our Homes forward to achieve ever higher standards. We recognise training our staff is the key to providing the best care possible. Training also helps staff to achieve their personal goals, career development and to be happy and fulfilled in their work. We are looking for highly motivated caring individuals to work in our new Home and have several vacancies including Registered Nurses and Care Assistants.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

45

BACK TO SCHOOL

What is a Forest School?

Many nurseries and pre-schools now offer Forest Schools so you may be thinking what is a Forest School?

Forest School is a Scandinavian idea that recognises the importance of children’s contact with nature. They take the learning outdoors for part of the day where the children may be making dens, collecting treasure, listening to a story or playing games.

Here are just some of the benefits: Growth in Confidence Children grow in confidence as a result of the freedom, time and space they are given in their learning.

Motivation and concentration Children are excited about learning outdoors! As they are more engaged in learning this improves their ability to participate and concentrate for longer periods of time.

Social skills Learning to share tools and participating in group activities strengthens their bonds and social ties.

Communication The sensory experience of outdoor learning helps with their language development.

Physical skills Physical stamina is improved as well as the gross and fine motor skills

that children need to develop.

More importantly, Forest School is fun! Whilst it is educational the children are playing, exploring and discovering in an environment that they may not normally have access to. Children who participate in Forest Schools are generally believed to be happier, but who wouldn’t be happier being outdoors in the fresh air, having fun and getting mucky!

Rub-A-Dub Pre-school

! n fu h c su is g in rn a le re e h W RUB-A-DUB PRE-SCHOOL NOW OPEN FOR 5 DAYS A WEEK! Situated in the village of Derry Hill, located conveniently between Calne and Chippenham, we are now open 5 days a week and can offer up to 30 hours of childcare.

We are open for 2 -5 year olds Monday to Thursday from 9am to 3pm. Fridays 9 to 12pm is our special Rising Stars session that is open to the older children starting school next September.

As well as providing safe childcare, our highly motivated and caring team encourage the children to discover and learn helping to develop their confidence.

NEW FOR 2017 – FOREST FRIDAYS! We are excited to announce that on Fridays from 12 to 3pm it is all about taking the learning outdoors and having fun amongst the trees! This session is open to those children who are aged 3 years old and upwards.

To find out more about Forest Fridays and our childcare offering please visit our website www.rubadubpreschool.com or even better come and visit!

Manager: Natalie Bolt Email: rubadubpreschoolenquiries@gmail.com

Telephone: 07894 073865 -

leave a message and someone will call you back Address: Lansdowne Village Hall, Petty Lane, Derry Hill, SN11 9QY Registered Charity 1030979

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

OPEN EVENING THURSDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2017 6.00-8.30PM

OPEN WORKING MORNING THURSDAY 21ST September 2017 9.00 – 11.00AM

CORSHAM6TH OPEN EVENING WEDNESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2017 6.00-8.30PM

TEL: 01249 713284 ■ EMAIL: RECEPTION@CORSHAM.WILTS.SCH.UK ■ WWW.CORSHAM.WILTS.SCH.UK The Corsham School, The Tynings, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9DF

For more information please call Liz on

0844 8000219

www.tumbletots.com/swindon The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

47

BACK TO SCHOOL

‘Uke’can do it too!

I

BEGAN to learn the ukulele properly about a year ago. I acquired a cheap instrument for Christmas one year, learned a few chords from You Tube, strummed a few songs, lost interest and carried on with my life consigning my ‘toy’ to a shelf.

Then one day while surfing the web I came across a video of a guy named Jake Shimabukuro. Google him playing Bohemian Rhapsody and prepare to be amazed. I was completely taken aback by his musicianship. My ‘toy’ was not a toy after all…it was a proper musical instrument, capable of making an awesome sound. I took it off the shelf and looked at it with new respect.

Suddenly I wanted to learn to play like Jake!

I began a search for a ukulele teacher and found a classical guitar teacher who also taught ukulele. I was hooked from my first lesson. At first people would laugh when they visited us and saw my ukulele. They made references to George Formby and Tiny Tim. So I would play them a little bit of Spanish Flamenco (known as Flamencolele when played on a uke) or an Etude, and their mockery turned to surprise and delight.

My children learn violin and piano and were studying for their grade five exams. I wondered if

48

I could do something similar on the ukulele. I took my Grade three exam at the beginning of this year and passed with a distinction. I’ve moved on from my first cheap ukulele and bought a beautiful Tanglewood concert uke on the advice of my teacher. I’m still a long way off playing like Jake Shimabukoro but I’m improving every week and having so much fun on the journey.

Here are some things I’ve learned along the way: It’s easy to play the ukulele… badly! The ukulele is certainly a simple instrument to pick up and get going on but like the recorder it suffers from being bought as a cheap toy for children.

“It’s easy to play the ukulele…badly! ”

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Also, all instruments will sound a bit ropey at the start of your musical journey, though the ukulele much less so than a recorder I have to say! To play any instrument well takes time and practice, but the pay-off is worth the effort.

Many schools are teaching ukulele now, which is both wonderful, and alarming. In my experience schools tend to be very bad at imparting a life long love of anything. I’m sure if I’d been forced to play ukulele at school that I might not have picked it up as an adult. After all, if schools inculcated a life long love of a musical instrument, surely everyone in the UK would play the recorder!

People assume I am learning the ukulele as a stepping stone to learning the guitar. This is not the case. No-one thinks a violin is not a training instrument for the cello! It might look like a small guitar but it is a separate instrument with its own characteristics, sound, and musical repertoire. What sounds great on a violin may not work on a cello, and the same goes for ukulele and guitar. A ukulele is not a guitar with training wheels! Though if playing one inspires you to learn the other I say go for it!

by Jamie McLaven

St Margaret’s is Excellent across the board!

THE Independent Schools Inspectorate, the Ofsted equivalent for independent schools, has recently graded St Margaret’s excellent for the quality of both the children’s academic and other achievements, as well as the quality of their personal development.

We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome and could not be more pleased with the way the inspection team captured the ethos of the school and in particular the essence and the spirit of the children.

The inspectors were particularly full of praise for the way in which the children evaluated their own learning and said: ‘Pupils of all ages display very high levels of self-knowledge, self-esteem, selfconfidence and resilience. Their outstanding personal development is underpinned by excellent pastoral care and a high level of

commitment by all staff to support the individual needs of every pupil. All pupils understand how to improve their own learning through regular opportunities provided for reflection on their own performance, as part of the wholeschool effective learning skills programme.’

The report also said that children made excellent progress throughout the school and that they were highly successful in gaining their first choice places at senior schools, often with scholarships and awards.

Come and see us in action at our next Open Morning on Thursday 12th October.

May 2017 ISI Inspection

‘EXCELLENT’ across the board Open Morning 12th October 2017 Independent day school for boys and girls aged 3-11 Tel: 01249 857220 / StMargaretsPrep StMargaretsPrep.org.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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TRAVEL

50

AUGUST 2017 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Extraordinary Offers It's Pebbles Travel individual service that makes all the difference, we will endeavour to create a perfect holiday experience for you all.

Martine & Sadie

Martine has 26 years’ experienc e in the travel Martine@pebb industry. lestravel.co.uk Sadie has 17 ye ars’ experience in the travel in Sadie@pebble dustry. stravel.co.uk

Pebbles Travel are a member of ABTA and an Accredited Body Member of Hays Travel Limited, so you can book their services with confidence.

Please feel free to contact us for any quotations required, or if you are just looking for guidance, we will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

We both look forward to welcoming you all, to our office or please feel free to contact us via e-mail.

Opening hours : Mon to Fri 09:30 - 17:00 Sat 09:30 - 13:00 After hour appointments can be made.

Terms and conditions apply to all offers.

2 The Causeway, Chippenham, Wilts, SN15 3BT

01249 447488

www.pebblestravel.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

51

HERITAGE QUARTER

Foodalicious

GOOD FOOD SHOP

After a wonderful first few weeks of opening the doors, we have enjoyed every moment of providing luxury foods, our chef prepared meals and treats to all. From our now famous Brownies, to a lovely variety of fresh cheeses, plus our range of Vegan and Vegetarian items, it seems that there has been something for everyone to try which has been fantastic.

Looking forward to the Autumn months and Christmas, we have lots planned for you all. We will have hampers, both with gifts and also with pre-prepared Christmas Day foods to take the stress out of the big day! Please do come down and see us, we look forward to tantalising your tastebuds with something foodie and delicious! www.foodalicious.co.uk Photos by Paul Stallard of www.candidpictures.co.uk

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Calne Heritage Week 4th – 10th September 2017 Celebrate the people, places and events of Calne’s past with a daily programme of free events from 4th to 10th September. Step inside some of Calne’s most intriguing buildings, meet the people who look after the surrounding landscapes and learn something new about this historic Wiltshire town.

The full Calne Heritage Week programme can be picked up from Calne Heritage Centre or viewed on the Calne Our Place Facebook page. The programme includes: - A town-wide Open Doors Day on Saturday 9th September with the opportunity to step inside many historic buildings both within Calne Heritage Quarter and further afield.

- A number of talks at venues including Calne Heritage Centre.

- Several guided walks both in town and the surrounding area.

- Discounted entry to Bowood House & Gardens on Sunday 10th September (with voucher, terms apply) New for this year: - Guided walks with the National Trust at Cherhill Down and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at Morgan’s Hill - Bell-ringing taster sessions at St Marys Church - New speakers including David Dawson, the Curator of Wiltshire Museum Free events from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th September will also be part of the national Heritage Open Days event.

Parking: two hours free parking at Calne Heritage Quarter car park accessed from the A4, where you can also park for the day and enjoy Calne's historic streets, green spaces independent businesses.

Heritage Bed and Breakfast shortlisted for National annual awards that celebrates the best independent hosts and hoteliers from across the UK Heritage Bed and Breakfast run by Gillian and Ellie Farago has been shortlisted for the Most Beautifully Presented Award at Britain’s premier annual awards for independent hosts and hoteliers. The eviivo Awards celebrate the best of Britain’s world-class – and world-famous – Bed and Breakfasts, guest houses, inns and small, independent hosts and hotels.

Gillian and Ellie of Heritage Bed and Breakfast commented: “At Heritage Bed and Breakfast we work so hard to give our guests a fantastic and unique experience. We are absolutely delighted to have that recognised through this shortlisting for the Most Beautifully Presented Award and just hope we are successful on the night.”

Commenting, Paul Saxby, Events Director at eviivo said: “The quality of the entrants to the eviivo Awards this year was once again extremely high. This Grade II listed Victorian Gothic building has been lovingly restored, renovated and refurbished, with the rooms themed accordingly, and including feature beds and chandeliers, to create opulent and elegant accommodation. All of which is very well reflected on the property’s website through the use of professional photography and detailed descriptions.”

Judging will take place over the coming months with the Award winners announced at the eviivo Awards evening on the 17th October 2017 at the Café De Paris in London.

The Heritage Bed and Breakfast is situated in Calne with 3 rooms available. For further information please see www.heritagebandb.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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THE INTERVIEW

Black Dog Smokery Iain Murray Clarke has been running the Black Dog Smokery near Royal Wootton Bassett for the last three years. Sourcing meat and fish from local suppliers, Iain has had a passion for good food which began in childhood.

Today Iain lives with his wife Louise and their children Bobby, aged 12 and Isobel, aged seven in Black Dog Cottages nearby and they actually have a black dog called Jura!

Interview by Fiona Scott

When did your love of food begin?

It’s always been part of my life.

I remember watching my mum Lizann cooking right from childhood. She cooked – and still does – a really good shepherd’s pie and lasagne and I then started to help out in the kitchen, though I didn’t start to really cook for myself until I left home and had to do it for myself from scratch. I’ve always loved cooking, loved exploring new foods and new tastes.

Did you start out working in the world of food and cooking?

No, I got a job with the John Lewis group working for Waitrose. I told myself I’d stay for ten years and then follow my passion. I began to climb up the management structure and actually stayed for 17 years. I always knew it wasn’t what I really wanted to do but the company was, and is, a good employer and I just didn’t make the move. By chance, one day, thanks to my mum, I was put in touch with someone who ran a pub and I started working there in the kitchen at weekends to help out in the kitchen and absolutely loved it. I just loved it.

How did you make the move?

It was thanks to my wife Louise who supported me in every way.

The landlord of the pub where I was helping out at weekends offered me a job but the pay was about 40 per cent less than I was earning. I felt we just couldn’t manage that kind of drop in income. One day I got home and my wife had loads of paperwork around her and she had worked out that if we cut back on various things, we could make it work. It was really hard to start with but I was so much happier in myself even though I was working split shifts and long hours. After several roles, we took over the Foxham Inn (near Sutton Benger).

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I had my own kitchen, I could try out my own ideas and I started to learn about curing and smoking meat and fish.

How did the Black Dog Smokery come about?

After a spell at the Foxham Inn, we moved to Lambourn and started a catering business Bourn Catering – which we still run today. We had our son Bobby while at the pub and, although I loved it, I realised I was missing him growing up and I didn’t want that. So we moved to Lambourn to start this new food venture and then we also had our daughter Isobel. An opportunity came up to move back to Wiltshire and live in Black Dog Cottages and it seems the perfect time to start something new alongside the catering business. This would allow us to work with food during the quieter winter period. The premises were formerly run by a fencing company so we renovated the site and now run a smokery and a cookery school from the site.

What kind of meats and fish do you smoke?

There’s science behind curing and smoking and you have to learn your craft – times very much depend on what you are curing and smoking.

For example with back bacon you may have to cure it for ten days, ensure you are using the right amount and type of salt and curing mixture. You have to dress it, wash it and redress it every day and then when you know the curing process

is done, you smoke it. Currently we smoke bacon, chicken, duck, game, mackerel, salmon and trout to name a few. Our products can be ordered online or by visiting our stall when we sell at local fairs and markets.

Where do you source your meat & fish?

We are very passionate about animal welfare. It really matters to us to be able to trace the source of our meat and fish. To visit a farm and to know the animals are well treated, fed well and given the best life possible, means a lot to us. This can mean our meat costs more to buy, but for us it’s worth it to know these animals were treated well. Also we firmly believe it creates a better flavour for our meats and fish. Locally we work with Buttle Farm at Compton Bassett, Crumps Butchers in the High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett and New Wave Seafoods based in Lechlade.

Where does your entrepreneurial spirit come from?

I believe it stems from my dad John who also left a corporate job which saw him travelling the world – to set up his own export business. Later he sold that and, with my mum, moved to Devon and ran a brass-rubbing enterprise. I absorbed all of this but it’s only later you can look back and think it may have had an influence.

Also Louise has always supported me and wanted me to do the one thing that I love – to cook and work with top class ingredients – so that

has really helped and supported me in my passion for cooking and good food.

Where can our readers find you?

Our business is based next to Black Dog Cottages on the main road between Royal Wootton Bassett and Lyneham – look for the black wrought iron gates. Here we do the curing and smoking, run our catering business and also run cookery courses for adults and children – those who are beginners but are interested in food and trying new things. We run bread and pasta making courses, fish preparation courses, canape courses and, of course, smoking and curing courses.

We prepare, enjoy and taste food and we don’t worry about getting messy!

We also run stalls at various food festivals including: Sunday September 3 Melksham Food & River Festival Sunday September 10 Salisbury Food Festival More information at: www.blackdogsmokery.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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FOOD & DRINK

The Pear Tree at Purton

The Pear Tree at Purton is not only family run, child and dog friendly – it’s also a fascinating historical building

I

T was originally Purton’s rectory situated in the churchyard next to the unique twin towered church of St Mary’s about 400 yards away from its present position (continue down the hill take the next turn to the right).

The story goes the church had run out of grave space and the graves had gradually encroached on the house until they were outside the front door. So a decision was made to move the rectory to its present location just down the road.

When Anne and her former husband took on The Pear Tree, the rectory was not in the best of conditions as squatters had been living in it.

After some planning and historic difficulties - the Diocese had originally insisted no alcohol be served at the building and profits should go to the Church of England - the Youngs eventually got planning permission in October 1987 to turn the building into a restaurant and four letting bedrooms.

Conversion then began including new electrics, In 1911, each of the stones were meticulously marked, plumbing, heating, the construction of the numbered and carried by horse and conservatory, and the drive way. cart to the new site. It’s also said that In less than two months, The Pear in its position, the front door step is Tree at Purton opened its doors The Pear Tree is exactly the same height above sea on December 11th 1987 with the currently offering a level as the top of St Paul’s Cathedral in bedrooms opening over the following Friday night Special London. Pictures of the original rectory few months. deal. Guests can enjoy a are on display inside The Pear Tree. three-course dinner for In 1990/91 the hotel was extended to two, overnight stay and The oldest part of the building is the 17 rooms with a conference room able fireplace in the library - this has been full Wiltshire breakfast to accommodate boardroom style dated at 1430 - when King Henry VI was from £87.50 per person. meetings for around delegates and on the throne of England, around the This offer is subject to weddings for around 50 guests. time of Joan of Arc. availability and apply With the vicarage came two fields of to Friday nights only In July 1987 the Diocese of Bristol sold glebe land. In the nearest field Anne and are based upon two the house to Francis and Anne Young. has created a garden which comprises people sharing. The cost Anne is still working at The Pear Tree a raised border, herbaceous border, includes VAT & wi-fi. today, especially tending to the gardens wild flower and the vineyard. bank and lily pond. In Anne’s career before coming to the far field she has created a Wiltshire included working at the Grosvenor Hotel in Chester as Head Housekeeper, The Savoy in London and wild flower meadow, wetlands, buddleia walk and a copse of Head Housekeeper at King Hussein of Jordan’s Royal native oaks.

Palace in Amman.

The Pear Tree at Purton 01793 772100 www.peartreepurton.co.uk 56

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Award Winning, Family Run Farm Shop Established for over 30 years Selling Quality Local Produce Open Daily 9am – 6pm (9.30am – 5pm on Sundays) HOME & LOCALLY REARED FRESH MEAT, POULTRY & GAME HOMEMADE SAUSAGES, BURGERS & FAGGOTS Join us for our Tasting Day on Saturday 30th September 10.30am – 3pm;

Meet our suppliers and sample their delicious produce!

LOCAL CHEESES & HOME COOKED MEATS LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES, FRUIT & SALADS HOMEMADE CAKES & PIES LOCALLY MADE CHOCOLATES & FUDGE FINE WINE, LOCAL ALE & CIDER PRESERVES & CHUTNEYS GIFT HAMPERS

www.allingtonfarmshop.co.uk TEL: 01249 658112 Allington Bar Farm, Chippenham, SN14 6LJ

New Owner, New Chef, New Look, New Menu A Rustic Country Inn offering classic dishes alongside modern British cooking. Famed for the traditional Sunday Roast and fine dining room.

TUESDAY LUNCH SPECIAL Two courses for £10

TRADITIONAL SUNDAY ROAST SERVED EVERY SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY STEAK NIGHT £10 off when you buy two steaks

The George Inn, Sandy Lane, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 2XP • t 01380 850403

thegeorgeinnsandylane.co.uk | book@thegeorgeinnsandylane.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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FOOD & DRINK

Focus on Fat Helen Adams, founder of Wiltshire’s Oakmead Clinic helps people with a range of issues including weight loss, thyroid problems and cancer. Good nutrition is at the heart of Helen’s practice.

A

S summer turns to autumn, Helen often gives advice to parents, young people and clients around good fats and good eating habits as the weather becomes colder.

“We often get ill because we don’t have the right food,” Helen said. “Different foods have different properties.

There’s been a lot of bad press over the last 20 years about saturated fats. However we seem to miss the fact that certain fats are very good for you.

“Good fats perform many important and different functions in the body including making up part of our cell membranes and a lack of good fat can lead to problems with the gut, skin and even the brain.

“We need to remember that good fats are used for all of the other things in the body first before being stored as fat. However the only purpose of sugar is to provide energy and any excess will quickly be converted into fat. Having more of a focus on good fat rather than sugar, can aid weight loss, boost energy

Baked Spinach and Cheese Omelette

Good fats (such as coconut oil, butter and olive oil) can improve the communication between the cells of the body. Poor communication can lead to pain and inflammation. These fats are also used for memory and they help the body absorb many vitamins.

Another food to make the most of all year around are vegetables. These should make up about half of the food on the plate at any meal (starchy vegetables such as carrots and parsnips are higher in carbohydrates – although high in nutrients, think of them in the same way as potatoes or pasta. Non-starchy vegetables provide a range of nutrients, so the more variety of colours you can eat, the better).

Good health guidelines now state eight portions of vegetables and two of fruit per day - a portion is only the size of the palm of your hand so it’s not that onerous.

Directions Preheat oven to 325°F/190°C Melt butter in a large skillet

Makes 8 servings (1 serving = one 3 inch x 4 inch piece)

Add fresh spinach, salt and pepper. Cook spinach until wilted (only a couple of minutes). Set aside.

(For a dairy free version: omit the ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. Substitute canned coconut milk for the double cream and coconut oil for the butter.

Measurements are approximate)

In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs and ricotta Stir in cream and basil. Fold in spinach, tomato, mozzarella and shallots

50g butter 450g fresh spinach, washed 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 8 large eggs, beaten 185g whole milk ricotta 100g double cream 1tbs chopped fresh basil (or 1/2 tsp dried basil) 150g chopped plum tomatoes 85g shredded whole milk mozzarella 25g thinly sliced shallots TIP: This omelette makes a nice, healthy brunch dish and includes brain-healthy spinach. In place of the fresh spinach you could use 10oz frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed dry) (From the Institute of Functional Medicine, Mito Food Plan) 58

and reduce fatigue because the body gets the resources it needs.”

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Spread evenly in a greased baking dish (12 inch x 8 inch or similar) Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the centre comes out clean. Allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Helen said: “We often think of vegetables as the bit of garnish on the side of our plates. But vegetables are packed full of nutrients. They supply everything from cancer stopping properties, support for our immune system and they actually detox our own bodies. They help support healthy gut bacteria and those bacteria need to be fed as well and they love vegetables.

“It’s so important to remember this – our gut is central to our health. It’s known there are more messages from our gut to our brain than from our brain to our gut.”

To kick start this autumn period, Helen has shared a recipe (opposite) which is good for supporting the immune system helping to create energy and reduce fatigue. She also has some useful tips for parents whose children are about to go back to school.

“Avoid the sudden rush for sugar. Do think about healthy snacks rather than give in to the peer pressure of sugary items.”

Some healthy snacks that give a good mix of proteins, carbohydrates and fats might be:

Nut butter – cashew or almond butter spread thickly on oatcakes or in celery sticks.

Red peppers – sweet & crunchy can be dipped into salsa or humous.

Nuts & apple or apple & cheese – avoid having the fruit on its own because it contains quite a bit of sugar which acts like rocket fuel to cause a blood sugar spike (a short-lived spurt of energy and alertness) and then a corresponding dip (fatigue, sleepiness, decrease in mood and cravings for more sugar). Cheese or nuts contain proteins and fats too, and lengthen the time it takes for the sugar to be broken down and used for energy so there is a much more balanced release, meaning parents and children can avoid a sugar roller-coaster.

Anyone who is interested in working with Helen to improve their nutrition can have a free half hour consultation. Helen calls this her ‘Discovery’ session and from that she can suggest one of her three packages to support them through a journey to better eating and health.

Tel: 07799 431612

Corsham Creative Market Join one of Wiltshire’s best up and coming craft markets: where over 30 local stallholders gather every moth to sell their handmade and home produced goods. Shop from a variety of freshly baked cakes, fine jewellery, hand painted artwork, modern ceramics, impressive woodwork and more… the perfect event to buy unique, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts!

Each month there are always new and fresh stallholders so you never know what you might just find, and many sellers are keen to offer a bespoke service where you can design and order a completely custom piece made just for you. Visitors can also benefit from the café, library, pool, gym and adjacent park, so you can make a full day out with the whole family.

Find us at Springfield Campus, Corsham, SN13 9DN on the first Saturday of every month, 11-3pm, with free entry for all! Facilities also include a free car park, wheelchair accessible. Upcoming 2017 dates: September 2nd, October 7th, November 4th, December 2nd All enquiries contact Nicola at Nicola-davis@live.co.uk or call 07805 996568

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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FOOD & DRINK Year after year thousands of people get behind the Love British Food campaign which culminates in British Food Fortnight in the early autumn.

Communities come together to stage glorious celebrations of food, schools visit farms and learn more about the wonderful food produced on their doorstep while pubs, restaurants, hospitals and care homes change their menus in support, and a growing number of us actively seek out that label confirming it’s British.

Support in abundance This year British Food Fortnight runs from the 23 September 8 October 2017 and once again the Co-op is the Official Retail Partner.

“More than any other retailer, the Co-op is making quality British food accessible and affordable to high streets throughout Britain and we are delighted to be working with them to fly the flag for our farmers and producers,” says Alexia Robinson, Founder of Love British Food. “And we are so lucky to have many big names on our committee generating grassroots activity and reaching out to the public: the WI, National Trust, National Federation of Young Farmers, Campaign to Protect Rural England and a host of leading catering organisations including the National Association of Care Caterers (NACC), Hospital Caterers Association (HCA), The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) and Cucina - a very special food service organisation that is a pioneer in putting fresh British food on school menus daily.

Raymond Blanc invites everyone to get involved A competition to find the most imaginative celebrations of British food taking place during the Fortnight will be run again in conjunction with the Telegraph. Previous winners include community groups from Bath, Emsworth and Peterborough.

Anyone organising an event – big or small - is encouraged to enter. The judging panel is led by legendary chef and Love British Food Ambassador, Raymond Blanc and his son Olivier Blanc, “Every year I am amazed by the entries and it is very hard to choose the winners”, says Raymond. “It makes me so happy that so many local villages, small and large, come together.

The work that they put into the projects is fantastic. It is a wonderful campaign to bring people together, it might be working as a team at a school 60

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or working as a community - sharing ideas, using local suppliers and companies and making the most of what they have surrounding them.” The winner will enjoy an exclusive morning at Raymond’s Oxfordshire restaurant, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons plus £250 of Co-op vouchers and a case of Co-op awardwinning ‘Les Pionniers’ champagne.

Liz Earle joins the campaign as Love British Food Ambassador Leading wellbeing expert and pasture-fed farmer, Liz Earle MBE is also helping to spread the message far and wide. “I’m often asked about what to eat for better health and so much of the good stuff comes from high quality, local and sustainable British food”, says Liz. “As an organic and grass-fed livestock farmer, I’m also aware of how important it is to support our home-grown farming community who produce all this goodness. That’s why I’m so proud to be a new ambassador for Love British Food.”

The Co-op makes buying British easy The Co-op raises the bar for bringing British food to the high street and, from May 2017, will be the only UK retailer to have 100% fresh British bacon, lamb, beef, chicken, ham, pork, sausages and turkey, part of their three-year plan to source UK meat and vegetables.

Be inspired Alexia Robinson concludes: “British Food Fortnight has been so powerful in inspiring people around the country, whether it is big cities like Bath, small communities, schools or care homes. Most importantly we are leading the way in encouraging the public sector to source more British food. Now in its 15th year, there is a real love for this event and, in an era of PR-driven promotions, it is unique in that it is still very much a grassroots movement.

Changing times bring both challenges and opportunities for Britain’s farmers and food producers. With Raymond Blanc and Liz Earle at the helm, a superb national committee and the best sponsor in the Co-op, Love British Food is leading the way in celebrating and promoting British food.”

Slow-cooker Baked Apples

with Nuts and Butterscotch Sauce Leave these apples in your slow-cooker and return home from an autumn walk to a tasty treat Preparation Time: 20-30 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours, 30 minutes Makes: 6 baked apples Ingredients 6 apples 90g / 3.5 oz Butter – chopped into cubes 35g / 1.5oz slivered almonds 35g / 1.5oz chopped walnuts ½ tsp Ground cinnamon 225g / 8oz Light brown sugar 180ml / 6fl oz single cream 125ml / 4.5 fl oz apple juice Method Core the unpeeled apples but only go ¾ of the way through. Make the hole about 4cm / 1.5inches across. Then score the skin around the centre of the apple (to allow for expansion in the cooker).

Mix 30g of the butter with the nuts and, cinnamon and 60g of the sugar. Press the mixture into the apple cavities.

Into the slow cooker pour the cream, apple juice and remaining butter and sugar. Stand the apples in the sauce, cover and cook on the ‘high’ setting for about 2 hours 30 minutes, until the apples are tender.

Remove the apples from the cooker and keep warm. Drain the sauce into a small saucepan, bring to the boil then simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously until it thickens. Pour the sauce over the apples and serve.

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

61

FOOD & DRINK

Coronation Chicken

Preparation time: 1-2 hours

Cooking time: 30 mins to 1 hour Serves: 4-8 Ingredients 1.5kg/4lb free-range chicken 4 spring onions, sliced 6 garlic cloves, peeled, left whole 1 tbsp sea salt 10 whole black or green peppercorns or a mixture For the sauce 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp curry powder 1 tbsp tomato purée 85ml/3fl oz red wine 150ml/¼pint water 1 bay leaf Salt and freshly ground black pepper Caster sugar 2 slices lemon Squeeze of lemon juice 425ml/15fl oz good-quality mayonnaise 2 tbsp apricot purée (You can make your own by blending 4-5 ready-to-eat dried apricots with 3 tbsp water) 3 tbsp whipped cream To serve 1 tbsp roughly chopped coriander Boiled rice 62

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Method Place the chicken int o a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Cove r with water and ad d the spring onions, garlic, salt an d peppercorns.

Bring to the boil un covered and simme r for 30 minutes. Turn the ch icken once during this time.

Cover with the lid an d turn off the heat.

Leave for one hour. Remo ve the chicken, allow to cool completely, and the n tear the chicken fro m the bones and chop int o chunks.

For the sauce, heat the oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook gently for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Ad d the curry powder and cook for a further two mi nutes, stirring well.

Add the tomato purée, wine , water and bay lea f.

Bring the mixture to the boil. Season wi th salt and freshly ground black pepper, then add the sugar, lemon slices and lem on juice, to taste. Re duce the heat and simmer un covered, for 5-10 mi nutes. Strain the sauce through a sieve and set aside to cool.

Once cold fold in the mayonnaise and ap ricot purée, to taste. Add more lemon juice if requir ed and then finally fold in the wh ipped cream.

Arrange the chicken on a large platter, po ur the sauce over the top , sprinkle with the co riander and serve immediately, with rice or salad.

Veggie Burgers Method

over a low ower oil in a pan Heat half the sunfl tes, stirring inu m onions for 15 heat and fry the translucent they are softened, frequently, until . wn ro -b turn golden and beginning to onions, gether the cooked In a bowl, mix to smoked ts, rro ca s, m oo ushr tofu, beetroot, m kidney d an e garlic, thym paprika (if using), freshly d an lt sa th wi , taste beans. Season to pper. ground black pe rtions and e into six equal po Divide the mixtur this if your s. It’s easier to do shape into burger damp. hands are a little pan and olive oil in a frying Heat the remaining ch ea side, r 3-4 minutes on fry the burgers fo cooking ish wn. You can fin until golden-bro rve them se d an s te inu ore m them for a few m pan until e dl id r to heat a gr like this but I prefe rgers bu ed ok co e add th smoking hot, then ch side, ea on er 1-2 minutes and fry for a furth . es lin ar ch ar deep until there are cle d any extras s in buns and ad Serve the burger s, gherkins, ch as tomato slice of your choice, su leslaw or co s, ve lea ers, salad chargrilled pepp mayonnaise.

Preparation Time: 20-30 minutes Cooking time: 20-30 minutes Makes: 6 burgers Ingredients 3-4 tbsp sunflower oil 1 onion, peeled, thinly sliced 250g/9oz firm tofu, finely chopped 1 cooked beetroot (not in vinegar), peeled, grated 150g/5½oz fried mushrooms, drained 1 carrot, peeled, grated 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional) 1 garlic clove, peeled, crushed 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme 1 tbsp chopped kidney beans salt and freshly ground black pepper To serve 6 burger buns 6 tbsp ready-made mayonnaise (optional) 3 beefsteak tomatoes, thickly sliced 2-3 gherkins, sliced

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

63

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Chippenham Reflexologist Hazelwood Beauty wins Prestigious Award to walk 26.2 miles at night Wiltshire’s Hazelwood Beauty Salon, based in Sutton Benger, near Chippenham, has won a prestigious national award for Best Small Salon 2017.

Founder and creative director Sam Francome recently accepted the BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) Award for 2017’s best salon in the small salon category. She said: ‘It’s a huge compliment to receive this award. BABTAC is firmly focused on upholding standards within the beauty industry. It’s a genuine honour for my team and I to receive such a prestigious award and to be recognised as being leaders in our sector.’

BABTAC is a not-for-profit professional organisation for those working in beauty, hair, holistic and sports therapy industries. Its aim is to raise industry standards and it has a rigorous ethical code and demands high professional practice from its members.

Sam first welcomed clients for their treatments in a room in her home over 15 years ago. Today she has moved into a bespoke and purpose-built salon with four treatment rooms and a nail lounge at The Stable in Sutton Benger.

Sam and her team includes four fully qualified therapists and two front of house staff. They offer professional brands including the Decleor skincare range, Jessica manicure and pedicures and CACI non-surgical facelift facials. They have an experienced aesthetic practitioner Dr Jennifer Boone who has been attracting clients to Hazelwood. Dr Boone offers treatments including dermal fillers and Botox treatments for both men and women.

Sam Francome, owner/therapist at Hazelwood Beauty Salon receiving her BABTAC award (centre). Also featured are host Jill Morris (left) and Gordon Leask representing the sponsor of the award World Pay.

in aid of Cancer Research

Gabriela Slater founder of Nureflexology - is rising to the challenge of the Shine Night Walk in London, a gruelling 26.2 mile route that brings the cure for cancer one step closer. The Shine Night Walk is one of many charity events organized by Cancer Research to help to raise money to beat cancer. The challenge is to walk the length of a Marathon overnight on a circular route starting at Southwark Park and finishing at Old Billingsgate.

“Nearly everybody has a story to tell about losing someone to cancer, sadly in June last year I lost my Dad to cancer after his 10 year battle. I am going to be doing the Shine Night Walk with two friends Rachel and Debbie, whose families have also been touched by this illness. I have chosen to support Bowel Cancer research, as that’s how my dad’s cancer started” said Gabriela.

According to Cancer Research, over the past forty years we’ve seen dramatic progress in tackling bowel cancer and half of all people diagnosed will now survive for at least 10 years. But we can’t stop there. Sadly, bowel cancer still claims around 43 lives each day. Also forty years ago only one in four people survived cancer. Thanks to research, two in four people now survive – but that’s just not good enough. Cancer Research UK has set out to double survival rates within the next 20 years.

“Supporting such a great cause and raising money for it is so important to me. It’s been very hard to find the time to put in the training, but I walk more instead of driving to local shops, library or school with the children.

I started my training at the end of July and try to fit one or two longer walks a week (10 -15 miles). It will be quite challenging for me to walk through the night without sleep as I have never done it before. Regardless of how difficult and tough it will be I am very excited to be part of this great fundraising opportunity to help others. Thank you in advance for all donations” Gabriela will be raising money for the walk by offering Facial Reflexology sessions on the 6th and 13th September in Chippenham, please visit: www. nureflexology.co.uk for more details.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Hypnotherapy of Calne Sarah-Jane Morris

Dip Hyp Cs, Dip CP, Ad Dip Cp

Working on issues such as: Weight Loss Eating Disorders Depression Motivation Relaxation Anxiety Stress Management Phobias Domestic Abuse Low Self Confidence Relationship Issues Insomnia Abuse Exam Nerves Obsessive Disorders & more ...

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Join a warm and friendly group near you today ...

MONDAY 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm Masonic Hall Stanier Road, Calne Georgie 07500 970751

TUESDAY 6.30pm Ridgeway House Royal Wootton Bassett Malcolm 07825 251862

WEDNESDAY 6.30pm MONDAY Longleaze School 7.30pm Royal Wootton Bassett Ridgeway House Lisa 07414 540866 slimmingworld.co.uk Royal Wootton Bassett 0344 897 07825 8000 251872 Malcolm slimmingworld.co.uk

0344 897 8000

Group weight loss sessions on Thursdays 7/8pm £20 pp per session.

Book your place in advance Email: hypnotherapyofcalne@gmail.com www.hypnotherapyofcalne.co.uk Contact Sarah-Jane

01249 817463 07947 829814 The Stables, Fishers Brook, Calne, Wilts SN11 9HB

Reflexology may help you with:   

Female Health Issues Headaches Digestive Issues Stress, Anxiety

 

Sleeping Issues and others...

Reflexology for Chippenham, Marlborough

Gabriela Slater Reflexologist & Maternity Reflexologist 07947 357 956 www.nureflexology.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

65

HEALTH & BEAUTY

How to ...

Wear Red Effortlessly

As THE colour to wear this coming autumn/winter, red has been all over the catwalks and is making its own grand entrance in the high street shops, but does everyone suit red? Helen Venables, Managing Director of House of Colour explains who can wear what red.

Primary true red is the only colour that suits everyone.

When looking at the whole range of red on offer, if you find the correct tones for your natural colouring it will work wonders for you. You can compare tones of red by holding them against your face to see which ones lift you and which drain you. The most effective way to know which shades of red truly suit you, is to have your colours professionally analysed.

Even within a season palette different people have distinct wow colours, but summer palettes cut a dash in cherry and coral red, autumns glow in rust or brick reds, winters shine in scarlet and carmine, and springs look gorgeous in geranium and poppy red.

Some people find wearing red as a large block colour is too overwhelming, so using it as an accent of colour in a scarf, jewellery, or as a lipstick is often beautifully effective.

Teaming red with a neutral from your season’s palette such as grey, navy, black, cream, beige, tan or white looks effortlessly stylish, but remember you need the right red with the right neutrals that suit you!

If you are wanting to create a high impact exciting look try a block red dress or red jeans for casual, or red sunglasses!

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Fashionistas will know everyone needs a red handbag and will be able to team red with some of their other wow colours effortlessly. A pair of red shoes is an asset to any wardrobe - everything from the stiletto to the Birkenstock depending on your style.

Lipstick is the most important item of make-up and a slick of red lipstick puts you firmly on-trend.

Wearing the right red lipstick works for those wanting a look with impact or high visibility and will make you look vibrant and fresh.

Karen Hayter is your local House of Colour Stylist based in Corsham.

“I love helping clients to find the most amazing version of themselves. Looking your best isn’t reserved for the rich and famous. Everyone can use colour and style to enhance their own natural colouring, body shape and personality.”

Karen offers small friendly classes in her home studio.

If you’d like to find out more call her on 07463 662 707 www.houseofcolour.co.uk/ karenhayter karen.hayter@houseofcolour.co.uk

The Mill Beauty Studio

NailArt Course NailArt Course

An introduction to up-to-date techniques that are fashionable in the nail industry in a relaxing environment in a choice of two locations This one day course will help discover or which techniques you enjoy the most and which Old Town inyou Swindon Royal Wootton Bassett. designs may best suit your clientele.

An introduction to up-to-date techniques that are fashionable within the nail industry, in a relaxing environment available at two training facilities, Old Town in Swindon or Royal Wootton Bassett.

oneis not daybrand course willandhelp you discover techniques youproducts enjoyand ThisThis course specific much advice will be which given about where to buy some tips on how to increase your treatment menu by offering Nail Art. Most of the nail art is the most and which designs maygelbest suit your clientele. performed using/with polish.

Techniques are:- advice will be given This course is not brand specificCovered and much * Stamping * Ombre * Baby Boomers about where to buy products and some tips on how to increase your * Glitters * Pigments * Dusts treatment Nail Art. Most is * Chrome Powdermenu by offering * Holographic Powderof the nail art * Foils * Detail work * Matte effect * Reactions performed using/with gel polish. All materials provided.

Course Fee £70.00. are: Techniques covered £35.00 non refundable deposit required upon booking.

• Stamping • Ombre • Baby Boomers Students require a Manicure & Gel Polish qualification to attend this workshop.

• Glitters • Pigments • Dusts For dates & more information contact Kelly at jasminbeauty@mail.com or 07720051013 • Chrome Powder • Holographic Powder • Foils • Detail work • Matte effect • Reactions

Course Fee £80.00. £40.00 non refundable deposit required upon booking. Students require a Manicure & Gel Polish qualification to attend this workshop. For dates and more information contact Kelly at

jasminbeauty@mail.com or 07720 051013

Pick Me Up Special Offers September and October Cleanse away the dry summer skin with a huge 30% off all Diamond Dermabrasion facial treatments.

Relax with a Indian Head Massage for ONLY £20 Please contact The Mill Beauty Studio for appointments and more information.

01249 816827

2 Lower Quemerford mill Calne, Wiltshire SN11 8JS

www.millhealthandbeauty.co.uk info@millhealthandbeauty.co.uk

Pamplemouse Bespoke Hair Design & Beauty Salon Look & Feel Fantastic

Hair Services

Beauty Services

Calne’s Premier Joico Salon

HD Brows,

Joico Colouring centre

Lash Lift & Tinting

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On line booking coming soon Read our reviews on facebook

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Tel: 01249 812002 11 Church Street, Calne, SN11 0HU www.pamplemouse.net hair@pamplemouse.net The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

67

HEALTH & BEAUTY

JMK Cosmetics is the answer to all your aesthetic and anti-aging needs, right here in Calne.

If you feel intimidated by a salon environment then JMKCosmetics is the place for you, Jade has a fully lincensed treatment room at home with a 5* Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme.

Jade is trained to Advanced Level in Dermal Fillers and Micropigmention so rest assured you are in safe hands.

Please see our Facebook page for a full portfolio and reviews www.facebook.com/JMKCosmetics Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10-4 Sat 8.30-5 You can book your treatment online or over the phone. www.jmkcosmetics.co.uk Info@jmkcosmetics.co.uk 07584 668266

Semi Permanent Nano Eyebrows: If you are fed up of drawing your brows on, or have very sparse hair then this is the perfect treatment for you. Before each treatment a detailed consultation is carried out in which we decide on the style of brow that you would like and what one suits you. Jade specialises in using a nano needle which creates the finest looking hair strokes, so you will leave with gorgeous natural looking brows.

£10 off Voucher

When you quote 'Town Crier'. One voucher per person.

Valid until 30th September 2017.

Dermal Fillers: • • • •

Before

After

Lip Fillers Nasolabia Lines Marionette Lines Wrinkles around the mouth

Dermal fillers help to diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat. The facial skin also stretches a bit, adding to this loss of facial volume. Dermal fillers can be very helpful in those with signs of aging.

Other treatments include, semipermanent eyeliner, lip colour, permanent make up removal, Dermaplaning, Meso-Vytal facial (digital skin needling rejuvenation for Lines, wrinkles and scars.

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Come and see us in our new salon for all your requirements NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

01249 660263 9 EMERY GATE, CHIPPENHAM WWW.LA-BARBER.CO.UK

• • • • • • • •

Corns Nail Trimming Verrucae Hard Skin Athlete’s Foot Ingrown Toenails Nail Infections Cracked Heels (fissures)

Clinics available at:

foot health care Sina Ohms MCFHP MAFHP

Foot Health Practitioner

The Chippenham Natural Therapy Centre Lodge Road (above Lodge Surgery) Chippenham, SN15 3SY Tel: (01249) 443390 The Oxford Practice 5 Oxford Street Malmesbury, SN16 9AX Tel: (01666) 824560 Home Visits: Tel: (01666) 838683 Mob: 07593 324128 www.foot-health-care.co.uk

PHYSICAL PAIN? EMOTIONAL DISTRESS? Contact:

Michael Phoenix Member of the British Acupuncture Council

Calne

Acupuncture

and non-needling treatments appointments available at

Beversbrook Medical Centre

Telephone: 01793 434358 Mobile: 07790 466614 www.calneacupuncture.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

69

HEALTH & BEAUTY

It’s Time to Relax

by Kelly Shaw

may also find that other aspects improve too; however, this happens on an individual basis.

With ever increasing levels of stress in everyday life, it is important for people to take more responsibility for their own healthcare needs. Reflexology may be one of the ways to mitigate the stresses of modern life.

I

DON’T know about you, but I always feel a sense of accomplishment after getting through the summer months; maybe it is because it is such a busy time for us in the salon. It could be that you’ve survived the summer and are looking forward to the children going back to school!

Whatever it is, this is the perfect time to think about ‘You’ for a minute, and don’t you dare feel guilty!

There are many ways to relax, and finding one that works for you is the first step. It may be gardening or reading a book, haaving a soak in the bath with aromatherapy oils or going down a treatment route; which I will be looking at today.

With such a variety of treatments available, designed to help our health and wellbeing, I wanted to highlight a couple of options and their benefits.

Massage With so many therapeutic benefits to both the body and mind, this is often the first treatment people think of when they want to relax.

However, if you choose the wrong type of massage then the experience could leave you feeling more stressed than when you arrived.

Aromatherapy massage is a wonderful way to relax as, not only do you benefit from the physical actions of the massage such as 70

soothing muscular tension and improved circulation, it is the restorative properties of the oils themselves that have immense benefits. An aromatherapy massage can be deeply relaxing or more uplifting depending on the oils and the massage techniques used by the therapist and all of this should be discussed during your consultation.

The oils you choose can help with disturbed sleep, digestion issues, hormonal imbalance or a lack of energy. If you haven’t experienced massage before then this would be the perfect introduction in my opinion.

Reflexology This is often overlooked due to a lack of understanding about what the treatment is all about – it is not just a foot massage! Reflexology is a very individual treatment which is tailored to you as person, considering both physical and non-physical factors that might be affecting your wellbeing. Some people find it works for them some don't. The best way to find out is to try it!

The theory is that reflexology helps the body to restore its balance naturally. Usually after a treatment, your tension may be reduced and you might feel relaxed. You might also notice yourself sleeping better and find your mood and sense of wellbeing improving. You

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

As amazing as the above treatments are, there are some things you can try which won’t cost you a penny: Laugh – it really is the best medicine. Laughter releases endorphins that improve your mood whilst decreasing levels of the stress causing hormones; it tricks your nervous system into making you happy. However, a spontaneous burst of laughter at your desk could raise a few eyebrows so pick your moments carefully…

Sleep - probably the most effective stress buster there is. Although stress can cause you to lose sleep, lack of sleep is a key cause of stress.

A vicious cycle which causes the brain and the body to become out of balance. Try to get the recommended 6-8hrs per night.

Turn off the TV, don’t look at your smart-phone and do your best to get into bed and relax.

With over 20 years’ experience as a beauty therapist, Kelly Shaw’s passion and dedication to the industry has enabled her to achieve professional success as Spa Director for some of the world’s most exclusive global resorts. Founder of Kelly Shaw Consultancy Ltd and Hampshire’s multi award-winning boutique salon k:SPA, Kelly also sits on the board for both CIBTAC and BABTAC - British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology.

Woman to Woman & The Male Perspective

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NEW CLIENT OFFER 20% Off your first and fourth treatments with this advert For full information on our treatments look on www.womantowoman.info Phone 01249 817497 email: hello@womantowoman.info Call us NOW to arrange your FREE CONSULTATION! 13 Church Street, Calne, Wilts SN11 0HU

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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PUZZLES

BSB

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• Carpets and Vinyls • Wooden and Laminate floors • Natural Sisal and Seagrass carpets • Karndean and Amtico vinyl tiles • Altro non slip safety flooring • Altro Whiterock hygienic wall cladding

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Tel: 01249 814164 Mob: 07791 834904 Clearing out give us a shout!

ACROSS 8 Heedless, uninformed (7) 9 Capital of Egypt (5) 10 Soft, creamy confectionary (5) 11 Sharp pains (7) 12 Relinquishing (12) 16 Dismantle (4,2,6) 20 Harsh, radical (7) 23 Oppressor, persecutor (5) 24 Choice few, select (5) 25 Keep an eye on (7) DOWN 1 1950s hairstyle (5) 2 Ill fortune (4,4)

Tel: 01793 854847 / 07515 062947 Email: lynda@crapperandsons.co.uk www.crapperandsons.co.uk

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3 4 5 6 7 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22

Profession (6) Chair (4) Lively, agile (6) Serenade, croon (4) Formally deliver (7) Sharp pinch (3) Visionary, optimist (8) Scrutinised (7) Snigger (6) Badge, insignia (6) Oven-proof glass (5) Neutralized by alkali (4) Wooden shoe (4)

Solutions to the crossword and sudoku on page 94

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Custom made Roller, Vertical and Venetian Blinds Tailor made Curtains, Loose Covers, Cushions and Roman Blinds Telephone: 01249 247172 www.ginghams.co.uk The Stables, Fishers Brook, Calne, Wilts, SN11 9HB

• Friendly, Reliable Service • Free Quotes • Fully insured • Over 20 years experience • All jobs considered

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Keep your chimney in safe working order by getting it swept Call Alex Wells from CLEAN SWEEP for an estimate now on

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Open Fires, Log Burners, Jet Masters, Bird Nest Removal etc.

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Specialists in End of Tenancy Cleaning Part and Full Spring Clean Carpets • Ovens • Patio & Driveways Contact Leisa for a free quote

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

73

PETS ADVERTISING FEATURE ADVERTISING FEATURE

How to protect your pet against ticks Dr Grace Thomas

The George Veterinary Hospital: 01666 823165 Royal Wootton Bassett: 01793 852458

Babesiosis – This is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite. The parasite infects red blood cells and causes anorexia, anaemia, fever, weakness, redbrown urine and collapse. As was the case with ehrlichiosis, pets were previously only at risk to babesiosis if they had travelled abroad. However a recent outbreak in Essex saw untravelled dogs affected. Cats are much less commonly affected and the only cases in the UK have been seen in those who have travelled or been imported to the UK.

As the weather becomes warmer and wetter, ticks will become more of a problem so here’s what you need to know to keep your pet protected:

Bartonellosis – A bacterial disease carried by fleas and ticks. This is mostly an infection which affects cats causing fever, anaemia, heart, liver and neurological problems.

BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS MRCVS

www.georgevetgroup.co.uk

What exactly is a tick?

Ticks are small, hard biting insects which are generally black or brown. They are most commonly found in long grass, where they wait to attach and bite your pet as it brushes past. They are pea sized or smaller initially but after feeding can almost triple in size and become more greyish in colour. They are most likely to be found around the non-hairy and thin-skinned areas such as the face, ears, in between the toes, groin and perianal regions.

What are the risks to my pet from ticks?

Ticks have large sharp mouth pieces which they use to attach to and pierce the skin before they feed. This will often cause local inflammation around the site of the bite which can be painful and irritating to your pet. Ticks, if they are infected, can transmit diseases. In the UK these include Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, but thankfully the incidence of infection is rare.

Lyme disease – This is an inflammatory bacterial disease which is carried by some ticks. Clinical signs include a rash-like lesion around the site of the bite, joint pain, lameness and a high temperature. Humans can also be affected by Lyme disease and symptoms are most commonly flu like signs including muscle pain, tiredness and headaches. Cats have not been affected by Lyme disease in the UK. Ehrlichiosis – This is a bacterial disease carried by ticks.

If bitten by an infected tick, the bacterium enters the white blood cells and causes the following clinical signs – weight loss, stiffened gait, fever, anorexia and prolonged bleeding. This disease was not present in the UK and therefore only pets that travelled abroad were previously at risk. However, we have now seen multiple cases of ehrlichiosis in the UK in pets with no history of travel. Therefore, although this disease remains very rare, we are likely to see an increase in its occurrence in time.

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If your pet shows any of the above symptoms following a tick bite then please seek veterinary assistance from us.

How can I safely remove a tick from my pet?

It is very important is remove the entire tick from your pet’s skin including its mouthparts and without squeezing the body as this can cause the tick to release infection. Tick hooks are available to buy from us which are ideal to help you achieve this. Wear gloves to avoid handling the parasite directly. Slide the tick hook underneath the tick and level with the skin. Then rotate the hook anti-clockwise and, once the tick is loose from the skin, pull the hook and tick away. Dispose of the tick into the sink or toilet with hot water. If you are unsure if you have removed all of the tick, pop in to see us to get the site checked by a vet.

How do I ensure my pet is protected from ticks?

Prevention is far better than cure and therefore regular tick prevention treatment is the best way forward. There are several products available which can be worn or administered by you. Most of these are designed to protect against fleas as well as ticks (and often other parasites too), and they are available in a form best suited to your pet e.g. chewable tablets, spot on liquids or collar.

If you have any questions or queries, please feel free to pop into one of our branches and one of our team will be more than happy to advise you further.

Grittenham Grittenham Grooming Grooming

Grittenham Grooming is a small, friendly Dog Groomery based in a home environment, just outside Royal Wootton Bassett. We provide a personal, one-to-one service and style the dog to client preference.

• Certificated, licensed for Dog Care, fully insured Dog Grooming specialist.

• Established 1994 • Wash and Dry for a ‘bit of a freshen up’ • Complete groom out and de-matt.

• Ears cleaned, nails trimmed and gland cleared • Pick up before you leave for work and drop off after you‘re home from work available.

Dog lovers wanted: Enjoy the company of a canine guest!

Dogs are our passion at Grittenham Grooming and our main concern is the dogs’ welfare at all times.

Airedales • Bischons • Westies • Scotties Spaniels • Retrievers • Labradors • Poodles to name but a few . . .

For bookings, further information and prices, please contact Sally.

If you would like to know more about us and our free range doggy boarding see the website:

www.doggidayz.co.uk Little Ivy House, Grittenham SN15 4JU t: 01666 510298 m: 07747 077783 email: sockwell@btconnect.com

Established 1982 - Licensed pet shop for 34 years

SHIRLEY’S

PET SHOP Open your home to a friendly dog for his holiday. Whilst owners are away dogs get the love, exercise and companionship of your loving home.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

75

WILDLIFE

Gordon Buchanan Throughout Autumn audiences all over the UK will have a unique opportunity to join Gordon Buchanan as the highly acclaimed television wildlife cameraman and presenter of the popular BBC ‘Animal Family and Me’ series shares an insight into his incredible experiences with some of the world’s most fearsome and majestic animals.

What do you think influenced your choice of career?

Definitely growing up on the Isle of Mull was a big influence – for two quite opposite reasons. Mull offered freedom and a sense of wilderness, but being an island it was claustrophobic and limited in what it had to offer to someone with an adventurous spirit.

Were you always passionate about wildlife even as a child?

As a kid I was wildly passionate about spending time outdoors, it was the only thing that mattered to me. Thinking back I was always very bored indoors.

There was nothing inside that compared to the adventures and excitement to be had out in the rain, wind, snow and occasional sunshine. Wildlife was part of that experience and I loved it but it wasn’t a junior naturalist. I didn’t have a binoculars, camera and almanac, just a pair of wellies Most difficult things about working with wildlife?

I used to be very frustrated by the lack of control I’d have over any of the process. I’d spend weeks fantasising about being able to turn into any creature I wanted so that I could get the desired shots in the best scene in the best light. Now I love that lack of control. Unpredictability is more exciting. Really now the only difficulty is the time away from home and the people I love. They are the ones who make the sacrifices.

What’s your favourite animal to film?

A hunting leopard takes some beating but any bird in flight is great fun and a challenge to film.

Have you ever missed an amazing filming opportunity? (due to no battery/no tape/no camera) I’ve seen amazing things happened unexpectedly, to fast to react to, but that comes with the territory so don’t beat myself up. I messed up pretty enormously one time.

Can’t bear to put it in print, I’ll only say that it was one of those once in a life time shots that I was running the camera on – or at least I though I was running the camera 76

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

on. I was so exited I hit the button twice so the camera wasn’t recording….

What’s your record for the longest you have waited for an animal to turn up?

Did a couple of 48(+)hour stints without sleep with finger on the button in Svalbard in the Arctic this summer waiting for Barnacle Geese to jump of their nesting cliff with their young and for Arctic foxes to show up to predate on them. It was mid summer so it is perpetual daylight. Great for fiming, bad for sleeping.

What’s your favourite part of the UK? And the World?

In the UK, the Highlands of Scotland around Aviemore has a special magic, it has some of the most grand and wild looking pine forest in the country. In particular Abernethy forest and the area around Loch Garten.

World? The Arctic. I love the place and the animals that live there. After many years of driving that road back to Mull I never tire of the drive over Rannoch Moor and through Glen Coe.

What has been your closest encounter with a wild animal?

I’ve been chased by Bears, Elephants, Tigers and many others, but one of the first and most memorable encounters was in Sierra Leone when I was 17 driving back to camp when 7 giant fruit bats escaped from a holding container in the back of the car. They are huge and they flapped and nipped me all the way back to camp. Memorable only really because at the time I was slightly terrified of bats!

When you’re not filming or working, how do you relax?

I’m not a great relaxer but in my free time I like to be outside without the pressure of having a camera. I have a little wooden boat that I love to be out in, rain or shine.

Recently I have been heading over to the west coast to freedive. I am loving that. Watching fish, looking at sea urchins, starfish, soft corals, kelp forests is very relaxing.

But equally I love just being at home on the sofa with Wendy, Lola and Harris, chilling at the weekend with some good tv and glass or two of wine.

Advice to your 16-year-old self?

Don’t worry you’ll get there in the end so embrace, enjoy and make the very most of the opportunities that come you way. Life is serious business so have as much fun as possible.

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77

MOTORING

All-New Peugeot 3008 SUV 1.2 GT Line

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist - tweeting @carwriteups

I

T is not unusual to see some big changes between an older and newer generation of the same model, but the all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV looks radically different to the outgoing one.

That exiting generation, introduced in 2008, was a frumpy, chubby SUV that did little to inspire buyers. The all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV, though, is a different animal, burying the clumsy image of the last car six-feet under and achieving the European Car of the Year crown.

Sometimes it can be difficult to separate SUVs out on the road because most of them drive alike.

Many are set up for comfort, and that’s what the all-new 3008 is tuned for. The small steering wheel and light handling gives a feeling of sprightliness, even if that’s not the case, as it’s a tall, heavy car.

However; that’s not a complaint, the designers and engineers have done a good job covering the traditional flaws of an SUV’s dynamics.

There’s a wholesome medley of engines on offer, as with most Peugeot models: two petrol’s in the shape of a 131PS 1.2-litre unit and a 165PS 1.6-litre turbo. Then there are a couple of turbo diesel engines of 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre capacity.

What suits you best is largely going to depend on what sort of driving you do. Short urban trips suit the 1.2-litre petrol more, whereas longer journeys will fit the potential 70mpg obtainable from the 1.6-litre diesel.

78

I drove the 1.2 petrol in GT Line spec with 131PS, fitted with a manual gearbox. Behind the wheel, things feel dynamic, and the weighting of the steering is spot on. The car grips bitumen like a cat’s claws cling to flesh, and mid-range pulling power is good, so you can pick up the pace easily.

The six-speed transmission is slick shifting, and the car delivers a hushed ride. Tyre roar and wind whistle is kept out of the cabin, too.

All this just adds to the 3008’s sense of refinement.

The Peugeot offers a composed ride with seats that provide the sort of comfort and support required for long distance motoring. Furthermore, the car’s suspension sops up potholes without complaining. Significantly, the all-new 3008 doesn’t tip into bends. Indeed, body roll is very well contained. This surprised me, as smaller SUVs aren’t always the type of vehicle to stay so unflustered on twisty tarmac.

The new 3008 comes in four levels of trim: Active, Allure, GT Line and GT. Factory fitted safety kit includes automatic emergency braking and rear parking sensors. The GT Line hasn’t got any extra safety equipment - just sportier looks. But it has all the safety kit you really need, and as with all 3008s, it has a top five-star Euro NCAP safety score.

A car can look great and have all the equipment in the world crammed into it – but it’s no good if it isn’t economical and it doesn’t drive decently. There are no concerns to

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

be had in this area with the 3008 SUV. The 1.2 GT Line’s average fuel consumption of 55.4mpg and 117g/ km of CO2 means low running costs, combined with effective performance. 0-62mph is achieved in 10.8 seconds and the Pug’s maximum speed is 117mph.

The all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV’s entry price is £21,795, but expect to fork out £25,655 for the petrolpowered GT Line I drove. A basic Nissan Qashqai costs £18,545, and the new SEAT Ateca is priced from £17,990. But I think the 3008’s extra cost is justified because it feels more upmarket inside than these two rivals. Cabin materials include brushed chrome, large areas of carbon decoration and textiles.

They even cover some areas less commonly found in SUVs, such as the dashboard inlay. It’s all very contemporary and attractive. The Peugeot is just as stylish outside, and it drives well, while delivering a comfortable ride for all.

PROS ‘N’ CONS • Stylish Looks √ • Ride Comfort √ • Kit √ • Boot Space √ • Measured Pace X FAST FACTS (1.2-litre GT Line) • Max speed: 117 mph • 0-62 mph: 10.8 secs • Combined mpg: 55.4 • Engine layout: 1199cc 3-cylinder turbo petrol • Max. power (PS): 131 • CO2: 117 g/km Price: £25,655

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Your Local Independent Garage For Calne The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 79 Some makes and models may be excluded, please2017 call for details

MOTORING

Calne Bike Meet 2017 The 17th Calne Bike Meet was held on 29th July 2017. Thousands of bikers from all over the country converged on Calne to attend Europe's biggest free bike meet.

As well as the bikes there were bands, stalls and displays all over the Town, The event was held to raise money for Julia's House, Freewheelers and the Calne Youth Trust.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Photos: www.candidpictures.co.uk

The organisers are looking for more volunteers to help with the event next year. If you are interested in helping please go along to the Bike Meet’s Annual General Meeting at The White Hart Hotel in Calne on Wednesday 13th September at 7.30pm. For more details go to: www.calnebikemeet.com

ALLIED WESSEX WESTINSURE YOUR LOCAL INSURANCE BROKER

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crosscountry.tyres@googlemail.com Unit 6, Porte Marsh Rd, Calne SN11 9BW Full credit card facilities available The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

81

MOTORING

VW Passat GTE

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist - tweeting @carwriteups

T

HE GTE badge was first ushered in with the VW Golf and it eventually made its way to the more conservative Passat.

Bolting a plug-in petrol-electric propulsion unit to a model that is best known for its diesel pulling power was perhaps a brave move for Volkswagen. But it seems to have paid off with the Passat.

Like the Golf, the VW Passat GTE’s looks are characterised by C-shaped LED lights accommodated in its bumper, and the blue bar that stretches across the headlights and grille.

It’s a restrained fine-tuning of the Passat’s tailoring, although, given the intense hue of blue, the use of which even expands to the car’s brake callipers, the GTE model is simple enough to distinguish from diesel Passats.

The battery capacity and output have been given a bit of a boost, but the petrol-electric set-up is fundamentally the same as in the VW Golf GTE’s. The 156PS 1.4 TSI petrol unit and 115PS electric motor combine to make 218PS, giving a 0-62mph sprint of 7.4 seconds. Top speed is 140mph, but unless you’re on a German autobahn, you’re unlikely to risk finding out what that feels like.

Step into the cabin and the Passat GTE houses a few understated touches, such as blue piping, blue stitching, aluminium trim and GTE emblems. Other than that, the switchgear and seats are the same as in any other Passat.

And, as with all Passat saloons, space is generous. Even with the car’s lithium ion drive battery 82

beneath the rear seats, the VW has good room and a boot that is big enough for a family’s needs.

The Volkswagen’s electric charging time is easy to cope with. Plugging the car’s seven-pin charge cable into a 16A wall socket, I got the 9.9kWh battery from a quarter charged to 100 per cent in under two hours. The GTE runs well on electric-only juice, with a possible range of 31 miles on zero emissions.

In Hybrid form the VW saloon responds admirably, even when the petrol engine has closed, which it’ll do at moderate motorway speeds. The power unit restarts effortlessly when it needs to, while the car’s cruise control allows it to store its own impetus and cruise economically.

The Passat GTE’s handling is as good as its performance. You can thrust the saloon through bends and its tyres will dig into the tarmac strongly. There’s very little body roll, and the steering, while not delivering that much feedback, is precise.

Here’s the important bit, though.

VW claims the Passat GTE will do 156.9mpg on the combined cycle.

But, as with all cars, this model’s economy will depend on what your driving is like. On a 60-mile run, beginning with a fully charged battery and driving on a mix of roads, I achieved 80.1mpg.

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Volkswagen’s Passat GTE is, without doubt, a talented car and an attractive vehicle in a wider sense than a conventional highperforming, fully loaded volumemarque.

By blending large car pragmatism with a sophisticated plug-in hybrid system, VW has produced one of the greatest reasons yet to think about swapping from a standard oil-burning business saloon to an electrically powered one.

PROS ‘N’ CONS • Attractive √ • Practical √ • Comfortable √ • Cost Effective √ • Steering Feedback X FAST FACTS • Max speed: 140 mph • 0-62 mph: 7.4 secs • Combined mpg: 156.9 • Engine: 1395cc petrol + electric • Max. power (PS): 218 • CO2: 40 g/km Price: £37,025

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83

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Entrepreneurs offer High Quality Plant Hire for Domestic Building Projects Businessmen Stuart Morgan and Andy Rohrer, who already work together as property developers and builders, have founded a new Wiltshire-based construction machinery hire business, Tiger Plant.

The new company, based out of Clearwater Business Park in Swindon, has grown rapidly over its first few months. The team offers machines for hire for use by the homeowner with smaller building projects right through to commercial developments.

Andy and Stuart, set up Tiger Plant when they realised one of their continuing problems on their building sites was getting the right plant to the right place at the right time.

Andy said: “We wasted so much time trying to source plant for our own projects we realised other businesses must experience similar problems. We both saw an opportunity to do something about it by investing in high quality plant for businesses and supplying qualified people to operate the machines in a safe and efficient manner where necessary.

“Often when we hired in machinery it was dirty, poorly maintained and not in good order. This meant we were paying to hire plant and then had to endure down time in the project to get the machinery working properly or wait for someone to fix it.” Many small businesses will find it difficult to rent heavy machinery for short periods from large franchised plant hire companies so we wanted to make it easier for these people to hire larger machines for short periods."

Now the pair hire out small machinery to landscape gardeners or homeowners who are undertaking building projects or garden projects and need

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

machinery to get the job done. They can also supply qualified operators to get the work done efficiently in the minimum amount of time.

Stuart said: “Our customers vary enormously. We’ve been hiring plant to other building companies and sometimes other hire companies who require extra capacity. We do this because we firmly believe in collaboration. We also support a lot of companies involved in projects around the environmental studies such as those who are dealing with contaminated land, removal of diesel tankers, removal or installing underground equipment and containers or those involved in digging trial pits for contamination assessments or archaeological studies.

"On the other hand we can help homeowners who are undertaking garden products, laying patios, digging out foundations by providing equipment which is small enough to fit through a doorway but powerful enough to get the job done quickly.”

Stuart and Andy have been working together in the building trade for the last six years. They both live in Wiltshire and are well known in the construction and property development scene.

The range of plant on offer includes micro diggers, a selection of midi diggers and larger diggers up to 20 tonnes. Also available for hire are telescopic and masted forklifts, dumper trucks, fuel bowsers and compaction machines. Additionally machine operators can also be hired in so that the machinery can be delivered with its own operator.

01793 886444 • www.tigerplant.co.uk

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07707 07707 375 375 961 961 01249 01249 892 813 103 486 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

85

GARDENING

Blackberries

by Rachael Leverton

posts knocked into the ground 2m / 6 foot apart and joined together with horizontal strands of galvanised wire spaced about 45cm / 18 inches apart will do. You can also grow them over sheds and walls.

Plant the blackberry plant in manure, or compostenriched soil at the base of the frame and gradually train the plant up it, tying in the shoots as they grow.

It will spread to cover the frame and provide an annual crop. Remember to cut out old fruited stems each autumn and tie in the new ones.

If space is limited there are some lovely new compact varieties available.

A

UTUMN’S scent is sweet and sour. There is a definite tang in the air which indicates that summer is drawing to a close. Don’t be sad though, autumn has its compensations, especially at harvest time: picking early apples, cold from the tree and dappled with dampness is one of life’s little pleasures. But if you don’t grow fruit in your own plot you don’t have to miss out, just look to the hedgerows.

As kids we used to dig out an empty ice cream tub and go blackberrying in the autumn. It seems to have died-out a bit as a family pastime but that means there’s more for the rest of us! Don’t worry about breaking any laws. If the fruit is growing in the wild it is anyone’s for the taking.

But why stop at wild blackberries. How about growing your own? It’s very simple. My dad used to grow them over two discarded wrought-iron gates he found in a skip! You don’t need anything quite that elaborate.

Rig up a simple post and wire frame. Two 2m / 6 foot

There are plenty of thornless, highly flavoured varieties. Ashton Cross produces a heavy crop of intensely flavoured fruit and Merton is a compact thornless which produces enormous blackberries and is very suited to a small space.

I encourage you to plant a blackberry bush this year and in the future you will enjoy one of the purest pleasures autumn can offer. Happy gardening,

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Hebe

Hebes are versatile garden plants with bright foliage colours during Winter and pretty flowers ranging from white through lilac and blue to deep purple through Summer into Autumn. Can be grown in borders or pots and the blooms will encourage butterflies to visit.

In fact, the Hebe is named after the Greek Goddess of Youth who served nectar and ambrosia to the Gods!

An evergreen plant with different species, Hebe plants are easy to grow and maintain and will thrive in most soil types and grow in both sunny and shady areas.

Hebe can be pruned to create a bushy plant ensuring to not cut back stems to bare branches and is best done when the plant is in active growth from April to late July.

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See more of our work on Facebook www.facebook.com/www.mrfencing.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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GARDENING

Watering and Wellies SEPTEMBER JOBS

• If you are growing pumpkins ready for Halloween, support the fruit as it grows and raise it up to keep it off the wet ground and away from slugs.

You can always cut them early and finish ripening on a sunny windowsill.

TOP TIP

HAVE A GO

!

• Establish new strawberry plants if you wish to grow these ready for next year.

• Plant your spring bedding such as pansies and wallflowers and water them well to help them establish quickly. Wait until later to do your tulips as they prefer more moist and cool conditions of late autumn.

ot to look To get a small pl ned, limit the beautifully desig plants you different types of d borders. ts po an include in your o or three Sticking to just tw entary • Pick early varieties of apples. plem varieties, in com They are best eaten as soon od go a g as they’re ripe. Simply cup the colours, but usin will look far apple in your hand and give it amount of them nt lots of differe an th a little twist. If it comes away ish yl st e mor formation. easily then it’s ready! plants in random

Create your own herb ga rden.

If you don’t a herbs then th lready grow is is a wonde rfu addition to your crop - n l ot only do man y of them sm ell divine, they a ingredient to re a great dishes too. A many kitchen t this time o f year choose som e evergreen types such as bay, th and sage an yme, rosemary d select som e pots into which th ey can grow Some herbs . such as min t have a tendency to over the patc try and take h so controlli ng them in a po t is a good id e a for a beginn er.

We sell our plants at two schools in Chippenham September 2017: FROGWELL SCHOOL 9th, 10th, 23rd, 24th, September KING’S LODGE SCHOOL 2nd, 3rd, 16th, 17th, 30th, 31st September

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

EARTHMOVING SERVICES • Garden/site shaping, levelling and clearance • Footings, trenches and ditches excavated • Sub-bases, soakaways and land drains • Concrete, tarmac, hedge and stump removal • 0.75-7.5 ton excavators with driver

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Commercial grass cutting services also available.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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GAR_697653.pdf 13:49:24 January 15, 2014 1 of 2 Sarah

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Sarah’s Soft Furnishings Curtains : Cushions : blinds and much more

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Calne Evangelical Church Weekly activities for all ages Sunday family service 11.30am Crèche available

Evening service 6.30pm Youth groups for ages 0-18 Tots ‘n’ Dots toddler group Tuesday club primary school age Glow 9-12 years Lazer senior school age See church notice board, website or ring 821754 for more information www.calneevangelicalchurch.org.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

91

JO DEACON

Please don’t write in the dust G

LOOMILY surveying the dusty top of the bookcase in the strong sunlight streaming through the window, I wondered again WHY removing it takes up so much time when it seems to settle again almost as soon as you’ve shaken your duster and put it away.

Housework always seems to get in the way whenever you want to do something else, doesn’t it?

And isn’t it a thankless task?

It looks so bright and tidy for all of an hour after a backbreaking session with the spray polish and vacuum cleaner, but give it a couple of hours and you can almost see it floating spitefully back through the air, settling gently on every polished surface, undoing all your efforts.

You would think that with only Fred and I in the house, dust and general mess would be far less than when there were three kids rampaging about.

Not so!

Mostly my fault I guess.

I’m “into” clutter!

I’m happy with clutter!

I could clutter for Britain and bring home the “gold!”

The only thing wrong with clutter is that it collects dust. It’s a “muck magnet.”

That, and the fact I can never find anything is what keeps me fit – running up and down the stairs frantically searching for something I’m sure I just had in my hands – but where did I last see it?

Fred is absolutely no help whatsoever when I ask him if he’s seen my watch, hairbrush, the letter I must post without delay, or anything else I can’t find.

“Where did you last see it?” he will ask!

“If I knew that, it wouldn’t be lost, would it?” I tend to reply – not always in a polite manner!

I know when the clutter is getting beyond a joke and a mammoth tidy up is urgently required. I will hear Fred bellowing as he falls over something I forgot to put away!

Stomping into whichever room I happen to be in at the time, he will visibly take a deep breath before asking “Darling, is it possible you could have a go at putting some of your stuff away?”

“I’ll do it in a minute.”

“That’s what you said yesterday.” (and the day before – and possibly even the day before that too, I can hear him thinking!)

Usually his request comes while I’m in the middle of writing something, breaking my train of thought with the sound of his voice.

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The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Either that, or I’m in the middle of a painting, and to lay my brush aside as I’m finishing a tricky bit would allow the paint to dry out while I’m off elsewhere putting stuff away!

Sometimes, just to make the rooms look different I will move the furniture around.

Fred hates me doing that – with good reason I suppose.

He returned from work one evening after I’d had a busy day rearranging chairs, coffee table, even the TV, then gone upstairs and shoved the bed under the window, moving bedside tables and chests of drawers into different positions.

Fred went into the lounge where, as usual, he aimed his butt at the armchair without looking – and missed!

You’ve got it. I’d moved his chair!

His dignity was more bruised than his butt, but it was a long time before he took it for granted that furniture would still be in the same position he’d last seen it when he left for work that morning.

Of course moving things about creates a certain amount of dust, but you can’t just stop in the middle of it to run round with a duster, can you?

The trouble is that by the time I’ve finished arranging the rooms into a more cosy look, I’m either too tired to dust, or I stop work, have a cuppa – and forget the dusting.

Fred is wonderfully understanding. Either that – or after forty four years of “unholy deadlock” the poor man has simply given up!

He rarely complains about my mess and muddle. He knows it won’t get him anywhere if he does.

We went from Christmas to Easter one year without catching sight of the dining table. Once the festive tablecloth, scattered gold chocolate coins, crackers and holly centre piece were removed, my paints, canvasses, laptop and modelling clay took over the newly vacated spot, and that was that for the following weeks!

When all the work-in-progress were completed and the table was completely cleared, Fred tried his hand at sarcasm.

“When did we buy a new table?” he asked.

I could always work in “The Hunny Pot,”my sweet little gazebo in the garden, but it’s full of spiders during the winter, and not very warm even with a portable radiator going full blast.

But I have a studio upstairs, (posh name for a spare bedroom,) where I could also work.

The only thing wrong with that idea is the aviary on the wall.

Occupied by three beautiful cockatiels, they make more mess than you would ever believe possible.

One of them can hit you in the eye with a sunflower seed at six feet, while the other two can flap their wings faster than a hummingbird, sending cuttlefish dust, seed, shed feathers and even poop flying into the room, covering everything in their vicinity in a thin veil of pure – muck!

Wiltshire Wet Rooms Designed, supplied, fitted

Imagine the scene. There’s me, laptop steaming gently as it’s spell check overheats.

Then, without warning, I’m under siege, ducking flying seed, bobbing out of the way of dried blobs of bird poop, and cursing like crazy as yet another sunflower husk comes in for splash down in my coffee mug!

While this bird warfare is going on, my poor laptop is suffering temporary blindness from all the dust slowly settling over its keys.

This is not very conducive to successful writing, so to shut them up I put a Startrek video on for them to watch.

O, did I forget to mention that they are Trekkies?

They absolutely love that programme, yet only one particular episode has the power to make them sit quiet, and they watch it totally fascinated.

I am not making this up, I swear.

I know old ladies are considered dotty when they reach an age that seems to set them off wanting a pet cat, dog or budgie, and I’m quite aware that very often the owners treat their pet as they would a baby. But it’s different with me. I can’t help them having their own personalities, can I? It’s not my fault if, when we are away for a few days, I have to ring our son who house sits for us, and he has to hold the phone to the aviary so the cockatiels can hear “mummy’s” voice and be comforted.

And it was the birds who decided they would only settle down and go to sleep when they had watched “Beauty and the Beast” – again, them not me!

I am not old and I don’t think I’m dotty. What I am is a “child of nature,” and as such, I understand what my birds want!

Well that’s my defence – and I’m sticking to it!

That is why the dining table is usually the place I settle down to work!

And it’s probably the ONLY spot in the house where the dust is banished. ............ Jo Deacon...@...2017 ............

OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN BATHROOMS & WET ROOMS Bespoke projects including: Designs (usually free), Parts and Installation. With a large portfolio of previous work available on request my customers are guaranteed a bathroom or wet room like no other. I provide a complete service, including easy-access designs and parts.

Do you know that we have the second hardest water in the country?

We could have the solution!

There are so many reasons to have a water softener: - Complete Elimination of Limescale - Money Saving - Time Saving - Your Appliances Live Longer - Soft Water is so much nicer for you and your family

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Free, in home, demonstrations provided in local area.

WILTSHIRE WET ROOMS Expert bathroom and wet room fitters in North Wiltshire Contact Geoff Pearce for a free quote 1 Bremhill View, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 9EE T: 07860 863014 E: wiltswetroom@gmail.com W: www.wiltshirewetrooms.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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BOOKS

A Good Read

Tom’s Midnight Garden

is to be lived to the full and reminds children that even their grandparents were young once.

.........................................................................................

The First Phone Call from Heaven

by Philippa Pearce

When you are born you occupy a small slot within history and for that period of time you live your life in your own way. But how much thought do you give to those people who came before you? Your house or your school now may have been someone else’s house or school; a place where someone else grew up and had hopes for the future.

Tom is getting ready to enjoy his summer holiday when his older brother comes down with measles.

To ensure that he doesn’t catch it, Tom is sent to stay with an aunt and uncle who live in a small flat at the top of a large old house.

This is not how he imagined spending the summer. One night he is lying in bed, unable to sleep, when he hears the old grandfather clock in the house chiming. He counts the chimes. 9 … 10 … 11 … 12 … 13. And so the most amazing and magical summer of Tom’s life begins as he meets Hatty, a young girl who wears strange clothes.

This 1958 novel is a children’s classic and is frequently rated as one of the best children’s novels published since the war. It is inspiring with its message that life

Crossword & Sudoku solution page 72

by Mitch Alom

.........................................................................................

One day a phone rings, then another one, and another. Now a small church in a small town in Michigan needs to deal with the question of what really happened. And it is only a matter of time before the country, and the world, is asking the question too.

All the calls have one thing in common: the callers are deceased and want to tell their loved ones about heaven; to tell them that death is not the end. The town becomes a place of pilgrimage for people who are desperate to hear from their own friends and family.

Of course, some are sceptical. Single father Sully – still grieving for his wife – is concerned when his young son starts asking why his mum hasn’t phoned him. So he sets out to unearth the true source of the phone calls.

This touching novel is beautifully written and builds to a page turning climax. Will Sully find out where the calls are coming from? Or are they really coming from heaven?

Ultimately, the novel isn’t about where they came from. In fact it doesn’t really matter. Alom draws on our natural fear, not of our own deaths but of losing a loved one. What he offers is a story of a group of people who draw hope and comfort from these seemingly miraculous events. And that is the inspiring message from this book. Maybe heaven exists, and maybe it doesn’t, but whether you believe or not, you can still take something from this thought provoking novel.

Reviews by Willow Coby 94

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

Your local independent builders merchant Our friendly helpful staff are here for the tradesman and DIY enthusiast alike.

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03/04/2014 13:38

TownCr er NORTH WILTSHIRE

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BUILDING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT

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eatonelectrical75@gmail.com 98

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J.H. ELECTRICALS For all domestic electrical needs Lighting Consumer Unit Extra Sockets Please call 0771 5564 097

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www.asplastering.com The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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BUILDING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Robert 01249 890492 mobile 07825 758705 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017 101

BUILDING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Tel/Fax 01249 821936 Mobile: 07877 055680 Email: info@stevesapplianceservices.co.uk 102 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

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Roofing Ltd

Roofing al building ditioinnall TraExperts works, ut: O g n i y r r a C t s li renovations, pecia conversions, decorating, S kitchens and bathrooms for your home or business Slating & Tiling Stone Tiling Leadwork UPVC Fascias & Guttering enquiries@priorandcompany.com Cedar The Shingles Courtyard, Bath Road, Shaw, Melksham SN12 8EF

Specialists in all roofing, Upvc fascias, soffits and guttering, leadwork, chimneys and sundry works for your home or business enquiries@mardenroofing.co.uk The Courtyard, Bath Road, Shaw, Melksham SN12 8EF

Insurance Backed Guarantee Available For a FREE survey and quote call:

01249 821237 visit our website: www.priorandcompany.com www.daylangleedroofingltd.co.uk Prior and Marden joint advert.indd 1

www.mardenroofing.co.uk 26/01/2015 14:03

The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017 103

BUILDING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT 24/7 No Call-out Charge FREE Quotations All Work Guaranteed

Emergency Lock & Door Opening All Types of Locks Supplied & Fitted Insurance Approved Locks “Turn to Alan Key Locks to get you in” Tel: 07852 338820 / 01249 822362

www.alankeylocks.co.uk “Add me to your mobile. You never know when you may need me”

TownCr er

All aspects of Carpentry Bespoke Furniture, Door Hanging and Adjusting Wood & Laminate Flooring Interior & Exterior Tel: 01249 813734 Mobile: 07415 607968 email: s.m.carpentry@hotmail.com

Building and Home Improvement

To advertise call 01249 811068

P and M Driveways www.pandmdriveways.co.uk info@pandmdriveways.co.uk

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Office: 01373 430 167

Freephone: 0800 634 7083 Mobile: 07340 806 459

Horse Shoe Stables Farm, Hawkeridge Road, Heywood, Westbury BA13 4LE 104 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

orsham Landscapes and General Building

• Brick & Stone Work • Block Paving & Patios • Gravel Driveways • Extensions & Concreting • Drystone Walling • Dropped Kerbs

• Garden Design • Fencing & Decking • Turfing & Treework • Chimney Repairs • Flooding Solutions • Ponds Made To Shape

Tel: 07557 569785 or 01225 811010

DAMP HOUSE?

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BLACK MOULD GROWTH? CONDENSATION A REAL BLACK MOULD GROWTH? PROBLEM?

CONDENSATION A REAL PROBLEM?

Install a Heat

Recovery System from as little as £600

Install a Heat Recovery System from as little as £600 Heat Recovery will Heat Recovery willfilter out stale, filter out stale, moisture-filled air and clean out moisture-filled airmaking and pollen and dust, your clean out pollenand andhealthier home a cleaner dust, making your place to live. home a cleaner and

healthier place to live. needs For all your electrical (part P approved contractor)

An independent, friendly, family run business.

Fully insured.

For all your electrical needs (part P

Qualified electrician with over approved contractor) 16 years’ experience in property improvements

THERE IS A SOLUTION FROM AS LITTLE AS £600*

THERE IS A SOLUTION

*And it will only cost 1p a day to run or free if you have solar PV

Product manufacturer Before andAS after photographs FROM ASguidance.

LITTLE £600

provided by product manufacturer. *And it will only cost 1p a day to run or free if you have solar PV

Please call Eaton Electrical

EatonElectrical An independent,

friendly, family run

business.

Tel: 07796 000927 Fully insured or 01666 838096

eatonelectrical75@gmail.com Qualified electrician The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017 105 with over 16 years’ experience in property

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS ADMIN SERVICES Boatman Admin Services....................... 35 AUCTIONEERS Wessex Auction Rooms ....................... 108 BEDS Elite Beds .............................................. 19 BOOKEEPING/ACCOUNTANTS AMS Accounting..................................... 35 Duncan Joyce......................................... 29 Legibility................................................ 33 VFL Business Support............................. 91 BUILDERS/BUILDING SUPPLIES AM Chivers Building............................... 97 All Home Improvements........................ 96 Build-It................................................... 17 Chalford Building Supplies..................... 95 Corsham Landscapes and Building......... 81 Dearing Construction............................. 97 Downland Construction......................... 96 Ged Byrne.............................................. 97 Ian Lucas Groundworks.......................... 97 Prior & Company Building...................... 96 Ron Welch.............................................. 97 Tiger Plant Hire...................................... 84 Tim Lee Building.................................... 97 CAR REPAIR/VEHICLE SERVICES AM Autocare.......................................... 79 Cross Country Tyres................................ 81 GMG Customs......................................... 83 MW Services.......................................... 83 Sawmills Garage.................................... 83 CARE/CARE HOMES Prestige Nursing..................................... 45 Hill House............................................... 45 Kingston House...................................... 45 CARPENTER/JOINER Contours Carpentry................................ 97 SM Carpentry....................................... 104 CHIMNEY SWEEP Cleansweep............................................ 73 Hubands.............................................. 103 CHURCHES Calne Evangelical Church ...................... 91 CLEANING/DOMESTIC SERVICES Houseproud........................................... 73 iKlean..................................................... 43 Ovenclean .......................................... 104 Prune and Broom Ltd............................. 73 COMPUTER/IT/GRAPHICS/WEB Bound Book Website Designs ................ 35 Calne Computer Services ...................... 35 PC Hospital............................................. 91 CONSERVATORY Greenspace UK......................................... 9 Weatherguard........................................ 43 CURTAINS/BLINDS Ginghams.............................................. 73 Goldmans Interiors................................. 41 DAMP Eaton Electrical.................................... 105 DANCING Quicksteps.............................................. 22 DISCO Disco Mania .......................................... 65 DRIVEWAYS P & M Driveways.................................. 104

DOMESTIC APPLIANCES/REPAIRS Calne Appliances.................................... 73 Steves Appliances................................ 102 Tony Parsons........................................ 102 EDUCATION/CHILDCARE Abbeyfield School.................................... 2 Corsham School..................................... 47 Little Foxes............................................. 47 Rub-A-Dub Pre-School........................... 46 Tumble Tots............................................ 47 St Margarets........................................... 49 ELECTRICIANS/ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES Calne Appliances.................................... 73 Eaton Electrical...................................... 98 Electrical Man........................................ 98 Electrical and General Maintaining........ 98 Grants Electrical..................................... 98 JH Electrical............................................ 99 Nick Pocock Electrical............................. 98 O and J Electrical.................................... 99 WEC......................................................... 5 ESTATE AGENTS Alan Hawkins......................................... 33

HAIR/BEAUTY/NAILS Jasmine Nail Art Course.......................... 67 JMK Cosmetics....................................... 68 LA Barber............................................... 69 Mill Beauty............................................. 67 Pamplemouse........................................ 67 Woman2Woman.................................... 71 HANDY MAN Ged Byrne.............................................. 97 Odd Jobs.............................................. 104 Philip Viles............................................. 73 HEALTH CARE/FOOT CARE Calne Acupuncture................................. 69 Fiona Stubbs.......................................... 65 Foot Health Care..................................... 69 Nureflexology......................................... 65 Oakmead Clinic...................................... 58 HEATING/LOGS H&G Sims............................................... 20 Skyline................................................. 102 Wild Wood Logs..................................... 27

FASHION Spirit Fashion......................................... 19

HOME & INTERIORS Goldmans Interiors........................... 31, 41 Sarah’s Soft Furnishings ........................ 91 Sassy Chic............................................... 19

FINANCIAL Boatman Financial................................... 7

HOUSE CLEARANCE Crapper.................................................. 72

FLOORING/CARPET SERVICES BSB Flooring ......................................... 72 George Taylor Carpet Fitter ................... 72 Goldmans Flooring................................. 31 iKlean..................................................... 43 Total Carpets & Flooring......................... 25

HYPNOTHERAPY Hypnotherapy of Calne........................... 65

FLORISTS Shirley’s Florists .................................... 37 FOOD & DRINK Allington Farm Shop.............................. 57 Black Dog Smokery................................ 54 Foodalicious........................................... 51 George Inn at Sandy Lane...................... 57 Oakmead Clinic...................................... 58 Pear Tree at Purton................................. 56 FUNERAL DIRECTORS Johnson & Daltrey.................................. 37 Matthews of Malmesbury...................... 13 Odette.................................................... 25 Tony Warren ......................................... 43 E Wootten & Son.................................... 39 GARDENING/FENCING/LANDSCAPING Acres Ahead........................................... 87 AD Paving & Walling.............................. 87 Corsham Landscapes and Building....... 105 Crapper Compost.................................... 87 Dave Newton Fencing............................ 85 ES Earthmoving...................................... 88 Franks Plants.......................................... 88 Garden Room......................................... 88 Graham Fox............................................ 85 Ian Marsh............................................... 87 Jon Burton............................................. 85 MH Tree Services.................................... 85 MR Fencing............................................ 87 Prune and Broom Ltd............................. 73 Quemerford Landscaping....................... 88 Tiger Plant Hire...................................... 84 Turners Landscapes................................ 85 GATES Compass Security................................... 27 GOLF COURSE Woodbridge Park Golf Club.................... 16 GIFTS Bazaar Gifts & Cards .............................. 37

106 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017

KITCHENS/BATHROOMS Accent Kitchens...................................... 29 Active Kitchens & Bathrooms................. 41 AFK Tiling............................................. 101 Aquarius Plumbing & Heating.............. 101 Dream Doors ....................................... 107 Elephant Bathrooms.............................. 23 Kitchen Makeover ................................. 43 Philip Viles............................................. 73 Premier Kitchen Doors............................ 15 Total Bedrooms/Kitchens/Bathrooms..... 25 INSURANCE Allied Wessex......................................... 81 McClarrons............................................. 32 LEGAL SERVICES / WILL WRITING Goodwills............................................... 19 LIGHTING Lightways.............................................. 39 LOCKS & ALARMS Alan Key Locks ..................................... 104 MOBILITY Mobility Store........................................ 15 MODELS/TOYS Modelmaniacs....................................... 37 MORTGAGES & EQUITY RELEASE Aspirations............................................. 33 Providus................................................. 21 Platinum Mortgage Solutions................ 39 MICROLIGHT FLIGHTS Wiltshire Microlight Centre ................... 91 OPTICIAN Outside Clinic ........................................ 14 PAINTERS/DECORATORS/PLASTERERS ACM Decorating..................................... 99 Alan Clifford Painter & Decorator............ 99 AS Plastering.......................................... 99 Freshen Up............................................. 99 RTC Plastering & Plumbing................... 101 Sassy Chic............................................... 19

PETS/CATS/DOGS Animals at Home.................................... 77 Corton Kennels....................................... 77 Great Bounds......................................... 77 Grittenham Grooming............................ 75 Hobsons Regal Hounds........................... 77 Shirleys Pet Shop................................... 75 Thameswood Vets.................................... 3 Wagging Tails......................................... 75 PEST CONTROL Wiltshire Pest Control ........................... 72 PHOTOGRAPHY Candid Pictures...................................... 31 PLUMBING/HEATING/SUPPLIES ABC Plumbing...................................... 101 Active Plumbing Supplies.................... 100 Aquarius Plumbing & Heating.............. 101 Max Colbourne Oil & Gas...................... 101 DPS Plumbing & Heating..................... 100 F.S. Plumbing & Heating...................... 100 Graham Gas & Plumbing Services........ 100 H&G Sims............................................. 101 Plumbing 4U........................................ 100 RTC Plastering & Plumbing................... 101 Steve Cowley........................................ 101 Skyline................................................. 102 RETIREMENT LIVING Abbeyfield ............................................. 13 Churchill Retirement Living.................... 11 ROOFING/TILING/THATCHING David Beal Thatcher............................. 103 Daylan Gleed Roofing........................... 103 Marden Roofing................................... 103 White Horse Roofing............................ 103 TAXI Calne's Half Price Taxi............................. 81 TILING AFK Tiling............................................. 101 TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS Pebbles Travel........................................ 50 TV/SATELLITE Aerial Services ...................................... 73 VISITOR ATTRACTIONS/VENUES Calne Music Festival............................... 36 Country Comes to Town.......................... 18 Farmtastic.............................................. 28 Town Crier Competition.......................... 30 Woodbridge Park Golf Club.................... 16 VETS George Veterinary Hospital.................... 74 Hale Veterinary Group............................ 77 WATER SOFTENERS Wiltshire Wet Rooms.............................. 93 WEBSITES Bound Book Website Designs ................ 35 WEIGHT LOSS Oakmead Clinic...................................... 58 Slimming World .................................... 65 WET ROOMS Wiltshire Wet Rooms.............................. 93 WILL WRITING Goodwills............................................... 29 WINDOW CLEANERS Elmers Window Cleaning Servs. ............ 73 WINDOWS & DOORS Greenspace UK......................................... 9 Weatherguard........................................ 43

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01793 213021 dreamdoors.co.uk Visit our showroom: 108 High St, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 7AU The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017 107

108 The Town Crier Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2017