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♥

FEBRUARY 2016 IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to February!

t to see February is the month when we star its way. on ng spri and g rgin the flowers eme th’s There is a flowery theme to this mon for s idea magazine with plenty of Valentine’s Day. reader’s Please read the story of one of our Nepal in age time with the Angels Orphan they are k wor le on page 10 and the incredib ake. hqu eart nt doing after the rece all the With half term this month, check out re whe 12, e details of Abbey Skate on pag a into ed vert Malmesbury Abbey is con skatepark!

Until next time ...

Annie

Your Local

TownCr er Magazine The Stables, Fishers Brook, Calne, Wilts. SN11 9HB Tel: 01249 811068 www. towncriermagazine.com Deadline for submissions for the March 2016 issue: 9th February 2016 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.

For general enquiries please call Jake Fortune on 07725 191206 or email: jake.sales@towncriermagazine.com

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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Local Focus Local News and Events

10 Angels Orphanage

A reader’s time in Nepal 12 Abbey Skate

Skateboarding in Malmesbury Abbey 16 Puzzle Corner

Crossword & Sudoku 20 Recipe

Lardy Cake 22 Valentine’s Day

Buying perfume and flowers 26 Gardening

Valentine’s Day gifts for a gardener 32 A Good Read

The Ice Twins & Fairy Tale Detectives

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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ON W NE HAT A R ’S YO U

♥ Local Focus FEBRUARY 2016

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

Airlifted patient running the Bath Half Marathon for Wiltshire Air Ambulance transport patients to hospital very quickly. “I became a volunteer with them because I wanted to give something back. Being a volunteer is brilliant. I enjoy meeting the public at events and they are very generous. It’s also nice to meet other people who have been airlifted by Wiltshire Air Ambulance and hear their experiences.”

IF you looking to get fit after the Christmas and New Year festivities, why not run the Bath Half Marathon and raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA)?

The Charity has places available for the popular event, which is taking place on 13 March 2016, and will provide support with training tips, collection tins and sponsor forms.

One person who has already signed up to run the Vitality Bath Half Marathon is Shaun Fleming, who was airlifted by WAA after an accident at home in Wroughton, near Swindon, just over a year ago.

This will be the first half marathon for Shaun, an experienced runner, since his accident. He fell 11 feet from a ladder while pruning a conifer tree at home in Maunsell Way on 28 September 2014.

Shaun, 57, suffered fractured shoulder blades, hip socket and a minor skull fracture in the fall and was flown by WAA to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, a major trauma centre, in 16 minutes - by road it would have taken over an hour.

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Shaun, a painter and decorator, was in hospital for two weeks and had an operation to repair his hip. He was off work for four months.

After he recovered Shaun, who is married with two grown up children, became a volunteer with WAA and the first event he represented the Charity at was the Bath Half Marathon in March 2015.

Shaun’s training is underway and he is hoping to complete the Bath Half Marathon in under two hours.

Shaun has an online donation site which can be accessed at WAA’s Just Giving team page at www.justgiving.com/teams/ WAABathHalf16Team

He said: “The atmosphere at the Bath Half Marathon was fantastic and cheering on the runners was quite a buzz. It made me determined to enter it in 2016.

Kenresa Stratford, Fundraising Coordinator at WAA, said: “We’re so grateful to Shaun for taking part in the Bath Half Marathon and raising money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Shaun is a fantastic volunteer for us. He is passionate about Wiltshire Air Ambulance and loves speaking to people about what we do.

“Wiltshire Air Ambulance is priceless. You never think you will need them – I was one of those people. I’m so grateful for the care the crew gave me. They got me to hospital safely without further complications. I’m extremely lucky.

“There’s still time for others to join our team at the Bath Half Marathon. The money raised by people running for us will help to keep our helicopter flying and saving lives in Wiltshire and surrounding counties.”

“It’s an essential emergency service.

The speed of the helicopter means it is able to get to all parts of Wiltshire within 11 minutes and can

For more information or to book a place email kenresa@ wiltshireairambulance.co.uk or call WAA on 01380 739453.

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

Photo: Shaun Fleming with Louise Cox, Wiltshire Air Ambulance Critical Care Paramedic.

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What’s On

Diary Dates FEBRUARY 2016

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TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, SN16 9BZ Tel:01666 823748 Email: tic@malmesbury.gov.uk ARTISAN & FARMERS’ MARKET every Friday in the Market Cross Malmesbury 9am-3pm LINE DANCING Cotswold House, Gloucester Road, Malmesbury Thursdays 7.309.00, weekly £30 for block of 7 sessions, or £5 per session All levels welcome. For further info or to book a place contact Tracey T: 07835467551, E: traceygorrod@btinternet.com Facebook page: Malmesbury Line Dancing Group THE NORTH WILTSHIRE VILLAGE FLOWER CLUB Meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month in Crudwell Village Hall at 7.30pm – Contact Gill on 01666 824813 for details MALMESBURY MORRIS meets every Thursday at Corston Reading Room at 7.30pm New dancers and musicians very welcome LEARN TO CROCHET – DOLLY BOBBINS CLASSES & WORKSHOPS 2016 Various classes and workshops For Beginner/Novice/Improver/ Intermediate Crochet/Crochet Square Joining/Bunting/Flowers/ Understanding Charts/Mandalas/ Dollies/Knitting Cost £15 for adults. £10 for children. Further information of all dates and times; Email: dollybobbins@hotmail.com Telephone: 07835467551 www. facebook.com/dollybobbins.co.uk ZUMBA FITNESS! Salsa, Jive, Cha-Cha and much more No experience necessary Mondays 9.15 – 10.15am £5.50 per session. Contact Becky for more information 07837 930986 8

MOVIES@MALMESBURY Snoopy & Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie (U) Friday 12th February 5.30pm Bridge of Spies (12a) Fri 12th February 8pm & Fri 26th February 2pm Exhibition on Screen: Renoir – Reviled & Revered (12A) Tuesday 16th February 7.15pm National Theatre Live: As You Like It (12A) Thurs 25th February 7pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12a) Friday 26th February 5.30pm & 8pm Tickets available from Malmesbury Tourist Information Centre or www.oxboffice.com www.malmesbury.gov.uk/cinema VICTORIA ART GALLERY, BATH Tel: (01225) 477244 Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences exhibition runs until 10 April 2016 01225 477244 www.victoriagal.org.uk/ MALMESBURY AND DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB Monday 8th February at 7.30pm An illustrated talk by Jenny Tidman titled “ROSES” Pruning, planting, feeding, pests and diseases

SHOWSTOPPERS 12th February 2016 7:30 pm The Neeld, Chippenham A brand new musical comedy is created from scratch at every single performance of this award-winning show. Each night, audience suggestions are instantly transformed into an all-singing, alldancing production, always with unpredictable and hilarious results! Tickets £14.

Tel: 01249 446699 http://www.neeld.co.uk/event/ show-stoppers-the-musical/ GINGERBREAD RACE 13-21 Feb 2016 Call for times Roves Farm Visitor Centre, Swindon Bringing the classic story to life with a twist... ‘Drive, drive as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man’.

Tel: 01793 763939 www.rovesfarm.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

MALMESBURY ABBEY SKATE At Malmesbury Abbey 17th-19th February to book tickets please visit https:// www.ticketsource.co.uk/ malmesburyabbey See page 12 for details.

HALF TERM WORKSHOPS 16-18 February 2016 Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre Make and Do Sessions. FREE Just drop In. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.

Please book with museum for more information 01249 705020 www.chippenham.gov.uk BOWOOD WEDDING FAYRE 2016 28th February, 2016 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Free Come and join us for some wedding inspiration at the Bowood Wedding Fayre. Come along and start planning your magical day. For more information contact 01249 822228 or visit: www.bowood.org

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Local Focus

Truly a Privilege THERE IS A SAYING that I am sure you know – ‘be careful what you wish for’.

Well, just before we went off to Nepal we put out appeals in the Town Crier and wished for ‘volunteers’. We wanted them to come and live on a very basic level and work very hard, and manually, in a remote village spread up and down the mountains. Not much to ask then! Asking for volunteers and seeing what turns up is a bit like a ‘blind-date’ – you don’t know what you are going to get until you get it, so it was with some trepidation we welcomed our four responders. We need not have feared – they were amazing, so much so that we named them ‘the ‘A’ Team’ – Laurence, Ana, Dee, Rebecca.

We went to rebuild homes but the villagers wanted us to help the school – a replacement hasty construction in modern materials that, although ‘finished’, was left in a leaky, concrete dust ridden, unusable state. They all set to work including our older boys Raju, Nischal and Nimesh, and the ‘B Team’ i.e. backup team, Ian Brian and Rosa, but ‘The A Team’ stayed for almost 3 weeks doing the brunt of the work.

We laid carpets and underlay, sealed and painted floors, mended ceilings, painted benches, Laurence, Raju and Nischal made shoes racks, book shelves and a lockable cupboard for the Principal. ‘The A Team’ decorated the outside of the school so that it looked magnificent – ‘just like a private school’ as Nischal said. Not only did they do the work, ‘The A Team’ won the hearts of the villagers, big and small, young and old. We, the Friends’, and the villagers of Kodari, owe them an ENORMOUS THANK YOU. Rosa Matheson 10

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

Dee Freeston from Royal Wootton Bassett writes I have been so privileged to have spent thirty days in Nepal, working in a remote village (75km from the capital Kathmandu) devastated by the earthquakes of April and May 2015.

I had read in the Town Crier of the need for volunteers through the local charity Friends of Angel’s Orphanage and felt this was my opportunity to repay the kindness of the Nepalese people. The charity looks after 21 children in Kathmandu, One could not wish to meet more delightful, friendly, happy, mischievous, talented children – such a far cry from the same children they took on nearly 7years ago. We took 3 of the older boys with us to act as interpreters and help with carpentry and electrical work.

The villagers welcomed us with open arms and soon got over these strange ‘foreigners’ ! We lived in tents alongside the corrugated tin and tarpaulin dwellings that are now their homes. Only 2 out of 150 houses remained standing after the earthquakes. At best, they had very little and yet still delighted in bringing us a handful of cherry tomatoes, a few bananas, a chilli concoction and -heaven forbid ! – fried wasps and larvae! Not for the faint hearted ! Rice and veggies were our staple diet cooked over an open fire with up to 40 locals of every age watching and sharing wherever possible.

The walk to school each day took us through rice and millet terraces that climbed the foothills, the ‘often tiny ‘ children working three hours before school along with their elders. The original school had been replaced by a temporary unfinished building which we were able to paint, carpet ,equip and make safe horrendous electrics and bring it to life with characters painted on the outside walls.

Each child had one pencil, one rubber, one text book and exercise book ... full stop. NOTHING else. The joy on their faces as we brought so much donated stationary is something I will never forget. Colouring books, felt tips, crayons, white boards, flashcards – everything our own children take for granted. We made bracelets, paper planes, cards, posters, we skipped and sang and danced, face painted, we blew up hundreds of balloons that delighted not only little ones but the teenagers, the Mums and Dads and old Grannies !! Most had never seen a balloon before.

There is so much still to do for this village, the school, the Children’s Home, and for the Nepalese people. I am very conscious that any help we can give is given with respect for their way of life. To work together has been invaluable and enriching with friendships to last a lifetime. Thank you.

The Friends of Angel’s Orphanage Trustees, Ian, Rosa and Brian are going out again as usual in March, along with two supporters. We will be working with our children, as always, and again trying to give much needed relief to earthquake victims. This time we gave almost 600 warm cosy hats to school children in different villages, and 500 warm shawls, to babies, school children, old people and women to help against the cold winter weather.

If you want to help these projects please donate at www.bit.ly/angelsbiggive To support our children through desperately difficult times, donate via www.angelsorphanage.com

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How can I know what affects my tax position and what to change?

See your accountant ANNUALLY to plan going forward and find the most efficient way to pay money out from your business. Such as: New tax rates and laws. Tax rates and allowances change annually, for example from April 2016, new calculations are required to minimise the impact of the new dividend tax, affecting the most beneficial levels of salary (for director/ shareholders), ownership changes, and pension strategy.

Retirement plans. If it’s roughly known when a business will cease/be sold, it may benefit the owners to reduce regular payments as income and plan to take monies out as Capital (pay Capital Gains Tax) at the closure/sale. www.ask-ams.co.uk AMS Accountancy Ltd. 01793 818400 www.ams-accountancy.co.uk @AMSAccountancy

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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What’s On

SKATEBOARD I SCOOTER I ROLLERBLADE For the eighth year running, the 12th century former Benedictine Abbey in Malmesbury, is to be transformed from a working church to a skatepark, welcoming hundreds of young people over the February half term (17th19th February). This year we are adding a new soft-play session for pre-schoolers on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February from 10.30-12.30.

The skatepark is a collaboration between the Malmesbury Abbey congregation and the Nailseabased Christian Skaters UK organisation. Since it began in 2009, Abbey Skate has become one of the premier youth events in the West Country. Last year more than 600 young people tested the ramps, quarter pipes, grinding rails and trick boxes.

The organiser this year is the curate of Malmesbury Abbey, Rev John Monaghan.

For more information, or to book a session, parents and young people must visit www. malmesburyabbey.com/skate Booking is NOW OPEN! The general timetable of the week looks like this: Sunday February 14th (4pm9pm): At 4pm, Malmesbury Abbey holds its regular Sunday informal worship service.

Afterwards, the congregation remove the chairs and lay down a double-thick wooden floor to protect the abbey’s stone and parquet flooring.

Monday February 15th (7am): A local farmer lends 120 straw bales, which are then bagged and tapped up by volunteers, to protect the Abbey’s ancient mighty stone pillars. At 9am we build the supporters staging and at 10.30, our first pre-school soft-play session starts with a bouncy castle and other fun toys.

Tuesday February 17 (approx.

7.30pm): The skate ramps, quarter pipe, and other equipment arrives and is set up – the skatepark transformation is complete!

The event opens at 10am on Wednesday, February 18, runs all day and into the evening on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with demonstrations from professional skaters and scooterers, and climaxes with a grand competition on Friday night starting at 7pm, with prizes courtesy of a variety of different sponsors. It is an action packed three days, with age-appropriate skate and scoot sessions for people of all abilities. Once the competition is over, an army of volunteers removes the skatepark, returns the bales, takes up the floor and returns the chairs. Each year they attempt to beat the previous record, and/or try to make it to the local curry house before it closes at midnight!

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Wiltshire Hotel puts Kid Goat meat on the menu thanks to Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty Hotel manager Alix Young and head chef Adam Conduit are now offering guests the opportunity to try kid goat meat after taking part in Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast.

In the Channel 4 series, screened on New Year’s Day, Alix and Adam, who work together at The Pear Tree in Purton, Wiltshire, were invited to try dishes using kid goat meat at The Red Lion pub in Cricklade.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and farmer Jimmy Doherty featured kid goat meat, throughout episode one of their new series, as a healthy meat which is underused

Adam Conduit and Alix Young during the filming of Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast screened on Channel 4 on New Year’s Day.

in the UK. They invited people from around and about Cricklade to try the meat. Although the programme was filmed during the summer, it was transmitted just a few days ago.

Alix Young, manager at The Pear Tree, said: “It was exciting to have the opportunity to meet both Jamie and Jimmy as part of this latest series looking at good food.

“Male kids are often slaughtered at birth in the dairy industry so this is an underused and under-valued resource in our farming industry.

The meat is delicious and Adam has now introduced it on to our menu.”

The Pear Tree is one of Wiltshire’s most respected family run hotels. It opened in 1987 and is now managed by the second generation of the Young family – Alix Young and her husband Tim. Where possible they try to source high quality produce locally to offer fine dining to their restaurant and hotel guests.

Last year, the hotel won the Cesar Award for Country Hotel of the Year by the Good Hotel Guide.

The Pear Tree 01793 772100 or www.peartreepurton.co.uk

The Pear Tree of Purton is a family run luxury country house hotel and fine dining restaurant run by Anne Young, daughter Alix and her husband Tim. The head chef is Adam Conduit.

The hotel - the former Purton vicarage - offers fine dining all year round and, where possible, sources high quality produce locally. It has 17 bedrooms and is a family and dog friendly hotel.

The venue also hosts small intimate weddings and special occasions and can also offer luxury, small conference business events.

Bookings can be made by phone 01793 772100 or online visit: www.peartreepurton.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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Local Focus

Corporate Events are shortlisted for ‘Production Team of the Year’ the Event Production Awards 2016 Following Swindon company, Corporate Event Services Ltd success in 2015, the events production agency has been shortlisted for ‘Production Team of the Year’ at the 2016 Event Production Awards in London.

Corporate Events; who are celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2016, produce over 350 events a year for some of the world’s largest brands. With over £2m worth of production equipment and full creative suite, the agency is able to offer a complete and cost effective in-house solution for their clients all from their 24,500 sq ft headquarters in West Swindon.

Andy Ashley, Corporate Events Managing Director commented; “We are honoured to have been shortlisted at this years’ Event Production Awards. 2016 will see us celebrate our 20th anniversary and what better way to kick that off than being recognised for our hard work.

We created 5 new roles within the Corporate Events team throughout 2015 and we are expecting double digit growth over the next 12 months. It really is set to be an exciting year for us!”

The Event Production Awards, which are set to be held at the Lancaster London Hotel, on 12th February 2016, recognise excellence in the outdoor and indoor events industry.

The 2016 awards will be the second year the awards have taken place as a standalone event since launching alongside the Event Production Show in 2012.

T: 01793 849300 www.corporate-events.co.uk 14

Fairtrade Fortnight What did you have for breakfast this morning? Maybe you enjoyed coffee from Kenya, bananas from Colombia, cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire, tea from India, sugar from Malawi or juice from Brazilian oranges.

Millions of farmers and workers in developing countries work hard every day to grow the food we take for granted, but ironically they don’t always earn enough to feed their own families. In other words, they do not have food security. Fairtrade is about changing that. Its aim is to secure better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers.

By being paid a fair price, they can have more control over their lives and less worry about how they will feed their families. Fairtrade means many farmers and workers are able to fulfil a basic human need – to put enough food on the table for the people they care about, all year round.

When you buy products with the FAIRTRADE Mark, it means that the Fairtrade ingredients they contain have been produced by small-scale farmer organisations or plantations that meet Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards. These standards include protection of workers’ rights and the environment, payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price and an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in schools, transport, health care, sanitation, an improved environment and better business equipment and practices.

There are over 4,500 Fairtrade products available in the UK: from coffee, tea and chocolate to beauty products, flowers and gold. One in three bananas bought is Fairtrade, and British consumers choosing Fairtrade sugar sent more than

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

£5 million in Fairtrade premium back to sugar cane smallholders last year. Choosing to buy food with the FAIRTRADE Mark really does make a huge difference to thousands of farmers, workers and their families.

From 29 February until 13 March 2016 is Fairtrade Fortnight, during which ordinary people like you and me are encouraged to inspire a multitude of Fairtrade breakfasts in our communities – and wake others up to the challenges facing farmers and workers.

There are three simple steps to get involved: • Organise your own Big Fairtrade Breakfast • Inspire others to host a breakfast (for example, in a school, workplace, town hall or individuals at home) • Register your breakfast on the Big Fairtrade Breakfast totaliser to make sure it gets counted.

You can find everything you need at fairtrade.org.uk/breakfast.

No one person can do everything to tackle the injustices that exist in the world, but harnessing the power of a Fairtrade breakfast is something we can all do. So, sit down for breakfast and stand up for farmers!

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Is Your Pet A Very Important Pensioner?

Then welcome to our new health club for the older generation of Pets Providing the preventative health care your pet deserves at a great discount.

Visit our website for more information.

39B Station Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 7ED Tel: 01793 230266 Open: Monday to Friday 9am-6.30pm Saturday 9am-12noon

www.thameswoodvets.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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Local Focus

Movies@Malmesbury

PUZZLE CORNER

Snoopy & Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie (U) Friday 12th February 5.30pm Bridge of Spies (12a) Fri 12th February 8pm & Fri 26th February 2pm Exhibition on Screen: Renoir – Reviled & Revered (12A) Tuesday 16th February 7.15pm National Theatre Live: As You Like It (12A) Thursday 25th February 7pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12a) Friday 26th February 5.30pm & 8pm Tickets available from Malmesbury Tourist Information Centre or www.oxboffice.com www.malmesbury.gov.uk/cinema.html

CHRISTMAS COMPETITION WINNER Ian Mynes, Hullavington

Tuesday 16th February Wednesday 17th February Thursday 18th February Please book with museum for more information

01249 705020

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

DOWN ACROSS 2 Enmity, contempt (6) 1 Herbaceous perennial with edible 3 Infused, fermented (6) stalks (7) 4 Appreciate, enjoy (6) 8 Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow 5 _____ West, Dalton and Spall (7) polka dot ______ (6) 6 Bystander, spectator (7) 9 The Moor of Venice, Shakespeare 7 Explanation of how the universe play (7) began (7) 10 Type of biscuit (6) 13 Astronomical event, can be solar 11 About-face (7) or lunar (7) 12 Picked, selected (6) 16 Composer of Fantaisie-Impromptu (6) 14 Beloved, favoured (7) 15 Innovator (7) 20 Sang A Perfect Day and Walk on the 17 Anne ______, second wife of Wild Side (3, 4) Henry VIII (6) 21 Tropical lizard (6) 18 Contusion, blemish caused by 22 Andalucian town (7) 23 Pollen-producing part of a flower (6) injury (6) 19 UK’s smallest bird of prey (6) 24 Aerial, signal receiver (7) Solutions to the crossword and sudoku on page 23

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

See our Recipe for Lardy Cake on next page!

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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Recipe

Lardy Cake Serves 3 cakes

This Lardy cake recipe is from episode 6 (season 1) of The Fabulous Baker Brothers, Tom is a master baker and this is his recipe for an old fashioned sticky cake that tastes way better than it’s name would have you think.

More importantly this lardy cake recipe is our family recipe and we sell masses of this traditional cake from Gloucestershire.

Watch Tom making our traditional lardy cake recipe video at www.hobbshousebakery.co.uk/traditional-lardy-cake/ See Tom learning to make lardy from 99 year old Mr Richards.

Wave good-bye to soggy bottoms forever and get a deliciously caramelised lardy by baking on a baking stone.

You could also try our eccles cake recipe another great british classic cake at www.hobbshousebakery.co.uk/ recipe/eccles-cakes/

Method Line 2 x 15cm cake tins or enamel pie dishes with greaseproof paper.

Weigh the flour, salt and lard into a big bowl. Mix the yeast into the warm water then empty the mixture into the bowl and stir all the ingredients together.

Knead the dough for 15 minutes (or 10 minutes in an electric mixer). Once you have a smooth and elastic dough nestle it back into the bowl and cover in cling film with no air gaps. Leave it in a warm place to rise to twice its size or for 1 hour, whichever is first.

Meanwhile make the lard and sugar mix by mixing them together until they’re combined in a mixer or with a wooden spoon. To slightly soften the the lard just warm it a bit in a bowl over a saucepan of hot water.

When it’s rested, divide the dough into 2 pieces. Mould the dough into round shapes and then on a wellfloured table, with a rolling pin, roll the balls out into 20cm discs.

Using a pallet knife, spread a layer of sweet lard mix onto each disc. Then fold the dough; this requires you to take an outside edge and pull into the middle, your circle now has a straight edge with a corner at each end. Looking at it clockwise, take the bottom corner and pull the corner into the middle and push the dough down with your palm. Now working clockwise pick up the bottom corner and continue to work your way around, pulling the bottom corner into the centre until you’ve worked your way all around.

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

Ingredients 275g strong white bre ad flour 50g lard 175ml warm water Pinch of sea salt 5g dried yeast (or 10g of fresh yeast) For the lard and suga r mix 250g caster sugar Handful of raisins and sultanas 200g lard, slightly softe ned

Roll the discs out again and then spread all but a tablespoon of the sweet lard mix on top. Sprinkle with some raisins and currants and fold as before, then roll out to fit your round cake tins.

Put the remainder of the sweet lard mix in the bottom of each tin and spread it around to cover the bottom and sides. Then sprinkle a generous tablespoon of sugar over the lard mix and place the dough on top, with the flat side on the bottom and the layered, knotted side on top. Cover and leave in a warm place to rise for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, preheat the oven to 210°C/fan 190°C/gas mark 6½. Bake the lardy cake for 45 minutes until you can just lift the cake from the tin using the small pallet knife and the cake is golden all over. Take care to bake the base well so it caramelises (baking on a pre-heated baking stone, or a heavy metal tray will really help this) but doesn’t burn.

Leave the cake to cool in the tin for half an hour until the caramelised lard toffee has set a bit. Then tip out onto grease proof paper and serve sunny side up.

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eatonelectrical75@gmail.com The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

21

Valentine’s Day

Scents Appeal

by Kate Duggan

Buying perfume for a loved one this Valentine’s, but don’t have a clue where to start? Read on . . .

W

E tend to think of perfume as French, but there are some fantastic British fragrance houses. Take Deco London. Launched in 2015, Deco London has created a select range of six fragrances, three for her and three for him. Each one is a real delight, with multiple, complex layers. At £75 a bottle, they’re pricey, but if you’re looking to splash out this Valentine’s, they’re well worth it.

Perfume can be split into several ‘types’, although many fragrances cross categories. The main types are: Floral Feminine and unashamedly romantic, floral perfumes range from ‘sugar and spice’ sweetness to grown-up sophistication. If she likes Beautiful by Estee Lauder, try Kukui by Connock London – a delicious, grown-up blend of gardenia, bergamot and white flowers, that’s warmed by notes of sandalwood, vetiver and white amber. (You may have guessed that it has pride of place on my bedside table.)

Citrus Fresh, vibrant and invigorating, citrus based fragrances are fun and light-hearted. Think scents of lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, and other refreshing notes. If she likes Happy by Clinique, she’ll love Miller Harris’s Citron Citron.

Fruity Similar to citrus scents, fruity fragrances are uplifting and cheerful. If she has a bottle of DKNY’s Be Delicious at hand, try 22

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

surprising her with Jo Malone’s English Pear and Freesia cologne.

Oriental Exotic, sensual scents that demand attention, oriental fragrances are warm and rich, with notes of musk, vanilla and amber. They were all the rage in the 80s, but these days tend to be softened slightly with other scents, such as floral notes. If she’s a fan of Angel by Thierry Mugler, try Deco London’s Constance.

Woody/chypre Warm and musky, with hints of sandalwood, cedar, vetiver and moss, these fragrances conjure up images of walking through a forest at sunset. If she loves spritzing on Miss Dior, treat her to Vanilla and Cedarwood by Kiehl’s.

Oceanic Invigorating, refreshing and easy to wear, ‘oceanic’ covers a wide range of ‘clean smelling’ fragrances, from crisp white linen to ocean spray. If she’s a fan of Cool Water Woman

by Davidoff , treat her to Inis by Fragrances of Ireland.

People have been dabbing on fragrances for thousands of years.

In Cyprus, evidence has been unearthed that perfume was being manufactured at least 4,000 years ago. It’s played an important role in cultures and religious occasions across the world, so it’s no surprise that one of the gifts the three wise men chose was myrrh – an essential oil used predominately for its scent.

What gift will you choose to bestow this Valentine’s?

Crossword & Sudoku solution page 16

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

23

Valentine’s Day

The language of Flowers

I

T’S nearly Valentine’s Day and millions will be rushing out to buy or send flowers.

Traditionally this will be red roses of course. Others may choose their purchases on the basis of colour, smell or even price but there’s a whole language and meaning to flowers too which is called Floriography.

Roses: Red Roses as most will know symbolise Love and Desire but changing the colour of the flower leads to different connotations. For example, Yellow is for friendship, Pink for perfect happiness and Orange for fascination. There are different meanings for specific types of rose too, such as Tea Roses meaning ‘I’ll remember always’ and Dog Roses connecting to pain and pleasure.

Formations also have an impact.

Thinking back to the traditional dozen red roses, a bunch of a single bloom, means I love you or I

still love you, whilst an assortment of colours represents the sentiment ‘you’re everything to me.’ A dozen red roses has become the norm, because of the significance of the number twelve within nature, philosophy and religion. The number 12 often represents a full cycle, so 12 months of the year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 hours on a clock for instance. From ancient times, cultures around the world have developed calendars based on cycles of twelve, and there are many mythological and religious connections to the number also.

The use of 12 across the natural and spiritual world means that 12 or a dozen, has taken on a universal quality which enhances the significance of a dozen roses.

Turning now to other flowers we frequently buy in the UK:Carnations: Pink carnations mean ‘I’ll never forget you,’ whilst red

symbolise admiration and yellow rejection and disappointment, so probably best to avoid those!

Lilies: Calla Lilies represent beauty and Tiger Lilies wealth so the latter is perhaps a good choice if you are looking to impress.

Tulips: apparently show love and passion too. Yellow ones which are my daughter’s favourite, mean ‘there’s sunshine in your smile,’ whereas red tulips are a declaration of love and white ones say ‘I’m worthy of you.’

Daffodils: show regard.

Freesias: demonstrate trust.

Of course there are many more wonderful flowers to choose from, so if you really want to be sure of making the right impression, it’s worth asking your florist about their meaning.

by Susan Brookes-Morris

Recipe taken from The Soup Cleanse by Angela Blatteis and Vivienne Vella. Reviewed by Kate Duggan 24

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

♥

Oriental Aroma Welcome!

The Oriental Aroma in Royal Wootton Bassett is much loved by the local residents and community for its excellent quality in food which is prepared by its experienced and qualified Chinese chefs and delivered from the wok to your table in a respective manner.

Established Since August 2005; Oriental Aroma is the hidden treasure of Royal Wootton Bassett for its ambient atmosphere as well as its interaction and aid to local schools and charity events.

Not only delivering authentic Chinese food, but also Thai, Vietnamese, fresh sea food and a range of other oriental cuisine with a variety of different and exclusive spices to give your taste buds an explosion of flavours.

The à la carte and highly rated all you can eat menu has choices of over 140 selections freshly cooked to order; which means that you get to order and eat the food that you want and not what’s second best.

Inside the restaurant features the fresh refurbishment that has an ambient atmosphere including state of the art disco and karaoke equipment for the special occasions.

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Fully air conditioned for added comfort whilst enjoying your meal.

The terrace garden dining facility has also been refurbished with a fully heated sheltered area, since the implementation of the smoking legislation within the UK. This area also includes a fountain and a variety of colourful and attractive flowers.

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EAT • DRINK • SING • DANCE The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

25

Gardening

Garden View

by Rachel Leverton

What to get the gardener in your life this Valentine’s Day? WANT A ROMANTIC GIFT for your gardening Valentine? Forget the drooping daffs and jet-lagged lilies, flown halfway round the world and marked up to extortionate prices.

26

vine, wound round a heart-shaped support. What could be more romantic than that?

For a gardener a real romantic gesture is one that will last longer than a few days. Some gardeners actually dislike cut flowers, and most gardeners are eco-friendly, so when you think of all the paper, yards of cellophane, and air-miles clocked up by exotic blooms, a living plant suddenly seems like a better option.

We think of red roses as being the bloom of romance so what better than an entire bush of them that promises years of pleasure ahead.

One problem with rose bushes is that they are not at their best in February, and will most likely resemble a bunch of thorny twigs in a pot! But if your Valentine is a keen gardener I guarantee they will not mind. In fact they will enjoy the anticipation of the future blooms.

Potted plants are more suggestive of permanent affection than a bunch of flowers anyway, and on a purely practical level, they give much better value for money! Jasmine, stephanotis and gardenias are fragrant and glamorous, or try a passionflower

Myrtle is another plant you might like to consider. It’s been associated with love since Roman times and is still used in wedding bouquets.

With its neat glossy evergreen leaves and clusters of fragrant, fluffy white flowers followed by purple berries, Myrtis communis

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

is a plant of quiet good taste. If planted in a sheltered spot it can eventually grow into a tree up to 5m tall.

If you want to give a flower in bloom at the moment try a potted camellia, winter honeysuckle, violas, or an orchid. These plants are all associated with love and longing.

If you simply must hand over a bunch of cut flowers, try to choose blooms grown in the mild climate of the Scilly Isles as environmentally-friendly alternatives to exotic species flown in from the other side of the globe.

‘Paperwhite’ narcissi are beautifully scented and available now.

With just a little thought you can come up with the perfect gift for the gardener in your life.

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27

ADVERTISING FEATURE ADVERTISING FEATURE

Pets

Laparoscopic Bitch Speys Dr Michael Hollywood

BVetMed CertVOphthal MRCVS

ADVANTAGES OF LAPAROSCOPIC SPEYS OVER TRADITIONAL SPEYS? • A recent study concluded laparoscopic speys caused less surgical stress and vastly reduced post-op pain.

This is due to the smaller incisions and a reduction in the abdominal retraction and manipulation required.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdomen.

A laparoscope (camera) inserted through a small (keyhole) incision in the abdomen magnifies the internal structures of the abdomen on a TV monitor.

Additional small incisions are made to facilitate the use of surgical instruments. In recent years laparoscopy has been adopted as a less traumatic and less painful alternative to traditional surgery in human medicine.

TRADITIONAL SPEYS

• The entire procedure is performed through a few keyhole incisions rather than a larger abdominal opening. Smaller incisions are less painful and reduce recovery time.

• Decreased risk of wound infection • The bitch’s activity restriction is less critical during the post-surgical period (although restriction to lead exercise is recommended for 10 days) • Laparoscopy allows better visualisation of abdominal organs.

• Controlled incisions eliminate the pain and bruising caused by the tearing of tissue.

In a traditional spey a 5 to 10cm incision is made in the abdomen through which the ovarian ligament is stretched away from the abdominal wall. This stretching may cause bruising and may be a cause of some post-operative pain. Traditional speys require significant tension on the ovaries and uterus which may cause trauma and bleeding. In this procedure the ovaries and the uterus (womb) are removed.

LAPAROSCOPIC SPEYS

The George Veterinary Hospital now offers all clients the option of having their bitch neutered laparoscopically. The procedure is performed with magnified views of organs allowing for greater precision. In this procedure only the ovaries, not the uterus, are removed using a laparoscope inserted through two or three tiny 0.5-1cm incisions into the abdomen.

The ovarian ligament is carefully cut and cauterised, rather than being stretched away.

Laparoscopic speys offer patients up to 65% less pain and less trauma than traditional speys.

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

While laparoscopic surgery has become the gold standard for a wide range of operations in humans, it is still far less employed for procedures on animals throughout the UK. It requires a substantial investment in both specialist equipment and the additional training of veterinary surgeons and so many veterinary practices do not consider this a viable opportunity. However, the benefits for both pets and owners, over some traditional open abdominal surgery procedures, are clear with reduced levels of pain for the patient, less risk of complications and a quicker recovery time just a few of the important considerations for pet owners. Please contact our team if you would like to discuss the options for your pet in more detail.

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29

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Credibility and expertise Why they mean more customers for your business.

If you get a spare five minutes, go onto YouTube and search for 1970s TV ads. If you’re like us, you’ll be amazed at how clumsy and clunky many of those adverts were. Today’s marketing is incredibly sophisticated by comparison.

So it’s easy to get the impression that the smartest, most innovative marketing campaign wins the most customers. But whilst whizzy, clever adverts are an important part in grabbing attention, it’s not the whole story in winning sales. There’s another key factor in gaining real customers: credibility.

Although marketing campaigns have got more sophisticated, consumers have too. In choosing a supplier, consumers increasingly want to know the story behind the hype. That’s where establishing your credibility comes in. To win sales, you have to demonstrate to potential customers that you are a credible business.

There are a lot of strands to building credibility, so let’s focus on one – establishing your expertise. Let’s say you tune sports cars for maximum performance – potential customers certainly want to know that you’re reliable, communicative and so on. But first and foremost they want to know if you’re competent to work on their pride-and-joy.

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How do you demonstrate your expertise to a sceptical world? There are plenty of ways, but these are our five favourite approaches: 1. Through the page content of your website. Each page on your website is a golden opportunity to showcase your technical knowledge. This can be a tricky balancing act, as you still need to use plain English wherever possible. A good content writer can help you put your expertise across if you’re not confident tackling this yourself.

2. Through your blog posts. Still using your website, a blog is a much more flexible way of showing your expert knowledge. Regular updating with new content lets your potential customers see that you’re actively engaged in, and up to speed with, your industry.

3. By taking part in online discussions. Establishing yourself on specialist internet forums can be a quick way to build your reputation. For example, our car tuner could join fast-nissan-micras.com, and start answering questions from car owners on there.

Generously sharing his expertise will stick in their memories when they need some work done.

4. By recording ‘how to’ or product review videos.

Many people spend hours trawling video sites like YouTube. Videos have become a key source of practical information. Again, being generous with your information helps to establish your credentials.

Your videos can also be linked to your blog for what the marketing people call ‘synergy’.

5. By writing advertorials. Try to provide some information you think will help people and give your own business a plug at the same time. A bit like this article – and by the way, did we happen to mention that sanderswebworks.co.uk has lots more useful information on making websites work for your business?

You worked hard at mastering your business – now try these methods to show off your expertise!

www.sanderswebworks.co.uk 30

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

31

Books

A Good Read The Ice Twins

by SK Tremayne

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

This month we have a hugely successful thriller which is slowly spreading across social media, largely thanks to its inclusion in the Richard and Judy Book Club. Tremayne successfully plays on the greatest fear of every parent: losing their child.

This is exactly what happened to Angus and Sarah Moorcroft. They lived the perfect life in London with their twin daughters, Kirstie and Lydia but a holiday to Sarah’s parents’ in Devon turned into tragedy when Lydia fell from a balcony and died.

Or did she?

Two girls, physically identical in every way but with very different personalities. Surely if anyone is able to tell them apart it would be their parents? Lydia, Sarah’s thoughtful and quiet daughter is dead and she must rebuild her life and keep going for the sake of Kirstie.

A year after the accident, the family inherit a remote Scottish island and make arrangements to leave London where painful memories of Lydia are around every corner. Then Kirstie turns everything upside down with a simple question.

“Why do you keep calling me Kirstie, Mummy?

Kirstie is dead. It was Kirstie that died. I’m Lydia.”

Could Angus and Sarah really have got it wrong? Or is Kirstie just grieving for her dead twin sister? Is there something special that unites identical twins, even beyond the grave, and causes confusion and guilt at being the one to survive?

As the action moves to Scotland the fresh start that they hoped for comes crashing down around them.

Just who did die on that day in Devon? And what exactly happened to cause a little girl to fall and lose her life? As the truth is slowly revealed, Sarah struggles to come to terms with the reality as she is slowly pulled into a pit of despair and anguish. The novel starts slowly but builds to a chilling climax that will haunt the reader long after the final paragraph has been digested.

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The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-tale Detectives

by Michael Buckley

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

There are certain characters and stories that we have all grown up with. We know that it isn’t a good idea to build a house out of straw or sticks. Apples given to us by strange old women might not be good for us.

And planting some magic beans in your back garden is certainly not the smartest thing you could do unless you want to be attacked by giants! But they are just old stories, right?

Well, what if they weren’t?

In this first novel in the Sisters Grimm series (aimed at children around the age of 10), we meet Sabrina and Daphne Grimm. They live in New York and have in the past year been placed with one foster family after another following the mysterious disappearance of their parents. The girls have become experts at running away from each home as they find themselves treated badly.

Suddenly, out of the blue, their grandmother appears and offers them a home: shocking as the girls had been told that she had died. The authorities don’t seem too concerned by this - they are simply happy to get rid of Sabrina and Daphne – and so they are delivered a small town called Ferryport Landings and to the welcoming arms of Granny Relda.

But Ferryport Landings is no ordinary town, as the girls will soon discover. After all, how many schools have Snow White as a teacher? Here live the Everafters: characters from fairy-tales who are doomed to remain there for ever due to a curse. A curse that Sabrina and Daphne find themselves at the heart of.

It soon becomes clear that Granny Relda is no ordinary Granny and the fact that she is still alive is just one secret that has been kept from the Sisters Grimm.

Reviews by Willow Coby

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CALL US NOW FOR INFORMATION ON OUR SPECIAL OFFERS The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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BARNES

HALF TERM DAY TRIPS IN FEBRUARY 2016

Mon Feb 15

Portsmouth (Gunwharf Quay, Historic Dockyard, Spinnaker Tower) Southsea Gloucester Quays Slimbridge Wetland Centre

Tue Feb 16

Milton Keynes Shopping & Market Day Bletchley Park: Home of the Codebreakers Bluewater Shopping Centre Historic Dockyard, Chatham Call The Midwife Experience inc. Afternoon Tea & Dockyard

Wed Feb 17

Bond In Motion: London Film Museum & Free Time London Eye & 4D Film Experience Bristol Aquarium Bristol Zoo Cribbs Causeway Shopping Centre, Bristol

LOCAL PICK-UP POINTS

Thu Feb 18 BBC Broadcasting House Tour & Westfield London

Brooklands Museum: Birthplace of British Motorsport & Aviation

Kingston upon Thames Fri Feb 19

Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter The View from The Shard & Borough Market Borough Market, London

Sat Feb 20

Lymington (Market Day) & New Forest London (Kensington or Park Lane) Tower of London

19/09/2014 11:13:29

Sun Feb 21 World of Wedgwood (Tour & Museum)

London (Kensington or Park Lane)

Camden Market & Lock

To book call: 01793 821303 or visit: www.barnescoaches.co.uk

  Call us for your copy 

of our new brochure!  The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016

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V FO EH R ICL SA ES LE

VEHICLE SALES • SERVICING • REPAIRS • MOT • HIRE VEHICLES

• SERVICING • REPAIRS NEAR RY, • MOTS MALMESBU • EXHAUSTS TETBURY & • BATTERIES ER CIRENCEST • TYRES • CAR AND VAN HIRE • VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS • AIRCON RE-GAS, SERVICING AND REPAIR • POWER STEERING SERVICING • ENGINE INDUCTION SYSTEM SPECIALIST CLEANING We are conveniently placed on the main road – A429 in Crudwell, just outside Malmesbury and within easy reach of Tetbury, Charlton, Oaksey, Hankerton, Minety and surrounding villages on the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire borders.

OPENING HOURS Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 5:30pm Saturday: Sales by appointment Sunday : Sales by appointment

YOUR LOCAL BOSCH CAR SERVICE CENTRE Crudwell Garage is a long-standing Bosch Car Service Centre – giving you high quality car servicing and diagnostic capability in the Malmesbury, Tetbury and Cirencester area.

We have huge experience of servicing cars and vans, whatever the make and model, from Ford to Renault, Mini to 4×4 Land Rovers, you can trust us to service your car properly. Crudwell Garage is also a specialist repair shop for VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, and Vauxhall.

As part of the Bosch Car Service Centre tyre program we can offer a large range of car, van and 4×4 tyres at competitive prices. All tyres are fitted and balanced using the latest Bosch tyre fitting and wheel balancing equipment.

USED CAR SALES Crudwell Garage have been selling high quality used vehicles for many years.

At Crudwell Garage we aim to stock a varied range of vehicles to suit all tastes and budgets from small cars and vans to larger cars, vans and wheel chair accessible vehicles. All our vehicles are appraised to a high standard and come with our own Crudwell Garage Warranty for your piece of mind.

We have full finance facilities on site to assist you with funding your next vehicle if required.

Come along to the forecourt at Crudwell and browse the vehicles we have for sale. During weekends please call and make an appointment so we can ensure you get our full attention.

Crudwell Garage Ltd, Crudwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9EU Tel: (01666) 577242 www.crudwellgarageltd.co.uk 36

The Town Crier Magazine | FEBRUARY 2016