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Jun/Jul 2014
Inside: Out & about
16 pages of Summer fun
Feeling bullish?
Put some cow in your life
Barking blonde
Who’s the new girl in town?
Step inside
Polly’s talking interiors
Penny, Naomi, Amanda, Janice, Rob, Alan and much, much more...
See our website at: www.vale-life.co.uk
Free local listings for events and businesses
Cover picture: Injured fox cub at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital Photographed by Les Stocker MBE See Face of the Vale, page 67
w dinner for Two at the Crown, cuddington w A Ten day stay at pet hotel w w Family ticket to Chiltern craft show w meal for two at pizza express w
Launching a new business venture?
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Feel free to contact us to see what we can do for your business, whether it be a complete project or a re-brand of your corporate identity.
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6288 CRM_Vale Life Ad_May.indd 1
Looks like single glazing l Slim timber glazing bars Ideal for conservation areas l Choice of glass types l Trade and retail enquiries welcome
Herald Joinery / Slenderpane Ltd, Unit 5, Thame Road Industrial Estate, Thame Road, Haddenham, Bucks, HP17 8BZ Herald Joinery: 01844 291111 www.heraldsashwindows.co.uk Slenderpane: 01844 292779 www.slenderpane.co.uk
25/04/2014 10:32
Exceptional Care Beautiful Homes Fremantle Court NEW! (Nursing, Residential & Dementia care) Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, HP22 5XL
Lewin House (Nursing & Dementia care) Belgrave Road, Aylesbury, HP19 9HP
Icknield Court (Residential & Dementia care) Berryfield Road, Princes Risborough, HP27 0HE
Chesham Leys (Nursing & Dementia care) Cameron Road, Chesham, HP5 3BP *Opening August 2014*
For more information on these or any of our other homes
please call: 01296 737371 or 07867 455899
www.fremantletrust.org The Fremantle Trust is a company limited by guarantee (Company Number: 2722437). A registered charity. Not for profit. (Registration Number 1014986). 2
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
FT570
Bartlett’s
The Hambledon Wing Open May 2013. To enquire please call 01296 747000 or visit www.peverelcourt.co.uk
Exceptional Elderly Care in Buckinghamshire Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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kitchensbathrooms + living
Italian style is now on show in Thame, with Scavolini kitchens being displayed at The Stoneworld Gallery in a range of contemporary and traditional styles. Scavolini is one of the world’s most significant manufacturers of custom kitchens and bathrooms with over 1000 showrooms across 60 countries. Like Stoneworld, Scavolini is a family run firm. Founded in a little workshop at Pesaro in 1961, Scavolini is now over 50 years old and
creating high quality kitchens for households of all cultures and tastes, aiming to satisfy their customers’ varied demands in terms of styling, functionality, safety and durability. Stoneworld is now supplying and fitting Scavolini kitchens across the local area and has a selection of Scavolini designs on display at their Gallery in Thame, in a choice of colours and finishes. Scavolini kitchens are built in Italy and arrive fully assembled. The expertise of
Stoneworld means that a wide variety of stone worktops can be ordered to complement the kitchen. If you would like to see what a Scavolini kitchen could look like in your home, Stoneworld provides a complete design service, using the latest computer aided design technology, to generate a 3D image of your chosen units. Come and see some of Scavolini’s stylish range at our Gallery now!
l Renowned Italian kitchen brand, Scavolini, now on display and available from The Stoneworld Gallery in Thame. l Family run firm Scavolini is one of the world’s most significant manufacturers of custom made kitchens and bathrooms. l Stoneworld is supplying and fitting Scavolini kitchens across the local area. l Computer technology can generate a 3D image of a Scavolini kitchen in your home on request. l Scavolini units are built in Italy and arrive fully assembled.
Scavolini Kitchens at The Stoneworld Gallery in Thame The Gallery Stoneworld, 43A Upper High Street, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2DW. Tel: 01844 279307 Email: sales@stoneworld.co.uk 4
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
www.stoneworld.co.uk
E st a
2 b lish e d 2 0 0
Bespoke Architectural Joinery for Period, Listed and Contemporary Buildings
Premier Architectural Joinery Limited Ladymead Farm Quainton Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP22 4AN T 01296 655555 Opt 6 E u2us@premieraj.co.uk
Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Furniture, Roof Lanterns, Staircases, Bifold & French Doorsets, Gates, Wardrobes, Bookcases and Furniture.
www.premieraj.co.uk FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONS
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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www.mottsholidays.com
Luxury Coach Holidays
Theatre trips, day trips and short breaks Day Trips: July
DayTrips, Theatres & Shows
Thu 3rd Highgrove garden tour: £49 Sat 5th De Panne via Eurotunnel: £39 Sun 6th Isle of Wight 1940s Experience: £45 Fri 11th Call The Midwife location tour, Chatham Dockyard: £49 Sun 13th The Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford: £49 .com£20 tstravelDay: otCoastal Sat 19th Eastbourne m . w w w : onli neGloucester Quays Sun Book20th Food Festival: £19 Vimy Ridge & Notre Dame de Lorette via Eurotunnel: £55 Sun 27th Whitstable Oyster Festival: £20
Day Trips: August Fri 1st Sat 2nd Sun 3rd Mon 4th Thurs 7th Sat 9th Sun 10th
Festive BREAK! Warner Cricket St Thomas Historic Hotel - Festive Break featuring Cliff Richard & The Shadows tribute band
We have managed to secure an amazing late deal at the fantastic Warner Cricket St Thomas Hotel, in South Somerset and are passing the savings on to you, our loyal customers. Enjoy this festive themed break in the beautiful historic hotel set in 160 acres of lakes, cascades and gardens. As well as all the normal facilities you would expect from a Warner resort, this trip also includes excursions to Exeter Christmas Market
Yorkshire Dales Christmas Festivals & Leeds Xmas Market
Historic Chichester & Hayling Island: £19 Chessington World of Adventures: £46 Ypres & Flanders Fields via Eurotunnel: £39 Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway: £31 Brooklands Museum, Surrey: £35 Sluis Holland via Eurotunnel: £39 Broadstairs Folk Week Coastal Day: £20
Enjoy three days in the beautiful, scenic Yorkshire Dales with stunning views, stone buildings and quirky shops. This trip includes visits to Grassington Dickensian Festival, Christkindelmark market in Leeds City Centre - one of the most established German Christmas Markets in the UK and also Skipton Christmas Market, where you can enjoy the street entertainment on offer in the town and peruse the market. Why not pick
Cricket St Thomas Historic Hotel
and Clarks Shopping Outlet. From Motts area only – no major interchange. Fri 12th December: 4 Days Half Board just £235 (No single supplement but limited availability) up a bargain or sample some of the great food stalls whilst soaking up the festive spirit? Fri 12th Dec - 3 days Half Board just £135 (No single supplement but limited availability). From Motts’ area only - no major interchange.
Xmas market: pic by Bob Peters
Luxembourg, Bernkastel & Trier Xmas Markets: Luxembourg Xmas Market
Motts Holidays 4 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2LD BOOKING HOTLINE: 01296 336666 6
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
www.facebook.com/mottstravel
Ri HOng LI now 01 DA fo 29 Y B r y 6 RO o 33 C ur 66 H 20 66 UR 14 E!
Embedded in the splendid landscape of the Ardennes, Vianden has a tourist tradition dating back more than a hundred years. Ideally located close to the Moselle River and Luxembourg City, it is a perfect base from which to explore this wonderful region. We have included visits to the Christmas Markets at Bernkastel-Kues, set on the Moselle River, Trier, with its numerous Roman artefacts and Luxembourg City. Fri 5th Dec and Fri 12th Dec: 4 days half board only £249 (£50 Single supplement).
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Great rates Amazing results To advertise in Vale Life Magazine Call Charlie on 07702 006218
Spread the word across The Vale: see: www.vale-life.co.uk for details
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Out & about
27
Style file
12
History file
28
Ella says relax!
Summer of fun
30
Crafty day out
Walk the Chalk
31
Sit back
Date with Dahl
32
Feeling bullish?
Turn, turn, turn
33
Shake, rattle & roll
65 and counting
34
Make do and trend
All you need is Towersey
36
Basic instinct
Shooting stars
42
Living the dream
Turn it up!
45
Made to measure
Win a meal for two!
50
Animal magic
Buffet fever
52
Caring people
Learning process
65
It’s a dog’s life
13 14 15 16 17 18 20 22 24 25 26
Summer fun and what’s on Looking back at Boarstall Tower Stirring the senses at Waddesdon Take up The Three Peaks Challenge It’s Roald Dahl Festival in Aylesbury Architect’s garden has much to offer Auspicious year for open air Shakespeare Beatles to open 50th festival
‘Any gun will do’ says Jason... Stuart Robb’s music round up Meal for two at The Crown, Cuddington Jacqui’s a sucker for a fishy vol-au-vent Extended learning can fill the gaps
Call of the wild
Summer styles with Katy Dyer Cool off with an ice cream at Thame boutique Craft and Design Show has something for all Sit down in style at The White Hart Studio Cowhide is cool says London Cows It’s Sally’s turn to rattle on... ‘Upcycling’s easy!’ says Dee Dashwood Polly Gibb’s gets down to basics Charlie’s loving his brand new kitchen Tracy and the art of window dressing School’s plan for urban farm Firm provides support and care at home Win your dog a holiday!
es Stocker’s old garden shed is now on display at Tiggywinkles Visitor Centre at the Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham. It’s not a very big shed either and hearing that this was where the ex-accountant used to care for the injured and sick wildlife people were bringing him, it’s a miracle he managed to cope at all! Over the years Les, pictured right with me and an injured Red Kite which is currently being treated at Tiggywinkles, has become an expert in treating wildlife. He has written several books on
the subject, which have become standard reference books and given several talks. “I’m lucky,” he says. “I only meet nice people! The kind of people who have rescued an animal in distress and brought it to us for help. They are always nice people.” If you met Les, that’s probably what you’d think of him - he’s a nice bloke, no airs or graces despite being CEO of the world’s leading wildlife hospital and an MBE to boot. He’s a charming chap and has a lot of good stories to tell, but you can only wonder at how he and his wife Sue have managed to get from that shed to the amazing facility and team of dedicated and talented
staff that is Tiggywinkles today. The hospital gets no official funding and depends entirely on donations to treat the 10,000 odd birds and animals that pass through each year. Turn to our Face of the
ongratulations to the following May/Jun edition competition winners! Hopefully your prizes will have arrived by now, please let us know if not. Commiserations to those who weren’t so lucky - read on though for more competitions inside this edition, including the chance to win: Dinner
for two at The Crown, Cuddington; Tickets to The Chilterns Craft & Design Show; A doggy holiday at Maccabee’s Pet Hotel; a meal for two at Pizza Express, Aylesbury. Last issue’s prizewinners were: Spa day at Whittlebury Hall: Sophie Lovegrove, Aylesbury TLC Swim & Gym membership:
Kate Rumsey, Thame Lady AGA apron: Bev Bristow, Tiddington; Jayne Watney, Watlington; Pauline Randall, Aylesbury Tickets to the Homebuilding Show: Gemma Williams, Thame; Helen Reynolds, Tring; Claire Davis, Wheatley Book House Voucher:
L
C
Vale feature on page 67 to read more, it’s a fascinating story Cheers everybody, happy reading!
Charlie
Charlie Trott, Editor
Cathie Kidger, Thame; Jane Spurgeon, Aylesbury; Kellie Griffith, Oakley Letters of a Dissatisfied Woman book: Ann Livings, Thame; Janet Connolly, Aston Clinton; Karen Norris, Stroud Bletchley Park book: Helen Cookson, Aylesbury; Diana Groat, Wendover; Michael Jones, Stokenchurch
Vale Life Magazine is designed and published by House of Mouse, 23 Glenham Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3WD Telephone: 01844 261579 Mobile: 07702 006218 Website: www.vale-life.co.uk Email: editor@vale-life.co.uk Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of Vale Life. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions or late changes. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
THAME LEISURE CENTRE For a full list of available holiday activities, speak to a member of staff or visit
www.better.org.uk/thame
In partnership with
Better is a registered trademark of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX IPS No: 27793, Inland Revenue Charity No: XR43398
The Summer holidays are not all about kids, us adults need to have fun too, so read on for ideas and events that will keep the youngsters amused and some grown up ideas too...
T
he Summer holidays are nearly upon us, and whether you’re worrying about how to fill in the days for the next six weeks, or looking forward to spending a long summer holiday with the kids, there are plenty of great activities and days out waiting for you in the local area. Make a note of a few now so that when you hear that familiar cry “I’m bored!” you’re ready with some fun ideas! If the weather’s any part decent, we have a wealth of local woods and forests and outside areas where they can let off steam. You can head to Wendover Woods in search of the Gruffalo on a special themed
trail - and on Thursday, August 7th, the Gruffalo himself will be paying a visit. The woods are also home to Go Ape - a Treetop adventure course (suitable for ages 10 and over). If you have younger kids you’ll have to head to Black Park Country Park near Uxbridge where they have a Treetops Junior Course. For older kids there are skate parks dotted around the area there’s one at Aylesbury’s Vale Park, which also includes a teen play area (as well as fun for smaller people) and Aston Clinton’s park has a skate park, fitness trail, café and a river running through it, which is ideal for paddling on warmer days. National Play Day takes place
XYZ Music Academy Summer Rock Band Workshops & Drum Camps Rock Band Workshops Improvisation & Creativity Day
A workshop exploring genres, melody and feel to encourage students to think on their feet and then compose and perform their own piece within band set ups. Being open to all genres of music is a great quality to have and crucial to this workshop. Date: Monday, August 4th, 10am-4pm Price per student per day: £30 Recommended skill level: Grade 3 minimum
Standard Rock Band Workshop
Tue 5th, Wed 6th & Thur 7th of August, 10am-4pm Price per student per day: £30 Recommended skill level: All abilities from Grade 1 and above are welcome. The bands will be put together based on ability, to ensure all band members are equally suited.
Drum Workshops Beginner (includes starter pack)
This course is designed for children who are keen on getting stuck into drumming and don’t want to wait until the regular drum lessons start back up in September. Dates: 29th of July-2nd of August Course duration: 5 days Times: 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm Price per student: £80 Places per workshop: 6-12
Intermediate
Learn an array of drumming skills that wouldn’t normally be covered in regular lessons due to time constraints. Dates: 11th-15th of August Course duration: 5 days
Times: 10am-4pm Price per student: £100 Places per workshop: 5-10 (first 6 signed up have option of FREE pick up service)
Advanced
Focus is to be on the drummers’ practice routines and how to improve ability. Dates: 22nd & 23rd of August Course duration: 2 days Times: 10am-5pm Price per student: £60 Places per workshop: 5-10 (first 6 signed up will have the option of FREE pick up service)
For more details on workshops see: www.dunxdrumschool.com/workshops
XYZ Music Academy Dunx Drum School, Unit 407 Westcott Venture Park, Westcott, HP18 0PH Website: www.dunxdrumschool.com Email: duncan@dunxdrumschool.com Telephone: 01296 655929 Mobile: 07708 733288
Drum Tuition Studio Rental Rehearsal Room Hire 8
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
on August 6th and Vale Park is the venue for summer fun including Bouncy castles, lazer game, bungee run, assault course. climbing wall, and more. If the weather lives up to a typical English summer. There are plenty of indoor museums. Tring’s Natural History Museum is free to visit and has lots of special events on through the holidays - some with a small charge. Check out the website: www.nhm.ac.uk/tring for more details. For hands-on Roald Dahl fun you’re spoilt for choice with both the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden (www.roalddahl.com/museum) and the Roald Dahl’s Children’s Gallery at the Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury. And head in to Aylesbury Town Centre on Saturday, July 5th when The Roald Dahl Festival takes place from 11am, see page 15 for details. A family trip to the theatre can be fun - and outdoor theatre is especially great if it’s their first time at a show. Waddeson Manor has several outdoor performances, including Alice Through the Looking Glass and The Jungle Book (See page 13 for details). And
remember to check out your local cinema for discounted kids’ holiday screenings. If you want to head to an animal park you’re spoilt for choice there’s Whipsnade Wildlife Park, Woburn Safari Park, Oak Farm Animal Park at Broughton, near Aylesbury, Odds Farm Park near High Wycombe, Bucks Goat Centre at Stoke Mandeville and Mead Open Farm near Leighton Buzzard which together offer options for seeing creatures great and small!. For something more adventurous - how about sledging or snow tubing? There are two ski centres in the area at Hemel Hempstead and Milton Keynes. And for climbing there’s The Climb at Amersham, The XC at Hemel and Big Rock at Milton Keynes. The Longridge Activity Centre near Marlow (www.longridge.org. uk) also hosts activities such as canoeing, raft building, climbing and more - and the whole family can join in. Read on and find out about a whole host of other local activities and events from Summer courses in Mandarin to eating out, art exhibitions, festivals, open gardens and charity fundraisers...
BUCKS BUCKS COUNTY COUNTY SHOW SHOW th th THURSDAY 28 th AUGUST THURSDAY 28 AUGUST 2014 2014 KANGAROO KIDS QUAD BIKE STUNT TEAM KANGAROO KANGAROO KIDS KIDS QUAD QUAD BIKE BIKE STUNT STUNT TEAM TEAM
KANGAROO KIDS QUAD BIKE STUNT TEAM RAF HAlton PiPes & DRums Cattle & Sheep • Trade & Craft Stands •• Horse Show • Vintage Tractors •• Demonstrations Cattle & Sheep & Stands Show Cattle & Sheep ••• Trade Trade & Craft Craft Stands • Horse Horse Show ••• Vintage Vintage Tractors Tractors •• Demonstrations Demonstrations Cattle & Trade Craft Stands Horse Tractors and •• Rural Marquee •• Large Countryside area CattleHome & Sheep Sheep Trade & & Craft Crafts Stands•••••Shopping Horse Show Show • Vintage Vintage Tractors • Demonstrations Demonstrations Home and •Garden Garden Rural Crafts Shopping Marquee Large Countryside area Home and Garden • Rural Crafts Shopping Marquee • Large Countryside area Home Home and and Garden Garden •• Rural Rural Crafts Crafts •• Shopping Shopping Marquee Marquee •• Large Large Countryside Countryside area area WEEDON PARK (A413) AYLESBURY WEEDON WEEDON PARK PARK (A413) (A413) AYLESBURY AYLESBURY
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What will you be reading this Summer? Using our 40+ years of bookselling experience, we’ve chosen the very best books for the Summer Holiday season - for adults and children! What’s more, we’ll give you a £5 voucher when you buy any three...
THE BOOK HOUSE
93 High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3HJ Tel: 01844 213032 anybook@thebookhousethame.co.uk
Free children’s event in Aylesbury Town Centre every Thursday of the school holidays
For For more more information information or or to to For For more more information information or or to to go go to to go go to to
#AylesburyThursdays
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Thame Art Exhibition A showcase of passionate, talented, local artists to inspire you! Art at Number 14 is a unique collection of diverse styles from over 40 professional and amateur artists - experience an array of stunning paintings, sculptures, glass, photography and jewellery...
Jeannette Matelot says: “This is the second exhibition at No. 14 - the Masonic Hall - and I am very proud, as Mayor of Thame, to have so many local artists showing their work. For an inaugural exhibition, last year’s event was a great success. We raised money for one of my favourite charities, Safari and we shall continue to raise money for this unique group in Thame. Please come along and enjoy these wonderful works of art, which will l Art @ Number 14, 14 High Street, Thame, be on display for the Oxfordshire, OX9 2BZ Sheepdog demonstration weekend of July 26th Web: www.stewartclough.com and 27th.” www.thame-safari.org
SUNDAY
Y VER CAR INN E HOLIDAY AT TH
£13.95
Why not treat the family this Sunday to a delicious Three Course Carvery Lunch at the Holiday Inn, Aylesbury.
PeR ADuLT
£9.95 CHILDReN uNDeR 12
Call us to book your table in our child-friendly Junction Restaurant, where we will have a fantastic Three Course Lunch waiting for you at an amazing price!
decoration station There’s an ice-cream er too! and a colouring corn Perfect venue for family gatherings, birthdays and anniversaries.
PRIVA T EVENT E AT THE S HOLID A Y INN
Packages available from £20 per person to include Three Course Meal and private room hire.
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
TRIBUTE NIGHTS
AT THE HOLIDAY INN Three Course Buffet, Disco & Tribute Act Sat 22nd November…Abba Night
£32.95 PeR PeRSON
Fri 28th November…70s Disco Night Sat 29th November…2Tone, Reggae, Pop, Motown and Soul Band
For more information or to book any of the above events, contact us on 01296 734000 and quote reference ‘VALe eVeNTS 1’
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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by Cathy Soughton
S
Boarstall Tower Boarstall
ituated in the small village of Boarstall, Bucks, close to the Oxfordshire border, Boarstall Tower is a superb medieval moated gatehouse with a fascinating history. Now a Grade 1 listed building it is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public during the summer months. On 12th September, 1312, Edward II granted John de Haudlo, the Lord of Boarstall Manor a licence to crenellate (fortify) his mansion house with a wall of lime and stone. Dendrochronology tests on internal beams using tree ring data show that these were felled in 1312 hence construction must have started almost immediately. Although designed as a defensive building, the gatehouse was very grand for its time and de Haudlo probably built it largely as a status symbol. Whilst not a true castle, it copied the style of recently built castles such as Caernarfon Castle and features include arrow slits, gargoyles and battlements. The Tower was originally approached by a drawbridge over the moat but this was replaced by a wooden bridge in 1615 at the same time as new windows were inserted and the roof raised. With any perceived threat of attack long since passed, it was probably the intention to convert the tower into a hunting lodge. However less than 30 years later, Boarstall was the centre of heavy fighting in the English Civil War between the Royalists who had
Boarstall Tower
their stronghold at Oxford and the Parliamentarians who had a base at Aylesbury. In 1643 the Royalists built a garrison at Boarstall but it was abandoned the following year and the Parliamentarians took possession. Realising it presented a threat to their Oxford base, the Royalists recaptured it in June 1644 having ‘battered the house with cannon’. A year later, on 1st June, 1645, the Parliamentarians’ New Model Army attacked Boarstall with 1200 men and used 120 scaling ladders but the Royalists fired ‘so thicke upon them’ that they withdrew leaving all their ladders behind. Contemporary reports suggest that the Parliamentarians lost between 120 and 300 men whereas the garrison only lost just one out of 100 men. The Royalists subsequently demolished the church and houses in Boarstall village to prevent
The Lily Pot Floristry for all occasions
and arrangements for any event l Special Occasions: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Hallowe’en, Christmas and Anniversaries l Weddings and Events: For all your wedding and floral requirements, contemporary or traditional designs l Floral Tributes: Option for bereaved to assist in creating floral tributes for their loved ones l Children’s Parties: Combining nature with arts and crafts skills in a fun atmosphere l Seasonal workshops: Learning to create seasonal decorations. Materials and refreshments supplied. See website for details and dates. l Bouquets
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
the Parliamentarians using them for cover, leaving just Boarstall House, the Tower and the adjacent farmhouse. In 1646 the Parliamentarians besieged the garrison for nearly 10 weeks. The garrison commander Sir William Campion only surrendered on 10th June having heard that the King was about to surrender at Oxford. There are still signs of cannon damage above the entrance to the Tower but overall there is little visible evidence of the fighting. Boarstall House, the medieval mansion behind the Tower was demolished in 1778 by Sir John and Lady Aubrey, a year after their only child, a son aged 6, died from ‘eating contaminated gruel’. This was most probably ergotism, a disease caused by eating infected rye grain which causes convulsions and hallucinations and which it is now believed explains certain ‘bewitchments’. Fear of witchcraft was prevalent in this period and the Aubreys evidently thought the house was cursed and must be demolished. They subsequently moved to Dorton House in Dorton. The Tower remained unused until 1925 when it was converted into a house and the gardens reconstructed. In 1943 it was sold to the National Trust who restored it in 1998/9. It is now tenanted and open to the public on selected dates. For opening hours visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/boarstall-tower Thanks to Rob Dixon for information and picture. l Cathy Soughton is a professional genealogist and architectural historian providing family history and house history research in Bucks and adjacent counties: Tel: 01296 624845 Web: www.bucksresearch.co.uk Email: soughton@btopenworld.com,
Horsewyse CIC www.horsewyse.org.uk
Summer Holiday Pony Activity Days Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout August 5-12 years, 10.30am–3pm, £40 per child
Come & join the fun - nature walks, hacking, gymkhana games, obstacle courses, riding lessons in our paddocks or indoor school. Target shooting, jumping & opportunity to earn scout/brownie badges.
Adult pub and two hour hacks during the summer holidays Polocrosse Chukkas
6pm Tuesday & 4pm Sunday
Like Horsewyse on Facebook to keep up to date with our events Horsewyse CIC is a not-for-profit company providing equine facilitated learning for children and young people with learning and behavioural difficulties. 4 Lakeside, Watermead, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 0FX Tel: 01296 708095 / Mobile: 07538 296430 Email:info@thelilypot.co.uk Web: www.thelilypot.co.uk 12
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Call or email to book: Email: Horsewyse@btinternet.com Tel: 01844 202966
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Rothschild Collections
NEW THIS SUMMER ON THE NORTH FRONT FRIDAY 27 SUNDAY 29 JUNE COLOURSCAPE
11.00-4.00 (LAST ENTRY 3.30) Colourscape is a large inflatable sculpture containing coloured labyrinths. Put on one of the capes provided and walk inside the sculpture to experience light, colour, space and music.
From Shakespeare to The Jungle Book, animal handling to plate painting, there’s an impressive selection of things to do and see at Waddesdon Manor this Summer... CREATING PHOTOS £1 per visitor, suitable for all ages. Normal admission charges apply
R
Trina and Shamus
WITH LIGHT oman weekends, outdoor theatre, 10.00-5.00
making photos with light and wandering the colourful labyrinths of the giant inflatable Colourscape sculpture are all on the agenda at Waddesdon Manor over the next few months and what’s £1 per visitor. Normal admission charges apply more, children will be admitted free to waddesdon.org.uk or phone 01296 653226 Waddesdon Manor house and gardens all through August! Of course the Manor and its magnificent grounds are worth a visit alone. Built from 1877 by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, it is a stunning building and combines the highest quality 18th-century French decorative arts, magnificent English portraits and Dutch Old Master paintings with one of the finest Victorian gardens in Britain, famous for its parterre and ornate working Aviary. Join artist, Andrew Fowles, and explore how we play and use performance to create photographic images with light. Using digital cameras and a darkroom he will show how everyday torches can be used to create complex and beautiful photographs that will amaze friends and family!
l Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH Tel: 01296 653226 www.waddesdon.org.uk
CREATING PHOTOS WITH LIGHT Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June, 10am - 5pm Join artist, Andrew Fowles, and explore how we play and use performance to create photographic images with light. Using digital cameras and a darkroom he will show how everyday torches can be used to create complex and beautiful photographs that will amaze friends and family! £1 per visitor. Normal admission applies.
Mostly for Children Wild Wednesdays - Stables Courtyard: 6, 13 & 20 August, drop-in sessions 11am-3pm Activities linked to the National Trust’s 50 Things campaign. £2 per child. RSPB Wildlife Day - Stables Courtyard Wednesday, 27th August, drop-in sessions 11am-3am: Learn how to help insects and do a variety of activities. Donations to the RSPB Fun Fridays! Education & Learning Room at the Stables Zoolab Animal Handling Workshops: 8th August, 10.30am, 12pm, 2pm & 3.30pm, £5 per child, suitable for children 5+ (must be accompanied by an adult). Booking essential, phone: 01296 653226. Paint a Plate: Super Sèvres, 15th August, 11am, 12pm & 2pm. Paint your own porcelain plate to take home with Bojangles Creative Café - inspiration from our Sèvres collection in the House. £8
per child, suitable for children 5+ (must be accompanied by an adult). Booking essential, phone: 01296 653226. Roman Weekend, Aviary Glade Sat 16th & Sun 17th August, from 10am Inspired by the Lod mosaic which can be seen in the Coach House at the Stables. Immerse yourself in the world of the Romans and explore Roman life. Military displays by the Ermine Street Guard. Meet the Roman Surgeon, Stables Courtyard: Sat 30th & Sun 31st August, from 10am. Explore the weird and wonderful treatments used by the Romans. Be Our Guest, The Manor Wed 6, 13, 20 & 27 August, 10.45am to 12 noon. Children only! No adults allowed. Suitable for 8-12 years, £5 per child. Be a guest of Baron Ferdinand and discover what life was like at a 19th century house party. Booking essential, phone 01296 653226.
COLOURSCAPE, Friday 27th & Sunday 29th June 11am - 4pm, (last entry 3.30pm) Colourscape is a large inflatable sculpture containing coloured labyrinths. Put on one of the capes provided and walk inside the sculpture to experience light, colour, space and music. £1 per visitor, suitable for all ages. Normal admission charges apply
Outdoor Theatre Outdoor Theatre takes place on the North Front with the Manor as its stunning background. Except for Romeo and Juliet, all other prices are: Adult: £14, Child: £10, Family ticket: £42. Romeo and Juliet with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men: Sun, 6th July, (gates open 6.30pm, performance 7.30pm. Adult: £18.50, Child: £10). Sense and Sensibility with the Chapterhouse Theatre Company: Fri, 1st August, (gates open 6pm, performance 7pm). Alice Through the Looking Glass with the Quantum Theatre: Sat, 2nd August, (gates open 5.15pm, performance 6pm). The History of Britain with the Pantaloons: Sat, 9th August, (gates open 5.15pm, performance 6pm). The Jungle Book with the Chapterhouse Theatre Company: Fri, 15th August, (gates open 5.15pm, performance 6pm) The Tempest with the Quantum Theatre: Sat, 16th August, (gates open 5.15pm, performance 6pm). Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
September is a great time to dig out your hiking boots and ‘Walk the Chalk’ for charity. The annual Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge takes place on Sunday 14th, a chance to enjoy the fabulous Chilterns scenery, get some exercise and raise funds for Rennie Grove Hospice Care. Why wouldn’t you ...
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he Chilterns 3 Peaks walk through the beautiful Challenge returns in Chiltern Hills, taking in Whiteleaf Cross, Coombe Hill and Ivinghoe September for its sixth year and once again Beacon, with all routes starting and finishing at Princes Risborough hundreds of walkers will be taking to the hills to help raise vital School. funds in support of Rennie Grove “The choice of routes means there’s something for everyone,” Hospice Care. The annual fundraiser along the says Gemma Martin, Events Fundraiser at Rennie Grove Ridgeway takes place on Sunday, September 14th and Rennie Grove Hospice Care. “So the whole is encouraging Vale residents to family can enjoy a day out, especially the dog! look out their walking boots and “We live in such a scenic area it sign up for one of the charity’s makes sense to get out and enjoy most popular challenges. the countryside while raising As in previous years, participants have a choice of either money for a local cause at the same time.” aIR_C3Ps_90x125_portrait_ad:Layout five, nine, or 18 mile sponsored 1 09/06/2014 11:15 Page 1
k l a h C e h t k l Wa
5, 9 or 18 mile sponsored walk along the Ridgeway
Registered Charity Number: 1140386
Sunday 14 September 2014 www.renniegrove.org/chilterns3peaks
01442 820740 Adult: £20.00, child (5 –16): £10.00 Under 5s are free
Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge 14
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Walkers tackling an uphill section last year
All walkers will experience the first two peaks by completing the five mile route from Princes Risborough to Wendover. Here, there will be a barbecue offering everyone the chance to purchase a tasty burger to refuel before the five mile entrants return to their cars, on buses - once again kindly provided by Arriva. The nine mile walkers will then be bussed to Tring to complete the additional four miles and climb the third peak - Ivinghoe Beacon. Transport will again be provided back to Princes Risborough School. Those individuals taking on the ultimate challenge of the 18 mile route - which proved to be the most popular last year - will continue walking at Wendover after the barbecue to complete the entire route on foot before catching a bus back to their cars. “We’re extremely grateful to Arriva for supporting us again this year by providing the buses and to their drivers who give up their own time to take participants - including dogs - back to their cars at the school,” says Gemma. “We really couldn’t host the event without them! “Last year, we had a fantastic turn out with more than 550 people taking part, raising over
£30,000 - enough to fund a nurse for a year! “This year we’re once again encouraging those taking part to raise as much money as possible, either by asking friends, colleagues or family to sponsor them or by holding other fundraising events like coffee mornings and cake sales, or you could even wash cars in return for a donation! Get creative and come up with an idea that you know will appeal to your friends or colleagues.” “Every penny raised helps ensure we can continue to offer our 24/7 responsive hospice at home nursing service and other support services, which allow patients the choice to be cared for at home, safe in the knowledge that both they and their families will receive the help they need. Please sign up and help us to carry on caring.” Registration for the Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge costs just £20 for adults and £10 for children (anyone aged 5 to 16 years old), with under 5s going free. For more information, please visit: www.renniegrove.org/ chilterns3peaks or call: 01442 820740. lRennie Grove Hospice Care, Website: www.renniegrove.org
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
You’d be a right Charlie to miss this year’s choctastic celebrations making up Aylesbury’s splendiferous annual Roald Dahl Festival, so make a note in your diary now, Saturday, July 5th , 11am, Aylesbury Town Centre...
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he spectacular annual Roald Dahl Festival is returning to Aylesbury Town Centre this July! Celebrating the internationally renowned author for the 12th year, The Roald Dahl Festival takes place on Saturday, July 5th and will be a unique day of fantastic family activities and entertainment. One of Buckinghamshire’s largest events, this year’s festival will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Come along for a scrumdiddlyumptious day brimmed full of exciting colour, noise, hands-on crafts activities, storytelling, live music, face painting and inflatable fun for all the family to enjoy, whatever the weather!
The famous Roald Dahl Parade kicks off at 11am when larger than life puppets and colourful artwork created by over 600 children and young people from across the Vale will parade through the streets of Aylesbury, starting at St Mary’s Church, accompanied by boisterous samba and brass bands and street entertainers, that are sure to get you in the festival mood! A range of family entertainment will follow across the town until 3pm. Find a magical activity including: face painting, inflatables and crafts at St. Mary’s Church, Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Aylesbury Visitor Information Centre and Kingsbury; take part in lively storytelling or Bounce and Rhyme sessions at Aylesbury Library; or try your luck in the Great Glass
Elevator Golden Ticket Grab, starting with a trail through town, for a chance to grab a winning golden ticket! To find out more about the individual activities, buy a programme on the day or go to www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/dahl Have a Wonkaful day! l The Roald Dahl Festival 2014 Website: www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/dahl Tel: 01296 585301
Media Partner
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Village houses The Turn, Middle Turn and Turn End in Haddenham were designed and built by architect Peter Aldington in the 1960s. Peter still lives in Turn End and together with Turn End Trust now welcomes the public to a variety of events, workshops and courses and to enjoy Turn End’s beautiful gardens...
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urn End Garden, a proverbial ‘hidden gem’ of architectural and horticultural interest is to host a series of gardening and art events this Summer and Autumn. Tucked away on Townside, in the heart of Haddenham, the modern wood, concrete block and glass house is one of three awardwinning village homes of post war architectural merit, designed by Peter Aldington. Its garden, created as a natural extension to the architect’s own house, is a series
of ‘garden rooms’ designed to be harmonious with the building and filled with beautiful and interesting plants. Turn End Charitable Trust was established to foster appreciation of links between architecture and garden design, and is running a programme of events through the summer to include exhibitions, seasonal walks, hands-on art and craft workshops and gardening courses. Spaces are limited though and reservations are required unless otherwise stated.
Sculpture in the Garden
5-13 July 2014
(closed Monday 7 July)
10am - 5pm
Turn End Townside Haddenham Aylesbury, HP17 8BG tel: 07591 018601 www.turnend.wordpress.com. turnendtrustevents@gmail.com A Turn End Charitable Trust Fundraising Event A5 flyer.indd 1
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Midsummer Garden is an Open Garden day to be held on Thur, June 26th, from 2pm-5.30pm. Visitors will be able to enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the tranquil gardens - sketching, reading, taking photographs or simply viewing and contemplating the peaceful surroundings. Entry is £3.50 at the gate. Reservations are not required. Turn End Charitable Trust will also be hosting ‘Sculpture in the Garden’ from July 5-6th and 8-13th; an exciting exhibition of outdoor sculptures spearheaded by Lendon Scantlebury. Lendon has curated hugely successful exhibitions including ‘Sculpture in the Vineyard’ at Bothy Vineyard in 2013 and the recent Art in Ardington village exhibition which attracted over 6,000 visitors. The exhibition is co-curated by Lindsay Waring, herself an accomplished sculptor. Inspired by the secluded gardens at Turn End, Lendon and Lindsay have brought together beautiful and varied sculptures in many different media including stone, glass, wood and steel. From traditional statuary to pieces inspired by plants and animals, the sculptures, all of which are also offered for sale, have been selected to complement any size and style of garden and to appeal to a range of budgets. Later in July, Jackie Hunt, Turn End’s Gardener will team with horticulturist Lindsay Engers (who frequently holds workshops at Waterperry Gardens) to advise gardeners on Selecting and Caring for Plants (Fri, July 25th, 10am-1pm, £20) and in August they will be introducing a Propagation Techniques Workshop (Fri, Aug 15th, 10am-1pm, £20). Jackie will also be completing her series of seasonal walks through the garden with an Early Autumn
Diary of events Midsummer Garden Open Garden Thur 26th June: 2pm-5.30pm, £3.50
Sculpture in the Garden
July 5-6th, 8-13th July, (Free)
Gardening Workshops: Selecting and Caring for Plants Fri 25th July: 10am-1pm, £20 Propagation Techniques Fri 15th Aug: 10am-1pm, £20
Art and Craft Workshops: Creative Paper Making
Mon 1st Sept or Tue 2nd Sept: 10am-4pm, £45 Concertinas as Containers Thur 9th Oct or Sun 12th Oct: 10am-4pm, £45
Seasonal Walk Early Autumn Walk on Fri 5th
Sept: 10.30am-11.30am, £8
Walk on Fri, Sept 5th, 10.3011.30am, £8. In September and October, the Trust will continue with its Arts and Craft Workshops with artist Jean Mould Hart running a Creative Paper Making Workshop (Mon, Sept 1st, or Tues, Sept 2nd, 10am-4pm), and Concertinas as Containers, led by artist Heather Hunter on Thur, Oct 9th or Sun, Oct 12th, 10am-4pm, £45. l Turn End, Townside, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8BG Tel: 07591 018601 Web: www.turnend.wordpress.com. Email: turnendtrustevents@gmail.com
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Charlie Leveque , Much Ado About Nothing (2012)
The Comedy of Errors 6-10 August 2014
Hamlet
13-17 August 2014
2014 marks the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth, the 100th anniversary of Pendley Shakespeare Festival founder, Dorian Williams’s birth and the 65th anniversary of the festival itself. There’s much to look forward to as well...
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n 1949 Dorian Williams founded the Pendley Shakespeare Festival amid the Victorian finery of his magnificent ancestral home, Pendley Manor, from which he was also running a centre for adult education at the time. 65 years later, the annual Pendley Shakespeare Festival is as popular as ever and this year stages two very different Shakespeare classics: trouser ripping, laugh-out-loud comedy on the one hand and dark, tear-wrenching tragedy on the other. To watch Shakespeare performed al fresco in the grounds of this beautiful English mansion is a real treat and can be quite magical. This year’s festival takes place from August 6th to 17th with productions of Shakespeare’s shortest play, The Comedy of Errors and Shakespeare’s longest play, Hamlet. As a celebration of what would have been Dorian Williams’s 100th birthday year and to pay tribute to the heritage of the Festival, 2014 heralds the launch of Pendley Plus, a programme of discussions and seminars linked to this year’s plays. Pendley Plus consists of four events: two post-show discussions with the Festival’s Literary Advisor James Sheldrake, and the Company (7th & 14th August) and two pre-show seminar sessions with James and visiting academics (10th & 17th August). All events are free and open to anyone interested in Shakespeare. Sarah Branston, the company’s Artistic Director, is looking forward to directing Hamlet: “Hamlet hasn’t been produced at the Festival since 1973,” she says. “We are
aware how daunting it can be for audiences. However, on asking last year’s audience members what they wanted to see at Pendley in 2014 there came a resounding call for a tragedy, so we are serving up the most famous tragedy of all. But don’t worry, we assure you it will be a rich and thrilling production that doesn’t last all night!” Harry Livingstone, who trained at Bristol Old Vic and has played Lucenetio and Orsino at Pendley, will be returning to take on Shakespeare’s biggest role. The production is set to be dark, mysterious, unnerving and spectacular so book your tickets sooner rather than later, or you could be nursing a small tragedy of your own! Incidentally, Sarah’s mother Jennie is Head of Costume and will be celebrating her 50th year at the Festival this Summer! In an ambitious move this year’s cast is a company of 18 actors, all of whom will be performing in both plays. While trying to focus on the dark twists and turns of Hamlet they must be sure to save up enough energy to rehearse for Sarah Perry’s colourful, farcical and fast-paced production of The Comedy of Errors. The plays are in complete contrast but equally entertaining. Book for both and see how Douglas Dean, a true ‘Pendley veteran’ can flip between the ridiculous Dr Pinch and the vicious Claudius! New seating will debut this year - a three stand structure with a central covered stand (the Belmont Stand) and two uncovered stands to the side of the stage (the Arden
Trina and Shamus
Cameron Crighton, As You Like It (2013) Stand and the Illyria Stand). The new structure will be closer to how Shakespeare might have envisaged his plays being watched from around the Globe’s thrust stage. Festival Producer William Edwards encourages audience members to ‘be brave and book an uncovered seat’. “It’s the best way to see Shakespeare’s plays,” he says. “Bring a brolly, wrap up warm and get ready to enjoy The Comedy Of Errors and Hamlet from a new angle!” Gates open at 6pm, so there’s two hours for a picnic in the grounds, a drink, or a meal at the Manor restaurant before the play begins. l Pendley Shakespeare Festival, Pendley Manor, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5QY Tickets available from website now: www.pendleyshakespearefestival.co.uk or from July 8th on: =For more info about Pendley Plus or to book for the seminars email: plus@pendleyshakespearefestival.co.uk Twitter: @pendleyshakes
As You Like It (2013)
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Towersey has featured some cracking opening acts over the last few years, none more so than the amazing Bootleg Beatles! The lookalike, soundalike, replicants of everybody’s favourite foursome will Please Please both Day Trippers and those on a Magical Towersey Tour for the whole weekend...
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fficially opening Towersey’s 50th festival on Thursday, August 21st is one of the biggest and most popular tribute acts in the world: The Bootleg Beatles. Emerging from the West End production of Beatlemania, The Bootleg Beatles have been wowing audiences since 1980, among them legendary Beatles’ producer George Martin and Beatle George Harrison. Their crowd-pleasing set spans The Mop Tops entire career, taking audiences on a journey from the depths of The Cavern to the heights of Apple’s rooftop, with pop hits such as She Loves You, and a few lesser known surprises. “We throw in a few obscure songs to please the die-hard fans - songs they’ve never heard The Beatles play,” explains Steve White, aka Paul McCartney. “We’ll do songs like All You Need Is Love, Penny Lane, Hey Jude, Here Comes The Sun, and stick in some quirkier tracks like I’m A Loser [from 1965’s Beatles For Sale] - the hardcore fans love that.” As they zig-zag the globe, performing in huge halls, arenas and at major outdoor festivals, Steve confesses he’s still surprised at how popular The Beatles remain. It’s Fifty years since Help! topped the charts, (around the time of the first ever Towersey) but successive generations still love those tunes! “The age of our audience is so varied, there
The Bootleg Beatles Thursday, Aug 21st, ‘Venue 65’ Towersey
are 66 year olds and six year olds,” says Steve. “and when you look into the audience, you see the six year olds singing all the words! How do they know the songs at that age? It’s remarkable!” The Bootleg Beatles perform at Towersey Festival’s Venue 65 on Thursday, August 21st. Admission with full festival ticket or concert only ticket £22/£11 (in advance). l Towersey Festival, Towersey Playing Field, Thame Road, Towersey, Oxfordshire, OX9 3QF Tickets: 023 8071 1818 Web: www.towerseyfestival.com Twitter: @towerseyfesti Facebook: Towerseyfestival
Just the ticket
Towersey Festival runs from Thursday, 21st to Monday, 25th August, 2014. Tickets for the full festival start from £135 (adult), £55 ( 5-11yr). Camping tickets are also available. Day tickets (Fri-Mon) £10-£40; Evening concert tickets £10-£22. Showground-only tickets £8/£3. Car parking and under 5s, free. For further information and to book tickets, call 023 8071 1818 or see: www.towerseyfestival.com Special Offer: If you live in Thame or Towersey, adult Resident Season Tickets are available for the entire festival for just £70. That’s nearly half-price! These tickets are available only by calling 01629 827016. 18
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Nancy Kerr and James Fagan Friday, Aug 22 to Monday, Aug 25, ‘The Big Club’ Towersey
Double birthday
Eliza and Martin Carthy: Saturday, Aug 23rd ‘The Big Club’ Towersey Teaming up to help Towersey Festival celebrate its 50th anniversary is Topic Records, who’ll be celebrating a landmark of their own: 75 years! Formed in 1939, the label has continued to document and shape musical tastes with seminal releases by such influential artists as June Tabor, Dick Gaughan, Nic Jones, Martin Simpson, The Copper Family, Shirley Collins, and many more. A very special one-off concert on Saturday 23 August 2014 will see Eliza Carthy lead a group of musicians, including Norma Waterson, Lau, Martin Carthy, Saul Rose and Blair Dunlop through a Topic Records’ best of. “We’re going back to Annie Briggs, early Watersons, Peter Bellamy,” says Eliza of the performance. “I’ve been with Topic Records for a long time so I had a clear idea of the catalogue. It’s nice to be involved with a label with such a rich and proud history.”
The world’s premier Beatle band
The Bootleg
BEATLES
£22 £11 conc.
plus support
Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of all time...
RICHARD THOMPSON “The Finest rock songwriter after Dylan” - LA Times
£20 £10 conc.
Plus support from Blair Dunlop and Merry Hell and late night dance party with Rusty Shackle
Mercury Music Prize nominee
SETH LAKEMAN Plus support from Welsh music prize winner Georgia Ruth and late night Cajun dance party with the The Flatville Aces
£20 £10 conc.
a night of circus, music, , dance, DJ and magic... clowning
he Chipolatas TTAKEOVER NIGHT with special guest Eliza Carthy Plus Late night dance party with The Glorystrokes
£20 £10 conc. The
50th Festival Finale with...
£20 / £10 conc.
The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
The biggest sound on the scene as more than 30 of the UK’s hottest young musicians whip up a storm for the last night of the big 50th Festival
Or try a
Towersey/ Thame
Residents ticket from
£ 70
Towersey, near Thame Full Day tickets from £ 40 and Full Weekend tickets from £ 109
Or try a Towersey / Thame Residents ticket from
Tickets from
£ 70 and experience 10 stages and over 30 events each day.
www.towerseyfestival.com
or telephone
023 8071 1818
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Take aim for a rootin’ tootin’ Wild West of a musical at Aylesbury Waterside in July when Jason Donovan rides into town, six guns blazing, to show anything she can do, he can do better... Jason Donovan and Emma Williams
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he producers of the recent Barbican production of South Pacific and the Sadlers Wells production of West Side Story present a major new production of this Tony Award-winning version of Irving Berlin’s classic musical, Annie Get Your Gun, starring Emma Williams as Annie Oakley, Jason Donovan as Frank Butler and Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill. In November last year Jason made his Waterside debut in the sell-out hit Priscilla Queen of the Desert, now he’s back trading his stilettos for rawhide boots and his bouncy wig for a rather sophisticated Stetson! A star of stage and screen, and having performed on the musical theatre stage across the globe, Jason Donovan has appeared in numerous hit musicals including The Sound of Music, War of the Worlds and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Now he will appear as Frank Butler in this new version of the classic Broadway smash hit. Jason is joined by Emma Williams as Annie Oakley. Emma is the twice Olivier nominated star of Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang and Love Story. Her other credits include Sunset Boulevard and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Jason and Emma will be joined by the much loved
Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill, who most recently starred in the West End production of Chicago. With timeless classic songs including There’s No Business Like Show Business and Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better, Annie Get Your Gun tells the legendary story of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West female sharpshooter, Annie Oakley and her romance with fellow sharpshooter, Frank Butler. When Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show comes to town, it only takes one glance for sharp-shooting country girl Annie Oakley to fall head over heels for its star marksman, Frank Butler. Both have truly met their match, revealing their competitive natures as they vie for best shot - and each other’s hearts. Jason Donovan says: “I’ve been very lucky in having some great roles to get my teeth into in the past, but now having the chance to star in the UK premiere production of this award winning version of such a classic musical is very exciting. I’m very much looking forward to performing such brilliant songs and appearing alongside a truly great cast as we bring the Wild West to theatres across the country.” Norman Pace says: “I can’t wait to get out on the stage and play Buffalo Bill alongside
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Coming up at The Waterside Your at-a-glance guide to what’s on...
Jason Donovan as Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun Jason Donovan and Emma Williams, with a script and songs written by the legendary Irving Berlin. “Even though it’s nearly 70 years since the show was first performed on Broadway, there’s still a real sense of fun and excitement to a timeless production that I’m very honoured to be a part of.” Leading lady Emma Williams says: “I’m thrilled to be playing the legendary Annie Oakley alongside Jason and Norman, and performing iconic songs such as Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better and You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun. Annie Oakley has been played by so many incredible actresses before that it’s a privilege to fill those cowgirl boots, and I couldn’t be more excited to be Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly!”
Join in the fun: Hoe-down to Aylesbury’s Market Square on Saturday, July 19th and celebrate the show with a raging rodeo bull, shoot out game and plenty more! The Wild West madness starts from 11am and it’s FREE! You’d be rootin’ tootin’ mad to miss it y’all! Book now for this much-loved musical at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Box Office call 0844 871 7607 (bkg fee) or visit: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury (bkg fee).
Immortal Chi
Thu 19th & Fri 20th June
The Chuckle Brothers
Sat 21st June
Ian English Boodlum Band
Fri 27th June
Rock of Ages
Tue 1st to Sat 5th July
Roy Orbison and Friends
Fri 11th July
Abba Reunion – A Tribute Show
Sat 12th July
Evita starring Marti Pellow
Mon 14th to Sat 19th July
Annie Get Your Gun
Tue 22nd to Sat 26th July
April In Paris
Tue 5th to Sat 9th Aug
The National Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors
Mon 11th to Sat 16th Aug
What The Ladybird Heard
Tue 26th to Fri 29th Aug
Emma Williams as Annie Oakley
l Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG Telephone Booking: 0844 871 7607 Website: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury
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l
Music Column:
Turn it up! with Stuart Robb
Glamming it up at The Beacon! W
Stuart Robb
Turn it up! Stuart Robb is an award-winning music professional who has supported the local music scene for over 15 years. He ran his own successful record label, and has organised countless gigs and music festivals (including Hobble on the Cobbles). Stuart is now actively supporting Friars Aylesbury, and the British Guitar Academy. Contact Stuart with local gig and music news at: stuart@stuartrobb.co.uk Add gigs to our website what’s on diary at: www.vale-life.co.uk
Live Music Friday 27 Jun: Ian English Boodlum Band, Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury. Saturday 28 Jun: Damian Clarke, Limelight Theatre, Queens Park Arts Centre, Aylesbury. Five Fold Kiss, ShootPool, Aylesbury. Ostinato, The Bell, High St, Tring Sunday 29 Jun: Jam Night, Queens Head, Aylesbury Friday July 4: Hope & Glory ska, ShootPool, Aylesbury. Saturday July 5: 5th Element, Victoria Club, Aylesbury. Dusk Til Dawn at Relay For Life 2014, Weston Turville. Chaos Theory, The Black Horse Beer Festival, Great Missenden. Thursday July 10: Daniel Smith Blues Band, Tring Carnival, Tring. Friday July 11: Open Mind at the Aristocrat, Aylesbury. Saturday July 12: Old Country Union, Tring Carnival, Tring. Sunday July 13: Son Maxwell’s Shufflepack, Tring Carnival, Tring. Saturday July 19: 5th Element, The Bell, Tring. 22
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
e caught up with Michele, one of the organisers of Beacon Festival for a quick chat. Hey Michele, can you tell our readers how long Beacon Festival has been running and what’s it all about? This is the second year for Beacon Fest – the first was part of the Jubilee weekend celebrations; the weather was terrible, but we had a great day! Before that the festival ran under a different name and organisation MOTH (Music on the Hill) for a successful 12 years. Lindsay, daughter of the Watlington farm owners where the festival is held, was keen to re-brand and make it into a unique boutique festival offering much more than just great
music over the summer solstice weekend. What has been your biggest highlight so far? Getting good feedback from people who have had a great time at the festival and seeing local bands perform alongside well established acts. Do you have a big team working with you? There are a core group of seven of us, all from different backgrounds and experiences, but we all have the same vision to bring to you one of the best weekend festivals in the area. So what can we expect this year? Well, we have Bon Giovi headlining on the Saturday night, some great emerging
talent on the festival circuits such as Michael Lee and Rusty Shackle. The days are mixed with tribute bands and a wide range of musical styles from local and national acts. Watch out for glam camping in Teepees or Bell Tents along with an amazing double-decker bus hosting wooden-fired hot tubs. There is a children’s area, a healing and relaxation tent, lots of different workshops, and we will be attempting to achieve a Guinness Book of Records event, too, so it’s all happening. The line-up is now complete, but bands can apply for next year! Beacon Fest, June 20-22. For the latest information visit: www.beaconfestival.net
Toploader headline Hobble
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oploader are the headline act at this year’s free Hobble On The Cobbles. The band, who had top 10 hits with Dancing In The Moonlight and Achilles Heel, will play Aylesbury’s Market Square on August 24. The full programme has
Best fests B
URYFields, a music and comedy festival, will be coming to The Bury, in Church Street, Chesham, this year on June 22. The festival is the brainchild of the town’s mayor, Councillor Colette Littley, who wanted the town to have its own festival. For all the latest news visit: www.buryfields.co.uk ogfest, the family friendly live music event, returns to the Milton Keynes festival calendar on Saturday, June 28, featuring a wide variety of music and entertainment, held over two stages in the grounds and beautiful surroundings of a 12th century priory at Bradwell Abbey. Read more at: www.togfest.org hilfest returns on July 4-6 to Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire, featuring among others, Boomtown Rats, Heaven 17, Jason Donovan, Toyah and Lovable Rogues to name but a few. For more information visit: www.chilfest.co.uk enn Festival returns to The Big Park, Penn Street, HP7 0PS on July 18-20. Betty Boo, Buzzcocks and Hot Chocolate are already confirmed plus lots of other exciting acts. Visit www.pennfestival.co.uk for further information.
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now been announced (see below), which we’re all really excited about, however, due to various business and personal commitments I have decided to hand the running of the festival over to the Aylesbury Town Council this year.
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Ben & team welcome you to
The George & Dragon
Welcome... Eat Well, Laugh Much, Drink Often...
Welcome... Andy and Emma welcome you to The Boot, modern country pub and eating house, in the heart of the picturesque Chiltern Hills. Come and join us this Summer, our huge garden is a safe space for children (and well behaved dogs) to play. We also have a stunning outdoor eating area, so make the most of this sunny Summer weather!
The Big Boot Weekender Friday, July 11th: The Boot Ball, 3 course meal, live tribute acts, £60 per person Saturday, July 12th: Beer Festival: Starts 12noon, live band afternoon and evening plus Hog Roast Sunday, July 13th: Classic Car & Motorbike Rally, 12noon, barbecue, live music from 6pm l Early Bird Menu: Monday to Thursday 5.45pm-6.45pm, 2 courses only £10 l New Summer Menu from June 1st l Friday and Saturday Steak Night 10oz Rump or 8oz Ribeye Steak, mushrooms, onion rings, tomatoes and chips, plus a bottle of House Red or White for only £30 PER COUPLE! l Friday Night is Live Music Night, Live Music every week from 9.30pm (time to book dinner first) l Four Star Accommodation available: our guest rooms are rated ‘4 Star’ by The AA Guide l Fish Supper Saturdays from July 5th l Great value Sunday lunches l Enjoy our Courtyard Decking Area, ideal for eating and drinking in the sun!
The Restaurant is open: Mon-Sat: 12pm-2.30pm and 6pm-10pm Sunday Roasts: 12pm-4pm (booking advised) The George & Dragon, 74 High Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 0AX Tel: 01844 343087 Email: info@gndpubco.co.uk www.gndprincesrisborough.co.uk
Chinnor Road, Bledlow Ridge, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4AW Tel: 01494 481499 | Email: theteam@theboot-bledlowridge.co.uk Website: www.theboot-bledlowridge.co.uk
H Holida ay Acttivitiess
W Want to get t creative th his summer?? We’ree proud to o offer a widee range of ho oliday workshop ps, for kids aand adults. You u can try you ur hand at p pottery, drama, paintin ng and draw wing, arts and crafts and d more! You d don’t need aany previouss experience, just plentty of enthussiasm Workkshops run ffrom 28th July to 15th Au ugust. Visit our websitee for full listtings and deetails.
Why not pop and say Hello to Ian & Elle at the company’s new venture: www.queensgastropubkingston Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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l Recipe:
Giuliana, Head Cook, Cici-Coco Kitchen
Calabrian Danubio
(think savoury baked bread doughnut with delicious fillings)
Ingredients: For the dough: 550 gr ‘00’ flour 22 gr active dry yeast 5g (1tsp) sugar 250 ml milk 60 ml sunflower oil 1 egg 2 tsp sea salt 1 yolk For the filling (Whilst we have used a spicy sausage and cheese filling you can fill them with what you like from Ragu to black pudding and apple… ) 200g ‘nduja (a smoky and spicy spreadable pork sausage) or cubed Napoli salami 70 gr smoked scamorza or smoked cheddar What to do / Preparazione: Warm up the milk and dissolve the sugar, add the yeast and mix until well blended. Leave in a warm place until the surface is covered with
approximately 2cm of froth (10-15 minutes). Mix the flour, egg, oil, yeast mixture and the salt in a bowl and when they are the consistency of a sticky paste, knead energetically for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic (add some flour if the dough is too sticky). Place the dough in a lightly floured bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for about 20 minutes at room temperature. In the meantime prepare the filling by chopping the ‘nduja and the cheese into 1cm chunks. When the dough has risen divide it into 60g balls (about the size of a golf ball). Flatten the little balls with the palm of your hand and place the filling in the middle. Close the dough into a little pouch and place it on a baking tray covered with baking parchment. Place the little buns on the baking tray just touching. Leave the Danubio to rest for another 20 minutes while it rises again forming a loaf, brush with the egg yolk and bake in the pre-heated oven at 160°C for about 25 minutes until nice and golden. Let the Danubio cool a little and enjoy with a glass of favourite wine!
Vale Life : May/Jun 2014
Calabrian Danubio
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treet food is huge right now. You can hardly get down the road without bumping into a wood fired pizza oven or a burrito van. Southern Italy has its own street food, yet to hit our thoroughfares… the most famous is Arancini of course but its undiscovered cousin is ‘Danubio’… get ahead of the curve and make some of these ‘bunny’ delights before they hit our streets! !”
Giuliana Cortese CiCi-CoCo Cookery School is run by Giuliana Cortese. Their regional Italian cookery classes are in unique locations in the Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire borders. During the summer they will be featuring Italian street food and a cookery for college course, see opposite page. l Cici-Coco Kitchen, Beam Cottage, Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0AS Tel: 07939 032834 Email: thecook@cici-coco.com Website: www.cici-coco.com Twitter @cicicocokitchen
Win dinner for two at The Crown, Cuddington
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he Crown at Cuddington is a pretty, late 17th Century, Grade II listed pub, popular both as a traditional village ‘local’ and as a serious dining pub. The Crown’s cosy, atmospheric interior is full of nooks and crannies, open fireplaces, beams and character and includes a locals’ bar and several low-beamed dining areas filled with charming prints and for evening diners, the glow of candlelight. A small patio area provides outside seating and an opportunity for al fresco eating in the summer. You can expect a choice of beers on tap, including Fuller’s London Pride and Adnams, plus an extensive wine list. Food-wise, the eclectic menus should please all-comers. New chef, Raphael Avni is an experienced and creative appointment, who has trained under both Gordon Ramsey and Marco Pierre-White. He has worked at Ramsey’s Michelin-starred Aubergine restaurant as well as at Marco Pierre-White’s Canteen. Raphael’s influence can be seen on the new menu, and the specials, available from WednesdaySunday, are all his own creations. He combines influences from his Moroccan mother and grandmother 24
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It’s Pie and a Pud for just £11.95 on a Wednesday and his Turkish father, along with cooking methods he has picked up in China and the Far East. With Raphael’s influence adding to the predominantly English and locally sourced menu, The Crown kitchen has been diversifying and should have something for all tastes on the menu. Raphael’s signature dishes, now featuring on the menu include; ‘Slow Cooked Belly of Pork, Sweet and Sour Aubergine, Chick Peas and
Raphael’s Belly of Pork is already proving popular Roasted Squash’ and; ‘Fillet Of Sea Bass and Couscous with a Pickled Lemon and Olive Salsa’. The Crown’s popular traditional dishes such as ‘Smoked Haddock and Welsh Rarebit on Beef Tomato and Basil Salad’ and; ‘Honey-glazed Duck Breast, Sweet Potato, Spring Greens and Red Current Jus’, and of course favourites such as ‘Fish and Chips’ and ‘Sirloin Steak and Chips’ remain too, giving plenty of choice.
The Crown has some great promotional days - Wednesday is pie and pudding day (£11.95 for the two). The pie and pudding are both made fresh on Wednesday morning and change weekly depending on the chef’s choice. Thursday is Steak Day, with a choice of three steaks all at a discounted price and optional extras. There is usually Ribeye and Sirloin at £12.95 and either Fillet or T-bone for £17.95. Fish and Chip Friday offers customers two main courses of Fish and Chips plus a small glass of house wine, or half a beer, or a soft drink each, for a total of £20. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning dinner for two, with a bottle of house wine, at The Crown at Cuddington simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Which Gordon Ramsey restaurant did chef Raphael work at? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by July 25th, 2014. l The Crown, Aylesbury Road, Cuddington, Bucks, HP18 0BB Tel: 01844 292222 Email: info@thecrowncuddington.co.uk Web: www.thecrowncuddington.co.uk
l Column: Jacqui
Buffet fever
Thorndyke ‘Foodie On Tour’
not talking cheese and pineapple on sticks or frozen sausage rolls. I’m talking big beautiful salads, crostini, gourmet quiches and s I write this I’m three tarts, really good sausage rolls, days away from being salmon, prawns, terrines, cheeses, bridesmaid at a best plus platter after platter Just grazing friend’s wedding. of meat. And puddings, I haven’t been a bridesmaid think of all those puddings! since I was about twelve and From the obligatory trifle, never particularly enjoyed to pavlovas, cheesecakes, it then. With five of us as wedding cake... bridesmaids this weekend, profiteroles! you might be surprised to I’m literally like hear I’m one of the tallest a kid in a sweet - especially given I’m about shop. My knees 5’3”. I’m not massively go weak, my excited at the prospect of pulse races, my towering over most of the eyes widen. And wedding party on the bride’s as much as a try side, nor am I excited about not to leg it to teetering around on a risky the buffet table pair of 4” heels. What I am as fast as my looking forward to however, little legs will Fishy vol au vents, a Foodie favourite! carry me, in my is seeing my friend getting married; she’s kissed her fair share but as a natural grazer I like head I’ve already dived straight for of frogs and has finally met one the cold cuts, rolled around in the nothing more than a sea of tasty who isn’t a complete pillock. meringues and landed in a happy treats stretching from one end of BUT, all that pales by comparison a room to the other. I am very heap amongst the cupcakes. to what I’m most excited about… We may have moved on from partial to the odd prawn vol au the food of course! buffets to more formal sit down vent (who am I kidding, I’d happily You see I love a bit of wedding meals or street food fun these days, clear a plate by myself), but I’m
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Vale Life : Sept/Oct 2013
food. A little bubbly here, some banquet food there, table wine, wedding favours, canapés, maybe even a buffet if I’m lucky. Wait, what? Yes, the B-word is a little out of favour these days,
Jacqui Thorndyke
but I’m sure that if I just wait long enough, the buffet will come back round again - eventually. If, however, my friend goes a bit 80s and I do spot my beloved prawn vol au vents this weekend, don’t be surprised if I lose all sense of dignity after one too many glass of fizz and end up head first in the crustacean canapés. Just look the other way, nothing to see here. l For local food and restaurant reviews and recommendations, visit www.foodieontour.co.uk, or follow Jacqui on Twitter @FoodieOnTour. To contact Jacqui directly, please email: foodieontour@yahoo.co.uk
Grown in the Chilterns A rich source of Vitamin E 10x more Omega 3 than Olive Oil GM Free, No artificial flavourings or colourings Only 6.5% Saturated Fat compared to 14% in Olive Oil
Our award winning Rapeseed Oil with 10 infusions
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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l Column: Catherine Stoker Learning process
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
The value of ‘the extended day’
front of them. Setting the bar and hence expectation higher means they will strive to participate and achieve more. This type of culture brings them up with the belief that accepting average or just ticking recently had a conversation over to deliver the bare minimum with Darren Lyon, the is not an option, particularly where Headmaster of the local boys are concerned. A sound lesson non-selective Free School for success in future life, in my view. Sir Thomas Fremantle Secondary Parents on the other hand have School. Part of their USP is that the advantage of a guaranteed all children must take part in the longer working day during termextended day programme. Although Learning process time, leaving more quality family formal lessons finish at 3pm, as time at the evenings and weekends. they do in most state secondary Catherine Stoker Less parent taxi service since schools, there is a compulsory activities are offered in situ. There enrichment programme that runs extra time per week when children until 4.30pm. As a result over half are engaged in structured, in-school are no concerns that mum’s day may suddenly have to be rearranged of the children learn a musical activities, to grow self-esteem, due to a cancelled sports fixture or instrument, the after school sporting develop social and communication programme is extensive, children skills or to just extend their creativity after school club, since this is all delivered as part of the compulsory have the opportunity to learn Italian, and knowledge. timetabled school day. Spanish or Mandarin or to use the In contrast to a commonly So how can parents with children 3D printers and iPad to take part in held view that the extended day is at other schools learn from this various art, design and technology unpopular with pupils, the children model? My advice would be to take activities. Additionally teachers offer appear to thrive on meeting the a refreshed look at the optional homework clinics for those who challenges of these additional after school programme offered by need a bit of extra support with opportunities. Proof, I suppose, your child’s school. Discuss what is their learning. that children will work at the on offer and encourage your child In summary, that is 7.5 hours level of the challenges you put in
Independent education consultant Catherine Stoker advises on the value of ‘the extended day’ in each child’s all-round education...
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to get involved in something new. Enthuse about the value of an all-round education, highlighting the benefits they will reap when it comes to making a higher education or job application upon leaving school. It might mean taking a different approach to the school run or lift shares, but these are only logistics which are easily solved with a bit of creative thinking. Come on parents, let’s commit to encouraging our children to put their smartphones down for a few hours and make an effort to engage more fully in some of the hugely valuable and extensive extracurricular opportunities offered by our schools. Whether optional or compulsory, let’s get children more involved!
l Catherine Stoker is Managing Director of the Independent Education Consultants, offering advice for parents on all aspects of education - from choosing a school, transition, to career planning and applying to university. For more details, visit: www. independenteducationconsultants.co.uk Blog: http://futureschoolsfairs.blogspot.co.uk
Win a meal for 2 at new-look PizzaExpress
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izzaExpress is celebrating the launch of its exciting new-look restaurant at Aylesbury by offering Vale Life readers the chance to win one of five fabulous prizes of a meal for two to the value of £40 at the revamped restaurant. Situated just off Kingsbury Square, Pizza Express offers a stylish and comfortable eating environment suitable for families, business lunches and children’s parties. “We have a friendly and enthusiastic team who are looking forward to welcoming you to our beautifully refurbished restaurant,” says Manager, Cherif Mohamed-Messaoud. “Come and
enjoy a delicious pizza in the new surroundings.” PizzaExpress has been serving up fresh, handmade pizza in Aylesbury since 2000 and has now launched a fantastic new menu with additional lower calorie and gluten-free options. Its Leggera range includes skinny pizzas with fewer than 500 calories and the Superfood Salad is packed full of nutritious ingredients containing just 295 calories. PizzaExpress has also introduced gluten-free choices to its menu including a gluten-free pizza base. For younger pizza-lovers, PizzaExpress’ Piccolo menu is full of tasty choices including a ‘Create Your Own’ pizza option. And for budding
chefs looking to celebrate a birthday, a Pizza Making Party will see them transformed into pizzaiolas (or pizza chefs) as they learn to stretch, toss and top their own pizza and play a game before sitting down to enjoy their culinary creations. So kids don’t have all the fun, adult Pizza Making Parties can be arranged on request! The restaurant also runs free visits to local primary schools, turning the kitchens into classrooms. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning one of five fabulous prizes of a meal for two to the value of £40 at the new-look Aylesbury Pizza Express restaurant, simply email your name, address and telephone number,
along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk When did Pizza express first come to Aylesbury? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by July 25th, 2014. l Pizza Express, 58 Kingsbury, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2JE Tel: 01296 399867 Web: www.pizzaexpress.com *Terms and conditions: Offer available at PizzaExpress, Aylesbury, every day except Saturdays. Cannot be used with any other offer or set menu including Tesco vouchers. Can be used with takeaway orders.
with Katy Dyer
Personal stylist and fashion expert Katy scours our local boutiques and passes on tips and tricks for looking your best, plus the latest news on the high street trends House of Fraser Biba Black lace panel jumpsuit £125 Biba Jewel waist belt £60
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ummer has arrived, and it’s time to start making the most of ‘less is more’ in your wardrobe. Dig out those summer pieces, with linen and cotton that will feel cooler and less restrictive as the mercury rises. Soft summer print, pattern and texture including floral, butterfly and boucle will add something special to your look.
comfort zone and try something new. Darker colours will also be more flattering on a fuller figure, and wearing the same colour topto-toe is the ultimate silhouette slimming trick. Best foot forward Flip-flops have hit designer, and with such a variety of colours you can make a statement on the beach. Block heels and ankle-straps are all over the high street - just take care if you are petite, as ankle straps in colour or black can give the illusion of shortening your legs. Sneakers and sports shoes are also making a comeback, and again are available in a huge range of scorching colours. Retro is the watchword, wear with jeans or even a summer dress, cleverly teaming comfort with fashion.
Dressing Up Summer can be a tricky time in the office. You want to remain cool and comfortable, but need to remain professional. Look for great lightweight fabrics including cotton, silk and linen blends. You don’t always have to wear a matching suit - mix your trousers with a lightweight cardigan or waistcoat. No-no’s are Make it maxi shorts for the Maxi dresses guys and flipare oh-so-easy to wear. flops for either sex. Gandy flip-flops White Hart Studio And teamed with a (Unless you work in jacket are a great way to dress up for an uber-relaxed environment - but even then, are you going to be taken summer evening drinks and with the perfect colour and style, can work seriously?). brilliantly for a summer wedding. Don’t forget to take the shoes you Summer lovin’ will be wearing with you when Lazy summer weekends are what it’s all about. Add a splash of colour shopping to ensure you get the perfect length. Consider a neutral to your summer look with pattern and print to be found on everything, colour such as pewter, charcoal or navy and team with brights such as including trousers. Pattern on the coral, shocking pink or turquoise. legs is fabulous for tall girls, so make the most of this trend. If you So take this summer by storm are more petite or short in the leg by adding some key pieces to your then use pattern in other garments current wardrobe and you won’t such as tops and accessories, or get caught out when that heatwave risk making your legs look shorter comes around! than they are. Add some interest in accessories with interesting design in great colour. l Katy Dyer is an award-winning
Pink Savannah Tunic White Hart Studio £34.95
Jumpstart your Summer If you buy nothing else this summer, treat yourself to a jumpsuit. They are everywhere, dressed up for a summer wedding or dressed down for a casual lunch, jumpsuits will take you from dinner and on to dancing til’ dawn. If you’re not sure they will work for your figure, step out of your
Bo Rhapsody Maxi Dress White Hart Studio £59.95
personal stylist and image consultant. From her home studio in Thame, she can help you discover the confidence to change or develop your personal or professional style and image whether it’s finding the right outfit for a special occasion or to completely reinvent your look and make the most of you. For more details about the products and services available, visit: www.katydyer.com or email: katy@katydyer.com
House of Fraser Stripe boucle biker jacket £75 Linea Weekend, Grey cut out detail sweat £45
House of Fraser Skinny diamond print Lee Jeans £95 Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
There’s nothing better than kicking back with a cooling ice cream on a hot Summer’s day and Thame’s Ella Jane Gifts are thoughtfully offering a selection of delicious Cornish flavours, which can be enjoyed while relaxing on their shabby chic furniture - all items for sale, naturally...
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ummer’s here, temperatures are soaring, well in a reserved British kind of way, and the lovely Ella Jane Gifts boutique is packed with gorgeous gifts, jewellery and homeware that perfectly complement this time of year.. The daisy motif jewellery and little lovebirds, far right, go beautifully with a summery outfit and the new My English Summer range of handcrafted bath and body products with a vintage twist, including the bath and shower butter, far right, just smell divine. There are Bath Bomb Cup Cakes, Bath Salts, Bath and Shower Butter, Perfume Bars, Eye Gel and Hand Cream in the range, all beautifully packaged and ideal for Summer gifts, whether for others or oneself! There’s colourful canvas bags, ideal for that trip to the sun and stylish leather ones too plus some lovely upcycled items of furniture, see below, which you could sit at home and admire if you are planning a staycation! Greetings cards, hanging signs, candles, baby gifts... a constantly changing collection and well worth a browse while the youngsters are enjoying their ice creams! l Ella Jane Gifts, 11 Swan Walk, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3HN Tel: 01844 260865 Email: alison@ellajanegifts.com Website: www.ellajanegifts.com Open: Monday-Saturday, 9am-5.30pm
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You can now stop by for an ice cream at Ella Jane Gifts!
A B C AYLESBURY BULLION COMPANY The Family of Jewellers
11a, High St Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP20 1SH Tel:
01296 423198
Jewellery designed and produced to your specifications, or choose from our extensive range of new, secondhand and antique pieces. l Diamond merchants (certified stones always available) l Antique restorations l Hand engraving
l Valuations: insurance and (carried out on the premises) l Insurance claims advisors l Complete repair service
probate
Servicing of Rolex, Tag, Omega, Raymond Weil, Gucci etc. Batteries fitted and waterproof testing carried out on the premises. Top prices paid in cash for antique and modern jewellery, watches (especially Rolex), coins, gold, silver, platinum and scrap precious metals. Part exchange available.
11a High Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1SH
Tel: 01296 423198 www.aylesburybullion.co.uk
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Stonor Park is one of England’s oldest manor houses, built over the centuries from beginnings around 1190. In the park there is a herd of Fallow deer and red kites soar overhead, the perfect spot to enjoy the fabulous Chilterns Craft and Design show on August Bank Holiday weekend...
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isitors to this year’s Chilterns Craft & Design Show (22nd25th August) will have a stunning array of exquisite arts and crafts made by some of the best British craftsmen and women to see, plus edible delights to sample, plants to peruse and a lot more, all in the wonderful surroundings of Stonor Park near Henley-on-Thames. Over 200 craftspeople will be showcasing their work over the three day weekend - a fantastic opportunity to buy handmade gifts, ornaments, jewellery, glass, ceramics and accessories for the home and garden. The event will also feature live music, workshops and activities and delicious food and drink, making it a wonderful occasion for all the family to enjoy. Café Eatons Bar will be on hand to offer foodie treats with Italian coffees, hand-made cakes, afternoon teas and a full bar, so visitors can sip on a glass of bubbly or two in the sumptuous surroundings. If the delicious eats inspire your culinary skills, celebrated professional chef Paul Da Costa Greaves will be sharing his mouth watering recipes in the Live Cookery Demonstrations, while Good Food Live’s Specialist Food & Drink Marquees will be packed with plenty of tempting treats to try and buy - a wide selection of farmhouse cheeses, handmade chutneys and curry sauces 30
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as well as fine wines, chocolates, fudge, nuts and seeds and much more. Visitors can walk off an afternoon tea with a stroll through the Show Garden. These beautiful gardens will be full of stunning displays and planting ideas to inspire budding or experienced horticulturalists, while plant and gardening pros will be on hand and more than happy to share their expertise. With a large selection of seasonal plants for sale, visitors will be able to recreate or design their very own show garden back home. The Chilterns Craft & Design Show is very much a family day out and entry is free for under 16s when accompanied by an adult. To ensure the children are entertained, face painting, bouncy castles and a play area will all be on hand, not to mention live music and craft workshops. Adults shouldn’t feel left out though, as there will be ceramics, paper making, stamping and corn dolly making Family Craft Workshops, which are suitable for all and
available throughout the weekend. Those looking to master a new skill can try the Rural Craft Demonstrations - the ideal introduction to basket, wattle hurdle and furniture making. With so much to see, do, eat and explore, Chilterns Craft & Design Show is a date to mark on the calendar for this August Bank Holiday - a perfect day out for all the family. If you’d like the chance to win a family ticket to this year’s Chilterns Craft & Design Show, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Where is this year’s Show being held? Winner to be drawn at random from correct answers and notified by email by July 25th, 2014. l Chilterns Craft & Design Show, Stonor Park, Henley, Oxfordshire, RG9 6HF Buy tickets online at www.ichfevents.co.uk Ticket Hotline: 01425 277988 Twitter @thecraftshows / Facebook @ICHF Open 22nd-25th August, 2014, 9.30am to 5.30pm (5pm on Friday) Tickets: Adult £7.50 (Advance £5.50). Senior £6.50 (Advance £4.50). Under 16s free if accompanied by parent - otherwise £3 Buy 10 adult or senior tickets and get one adult ticket free (in advance only) Chilterns Craft & Design Show and Stonor Park House & Gardens combined ticket : Adult £11 Senior £11 (advance only)
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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re you sitting comfortably or sitting pretty? You might even wish to sit this one out, especially considering how gorgeously chic and elegant this fabulous pheasant motif arm chair, below, is! The World Cup is underway, Wimbledon is coming, the British Grand Prix takes place on July 6th, there’s cricket and athletics to watch and if you are contemplating a summer of sport, what better way to enjoy it than sunk deep in your own fabulous pheasant armchair?! There are those who are just not that interested in sport on the telly though, (gasp!), fear not we say, it could be the ideal time to slip quietly away to Haddenham and check out some of the White Hart Studio’s stylish range of furniture, homeware, ladies fashions, jewellery and accessories. Shopping may be more of an art than a sport but you still need to practise regularly if you want to be at your best! l White Hart Studio, 15 Churchway, Haddenham, HP17 8AB Tel: 01844 292308 Open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm & Sun 11am-4pm Website: www.whitehartstudio.com www.facebook.com/WhiteHartStudio Twitter: @WhiteHartStudio
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If you are looking for family friendly furniture, cowhide may not be at the top of your list of possible coverings. It is hard-wearing and spillage resistant though and rather stylish...
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chance meeting at a London flea market introduced Gabrielle Harris to the fascinating world of cowhide. Realising what a stylish and durable covering it made - ideal for homes with children and dogs - she launched London Cows, designing and manufacturing a fabulous range of cowhide furniture, which she sells online and from her home showroom at Stoke Mandeville. The London Cows range has gradually expanded to offer a complete range of furniture, homeware and accessories. “My first sale was to a German princess,” says Gabrielle, “It was a cowhide footstool, which I drove to her home in Cheltenham myself!” Gabrielle is originally from Sarratt, in Hertfordshire and lived in London before moving out to Stoke Mandeville about ten years ago. She has a beautiful home, which is partly Victorian and partly Georgian and a very good eye for interiors and accessories, in fact her home is very much a testing ground-comeshowroom for her London Cows brand, which encompasses stylish furniture, chunky homeware and funky accessories. “I am generally here, but I fit the business around family life, so I’m not open regular hours,” says Gabrielle. “If anyone would like to come and have a look round the showroom, they are welcome to call and we can arrange a time - daytimes, evenings and weekends are all possible. “The London Cows brand has a certain
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Gabrielle Harris look and style, that runs through the range, so we have cowhide and animal print cushions and footstools, sequinned stags heads, reindeer handled bowls and ice buckets, cowhide rugs, magazine holders, bins and filofaxes, hand-forged boot scrapers and cowhide lamps, there is a definite character, or ‘the London Cows look’, as we like to call it!” Ultimately Gabrielle aims to offer a complete range of home furnishings and is happy to source items London Cows don’t stock, on a customer’s behalf. If a client wants a room furnished or additional items to accessorise around a key piece of furniture, Gabrielle has a keen eye for design and lots of great ideas. Much of the range would make great gifts and weddings presents for those looking for something that is a bit different. “Cowhide is amazingly versatile,” says Gabrielle. “Whether you live in a modern apartment, a traditional Georgian house or somewhere more cottagey it will look great. It just seems to go with anything. We manufacture the furniture ourselves and as each piece of cowhide is different, every item made is totally unique. “Often people think cowhide would never work in their home, but it does! It’s hardwearing and very forgiving too, if you spill something you can generally just wipe it off, whereas fabric would be ruined.” The cowhides come mostly from Columbia and Brazil and in an amazing variety of
colours from black and white to beige, zebra print, or even a metallic finish. “Our furniture comes with a variety of options,” says Gabrielle. “It is made to order so you can choose from a variety of colours, legs designs etc. Most items take from six to eight weeks to supply. The London Cows website at: www. londoncows.co.uk will give you a good idea of Gabrielle’s range, but if you would like to see items close up and ‘feel the cowhide’ a visit to her showroom is the best bet. “We would love you to come and visit us in our showroom and see our fabulous collection up close,” says Gabrielle. “You can choose which hides you would like us to use on a particular piece of furniture, and it gives you the opportunity to see not only how divine everything looks but the excellent quality of our collection too. We also have many gorgeous items which are not available to buy online, such as our tall glass lanterns with luscious leather straps! “Children and dogs are very welcome, and you can make a day of it by visiting our local gastropub, The Woolpack, just around the corner from us, or perhaps enjoy a walk in the beautiful local countryside which includes Wendover Woods and the Prime Minister’s country retreat, Chequers, or visit Bucks Goat Farm, which is just up the road.” l London Cows Ltd, Oak Tree House, 1 Lower Road, Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5UX Tel: 01494 372270 Email: gabrielle@londoncows.co.uk Web; www.londoncows.co.uk
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Column: Sally Turner‘Fascinating finds’
Shake, rattle and roll...
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he rattle is said to have been invented by Archytas of Tarentum. Born around 440 BC, in Southern Italy, he was a mathematician, philosopher and statesman, and a great friend of Plato. Though most believe the origins of the rattle are lost in time we do know that the Greeks and Romans used dried pomegranates containing dried seeds and also peas or stone balls in gourds, or pottery vessels, to make rattles, in order to distract or pacify irritable or teething babies. Rattles can therefore be considered to be one of the oldest toys in the world. As the centuries rolled on rattles became not just toys, but for some, especially during the seventeenth century, they were status symbols too. Rattles that were made of gold or silver and occasionally inlaid with precious stones were very expensive and highly prized. Many had coral teething ends - coral being cool and smooth for teething babies. Interestingly, since early times, Mediterranean people
Animal shaped rattle C 1795 Rattle with teething ring C 1914 believed that coral had magical properties that could ward off evil spirits - so coral was of great use helping babies with teething and keeping them safe. The Georgians combined coral and silver with bells to make beautifully crafted rattles but as time progressed the Victorians were less impressed with the ‘magical’ properties of coral and started to use mother of pearl as a less expensive alternative. The twentieth century saw mass production increase with the rattle now often taking the shape of an animal with an ivorine/celluloid (plastic) teething ring. These were less expensive to manufacture making the rattle more accessible to the not so wealthy, though still
an item to be treasured and to passed down through the family - a tradition that still exists today. The Antique silver rattles shown here are priced from £110 and date from 1795 -1914. For all you older babies out there here is a quote from the writings of Archytas of Tarentum regarding his theory of how to learn. ‘To become knowledgeable about things one does not know, one must either learn from others or find out for oneself. Now learning derives from someone else and is foreign, whereas finding out is of and by oneself. Finding out without seeking is difficult and rare, but with seeking it is manageable and easy, though someone who does not know how to seek cannot find.’
Sally Turner
Fascinating finds l Sally Turner is an antiques expert with many years of experience. She buys and sells antiques and jewellery at her shop in Wendover. She is an expert in diamonds and precious stones and offers services including: cleaning and repairs of furniture, jewellery, antiques, clocks, oil paintings, enamel and porcelain, remodelling of jewellery and much more... l Sally Turner Antiques, Hogarth House, High Street, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, HP22 6DU Tel: 01296 624402 www.sallyturnerantiques.com Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat (closed Wed and Sun)
Hester Clarke Fine Jewellers
Independent Family Jewellers since 1892 Goldsmiths House 10-14 Cambridge Street Aylesbury Bucks HP20 1RS www.hesterclarke.co.uk
01296 482963 Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2013
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Homestyle
by Dee Dashwood
We’ve all heard about upcycling - it’s the cool new way to recycle old items back into use with a clean up and makeover that adds contemporary style. Be gung ho and give it a go says Dee...
I
like to think that I’m a ‘gung ho’ kinda gal, in that I get on and get stuff done. Whilst I believe that discipline is required in all art forms, there are times when you just have to bite the bullet and get on with it. Now the term ‘upcycling’ - verb: reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original - is certainly a buzz word of late, but to me, the sentiment remains that of the good old fashioned ‘make do and mend’. Although methods these days and the embellishment available to dress items up, are rather more sophisticated and can be costly. Back in the day... 1988, when my son Alexander was born, it seemed natural to set about creating his ‘space’ myself; stencilling walls and painting furniture. I must have been, as they say in the City ‘well ahead of the curve’! Upcycling is a passion I have always enjoyed, only recently though, by its trendy new name! On trend or not, upcycling can be simple, effective and a great way to save a few pennies. I’ve create a piece here to show you just how simple it can be. Now at the moment I don’t have a workshop, so I’ve had to be inventive and undertake the work partly in my living room (large sheet strewn across the floor) and do any rubbing down/painting on my patio (when the sun is out!!). Don’t give me excuses about having nowhere to work, be ‘gung ho’ and leap into action. The entire process has taken me four days and I’ve absolutely loved doing it. So will you, make time! On this occasion I have used a new chalk based paint - Autentico. Annie Sloane also has a great range of chalk based paint. I’ve used chalk based paint because it’s hard wearing and will not chip, which is likely should you use an emulsion - plus the finish is ‘lush’. Before I continue, let’s discuss my choice of colour: lavender. In my living room I have a brown leather sofa, a pistachio armchair and cushions made from a Designers Guild material - see image. I therefore wanted a colour which would tone with all. I had originally thought I would paint it pistachio but I didn’t want it to be hard on 34
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the eye, I wanted it to blend. Lavender works perfectly, easy on the eye, soft to look at. Get Inspired... A slight digression here... when looking for ideas, colour or otherwise, it’s good to get out and see what’s around before you make up your mind. For example, I went to the annual Soho Flea Market in London recently - it’s on every June - and was inspired by this colourful image (see opposite page). Find your mojo and you will enjoy doing this. Plus when your mates rock up for a cup of tea and they look at your gorgeous piece of painted furniture, they’ll be fawning over it and you will feel a great sense of achievement. So... moving on to the actual piece of furniture. The chest of drawers, right, was bought in a junk shop for £30 about six years ago. No doubt you too have a redundant piece of furniture lurking around your home... go seek it out! Because this piece was dark wood and varnished I rubbed it down first with a medium sandpaper. I removed the embellishment and handles from the front of the drawers (which actually turned out to be a mission as they were nailed in) and then filled the holes with wood filler.
Dee’s dark wood chest of drawers in original varnised finish. Below - her new upcycled chest. I left it to dry and then rubbed it down with a coarse sandpaper until smooth. Once sanded, I washed it down and vacuumed the drawers to get rid of any dust. It was now ready for the primer (undercoat). I painted two coats of primer on the outer shell and inside and outside the drawers. I used a mini roller to apply the paint as I prefer the finish - it’s smoother - and touch up the nooks and crannies with a brush. Once dry I applied two coats of the lavender top coat, again with a roller. Continued on page 36
Worth the effort - Dee’s upcycled chest of drawers has a new lease of life!
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Colour swatches helped Dee decide on a shade for the chest
Dee found this stall at The Soho Flea Market inspiring and took a quick snap!
Drawers - above, original finish. Left sanded and repainted
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Homestyle
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
by Dee Dashwood
Continued from page 34 The unit was then waxed for a long lasting finish and to protect all my hard work and finally, lavender handles were attached and I am sooo pleased with the results! Upcycling is not for everyone I know. For one reason or another; you just can’t be bothered, no incentive, no time. In which case you have two choices - find someone to do it for you or buy it already painted! If you are seeking someone to paint it for you, then look no further than Emma Hall Decoration, based in Aylesbury. Emma has real talent and is a true professional at painting furniture and decorating. She has created some great pieces for my clients. Take this pine chest of drawers - you would not believe it is the same piece of furniture! She is definitely worth talking too if you have something you wish to upcycle. See her website at: www. emmahalldecoration.co.uk or www. facebook.com/pages/Emma-Hall-
also makes a great blank canvas for creative sorts. For me, the enjoyment and satisfaction comes from creating something new myself and giving an old, unloved piece of furniture a new lease of life - that is the true spirit of upcycling. l Dee Dashwood is a creative, Berkhamsted based interior stylist and founder of Dee Dashwood Interior Style and Design the home of creative interior styling, ideas, guides and workshops. Email: dashers@mac.com Twitter: @thestylegoddess
Above and right, Emma Hall upcycled chest of drawers. Far right, Ella Jane Gifts upcycled dresser Decoration Alternatively, Alison at Ella Jane Gifts in Thame has some gorgeous pieces in her Thame boutique. See our feature on page 28 of this issue. She will also undertake commissions if you have a piece you would like upcycled.
Pinefinders in Haddenham is a great source of old pine furniture, which while lovely au naturalle,
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01865 361505 www.manorhousestoves.co.uk Featured stoves from JØtul Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Step inside by Polly Gibbs
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
“Certain fundamentals are crucial for successful interior design,” says Polly Gibbs, Creative Director at Coco Design. “While reflecting who we are, our homes are really modern day caves that fulfil our basic needs for shelter, comfort, warmth and a sense of safety. Overlooking these primal screams will result in spaces that just don’t feel right...
A
lot of unconscious assessing goes on when we walk into a room. Is it comfortable? Is it warm? Is it safe? Does it flow? Is it light? And even, does it smell pleasant? While the art of interior design is much more than creating a showhome, it doesn’t have to be prescriptive or anecdotal, it can be intuitive - effortless even. At a base level designing interiors is really about focusing on how a space makes us ‘feel’, not just how it looks. Think of it in terms of fashion - having a great outfit is one thing, whether we feel comfortable in our skin is quite another! Essentially it’s the same with interior design. If our surroundings make us ‘uncomfortable’ it’s disconcerting, we can’t relax or be at our best. So, whatever your style, house size, or budget, having a home that places basic wellbeing at its core is key to a successful interior. So, before we even look at a pot of paint or swoon over a sheet of wallpaper, it’s
Polly Gibbs
Step inside
Polly Gibbs, Creative Director at Coco Design, shares her down to earth approach to interiors, from design secrets to trends and everything in between.
Successful interiors look effortless
time for a few basics to build upon. De-clutter. There is a little bit of a hoarder in all of us, so being a slightly ruthless every now and then is necessary. For many, actually defining ‘clutter’ is the hard bit. We hang onto things for many different reasons, so it may help to identify what you absolutely could not live without and go from there. Once the inherent fear of letting go abates,
Savvy storage solutions are always a good idea as with this Kelly Book Bath
it can be an incredibly liberating process. Set a date, stick to it and break the task down into bite-sized chunks, focusing on small areas at a time rather than attempting to tackle everything in one session. Give items new life via auction sites (e.g. eBay) or by donating to charities, libraries, schools and clubs. Have items valued first if unsure of their provenance though, just in case that old doorstop of a vase is from the Ming dynasty! A great place for old furniture is Wycombe based Out Of The Dark - a social enterprise for young people that recycles, restores and revamps salvaged furniture as a means to train, educate and employ. Savvy storage. (Not an escape from de-cluttering!) Adequate storage is essential for possessions and functional items. Time to get really imaginative and look at ways to utilise ‘dead’ spaces. Here are a couple of my favourite ideas, left and below.
Bookshelf staircase by Levitate of London
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Charles Huntington Flooring Charles Huntington Flooring
•Expert Advice •Professional Fitting •Very Competitive •Expert Advice for Residential and A change in flooring or sliding doors can help break up large spaces. Pic Vufold. Does your kitchen have multi-purpose areas? Pic Trunk Creative. •Professional Fitting Commercial work Zones. Defining areas for but without zones it can have great, be it framed memories probably costly. Good planning •Very Competitive specific purposes will help give the intimacy of•Carpets a canteen. Using before you will pay dividends. to suit allwith loved ones, favourite books, for start Residential and to define zones art, objects from faraway places, Drawing from your own everybody some social and essential different flooringBudgets Commercial work personal space, which is really is a great way to make a large scented candles or treasured experience, think of places •Carpets suityou all you have been thatto made important in such a hectic world. space feel cosy •Free withoutQuotes losing the antiques. These niknaks define Budgets feel happy, calm and content; Where space is restricted this may sense of space.•No For more definite your style, one that oozes in a Obligation zones, try dividing the space with personality that’s uniquely yours. maybe•Free a hotel,Quotes a spa, restaurant mean time slots for multi-purpose Parking Create a moodboard. Without or bookshop? Then browse areas like the kitchen table - often open shelving, •Free sliding doors or •Noshowrooms, Obligationhome needed for supper and homework. decorative panels. doubt this is the single most magazines, important tip I can give. Not exhibitions, internet, Houzz, Having the luxury of lots of What’s Your Style? Keep this •FreetheParking • VINYLSsimple. • SISAL • surround STAIR RODS having a clear vision will prove time Pinterest and design blogs to save space brings itsCARPETS own challenges Aim to yourself FLOORING •with WOOD • BINDING too. OpenSAFETY plan remains popular, things that make you feelTAPES consuming, confusing, stressful and Continued on page 40 •Expert CARPETS • VINYLSAdvice • SISAL • STAIR RODS Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES
Charles Huntington Flooring
•Professional Fitting Tel: 01296 337181 Mob: 07767370067 •Very Competitive Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Tel: 01296 Mob: 07767370067 for337181 Residential and 23 DUCK FARM COURT, STATION WAY, AYLESBURY, HP20 2SQ Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Commercial work DUCK FARM COURT, STATIONvinyl, WAY, AYLESBURY, HP20 2SQ WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN ON QUALITY OR SERVICE l Independent, family run carpet l Carpet, sisal, coir, hardwood l Extensive range of23traditional Charles Huntington Flooring to suit all and flooring specialists l Exclusive suppliers of Roger Oates and contemporary flooring •Carpets Charles Huntington Flooring Charles Huntington Flooring WEcan WILL NOT BE BEATENyet ON hard-wearing QUALITY OR SERVICE •Expert Advice Charles Huntington Flooring beautiful runners l Expert fitting service at competitive prices - we Budgets and rugs in our local area l Domestic and commercial match or better your quote •Expert Advice Charles Huntington Flooring •Expert Advice •Expert Advice•Free •Professional Fitting Advice •Professional Fitting Quotes•Expert •Expert AdviceFitting •Professional •Professional Fitting •Professional Fitting •Very Competitive •No Obligation •Professional Fitting for Residential and •Very Competitive •Very Competitive •Very Competitive •Very Competitive Commercial work for Residential and Residential and for Residential•Free and •Very Competitive Parking for Commercial work for Residentialwork and Commercial Commercial work Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment
Charles Huntington Flooring
Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment
for Residential •Carpets to suit and all Commercial work •Carpets to suit all Budgets Opening Times: Monday to Friday •10am 5pm CARPETS VINYLSuntil • SISAL • STAIR RODS CARPETS • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS CARPETS Saturday • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS CARPETS • VINYLS SISAL • Any STAIRother RODS SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES until•RODS 4pm. time•Free by appointment CARPETS • VINYLS • 10am SISAL • STAIR SAFETY FLOORING • WOODQuotes • BINDING TAPES SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES SAFETY FLOORINGTel: • WOOD • BINDING TAPES Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm 01296 337181 Mob: 07767370067 Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm •No Obligation 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment Opening Friday 10am until 5pmSaturday Opening Times: to Friday 10am until 5pm OpeningTimes: Times:Monday Mondayto to FridayMonday 10am until 5pm Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Saturday 4pm. Any by appointment Saturday until time 4pm. Any other time Tel: by appointment 07767370067 Saturday10am 10amuntil until 4pm.10am Any other other time by appointment Tel:01296 01296 337181 337181 Mob: Mob: 07767370067 Tel: 337181 Mob:337181 07767370067 Tel: 01296 Mob: 07767370067 Web: •FreeHP20 Parking Tel:01296 0129623 337181 Web:www.charleshuntington.co.uk www.charleshuntington.co.uk DUCK Mob: FARM07767370067 COURT, STATION WAY, AYLESBURY, 2SQ Commercial work •Carpets Budgetsto suit all •Carpets to suit all •Carpets to suit all Budgets •Carpets to suit all Budgets Budgets •Free Quotes CARPETS • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS Budgets •Free Quotes •Free Quotes •Free Quotes •No Obligation •Free Quotes •No SAFETY FLOORING • •No WOOD • BINDING TAPES •No Obligation Obligation •FreeObligation Parking •No Obligation •Free Parking •Free Parking •Free Parking •Free Parking
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Step inside by Polly Gibbs
‘Bringing your vision to life’ We are a family-run business, based in Aylesbury, with over 25 years experience within the home improvement industry
Pic: Neptune
Whether you are looking for a conservatory, windows, doors or roofline products, Buckinghamshire Windows Ltd can help bring your vision to life For a no obligation consultation: 01296 326306 or email: enquiry@buckswindows.com
www.buckswindows.com
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Continued from page 39 looks and products that create the same feeling. Try not to go too mad here or the process will become overwhelming. Then hone your collection down to the interiors and items you love the most, until you have a really strong visual reference. Discard the rest. You now have a design blueprint to refer to from concept to completion. Proportion. Yes size matters, however, as with fashion, sometimes we have to accept that a
piece we love more than life itself is just not right. Sounds obvious, but oversized furniture is one of the most common mistakes. Big rooms can take big furniture, smaller rooms can’t. Lighting. Think three layers: task lighting is for reading, shaving, cooking. Use ambient lighting to add drama and atmosphere and finally a few accent lights to bathe those special objects in a warm glow. Texture. Contrasting details add
Pic: Trunk Creative
Window World
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visual interest - couple opposites together like matt and gloss, fur and leather, wood and stone. Balance. This is really about how the furniture and objects relate to each other. Do they gel or jar with each other? Think of still life compositions with a mix of heights, finishes and colours, or imagine arranging your family for a photo, a natural orientation is to fan out in a triangular order of height. Finally, have fun! Combine these
tips with your basic instincts to create effortless spaces you’ll feel great in. l Polly Gibbs is an interior-turnedhomeware designer based in Marsh Gibbon. Her designs, trend forecasts and expert advice have graced the pages of many a publication, whilst the simplicity of her homeware range delights designers and design lovers alike. Tel: 01869 278004 Web: www.coco-design.co.uk Twitter: @Coco_Design Facebook.com/cocodesign.style
Telephone 01296 688886 Mobile 07925 121647
www.thewindowworld.co.uk
AMBIENCE KITCHENS Design • Consultancy • Installation
We look forward to welcoming you at our new Wendover showroom
C
For more information contact us at: 35 High Street, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, HP22 6DN Tel: 01296 625556 or 07530 932797 Email: ambiencedesigns @btconnect.com
Showroom display kitchen for sale only £1,800 High quality Leicht units, worktop and fridge massive discount!
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Specialists in design, consultancy and installation of quality kitchens for 30 years
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Many of us dream of having a stylish new kitchen and this year we finally bit the bullet! Three weeks in and we’re almost there - the Ridgeway team have installed the sleek modern units, appliances have been fitted, the smart Silestone worktop is on and the flooring is down...
V
ale Life editor Charlie Trott and his family are the proud owners of a brand new kitchen, supplied and installed by Thame-based Ridgeway Kitchens and Interiors. Read on and share his experience.... Over the last two Vale Life Magazine editions I’ve documented what I thought was to be the traumatic experience of having the heart ripped from our home and a battalion of brawny tradesmen riding roughshod through family life! Happily, I am pleased to report, it wasn’t actually like that at all! Having removed the old kitchen, knocked through to the dining room and prepared the new kitchen-diner for kitting out, in a remarkably short time and with very little fuss, the Ridgeway team made short work of fitting our stylish Hacker Classic Rio kitchen units (in Magnolia Gloss). The cupboards and base units arrive pre-assembled from Germany and just need fixing in place and doors and drawers attaching - easy for me to say! Of course there’s a lot of jiggling and tweaking to get everything lined up and lots of finishing off with end panels, plinths and filler but within a couple of days we were looking pretty good, as once again the Ridgeway crew of Carl, Graham and Keith showed their expertise, experience, good humour and capacity for tea and biscuits. A temporary worktop was provided, so we could use the kitchen while the actual Silestone worktop (a kind of ground quartz in resin with built-in antibacterial qualities and a stonelike appearance) was being cut to template, polished and then fitted, which took about a week. This came with a Silestone upstand and feature fuscia pink glass splashback for the hob area, which adds a gorgeous splash of colour amid the creams, greys and wood finishes. We’d chosen the ‘Expo’ grey worktop which tones in nicely with our Blanco Silgranit sink. We thought we’d have a problem deciding what to have as a kitchen window sill once the old tiles had been removed but Ridgeway
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Graham, Keith and Carl fit the units
Simon follows on laying the Karndean wood effect flooring on a latex screed Original kitchen a week or so earlier.
Dining room a week or so earlier. Left side wall has now gone (see pic opposite page).
Decorator Norm adds a flourish with a papered feature wall
Local firm tillynilly supplied and fitted blinds for the windows See page 45
Classic Rio units in Magnolia Gloss with Silestone Grey Expo worktop. Blanco tap, sink and extractor, Siemens induction hob. Karndean Limed Oak flooring, Dining table and chairs by Ercol, Princes Risborough. Blinds by tillynilly, Thame. Kitchen designed, supplied and fitted by Ridgeway Kitchens and Interiors, Thame designer Wayne had the inspired idea of recycling an off-cut of worktop left over from another job. This happened to be a sparkly grey and worked perfectly in contrast with our Silestone. He had it cut to size, edged, polished and fitted and the result, as you can see above, is superb. Who would have thought
you could get excited about a window sill! This highlights why working with a specialist company such as Ridgeway is a wise move when undertaking this kind of project. It may not seem a complicated undertaking to replace a kitchen but the devil is in the detail, as they say, and there are so many decisions
Photograph by Frank Millar Photography: www.frankmillar.com
and choices to make about things you had never even thought of before that those details can become overwhelming. What kind of tap do you want for instance, what kind of hob, oven, extractor fan... I didn’t have the time to become an expert and research all these areas, but could rely on
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Ridgeway’s expertise to give us a couple of best options to choose from and they came up trumps every time. The extractor fan looked like becoming a bone of contention - another area I hadn’t really thought about before, except on the odd occasion when I’d hit my head on a low one! Wayne suggested one of the new Blanco feature fans. They are angled so taller cooks are less likely to bash themselves and they look sci-fi rather than industrial, so would add a contemporary edge. The picture in the catalogue looked nice enough, so we took his advice. When it was first fitted I nearly had a heart attack! At this point the room was a bare shell and the extractor looked like a huge black and steel monstrosity of a flat screen TV and completely dominated the room. No way, we all said as one by one the family filed in to check out the new arrival. Over the next few days though, as more bits of kitchen arrived it seemed to become less and less obtrusive and now we love it! It looks great, goes perfectly with the room and works really well. Wayne knew what he was talking about and we are now benefitting from his experience. We’d already painted the walls and ceilings before the units were fitted, so once the worktop was installed we just needed to touch up, paint the coving and new skirting and have decorator Norm back to add a finishing touch - some feature wallpaper at the dining end and the kitchen would be done. Thame based interiors firm tillynilly, (see feature opposite page), supply and fit blinds at an extremely reasonable rate and installed some very stylish, made to measure, Palm Wood Venetian blinds with ‘bone’ ladder tape for our three windows (all different sizes of course). As you can see, they did a brilliant job and the blinds not only look great but work really well too! We are thrilled with our new kitchen and considering the work involved and quality of the equipment and workmanship found Ridgeway Kitchens excellent value. Their organisation was faultless too. Employing their own in-house fitters and tradesmen, they are able to dovetail the different jobs and keep the job moving towards a swift completion.
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There’s beautiful furniture and some great bargains at the Ercol showroom in Princes Risborough. This Pinto dining table and set of Mantua chairs were ex-demo and less than half price.
The Blanco extractor is now one of our favourite features! The whole project took about four weeks and that included taking the new floors and ceilings out into our hallway, fitting a new radiator and funky heated towel rail, lighting and numerous other bits and pieces! Their craftsmen are first class, attention to detail is good and being a relatively small, local firm, if you do wish to call up and discuss your project there will generally be someone there who can help. So, any problems, any regrets? No not at all - the new room is proving to be life-changing. Having a kitchen-diner instead of a separate kitchen and dining room has made it a focus for family life. There is space to sit and chat while meals are being prepared and it works well for entertaining too.
It has been something of a revelation to have ovens that actually work too and find our food is coming out perfectly done at the time it should! The Siemens Steam Combi oven is particularly impressive as is their induction hob which is very easy to use and keep clean, making our old gas hob seem positively prehistoric by comparison! Thank you Ridgeway Kitchens, we are very much enjoying living the dream! l Ridgeway Kitchens and Interiors Office and Showroom, Rycote Lane, Milton Common, Oxfordshire, OX9 2NZ Tel: 01844 279900 www.ridgewaykitchens.co.uk info@ridgewaykitchens.co.uk
Kitchen photographs by Frank Millar Photography: www.frankmillar.com
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Thame-based tillynilly is a bespoke interiors service run by Tracy Nielsen. The company offers great quality while remaining extremely competitive on price and we love their blinds...
T
racy Nielsen is friendly, enthusiastic and accommodating and has a great eye for colour and design. Her tillynilly creative interiors business is well established and respected in the Thame area and supplies made to measure Roman blinds, soft furnishings and home accessories. She offers a bespoke service and can assist with product selection, fabric choice and design. She also offers wooden, Venetian, roller and vertical blinds and has
tillynilly creative interiors
recently added Japanese blinds and room dividers - her range is continuously evolving. See her website at www.tillynilly.com for details and a stylish selection of homeware in her online store. Tracy is easy to work with as she is very knowledgeable and has plenty of ideas but is easy going and a good listener, so quick to accommodate your requirements and tastes. With our kitchen revamp under way we’d decided to replace our
01844 220035 tillnilly.com info@tillynilly.com
Amanda, left, and Tracy look at blind samples
old Roman blind and curtains with Venetian blinds to enhance the contemporary new look. Tracy had a good selection of samples and brochures showing what was available and quickly helped us decide on Palm Wood Venetian 50mm blinds with contrasting bone -coloured ladder tape. We gave her rough measurements so she could price up some options and then when we ordered she came round and did a final measure up. A few weeks later the blinds were ready and expert fitter - Tracy’s husband Christian - duly delivered and fitted the blinds. As you can see, he did a brilliant job and the Venetian blinds not only
look great but are very functional as they can be angled or closed for privacy or to block out sunlight, which is useful if trying to use a computer screen during the day. They also make fabulous patterns of light across the shiny kitchen surfaces as the sunlight streams through - absolutely blinding! l tillynilly, 12 Sycamore Drive, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2AT Tel: 01844 220035 Email: info@tillynilly.com Web: www.tillynilly.com
Christian fitting the blinds Made to measure services include: • Wood Blinds • Romans • Curtains • Venetians • Rollers • Verticals • Room Dividers • Bench and Scatter cushions Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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l Column ‘In the Garden’ with
Naomi MacKay
Water works W
Ponds can be formal and set into a patio
e’ve had our first, tempting taste of summer – and once the weather warms up, a garden really starts to benefit from some introduction of water. The type of water feature you are able to introduce will depend on a number of factors - the shape and size of your garden, whether you have small children and pets and so on. If you have the right conditions, a wildlife pond is a great addition. It will encourage all kinds of creatures such as dragonflies and frogs into your garden in no time at all - and supervised children can enjoy endless hours wildlife watching and pond dipping. Choose the sunniest spot you can - keep it away from trees if possible to stop it getting filled up with autumn leaves. And another handy tip is to have a water butt nearby with a hosepipe attached, so that during heavy rain the pond can be filled automatically. Make sure that the shape of your
Haddenham
wildlife pond includes a shallow sloping side for wildlife to get in and out, and provide a good level of planting at least around this side, for them to hide in. For in-depth advice on what pond liner to use and plants to choose, ask your local garden centre. If a pond is not possible but you still fancy the sound of trickling water, there are a number of all-inone fountains available - or choose a pebble pond, which gives you the joy of trickling water without the worry of standing water that children can fall into. Very popular with garden designers and often seen at the big RHS flower shows are rills - these are narrow, shallow ‘canals’, often running through a large patio or hard landscaping area. They can be a still water feature or they can feed into a larger pool. The sides and edges need to be sharp and crisp and you can either choose to have a rill that just holds water or you can add planting. You will need to line the
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Pond dipping Pond dipping is great fun and a really easy exercise to do with children. All you need is a kids fishing net, a white plastic tray or tub (an ice cream tub for example) with some water in the bottom, plastic spoons to pick up creatures carefully and a magnifying glass. Simply scoop the fishing net through the water and see what minibeasts you catch! Carefully empty the net into the tub and then try to identify what you have caught. The best site for details and identification sheets is the excellent Natures Detectives site from the Woodland Trust at http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk
bottom and sides with concrete before laying over a butyl liner. Ask at your garden centre for more practical advice on hard landscaping. You could also create a formal pond within a patio as pictured here. On a smaller scale, it is possible to create a small pond in a large tub or pot - very effective when placed within a border or on the corner of a patio and surrounded by foliage. They don’t HAVE to be planted up - make them decorative
Recycled water: You don’t even have to have water! This clever recycled garden uses recycled glass pieces to create the illusion of water
by floating solar lights or candles on top for really effective evening lighting. l Naomi Mackay is a freelance journalist and publisher of a website for parents of primary school-aged boys called www. itsaboything.net. The site includes ideas on getting boys connected with education, expert hints on raising boys, book reviews, toys, gadgets, hobbies and competitions.
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Column: Heather Jan Brunt ‘This farming life’
Field day for young farmers
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very year young farmers around the country work hard to present their annual rally to the public, and Buckinghamshire is no different. The seven senior clubs in our county take turns to host the event which is open to the general public and provides a showcase for their talents. This year it was the turn of Princes Risborough Young Farmer’s Club to host the rally, promoted as Bledlow Country Show, and as always it proved to be a great attraction. Rural and urban folk alike mingled to enjoy all the fun of the fair, an impressive array of farmers’ market food, main ring attractions that included the Old Berkley Beagles and a display from Diamond Dogs agility club from Stoke Mandeville. But the highlight is always the young farmers’ competitions that go on throughout the day including anything from stock judging and
Judge Jo Barlow with one of the decorated flower pots
sheep shearing to tug of war, first aid, bale stacking, a watercolour painting with feet challenge and bleep tests. The home craft tent is also a big draw, with the young farmers submitting entries they may have spent days and weeks perfecting. And the skills on show are
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impressive to say the least - this year, a huge range of cookery, floral art and art classes in addition to woodwork including the creation of bird feeding tables and lounge coffee tables. The incredible array of talent on display is quite breath thing. Jo Barlow, an administrator in the RAF and a keen artist in her spare time, was asked to judge several of the art competitions, including a decorated flower pot, pasta pictures and drawings of farmers, farm animals and tractors. She said: “This was the first time I’d been to the rally. I was asked to be a judge because I attend an art class in Princes Risborough with Caroline Egerton who is on the rally committee. The general standard in the classes was very good. I had a lovely day, there were so many interesting things to see, and you don’t have to be a farmer to enjoy it, there is so much variety for all the general public.” Young farmers clubs are open to anyone aged from 10 to 26 and you
www.farol.co.uk Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Heather Jan Brunt
do not have to come from a farming family to join, although an interest in the countryside is an advantage. There are seven senior clubs in Bucks; Aylesbury, Buckingham, Edgcott & Winslow, Long Crendon, Newport Pagnell, Princes Risborough and High Wycombe, in addition to two junior clubs, Aylesbury Juniors and Winslow Countrysiders. To find out more go to: www.bucksyfc.co.uk l Heather Jan Brunt is a journalist
and a farmer’s wife. You can follow her on Twitter @HJBjournalist. She and her husband sell their own award winning Terrick Beef and other local produce from their small farm shop in Terrick on the first Friday and Saturday of each month. See: www.downonthefarm.co.uk
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This farming life
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Wendover shared her concerns over HS2 and the impact it could have on village life if planned proposals go ahead; we discussed the proposed new homes facing Watermead with Parish Councillor Helen Cook; and worries that national supermarkets could destroy the ‘shop local’ mentality of places such as Jansel Square, Bedgrove. But why do people care so much? Because they love where they live, they love Aylesbury Vale and the sense of community is like nothing I’ve experienced elsewhere. As each week goes by, Darren and I have learnt more and more about how important a sense of community is to the individuals we meet, it comes up time and time again. So much so, that we have decided to dedicate a week to broadcasting our Breakfast Show from some of the local businesses across Aylesbury Vale in our special ‘Love The High Street’ week. We aim to support the ‘Use Us Or Lose Us’ initiative. Keep an eye for the details on our website for the locations we’ll be visiting from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th June. If I can impart any knowledge, from what I’ve learnt over my time on Street Of The Week, it would be, make where you live count. Invest some time in giving back to your community, shop locally, give to your local charity shop, check in with your neighbours and take a walk to your next-door village. Smile and say hello! Looking forward to meeting you on your street soon - Katy. To hear download podcasts and see pictures of Katy’s visits go to: www.mix96.co.uk
hat do you look for when you think about buying a new home? The ‘shop local’ culture? The history of the village? The reputation of the local school? If I could pick out my favourite part of each village from across the Vale I’d take the wychert buildings of Haddenham, the independent shops full of trinkets and knickknacks in Tring and the potential celebrity spotting in Princes Risborough and that’s just to start with! Each week on mix96 we feature our ‘Street of The Week’ where we have the opportunity to head out across Aylesbury Vale to wherever our ‘Wheel of Destin-ation’ takes us, to say ‘hello’ and meet people living local lives. It gives us the chance to talk to residents and business owners and find out what’s great and what’s not so great, at times, about where they live. It is such an eye opener to see how passionate people are about where they live, their surroundings and also to see what Aylesbury Vale has to offer - beautiful landscapes only touches the surface. We hear wonderful things, week in and week out, but now and then we hear and learn of concerns that l Catch Katy on air weekdays really matter and affect our listeners. from 6am-9am on 96.2fm Nichola of No. 2 Pound Street in www.mix96.co.uk Vale ValeLife Life: Feb/Mar : Jun/Jul 2013 2014
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Last year’s Community Challenge was won by a school that wanted to create an urban farm! With the help of Vale of Aylesbury Housing, mix96 and some very generous sponsors, Aylesbury’s Pebble Brook School, has done just that - and doesn’t it look great!
A
little over six months ago, Pebble Brook School discovered they had won the first ever Community Challenge after receiving a phone call live on air from local radio station, mix96. The challenge, hosted jointly by the station and Vale of Aylesbury Housing (the Trust), was created so that local groups or organisations could apply for a grant to refurbish or restore an area of their choice. One of many entrants, Pebble Brook, who teach 11- to 19-year-old pupils with communication and interaction needs, pitched an idea to create a fully-functioning urban farm. This impressed the judges - two representatives of the Trust: Head of Asset Management, Andrew Rysdale and Mark Arhin, Head of Property Services and mix96’s Morning Breakfast Show host, Darren Scott. The school’s idea particularly caught the eye of the Trust’s Head of Asset Management, who was captivated by the positive mentality of their entry and can-do attitude of obtaining their overall goal. He said: “What we liked most about the school’s entry was that they thought outside the box and didn’t give themselves any limitations. Not only did they submit an idea that really stood out from they rest, they took their curriculum into serious consideration, essentially challenging the usual model of how pupils with learning disabilities are taught. “The fact that they thoroughly researched the theory that animals can help children learn how to control stress and calm them, shows just how much winning this project would mean to them.” However, urban farming isn’t a new concept to Pebble Brook. For months, they have been transporting a select group of pupils to and from Wetherfield School in Dunstable - who have their own urban farm helping the young adults gain a qualification in small animal care. After finding out that playing and exercising with animals can help people with learning disabilities to stay alert and attentive throughout the day, along with being an antidote to stress and frustration caused by the disorder, the school made it their mission
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Matthew Applegate , Chief Executive Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust holding the Trust’s rabbit, Walt to put everything they could into obtaining a fully-functioning smallholding for their pupils. Winning the challenge meant the school was granted £2,000 by the Trust to spend on their new farm - but the support didn’t stop there. Fast forward just half a year and the benefits of winning the Community Challenge are clear to see. April saw the culmination of the challenge, with an official farm opening attended by 250 guests including pupils, parents, teachers, the Trust and its partners, and mix96. The anticipation to see the creation was noticeable amongst the attendees - and the finished product certainly didn’t disappoint. With the help of the Trust’s partners Amey, Travis Perkins, The Landscape Group and Security Matters, over £20,000 was contributed in labour and materials to the school’s new farm - a figure which represents the willingness and passion of the companies that took part in the project. Dave O’Connor, Project Manager for Amey said: “We’ve been working with the Trust for
a number of years now and when we heard about this particular scheme, we were very interested because it will give a lot back both to the pupils and the community at large. “All our labourers have a free day each year which they can use to give back to the community. The guys are local to the area and when I told them about the project, they either knew someone at the school, or had a relative there and they jumped at the chance to contribute.” Jimi Bryan, Contract Manager at The Landscape Group, added: “We’ve got a closeworking partnership with Vale of Aylesbury Housing and it’s through this partnership that we are able to get involved in projects like this. “As soon as the plan came to light, we decided that it was definitely our cup of tea and anything in the local community that we can be involved in is excellent for us, so we’re all very pleased to have been involved.” Pebble Brook pupil, Ellie, pictured opposite, couldn’t believe her eyes when she first saw the farm: “My favourite animals
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Pupils Hasham (left) and Ellie (right) with Farm Manager (and Learning Support Assistant) Billie Catling (centre)
A Pebble Brook pupil with one of the school’s new chickens Preparing for the opening ceremony with mix96 mascot - the Mix Monster!
on the farm are the guinea pigs,” she said, “they’re small, fluffy and easy to pick up. Every Thursday, we help clean all of the animals out and also help collect the chicken eggs.” Another pupil, Hasham, pictured above, was pleased at the school’s new furry friends: “I really like the rabbits because they’re cute, soft and friendly,” he said. Pebble Brook’s Head teacher, David Miller, ever-present throughout the venture, praised the Trust and their partners for the successful completion of the project - all in a 10 day period over the school’s Easter holidays: “The support that we have received has been phenomenal and that’s all down to the Trust and its partners,” he said. “We never imagined that at the end of the Easter holidays we would have a fully-functioning farm with rabbits, ducks, chickens and guinea pigs.” Pebble Brook are now encouraging other local learning disability schools to follow in their footsteps and create their own urban
Guests flock to see the animals at the official opening event.
farms - or to visit Pebble Brook’s new facility and enjoy spending time with the animals. “We invited the head teachers of other local schools to the farm’s opening event,” said David. “so they could see the affect that the farm has on the pupils and asked them if they would like to visit with their own pupils.” However, the Head teacher admits that it is not just the pupils who will be doing the learning: “I didn’t envisage the farm being completed this quickly to be quite honest, so we were somewhat unprepared when the Trust informed us that by the end of the Easter holidays we would have a fullyfunctioning farm, including animals, at the back of the school. “Not only will the pupils have to learn how to care for the small livestock that we’ve inherited; I and all of the other teachers will have to learn a thing or two before we’re fullyfledged urban farmers!” If you missed the Trust’s campaign on Twitter and you’d like to look back at the farm’s construction, follow @TrustVAHT or search for #PBfarm. Alternatively, photos from the farm opening can be found on the Trust’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ TrustVAHT. The Community Challenge has proven to be such a success that the Trust has decided to team up with mix96 and run it again this year - keep an eye on the Trust’s (www.vaht. co.uk) and mix96’s websites (www.mix96. co.uk) for more details in the near future. l Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, Fairfax House, 69 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2NJ Tel: 01296 732600 Email: info@vaht.co.uk Website: www.vaht.co.uk
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
When a loved one needs looking after, you want to be confident that they are enjoying the highest standards of care. Home Instead offers, not just individually-tailored care to improve clients’ lives and help them to live independently in their own homes, but specialist Dementia and Alzheimer’s care from City and Guilds qualified Caregivers...
H
ome Instead Senior Care is based in Long Crendon and specialises in providing nonmedical care for older people in their own homes across the Aylesbury Vale area. The firm offers a wide range of one-to-one services tailored to meet the needs of the individual, including specialist care for Alzheimer’s, Dementia and other specific medical conditions from their City and Guilds qualified Caregivers. Home Instead was originally founded in the USA, by Paul and Lori Hogan in 1994, after they had cared for Paul’s grandmother for some years. With their love, devotion and a little extra help, she was able to stay in her own home, and lived many years longer than expected. This experience inspired Paul and Lori to create an at-home senior care service to help other families. From these beginnings, the Home Instead Senior Care organisation has grown to around 900 independently owned and operated franchise offices around the world. They are often run by people who struggled to find the help they needed to care for an elderly relative
and now feel passionately about providing quality at-home care for older people. Lee Harrington, pictured right, owns the Vale area franchise. He is originally from St Albans but has lived in Aylesbury with his young family since 2008. Lee has a background in retail but always wanted to run his own business and was particularly drawn to the care industry: “I have an elderly father and have certain expectations as to what I want him to get out of life,” says Lee. “Home Instead Senior Care holds the same values and beliefs that I have towards caring for individuals and I am confident that working together we can make a real difference in the local community.” Lee launched his Home Instead service last year. Long Crendon resident, Tricia Rushby, pictured opposite page, has joined Lee as his Registered Care Manager and now looks after the care aspects of the service, while Lee takes care of the general running of the company. Tricia has worked in social care services for seven years, starting as a Caregiver and working her way up to Care Manager:
Caregiver Kathy with happy client Lee Harrington “It’s about improving the quality of people’s lives,” says Lee. “Helping them to lead an independent life and to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. “Our services are extremely flexible and include: Companionship - escorting a client on visits or appointments or popping in for a chat to provide company and see all is ok; Home Help - housework, meal preparation or shopping; and Personal Care - assistance with bathing,
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Sometimes a cup of tea and a chat is all that is wanted Tricia Rushby
dressing and medication reminders. “We also provide a range of specialist services including Alzheimer’s and Dementia care as well as Convalescence and Respite care and all our specialist carers have accredited City and Guilds training in
this area. “We only employ the most caring, considerate and empathetic Caregivers, people who genuinely want to make a difference to the lives of others and we take time to carefully match clients and Caregivers so that they have common areas of interest to share and can form an immediate bond. “We also aim to maintain the continuity of Caregivers for any particular client, as this helps build relationships, especially with Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients and we offer free training sessions for families to teach coping strategies that may make all their lives a little easier. “We aim to provide the highest standards of care and treat our clients as we would wish our own family members to be treated. “All of our Caregivers are carefully selected, DBS checked and have to provide six references. They are then assessed on a five day training course before being taken on. “We generally look for someone with life skills, so they may well be 30+, friendly and personable, able to hold a conversation and good company. “Our care is person-centred, so what we do very much depends on what the client would like us to. Home visits can be from a single hour visit, to 24-7, round-the-clock care
including weekends and holidays. “When someone gets in touch Tricia will go to see them and assess what kind of care they would like and any factors that have to be taken into consideration in drawing up a care plan. “It’s not always easy for people to come to terms with the idea that they might need help so we are quite tactful if brought in by a concerned relative. “We are there to encourage our clients to do as much as they can though and maintain their independence, not to to completely take over.” Lee is a keen Rotary Club member and is often involved in fundraising activities for the charitable organisations he works alongside. He enjoys working in the community to raise awareness of issues effecting older people and has hosted workshops across the local area on a range of topics. Home Instead is Quality Care Commission audited and has been rated No.1 by Laing Buisson, monitors of care providers. l Home Instead Senior Care, Crendon House Drakes Drive, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9BB Tel: 01844 202778 / 01296 410029 Email: lee.harrington@homeinstead.co.uk Website: www.homeinstead.co.uk/aylesburyvale
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There are almost 7 million carers in the UK - that’s one in every 10 of us! This number is rising and three in every five of us will now, at some point in our lives, become a carer. It can be a tough situation to cope with, but fortunately Carers Trust, a national network of charities is on hand providing information, advice and practical support to carers, right across the UK...
C
arers Trust Thames is the new name for Crossroads Care Bucks and Milton Keynes. The charity rebranded in June this year as the new title is thought to better reflect their role as a Network Partner of Carers Trust - the UK’s largest charity for carers. Carers Trust Thames works with unpaid carers and people with care needs across Buckinghamshire, providing respite breaks for carers and high quality personal care services for the people they support. Their services ensure that both the carer and the person being supported stay as independent as possible, and exercise choice and control over their lives. The organisation has worked in our area for over 30 years, as a Crossroads Care scheme, gaining an excellent reputation and aims to continue delivering the same high quality services as Carers Trust Thames. Clients are quick to praise the organisation: “Some services offer a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude, whereas you try to tailor the help to the individual needs of the client” - Mrs B. Amersham: “We are truly, truly grateful for all they do for us. The care we receive is first class” - Mr and Mrs S. - Buckingham Carers Trust Thames is a charity and ‘cares for people, not for profit’. Any donations received and all of their operating profit goes back into their care services and staff training, so they can better support carers in the area. Carers Trust Thames are currently taking on new clients across the local area and whether you are looking after a loved one or considering your own care options, you are
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welcome get in touch to find out how they can help. The organisation is also hiring Care Support Workers across Buckinghamshire and would love to hear from you if you are enthusiastic, reliable and have a caring disposition. They offer flexible hours, competitive rates of pay and full training. For more information on care services and job opportunities, or to find out how to support the charity (e.g. making a donation, volunteering or becoming a trustee) visit the Carers Trust Thames website: www.carerstrustthames.org.uk l Carers Trust Thames, The Clare Charity Centre, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4BF Tel: 01494 568981 Email: info@carerstrustthames.org.uk Website: www.carerstrustthames.org.uk
Carers Trust Thames Services Respite care: It is important that carers take a break from their caring role in order to look after their own health and wellbeing. Carers Trust Thames respite services provide carers with some time off, safe in the knowledge that there is a Care Support Worker on hand to deliver the care needed in their absence. Examples of personal care services (this list is not exhaustive): companionship, domestic assistance, meal preparation and nutrition, planning and accompanying social trips and visits, help with washing, grooming and dressing, overnight and ‘live-in’ care. Examples of specialist care services: Dementia and Alzheimer’s care, end of life/ palliative care, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, Acquired Brain Injuries...
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Column: Fitness Focus with George Anderson
Health & Fitness
Boot camp boom! A
few years ago ‘boot camp’ was a term seldom encountered outside of army bases and offthe-rails teenager rehabilitation centres. Nowadays though they are popping up everywhere, with hardcore, military-style instructors forcing their recruits to run round muddy fields and do press ups until your eyeballs bleed! That description couldn’t be further from the reality of local fitness instructor George Anderson’s Boot Camp though, which he runs more like a group personal training program. “Beasting people with the no pain no gain attitude produces more injuries than results,” says George. “We try to meet individual needs through exercise options and a high level of technique coaching, and that way our members get the best workout possible, regardless of their ability” says George. “Many people come to us fed up with their lack of energy and
George Anderson George’s Boot Camp in action suffering from low self-esteem. Sugar cravings, ‘Wine O’Clock’ and habitual snacking are all common problems, that add to their frustration and feeling of being out of control. “If you don’t fancy a stuffy, crowded gym and are looking to be inspired to get fit, we may have the answer. Not everybody is madly in love with exercise, so having somebody to motivate you to turn up and then challenge your limits, is a great way to get rapid results. “Members tell us that our workouts are the most fun they
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have ever had - OK, they don’t actually say that, but I can tell by the smiles on their faces while they are training that this must be what they’re thinking. It’s funny how a smile and a grimace can look so similar…” Joking aside, George says that fun and motivation really are vital components of the program. Members are expected to attend at least two Boot Camp workouts a week, and without that fun factor members just wouldn’t feel like going back. “Exercise is just one component
of our Boot Camp” says George. “Weight loss happens in the kitchen, so we place a great deal of emphasis on nutrition too. I give our members as much support and one-on-one coaching as they need to help them understand how to make a healthy diet a part of the life.” George coaches members personally when they need an extra push, and keeps them accountable to the changes they have agreed to make. l If you would like to try out George’s Boot Camp for free, visit www.myfreeweek.com or call George directly on 01844 660009. www.bootcampbygeorge.com
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Tennis is a fun way to get some exercise, keep fit and learn useful life skills. Why not give it a go, or improve your game at JWT’s great Summer coaching courses...
J
ames Woodwards, Head Coach at Aylesbury Tennis Club has been playing tennis since the age of five. With a natural flair for the game he regularly represented his county and at the age of 14, began helping others with their game as assistant coach to Margaret Wilson at Haddenham Tennis Club. He went on to coach part-time at RAF Halton, under the tutelage of Mike James where he learnt a great deal: “Mike and his team really brought out my enthusiasm for teaching the game,” says James “and now I am thoroughly enjoying passing this on to others with the help of my James Woodwards Tennis (JWT) coaching team.” After working as a part-time coach, James moved away to study a joint Sports Management and Sport Science Degree at University and afterwards took on the role of Head Coach at Bicester Tennis Club, helping to develop their Junior and Adult programmes over a two year period. “When I heard Aylesbury were looking for a new Head Coach, I jumped at the opportunity as it’s a large club with great facilities,” says James. “I was very excited to be appointed as Head Coach in January 2013 and have worked to develop the coaching programme by increasing junior provision, adult coaching and member to coach links at
James Woodwards club nights and social events.” James has implemented a coaching programme catering for all ages and abilities ranging from ‘Tots Tennis’ for 3-5 year old through to ‘Performance Tennis’ sessions and adult lessons: “There are term time sessions as well as holiday camps over the Easter and Summer breaks,” says James. “Application forms are available on my website at: www.jwtcoaching.com
SUMMER TENNIS CAMPS 2014
WEEK 1 Monday 4th - Friday 8th August WEEK 2 Monday 11th - Friday 15th August WEEK 3 Tuesday 27th - Friday 29th August
Summer tennis camps 2014 typical day atAcamp includes: typical day at camp includes: Week 1 Monday 4th - Friday 8thAAugust • Learning how to play and scorehow to play and score Learning Week 2 Monday 11th - Friday 15th August • Lots of fun and games Lots of fun and games Week 1 Monday 27th - Friday 29th • August Racket skills and practice drillsskills and practice drills Racket l l l
l • Competitive matches... Competitive matches...
10% discount for siblings Discount for siblings Early drop off from 8.30am and • 10% New for 2014 off from 8.30am and late late pick up until 4om available • Earlyldrop Team results and prize giving pick up until 4pm available for just for just £4 per hour! ceremony every Friday £4 per hour! Prices range from £5 day (tots) to £80 for a full week (5-18 years) l l
Contact us
NEW FOR 2014
• Team results and prize giving Contact the club Friday Tennis Club: Venue: The County Ground, Wendover Road,ceremony every Aylesbury Aylesbury, HP21 9NJ
James woodwards: Mobile: 07834 826130 Email: info@jwtcoaching.com
Phone: 01296 398230 Visit us online at: www.jwtcoaching.com
“As well as being good exercise, tennis is a great vehicle for developing life skills. Through tennis, we have the opportunity to build character, develop confidence, promote sportsmanship and teamwork, and foster tolerance. These ideals can promote peace and harmony on and off the court.” Currently JWT is coaching at two local Clubmark accredited venues: Aylesbury Tennis Club and Aston Park Tennis Club: “They both excellent clubs,” says James, “Aylesbury on the Wendover Road, just outside the town centre, has 10 outdoor tennis courts - seven being state of the art floodlit AstroTurf and three hard courts - plus four squash courts. The clubhouse has excellent bar facilities and a comfy, homely feel, so is a great place to relax and have a well-earned drink after your exercise. The club also has a fully stocked Yonex and Tecnifibre JWT ProShop and a restringing service for both tennis and squash raquets. “Aylesbury Tennis Club is hosting an Open Day on Saturday July 12th, for people to try out tennis, squash and racketball. There will be entertainment for little ones, including a bouncy castle, to keep them busy while Mums and Dads try the racket sports. “Aston Park is a friendly village Lawn Tennis Association accredited Clubmark club located in Aston Park, Aston Clinton. The club has three floodlit hard courts and a clubhouse and is a two minute walk from ample parking facilities and the popular Hub bar and restaurant. The courts themselves are surrounded by beautiful parkland.” For details of Summer Tennis Camps at these clubs, see panel left, or go to the JWT website listed below. James believes as many children as possible should have the chance to try tennis and also runs a JWT Coaching ‘Tennis Roadshow’ which offers schools in the Aylesbury area free tennis sessions so youngsters can ‘have a go’ and see if they’d like to take up the sport. l JWT, Aylesbury Tennis & Squash Club and Aston Park Tennis Club Mobile: 07834 826130 Email: info@jwtcoaching.com Web: www.jwtcoaching.com Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Health & Fitness
Column: Fitness Focus with Cathy Cavender
Swim yourself fit S
wimming is an all-over body workout that strengthens, tones and provides cardiovascular fitness with little impact on joints. It is a sport that is potentially accessible to people of all ages, for fun, fitness and competition. The good news is that opportunities to ‘take the plunge’ and realise the enjoyment and health benefits of swimming are increasing in the Aylesbury, Thame and nearby areas. Whether you are a complete beginner, a recreational swimmer or a triathlete there are a growing variety of exciting new initiatives to take advantage of this summer. For children who have completed the ASA scheme and wish to continue with swimming for fitness or multi-sport training, a unique advanced level summer holiday intensive course will take place at Green Park in Aston Clinton. An Olympic level coach and an expert triathlon swimming instructor will teach children about stroke technique development and how to
One to One Swimming with Cathy Cavender
pursue their swimming training. Open water swimming is becoming increasingly popular in the Thame and Aylesbury areas with many training for triathlon competition. If you would like to take to the open water this summer then you will be pleased to hear that the ‘Open Water Clubs’ pilot initiative (www.openwaterclubs. org.uk) has recently been launched in the upper Thame area. Support for those new to open water swimming will be provided including one to one tuition in local lakes. If you are a triathlete wishing to develop your stroke technique
‘Progress Swim Club’ runs at Princes Risborough and Thame leisure centres (www.facebook. com/ProgressSwim). Videoed stroke analysis sessions have just been launched at a state of the art river-flow pool at the Chilterns MS Centre in Wendover. Swimmers can view their strokes from above and below the water and receive feedback from specialist triathlon stroke technicians, whilst raising funds for the MS charity. A growing number of over 50s in this area are proving that it’s never too late to learn! Adult one to one lessons at the Oxfordshire Golf Hotel Spa offer the perfect
Henley Mile open water swim
Cathy Cavender opportunity to learn to swim for regular exercise and holidays. For children who would benefit from boosting their swimming skills, one to one summer intensive swim courses will take place at a private pool in Bledlow Ridge. Take the opportunity to include swimming as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle this summer! For further information on all of these initiatives please contact One to One Swimming (previously Cathy Cavender Swimming). l www.onetooneswimming.co.uk info@onetooneswimming.co.uk, Tel: 07886 268745 Tel: 01844 351253, Facebook.com/onetooneswimming
EAR WAX REMOVAL If you are troubled by excessive ear wax causing discomfort or loss of hearing, CV Health Aural Care Service can offer you a very effective treatment at its Haddenham Medical Centre. Micro-suction is the most up-to-date procedure for removing obstructions in the ear, using a high-powered binocular operating microscope. Very delicate instruments are used to: ● Remove material blocking the ear canal, including wax, infected debris, dead skin layers or foreign bodies. ● Apply medication to the ear.
One to One Swimming Lessons “Bring out the swimmer in you” Cathy Cavender, Head Instructor Oxon and Bucks
Tel 01844 351253 Mob 07886 268745 Email info@onetooneswimming.co.uk Website www.onetooneswimming.co.uk Facebook www.facebook.com/onetooneswimming
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Compared to syringing, micro-suction is safer, quicker, better tolerated and more effective. What does it cost? CV Health offers a competitively priced service at £80 for an initial consultation, assessment of both ears, removal of wax and other debris, the application of medication where necessary and, if required, a letter to your GP. CV Health also offers a self-funding Minor Surgery Clinic for the removal of small lesions. For further details please visit: www.cvhealthltd.co.uk.
Call now 01494 555204 Monday—Friday (9 am to 5 pm) or email for an appointment: c.v.health@nhs.net
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Vale Life : May/Jun Feb/Mar 2013 2014
l Column
Amanda Trott
You can’t complete a Grand Prix without a few pit stops but happily, a mile or so up the road from Silverstone, is the perfect place to recharge your batteries...
O
nce in a while, we all need to get away and just, relax... Giving ourselves a day off work or sending the kids to Granny’s while you grab some well earned ‘me’ time, usually results in quickly running the vacuum round or answering endless phone calls from PPI companies - not very relaxing after all! Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa may be the answer to your prayers. Located in the Northamptonshire village of Whittlebury near Silverstone, in the midst of a golf course and offering amazing value Day Spa Relaxation Days and Overnight Stays, this award-winning spa, is just what the doctor ordered. You may just want to kick back and enjoy the Leisure Club facilities: a 19-metre pool, whirlpool spa, bubble jet, steam room, sauna, aerobic studio and gym with the latest state-of-the-art facilities... but then there’s the ‘Heat and Ice Experience’ - a series of treatments designed to increase your body’s temperature before you step into the Ice Cave to stimulate your circulation and senses, whilst aiding the elimination of toxins and exfoliating the skin. Facilities include a Sanarium® incorporating a sauna, soft steam bath and herbal bath; a Caldarium hot room and a Soap Massage Room, an Aromatherapy Crystal Steam Room, an Ice Cave, Roman Salt Steam, Experience Showers, Foot Spas and a Hydrotherapy Pool and with a choice of over 60 treatments to add to your package, delivered by a team of highly skilled therapists, you may not be in a rush to get back home! Anyway, Granny loves having the kids, doesn’t she?! Whittlebury Hall also boasts a pleasant bar and three restaurants: Astons mixes classic and contemporary cuisine with a dash of continental inspiration whilst offering a wide selection of fine wines from around the 60
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
mud, heat and steam. If with a partner you can help each other exfoliate with a salt scrub and then apply different grades of detoxifying thermal mud to specific areas of your body. You then enter the steam room and after the heat has built up showers burst from the ceiling, washing the mud away and leaving your skin feeling wonderful! We were impressed by the efficiency and friendliness of the staff at Whittlebury Hall - each and every one seemed to go out of their way to accommodate their guests and the therapists were well trained and very proficient. Reluctantly, but feeling rested and revived, we checked out of our haven of tranquility and headed homewards, already discussing a possible return visit!
Free treatment Offer
globe, whereas Bentleys offers Mediterranean cuisine with pizza, pasta and salads. The award-winning 2 AA Rosette restaurant, Murrays, where we dined during our stay, is silver service and offers top quality modern cuisine with a selection of fine wines in a stylish and intimate setting and the food is very impressive. On our arrival we were greeted by a team of friendly and efficient staff who offered to take our luggage to our room and gave us a tour of the facilities. We decided to change into our robes and slippers, familiarise ourselves with the Spa and see what availability there was for any further treatments during our stay. Treatments can be booked prior to your visit or you can take your chance on the day but the Spa does get busy so it’s advisable to book ahead online if possible. We opted to make the most of the pool, bubble jet and sauna and before we knew it, lunch was calling. After a delicious light lunch
(and a snooze on a water bed in the relaxation area) we made our way back to the Spa where we were whisked away for our first treatment, a Full Body Hot Stone Massage. As much as I tried to stay awake for this fabulously soothing treatment, before I knew it I was drifting into a state of complete relaxation. OK, I nodded off! The rest of our day gently ebbed away and soon we were back in our room changing for a delicious dinner in Murrays. The rooms are stylish, spacious, modern and comfortable and the following morning, after a particularly good night’s sleep, we slipped on our robes and made our way to breakfast. I had booked myself in for a Gel Pedicure and made the most of the wonderful massage chairs whilst my lovely therapist worked her magic on my tootsies. Deciding to try something different, we then opted for the Rasul treatment, a traditional Arabian cleansing ritual that uses
The award-winning Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa, is offering Vale Life readers a perfect summer pampering treat - Buy either a One Night Spa Stay or Two Night Spa Stay and receive a COMPLIMENTARY 25 minute Soothing Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage (worth over £35)*. To take advantage of this great offer, call Whittlebury today and quote ‘VALELIFE14’ on 0845 400 0002, visit www.whittleburyhall.co.uk *Terms and Conditions apply. Subject to availability. This offer is available Sunday - Thursday only. This offer is non-transferable and non-refundable, has no cash equivalent and full prepayment is required at time of booking. Offer applies to new purchases only. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Guests must be aged 18 years or over. This offer is not open to the employees of Whittlebury Hall and their family members. Accommodation is based on 2 people sharing a standard room. Offer includes a complimentary 25 minute Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage per person when purchasing a 1 Night Stay for £93.50 per person or 2 Night Spa Stay for £82.50 per person per night. Heat and Ice Experiences to be taken on day of arrival. £40 single supplement applies. Offer valid for bookings taken from 1st July to 30th December 2014.
l Whittlebury Hall, Whittlebury, Nr Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8QH Spa reservations: 0845 400 0002 Hotel and Dining reservations: 0845 400 0001 Web: www.whittleburyhall.co.uk l Amanda is a talented and experienced, Vidal Sassoon trained hair stylist. If you would like your hair cut, styled or coloured by Amanda she is available in Thame from Mondays through to Thursdays at Eclipse Hair Design. Call 01844 260062 to book or arrange a free consultation.
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Column: Penny Harper ‘Thoughts of a small town girl’
The call of the carnival
M
y Dad called me last week to have a whinge about someone blocking their gate…again. They live next to a school and at letting in and kicking out times, it’s impossible to move from the house. It sounds posh (but really isn’t) to say that we have gates on the drive; it was a case of keeping three kids in rather than all the plebs out. Needless to say, even though we’ve all grown up and are dab hands at the old road safety business, the gates still remain and they still get blocked at regular intervals, annoying my Dad immensely. Well, he wasn’t entirely sure what to do about the latest offender. This time he told me that he was looking out the window at a giant Cadbury’s Crème Egg on wheels. A-ha! It must be carnival time. Every year, my village goes bonkers for the carnival. I grew up opposite the village green which still is the starting point for all the floats, and is quite handy when you’re dressed as a jellyfish and
can’t walk more than three steps without falling over. Over the years of course, the health and safety police have cracked down on what will and will not fly at the carnival. Apparently, hanging off the back of an articulated lorry dressed as a flower isn’t a good idea; similarly throwing copper coins at the kids ON the floats is likely to end up with a few blind children by the end of the hour-long tour. You know, it’s just not the same any more. My Mum was a whiz at making costumes. The same year I was a jellyfish, my brother was a barracuda; the theme being ‘Under the Sea’. Then there was the time we were ‘Cowboys and Indians’ with my Mum dressed as a squaw. ‘Ali-Baba and the SEVENTY Thieves’ was quite a memorable theme because it involved the whole primary school hiding in wicker laundry baskets…
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Penny Harper
on the back of a truck. By the time we had progressed to joining the float for our drama group the theme was the slightly more sophisticated ‘Allo ‘Allo which involved us being French and, quite obviously, wearing stripy tops, berets and pretending to smoke. The guest of honour was always a big deal, but the only person I can really remember opening the carnival was Charlie Neil, who used to do the weather on Central Television. It was pretty exciting to have a TV star there. Imagine my delight when this year, I was asked to be the guest. I think they were looking for a local-girlturned-author type story. That’s what I tell myself anyway. I ignore the fact that they asked me with about two weeks’ notice; clearly all the local meteorologists were already booked that weekend. I thought about recreating my old jellyfish outfit… but I couldn’t find enough bubble-wrap. Turns
Small Town
Girl
out I was already booked for that weekend anyway. Eat your heart out Charlie Neil. In Thame I joined in with the Players at carnival time, always excited about having a chat with Boris J while dressed as a woodland character. If it rains then that’s character building and if it’s sunny then it’s time to feel the burn of pink skin, the taste of a ‘mystery meat’ burger and to wrestle candy floss in the wind, even though you’re never quite sure whether you like it or not. They were halcyon days really, although that could be the pint of real ale talking.
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Tel: 01296 330311 Mobile: 07587 172659 Buckingham Road, Watermead, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 0FY
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9.30am to 5pm Sat: 7.30am to 4pm, Thur & Sun: closed
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l
Column: Anna Webb‘Barking blonde’
The great escape
E
scaping London had bleeped on my radar since Molly, my 12 year old Miniature Bull Terrier, was diagnosed with suspected cancer four years ago. Air pollution has always worried me; nitrogen dioxide from traffic is at record levels in London. It was a ‘no brainer’ that country air would boost Molly’s health, but finding the right time to move seemed impossible. The weekly radio slot ‘The Barking Hour’, which I co-host with fellow ‘Barking Blonde’ Jo Good on BBC Radio London, moved from night-time to prime-time and complicated matters further but in the midst of our first series of The Titchmarsh Show, I found the perfect cottage in Long Crendon and a string of highs and lows later - the joys of housebuying and moving brought newcomers to the Vale: a ‘Barking Blonde’ with a Bull Terrier and a ‘streetcat’, named Gremlin. A rescue cat, Gremlin adapted to country life in a flash. I’m ashamed to admit our purple bin
Bledlow Point to Point
bags regularly contain a variety of local wildlife: rabbits, mice, voles, shrews, pigeons - finding a baby rat in my chest of drawers took the biscuit though! After only a few months here Gremlin’s severe skin allergy has cleared up - the only change, a country lifestyle! London life pales into insignificance as fresher air and the ‘sound of silence’ have perked Molly up too, suggesting a
New online Pet Store at: www.muckypaws.info
Anna Webb
Barking blonde easy to teach an old dog new tricks too, so all dogs are welcome, young and old! l Combining a psychology degree
with ‘Naturopathic Healthcare & Natural Nutrition’ at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies, Anna Webb offers doggy lifecoaching, training, natural health and diet advice. Anna regular contributes expert opinion and advice on national radio and television programmes and co-writes a weekly blog for The Independent (Barking Blondes). Her book ‘Barking Blondes’ cowritten with Joanne Good is out now (published by Hamlyn). www.annawebb.info www.crendoncanines.com
Win your dog a 10 day stay M
106xx out of the dog house a5 1pp 2 25/10/2013 10:40 Page 1
Contact: Roselle 07989 947316 email: roselle@ outofthedoghouse.co.uk
Does your dog:
Do you to give your puppy or rescue dog • jump upwant • pull on the lead• bark excessively the best possible start in your home? • display nervous, obsessive or aggressive behaviour Does your dog: bicycles or livestock • have issues with food • chase joggers, • jump up • destroy carpets or furniture when left alone? • pull on the lead
Dog Listening is a simple non-confrontational method, for all bark excessively dogs,• through which you can address undesirable behaviours • display nervous, obsessive or aggressive and build a rewarding relationship with your dog. behaviour
www.outofthedoghouse.co.uk • chase joggers, bicycles or livestock • destroy carpets or furniture when left alone
64 •Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014 have issues with food?
country life is indeed healthier. Our Thame Valley walks are simply bliss compared to London parks, even when a pheasant bursts from a hedgerow giving us the fright of our lives! Molly enjoys shopping in Thame. Unlike London it’s dog friendly even Robert Dyas welcomes dogs here! But Molly’s high point has been leading the Easter bonnet parade before the first Eight Bells pub, Long Crendon, dog show, which I was invited to judge. A resounding success, it raised £300 for charity and looks like being an annual event now. It’s supposed to be a slower pace of life here, but when we’re not commuting into London Molly and I have found much to keep us occupied! We love presenting readings in Chearsley and Long Crendon churches for the pet services with Rev Wynbourne and I’ve set up Crendon Canines with Polly King, offering training and doggy life coaching in the village hall. A trained dog is a happy dog and although, according to Barbara Woodhouse, the only breed that’s un-trainable is a Bull Terrier, Molly has competed at Crufts and been seen doggy dancing on TV, so anything is possible! It’s actually
at Maccabee’s Pet Hotel
We cater for: Dogs, Cats, Birds, Horses, Poultry, Small Animals & Reptiles.
Out of the Doghouse Dog Listening
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
accabee’s Pet Hotel at Longwick, near Princes Risborough aims to be the place that dogs want to go for their holidays! With airy, comfortable, heated accommodation, a beautiful rural position, caring, experienced pet-loving staff and lots of playtime and exercise programmed in, it’s no wonder dogs come back refreshed and healthy with tails-a-wagging from a stay at Maccabee’s. New owner Jonathan Lines runs a successful Doggy Day Care business and has now also introduced the day care option at Maccabee’s. The pet hotel also has a grooming salon (at the moment for residents only) and a dog agility course, for the amusement and exercise of those staying, in addition to several paddocks for walks, runs and playing.
Jonathan is kindly offering Vale Life readers the chance to win one stay of up to 10 days for their dog at Maccabee’s Pet Hotel (dates subject to availability). If you would like your dog to be looked after at Maccabee’s while you are away on holiday, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Where is Maccabee’s Pet Hotel? Winner to be drawn at random from correct answers and notified by email by July 25th, 2014. Prize is for one dog to stay up to 10 days, (usual charge is £18 per day). Prize is for a single stay only - if stay is shorter than ten days, no refunds or credit or additional stays will be given. See opposite page for more details on Maccabee’s Pet Hotel. www.maccabeespethotel.co.uk
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Leaving your pet behind when you go on holiday is a worry for most dog owners - you want to know they are safe, happy and being well cared for. Jonathan Lines recently bought Maccabee’s Pet Hotel at Longwick and is determined the dogs in his care will be so well looked after and have such a fun time, that they’ll want to visit again and again...
J
onathan Lines is no stranger to pet care. He has run a successful London based doggy day care business for many years. When the chance came to acquire Maccabee’s Pet Hotel, near Princes Risborough though, he jumped at it. “It’s a lovely location,” says Jonathan. “on the edge of the village, surrounded by open countryside. And it’s got so much space, about four acres, most of which are paddocks that we use to give the dogs a run and to play games with them. We’ve got a dog agility set up too, if they enjoy doing that.” Since he has taken over Maccabee’s Jonathan has been busy refurbishing and upgrading the facilities as he is keen for the pet hotel to offer the highest levels of comfort and care. “We know your dog is part of your family and we want to do everything possible to create an environment that will reassure you and delight your dog,” he says. “I genuinely think that if I were a dog this is the place I’d want to come to for my holiday! We have individually heated kennels with soft, comfortable beds and their own integral covered run. You are welcome to bring along your own bedding and your dog’s favourite toys and treats to make their stay more comfortable, if you wish. We provide a light and airy environment with fresh circulated air and keep the place scrupulously clean, so no
Annie
overpowering doggy aroma! We have a fully equipped outdoor agility paddock, a grooming salon, stacks of educational toys, secure outdoor fields and 24 hour on-call veterinary services. “We also have an experienced, highly trained staff of enthusiastic dog lovers whose priority is the care, comfort and happiness of your dog. We are a family business and aim to give a high standard of personal service and attention to our customers and their pets. “Exercise and playtime is an important part of the day. The dogs have room to stretch their legs in their own run, but they will also be taken out regularly to run around our large field. Depending on their temperament they can play with other dogs or be taken out for walks on their own, so they go to bed tired and happy every night. “The team spend ‘quality time’ with our guests every day, either in one of our paddocks playing or working the agility course or they may just have a good long cuddle in the guest’s room.” Maccabee’s also offer Day Care for dogs, so if you’re at work or going away, you can drop your pet off or have him picked up in the morning and get him back later that day. He’ll get plenty of care, love and exercise (up to five hours a day,) so will come home tired but happy! For further information see the Pet Hotel’s
Jonathan Lines website at: www.maccabeespethotel.co.uk or pop in to have a look round. Maccabee’s is open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm. Boarding costs £18 per day, Day Care is £16 per day (£21 with local pick up/drop off included). l Maccabee’s Pet Hotel, Bar Lane, Longwick, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9RG Tel: 01844 342515 Email: info@maccabeespethotel.co.uk Web: www.maccabeespethotel.co.uk
Agility
Suzanne AKA ‘Fluff’
Kevin Tomasz
Bathtime
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Column: Janice Issitt ‘Making the most of it’
All creatures great & small
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hile I am mostly spending my days making stuff, styling and photographing, I also have one other big passion and that’s for animals. Living in a country village, after a lifetime in London, opens the floodgates to wildlife of all kinds right on one’s doorstep. I had heard of Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital many years ago when CEO Les Stocker was featured on a tv show doing wildlife rescues. It never occurred to me that one day I would be able to do this myself. A while ago I saw an appeal from Tiggywinkles for volunteers and sent my partner off for an interview. He started training with the team at the hospital and was equipped with all the necessary grapplers and cages to be able to rescue on his own. Tiggys are excellent at matching up the work to the volunteer, so if like my partner you are a strong person with a large car and time to help then this could suit you, however, if like me, you aren’t quite able to cope with the
Ducks at the visitor centre
physical aspects of catching a badger or deer and your car isn’t so large, then ambulance driving or fostering might suit you better. Sometimes I am just picking up small mammals and birds and driving them to the hospital for attention and other times I have abandoned baby animals at home that need feeding. Whatever you abilities, there will be something you can do to help and honestly, its so rewarding. Since we started volunteering I have had the privilege to meet owls, badgers, foxes, hedgehogs, rabbits, deer and birds of all sizes and ages.
The Dog Man Peter Ross M.B.I.P.D.T.
The Guild of Dog Trainers: Grade ‘Master’ One of the country’s leading Behaviourists, Handlers and Instructors All elements of Dog Education covered and much, much more!
Call: 01296 615905 / 01442 870990 Visit our website at: www.rosswaydogtraining.co.uk
All Pest Service
Wasps £40 inc www.mrbeesknees.co.uk 01296 770214
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Janice Issitt
Hospital patients: pictures by Les Stocker
Making the most of it The staff at Tiggys are very efficient with their training and they will ensure you have all the necessary tools to look after babies if you foster at home. Check out their website: www. sttiggywinkles.org.uk where you can also see lists of equipment and generally things they need that you might have lying around or about to throw away. Like clean old towels and newspapers. Perhaps you could also pick up a few things for them
while doing your weekly shop, dog food, bin bags, scourers ... they need it all. If you haven’t been there before there is a Visitor Centre where you can see some of the animals and birds that they haven’t been able to release back into the wild. The centre is on Aston Road, Haddenham, between Thame and Aylesbury, HP17 8AF. l Read Janice’s blog at: http:// janiceissittlifestyle.blogspot.co.uk where she posts photo tutorials about things to make and lovely pictures of life in The Vale.
Voice stars to sing at centre’s first festival
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he Clare Foundation is to hold its first ever Summer Festival. Taking place on Sunday, July 20th, 2014, from 12noon, in the beautiful surroundings of the Clare Charity Centre, at Saunderton, this free event will offer a fun day out for the whole family. Stars from BBC 1’s The Voice including Amelia O’Connell, Femi Santiago and Nomakhosi Nkosi will be performing on the main stage while a wide range of children’s activities, plus a variety of food and drink stands will be available. All funds raised on the day will be donated to The Clare Foundation to help it continue its work supporting charities in the area. “We are delighted to be hosting this exciting event,” says David Lawrance, General Manager of The Clare Foundation, “and we
Amelia O’Connell hope that this will be the first of many summer festivals to be held at the Clare Charity Centre. The event is free and will be held from 12 noon on the Clare Charity Centre’s Meadow. The Charity Centre is easily accessed. It’s a short walk from Saunderton train station and parking will be available at the site. l www.theclarefoundation.org
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
Les Stocker MBE HonAssocRCVS
Face of the Vale
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n the late 1970s, accountant Les Stocker stumbled across an injured hedgehog. An animal lover, he took the creature to the local vet to see what could be done. It soon became clear that although vets and animal welfare organisations were there to look after domestic animals and pets, no one, back then, was catering for sick wildlife. Turning down the vet’s offer to put his hedgehog to sleep, Les took the animal home and cared for it himself resolving, with wife Sue, to do something to remedy this gap in animal welfare. At first Les and Sue provided wildlife care ‘as a hobby’, using a small shed at the back of their house in Aylesbury. But word spread and the hobby grew, until hundreds of people were bringing distressed animals to the Stockers for assistance. In 1983 Les set up The Wildlife Hospital Trust, a registered charity to help fund their work. He gave up accountancy and he and Sue have been providing care for wildlife full-time ever since - their son Colin now also works with them. In 1991 the Trust enabled a specially built hospital, Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital to be opened in the village of Haddenham, near Thame. The hospital, whose name comes from the
hedgehog character in Beatrix Potter’s story The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, has a triage section, an operating theatre and various wards for animals of many kinds, from snakes, foxes and badgers to swans, owls and bats, and, of course, a separate ward for hedgehogs. There is also a visitor centre, and education centre teaching wild animal practice to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses and a City and Guilds course in wildlife welfare. The hospital is open 24-7 and looks after around 1,200 animals each day - about 10,000 a year pass through. Medical treatment is carried out by a team of trained veterinary nurses and specialist consultant veterinary surgeons. There are currently about 37 full-time staff, and a variety of students and volunteers helping rescue and transport animals to the hospital. CEO Les Stocker has been working for nearly 40 years rescuing, treating and rehabilitating sick, injured and orphaned British wildlife - in most cases, returning them to the wild - and is now a highly respected expert who has written many valuable books on the subject, including his ever popular ‘Practical Wildlife Care’. The founder of Tiggywinkles was awarded the title of ‘Laureate’ in the International 1990
with an injured Red Kite Photograph by Pete Griffith, June 2014
A Vale Life Magazine series with photographer Peter Griffith of All People Photography, Waddesdon. www.allpeoplephotography.com Send your suggestion for a Face of the Vale portrait to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Rolex Awards for Enterprise for his work in wildlife conservation and to help establish Europe’s first Wildlife Teaching Hospital at Tiggywinkles. He was awarded an MBE by her Majesty The Queen in 1991 and, in 2002, the prestigious Honorary Associateship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The citation for his associateship stated that Les ‘has probably done more to improve the quality of veterinary care for [wildlife] species than anyone else in the country’, and pointed out that he had presented papers and speeches on the need for wildlife care to the European Parliament, the British Veterinary Zoological Society, the British Veterinary Nursing Association and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. Now 71, Les is trying to take a less active role but is still sought out regularly for advice and guidance. He also takes some amazing photographs of the animals in his care. Tiggywinkles survives on donations from members and the general public and sponsors. It receives no state funding of any kind and no financial assistance from conservation groups. l Tiggywinkles - The Wildlife Hospital Trust Tel: 01844 292292 Web: www.tiggywinkles.com Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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l Column: Alan Candy’s Altomobiles
Bit of a looker Honda CR-V
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he more I see it, the more I like it. And the same goes for driving. Seems the new Mazda3 is going to be a bit of a surprise package. And it is. Competing in one of the toughest market segments - up against big names such as Golf and Focus - the Mazda doesn’t just rival them when it comes to looks - it batters them. Yes, once fairly anonymous Mazda has really come up trumps with the new Mazda3, arguably the best looking hatchback on the market in its class. Add in surprisingly good driving pedigree and there you have what the Japanese manufacturer calls the art of Kodo – the ‘soul of motion’. If that sounds fanciful to western ears, perhaps we should wise up and be more open minded. After all, the Mazda3 seems to work on all levels. It’s no exaggeration to say the
Alan Candy’s
AltomobilES Mazda3’s sculpture is fabulous. In side profile, in particular, it flows with a smooth, powerful dynamism that sets it apart. From the sharply defined dramatic shield-shaped grille through to the tiny, smoked glass privacy windows and on to the curvy tail, the car is perfectly proportioned - sporty, muscular. It’s just as spectacular and classy inside. Lush, padded surfaces are tactile on dashboard and doors, offset by a subtle mix of matt and gloss silver touches on door pulls and other brightwork; sumptuous seats are expensive
Mazda3 looking in stippled black leather; everything is where you expect to find it. Just like its stablemate MX-5 sports car, the Mazda3’s stubby handbrake sits at the driver’s left thigh, perfectly placed. But Mazda haven’t been afraid to embrace the future while nodding toward tradition. The test car’s primary dials focus mainly on the rev counter, which dominates, but there is both a head-up digital speedo display on the front screen, plus another, smaller visual in the corner of the tachometer. The 3 model is also the first Mazda to offer internet connection
through your smartphone, giving access to internet radio, Facebook and Twitter. That’s where my interest fades a little - a generation thing. Any car where I can’t find the AM tuner waveband pretty quickly is an irritation. Two of us searched for 10 minutes, scrolling through computer menus to no avail. It isn’t my idea of fun to wade through a booklet with eight pages of explanatory ‘Multimedia Commander’ info and a similar number revealing the wonders of the navigation system. But then my information needs aren’t in line
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A tradition of dignity, respect & choice 68
Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
l Column: Jonathan Vernon-Smith
Consumer Affairs
Mazda3
Award-winning BBC Three Counties presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith extends his Consumer Hour to report for Vale Life Magazine on consumer issues that could effect you...
with the next generation’s, so I hold my hand up there. Over 30 years of testing cars hasn’t dulled my enjoyment of driving, though, and the Mazda3 is up there with the best in terms of involvement and accuracy. This is a car to pilot with precision - it’s quietly sporty in a refined way, never raucous, all smoothly delivered. If there’s a minus mark, it’s that the turning circle is a little clumsy, other than that all is sweetness and light. The test car’s six-speed auto box delivered the goods seamlessly, leaving me the pleasure of sitting
back and driving. Just for the record, the 3’s standard boot space is excellent, with full, unobstructed width and rear seats which quickly convert to create an almost flat load floor. Desirable, classy and practical, too. Kodo at its best.. Factfile: Mazda3 2.0 120PS SE Nav Auto, £18,795 (prices start at £16,695). Six-speed auto transmission. Economy: 55.3mpg overall. CO2: 119g/km. 0-60mph in 8.9 secs.
Telephone:
01844 353388
40 Oakley Road, Chinnor, Oxfordshire, OX394ES (to rear of Claremont Automatics) Email: johnnixey@btconnect.com
Telephone: 01844 353388 l Bosch Car Service Centre l MOTs including Class VII (3.5 tonnes) l Servicing, repairs, tyres, exhausts and air
conditioning for cars and light commercials l Diagnostics: we have the most up to date work
shops and equipment in the area
l High ceilings and long ramps enable us to service
long wheelbase vans, campers and trucks
S
adly over the years I have dealt with far too many cases of consumers who have employed the services of a rogue tradesman and have paid a heavy price for their mistake. But how do you find a good tradesman to carry out work in your home or garden? Here are my top tips: NEVER employ the services of someone who knocks at your door offering their services. If a builder, roofer or plumber has time to cold call people, then they’re obviously not very busy. Why are they not very busy? BECAUSE THEY’RE PROBABLY NOT VERY GOOD! A good tradesman will be busy with work for weeks in advance. I am always similarly sceptical of anybody who tells you on the phone they can do a job for you that day. Always ask your friends and neighbours if they can recommend a good tradesman when you decide you need some work doing. It may sound simple, but the best way I have always found to employ the services of someone good, is to use your trusted contacts. Chances are if they did a good job for your best friend or next door neighbour, they’ll do a good job for you too. Make sure you always get at least three quotes from different people before you decide who to use. Don’t necessarily use the cheapest, but at least if you have a range of quotes you can ensure that you are not overpaying for work to be undertaken. I generally go for the quote in the middle as long as I have a good feeling about the tradesman and feel I can
communicate effectively with him/her. Always ask for references (particularly when you’re using someone to carry out a large job). Don’t be afraid to make contact with their previous customers and ask if you can go and look at the job they did. Ask them if they had any problems and what the tradesman/ company was like at resolving those problems. It is very important that you agree a method of payment before work begins. I personally do not pay for work until it has been completed. If the builder/ electrician/plumber needs to buy parts etc for the job, then I am happy to pay for that on the basis of a receipt, however I insist on paying for labour costs on completion of the job. When you’re dealing with a large job (e.g. an extension), then I would agree a payment plan in writing. However, you should always ensure a large enough final payment is retained to act as an incentive for the job to be completed to your satisfaction. Finally, NEVER agree work without a written quote. Verbal contracts and quotations are of course legally binding, but trying to prove what was agreed weeks down the line is normally a nightmare. Of course, as always if you follow my advice, but still come unstuck and find yourself dealing with a cowboy, then remember you can always call my consumer programme on: 01582 637450. l Listen to The JVS Show weekday mornings from 9am on BBC Three Counties Radio: www.bbc.co.uk/ threecountiesradio Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
69 3
l Column: On
The Road
Take your SEATs SEAT Leon ST FR
T
here’s a new arrival in the SEAT Leon household, and the new baby is the biggest yet to pop out of the Martorell mothership in Barcelona. The ST effectively completes the family, alongside the five door hatchback and three door SC variants, and lives up to its billing as one of SEAT’s most significant models ever. New from the ground up, it follows its already extremely successful predecessors by combining what many judge to be the best looks in the segment with great driving dynamics, great value and exceptional quality. Its arrival gives the Leon a broader appeal and thus is expected to reach a much wider customer base. Leon is certainly a car that has the credentials to set the tone for a successful future for SEAT and showcases a new level in quality for
Rob Auchterlonie
ON The Road SEAT interiors. Soft touch plastics, an exemplary fit and finish and good visibility thanks to thinner A pillars than the norm, make the drivers seat a nice place to be. And because Jose and his team of engineers have been so closely involved in the development of the VW Group MQB platform on which the Leon is based, it’s helped to give it a well balanced feel and greater stability out on the road, Continued on page 72
SEAT Leon ST FR
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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T ired of Main D ea ler Pri ces ? We can service your car and m aint ain your warranty by using genuin e par ts and oil and working to your m anufacturer’s guidelin es. l l l l l l
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ProTechCars Ltd, Unit 20 Fleet Marston Farm, Fleet Marston, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP18 0PZ Tel: 01296 655799 / Mobile: 07774 604149 Email: service@protechcars.com Website: www.protechcars.com Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Continued from page 71 which is good because the UK is the biggest export market for Leon and if any roads are going to show up serious imperfections in the way a car is set up, it’s ours. Thankfully the Spanish newcomer passes the test. Estate cars of old used to be utilitarian things without much on the way of creature comforts or usable extras. Not the case in a 2014 SEAT, where you’ll find seats that fold flat, an
illuminated boot with cargo rings, a 12v power supply, a tonneau cover to hide your goods and chattels from prying eyes, and a double boot floor for added security and where the space saver wheel sits. Uber-neat ambient lighting in the door cappings - red here gives the interior a warm and cosy feel on a dark evening, and sits
In 2.0 TDI 150ps guise, as sampled here, you’ve got a car that comes in at under the 120g/ km CO2 mark so only cost 30 quid a year to tax, has a claimed fuel return of 65.7mpg yet will get to 62mph in under nine seconds and hit, if allowed, 131mph. All in a stylish and adaptable package. Sounds like the best of both worlds, doesn’t it?
nicely with the red accent of the instrumentation and switchgear. White numerals on black dials for the main dials makes for a good clear view of what you want to know. And there’s an easy to use central touch screen which brings the necessary buttons at each corner into view as your finger nears the screen. They’re not visible otherwise, so you get a full view of the map most of the time.
FASTFACTS: SEAT Leon ST FR 2.0 TDI £23,640, 1968cc four cylinder turbo diesel, 150ps, 320Nm 6 speed DSG auto box fuel: Urban 53.3 Extra urban 72.4 Combined 65.7 Three year 60,000 mile warranty.
SEAT Leon ST FR
Tel: 01844 274652
Email: info@risboroughservicecentre.co.uk
www.risboroughservicecentre.co.uk Chinnor Road, Bledlow, Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 9PH
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All cars welcome, especially Evos, Mitsubishi and Nissan GTRs! Call Chris for more details: 01296 658257
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www.3bhire.co.uk Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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Andrews of Thame Vale Life : Mar/Apr 2014
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Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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AA Window Repairs
FOR ALL YOUR DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS
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FREE QUOTES & OAP DISCOUNTS Call our repairs manager direct for an appointment.
07432679405 ANYTIME
www.aawindowrepairs.co.uk
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YOU NEED YOUR VEHICLE SIGNWRITTEN 01442 826846 Unit 6 The Old Silk Mill, Brook Street, Tring, Herts Vale Life : Jun/Jul 2014
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DISPLAY We are a family run business that has designed, supplied and
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Bring along your measurements for a FREE kitchen or bathroom design.
www.watermark.gb.com
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 10am-4pm Sunday-Closed