Vale Life
art w music w people w places w homes w gardens w theatre w food w fashion w Beauty w health w travel w
Your free magazine for Aylesbury, Thame and the surrounding area
Take me home
FREE MAGAZINE
Dec 10/Jan 11
Inside: Match fit
Thame’s perfect trainer
Ringing the changes
Back with a clang in Aston Clinton
Roaring success
Risborough’s big cats
Wrapper’s delight, Umberto’s winter warmer,
competitions, what’s on and much more...
w Lemmy DVD w Meal for four at the Bell w Quest games w Queen Book w
For free advice or quotation
call 01296 468514
CSCS REGISTERED
For free advice or quotation
call 01296 468514
CSCS REGISTERED
Pest Prevention v Proofing Specialist v Specialist Cleaning Urban Bird Control v Wildlife Management v Invasive Weed Management
Kingfisher Exchange, Kingfisher House, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP21 7AY Kingfisher Exchange, Kingfisher House, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP21 7AY T. 01296 468514 ersoffice@btinternet.com www.ersenvironmental.co.uk T. 01296 468514 ersoffice@btinternet.com www.ersenvironmental.co.uk
�: A�� y�
ant • Pregn r giving birth afte e on m o h C-Secti ntly from a • Rece vering perfect e th r • Reco ing fo • Look ity gift matern
�i�: M�m��’� M
ort term • Provides sh rvices to help household se h those busy you get throug giving birth er aft months with a maid u yo s • Provide experience al on rs who has pe e who is tim ial ec of this sp are able to u yo re su keen to en ur baby yo joy en d relax an
D� y� � �e�
����: • Help with th e hous chores ehold : food housew ork, ho shopping, overing , laund and iro ry ning? • Help with yo u r new b or olde a by r sib • An ex tra pair lings? of unders tands th hands that e you ma y be ex pressures perienc ing?
“A� �x�r� p��� � h�nd� �ha� �n��rst�n�”
F�� m��� �nf��ma�i�� �� ��� ����i�e� �� c�� �r��i�� , ��ea�� c�ntac� u� �� 0845 463 �075 �� �i� ��� ��b�i�� w��.��m�y�m�i� .c�.��
’ notley abbey, nr. thame
NOTLEY ABBEY the ultimate, exclusive wedding experience
One of the five exclusive and romantic venues owned and run by Bijou Weddings, Notley Abbey is a medieval masterpiece. Experience this exquisite country house that is entirely yours for your whole day. The Bijou team’s meticulous attention to detail and discreet service perfectly complement Notley Abbey’s enchanting atmosphere and luxurious accommodation, and will make the most important day of your life flow seamlessly – from start to finish. Notley Abbey – exclusively elegant.
Tel: 0845 130 9966 Email: yourday@bijouwedddings.co.uk www.bijouweddings.co.uk
WEddiNgs château du bijou, france
botleys mansion nr. chertsey
cain manor nr. farnham
silchester house nr. reading
Chiltern Fireplaces 10% off on production of this ad! l Over 70 fireplaces and fires on display l Gas and solid fuel fires and stoves l Electric fires, stoves and suites l No Chimney? ...No problem!
Professional bookbinding by Malcolm Kew British Museum trained craftsman High quality leather binding, gold tooling, paperback binding, thesis binding, short run biographies, library binding, journal or magazine binding, repairs and restoration. 61A North Street, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3BH (opposite Thame Library) Tel: 01844 212035. Mob: 07859 880087 Email: malcolmkew@mac.com www.kewbookbinding.co.uk
Fan powered or balanced flue fires l Chiltern Fireplaces will install your fire if required, or supply only if preferred. l HETAS registered, GAS SAFE registered 47 Frogmore Street, Tring, Herts. HP23 5AU Tel: 01442 822595 Website: www.chiltern-fireplaces.co.uk Email: chilternfp@hotmail.co.uk Open: Tuesday-Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Open Monday to Saturday
Quality Plastering and Ceilings Perfect results every time John Wiggins & Son Plastering Services Ceilings, coving, repairs, insurance work
Same day, or next day quotation Call: 01296 612074 Mobile: 07905 833190 Email: adam_wiggins@tiscali.co.uk Website: www.johnwiggins.co.uk 72 Worlds End Lane, Weston Turville, Aylesbury
This Christmas get more for your money! CeX buy, sell and exchange technology and entertainment products including DVDs, mobile phones, consoles, video games, computers, Blu Ray movies, digital electronics, CDs, laptops, cameras, iphones, blackberrys, ipods, xbox, ipad, playstation...
Opening HOurs Mon: 9:30-18:00 Tue: 9:30-18:00 Wed: 9:30-18:00 Thu: 9:30-18:00 Fri: 9:30-18:00 Sat: 9:00-18:00 Sun: 11:00-17:00 Unit 1, Crown Buildings, High Street, Aylesbury We’re at the top of the High Street Website: www.webuy.com
Great rates Great results To advertise in Vale Life Magazine Call Charlie on 07702 006218
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Spread the word across The Vale: see: www.vale-life.co.uk for details
Match fit
22
Pedal power
22 Buon appetito
Best days!
23
One Hungry Man: Matt Brown
10 Man for all seasons
24
Ringing the changes
26
Time to celebrate
28
Thrills and Chills
6 7 8
12
How to find your perfect personal trainer Fern Britton mounts up for Iain Rennie Can school really be this much fun!? You’ll dig Rodney’s Landmark designs
Pure Genie-us
Rob’s robot and the magic of stone
14 Keeping Mobile 15 16 17 18
When a short move is a big step
Come rain or shine
Frozen pipes and frosty mornings Umberto’s winter warmer
And all because of Minty...
The Bell is back wih a clang 30 years of pure quality The only way is down for sporty ed!
Roaring success
30 Feeling lucky?
Wrapper’s delight!
31
Let’s dance
Prepared to party
32
What’s on?
Small Town Girl: Penny Harper
33
What’s on?
34
Millar’s world
Don’t be afraid of the big cats Will you make a pretty parcel? Posh frocks for that festive glow
Hunkering down with our home girl
20 Long live the king!
The royal presence restored
Win, win, win with our fun competitions Could you be a Jive bunny? The Russians are coming! It’s panto-time
Talented types and the return of Jedward
Season’s greetings!
yet to enjoy our Christmas party night at The James Figg with Planet Funk. Tickets are selling well though, so I know it’s going to be a lively night.
I’ve just had my first turkey dinner of the season at Waddesdon Manor. This was at one of their Christmas party nights. It was an enjoyable dinner and disco, in particularly fine company and with the added magic of snow falling outside the delightful dairy function rooms. Fun, frolics and cash for the National Trust too, now that’s what I call Christmas spirit! Many thanks to all our readers and sponsors - we wish you all the best for 2011. Keep using your local independents, especially the ones that advertise in Vale Life - they are what makes the Vale such a vibrant an interesting place to live. Enjoy the read. Best wishes
for four at The Bell, Aston Clinton, A Lemmy DVD, a Quest luxury boardgame, or a Queen book! Last issue’s prizewinners were: Bates & Lambourne chair: Andrew Rees, Brill Meal at The Greek Taverna:
Joanna Squires, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury. Waitrose Hamper: Sarah East, Dinton Vale Ale: Sonia Timberlake, Chearsley. Lush Stuff: Mrs D. Wilkins, Thame. Stewed cookbook: Douglas Joss, Wendover; Julia Clarke, Aylesbury; Beryl Sennett, Chinnor.
M
erry Christmas everybody! I feel it is safe to say that now. I’ve always tried not to think about Christmas until at least the first of December, but having to work a few weeks ahead in the crazy world of magazines has meant embracing the seasonal spirit rather earlier this year. Our Christmas hamper competition for a bumper bag of goodies from Waitrose in Thame proved very popular last edition and the chance to win a £50 meal voucher for Aylesbury’s Greek Taverna also went down well. Writing this in early December we have
C
ongratulations to the following Nov/Dec competition winners! Hopefully your prizes will have arrived by now, 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: a meal
Editor on the piste again - a rare break, testing the slopes of Val d’Isere, see page 28.
Charlie
Front cover picture: St Mary’s Church, Thame 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 and 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 : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
5
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
If you have fitness goals, you don’t have to join the gym - a new company will team you with your perfect personal trainer...
I
6
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
’ve trained a client for a walk up Machu Picchu, while another’s goal was to be able to stand up from her chair without using her arms,” says professional fitness expert Neil Hussey. “I’ve a female client who had a partial knee replacement and texted me six months later to say she was at Everest Base Camp! But my strangest enquiry has to be from someone who wanted to do the Berlin marathon on roller skates!” Neil 28, now lives in Thame with his wife Morag and their son Charlie, 3. He grew up in Frieth near Marlow and with sporty parents (his dad had trials for Arsenal and Chelsea) spent weekends outside playing football or riding his bike. He enjoyed sports at school and did PE for GCSE and A levels. Aiming to be an accountant he studied Sports Science and Business Studies at Canterbury University, but three years on accounting was losing its appeal and when Neil graduated in 2003 he got himself straight on to a Personal Trainer diploma course with Premier Training, whose qualifications are recognised all over the world. A year later in Jan 2004 he started his own personal training business: “I set up some circuit training classes,” says Neil, “and put out leaflets around the area. It built slowly - I was really excited when I got two training classes booked in for the same day - people I didn’t even know! laughs Neil, “it seemed like things were taking off!” Neil got busier and began employing other trainers. He pondered the best way to grow his business and began throwing ideas around with one of his clients, Mark Wilkie, a designer and expert in corporate design and branding: “We came up with Profitme, a service to match appropriate trainers with clients,” says Neil. Mark is now a partner in the business alongside website designer
Gareth Thomson, who runs the company’s impressive website. “We match not just by location, but by what the client wants to achieve and what they feel comfortable with. An older person looking to lose weight might prefer to be matched with a different trainer to someone in their 20s training for a marathon,” explains Neil. “Gender, age, qualifications; is it for a specific event - like a 10k run? Is there an injury issue? Is it general toning and fitness, ante or post natal? Different trainers may have expertise, or experience in different areas. “We also have our nutritionist, Chloe, who will analyse a client’s diet and whether it is right for what they are hoping to achieve. “Prospective clients post requirements on our website and in a few days we give them a choice of at least three trainers who suit their criteria. A client matched to the right trainer has a better chance of achieving their goals. “There’s no membership fees and you don’t pay for any equipment, the trainer brings everything with them. You only pay for the training you have, around £25 to £35 per hour, whereas with gym membership you pay whether you go or not! “All our trainers are at least Level Three on the Register of Exercise Professionals, they are advanced personal trainers and adhere to a strict code of conduct. They have full public liability insurance, are fully qualified and are up to date on the latest fitness techniques. They are also pleasant and personable.” “Spacewise you only need about 6ft2,” says Neil. “Equipment these days is very compact and portable and of course there’s always the great outdoors if the weather is OK!” Profitme can be read as ‘Pro-fit me’ as in ‘we professionally fit you with the right trainer’ or ‘Profit me’ as in ‘you invest in and profit from yourself by becoming fitter’. “Other forms of investment aren’t showing much of a return at the moment,” says Neil, “so why not invest in yourself ?!” l Profitme Ltd, 24 Vane Road, Thame, Oxon. OX9 3WF. Telephone: 07590 676 205 Email: enquiries@profitme.co.uk Website: www.profitme.co.uk Follow Profitme on Facebook (proFITme-PersonalTraining) for exclusive news and offers or subscribe to their newsletter via their website.
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Fern Britton teams up with with Rennie Bear to launch the Chilterns Cycle Challenge
“
Cycling fan Fern Britton talks to Vale Life about life, challenges and Iain Rennie...
I
’ve always liked cycling;” says TV presenter Fern Britton, which is just as well considering the plucky broadcaster will be saddling up for Iain Rennie’s Chilterns Cycle Challenge on March 27th. “I cycled in Chalfont St Giles as a youngster and in my mid-40s I rediscovered the sport when I bought a bike for my husband Phil,” she says. “He’s more of IR_CCC_ad_90 x 128.pdf a runner, so I kept pinching his
bike to get my cycling fix! “I started with just one or two mile training rides and gradually increased my mileage. I remember my first charity cycle: it was 15 miles for the British Heart Foundation. I was really nervous! Then before I knew it I was up to 60 miles and still going strong! Now I’ll probably cycle 10 to 15 miles three times a week and 70 miles over the weekend. 23/11/10 18:13:24 “I do one big bike ride abroad
ay W e i n n e R Ride the C
10, 35, 75 mile routes – from family fun to the ultimate Iain Rennie Cycle Challenge
Sunday 27th March 2011
M
Y
CM
Starts Kingsbury Square, Aylesbury
MY
www.rennieway.org
CY
01442 890222
CMY
K
supported by Fern Britton
Entry, adult – £15.00 child (5 to16) – £7.50 under 5’s free
every year – riding 120km a day on average.” Fern has found cycling a fun pastime she can enjoy with her children: “It’s a great family activity,” she says. “I cycled around the Isle of Wight with my boys when they were 15 – and I hope my daughter might accompany me on my charity rides abroad when she’s 18. Fern says her idea of a ride to fundraise for The Iain Rennie Hospice at Home was enthusiastically received, all it needed was a suitable title: “It was through my love of cycling that we discussed a potential new event for the Iain Rennie fundraising calendar. I think the team toyed with ‘Bike Ride of Britton’ before opting for the Chilterns Cycle Challenge – with the strapline ‘ride the Rennie Way’ to reflect the Aylesbury cycle ways that part of the routes will follow!” The Chilterns Cycle Challenge offers three different routes, all starting from Kingsbury Square, Aylesbury: l The 10-mile route will take in a mixture of town and country surrounding Aylesbury. l The 35-mile ride takes cyclists out to Kimble, Longwick and as far as Bledlow Ridge, then back through the Hampdens and Butlers Cross. l The ultimate 75-mile challenge roughly follows the boundary of the current Iain Rennie nursing catchment: 75-mile participants follow the same route out to Bledlow, then carry on through Radnage, Stokenchurch, Ibstone and Turville before
heading east towards Holmer Green, Amersham and Latimer, then climbing round Chesham and north to Berkhamsted and Wigginton, before heading home through Wendover and Butlers Cross. “I’m delighted to be involved,” says Fern “and I’m planning to cycle the 10-mile or 35-mile route, so please come and join me! I’m not competitive; I just enjoy the view and the feel-good factor. I’d be delighted to chat or to have my picture taken with anyone during the cycle – and I’ll see you at the end when I’m handing out the medals!” The energetic 53 year old thinks it important to exercise: “I feel as fit now as I did aged 25,” says Fern. “I do think we all have a responsibility to try and look after ourselves and do what we can to reduce the risk of lifethreatening illness. “I’m very happy to be involved with IRHH; I like the charity’s ethos and the passion of the people involved.” “I’m a firm believer in supporting local charities; they’re right on your doorstep and they could be helping your neighbour. There’s truth in the saying that ‘charity begins at home’.” “I’m very grateful my family has not had to use the service they provide. A friend of mine sadly has had experience of the Iain Rennie nursing service – and he called it a lifeline.” l To register for the challenge call 01442 890222, email fundraising@irhh.org or visit www.rennieway.com Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
7
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Two miles east of Winslow, to the north of Aylesbury, a friendly, family-run, independent school has been celebrating its 90th year. The establishment prepares pupils for life in our fast-moving modern world while ensuring their time at Swanbourne really is ‘the best days of their lives’...
S
wanbourne House school boasts a rich history. The school celebrated its 90th anniversary this year and Swanbourne House itself dates back to the 18th Century. Originally built by Thomas Fremantle in 1798, Swanbourne House is now owned by the Fremantle family trust. The family, originally from Aston Abbotts, had strong naval connections - Thomas Fremantle sailed in the fleet with Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar. In 1920, Lionel and Margaret Evans started the school at Swanbourne House with 43 boys - the Junior House from Bradfield College, near Reading. The link between Swanbourne and Bradfield remained strong throughout the 20s and boys went on to many of the leading public schools as well as to the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. In the early years all classes were held in the Mansion House. Now there are six teaching areas: the Junior School, the Fremantle Hall of Technology, the Evans Block, the Walker Building, the Pre-Prep and Home Farm Day Nursery. Dress code for the first 30 years was Norfolk Jackets and knee breeches during the week and Eton suits on Sundays. There were rarely more than two cars on site and boarders travelled by train to and from school; their trunks and playboxes brought up from Swanbourne station on a horse-drawn carrier’s cart. Things are rather different today! Stephen and Julie Goodhart were appointed as Joint Heads in 1996 and the school is a thriving co-educational boarding and day school, providing a continuous education for children aged 3 - 13. The heads see the real traditions and
8
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Swanbourne House and joint heads Stephen and Julie Goodhart
strengths of Swanbourne as being: ‘family style, academic success, putting children at the heart, pastoral care, boarding, listening to children and in recent years, multi sport and multi activities, plus high quality drama productions and music with a chance for everyone to get on stage.’ “We are also a Christian school, welcoming pupils of all faiths,” says Stephen. “The breadth at Swanbourne led a consultant from Gabbitas to describe us as, ‘A school you would just die for!’ “In the last decade, Swanbourne has had a truly outstanding record and reputation for pastoral care. It matters how large the class is; we never start the year with more than seventeen children in our Prep School classes
and fifteen in our Pre-Prep. This helps the form tutor to know each child. It matters whether or not staff can stand by pupils and counsel them through their ups and downs in life and whether or not the school carries out its welfare policies.” In addition to the main academic work, the school teaches pupils how to work in groups and how to revise. There is also leadership training, international education, environmental education and opportunities for weekends of outdoor pursuits, camping or boarding. Happiness and growing self-confidence are considered the keys to a child’s success and the school is strong on pastoral care and preparing pupils for their respective senior schools. Pupils are not forced to grow up too soon though and amid the skills and learning, time is taken to enjoy the everyday fun and fiesta of school life. Individual talents are recognised and a broad education delivered, which combined with relationships, activities and Christian teaching, prepares the children for their future in a fast moving and challenging world. Sport is an important part of school life at
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Swanbourne School factfile:
Age range: 3 - 13 Day pupils: 243 boys and 197 girls Annual day fees: £3,600 - £13,620 Weekly boarding pupils: 15 boys and 16 girls Annual weekly boarding fees: £17,460 Full boarding pupils: 9 boys and 11 girls Annual full boarding fees: £17,460 School offers flexi-boarding Total Pupils: 262 boys and 214 girls Staff numbers: 53 full time and 28 part time Method of entry: Apply to school. This is a non-selective school. Assessment, entry test or exam, interview. Accreditations and affiliations: BSA, IAPS, AGBIS Religious affiliation: Church of England Teaching languages: English
Swanbourne. Boys play rugby, soccer, cricket and some hockey while girls play netball, hockey and rounders: athletics is also a major summer sport. Year-round tennis coaching is available for children from the age of five years and the new indoor swimming pool is proving very popular. Squash, dance, table tennis, basketball and cross-country are also offered. Coaching is offered for golf, judo, ballet, clay pigeon shooting and horse riding and there are opportunities for individual sports like sailing, shooting and golf, as well as team sports. The school has its own six-hole golf course and a squash court. Art is well catered for too with a specialist Art Room, Design Technology Room, Kiln and Engineering Workshop with mig and arc welding gear and equipment for using enamel and chrome. At present 87.5% of the pupils at Swanbourne learn a musical instrument - from the violin to harp, drums and guitar. There are weekly rehearsals for four choirs, woodwind, brass, string and percussion groups as well as a termly concert. All prep school pupils are welcome to join in and are given the opportu-
nity to express themselves through the active and vibrant music department. The school has a thriving, happy boarding house. Children can be full or weekly boarders and there is the opportunity for pupils to enjoy bed and breakfast, or sleep-overs. It is ideal for weekly boarding from a London or Aylesbury Vale base. Weekends operate in family style, with traditional Sunday lunch, trips to the cinema, swimming, relaxing in the grounds or the tennis courts, picnics on the lawn and camping opportunities. For parents with younger children there is a purpose built nursery and excellent Pre-Prep a state-of-the-art day care centre, Home Farm, being the best facility in Buckinghamshire, according to parents.
“We had the 3rd Home Farm birthday party last term,” says Julie “and were told, ‘Home Farm is the best experience for little children in the County’ and ‘pupils are miles ahead when they start school’.” Whether it is Early Years, Nursery, or right through to thirteen years, if you are thinking about Independent Education for boys or girls, an education which your children will truly look back on as ‘the best days of my life’, then a visit to Swanbourne House School could be well worthwhile: “You can be assured of a warm welcome,” says Julie. l Swanbourne School, Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0HZ Tel: 01296 720264 Fax: 01296 728089 Email via website: www.swanbourne.org
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
9
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
When over 100 job enquiries failed to bear fruit Rodney Lovell simply rolled up his sleeves and grew his own company...
I
f you’ve ever been to Haddenham and Thame Parkway station you might have noticed an interesting area of raised sleeper beds and benches by the front entrance. This former piece of rough grass in front of the ticket office was transformed in January 2007 by Landmark Garden Design and Construction into a stylish commuter seating area. Landmark is owned and run by 27-year-old Rodney Lovell, a local lad who
Above, outside Haddenham station. Below, one of Rodneys design sketches
10
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
started the business from his parents’ house back in 2005. Rodney grew up in Chilton, near Long Crendon. His father is a practical chap, a mechanical engineer by profession, who is not afraid of a bit of DIY, be it on the house, garden or car and Rodney followed in his footsteps, happy to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty. Rodney attended Long Crendon School and then Lord Williams’s in Thame and developed an interest in design After taking A Levels in Design Technology, Art and Geography, he took a year out and tried a variety of jobs including stints working for various local landscape gardeners and a spell helping his dad renovate a house in France. He then took up his place studying architecture and landscape architecture at Sheffield University, potentially a seven-yearcourse, but didn’t enjoy it much and left after six months. “After A levels I decided to take a break from academia and have a year out,” says Rodney. “By chance I got a job with Yew Design, an Ickford based firm of landscapers who do a lot of garden maintenance. I enjoyed it, but after working for a couple of other local landscaping firms, I realised I’d like to be able to utilise my design skills more.” After quitting university Rodney worked for a variety of landscaping firms and then in 2004 took a course leading to a Diploma in Garden Design at the Pickard School of Garden Design in London: “It was a really good course,” says Rodney, “it focused on how to set up on your own, which was ideal for me. I
Rodney Lovell pointing paving at a recent Landmark garden redesign in Lacey Green was the youngest there though, it was mostly older people training for a career change! “When I first left college I sent out about a hundred CVs looking for work as a garden designer in London. I heard very little back and so after about five months I started doing some jobs locally for friends of the family. One job lead to another, and I began to think I might have the makings of a business on my hands.” It was all very local, mostly around Long Crendon and Thame, but the jobs kept coming in and Rodney officially started Landmark in January 2006. “I enjoyed being able to combine my design skills and construction skills,” says Rodney, “I felt in many ways it was similar to architecture, but that would have taken seven years to study - I’d only just have finished University now and be looking for a job. As it is I’ve got a firm that’s been established for five years already! “It’s such a broad job, there’s a
Decking and water feature
bit of sales and client liason, you meet different people, I really enjoy it. I get to be creative, but also have to do practical calculations and costings, and organise the workforce, supplies and equipment. It’s nice to be able to stand back and see the finished product too. There’s real job satisfaction. “I’ve a small team now - Chris, Simon and myself, plus a pool of specialist contractors I may call in depending on the job. “We’ve been quite stretched this year though, so I’ll be looking to take on some more staff in the new year. “Chris is actually a qualified plumber, which can be handy. He’s been with me two years now and can turn his hand to most things. “We differ slightly from other landscapers in that as the designer I’m on site looking after the job, whereas in many cases the designer
will pass his plans to a contractor to interpret which doesn’t always work as well. I’m always happy to get my hands dirty when required!” “We do anything really from replacing fence panels, or building a back door step, to a complete garden redesign with paving, turfing, excavations, retaining walls and planting, driveways, patios, decking, water features, ponds, whatever is required really. “I’m also looking to offer a maintenance package, so that when we have created the perfect garden we can keep it looking good for the owner. “When it comes to planting I work with a lady called Vanessa Doyle who is from Chearsley and runs her own business growing and supplying plants. I’ve learnt a lot from her, she’s a real expert, very knowledgable and has some great ideas which really bring my designs alive. She can get some great deals on plants too which helps keep costs down. “I quoted my first job in December 2005 and it’s been an interesting few years. I’ve sourced some good local suppliers, some really helpful companies who are great to do business with. A.W. Mobbs in Wheatley is a friendly family business supplying paving and Country Supplies in Hughendon Valley are good too. Stoneworld at Milton have some great products and excellent displays while
Helpful Hirings at Towersey is the place for machinery and equipment.” When asked about the current trends in garden design, Rodney says nothing much has changed over the last five years: “Some people love decking and some people hate it,” he laughs, “Some want patios and some don’t! Indian Sandstone is quite popular for paving at the moment, it’s real stone and it does look lovely, although you can get some impressive manmade paving too. Chinnor Turf and Paving make their own and it can look really good in the right location.” When asked if he has been inspired by any of the recent spate of TV gardening experts, Rodney says he’s studied the classic designers and different styles of design and has been more influenced by those in developing his own style: “I like contemporary, modern designs myself, we do a lot of curves and circles” he says, “but I’m usually designing to a client’s specifications, so it’s not about what I like, although it’s always nice to find that people do like my ideas!” l Landmark Garden Design and Construction, 2 Ash Tree Cottages, Thame Road, Chilton, Buckinghamshire HP18 9LJ Tel: 01844 208401 Mobile: 07732 329118 Email: info@landmarkgardendesign.com Website: www.landmarkgardendesign.com
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
11
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
At this time of year there’s often talk of genies, but at Stoneworld’s site in Great Milton they’re conjuring works of art from lumps of rock and there’s not a magic lamp in sight...
The Genie in action cutting a rugby ball Steve Newbury shape from a lump of red travertine. Left, smaller pieces being polished
I
t took me over six months to make a decision on buying the Stone Genie,” says Rob Parker. The Stoneworld chief was at a show in Milan when he saw the robot cutter in action and was blown away by its potential: “It was more than we needed,” he says “and very expensive, but the possibilities are fascinating. We bought one eventually along with a scanner and now we can scan in objects, or people, and then cut those shapes from stone. “We’ve got a rotating table too, the only one in the country at the moment, so the stone can be turned while the Genie cuts. It’s all computer controlled. Steve Newbury who runs our Milton site is in charge and he’s had to learn how to operate some very tricky software.” In action the Stone Genie resembles one of those car assembly plant robots, eerily darting backwards and forwards with its spindly arm as if possessing a mind of its own. In reality of course there’s a lot of human ingenuity pulling the strings. “We’ve already worked on some very interesting projects,” says Rob. “We cut a huge 3m2 coat of arms for the owner of Ryanair. The stone was 600mm deep and we carved 400mm into it. It looks amazing. “We worked with artist and sculptor Juliet Haysom last year on a sculpture project for
Steve controls the Genie’s movements
Left: marble monolith, scan of head for bust and crest of arms Royal Terrace Gardens, Torquay,” says Steve. “Juliet had three acid-etched Devon limestone monoliths and wanted us to produce three identically-carved Carrara marble monoliths to go with them. “We had to make models of the monoliths and then scan them to give a template for the cutter. It took about 1,000 scans to give us all the angles. “We’ve cut some replacement architectural features for old buildings including Thame Park, sculpted a pair of birds for some gateposts at Chipping Norton and we’ve just installed a public art piece for sculptor David Worthington outside Henderson Global Investors’ office in Covent Garden. For that we carved a huge nine ton lump of
red Iranian travertine into a rugby ball shape with five smaller eliptical lumps around it. It took a couple of months work to complete though, including a fair bit of hand finishing and polishing.” “In Italy there’s quite a stone art movement,” says Rob. “They even cut the stone really thin and shine lights through it. It looks amazing. I’d like to get into that too - but maybe not quite yet,” he adds spotting Steve’s worried frown! l Stoneworld, Views Farm, Windmill Hill, Great Milton, Oxfordshire, OX44 7NW Tel: 01844 279274. Stoneworld, 43A Upper High Street, Thame, OX9 2DW. Tel: 01844 279307. Web: www.stoneworld.co.uk
Installed at Covent Garden
10 12
Vale Life : Nov/Dec Dec 20102010 / Jan 2011
Cutting the travertine
Curved stone drain edging for pool
Is solar power a bright investment? A local company certainly thinks so...
To find out how you could earn a tax-free return of over 10% from Solar PV, speak to the local solar specialists, Ardenham Energy, on 01296 331 362, or email: info@ardenhamenergy.co.uk An average sized solar electric (PV) system would cost about £12,500 to install, but tariffs introduced earlier this year should give you a return of at least £25,000. Sound too good to be true? Are you wondering where the catch is? Well, according to The Guardian’s consumer issues columnist, Miles Brignall, there isn’t one. “If the government offered to pay you £1,000 a year for the next 25 years, in return for an up-front investment of £12,500, you’d snap it up in a second. Well, that’s pretty much the deal on offer …” The deal he is talking about is the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) that the government introduced in April of this year. Based on successful schemes that have been operating in Germany and other European countries for the past decade, the FiT will see domestic consumers paid a generous 41.3p for every unit of electricity they generate regardless of whether they use it themselves or export it back to the National Grid. They will receive an additional 3p a unit for everything they export. Add to this typical savings of over £200 a year on your electricity bill and you start to see the attraction. Since the launch of the Feed-In Tariff, there have been over 10,000 solar PV systems installed in the UK, including a number by companies offering
installations for free. They will install their panels on your roof and take all of the Feed-In Tariff income, while you benefit from the free electricity. This may sound a good deal, but customers are effectively giving away 25 years of index-linked, tax free income. With the market expanding quickly and new companies offering solar PV systems starting up every week, the Aylesbury area is fortunate that there is an experienced and well-established solar specialist on the doorstep. Aylesbury-based Ardenham Energy Ltd, were the first company in the UK to be certified under the mandatory Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
They are the local market leader in solar electricity systems, with over 50 installations in the neighbourhood to date. These include installations on residential properties, businesses, council offices and schools.
What is special about Ardenham Energy? We do not adopt hard-sell tactics or offer ‘special discounts’ if you sign up on the day. Rather, one of our qualified surveyors can arrange a visit to carry out a site survey at no cost. They will discuss your requirements with you and give you an obligation– free quote with a range of options for a system that can meet
Overstone School
Stoke Mandeville
Peartree
your needs and your budget. With a team of experienced engineers, installers and project managers we have a wealth of experience in designing and installing solar electric PV systems and have many successful installations and satisfied customers in the local area to prove it. Aylesbury resident Gerry Vece says “I chose Ardenham Energy because they gave me the best solution for my roof space but also they were competitively priced and they were based locally which was an important factor for me. “The installation was a little more complex as it was on two roofs, but it only took one day to install the system and it was generating electricity that very evening. I have to say, the team at Ardenham Energy has been very easy to deal with and have been very responsive whenever I contacted them.” Asked about the solar system pictured above that Ardenham Energy installed at Aylesbury Town Council, Project Officer Daniel Parslow said “… We have saved a massive 13.24t of C02 and generated 23.32 mWh of electricity, almost doubling our initial expectations. Ardenham were fantastic; helpful throughout and worked quickly. Because of their professional, yet friendly, approach we have worked with them on subsequent successful projects.”
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
When it comes to mobility equipment and useful items that help improve the quality of life for those with physical difficulties, Maureen Cole has a lifetime’s experience to draw on...
A
s a medical social worker based at Wycombe Hospital, Maureen Cole gained first hand knowledge of the mobility problems encountered by older people and the disabled. Liverpool-born but a High Wycombe resident since 1965, she moved to Buckinghamshire in the 60s after marrying another Liverpudlian, a music journalist working on Fleet Street. Maureen enjoyed helping people and studied to be a social worker. After qualifying she was offered a job based at Wycombe Hospital “We did our best for our clients,” she said, “but there is a limit to what can be provided by statutory services, which just does not fulfil the needs of older people and younger people with physical disabilities,” she said. Seeing there was a need to provide equipment, advice and guidance, Maureen – now the mother of four sons - decided to help fill the gap by launching a company to provide equipment and give advice and guidance gleaned from her 25 years at the sharp end of hospital based social work. She was still some years away from retirement though, so decided to create a family business, with her eventually at the helm. With her son Richard Walsh, she spent a year researching the market, attending trade exhibitions and talking to mobility suppliers outside the Thames Valley area. In 1997, Richard launched Independent Living Consultants (ILC) at a showroom in Downley, High Wycombe. It is currently a flourishing business which has built up an excellent reputation for service in the South Bucks area. When the time came for Maureen and her second husband David Cole to retire (he was working for British Rail) she was able to join
14
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
David and Maureen Cole in their new showroom at Woodway. Right Maureen’s son Chris ILC full time and offer a unique consultancy service to a wide range of clients, working with them to clarify and fulfil their mobility and personal care needs. The need was not confined to Wycombe and the surrounding area though and in 2005 Maureen decided to expand the business and offer similar services to clients in the north of the county and Oxfordshire from premises in Princes Risborough. The family aspect of the business continued. Youngest son Christopher Walsh is sales director of the new showroom. “With two shops, we can provide equipment and advice right across a catchment area from Maidenhead in the south to Aylesbury, Thame, Chinnor, Tring and Chesham in the north, east and west of our area,” says Maureen. The Princes Risborough business was in a cottage in the centre of Risborough and over its five year life had outgrown the premises. The company has now just moved to a large
showroom in Woodway, a mile from the town centre, a few hundred yards up the turning to Lacey Green. The business was built on helping clients to overcome their problems and this is still the core objective with every client. The new showroom has a vast range of products, all under cover, ranging from new and pre-owned mobility scooters, wheelchairs, wheeled walkers and zimmer frames to rise and recline posture chairs and stairlifts, bathing and toileting aids, a wide range of continence products and a host of small items designed to make life easier for older or disabled people. “We are proud that our wide product range plays a vital role in making people’s day to day lives that much easier,” says Maureen “it gives us all tremendous satisfaction.” l Independent Living Consultants Ltd, Woodway, Princes Risborough, Bucks. HP27 ONN. Tel: 01844 273050. Website: www.bucks-mobility.com
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
There’s lions on the streets of Thame - White Lions, but these big cats aren’t to be feared, they’re here to welcome you in...
A Fran and Angus
ngus Jennings is not afraid to try new things. He was brought up at Chinnor Hill near Radnage and went to Lord Williams’s School in Thame. His family invested in property and he grew up with an interest in buildings which has grown to include their contents. Angus has worked in retail and at various sales jobs, dabbled in property, run his own estate agency and used to put Home Informations Packs together. Eighteen months ago with wife Fran who ran Princes Risborough’s Body Blitz beauty salon, he set up White Lion House in a shop he owns on Bell Lane, opposite the end of Risborough High Street: “My tenants were leaving,” says Angus, “and Fran and I just thought we’d like to try something completely different. We like going to Burford where there are some lovely quirky antique and homeware shops and thought that something along those lines might work here. “The idea was to be a second hand and antique shop which has grown into an eclectic mix of gifts, homeware, antique and second hand furniture - an olde curiosity shop, but with new and contemporary items too.” The venture has gone well and White Lion House has just opened a second outlet at the bottom end of Thame High Street. “We cut our teeth in Risborough,” says Angus, “it’s been really good, we know what we’re doing now! Our new shop in Thame will have similar stock but there’s more space, so we’ll be able to display more second hand furniture and some bigger pieces. White Lion House also offers a house clearance service: “House clearance has gone well,” says Angus. “Most of what we pick up is rubbish but occasionally there’s something that makes it worthwhile. “That’s the fun of doing this - you never know what you are going to find, or what is going to come in. We go to trade fairs and clearance sales and keep an eye on the trends too. We’ve some really interesting patchwork chairs in Thame which people love. You won’t see that sort of furniture outside London at the moment. “We’ve branched off in different
directions to keep things ticking over. We’ve a lot of Christmas decorations at the moment, garlands of natural dried fruit and chillis, traditional handmade items. We have quite a high turnover of stock though, so it’s constantly changing. “We’ve a couple of copper baths, one of which is antique, imported from France and refurbished by a London company called: The Water Monopoly. The other we bought at a salvage auction. It’s also antique and we had it polished up, it’s in our Thame shop at the moment. “We’ve a lovely French dresser in Risborough. A lot of antiques aren’t fashionable at the moment though. We update some of the dark wood antiques, painting with Farrow and Ball colours - it gives them a new lease of life and goes better with modern decor.” “It’s going fantastically well in Thame,” says Angus. “We’re just amazed by the number of people who are coming in and the lovely comments we’ve had. It was a bit of a rush getting in, we had to turn the shop around in a month to be ready for Christmas. “In the basement we’ve tried to give it more of a garden feel and we’ll have more garden ornaments and outside pieces in the Spring. “Yvonne Frances is managing the Thame branch for us. She’s an excellent interior designer and she’ll be offering her design services at the shop. “It’s nice to be in Thame - the town is becoming a real shopping destination. We had a customer in the other day who said she is doing all her Christmas shopping in Thame this year. It’s good to be part of that. Thame has some lovely independent shops and the council seems to support that too.” It’s true there’s a real buzz to Thame these days, something the town can take a pride in. And there’s another pride in Thame right now too, outside White Lion House - a pride of white lions! l White Lion House, 17 High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 2BZ. Tel: 01844 212584. White Lion House, Bell Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks. HP27 0AD. Tel: 01844 344064 Email: info@whitelionhouse.co.uk Website: www.whitelionhouse.co.uk Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
15
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
A
Rolls of Buckram cloth
t this festive and ch-ch-chilly time of year, brrrr, one just can’t underestimate the importance of good wrapping. It’s not just parcels that need special attention though - a girl must be covered and cosetted too, so she can cope with the elements! A furry jacket, warm gloves, soft knitted jumper, stylish coat or toasty scarf will all help fight off frosticles. Don’t be a chilly willy, wear a woolly bully! Of course there are festivities to attend, corks to be popped and parties to enjoy and in such circumstances the wrapping may need to be a little more glitzy and glam. Some seasonal sparkle will put bubbles in your champagne. A silver sequinned eye-popper or elegant shot silk party-smarty could be just the thing - ribbons and bows optional...
l White Hart Studio, 15 Churchway, Haddenham, HP17 8AB Telephone: 01844 292308 Open every day in December up to and including Xmas Eve.
Miss Popp-ins! Soft furnishings Made to measure curtains and blinds, alterations, repairs, advice... Call Helen on: 01296 394667 07966 468978 16
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Les Liney
Vehicle Hire Car and van hire All sizes available including Luton tail lifts AA Cover Also available: Fully Insured 24 hour accident and Unlimited Mileage breakdown service Customer Parking
Tel: 01844 292783 Mobile: 07860 795236
Old Farm Workshops Haddenham Road Kingsey, HP17 8LS
l Column: Alisha Johnson
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Forget pressies, carols and stuffing the turkey, now is the time to dress and impress at your Christmas and New Year parties. It may even pay off with a kiss under the mistletoe says Vale Life’s Alisha Johnson!
A
s the days get shorter and colder we warm our minds with thoughts of the many parties that this festive season will bring. Christmas and New Year are the perfect times to unleash a new look on your friends and family, to shine amidst all the glitz and glamour, the presents and the fireworks. The office Christmas party is always a dilemma, do you dress to impress your colleagues and end up looking more decorated than the Christmas tree, or do you blend in with everyone else and hang around the food table all night? Why not choose the safe middle ground and opt for a subtle dress that shows some Christmas spirit and highlights your best bits, whilst not making you look like you should be on top of the tree? New brand Paprika has some amazing party dresses at prices within your seasonal budget. Their Corset Lace Overlay Dress is the perfect mix of professionalism and party.
Paprika Corset Lace Overlay Dress, Next Gold Jaccquard Dress and Asos Art Deco T-Shirt Dress Right, mask from Accessorize If you’re looking for something a bit more glamorous to catch the eye of a fellow colleague then Next has just the dress for you. Their Gold Jaccquard shift dress is perfect for covering up but also standing out! Whatever you choose to wear make sure you don’t get too drunk and make a fool of your-
…new classes at Racquets Fitness Centre Thame…
self or you’ll be the talk of the office come Monday! That midnight countdown can be nerve racking, with thoughts of what 2011 will bring, or more importantly will the gorgeous hunk next to you plant a smacker on your lips come the strike of twelve? There’s one way you can en-
sure that your New Year starts with a bang, and that’s to dress up like you should be one of the fireworks! Embellishment is big this festive season and online retailer Asos.com has a wide variety of dresses to suit every figure! For those who want to cover up the Asos Art Deco T-Shirt Dress will stand out in a crowd whilst also covering up how many mince pies you’ve consumed! For those who want to show a little more skin Asos also have a Sequin Embellished Vest Dress that will prove that last year’s resolution to go to the gym paid off! Whatever you choose to wear make sure you look sensational! If you want to jazz up your Christmas and New Year’s outfits, accessories are the way to go. Add a simple broach or go all-out with a mask from Accessorize!! Anything to make you stand out from the masses! l Congratulations to Alisha for being chosen from thousands of hopefuls for a week’s work experience at Cosmopolitan. Well done!
Speedwell
Complementary Health Centre
Castle Park Road, Wendover www.Speedwell-CHC.co.uk Massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, health screening, hypnotherapy, kinesiology, reiki, aqua detox, hopi ear candling, Bach flower therapies Tel: 01865 436920 bea@babycollegeoxford.co.uk Fun and Informative Parent and Baby Development Classes
“Our favourite day of the week” Becky and Lucy-Rose (16 weeks)
www.babycollegeoxford.co.uk
Tel: 01296 622611
l Column: Penny Harper - Small Town Girl
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Penny Harper
M
y partner has informed me that we won’t be having a Christmas tree this year. Instead, we’re getting an aluminium pole to decorate. He says it won’t take up a lot of room, can easily be stored for next year and won’t shed pine needles. Ding dong merrily…I’m living with Scrooge. We are polar opposites when it comes to the festive season. I love the anticipation, the cold frosty mornings, the giving (and receiving!) of gifts and the traditions that come with. The fact that I live with someone who hates Christmas with a passion, only seems to spur me on. I HAVE to watch the film ‘Elf ’
at least once. I HAVE to go and watch Thame’s Christmas lights get switched on ( even though they’ve been on for several weeks prior to that) and I HAVE to hand-deliver Christmas cards around the Vale. Then there’s the weather to contend with. It’s around about this time every year that I start going into hibernation mode or as I call it ‘hunkering down’. I tend to hunker from now until round about March. I reappear briefly for Christmas and my birthday in February, but for the next few months I shall mostly be found under my duvet reading a good book…or asleep. I will venture out on sunny mornings just to see if the house has moved or if there’s been any post.
If I have to go out to work or to hunt for food then you will find me lumbering around the high street like some half-dormant bear, picking up soups and bread and pasta. You can expect this behaviour until the Spring thaw. If you don’t like it then I suggest you stay away from the entrance to the cave. There’s more than the cold weather that makes us introverted in the Winter. For me it’s the dark afternoons. I have a friend who’s invested in one of those SADS lights so that he doesn’t go bonkers. I’ll save my pennies and take a torch with me under the duvet; illuminating the wadding in the cover so that it looks like clouds in my own private (sun-filled) sky.
Take a good look
18
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Small Town
Girl If I’m honest, I look forward to this period. I find myself saying ‘I can’t go out it’s too cold, too cold’ and what I mean is ‘I want to be alone. Go bring me a nice stew and then leave it.......within paw’s reach.
Join us at 17a Buttermarket, Thame, Oxo
Cosmetic andJoinFragrance Co Ltd us at 17a Buttermarket, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3EP
All a girl needs -
To celebrate our opening and to launch the Art Deco range of cosmetics and skincare in Thame.
and something for the guys too!
A makeup artist from Art Deco will be providing demonstrations and be available to give advice Gifts, oncosmetics, perfume, their range of products
skincare,thtoiletries Tuesday 13 July 2010 Open House from 7pm
Crabtree & Evelyn: RSVP: Karen Moore rsvp@powdercfc.co.uk or 01844 214816
To celebrate our opening and to lau range of cosmetics and skincar
A makeup artist from Art Deco wi demonstrations and be available on their range of prod
Tuesday 13 th July 201 Open House from 7p
RSVP: Karen Moore rsvp@powdercfc.co.uk or 01844 214816
Gardeners, La Source, Rosewater, Iris
Floris
Cefiro, Fleur Elite
Dr. Hauschka
ARTDECO COUTURE MAKE UP TEAM 2009 Royal Television Society Award-Winners for Best makeup - Dancing on Ice Series 4
ARTDECO COUTURE MAKE U
2009 Royal Television Society Award-Winners for Best make
Susan Posnick ArtDeco Guys or Dolls
& more...
17a Buttermarket, Thame, OX9 3EP Tel: 01844 214816
CHILTON H O U S E
The bridge between hospital and home Specialists in all post – operative and convalescent care
Olivers 6465
24 hr nursing, Physiotherapy & other treatments English Country House setting All rooms en-suite For further information contact: www.chiltonhouse.co.uk 01844 265 200 CSCI rating: Excellent www.csci.org.uk
w Silver jewellery w Amber jewellery w Fashion jewellery w w Rosie Fox jewellery and hair ornaments w w Handbags by: Claudia Canova, Charlotte Reid and Troop of London w w Leather bags by: Smith & Canova, Donatella Rossi and Gianni Conti w w Fashion by: Frank Saul, Apostrophe, UBU, Goose Island, Besarani and Pia Rossini w w Mirrors w Chandeliers w Lamps w Gift packaging w w Chinese laquer cabinets w Face Masks w w Many unusual gift items w
Opening seven days a week until Christmas Ruby Moon 4-5A Buttermarket, Thame, OX9 3EW Tel: 01844 212561 Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
19
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
A royal makeover has taken place in Berkhamsted and a fading jewel in the town’s crown is now restored to once again fulfil a focal role for both local folk and those from further afield... The contemporary restaurant features an open plan Robata charcoal grill
F
rom around the middle of the 17th century, for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn was a vital part of our inland transport infrastructure. Some of these establishments would prove notorious while others were renowned for their quality. One such inn with its fair share of notable
20
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
memories is the Kings Arms in Berkhamsted; a building which has just undergone an elaborate £1.2m renovation by Oakman Inns & Restaurants Ltd, realigning the spotlight on its colourful career. First appearing in history books in 1716, for two centuries the Kings Arms was the focal point of Berkhamsted life and bore not the arms of a king but those of Queen Anne. A staging post on prominent North Western routes, the inn ran its own coaches to London and boasted stables for some forty horses. Visited by French King Louis XVII, it was also a stopping place for Queen Victoria, and at one point the Kings Arms proudly advertised that it was ‘the only Hotel in the country patronised by her most gracious Majesty the
Queen’. One of its most significant claims to fame however, is its literary connection with celebrated author Graham Greene. Born in Berkhamsted in 1904, Graham Greene, author of Brighton Rock and The Heart of the Matter, is renowned for having frequented the Kings Arms, and wrote in his novels about going to ‘hops’ at the inn during his youth. To parallel this historic link, Oakman Inns is paying tribute to the celebrated author, naming the new function room The Greene Room and designating each bedroom with an individual character name extracted from the author’s novels and personal life. Despite its prominent position in the town centre, the Kings Arms had grown tired over the years and faded into the background as
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
new High Street chains sprouted up. Identifylunch and dinner. Also serving coffee and ing an opportunity to restore new life into the freshly-baked pastries and cakes, Oakman archaic building, Oakman Inns & Restaurants Inns has brought back the ritual of traditional worked for almost two years to acquire the English afternoon tea. property: “We have long wanted to own a The new Kings Arms has certainly not business in Berkhamsted,” says chief execucompromised on style, with an elegant bar tive Peter Borg-Neal,. “It is a and lounge area offering a thriving town with a discerning diverse range of local real ales, population and we felt there fine wines, champagne and was a clear gap in the market. cocktails. Chic modern design “We have worked very hard hooks are complemented by to gain an understanding of soft seating and open fires with the type of place Berkhamsted a more traditional feel. people want. The size of our The 15 boutique-style en investment reflects our confisuite rooms are individually dence that the Kings Arms will decorated and furnished, each be well received.” bearing the name of a Greene Having built up a prestigious character. Luxury toiletries, iPod reputation in the local area docking stations, free internet, with the creation of its modern flat screen TVs and a high level public houses, The Akeman of comfort are common to all Peter Borg-Neal in Tring, and the Red Lion at the rooms, with a nugget of Water End, Oakman Inns has ambitiously Graham Greene literature gracing each one to entered new terrain here, taking on its first provide a little relevant reading. hotel and the challenge of transforming this Coaching inns may have drifted away from historic site into a stylish prime venue. their original purpose, but the Kings Arms Embodying the company’s contemporary Restaurant, Bar and Rooms, is set to serve concept of restaurant, bar and rooms, the anew as an all-encompassing venue offering Kings Arms now comprises a modern grill excellent food and drink in stylish and elegant restaurant with stylish bar, 15 boutique-style, surroundings. en suite bedrooms and a 100-capacity funcNo longer a stop on the road to elsewhere, tion room, and pays tribute to its heritage The Kings Arms has become the destination, while offering the luxury of modern design and the true heritage and class of the historic and comfort. tale it has long been part of has finally been The Kings Arms restaurant is a contemporestored. rary grill restaurant with a distinguishing focal l The Kings Arms, 147 High Street, point; an open plan Robata charcoal grill, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 3HL. which supplements an innovative and inspiraTel: 01442 866595. tional menu offering quality steaks, fresh fish Email: kingsarms@oakmaninns.co.uk Website: www.kingsarmshotel.com and the best of local produce across breakfast Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
21
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Buon Appetito from
Our farm diary from Richard and Rosemary Hilsdon who run Boycott Farm, near Stowe, with its popular farm shop and restaurant.
W
e’ve had our own little nativity here on the farm this week - a calf was born at 3am in the morning under a starry sky. He will stay with his Mum until 10 months old and will remain on the farm until he is 2 and a half. Our next calf is due in March. Interestingly, like humans, cows are pregnant for 9 months. Rosemary and The cold weather brings new Richard Hilsdon challenges on a daily basis. Pipes feeding water around the farm freeze and need defrosting and farm machinery can also freeze up. We need the tractor to transport hay bales to feed the animals. There certainly isn’t any time left to build snowmen! We are often asked if hens still lay during the winter as those of you with your own small flocks, may not have many eggs at the moment. Hens lay according to light rather than temperature, so with lighting in “Cluckingham Palace” our luxury chicken shed, our hens are still producing in excess of 5000 eggs a day. Poor Rosemary doesn’t get a lie in these cold winter mornings as she is extra busy over the Christmas period. Along with customer orders for Christmas foods, we have several bookings for Christmas parties in The Hayloft First snow on the barn restaurant. The Christmas menu has proved very popular and we are even open some evenings to accommodate our customers. Unfortunately, the chickens will not have their usual bedtime story on these evenings! Sadly, our old bull Black Jack did not recover from his illness and is now enjoying new pastures in the sky. This means our young bull, Mr Beefy, will be kept busy in the cowshed all winter with his 39 girlfriends. What a way to keep warm! He had a visit from the vet the other day because he had a stone stuck in his foot. At the same time he had a pedicure to keep his feet nice and healthy. The vet has to entice him with food into a crate called a crush, to keep him still whilst he does his work. This is essential when trimming the toes of a 900 kg bull! It has been a busy year here at Boycott Farm. Every day brings something new and we cannot wait for the challenges ahead. We would like to thank all our customers for their continued support and send them season’s greetings and best wishes for 2011. l Boycott Farm, Welsh Lane, Stowe, Buckinghamshire, MK18 5DJ. Telephone: 01280 821286. Email: shop@ boycottfarm.co.uk Website: www.boycottfarm.co.uk 22
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Umberto
U
mberto Della Valle runs Umberto’s, a fabulous, specialist Italian food shop in Thame’s Greyhound Walk, just a few yards from Waitrose. He’s an excellent cook and has kindly supplied us with this recipe for one of his favourite quick and easy meals, Fettuccine con Gamberetti. Ideal for when you just can’t face one more mouthful of turkey! “I have been running my shop since 1997,” says Umberto. “It’s won a few awards including best Italian food and pasta shop in the UK. I have introduced many new products including some very special Italian wines that are not available in supermarkets or off licences. I prepare fresh food daily on the premises including my special marinated olives. Over the years I have produced a lot of new recipes but the best sellers in the shop are still the fresh pasta and my special tomato sauce!
Fettuccine con Gamberetti (Fettuccine with prawns)
Ingredient for 3-4 persons 250 gr. Hand made egg fettuccine 1 Shallot chopped 250 gr. King prawns Extra virgin olive oil 250 gr. Spinach Parsley chopped 250 gr. Single cream Salt and Pepper Half glass of white wine - Pinot Grigio In a large pan or wok, heat the extra virgin olive oil, add the chopped shallot and let sautee’ for a few minutes. Add the king prawns, cook for 2 minutes and add the white wine and let it evaporate. Add the cream, salt and pepper. At this stage add the spinach and cook for few minutes. While doing this boil the water with salt, add the fettuccine and cook for 2 minutes, drain it and add to the sauce giving a good stir. Add the fresh chopped parsley and serve hot. Buon appetito!
Why not try something different in the New Year? How about an Art Course or Class at…
The Phoenix Studio, Towersey? Ideal for complete novice to experienced artist. Quality tuition, affordable prices and a relaxed environment - why not come and explore your creativity with us?
We run weekend, evening and weekday courses in a broad range of disciplines. How about our weekday Sculpture Classes or our evening Beginner and Intermediate Ceramics and Pottery Classes? Please visit our website or get in touch for more details
Karin on 01844 351074 James on 07765 980508 karin@ort.me.uk james@orts.co.uk Chinnor Road, Towersey, Nr Thame, OX9 3QZ
www.phoenixstudio.co.uk
l Column: Matt Brown - One Hungry Man
A
word of thanks to begin this month thanks. At the time of writing my sheep, Minty, has 39 Facebook friends (to become his pal just search for MintySheep) and is fast becoming an internet sensation rivalled only by Lady GaGa, rickrolling and that clip on YouTube of Charlie biting his brother’s finger. The arrival and continued presence of Minty in my life has had a profound effect but not the one I was expecting. I thought I would grow so attached to the great woolly blob that I would renounce my carnivorous ways and eat nothing but falafel and nut roasts for the rest of my life. However, whilst I haven’t yet ruled out this possibility, what has happened couldn’t be further from it. I have gone all Tom and Barbara and started making my own produce. I’m not saying I could ever go fully self
Matt Brown
ONE Hungry Man
l Listen to Matt Brown on Heart Breakfast With Matt and Michelle (weekdays 6-9am 102.6FM). Tweet Matt at twitter.com/frazzleddaddy
sufficient (I don’t think I could stand the dungarees) but I am in no doubt that my recent attempts to create a good life are largely due to a new found connection to food production. So, steeping quietly under our stairs are two litres of gin
SALE NOW ON
Vale: Dec Life 2010 : Nov/Dec Vale Life / Jan 2010 2011
flavoured with some sloes that I picked with my son in October. I think I’ll be able to call it into action to make some cocktails on Christmas morning. A dash of the gin topped up with some fizz should make the inevitable hangover and early morning combo a little easier to bear. We also have some delicious apple juice that was made by the good people at Chiltern Ridge in Chartridge. We took them about sixty kilos of my fatherin-laws Bramley windfalls and they in turn gave us about sixty litres of pasturised apple juice. Much of this will be drunk at breakfast or turned into a warming winter punch but some I will attempt to turn into vinegar to dress salads next summer.
espresso bar
A fine blend of Colombian and African coffee, salads, baguettes, newspapers and
Terms and conditions apply - ask in store for details.
In-toto Kitchens 5 Britannia Street Aylesbury HP20 1QS (opposite Wilkinsons)
Best of all though are the pigs cheeks that have been salted for a week and are currently hanging in a shed in the garden. In a month they should be some delicious pancetta style bacon that will be fried and tossed with the sprouts to make a truly wonderful Christmas lunch side dish. And so thanks to Minty who has single hoofedly kick-started my culinary creativity that will, I hope, mean that this Christmas is one of the happiest and tastiest ever. So, I hope you have the most joyous of times over Christmas and New Year, wherever you are and whatever you’re eating. Here’s to peace on earth and goodwill to all, especially the sheep (well until the Spring anyway).
lovely people 7a Fort End, Haddenham, Bucks, HP17 8EJ. Tel: 01844 290426 Also at Haddenham and Thame Parkway and Bicester North.
Tel: 01296 337299 Email: aylesbury@intoto.co.uk
www.intoto.co.uk
Little_italy_128x190_montage.indd 1
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
23
15/2/10 14:36:44
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
‘This place rings a bell’ one might say and indeed it should - once the glamorous haunt of the rich and famous, The Bell is back and serving quality fare at appealing prices...
B
ells are very much in evidence at this time of year, ding donging merrily on high and chiming in the Christmas and the New Year
festivities. In Aston Clinton there’s a particularly resonant reason to celebrate as the famous Bell restaurant has been sympathetically restored and is once again offering a comfortable, cosy setting in which to enjoy some quality hospitality. It’s been ten years since the hostelry was sold to Vintage Inns and The Bell became The Duck In. The pub was highly regarded at the time and a protest group formed when the title change was confirmed, in an attempt to save ‘The Bell’ name. New landlord Mark Jackson, says he is proud to be taking on a pub with such a rich heritage: “When I learnt about its history and the people who came to eat there, such as Jackie Kennedy, I felt the The Bell name had to be brought back,” he said “and the support in Aston Clinton and from the local area has been fantastic.” “We aren’t trying to copy what The Bell once was, but I feel it’s important to remember some of the history the building has,” says Mark. “We see it as a new era for the restaurant, one that focuses on good quality food in a relaxed atmosphere. We aim to break away from typical pub grub and have a new menu which suits the stylish interior.” The Bell was bought by the Mitchells and Butlers group in 2000. The organisation owns a number of pubs and restaurants in the area, including the Bugle Horn at Hartwell and the
24
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Mark Jackson on left with staff outside The Bell at Aston Clinton Five Bells in Weston Turville which are still part of the company’s Vintage Inns brand, as was the Duck In. Feeling that many pubs in the area have a similar theme and menu today and are targeting the same audience, the firm has indentified a demand for something new, a restaurant with purpose, rather than a pub which serves food. The Bell has now become one of their new ‘Village Inns’ stable. The origins of the pub are vague but the census of 1872 reveals that the ‘New Bell’ had already been licensed for over 50 years. The building, thought to date from the early 17th Century, was a coaching inn for carriages travelling between London and the Midlands. The stables where horses would rest while passengers sought sustenance at the inn, were redeveloped as homes and can still be seen opposite The Bell. The landlord and owner in 1872 was John Sheerman. The Sheerman family owned a brewery ‘opposite the New Bell Inn in Green End Street’, and four other public houses in Aston Clinton. The heyday of the Bell Hotel and its famous restaurant came during the second
half of the 20th century, when the Harris family owned it and the inn has been linked with some very diverse guests: In 1944 when Daphne Harris was landlady a resident was libertarian philosopher and occultist Aleister Crowley, who lived at the hotel for several months, while in 1967 the four founders of the Institute for Fiscal Studies spent ‘a brainstorming, bachelor weekend at a well-known hostelry, the Bell at Aston Clinton, resulting in four articles on tax reform, one written by each and later published in The Times!’ During the swinging 70s and 80s The Bell Hotel was a honeypot for politicians, celebrities and stars of the stage and screen. Pierce Brosnan, Elizabeth Taylor and John Cleese were just a few big names who travelled out to Buckinghamshire to visit the inn and sample its traditional English cuisine and famous wine cellar. The Bell Inn Smokie was created at the hotel around this time - a traditional English recipe for a classic barbecued breakfast dish of Arbroth smokies baked in cream and chopped tomatoes topped with cheese. On March 27th, 1980, the Aston Martin Bulldog, a one-off concept car, made its official debut at the Bell Hotel. The car was
sold at auction a short time after its debut for around £130,000. The Bulldog was 43 inches high and featured a unique gull-wing door design, a distinctive trapezium shape and five hidden headlamps! Across the main road was the site of the Bell Pavilion. A large function suite much used for weddings and parties and the site of the Bell’s own helipad. The pavilion burnt down in 1994 and was never rebuilt. The Harris family, who still live in the village, eventually sold the property to Vintage Inns in 2000. Shortly after, in March 2001 two fires seriously damaged much of the Grade II listed building. In the recent refurbishment many original features have been restored to revive the history of the building. Landlord Mark says the emphasis is now on creating a relaxed atmosphere with excellent food: “What sets us aside from other pubs and restaurants is the choice of food available
on the menu. We have fresh fish delivered here every day and the quality of ingredients is seasonal and fresh. “The most important thing is for our customers to enjoy the surroundings, whether they are coming down for a pint at their local, or having a special meal out. We can cater for any type of evening and aim to ensure they are comfortable and can rely on good quality food. “It’s an exciting time to take this on but I feel there is so much support in the area that The Bell will be a huge success.” There is no doubt M&B has done an excellent job of renovating The Bell. The pub has just the right mix of stately olde worlde grandeur and stylish modern pizzazz. It all looks clean, modern and smart, but in an elegant country pub way. Fires roar in open grates surrounded by flagstones, oak and exposed brickwork. Comfortable chairs and sumptuous
banquettes abound. Service is friendly and caring and the freshly prepared food really is top quality and excellent value. On my visit shredded confit of duck served with toast and chutney was a tasty starter while the Welsh lamb shoulder, slow roasted with sundried tomatoes, garlic and rosemary was delicious, tender and filling and came with top notch mash and a fine seasonal vegetable selection. My dessert of apple strudel with cognac ice-cream was not strictly of British heritage, but well worth the shame! It’s reasonably priced fare too and bodes well for this historic eaterie. I predict it won’t just be the bells that are ringing in Aston Clinton, the tills will be too - like the clappers! See competition Page 30. l The Bell Village Pub and Restaurant, London Road, Aston Clinton, Aylesbury, HP22 5HP. Tel: 01296 632777 Website: www.thebellastonclinton.co.uk
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
25
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Chiltern Brewery was one of Britain’s first ever micro-breweries - 30 years on the company is not only producing fine beers but is a champion of top quality local produce says Sally Dorling...
N
othing prepares you for the delicious treats in store at Chiltern Brewery’s unassuming site in Terrick, near Wendover. Many Vale residents will have driven past the modest entrance to what was once an old cowshed on a working farm, unaware that inside it has been transformed, with wide polished wooden boards and a counter created from barrels and old brewery equipment, into a sumptuous brewery shop. It is cosy, quaint and charming and makes the perfect showcase for Chiltern Brewery’s delicious products and a mouthwatering selection of local produce such as cheeses, bread, sausages, preserves and fudge; many made with Chiltern Brewery beers. It is also a handy spot for inspired Christmas gifts. The hampers are particularly tempting and you can choose your own combination of ingredients if you wish. Should you be struggling for present ideas there is a hamper making and tasting day at the shop on Saturday, December 18th, from 9am to 5pm which could well solve any gift deficiencies! The shop is but one jewel in the Chiltern Brewery crown. Brothers Tom and George Jenkinson, the second generation of the family to run the brewery, strive for quality in everything they do. The brewery tap is the historic Farmers’ Bar in the ancient King’s Head pub at the top of Aylesbury’s Market Square. There has been a pub on the site since the 1400’s. It is the oldest courtyarded coaching inn in Britain and in this uniquely traditional setting, you can enjoy Chiltern’s delicious ales, fine Rothschild’s wines from The Waddesdon Estate and a classic menu designed to complement these offerings and the surroundings, developed by enthusiastic new head chef Iain Bozier. It is not only a great venue for private and
26
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Tom, Charlotte, Richard, Lesley and George Jenkinson at the brewery shop in Terrick
corporate Christmas parties, but a wonderful place to enjoy your fare at any time and you might even like to think about a certain romantic date in February, when there will be a special Valentine’s Day menu! Buckinghamshire and the Chiltern’s oldest independent brewery, founded by Tom and George’s parents, Richard and Lesley, in 1980, has been celebrating its 30th anniversary year. There has been much to raise a glass to in the last 12 months, not the least being the birth of Tom and Charlotte’s daughter, Rosie, potentially the 3rd generation of Jenkinson brewers. Celebratory special launch bottled and draught ales released throughout the year have been a huge success, appreciated by brewery die-hards and new customers alike. George and Tom may have saved the best ‘til last though with their draught Winter’s Tail and the very special bottle conditioned and triple hopped India pale ale 30th Anniversary Ale, which are available in the Farmers’ Bar, at the brewery shop and from selected stockists, see Chiltern Brewery’s website for details at: www.chilternbrewery.co.uk Nestling at the foot of the beautiful Chiltern Hills, the brewery is within sight of Coombe Hill and the towering monument there dedicated to those men of Buckingham-
Farmers’ Bar, Kings Head
shire who paid the ultimate price during the Boer War. Chiltern Brewery is delighted to be involved in the project to raise funds for the long overdue restoration of the monument with the sale of their bottled non-for-profit Monument Ale. A proud moment in a proud year for a truly wonderful local brewery and yet another reason to celebrate. l The Chiltern Brewery, Nash Lee Road, Terrick, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP17 0TQ . Tel: 01296 613647 Email: enquiries@ chilternbrewery.co.uk Website: www. chilternbrewery.co.uk
Sally Dorling can be contacted at www.marketingfoods.co.uk
Are you sleeping comfortably?
01844 338137
Handmade in
Britain with a
10 Year Guarantee
Royally approved handmade beds, designed to provide a deep and memorable night’s sleep and a positive, energetic start to the day.
Visit our Showroom: Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm Friday and Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm Longwick Road | Princes Risborough | Bucks | HP27 9RT T: 01844 348200 | www.hypnosbeds.com
K&S
1867 Hypnos Vale Life Ad 125x90.indd 1
Tel: 01844 202418 F u r n i t u r e O u t l e t www.kandsfurniture.co.uk Hypnos Ex-showroom stock at clearance prices. Hypnos ex-showroom Sets from £499.00
stock at clearance prices. SetsHarrison from £499brothers Solid wood furniture
18/11/10 08:27:33
0
www.kandsfu
Harrison Brothers contemporary & traditional bedroom furniture
Contemporary and Traditional Bedroom Furniture.
Sunday Times Special Offer:
Children’s Wardrobe, bedside table and Chest of draw for £359.00 (Five
Vale Life Magazine Special Offer: Children’s wardrobe, bedside table and chest of drawers only £299 (five different colours) Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
27
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Ski Val d’Isere and not only are you following in the tracks of the world’s greatest skiers, but you’ll be sharing the playground of the rich and famous. Charlie Trott tests the powder...
S
kiing first registered on my radar back in the 70s when, as a schoolboy, I was fascinated by the death defying antics of downhill racers like Franz Klammer. These extreme sportsmen would hurtle across our TV screens on dingy Sunday afternoons enthusiastically accompanied by a breathless commentary from David Vine on the Ski Sunday programme. The glamourous world of ski seemed a long way from the grey, damp home counties and Val d’Isere in particular was the setting for some legendary races. The Savoyard resort has a long and illustrious history, if you ignore a brief spell as a penal colony and has managed to maintain its position is as one of the world’s top ski destinations, while retaining the atmosphere, charm and beauty of a small alpine village. Driving into the resort at dusk there were audible gasps from around the minibus as our party took in the twinkling fairy lights and glistening snow covered surroundings. Val operates a ‘white policy’ which means all roads and paths are not gritted, but kept clear and covered in a thin veneer of snow. This looks lovely but can be a little slippery! The main avenue is lined with fir trees festooned in lights and contains a glitzy array of stylish hotels and upmarket boutiques. This is not a budget destination, but that is not to say you won’t be getting good value from a stay here. Travelling with Inghams I was booked into the new and quite stunning boutique style hotel, Avenue Lodge. Positioned on the main street in the centre of the resort it is an easy 200m walk from the lifts and ski school and incorporates a handy boot room with small ski shop in the basement, a luxurious spa, a superb restaurant and a trendy bar. The establishment opened in 2008 and cleverly combines the cosy, inviting atmosphere of a mountain chalet with the latest in contemporary hotel design, utilising traditional wood, slate and stone. Ice sculpting 28
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Pure luxury at Avenue Lodge
It is fabulous, the staff are attentive, helpful and friendly and the restaurant, Le Bistrot, offers a mouthwatering selection of French speciality cooking in a modern, lighter organic style - it tastes great and feels healthy! For a typical meal an organic salmon carpaccio was an invigorating starter, while duck shepherd’s pie delicious, warming and filling as the main course. The rooms are the last word in luxury, extremely comfortable with sumptuous beds, fabulous furnishings, and hi-tech extras like a walk in wet room and second TV screen above the bath, so you can catch up on the real world while soaking after a hard day on the slopes. The skiing is of course the main event and Val d’Isere really excels here. The lift system connects with Tignes, just down the valley, to form the Espace Killy area and includes the famous World Cup piste which runs down to La Daille, (a Ski Sunday favourite). The resort itself is at 1850m and the 300km of pistes peak at 3488m with the Pte du Montet above Le Fornet. Take to the slopes here and you are skiing in the tracks of champions like Val d’Isere’s own Jean Claude Killy in who’s honour the area was named. He is an inspirational character who has managed the transition from sporting champion to successful international businessman. The Espace Killy has something for all
abilities. For beginners wanting to build their confidence there is nowhere better than the rolling greens of Ski Tranquille on the Val d’Isère side and there are some easy going areas of blue slopes just beyond the Solaise, best accessed from the Glacier Express or Madeleine Express lifts. The Glacier itself also features a fantastic selection of blues and reds and due to the height (3488m), boasts some of the best snow conditions in the resort. On the Bellevarde side, the OK Orange is a fun red, one for intermediates to really let go on while La Daille also offers some great tree skiing, but can get very icy. If you fancy a challenge there is no run more famous than the men’s Olympic downhill, La Face, a steep test leading into Val d’Isère 1850 - worth doing for the self satisfaction alone! Foret, is a hard, steep black through the trees, great if moguls are your thing but once you are on this piste there’s no going back! For tricks and jumps there’s a world renowned board/ski-park on the Bellevarde at the top of the Mont Blanc chair. It’s got something for everyone from small green jumps to massive blacks. After all that exercise you’ll have worked up a healthy appetite and luckily Val d’Isere has some superb mountain restaurants to experience and several high quality hotels boasting fabulous cuisine and excellent service. There’s
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Enjoying the barbecue and view of Lac Ouillette from the sun deck at L’Ouillette 70-odd restaurants in all and a wide variety of gondola, is the place for a fun Austrian-style cuisine on offer. tea-time rave, with DJs and dancing on tables Within 100m of Avenue Lodge the elegant and you can ride the gondola down afterwards Hotel Aigle des Neiges has a restaurant servif necessary! ing exemplary fare and The Christiania is also La Daille, the bar at the Samovar hotel, is worthy of note for it’s large informal dining good for a beer and in downtown Val, the room, top quality food and an impressive cosy Blue Note, opposite the ESF, has been modern spa. The Table de l’Ours, in the Barknown to offer free après-ski nibbles and a mes de l’Ours hotel, has a Michelin star, Bar warm welcome. Jacques is small but very welcoming and Chez The Moris pub has some rockin’ live bands Paolo is good for pizza and pasta. (Mullit are especially good) both for apresOn the slopes The Fruitière at the top of ski and later in the evening and can get quite La Daille gondola, is done up like an old dairy crowded, while Boubou, Bar Jacques and the and does an excellent lunch with large porPerdrix Blanche are all popular with locals. tions. The duck shepDicks T-bar boasts herd’s pie and beef stew international DJs and ocare both tasty and filling. casional showcases. On a sunny day though There’s no doubt Val you can’t beat L’Ouillette is one of Europe’s top (www.louillette.fr). It’s a resorts, it’s where the tiny restaurant with a big beautiful people come Racing at the snow park to play and if celebrity sun deck at the bottom of the Madeleine Express spotting is your thing chairlift. The terrace has a great view over a Damon Hill has been sighted here, as has frozen lake (Lac Ouillette) and although the Zoe Ball and husband Fatboy Slim, Bono and inside is tiny, the outdoor barbecue is scrump- the Edge, Kylie Minogue, Gerard Depardieu, tious and staring out across the silent, eerie Helene Christianson... they tend to stay out of lake while hypnotic chillout beats pulse from the centre though. the chalet sound system is as atmospheric as World Cup skiing was back in Val d’Isere any Ibizan sunset experience. earlier this month. The FIS World Cup The après-ski at Val d’Isere is not as lively caravan rolled in for two World Cup skiing as some resorts. You can find bars with happy weekends when the best male and female hours, music and dancing, but it’s definitely alpine skiers got some practice in before not party central. the Olympic Games. The event is the only The legendary Folie Douce (www.lafoWorld Cup alpine skiing event in France this liedouce.com), at the top of the La Daille year. That’s quite a coup for Val d’Isere - the
legendary resort is still one of the great ski holiday destinations and although not one of the cheapest options, offers all you need for a truly exceptional ski experience. l Charlie travelled with Inghams Ski / Lakes & Mountains Holidays flying to Geneva airport from Gatwick. He stayed at the fabulous Avenue Lodge hotel. For further details on Inghams ski holidays telephone: 0208 780 6680 or see the website: www.inghams.co.uk
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
29
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
I
Win a copy of new Lemmy DVD
f one man has come to epitomise rock and roll it is Motörhead singer and bass player Lemmy. Over the past three and a half decades no other artist has had such an enduring impact on heavy metal music and with his 65th birthday approaching on Christmas Eve, Lemmy is rocking harder than ever. Discover what it is that has made this musician a cultural icon recognised and respected far beyond the confines of rock music, in Lemmy, the DVD. To be in with a chance of winning a copy of this rockin’ DVD, email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk. Which band is Lenny singer with? Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on January 7th.
Win a meal for four at The Bell, Aston Clinton At the recently refurbished Bell in Aston Clinton fires roar in open grates surrounded by flagstones, oak and exposed brickwork. The pub is a masterclass in modern hospitality: excellent food at reasonable prices, quality ales and a fine wine selection in a traditional country inn environment. New landlord Mark Jackson has already put together a team of friendly willing staff, who are keen to ensure your stay is a most agreeable one. Even better Mark is offering Vale Life readers the chance to win a three course meal for four, with wine, at The Bell. To be in with a chance simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk
Which American president’s wife once dined at The Bell? a) Nancy Reagan, b) Barbara Bush, or c) Jackie Kennedy Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on January 7th. l The Bell Village Pub and Restaurant, London Road, Aston Clinton, Aylesbury, HP22 5HP. Tel: 01296 632777 Website: www. thebellastonclinton.co.uk
Win a Quest board game set
V
ale Life Magazine has teamed up with Quest Board Games to offer readers the opportunity to win one of three exciting English Quest board games – perfect for celebrating your national heritage. Quest games are region specific to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Each game draws upon over a thousand years of your nation’s adventure, action and achievement. It’s a great way to learn about your country, its geography, history and culture. Designed for 2-6 players (or teams) aged from 8 upwards, English Quest is both fun and educational and takes players on an exciting
journey across the country, from the North to the South, the East to the West, as you race to collect the QUEST letters. Jester cards may help or hinder you on your travels and you will need to earn sovereigns to help pay your way. For more information, visit the website at: www.questsoftheworld.com To be in with a chance of winning email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk. What are the cards called that may help or hinder you when playing English Quest? Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on January 7th.
Dressed to impress for fashion spectacular
F
ashion from across the globe was the theme as 100 pupils from Aylesbury High School joined forces with the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) for ‘Around the World in 80 Outfits’ - a fashion spectacular, which showcased the amazing clothes on offer in the Charity’s retail shops at Aylesbury, Winslow, Chinnor, Wendover and Old Amersham. Audience members were treated to a first class catwalk show and were able to purchase items modelled in the show on the night. All proceeds from the night will go towards supporting the work of the Florence Nightingale Hospice and its services, which needs
30
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
half a million pounds each year to keep running. Audience members were also in for a special treat as local fashion designer Timothy Foxx, of Weedon, who specialise in eccentric hand-made tweed garments, showcased some of his latest collection including tweed shorts, waistcoats, bobble hats and colourful knitted tights. l For more information about the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity and a list of Florence Nightingale Hospice shops please visit www.fnhospice.org.uk.
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
If your dancing is more Ann Widdecombe than Anton Du Beke fear not, for anyone can learn Modern Jive says Patrina Law... Trina and Shamus
P
atrina Law is a walking advertisement for the benefits of dance. The lady looks at least ten years younger than she is and seems to have the energy of a twenty year old, managing to write a novel, hold down a part-time job with the Open University in Milton Keynes and teach dance, all while bringing up an 11-month-old son! Patrina and partner Seamus Waldron, a web designer and fellow dance instructor moved to Quainton, near Aylesbury, nearly four years ago: “I’m from south-west London and Seamus is from Norfolk,” says Patrina, “but I fell in love with the area while at University in Oxford studying Geology at Brookes. “I’d done a lot of dancing as a teenager and trained in ballet, modern and tap, so when I started dancing again, about ten years ago, I found it quite easy to pick up. “I met Seamus in a Salsa bar. We were both there by accident and bonded over a mutual dislike of Salsa! “We started dancing together and then did dance demonstrations and cabaret performances. Eventually, about seven years ago, we decided we’d like to instruct. We wanted to be professional and to be properly qualified, so we took teaching qualifications and are now affiliated to the Leroc Federation which in turn is affiliated to the UK Dance Alliance giving us public liability insurance and other benefits. “When we moved to Quainton there was nowhere to dance locally, people found out we were dance teachers and they asked us to start a course at the village hall. It went well and now we hold a regular Thursday night class at Waddesdon village hall. It’s a beautiful old Rothschild building by The Five Arrows. “We have a beginner and an intermediate session and then afterwards a freestyle period when everyone can practise their moves. It’s a cracking night. “We teach Modern Jive which is an amalgamation of many styles: there’s Ballroom and Latin, Jive and Rock’n’Roll. I love Tango, so I bring that in a bit, while others like to Lindy Hop or crossover into West Coast Swing. The great thing is you can jive to any sort of music
with a 4/4 beat: rock’n’roll, disco, chart, or club music, whatever you fancy. “We’ve been teaching in Waddesdon for two years now and on the second Sunday of each month we hold a tea dance in Botolph Claydon. It’s great fun with especially good cakes - made by my mum, tea and a bar. “We’re lucky out here as hall hire is quite reasonable and enables us to keep costs down. “We teach at dance weekenders all over the country and used to teach in London, but now we are doing it more locally.” We’ve had a lot of demand for wedding dances. Nowadays couples like to have a routine choreographed for their wedding dance and we do private tuition for that. We also get hired out for people’s parties. We take our sound and light system along and then get the guests involved learning steps and dancing with eachother which really gets the party started. We can keep the music going all night too, like a disco. It makes for a great evening.” If you’d like to give jiving a try there’s no need to book, just turn up on a Thursday from 7.50pm. It’s a great way to get fit and the dancers are a really friendly crowd. They start with a beginners class (45mins), you can then practise your steps while the intermediates have a lesson and then it’s all in for the freestyle session, which finishes at 11pm. “It’s a great fitness activity,” says Patrina. “It’s good for weight loss and toning up too. The beauty is you’re doing an aerobic activity but don’t really notice as you’re doing it to music and having laugh too!” A jive class costs £8, or £35 for five classes. For more information on party packages, or wedding dance lessons contact Patrina, or see the MIJive website at www.MIJive.co.uk l MIDance, 2 Church Street, Quainton, Buckinghamshire. HP22 4AP. Tel: 01296 676166. Email: info@mijive.co.uk Website: www.MiJive.co.uk l “Patrina’s novel,’The Remedy’ by P. J. Law is available from Amazon and all bookstores. She is donating all her royalties to the Alzheimer’s Society. It’s an amusing tale of siblings with secrets, of love and family. “It’s based in a fictional village,” says Patrina, “around the Thame area.” Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
31
l What’s On: Ballet
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
The State Ballet of Siberia is set to delight audiences across the Vale with five spectacular productions
Y
ou don’t have to be a ballet fan to enjoy the thrill and spectacle of a performance by The Russian State Ballet of Siberia. Promoter Raymond Gubbay has the company back in the UK following a highly acclaimed tour in 2010, to bring to life five of the world’s most beautiful and popular ballets: Romeo & Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Musical accompaniment is provided by the Orchestra of Siberia. The tour takes in three local
theatres: The New Theatre, Oxford, The Wycombe Swan and Aylesbury’s new Waterside Theatre. Best of all ticket prices are great value, ranging from just £13 to £35.50 Formed in 1981, The Russian State Ballet of Siberia has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. Both the soloists and the corps de ballet have been highly praised by critics, and never fail to delight audiences with their breathtaking ability and dazzling costumes.
Raymond Gubbay presents
www.raymondgubbay.co.uk
Russia’s acclaimed ballet company returns to the UK with great ballet masterpieces
Romeo & Juliet Sleeping Beauty The Nutcracker Swan Lake Performed by The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia “Dancing was sharp, precise and light of foot throughout . . .” OXFORD TIMES JANUARY 2010
10 – 12 JANUARY
Swan Lake Sleeping Beauty
NEW THEATRE – OXFORD
BOX OFFICE 0844 847 1585 BOOK ONLINE www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk 31 JANUARY - 2 FEBRUARY Romeo & Juliet Sleeping Beauty Swan Lake
WYCOMBE SWAN - HIGH WYCOMBE
TICKET OFFICE 01494 512000 BOOK ONLINE www.wycombeswan.co.uk
24 - 26 MARCH
Romeo & Juliet Sleeping Beauty The Nutcracker
AYLESBURY WATERSIDE THEATRE
BOX OFFICE 0844 871 7607 BOOK ONLINE www.ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury
32
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
Romeo & Juliet: Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy is the greatest love story ever danced. Lavish sets and costumes and the dazzling performers of one of Russia’s foremost ballet companies, evoke Renaissance Verona with all its bitter family feuds, passionate encounters and tragic twists of fate. Sleeping Beauty: Every child’s favourite fairy tale. This is the classic story of love and innocence, mystery and magic set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score. Stunning choreography, sumptuous costumes and wonderful sets form the fantasy world in which the Lilac Fairy struggles against the evil Carabosse. Don Quixote: A Russian showpiece of thrilling technique, pure panache and explosive balletic fireworks tells the enchanting story of an eccentric, yet noble old gentleman, Don Quixote. His dreams of a fantasy world full of brave knights and beautiful ladies take us on a chivalrous adventure with his trusty servant. Love, duels and spectacular choreography combine with a dash of Spanish passion in one of the most beautiful and moving of all ballets. Swan Lake: The greatest romantic ballet of all! This is an immortal love story filled with magic, emotion and beauty. From the opulence and splendour of the magnificent court room to the exhilarating lake scenes where swans play in perfect formation, Tchaikovsky’s hauntingly beautiful music creates a truly unforgettable experience.
The Nutcracker: In a magical production, this most famous of fantasy ballets begins as night falls on a traditional fireside scene on Christmas Eve. On the stroke of midnight we are transported to an enchanting world where toy dolls come to life, an army of soldiers battles a gang of mice and a Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia UK Tour 2011 January 10 – 12 OXFORD New Theatre Swan Lake Mon 10th & Tues 11th at 7.30pm Sleeping Beauty Wed 12th at 2.00pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £35.50 - £13.50 Box Office: 0844 847 1585 January 31 – February 2 Wycombe Swan Romeo and Juliet Mon 31st at 7.30pm Swan Lake Tues 1st at 7.30pm Sleeping Beauty Wed 2nd at 2.30pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £32 - £18 Box Office: 01494 512000 March 24 – 26 AYLESBURY Waterside Theatre Romeo and Juliet Thurs 24th at 7.30pm Sleeping Beauty Fri 25th at 7.30pm The Nutcracker Sat 26th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £33 - £13 Box Office: 0844 871 7607 www.raymondgubbay.co.uk
l What’s On: Panto and more...
HHHH ‘SUMPTUOUS, STYLISH’ THE TIMES
TUE 25 - SAT 29 JAN BOX OFFICE 0844 8717607 gROUPS HOTLINE 0844 8717614 www.ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury
(Bkg FEE)
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
There’s a lorra lorra fun in store at Aylesbury’s Waterside theatre this month, where Queen of pantomime Cilla Black is appearing in the role of fairy godmother. The national treasure was a singing star before turning TV presenter and brings celebrity sparkle to a magical show bursting with lavish sets, glittering costumes, a live orchestra, hilarious boo-able ugly sisters and real Shetland ponies. Cilla is impressed with Aylesbury’s new theatre and told Vale Life: “I am so honoured to be appearing in the first ever panto to be staged at this fabulous new theatre. I’m looking forward to sprinkling a lorra, lorra magical fairy dust over the people of Aylesbury. I can’t wait.” Cilla will be joined on stage by hunky Gary Lucy (Hollyoaks, Footballers’ Wives, Dancing on Ice) as Cinderella’s dashing Prince Charming and TV funny man Andy Collins as Buttons. Cinderella is an enchanting family treat and sure to delight all ages.
Friday, Dec 10th to Sunday, Jan 9th Cilla stars from Friday, Dec 10th until Thursday, Dec 30th (inc), except for Tue 14 at 10.30am, Wed 15 at 10.30am, Fri 24 at 1.30pm and Fri 24 at 5.30pm. Times vary - contact Box Office or visit www.ambassador tickets.com/aylesbury for further details. Tickets price £17 - £29 are subject to a booking fee. Box Office: 0844 871 7607, Groups Hotline: 0844 871 7614, Access Booking: 0844 871 7677, Online Booking: www. ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury
Watch out Wycombe! These favourite things EastEnders bad boy Steve McFadden will lead the cast of this year’s spectacular swash-buckling Wycombe Swan pantomime, Peter Pan, in the role of the villainous Captain Hook! Jon Conway, Executive Producer of the show says: “Steve plays one of the best Captain Hooks ever to grace the stage...watch out, Wycombe!” www.wycombeswan.co.uk Saturday, Dec 11th to Sunday, Jan 9th . Tickets £9 to £25. Wycombe Swan Theatre Ticket Office 01494 512 000 St. Mary Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2XE.
Starline Entertainments Live bands, Solo Artists, DJs and Entertainers Christmas dates and New Year still available for a few acts. Entertainment for all functions and venues Tel 01844 353154 / 07779 732097 info@starlinepromotions.co.uk
Connie Fisher stars as Maria alongside Michael Praed as Captain von Trapp and Marilyn Hill Smith as Mother Abbess in a lavish and critically acclaimed production of The Sound of Music at Oxford’s New Theatre. Described as ‘A delight from start to finish’ it’s not a panto, but will warm the hearts of young and old alike! On from Tuesday, December 7th to Sunday, January 2nd. It is followed by Peter Pan on Ice from Thursday, January 6th to Sunday, January 9th. Details from www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk Box Office: 0844 847 1585.
Robin’s in the hood
At The Elgiva Theatre in Chesham Robin Hood returns home to Sherwood to find his father slain by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and Lady Marion, captured and held prisoner in his own castle which has been stolen by the Sheriff. He vows revenge and gathers together his followers, The Merry Men... Thursday, Dec 2nd to Monday, Jan 3rd. Elgiva Theatre, St Mary’s Way, Chesham, Bucks. HP5 1HR. Website: www.elgiva.com Stars Lee Bright as Robin Hood and Alexis Caley, who featured in the Scouting For Girls Video ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’ as Maid Marion. Tickets £8 to £16. Box Office: 01494 582900. Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
33
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
It’s a short run to Brum
S
eeing the really big acts doesn’t necessarily mean having to struggle into London. There’s some top shows on in the New Year at The NIA and LG Arenas, Birmingham which are a convenient drive up the M40. Below is just a selection of the shows on offer:
Thame based photographer Frank Millar has been out and about once more snapping life in the Vale. Below he has photographed the winners of the recent Thame’s Got Talent competition. Rock band Milk won a recording session at Black Frog Studios, singer Vicki Dawson, far right, won a photo session with Frank Millar and overall winner, classical singer Rowan Carter, second right, won a £200 cash prize donated by Kismet Jewellers. All pictures by Frank Millar: www.frankmillar.co.uk
Jedward in action during their recent concert at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre
Roxy Music (31 Jan LG Arena); Strictly Come Dancing (5-6 Feb LG Arena); John Bishop (8-9 Feb LG Arena); X Factor Live (19 Feb LG Arena); Boyzone (2 Mar LG Arena); Elbow (22 Mar The NIA); Taylor Swift (22 Mar LG Arena); Enrique Iglesais (26 Mar LG Arena); James Last (6 Apr The NIA); Dancing On Ice (16-18 Apr The NIA); Sade (25 May LG Arena); Lee Evans (22-26 Sept The NIA). For tickets and further information visit: www.theticketfactory.com or Tel: 0844 338 8000.
Win Queen book
D
espite the death of their exuberant frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991, Queen remain one of the most popular bands on the planet. Full of fascinating new revelations, eyewitness stories and insights, Is This the Real Life? by Mark Blake (Aurum £20) is a book every Queen fan will want to own. For a chance of winning a copy of this fabulous book, email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question to: editor@vale-life.co.uk. What was Freddie’s real name? Winner to be drawn at random and notified by email on January 7th. 34
Vale Life : Dec 2010 / Jan 2011
T
his year’s ‘Shop ‘til You Drop!’ shopping event in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in Oxford and Thomley Activity Centre in Worminghall, was once again a fantastic success raising around £6,200 for the charities. The event at The Oxfordshire Golf Cub in November featured around 50 stallholders not found on the High Street, selling all sorts of products from food to jewellery. Pictured left are shoppers at the Stables Farm shop stand
sales@criticalpowersupplies.co.uk
Sales: 0845 519 3638 Comprehensive Standby Power Solutions from stock including UPS, Generators and Renewable Energy Solutions. Order before Noon on the 20th of December 2010 for guaranteed delivery before noon on the 24th of December 2010.
Standby Power
Portable Generators
CSB Batteries
Yuasa Batteries
Victron Energy
Take control of your energy with Critical Energy and Power Solutions SPECIAL OFFER use code “ValeLife2010” on-line or over the phone before the 15th of December 2010 for an extra 5% discount.
www.criticalpowersupplies.co.uk
Tyres l Brakes l Batteries l Servicing l Exhausts l MOTs
Have you tried our Textbooker service? e’
ur ‘Nam
and yo xt ‘Join’
Te
(for e
x
: ample
ohn Join J 8
to 07
00
800 03 5
)
Smith
Fast fit you can be sure of
Autocentre New state of the art service centre Unbeatable prices Up to 25% Off* Tyres MOT from £25* Silver service and MOT £95*
* subject to terms & conditions
HiQ Aylesbury Unit 7, The Point, Gatehouse Way Aylesbury, Bucks HP19 8DB Tel: 01296 422226 www.hiqonline.co.uk Tyres l Brakes l Batteries l Servicing l Exhausts l MOTs
hello handsome
Beautiful design and fine craftsmanship have been inspiring people to fall in love with Frank Hudson furniture for over 60 years. Now, you too can view all established and stunning new Frank Hudson ranges in our beautifully refurbished, Victorian chair mill showrooms based in High Wycombe or visit our local stockist Lucas World of Furniture in Rabans Lane, Aylesbury. So, be inspired this weekend and visit Frank Hudson. We would love to see you.
01494 522011 www.frankhudson.com
Frank Hudson Ltd, Rosebery Avenue, Pinions, High Wycombe, Bucks HP13 7AH