Northants ma18 web by The Village Emporium

March/April 2018 The

Northants Edition

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The

illage Emporium

Contents

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thevillageemporiummagazine @EmporiumVillage

Welcome to The Village Emporium

6 Your garden 14 Your family 30 Look good, feel good 32 Out & about 46 Whats on? 55 Your home

Recipes

Spring is well and truly in the air, and our covers remind me of the day last year that we popped over to Mini Meadows Farm with Tracey of Barefoot Photographics to snap the handsome celebs on this issues covers. What a fun morning that was! We wish you all a Happy Easter, and enjoy reading our bumper edition.

Ali & Clare Features

6 Hedgerow homes 13 Unusual Easter traditions 18 The history of Mothering Sunday 20 Chocolate and study guides 22 Badby Woods 30 Plant based diets - fad or trend? 36 Tom MacRae - Weedon to Los Angeles 52 Art in the park 66 National butcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s week 62 Brixworth Music Festival 66 Jackson Grundy - 20 years of local

8 Spring vegetable risotto 14 Hot cross bread & butter pudding knowledge 70 The Grand National 2018 18 Simnel cake 26 Whole roasted seabass with

Competitions

fennel and olives

54 Rhubarb tart tatin

Brain teasers 24, 56, 58 4

20 24

40 Win a Heavenly Dessert for four 50 Win a personal shopping experience for

you and your friends at Terracotta, Rugby

31 Last issues competition winners

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Feature

Hedgerow homes Spring is in the air: the days are getting longer, the sun is warming the soil, lots of trees have promising little green buds and the birds are busy foraging around for materials to build their nests. As a florist and forager myself, I know how important it is to find just the right piece to bring an arrangement or a bouquet to life. In this way, birds will tirelessly forage for the perfect pieces of nesting material, working hard to find the ideal twig or length of dried grass, a piece of sheep’s wool clinging to a fence or a crinkly dried leaf flexible enough to weave into shape to create their nest. Perhaps the most important part of nest-building in the countryside is finding a safe location that offers plenty of cover from predators as well as access to enough food, so a nearby hedgerow will definitely be the first choice for most birds -- did you know that over 30 species of British birds nest in hedgerows? Hedgerows with grasses and wildflowers growing up underneath help hide nests and create such a diverse habitat, supporting all sorts of wildlife throughout the year. If you have been lucky enough to get a closer look at a bird’s nest, you will have probably marvelled at the amazing construction; it is hard to believe that a little bird can create all this without fingers and hands to manipulate the materials into place! It is usually a female

bird who makes the nest, by weaving and pushing materials into place with her beak and shaping with her chest, then securing the pieces with a ‘glue’ of either her own salvia or mud and finer grasses. So clever! I was lucky enough to watch and photograph our resident garden blackbirds building their nest and successfully raising two broods of four chicks last year. So here are a couple of photos of their beautiful nest for you to enjoy… in fact one photo has four baby chicks tucked inside the nest! I hope you manage to get out for a walk to enjoy the first signs of Spring along our hedgerows and remember to keep an eye open for the busy birds, flitting to and fro with mouthfuls of building materials to create their perfect ‘des-res’! Sue x Garden Gate Flowers Tel: 07933736988 E-mail: sue@gardengaterugby.co.uk www.gardengaterugby.co.uk

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Your garden

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Recipe

Seasonal produce

Spring vegetable risotto Serves 4 Cooking time 45mins

Ingredients 1 litre vegetable stock 100g asparagus tips 100g baby carrots, halved lengthways 200g fresh young peas, shelled 500g baby broad beans, shelled 2 tbsp olive oil 2 baby leeks, thinly sliced 300g risotto rice 1 tbsp pesto sauce 25g pine nuts, toasted

Method Bring the stock to the boil in a large saucepan, then reduce the heat, add the asparagus tips, carrots, peas and broad beans and simmer for 4–5 minutes until tender. Remove the vegetables with a draining spoon and set aside. Keep the stock simmering over a gentle heat. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan and add the leeks. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until they are bright green, then stir in the rice. Add 2–3 tbsp of the hot stock and cook gently, stirring until the liquid is absorbed. Continue adding the stock, a little at a time, until the mixture is soupy and the grains of rice are tender but still have a slight bite. This will take about 20 minutes. Stir in the pesto and season to taste. Gently stir in the asparagus, carrots, peas and beans and cook for a few more minutes until the vegetables are heated through. Serve in heated soup plates and scatter over the pine nuts.

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Your garden

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Your garden

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Your garden

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Feature

Unusual Easter traditions How will you celebrate Easter? Check out these unusual traditions... Pace Egg plays !

These plays were performed on Good Friday the drama involves a form of a combat between a villain named Old Tosspot and the hero St George. Historically the actors were working class men and women who toured the villages performing in pubs and on the street as a way of earning extra money. In the plays someone is always killed, this may be St George or a Turkish Knight known as Bold Slasher. The poor fellow is however revived by a comic doctor, linking to the Easter themes of death and rebirth The use of the word Pace is linked to the Latin word Pacha which translates to Easter. The egging part comes from the fact that performers were given eggs which were wrapped in onion skins and carefully boiled. They’d receive other gifts too, including money as an incentive to perform by the crowd. Some believe the phrase ‘to egg someone on’ originates from when rival groups of performers found themselves in the same village and traded insults. They also had wooden sword fights and even tried to steal each others Pace Eggs!

Egg rolling

The practice of egg rolling has become a tradition all on its own both in the UK and abroad. Pace eggs were

once rolled but it is now usually hard boiled decorated eggs which are rolled down a grassy hill with an ensuing competition to see whose egg can roll fastest and remain unharmed. The exact symbolism of egg rolling isn’t clear, but as eggs have links to the Easter and Spring themes of rebirth, renewal and fertility this seems to provide some reasoning for it. They became symbolic of the rolling away of the rock from Jesus Christ’s tomb before his resurrection.

Whipping Monday

Whipping Monday is linked to countries such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In Slovakia women are doused by men with water and whipped with braided willow branches. This is said to symbolise youth and strength and make women healthy for the Spring. The men then get a reward from the lady in question which is a dyed egg, a ribbon tied around their whip and for adults an invite in for some food and vodka. Some men also receive coins. In the Czech version there is no water. Just the whipping and here the implement is called the pomlazka with the tradition ending at noon.

Whatever you end up doing, have a Happy Easter!

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Recipe

The Blissful Bakery

Bespoke celebration cakes by an award winning cake artist.

Seasonal pudding

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Hot cross bread and butter pudding Serves 6-8 Prep: 20 mins Cooking time 40mins

Don’t forget...

Sunday 25th March

Ingredients 6 hot cross buns 30g salted butter 3 medium eggs 450ml whole milk 3 tbsp light muscovado sugar, extra for sprinkling A generous handful of raisins and sultanas ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Method First, cut your buns in half and butter both sides. Chop them in half again to make triangles and butter a medium-sized casserole dish. Layer the triangles made from the bottom half of the buns in the dish, press down a little and scatter with the fruit and nutmeg. Whisk together the eggs, milk and sugar – pour over three quarters of the custard and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Take the tops of the buns and pop into the custard mixture for 5-10 minutes. Arrange on top of the base layer, pour over any left over custard and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown on top and cooked through. Serve immediately with ice cream, single cream or yoghurt – it’ll keep for 2-3 days in the fridge.

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Recipe

Simnel cake Ingredients For the almond paste

250g/9oz caster sugar 250g/9oz ground almonds 2 free-range eggs, beaten 1 tsp almond essence

For the cake

The history of Mothering Sunday Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent which is exactly three weeks before Easter Day. Although it’s often called Mothers’ Day it has no connection with the American festival of that name. Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family. It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old.

Visiting the ‘mother’ church It was important for people to return to their home or ‘mother’ church once a year. The children would pick wild flowers or violets along the way to place in the church or give to their mothers. Eventually, the religious tradition evolved into the Mothering Sunday tradition of giving gifts, flowers, and home-made cards to their mothers.

Simnel cake One tradition for Mothering Sunday was to take a simnel cake packed with fruit, spices and marzipan to Mother. “I’ll to thee a Simnel bring, / Gainst thou go’st a Mothering,” wrote the celebratory poet Robert Herrick in the mid 17thcentury. Baking simnel cakes also celebrated the reuniting of families during the austerity of Lent.

175g/6oz butter or margarine 175g/6oz soft brown sugar 3 free-range eggs, beaten 175g/6oz plain flour Pinch salt ½ tsp ground mixed spice (optional) 350g/12oz mixed raisins, currants and sultanas 55g/2oz chopped mixed peel ½ lemon, grated zest only 1-2 tbsp apricot jam 1 free-range egg, beaten for glazing

Method

For the almond paste, place the sugar and ground almonds in a bowl. Add enough beaten egg and mix to a fairly soft consistency. Add the almond essence and knead for one minute until the paste is smooth and pliable. Roll out a third of the almond paste to make a circle 18cm/7in in diameter and reserve the remainder for the cake topping. Preheat oven to 140C/275F/Gas 1. Grease and line a 18cm/7in cake tin. For the cake, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and then sift in the flour, salt and mixed spice a little at a time. Finally, add the mixed dried fruit, peel and grated lemon zest and stir into the mixture. Put half the mixture into a greased and lined 18cm/7in cake tin. Smooth the top and cover with the circle of almond paste. Add the rest of the cake mixture and smooth the top leaving a slight dip in the centre to allow for the cake to rise. Bake in the preheated oven for 1¾ hours. Test by inserting a skewer in the middle - if it comes out clean, it is ready. Once baked, remove from the oven and set aside to cool on a wire rack. Brush the top of the cooled cake with the apricot jam. Divide the remainder of the almond paste in half; roll out a circle to cover the top of the cake with one half and form 11 small balls with the other half. Place the circle of paste on the jam glaze and set the balls round the edge. Brush the cake topping with a little beaten egg. Preheat the grill to high. Place the cake onto a baking tray and grill for 1-2 minutes, or until the top of the marzipan begins to brown. Alternatively, lightly heat the cake topping using a cook’s blow torch, until the marzipan is golden-brown.

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Feature

Chocolate and study guides –

Why Easter can be the start of a difficult time for learners. I was in teaching for some years and in my experience there a few points in the year where learners feel the pressure. The most obvious one is the exam / final work submission period but the one that gets forgotten is the period starting from around Easter when the learner, no matter what the age or level, is on the slow build to the end of the year. I am fortunate that my youngest (the only one still in education) goes to a fantastic school that really pushes her while also being incredibly supportive and understanding. No matter how good the school however the learners are still preparing for final course work, university exams, GCSEs and everything in between. For me at least the best help at this stage can come from parents, particularly if they are flexible in the support they offer. What I mean by this is that you know your offspring better than anyone else so tailor the support to match their personality and circumstances. There is working to be done. Revision, projects, dissertations and so on are fixed and unchangeable, how you help is not. Let me give you an example. Some time ago I taught a university student who had barrier with writing, coupled with a difficulty scheduling her time. Her mother came up with an ingenious solution. She was an avid watcher of Eastenders so they came to an arrangement. When the drums played at the end, she would ring the learner

and remind her to do course submissions. It worked like a charm, the work was submitted on time and to a higher standard. Here’s a few thoughts. 1. Help with ‘down time’. If all you can do is create breathing space, providing the work is happening as well, then offer that. 2. Make the structure fit the learner. Use your knowledge of your child to come up with good learning schedules. 3. How you did it, doesn’t matter! Make it about what works for them. 4. There are always other ways. Feel free to throw out or adapt things that don’t work for your child. The point is learning not following rules. 5. Shhhhhh! Know when to back off and allow them space. Would you learn with someone constantly watching? As a parent, helping them achieve is the goal so try to facilitate that in the way that works for them. Kevin Robinson 13 Media

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SMA Tuition SMA Tuition Tuition SMA SMA Tuition SMA Tuition Experienced private tutors available Experienced private tutors available available How do you Experienced private tutors Experienced private tutors available Experienced private tutors available •Primary subjects •Primary subjects figure out subjects when •Primary subjects •Primary •Primary subjects •Entrance exams •Entrance•Entrance exams exams •Entrance exams •Entrance exams •Secondary English Easter is? English •Secondary English •Secondary

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Step back in timeâ&#x20AC;Ś. Local to you

Badby woods A bluebell walk in the woods The air is crisp and fresh. I walk with my footsteps crunching the woodland floor beneath me. The breeze blows softly through the trees. I feel so cut off from the hustle and bustle of modern life. No sound interrupts my thoughts except birds singing above and wind whistling through the leaves. I feel serene, happy. On entering the woods, the sounds from outside stop. It is so peaceful. I walk quietly under the archway, a gatehouse, nearly demolished, but this one stony archway remains. It is a

lovely entrance to the wood, standing alone, beautiful and romantic. Imagine a pleasant walk through a sea of shimmering bluebells carpeting the woodland floor. The undergrowth is rich with wildlife and nature. This is Badby Woods in May and June. The woods are famous for their bluebells. However walking in these woods is beautiful any time of year. The woods are both inviting and interesting historically. These ancient woodlands include mighty native oak and ash trees, continuing a 750 year history of

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Step back in time…. Local to you

woodland cover. This poses the question: if trees could talk, what stories would they tell of the past?

A poacher’s paradise The past is a fascinating place, particularly where this woodland is concerned. Badby Woods has a long history of hunting and poaching throughout the centuries. In 1246 Henry III oversaw the creation of a deer park at Badby Woods for hunting and food. The King also granted the rare privilege of “free warren” on this land to the Abbott of Evesham – giving him permission to hunt and eat the game of the wood. But others were hungry too… Although the act of poaching was strictly forbidden, many medieval peasants had no choice. The life of a poacher was dangerous but often necessary for survival. They were out in the dark, hiding from view, skulking in the woods, creeping around in the shadows, to hunt deer and rabbits in order to feed themselves, their families, and sometimes members of the village. The punishment however was strict as the poor had no rights to these animals. The power to hunt as they saw fit remained with royalty and the aristocracy for hundreds of years.

II listed building - it is incredible to think of all the local people treading the same route into the woods, month on month and year after year – be they landed gentry, poachers lurking in the undergrowth, farm workers and artisans from the Fawsley Estate, or locals simply walking in the woods for pleasure. Remnants of the embankments and ditches can also be seen today. These were constructed to contain the deer, and once included a wooden park or boundary ‘pale’. These simple but highly effective ditch and bank boundaries to the east of the village and are amongst the best preserved in the county. This paints a fascinating picture of how the thirteenth century deer park might have looked.

Come take a look Badby Woods is a protected wildlife area, and includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Ancient woodland habitat of this kind has declined significantly throughout Northamptonshire and is now highly unusual in the county. Badby Woods is so special, it has even appeared in the top 10 of the best 100 woods and forests for history in the UK! (ref: Guardian Survey 2011). Rachel Twomey rftwomey@hotmail.com

Remnants and memories To be walking in these woods inspires a feeling of being lost in time. The arched gateway built from local stone is still standing and provides a magnificent entrance to the wood. To walk through this late eighteenth century gateway is like stepping through a time travel portal – magical. The impressive stone arch is now a grade

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Recipe

Lo-carb recipe

Whole roasted sea bass with fennel and olives Ingredients 4 small sea bass, gutted, scaled & fins trimmed 2 bulb of fennel 1 lemon 1 small orange Handful of basil 200g mixed olives 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp pine nuts Sea salt White pepper

Method Heat oven to 200Ë&#x161;c/180Ë&#x161;c/gm6

Score both sides of the bass and season with salt and pepper before placing into an oven dish. Fill the sea bass with the fennel mix and spread the remainder around the dish. Add the olives and drizzle the oil over the fish. Bake for 25 minutes, add the pine nuts and cook for a further 5 minutes. Enjoy with buttered new potatoes and salad or green beans. Recipe provided by Marc Eyres @ The Countryman, Staverton www.thecountrymanstaverton.co.uk

Slice the fennel, lemon, orange and basil and mix together.

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Your family “Daventry’s Leading Accredited Podiatry Clinic” Degree Qualified Podiatrists / Chiropodists accepted by most health insurers inc BUPA

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footwear. For those with regular sizing we now Bespoke orthotics REFUSED NHS TREATMENT??? stock Reiker and Josef Seibel ranges of quality - to improve foot New to Contented Soles, Daventry footwear for men and women. function using 3D ● Weekly toe nail cutting only for clinic Quality footwear problem feet. scanning technology ● No appointment necessary ● Walk in clinic www.wellheeled.org.uk only £21 ● Fridays 12-2pm

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Longlands Care Home London Road, Daventry NN11 4DY

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Longlands Care Home is a lively, happy dementia care home offering a complete pathway for dementia care offering daycare, respite, and residential care. For more information and details on any current vacancies please contact:

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Your family

Start-up workshop & networking

Grants

One-to-one business advice

Incubation workspace

Webinars

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Your family

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Feature

Plant-based diets – fad or trend? Plant-based lifestyle, or veganism, is becoming one of Britain’s fastest growing trends. There are now more than half a million vegans in Britain, according to research commissioned by The Vegan Society in partnership with Vegan Life magazine. The 2016 study, carried out by researchers Ipsos MORI, found 542,000 people in Britain are now following a vegan diet. Ten years before the estimated number of vegans was just 150,000. Concerns over animal welfare, clear labelling, increased accessibility to plant-based alternatives to dairy food and social media have all helped shift attitudes towards veganism.

What is a vegan? Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or poultry. Vegans, in addition to being vegetarian, do not use or consume other animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products. But a vegan restricted diet can cause nutritional deficiencies in Calcium, Iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D and Zinc. If a rich and varied diet of colourful foods is consumed every day, deficiencies can be avoided with the addition of a simple multivitamin and mineral supplement.

Look on the label to check that a vitamin, mineral or herbal product is vegan. Some capsules are made from gelatine, some tablets are coated with a gelatine spray or with beeswax or shellac to make them look shiny. The details are important—for instance some Vitamin D3 supplements are from sheep, while others are from vegan lichen. Remember the key to a healthy vegan diet is variety. Choose from a wide range of vegetables, fruits, pulses, grains, plenty of leafy greens, nuts and seeds. Providing you ensure a daily intake of a variety of nutrient sources, your general health should not suffer from being vegan.

New vegan barista Delicious vegan lattes, espressos, cappuccinos and more are now available at Sheaf Street Health Store. Daventry’s only independent health food store stocks an array of vegan food including non-diary cheese, yogurt, chocolate and non-animal-derived skincare and beauty. And now you can pop in for satisfying dairy-free hot brew! Take-out or sit down. For more information, advice and support, visit Sheaf Street Health Store, in Daventry, or the Facebook page.

Smoking, drinking, dieting, pregnancy, those taking medication including the contraceptive pill, older vegans and those undertaking more than the usual amount of exercise may need to consider further supplementation to avoid deficiencies and boost vitality.

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Look good, feel good

Full range of ELEMIS treatments and products available.

Helen Louise Beauty

2 Market Place Long Buckby M: 07881 631651 Find us on facebook

Beauty Therapist

Tracy Dixon BSc(Hons) www.village-emporium.co.uk

Private Community Physio

(Home Visits only) 16 years of clinical exper (9 years NHS experien

The competition winners from the last issue were:

Elderly Rehabilitation ! ! Post-Stroke Rehabilitatio ! Neurological Condition Tracy Dixon BSc(Hons)M.C.S.P Tracy Dixon BSc(Hons)M.C.S.P & Spinal ! Head(Home Private Community Physiotherapist Visits only)injuries Private Community Physiotherapist Exercise Therapy 19 years of clinical experience (9 years NHS experience) (Home Visits only) Joint and Muscle problem 16 years of clinical experience

! Elderly Rehabilitation ! Yelvertoft, Elderly Rehabilitation Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Northamptonshire, NN6 6 Neurological Neurological Conditions Conditions Head Spinal injuries Tel: 01788 822736 Head & &Spinal injuries Exercise Therapy Exercise Therapy (Answering Machine on at all t Joint and Muscle problems ! tracy.dixon3@btinternet.com Joint and Muscle problems (9 years NHS experience)

Mrs K Stickings, Bugbrooke Hello Cheese box Ms N Burton, Stretton-on-Dunsmore ÂŁ20 Darcys Delight chocolate voucher

Yelvertoft,

Northamptonshire, NN6 6LQ

More features, recipes, competitions and offers online at

www.villageemporium.co.uk

Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire, NN6822736 6LQ Tel: 01788

(Answering Machine on at all times)

Tel: 01788tracy.dixon3@btinternet.com 822736 ! (Answering Machine on at all times)

tracy.dixon3@btinternet.com

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ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, BRIXWORTH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

FRIDAY 20TH APRIL - SUNDAY 29TH APRIL

BRIXWORTH

MUSIC

FESTIVAL 2018 FRIDAY 20TH 7.30pm Memphis Blue, Rock’n’Roll Music of the 50s and 60s SATURDAY 21ST 3.00pm Piano Recital, Oksana King SATURDAY 21ST 7.30pm Northamptonshire County Youth Brass Band

SUNDAY 22ND 7.30pm ‘Angel Voices’, Fiori Musicali Transcendental music from the Renaissance and the Modern WEDNESDAY 25TH 7.30pm ‘If Music Be the Food of Love’ An Evening of Poetry and Song. Includes the winner of our International Competition for Women Composers.

Tickets available on the door or: www.wegottickets.com Further information and concert details: www.brixworthmusicfestival.co.uk 01604 740796

FRIDAY 27TH 7.30pm Tedesca String QuartetHaydn, Schubert and Finzi SATURDAY 28TH 7.30pm Brixworth Festival OrchestraBeethoven, Mozart and more SUNDAY 29TH 12.00 noon Brixworth Songsters, Singing Saints and Brixworth Primary School Choir (free concert) SUNDAY 29TH 7.30pm 'An Old English Fantasy'A Concert of Early Music

Out and about

Looking for a family get together or a fun social gathering? Complimentary room hire when you hold your Sunday lunch or dinner with us until the end of October 2018 for parties of 10+. T&C’s apply

GET ALL THE FAMILY TOGETHER IN 2018

Sedgebrook Hall is the perfect place for your family reunion in 2018, with four different banqueting rooms to suit all guest numbers and requirements for your celebration. Whether it’s a reunion, a party or just a private dinner, we can accommodate all of your needs with tailored drinks and catering packages. Northampton’s central location makes it easy for family members from all over the country to access, with good transport links by road or rail. We can offer bedrooms for those guests looking to stay the night, and our small leisure club offers a gym, swimming pool and sauna if you’re looking to make a weekend of it! Our function spaces can cater for intimate parties of 8 all the way up to grand celebrations of 200 guests. Our landscaped gardens are the perfect backdrop for those family album shots and if the sun is shining, you can explore our grounds, woodland trail and Japanese garden. Please contact our events office on 01604 821666 or email us on SedgebrookSalesLead@SedgebrookHall.co.uk to discuss your plans with somebody in our team.

SEDGEBROOK HALL Northampton

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Out and about

‘The Furrow’

The traditional bar offers a range of beautifully cared for Ales, & Fine Wines. Lunch available daily or Tea & Coffee.

Three barns, in the large garden, open daily from 12.00, with a fabulous range of retro & vintage furniture, plants,flowers,collectibles & Antiques.

Friday Evening Supper Sunday Lunch See website for menus

The Plough Inn Everdon

Open Daily from 12.00-11.00pm

Bespoke Vintage Weddings. Please look at our website or contact us anytime

The Plough offers within a beautiful environment, high quality, freshly prepared food, using local & Seasonal Ingredients – In particular, our own home produced Lamb, Everdon Beef & Sausages.

Please call 01327 361606 or 07866789737

Live Music Events, please see website www.theploughinneverdon.com 34

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Out and about

Old Dairy Farm Craft Centre Spring Lambing Weekends Lambing sheds will be open between 10 am & 4.30 pm Entrance to the lambing sheds is £2 per person entrance to the rest of the Centre is free

Saturday 3rd March - Sunday 1st April Free entry to tearoom, art gallery, shops & car parking Lambing sheds are under cover, but a warm coat and wellingtons are advisable as we can't guarantee the weather Upper Stowe, Nr Weedon NN7 4SH - Just off the A5 between Weedon & Towcester Telephone 01327 340525 - www.olddairyfarmcentre.co.uk - Find us on Facebook

Looking for a sewing machine? Visit the new

sewing machine studio at

West Street, Weedon, Northamptonshire, NN7 4QU・01327 342212

We are agents for & Our knowledgable staff will help you with this important decision – call us to book a time for one-to-one help and to try out models, or pop in for a browse and have coffee & cake in our Conservatory Coffee Shop while you decide.

www.bramblepatchonline.com www.villageemporium.co.uk • 01788 298 050

Feature

Aspiration, Inspiration Tom MacRae – Weedon to Los Angeles Tom MacRae is an English screenwriter, author and playwright. He is the creator of Comedy Central’s Threesome, has written for Marple and Lewis for ITV, and Casualty, Doctor Who and Bonekickers for the BBC.

Abracadabra Tom’s earliest brush with the world of entertainment was becoming a magician. He was taken to the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry to see a magic show. Afterwards, he met one of the magicians who had become a designer and maker of magic tricks. He visited his workshop and was shown several tricks, one being levitation. Tom decided to make this effect for his GCSE in Design Technology for which he won a Midlands award! The school wanted to submit his design for a national award but Tom decided to withdraw because he did not want to offend the Magic Circle. Locally word got around and so lots of Saturdays and Sundays his lucky father had the role of magician’s assistant driving the entertainer to birthday parties with all his kit and bringing him home!

Now for university Tom left school at 16 and joined Daventry Tertiary College for two years. During that time he made a couple of short films and learnt what was to become the most

important skill for a writer – touch typing. Now for university. But which one and what subject to study? Many unrealistic discussions took place during which Oxford was rejected at the time, considered to lack sufficient egalitarianism. Informed advice was sought and an old friend, a professor of modern linguistics remarked that “as long as the area demanded intellectual vigour, any would do.” Anthropology at Goldsmiths was the answer. Tom is a very social and considerate person who has a sincere and successful manner with people. These qualities combined with enormous creativity and high motivation is the basis of his success. His three years’ experience at London University was very positive. Before London he decided to go on his own to India for six months. This was in the time before mobile phones. His parents could not believe it. Was this their boy who rather than go to the South of France preferred to stay at home with his grandmother? When he came home he was ‘grown up’.

Runner to writer He remained living in London and started looking for work. He became a ‘runner.’ “What’s a runner?” asked his parents. Someone who works in TV or film productions and is a general dogs body, does anything & everything

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Feature

leads to success they were told. While working on a TV production made both in Italy and England he found himself flying to Italy and back every day for two weeks. After the first day he asked the producer if, whilst on the plane could he have something to do. Every day she received a pile of stories and scripts from would be writers, and asked Tom to read and precis them. She enquired about Toms own work. The result was ‘Schools Out’ broadcast by Channel 4. It was nominated for a BAFTA award!

out at Xmas. Meanwhile Tom together with a friend of his, Dan Gillespie Sells leader of The Feeling, decided to write a musical. Later they met Jonathan Butterell who had seen a BBC documentary about a 16 year old school boy who wanted to go to his school prom dressed as a girl. Tom and Dan liked the idea and the result is ‘Everbody is Talking about Jamie’ now packing them in at Londons’ West End. The show was first produced at The CrucibleTheatre, Sheffield.

Dr Who ?

Tom, now living in Los Angeles is working on his third contract as writer/ producer for the very popular TV sci-fi series “ The Librarians” and has just been invited to attend the New York party celebrating 30 years of Andrew Lloyd Webbers’ “ Phantom of the Opera”.

One day Tom was walking down Charing Cross Road and noticed in Foyles a book signing by Russell T Davis. It was lunch time, the queue of people nearly gone. Russell looked up, Tom said that he didn’t have the book but very much admired Russells’ work. “Let’s have lunch” said Russell and they have been friends ever since. Tom was delighted that his first project with Dr Who (his favourite programme as a child) was the Cybermen. Work came thick and fast. He wrote a “Lewis” story (and got his mother a part as an extra) followed by a Miss Marple episode. Comedy Central commissioned Tom to write a comedy “Threesome,” it was a big success. For Sky he wrote a new story for Fungus the Bogeyman by Raymond Briggs which went

Not bad for a boy from Weedon who wanted to be a magician!

www.villageemporium.co.uk • 01788 298 050

Out and about

SIMPLY SALVAGED INTERIORS Vintage Handmade Upcycled & Antique

We are excited to announce that we have recently completed our expansion. Our increased number of independant traders now offer a wider selection of fabulous, classic, unique, and quirky items. Our stock covers vintage, retro, antique and upcycled, alongside original art, plus beautiful handmade and unusual pieces. Come and visit us at Heart of the Shires Shopping Village, and make sure you have plenty of time to browse. Open 7 days a week 10am - 5pm. Furniture Collectables Antiques

Jewellery Original artwork Handmade Classic toys

Simply Salvaged Ltd, Heart of the Shires Shopping Village, Watling Street, A5 North of Weedon, Northamptonshire NN7 4LB Tel: 01327 340010 email: info@simplysalvaged.co.uk www.simplysalvagedinteriors.co.uk simplysalvagedltd@facebook.com Photographs by Lightdraw.com

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Competition

Win a Heavenly Dessert for four The newest dessert experience to hit Northampton has now arrived and is open on Wellingborough Road. Heavenly Desserts is a fresh, stylish and contemporary dessert venue, perfect for catching up on the gossip, celebrating with family or simply having some time out just for you. The Heavenly Desserts artisans are dedicated to creating an extensive range of beautiful desserts which are available from 11am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 12pm Friday and Saturday, and include gluten free options, and a wide variety of award winning artisan teas. The lucky competition winner will truly be in dessert heaven as they, along with three friends, are invited to try out some of the tasty treats from the menu, all created from the finest ingredients. Whether a fluffy American waffle, warm cookie dough, or Belgian chocolate fondue, the winner is in for a heavenly treat - the only problem will be choosing who to take with you? To win, simply answer the following question, can you name two dishes available at Heavenly Desserts?

For more information visit www.heavenlydesserts.co.uk 229-231 Wellingborough Rd, Northampton NN1 4EF 01604 244694

How to enter

Deadline for entries April 12th 2018. The winner will be selected from correct entries. By email to takepart@ villageemporium.co.uk and pop your answer in the subject box, providing telephone number and home address in the body of the email, or by post iCon Environmental Innovation Centre, Eastern Way, Daventry, NN11 0QB.

NOW STOCKING:  Vegetable Plants  Fruit Trees & Bushes  Colourful Primroses  Baby Plants  Seed Potatoes  and much more… Don’t forget to visit our Coffee shop!

Rugby

Dunchurch

Hillmorton

J18 M1

Kilsby

Barby

We are here

Braunston

Daventry

Daventry Road, Barby, Nr Rugby, CV23 8TG Shop: 01788 890314 Coffee Shop: 01788 890350

www.barbynurseries.co.uk

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Out and about

Open every day 10am - 5pm Only £5 entry (under-twos free) www.minimeadowsfarm.com

Feed the farm animals...

Indoo r play a r NOW O ea PEN!

Explore the play areas... Relax in the cafe... Bottle-feed lambs... *until mid-April

tever a h w , t u e day o u l a v t eview a dvisor R A ip r “A gre T ther!” the wea Naseby Road, Welford, Northants, NN6 6HZ Tel: 07824 393517 www.facebook.com/minimeadowsfarm

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QUALITY BRANDS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE IN OVER 20 INDEPENDENT SHOPS

AMPLE FREE PARKING

Open 7 days a week â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10.00am to 5.00pm including Bank Holidays Shopping Village: 01327 349 508

www.heartoftheshires.co.uk Shopping as it should be on the A5 Nr Weedon NN7 4LB

Out and about

RUGBY TOWN CENTRE

SUNDAY 20th MAY 2018 10am to 4pm

RUGBY BIKEFEST A family friendly bike festival

Bikes l Ride-In l Stalls l Family entertainment l Music l Food www.therugbytown.co.uk/bikefest

Further information: Tel: 01788 890789 Email: info@ucltd.co.uk

@therugbytown

TheRugbyTownUK

Family Fun day

Sunday 1st April - 11am to 4pm

FREE

Easter Egg Hunt Face Painting - Giant Games Bouncy Castle - Surprise show Large & Free Car Park Inexpensive Food available Everyone welcome! For more information please call

01604 843939 opt. 2

Children must be accompanied by an adult Church Brampton, Northampton, NN6 8AX karen@bhgc.co.uk

More details at www.bhgc.co.uk 44

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Out and about

THE OLD KINGS HEAD - LONG BUCKBY

BURGER NIGHT every Wednesday

Free drink with every burger 6-9pm

STEAK NIGHT every Thursday

Free 175ml glass of wine and steak sauce with every steak 6-9pm

FISHY FRIDAYS

Friday 6th April to Sunday 8th April 2018

2 x market fish and chips or beer battered halloumi and chips for £15 5:30-7pm

Friday Starts at 6pm all day, live music throughout the day Saturday BBQ and kids crafts Sunday Sunday roasts 12-4 and finished with pub quiz 8pm.

Enjoy

GOLDEN OLDIES PENSIONERS DEAL 2 x courses for £10 Tuesday-Thursday

12-2pm and 6-7pm Terms and Conditions Apply

off with this voucher

Valid when you spend £20 or more on food. Not valid for use on 10th February and 11th March 2018. Not exchangeable for cash. Expires May 31st 2018.

www.villageemporium.co.uk • 01788 298 050

What’s on

What’s on?

A full list of events over the forthcoming months is available on our website www.villageemporium.co.uk/events/ Noticeboard

March

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday Tudor Rose Woodturners

Thursday 1st March & Thursday 5th April Grandborough Farmer’s Market

The Community Centre, Ashby Road, Daventry, NN11 OQE. www.tudor-rose-turners.co.uk

March/April café/events Green Acres Rural Enterprises

Café; Friday 9th March, Friday 23rd March, Friday 6th April, and Friday 20th April. Courses: Bread making (croissants and enriched dough) with Paul Raddan on Saturday 10th March. Pottery & Willow workshops - Saturday 10th & Saturday 24th March.

St Peter’s Church 10am -12.30pm. All locally sourced produce. Home- made refreshments.

Newnham Village Hall, 2.00 – 3.30pm. Entrance 20p. Many varied stalls, nearly new adult/children’s clothes, toys, books, good quality bric-a-brac, teas & cake.

Saturday 10th March Exploration and Discovery

Wednesday 14th -17th March Guilsborough Music & Drama Society

Mini Meadows Farm, Welford. Bottle-feed the new lambs & meet the other cute newborn animals in the baby barn. Open daily 10am-5pm. Normal £5 entry plus £1 per bottle. www.minimeadowsfarm.com

Open afternoon - Come and meet group co-ordinators and enjoy displays from the interest groups. U3a is for any ‘third-ager’ no longer working full time or bringing up a family. Daventry Community Centre, Ashby Road, 2-4pm 3rd Thursday of the month.

Saturday 10th March Jumble Sale

Daventry Museum will be holding a free science event coinciding with British Science Week. 10am & 4pm. Discover Daventry’s past whilst also learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) & take part in fun activities & experiments. Daventry Museum, 3 New Street,NN11 4BT. Museum is free to visit.

Throughout March until mid-April Lamb Bottle-Feeding

Thursday 15th March Daventry & District U3a

Present ‘A Damsel in Distress’ by P G Wodehouse & Ian Hay at Guilsborough Village Hall. Tickets £8 Weds – Fri, Gala Night Saturday 17th £11. www.gmadsociety.co.uk Tickets from www.wegottickets.com/ gmads or Frances on 01604 740549.

Wednesday 14th March Daventry WI

Meet in Daventry Methodist Church, 6 Golding Close, Daventry NN11 4FH at 2pm - 4pm. Contact Secretary Jean Gosling 01327 563065

Thursday 15th March Warwick Castle: A Forgotten Collection

Illustrated lecture by Adam Busiakiewicz MA , former Head of Historical Interpretation at Warwick Castle. 7.30pm at the Benn Hall, Rugby. Wine & orange juice on sale from 7pm. Visitors welcome. The Arts Society, Rugby. Contact Joy Lunn 01455 209489

Saturday 17th March “Crick Village Market”

Crick Primary School, 10am – 12 noon. Twenty plus stalls, home produced breads, cakes, meats, jams & chutneys, gifts, jewellery & cards, knitted hats & clothing. Coffee and teas. The Mobile Library will be in the car park 10.15am to 11.30am.

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What’s on Saturday 24th March A Charity Dinner in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

7pm at Highgate House, Creaton. Tickets £30 incl. welcome drink & three course meal. Music provided by Eric Darlington with the John Cleveland Band & there will be fantastic prizes in the raffle. To reserve your tickets call 01327 871100 or email chairman@ daventrydc.gov.uk.

Saturday 17th March Country Music Concert

West Haddon Village Hall, featuring The Haley Sisters. With beautiful harmonies and excellent acoustic guitar work, 7.30 pm start. Raffle in aid of Air Ambulance and Hamilton house. Tickets £ 8.00p. Call Bernard 01788 823136 or 07752859757

Monday 19th March Easter Bingo

Tuesday 27th March onwards Daventry Photographic Society 2018/19 events

Meet every week, 7.30pm at Mayfield Park Sports Club, Daventry. NN11 9FZ. Competitions, presentations, guest speakers & field trips. Suitable for any adult with an interest in photography, regardless of level. www.daventryphotographicsociety. co.uk or call Roland Puleston-Jones on 07818 252498 for more information.

April

Galanos House, Southam CV47 2BL. For Service people past & present & their families. Eyes down 7.30PM Bar open & refreshments, lots of prizes. 01926 812185

Friday 23rd March Village Voices Northamptonshire choir

Performs the beautiful and uplifting “Requiem” by Bob Chilcott at St. Peter’s Church, Walgrave 7.30pm More details and tickets at www.village-voices.org.uk/

The Old Vicarage, Norton Based upon a traditional but once faded vicarage layout, the garden aims to be lively and colourful throughout the year. The c14. Church of All Saints will be open. The Old Vicarage, Daventry Road, Norton, Daventry, NN11 2ND 1.00pm - 4pm. £4.00, children free. Teas in the orangery. Mr & Mrs Barry & Andrea Coleman hello@ngs.org.uk

Wednesday 18th April Daventry WI

Meet in Daventry Methodist Church, 6 Golding Close NN11 4FH at 2pm-4pm Contact Secretary Jean Gosling 01327 563065

Wednesday 21st March Badby and District Photo Club

Talk by local photographer Malcolm Cook on his journey to gaining a top photographic award. 8.00pm Badby Village Hall. Extend your interest in photography & hear about the work of professionals fellow enthusiasts. Further details from www.badbyphotoclub.org.uk

Sunday 15th April NGS Open Gardens

Thursday 19th April Photography as Fine Art

Illustrated lecture by Brian Stater BA MSc. 7.30pm, Benn Hall, Newbold Road, Rugby. Wine & orange juice on sale from 7pm. Visitors welcome. The Arts Society, Rugby. Contact Joy Lunn 01455 209489

Wednesday 11th April Daventry Museum

Free performance of ‘Tea with Oscar Wilde’ by Don’t Go in to the Cellar Theatre Company 2 pm to 3pm. Victorian theatre with bite – an immersive and interactive theatre experience suitable for ages 11+ Please call 01327 301246 to book your free tickets.

Friday 20th April to Sunday 29th April Brixworth Music Festival

Nine superb concerts over 10 days, ranging from classical to pop, from chamber ensembles to brass band and orchestral music. Tickets £12 or festival pass is £25. 16s & under free with an adult. All Saints’ Church, Brixworth. www.brixworthmusicfestival.co.uk/

www.villageemporium.co.uk • 01788 298 050

What’s on

May Sunday, 6th & Monday, 7th May Annual Plant Fair

The Northamptonshire Group of the Hardy Plant Society is holding their Annual Plant Fair at Holdenby House 11.00am to 4.00pm. The gardens will be open and there will be falconry displays.

Sunday 6th May Great Brington Gardens Saturday 21st April St. George’s Day Celebration

Come along to Barby Village Hall at 7.30pm on to enjoy an evening of songs, traditional folk dancing with” Three Around Three” and good homemade English grub to celebrate St. George’s Day. Tickets are £15 Call Mary on 01788 890114 or Jackie on 07956361833

Sunday 22nd April NGS Gardens Open Day

Cottesbrooke Hall, Cottesbrooke, NN6 8PF from 2.00pm -5.30pm. Adults £7, Child £4. Tea Room serving tea/coffee & homemade cake. For further information call 01604 505808.

Sunday 29th April NGS Open Gardens

Seven gardens including one new garden which has never been accessible to the public. Free parking, programmes & maps, plant stalls & a local history exhibition. Small coaches of groups up to 26 max welcome by prior arrangement only, please call 01604 770939. 11am - 5pm. Combined admission £5.00, children free. Home-made teas & cakes in Parish Church & morning coffee & lunches in Reading Room all in aid of The Friends of the Parish Church of St Mary.

Guilsborough NN6 8RA Seven gardens, incl a flower arranger’s small garden, to large gardens with sweeping lawns, mature trees & beautiful views. Rare & unusual plants on sale. 1.00pm - 5.30pm. Combined admission £6.00, children free. Home-made teas in village hall. No wheelchair access at Dripwell & The Gate House. No dogs at Oak Dene. hello@ngs.org.uk 01483 211535

Sunday 29th April Harpole Bowls Club

Saturday 21st April Crick Village Market

Crick Primary School, 10.00am to 12.00am. Twenty plus stalls, breads, cakes, meats, jams & chutneys, jewellery & cards, knitted hats & clothing. Coffee and teas. The Mobile Library will be in the car park 10.15am to 11.30am.

Open day, come along & give bowls a try, 10.30am - 4-00pm. Bowls & coaching provided, bring flat soled footwear, refreshments available, ample parking outdoor green & indoor short mat. New members welcome. Harpole Bowls Club, Larkhall Lane, Harpole, NN7 4DP Call 07594 493894

Get in touch... If you are organising a charity or community event, then let us know so we can publicise it for you. Just email info@villageemporium. co.uk by April 5th for events in May/June 2018.

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9-10 June 2018

A WHOLESOME, FUN DAY OUT FOR FOODIES AND FAMILIES ALIKE

BOOK TICKETS ONLINE AT WWW.TOWCESTERFOODFESTIVAL.CO.UK

JOIN US AT TOWCESTER RACECOURSE FOR A WEEKEND OF FOOD AND FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Competition

Win a personal shopping evening for you and your friends at Terracotta Boutique Its certainly a big and exciting year for Terracotta in 2018 as we celebrate its 25th birthday!

market, providing the best products we can source at a reasonable price then presented in a visually pleasing and vibrant environment/online platform.

This well established retail business has seen many fashion trends come and go over the years since it first opened its doors in April 1993.

It goes without saying we thoroughly engage with the online world which is imperative in any modern day business. Visit our web page, follow us on social media for the best up to date content. www.terracotta-boutique.co.uk

The industry and the retail landscape has changed such a lot yet itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kept going, moving forward, embracing new ideas and methods. Keeping up, keeping it fresh and not being left behind is the secret to longevity. Terracotta prides itself on excellent customer service, building good customer relationships, knowing customers on first name terms and the different generations of their family. We recognise our core

We are thrilled to be celebrating Terracotta reaching a quarter of a century and have loved every minute of it which is why we intend to mark the occasion with our customers as a big thankyou for all your support through the years - we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done it without you. Look out for whats up and coming...

Win a personal shopping evening Celebrating 25 years of independent trading in Rugby is a fabulous milestone and one lucky winner of this competition can book a personal shopping evening with 9 friends at Terracotta Boutique to include Prosecco and nibbles. You will get discounted shopping on the night for purchases any of you may make. Terracotta Boutique is known for its diverse and individual styles for women seeking that more fashionable edge! Terracotta stock is constantly changing keeping the store fresh and exciting. We are always sourcing new brands from across Spain, France, Denmark, Italy and the UK. The lucky winner will need to liase with the team at Terracotta to agree a date for the diary. The winner will be selected at random from all correct answers submitted on April 12th.

Question: In what year did Terracotta first open a store in Rugby? How to enter

Deadline for entries April 12th 2018. The winner will be selected from correct entries. By email to takepart@villageemporium.co.uk and pop your answer in the subject box, providing telephone number and home address in the body of the email, or by post iCon Environmental Innovation Centre, Eastern Way, Daventry, NN11 0QB.

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in the best o ol h c s o t back our collection includes: shoes..

Out and about

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We are an independent business established since 1996, fitting a wide variety of high quality children’s shoes. 9 Bank Street, Rugby, CV21 2QE 01788 573502

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SHOP OUR EXCITING AND INSPIRATIONAL SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION 13 Bank street Rugby CV212QE or on our website www.terracotta-boutique.co.uk

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The Travel Locker…. Local to you

Art in the park Most major art exhibitions can be found hanging on the hallowed walls of two or three of our capital cities leading art galleries. As an art lover, this can mean a lot of travelling, an expensive train ticket, long queues at the gallery and hefty admission ticket. It has in the past put me off visiting some exhibitions. So, it was with much delight that I discovered the highly acclaimed Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park, an 18th-century country mansion, situated a short drive away, on the Warwickshire and Oxfordshire border. The house opened as a national art gallery fourteen years ago, under the capable patronage of the Moores family, of Littlewoods renown. The House, a Grade 1 listed Robert Adam Mansion is set in 120 acres of picturesque parkland, designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, the most famous landscape architect of the 18th century. A delightful walk through a small copse takes you past a restored Ice House to a small stone bridge which provides a wonderful view of the grand Georgian Mansion. The park is rich in history and has a wide variety of activities for both adults and children to enjoy and explore throughout the year, whatever the weather. Activities include bird watching, Tai Chi, orienteering, a labyrinth to explore, nature trails and a family friendly café and gift shop. There is also an outdoor adventure playground for the children.

Be sure to check out ‘Capability’ Brown’s new chapel located on a slope to the north of the main house. Restoration of this magnificent building was completed in summer 2016 and is a real delight. The extensive and attractive grounds also includes a curious art installation called The Clearing, which is a geodesic dome, made of recycled materials, at the edge of a scenic lake. Compton Verney has also been the location for two film productions; a BBC production of Iris Murdoch’s The Bell and for Peter Hall’s celebrated 1968 film of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, starring a young Judi Dench. The house currently displays six permanent artistic collections and two special exhibitions run concurrently, offering a range of historic and modern art. The Chinese Collection contains one of the finest collections of ancient Chinese bronzes outside of China. The British Folk Art Collection is the largest collection of British folk art in the UK. Folk art is a wide-ranging term includes objects made by untrained artists, or made by people trained as sign-painters who were able to use their painting skills to make their own artworks. The recently updated collection is extremely diverse including weathervanes, shop signs, paintings of animals, street scenes, furniture and agricultural implements. There is also a painting by hugely cherished Cornish folk artist Alfred Wallis.

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The Travel Locker…. Local to you

The Naples Collection (1600-1800) represents a cross-section of artistic masterpieces from the ‘Golden Age’ of Neapolitan Art. The Marx-Lambert Collection celebrates the work of Enid Marx (1902-1998) an English painter, author, illustrator of children’s books and textile designer. The collection showcases work produced by Marx and a large number of examples of folk art which were assembled by Marx and her friend Margaret Lambert (1906-95). Northern European Collection (1450 – 1650) Northern European artists created a design different from their southern neighbours, characterised by strong detail, gilding and colourful palettes. The British Portraits Collection features portrayals of royal and noble sitters from the Tudor period (1485-1603) including Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Edward VI. From 17th March – 10th June two major special exhibitions are on display. Ravilious & Co: The Pattern of Friendship. English Artist Designers 19221942 and Created in Conflict: British Soldier Art from the Crimean War to Today. The grounds re-open after the winter closure on Sat 10 February and the house, galleries and cafe re-open on Sat 17 March. Discover the delights of Compton Verney, where there’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether viewing the award winning galleries, simply roaming the acres of beautiful parkland or actively taking part in one of the many daily activities. Compton Verney Warwickshire CV35 9HZ Telephone: 01926 645 500 Email: info@comptonverney.org.uk Twitter: @ComptonVerney

Jim Davis The Travel Locker www.thetravellocker.com Twitter: @thetravellocker Facebook: thetravellocker Jim Davis is a retired Northamptonshire secondary school teacher. Having worked as a freelance journalist for many years, writing about the local Northamptonshire music scene and more recently the fortunes of Daventry Town FC, since his retirement, he now writes a travel blog.

www.villageemporium.co.uk • 01788 298 050

Recipe Local family business established for over 25 years

MASSIVE RANGE OF LIGHTING Seasonal produce

including lamps, wall lights, chandeliers, LED lighting, outdoor lighting and eco & traditional light bulbs

Why not visit our Daventry Showroom?

Rhubarb tart tatin

Unit 10 Station Close, Vicar Lane, Daventry, Northants NN11 4FJ

Serves 8 Prep: 15 mins Cooking time: 20 mins

Email : sales@accentlighting.co.uk

Phone : 01327 703 123

Ingredients 650g thin-stemmed forced rhubarb 100g caster sugar 2 star anise 25g butter ½ lemon, juiced 320g sheet ready-rolled puff pastry Ice cream, to serve

Method You’ll need a large, heavy-based ovenproof frying pan, or a Tatin pan. Using the pan as a guide, cut the rhubarb into batons to fill the pan – longer pieces look better than small pieces – then set aside. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 7 and tip the sugar into the frying pan. Bubble until the sugar has dissolved and turns a shade or two darker. Add the star anise, then remove from the heat and lay the rhubarb in the pan, curved-side facing down. Dot with the butter and sprinkle over the lemon juice.

www.accentlighting.co.uk

A. STEEL PLUMBING AND HEATING Fully qualified plumber of 8 years All aspects of plumbing undertaken Emergency call out Free quotations Boiler service & repair Unvented cylinders service & repair m: 07825 305756 t: 01327 842058 a: Long Buckby NN6 7QA

Trim the pastry to a circle slightly larger than the pan and put it on top of the rhubarb, tucking it in around the edges. You can now chill for up to 24 hrs, or cook straight away. Bake for 15-20 mins until the pastry is golden and puffed and the caramel is bubbling around the edges. Put your serving plate over the pan and carefully flip it over (be wary of the hot juices!). Serve in the middle of the table with ice cream piled on top, or cut into slices.

556309

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Your home advertorial

Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid these problems. Now, you may think you need to replace the

whole window including the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solutionâ&#x20AC;Ś Just replace the glass!! If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you how we can fix it. With

years of experience Cloudy2Clear have a wealth of knowledge and are recognised as a Which Trusted Trader, plus our work is backed by an industry leading 25 year guarantee. Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors. Your friendly local Cloudy2Clear specialist is Trevor Skidmore and he services the Northampton area. So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Trevor a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118.

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!

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Your home

Our glass comes with a 10 year guarantee SAMPLE PRICE LIST (INC FITTING & VAT) IMUM NO MIN CHARGE L OUT NO CAL R A C H GE

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furniture for your home and kitchen

Your home

Whatever you are looking for from a small table in a hallway to a bespoke fitted kitchen, make Swan Bespoke Furniture your first port of call.

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Whatever you are looking for from a small table in a hallway to a bespoke fitted kitchen, make Swan Bespoke Furniture your first port of call. Custom designed around your budget and style.

Beautiful, quality, handmade bespoke furniture for your home and kitchen Whatever you are looking for from a small table in a hallway to a bespoke fitted kitchen, make Swan Bespoke Furniture your first port of call. Bespoke Furniture

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Your home

Ideal Tanks & Pumps Ltd. Supply & Installation of all types of oil storage tanks for domestic & commercial use. • OFTEC registered engineers advise and install • All Aspects of the work undertaken as required Tanks, Plastic or Steel, Single skin or bunded Tank Cleaning Pipework to boiler Fittings & Ancillary equipment Bases & Plinths for tanks Removal of old tanks & oil Transfer of oil Testing of tanks and oil pipes Extra long tank fill points for those difficult to reach tanks Over 50 years of experience and expertise

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Crossword

Crossword Clues Across 1 Place where you can stargaze indoors (11) 9 Member of the clergy (abbr) (3) 10 Seductive woman (9) 11 Rigidly, inflexibly (8) 12 Ban, prohibit (4) 14 Regional style of speech (6) 16 Oat-based breakfast food (6) 18 Alone (4) 19 Loosest fitting (8) 22 Came together again (9) 23 Sense of self-esteem / self-importance (3) 24 No hearing at all (slang) (4,2,1,4)

Down 2 Crowbar (5) 3 Observing, seeing (8) 4 Eastern place of worship (6) 5 Appraise, estimate (4) 6 Rubbish, no good (7) 7 Intruders, infiltrators (11) 8 League, club (11) 13 Congested (6,2) 15 Light perfume (7) 17 University grounds (6) 20 A bet with equal stakes on both sides (5) 21 Dog’s bark (4)

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Your home

For contemporary or classic design visit RFK and see the Midland’s best, award winning, independent kitchen showrooms . . .

RFK Rugby, Cottage Leap, Rugby, CV21 3XP Tel: 01788 547647 www.rfkkitchens.co.uk

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Your home

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Feature

Brixworth music festival Brixworth music festival launched onto the Northamptonshire music scene four years ago when a group of talented composers and musicians came together to bring world class music to the county. It runs over a ten day period in late April and most performances take place in the 10th century church of All Saints’, with its unique saxon architecture and glorious acoustic. The festival attracts diverse performers from jazz groups, brass bands, early music ensembles, orchestras and string quartets. The last event brought a world-class, classical accordionist from Germany, the previous year saw a visit and talk from the Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir, herself an enthusiastic supporter of the festival. One of the festival highlights is the mid-week “Evening of Poetry and Song”, hosted by the Rector of Brixworth,

Chloe Willson-Thomas and her husband Gwion Thomas, both professional singers. Chloe and Gwion assemble some of Northamptonshire’s best musicians and actors to present a musical chocolate box of an evening. The ambience is that of an intimate 17th century salon. This year’s concert will include the winner of an international competition for women composers pioneered by the festival. Most residents of rural north Northamptonshire would have to travel to Northampton, Market Harborough or London to hear music of similar quality. For ten days each April, it is right on their doorstep. They’d be crazy to miss it. For more details go to www.brixworthmusicfestival.com

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Your home

Extended Showroom Now Open With Even More Products On Display

Park Lane Windows, Doors & Conservatories

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Feature

20 years of local knowledge and the personal touch No matter how much research you may have undertaken, often moving house is a leap into the unknown. Here at Jackson Grundy’s Long Buckby office we are aware how traumatic the process can be and that our job is as much about people as it is property. It is now 20 years since we opened the doors to our Market Place office, dealing with villages in north-west Northamptonshire, and it is fair to say we have dealt with almost every type of property and person the area has to offer. So much of our work is based on recommendation and repeat business. Here is a typical response from a happy client posted on a well-known review website this year which illustrates our commitment to making the whole moving experience as personal as possible. “Richard and Jo at the Long Buckby office have been extraordinarily helpful to me over a period of nearly three years- valuing my property several times over 18 months while I decided whether to sell or not, seeing me through a rather protracted process of eventually selling

my house. They are thoroughly professional, friendly and efficient with excellent communication at all times-and above all, the service they offer is a personal one. They genuinely care for you as a client, it’s not just a matter of the bottom line.” Myself, Jo and Lyn work and live in the villages that make up our geographical patch and find ourselves selling the lifestyle that our wonderful part of the county has to offer as much as the bricks and mortar. The lovely period building from which we work is part of the county-wide network of Jackson Grundy offices, and we consider ourselves fortunate to be a branch which specialise in village property. We look forward to another 20 years of providing our clients with “Modern Marketing, Traditional Values and Local Knowledge” combined with our very own personal approach. Many thanks to all our customers past and present, and we look forward to welcoming all our future clients though our doors. Richard, Jo and Lyn. www.jacksongrundy.com

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Kitchens | Bedrooms | Panelling | Libraries | Studies We all have a vision of our perfect kitchen; traditional or modern, rustic or minimalist. No matter where you are, Fraser James Furniture is the natural choice. At Fraser James, we can make your vision a reality. Everything is hand finished and checked, doing that little extra to ensure the highest quality product.

01327 315037 www.fraserjamesltd.co.uk

Feature

Installation & refurbishment specialist Heating design & installation Bathroom design & installation Unvented water systems

National butchers’ week March 12th – 18th

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Once every high street boasted a butcher or two, then along came giant supermarkets and things changed. In the early 1990s the number of butchers in Britain was 15000; by the millennium there were just 6000. But in the past few years things have been looking up for butchery. Consumers are demanding more locally sourced and sustainable meat. The horsemeat scandal a few years ago also gave the industry a boost as consumers became more wary about processed food. One of the main influences though has been the rise in cookery programmes. We are becoming a nation of cooks. Celebrity chefs urge shoppers to try unusual cuts of locally sourced meat and this has prompted a boom for traditional high street butchers. When Jamie Oliver praises the thrifty tastiness of brisket, viewers are quick to follow his advice and head to their local butcher.

David Sleight Conservation

The Meat Trades journal - which organises National Butchers’ Week - reports that an “overwhelming number” of people in the UK would prefer to buy from a butcher than a supermarket. Because it was often a family business, lots of butchers can trace their origins back generations. These businesses take great pride in their work. A good butcher will be able to advise on portion size and cooking methods, and will do some or all of the meat preparation for you. It might be a little early in the year to bust out the BBQ but a nice slow-cooked brisket could be the perfect supper dish for a chilly March evening.

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Are you Freezing in the Winter and Sweltering in the Summer? Nu-Look Conservatory Roof Solutions can solve these problems with low cost conservatory roof conversion systems that will give you back the room and space you wanted in the ﬁrst place. We have over 40 years combined experience in the conservatory and rooﬁng business. Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on the quality of workmanship and service that we provide. We’ll transform your conservatory into a room that’s perfect every day of the year!

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P.R.S 2018 CELEBRATES OUR 25TH YEAR IN BUSINESS

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Your home Even more choice at Soft Furnishings by Mickie Fenwick Wilson

Designs that are as individual as your home Bespoke curtains, pelmets and roman blinds, fitted if required. Wood, metal and venetian blinds. Cushions, loose covers, beautiful home accessories and lots more... Visit our studio at: 61 The Square, Dunchurch CV22 6NU 01788 813334 Email: mickiecurtains@hotmail.co.uk

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Feature Carpet, Rug, Upholstery & Hard Floor Cleaning Specialist Est 1987 • Modern High Powered Machinery

The Grand National 2018 Will you have a flutter on April 14th?

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On April 3rd 1993, the world-famous horse race was reduced to a shambles? A disastrous sequence of events began just before the race was due to start when animal rights protestors ran onto the track near the first fence. They were removed and the race officials asked horses and riders to line up again. Then there were two false starts caused by horses and riders becoming tangled with the starting tape. On the second false start, although the red recall flag was waved it didn’t unfurl, and 30 of the 39 riders raced away.

Jockey recall

Members of the crowd and officials all tried to recall the jockeys but without success. 11 riders completed the first circuit before they pulled up, and seven riders never realised anything was wrong. They completed the gruelling course and raced to the finish line. Esha Ness, a 50-1 outsider trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by John White, crossed the line first but the race was declared void, depriving the horse’s owner, Patrick Bancroft, of the £76000 prize money. However she went on to win again two years later, with Royal Athlete.

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Call Jennifer - come see both & decide which youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like.

Work carried out by

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24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

TEL: 01604 248668 www.turnertanks.co.uk

24 when responding to adverts Please mention The Village Emporium

DELIVERING SINCE

2005

The Village Emporium is once again pleased to be publishing the offical guides for

Towcester Food Festival 9 - 10 June 2018 Northampton Winter Food Festival 10-11 November 2018 The festival guides are delivered to local homes and businesses three weeks prior to each event.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss a great opportunity to promote your business locally!

Call us for more information or to book on 01788 298050 Towcester Food Festival 20,000 copies Hand delivered door to door in: Abthorpe, Adstone ,Alderton ,Astcote, Blakesley, Blisworth, Bradden, Bugbrooke,Cold Higham, Caldecote, Church Stowe, Duncote, Eastcote, Everdon, Farthingstone, Fosters Booth, Grafton Regis, Greens Norton, Grimscote, Hulcote, Litchborough, Maidford,Pattishall, Paulerspury, Plumpton End, Potterspury, Pury End, Roade, Shutlanger, Silverstone, Slapton, Stoke Bruerne, Upper Stowe, Tiffield, Wappenham, Weedon, Weedon Lois, Weston, Whittlebury, Wood Burcote, Woodend, Woodford Halse, Yardley Gobion

Official Media Partner for the Towcester Food Festival 9th and 10th June 2018 and Northampton Winter Food Festival 10th and 11th November 2018

Northampton Winter Food Festival 20,000 copies Hand delivered door to door in: Brixworth Boughton Chapel Brampton Church Brampton Cogenhoe Duston - Old and New Earls Barton Great and Little Houghton Moulton Pitsford

HOW TO ADVERTISE

The booking deadline for the May/June 2018 issue is 12th April 2018. Hand delivered to10,500 homes and businesses every issue. For more info call us on: 01788 298050 or send us an email: info@villageemporium.co.uk

The Village Emporium, iCon Environmental Innovation Centre, Eastern Way Daventry NN11 0QB

Registered in England No. 5201035 The views and opinions expressed in The Village Emporium including those claims and opinions expressed in any advertisements are independent of, and do not necessarily reflect, the views and opinions of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of the advertisements placed by advertisers. Editorial material does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publishers and neither editorial nor advertisements are to be read as recommendations on the part of the publishers. All advertisements and editorial are published in good faith and advertisers are asked to provide advertisements that are accurate, legal and honest. The Village Emporium is a registered trade mark of Emporium Publications Ltd

Advertisers Index Your garden Austin Purdeys Tree Care......................... 8 Aquaflames Hot tubs................................ 9 Farol................................................................. 9 Grenadier Guardener..............................12 I.N.Sheds......................................................12 Joe Brandom.......................................10, 11 Jumbo Jet...................................................... 7 Kim Tegg........................................................ 8 Nice n Stripy................................................. 7 The Constant Gardener..........................12 Timber Tech Tree Services....................... 7

Your family Barefoot Photographics.........................25 Blissful Bakery............................................14 Brixworth Dental Practice.....................15 Daventry Dental Practice.......................17 Kilsby Cattery.............................................19 Long Buckby Dental Practice...............21 Moira Morriss Memorials.......................21 Shaw Healthcare Group.........................27 The University of Northampton Enterprises...........................................28, 29 Wilson Browne Solicitors.......................24 World Odyssey...........................................51 DoDo Computers.....................................24 Revive Auto Innovations........................16 Towcester Veterinary Centre................19 Willow Edge Accountancy....................14

Look good, feel good Central Podiatry Limited........................31 Contented Soles........................................27 Helen Louise Beauty................................31 Physio First..................................................31

Out & about Barby Nurseries.........................................40 Brampton Heath Golf Centre...............44 Heart of the Shires Shopping Village......................................43 Holdenby House Events..................34, 39 Houlton........................................................42 Mini Meadows Farm................................41 Niki Luâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boots & Shoes...........................51

Rugby Bikefest...........................................44 Sedgebrook Hall.......................................33 Simply Salvaged.......................................38 Terracotta....................................................51 The Bramble Patch...................................35 The Old Dairy Farm Craft Centre.........35 The Old Kings Head, Long Buckby.....45 The Plough Inn..........................................34 Voujon..........................................................75

Your home 777 Plumbing............................................66 A Steel Plumbing......................................54 Accent Lighting - lighting.....................54 All Made Up Blinds...................................60 Aquaflames Fireplaces............................63 Audible Fidelity........................................... 5 Cloudy2Clear.............................................55 Crown Building and Carpentry............12 Dave Hyam Carpet Cleaning................72 David Sleight..............................................66 Dysonic........................................................56 Fraser James Furniture...........................65 Home Farm Stoves...................................72 Ideal Tanks & Pumps................................58 Jackson Grundy.........................................76 Jackson-Stops & Staff..............................67 Nu-Look Conservatory Roofing Solutions......................................................68 Oil Tanks Plus..............................................60 Otto Interiors..............................................71 Park Lane Windows..................................62 Parratt Building Contractors.................69 Property Rental Services........................68 Rugby Fitted Kitchens.............................59 Saturn Interiors............................................ 2 Smart Conservatory Solutions............... 3 Soft Furnishings by Mickie Fenwick Wilson............................69 Storm Shield Roofing UK Ltd................70 Swan Bespoke Furniture Ltd................57 Tom Banyard-Smith, Stonemason......56 Turner Tanks...............................................70 Window Geeks...........................................56 Vesta..............................................................69 VSF.................................................................61

Deadlines Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on May/June 3rd April Advert deadline May/June issues 12th April For more information on where we deliver visit www.villageemporium.co.uk/where-we-deliver

Please mention The Village Emporium when responding to adverts

wards Master Chef A 5

1 WINNER 20

FREE Home Delivery Within a 7 mile radius.

*15% Discount

On takeway orders over Â£12 (Collection Only) not valid with any other promotions

Wednesday Wednesday Night Night Banquet Banquet 10.90 PerPerson Person 9.95 Per

Every EveryWednesday Wednesday

1/3 Church Street, Long Buckby,Northants, NN6 7QH

Tel: 01327 843571 www.voujon.co.uk

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