Hitchin Sept 2021

VILLAGER The

Issue 40 - Sept 2021

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

Beautiful

Children’s Bedrooms

Bike to School

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Inside this issue...

Don’t Pay Too Much Tax..................................................23 Beautiful Children’s Bedrooms.......................................24 Low Maintenance Gardening.........................................26 Are Tortoises Good Pets?.................................................29 Wildlife Friendly Back Gardens.......................................30 A Dream World...............................................................34 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 Updating Your Bathroom................................................38 Villager Prize Crossword.................................... 42 Book Review..................................................................45

Charming Cathedral Cities

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Charming Cathedral Cities in the UK.................................4 The History of the Blackpool Illuminations.......................8 Where should you go to university?...............................10 Drinks: Make Mine a Crabbie..........................................12 Why we have seasons....................................................14 Seasonal Recipe: Paprika Chicken...................................17 Buying Outerwear Without Losing Style.........................18 Bike to School Week.......................................................21

Low Maintenance Gardening

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £25.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Susan Taylor, Jayne Grant, Trevor Langley, Kate McCarthy, Jennie Billings, Katherine Sorrell, Caroline Knight, RSPCA, AHM Installations, and Kate Duggan,

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - romrodinka Design and Artwork - Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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Staycation

St_Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall

Charming Cathedral Cities

in the UK

The UK is famous for its magnificent cathedrals, welcoming more than eleven million visitors a year. Together, these beautiful structures and the cities they call home offer a fascinating insight into our country’s religious history.

Cities and cathedrals are intrinsically linked.

Historically, their association began in the 1540s, when Henry VIII created six cathedral towns and gave them all city status by letters patent. Today, however, despite popular belief, not all cities need to have a cathedral in order to become a city; it just so happens that most – even the smaller ones – were built around cathedrals.

As a result, the UK is peppered with a handful of unassuming cathedral cities, small in size but brimming with old-world charm. Perfect for summer city breaks and cosy winter escapes, here are just four of our favourite off-the-beaten-track cathedral cities in the UK. Wells, Somerset Whoever said ‘the bigger the better’ has clearly never been to Wells, a tiny medieval city in Somerset.

It wouldn’t hold the title of England’s smallest

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city without its magnificent cathedral. Standing alongside the grand Bishop’s Palace – the official residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells since the twelfth century – the pair are a sight to behold.

The cathedral’s iconic West Front is adorned with 300 intricate carvings, making it one of the most impressive collections of medieval sculpture in the western world.

Away from the cathedral, Wells’ charming cobbled streets, ancient market place and medieval buildings beckon. Visit on Wednesday or Saturday to peruse the farmers’ market’s local produce, before admiring the historical buildings and learning a thing or two at one of the nearby museums.

Ely, Cambridgeshire Another small city, dominated by its showstopping cathedral, Ely is a perfect day-trip’s distance away from Cambridge.

Naturally, the cathedral is the city’s star attraction.

With a history stretching back over 1,300 years, the current structure dates back to 1081, gaining its esteemed cathedral status in the early twelfth century. Since then, it’s seen various additions and restorations.

But the cathedral isn’t the only reason to visit.

Discover the city’s medieval streets and Georgian houses, stopping for lunch in one of the pretty traditional tea rooms. Or brush up on your history at

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the UK’s only stained-glass museum.

Fancy a touch of nature? Take a leisurely walk down the waterside, stopping to watch the narrowboats drift past. If you plan a trip between March and September, you can even hop on a river cruise yourself. You’ll be treated to a fresh angle of the cathedral, not to mention a plethora of birdlife.

Ripon, Yorkshire Claiming to be the UK’s oldest city, Ripon is steeped in history and tradition. From the 9pm horn blower – a tradition that dates back 1,100 years – to the outstanding 672 AD cathedral, this is a historian’s paradise.

The cathedral is most famous for housing a sacred crypt, built in 672 by Saint Wilfrid, which mindblowingly predates England itself! Adding to this, the cathedral’s West Front has been hailed as one of the most impressive examples of Early Gothic architecture.

Cathedral aside, Ripon also boasts a bustling marketplace, a high street of eclectic shops and a fascinating Victorian Workhouse museum. Fountains Abbey is also worth jumping in the car for; just a tenminute drive from the heart of Ripon, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is England’s best-preserved Cistercian monastery.

Kirkwall, Scottish Highlands Although not technically a city, Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney, a group of remote islands off the coast of mainland Scotland. Holding the title of the UK’s most northerly cathedral, St Magnus Cathedral dominates the skyline of Kirkwall. Fondly known by locals as ‘Light in the North’, it was built in 1137 by the Viking Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus who was martyred here.

Brimming with Scandinavian charm, Kirkwall is famous for its Norse roots, having been one of the most important towns during the Viking age.

Close to the cathedral, you’ll find Bishop’s and Earl’s Palace – widely regarded as some of Scotland’s finest examples of architecture. The Orkney Museum is also worth a visit; this treasure trove of exhibitions and artefacts paints a fascinating picture of the islands’ thousand-year history.

But of course, a visit to Kirkwall wouldn’t be complete without some time by the harbour front.

Watch the local fishing fleet head out to sea as you wine and dine in one of the restaurants by the water.

Wells Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral

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Ely Cathedral

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History

Towards the Light

The history of the famous Blackpool Illuminations Blackpool’s evolution into a popular seaside resort began in the 18th century, when sea air was widely regarded as having health-giving properties, and it became fashionable to take holidays at the coast.

In 1781, a road was built that allowed visitors to travel from Manchester to Blackpool by stagecoach, which opened up the seaside town to people from the nearby mill towns of Lancashire, but there was little in the way of entertainment aside from a grass-covered promenade, a bowling green, and a theatre.

When the railway line arrived in town in 1846, Talbot Road Station (now called Blackpool North) was built, and holiday makers arrived in their thousands during the ‘Wakes Weeks’, when mills and factories were closed so the machinery could be serviced.

In 1863, the North Pier was opened to the public, followed by the Central Pier and Victoria Pier. A large amusement park was built, which eventually became the Pleasure Beach. In 1878, the Winter Gardens were opened, providing indoor entertainment during poor weather.

Until 1879 the streets were lit by gas light but in that year the Council devoted the sum of £5000 (around £600000 in today’s money) to experiment with the concept of electric street lighting. On the September 19th in 8 dynamo-electric machines powered by 16 Robey engines were used to power 8 arc lamps on the promenade which emitted the equivalent of 48,000 candles of light in total. Between 70,000 and 100,000 visitors travelled from all over Britain to witness the event, which had been widely reported in the press!

The light generated was called “artificial sunshine” and they were most likely the first electric streetlights in the world.

In 1912, to mark the first Royal visit to Blackpool a new section of the promenade was opened, called the Princess Parade. It was decorated garlands of 10,000 electric light bulbs. They were so impressive and popular that they were staged again in September of that year and the following year. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the First World War meant they weren’t staged again until 1925. They gradually became more ambitious, including animated attractions, until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 once again halted the event. Even after the war restrictions on the use of fuel and decorative lighting meant that the illuminations did not reappear until 1949.

Since then, they have been staged every year in the same format. They are switched on at the beginning of September and run for 66 nights. Curiously until 2020

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By Susan Taylor

they had never extended into the Christmas period.

But last year, in a morale-raising move they ran through till the start of January. It was the first time that the resort was unable to hold a live Switch-On celebration.

Instead, a virtual celebration was staged on Friday 4th September. The lights were switched on jointly by local heroes, including a consultant, two nurses, a hospital catering manager, two fundraisers, and a therapy dog and his owner. Each carried an illuminated strip that was attached to the main switch so that they could all play a part in Blackpool’s first ever socially distanced Switch-On. In 2021 the illuminations will again run through until January to help boost the local tourist economy.

It’s big, brash, and totally British, and the Blackpool illuminations should be seen by everyone at least once.

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9

Education

Time to Choose?

By Jayne Grant

Where should you go to university?

If you’re a student entering Year 13 you may be trying to narrow down your choice of university. It can be quite a task because there are so many. Even if you know what you want to study - chemical engineering, maths, architecture, medicine, music etc., different universities can have radically different approaches.

Here are some points to consider.

Course and Contact Hours - How much tutor contact do you want or need? Do you want a more conventionally academic course, or would you prefer something more practical and hands on?

Scholarships - These can be awarded for a variety of reasons: academic excellence, music, and sports are most common. The good news is that you don’t have to be studying music, or sports as a subject, just willing to perform on behalf of the university.

Bursaries - If you grew up in the care system or come from a background where parental finances are strained, universities may offer a financial incentive for you to attend.

Modules - You can usually check course modules online. Do they look interesting? You don’t want to end up studying something you hate for a year.

Placements - Are there any placements associated with your course? Are they compulsory? Whereabouts in the course do they fall? Are they paid?

The Student Halls - Are there halls and are they near the university? Not having to negotiate transport and bus timetables can be a bonus when there are so many other new skills to learn. Student flats can be great, but in the first year when you don’t know anyone it can be daunting organising bill-sharing and rent payments on top of everything else. Consider location; rents in London and the South can be considerably higher than other parts of the UK. Societies - What are you into? Some unis are famous for their theatrical societies, others for their sports facilities, sailing clubs, choral societies, or orchestras. If you have a hobby you are passionate about there will be a university society for you.

Nightlife - If you’re the nightclub type you might want to make sure you’re going somewhere with a good night scene. People assume all universities have this, but some are situated on isolated campuses, and you might need to take this into consideration.

Local Area - If you like to get out hill walking at the weekends then London might not be the best choice of city. But if you love art galleries and theatre trips it might be the perfect place. If you love to sail or sea kayak, then you might like to consider universities near the coast. Do you want easy access to a gym? A swimming pool? Dance studio?

Is your chosen uni where you think it is? - Think I’m joking? I grew up in Warwick and every year without fail we had lots of people wandering around the castle area asking where Warwick University was. They were always surprised when we said, ‘Coventry!’

How far away from home is it and are there are good transport links? - If you want to pop home now and then, you might not relish a nine-hour bus ride.

Going to open days is a great idea, to get a first-hand feel of where you could be staying. This year open days should be happening again, so go to a few, and trust your gut.

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I think we can all agree that seeing the back of 2020 was a welcome event for each and every one of us, and we can now hopefully march into 2021 with renewed positivity and optimism.

One thing is for sure though, there have also been some heart warming positives that we can take out of last year. It has often been said that we can only really get to know one another and realise what is truly important in times of crisis. I think few would argue that in this case what has proven to be important is local community spirit.

When talking to the Manager of Cloudy2Clear windows Stephen Moon it became clear that these values have been held dear for a number of years. Since starting

the business some years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their core values of supporting the local community by providing a service that saves the public money.

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the unit has failed. Stephen commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help once again”.

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Food & Drink

Drinks: Make mine a Crabbie

Alcoholic beverages, from beers, lagers, ciders, through wines and liqueurs, to spirits and more, have been consumed and enjoyed for many, many centuries. The whisky industry is doing very well, indeed. With the UK and export markets increasing, whisky, most definitely, can be said to have ‘stood the test of time’. As societies become more affluent, then the requirement for whisky grows, being something of a status symbol, clearly giving signs of a higher lifestyle. For example, it is reported that in China, people are enjoying Scotch whisky in western-style bars and it has become a growing trend. My quest, on this occasion, was to locate whiskies which I find interesting and satisfying.

John Crabbie & Co have been purveyors of wine and spirits since 1801. John Crabbie and his family owned a lot of property in Leith, north of Edinburgh and exported around the globe. Providing fine, single malt Scotch whiskies was John Crabbie’s objective in life.

Several whiskies are within the Crabbie range. Yardhead Single Malt is so named because of the original site in Leith. The Crabbie 12 year old Speyside Single Malt whisky is hugely popular and produced utilising bourbon casks, to great advantage. The bouquet is most enticing and the smooth, well-balanced mouthfeel continues the delight, with an excellent body that has superb depth and a richness that follows for the palate’s pleasure, having fruity and vanilla overtones.

Other Crabbie whiskies include 8 year old and 12 year old productions, plus 15 year old Highland Single Malt. 40 year old Speyside Single Malt (44.5% vol) and 50 year old Islay Single Malt (46.5% vol) are destined for the ‘top table’, most certainly, I suspect. Stockists of Crabbie whiskies include supermarkets, independent wines/drinks retailers, bars, restaurants and they can be purchased online, too.

It is always exciting and very satisfying to find whiskies that are fresh and have interest, with a good nose and flavour. The flavour and finish, on the palate, having great importance – then duly noted and remembered!

John Crabbie & Co, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 5QN. Tel: 44 (0) 151 480 8800 www.crabbiewhisky.com

As always, Enjoy!

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ey Trevor Langl Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

RACE WEEKEND SATURDAY 2 & SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER 2021

Classic racing cars and motorcyles will thunder down the runway at the Shuttleworth Sprint on Sunday and on the air show day Saturday the finest racing aircraft of the period, including the winning de Havilland DH88 Comet, will celebrate Richard Shuttleworth’s racing career in the 1930s.

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Special Report

In Season - Why we have seasons September 22nd marks the Autumn Equinox. It’s the end of summer and the start of a new season.

But what is a season? We all instinctively know the difference between summer and winter but who decides when they start and end? Are there official dates? Well actually yes.

A season is defined as a period of the year distinguished by special climate conditions. The four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter each have their own light, temperature, and weather patterns that repeat yearly.

In the UK the winter solstice generally begins on December 21 or 22. This is the day of the year with the shortest period of daylight. Summer begins on June 20 or 21, the summer solstice, the day which has the most daylight of any day in the year. Spring and autumn, begin on days that have equal amounts of daylight and darkness. The vernal, or spring, equinox falls on March 20 or 21, which brings us back to autumn which starts at the end of the month. The seasons of the Northern Hemisphere are the opposite of those in the Southern Hemisphere, which is why in Australia, summer begins in December, winter begins in June and Christmas lunch is served on the beach!

Our seasons occur because Earth is tilted on its axis relative to the orbital plane, the invisible, flat disc where most objects in the solar system orbit the sun.

Earth revolves on its axis, which is an invisible line that runs through its centre, from pole to pole.

In June, when our Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, the sun’s rays hit it for more of the day than in winter, which means we receive more hours of

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daylight. In December, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, there are fewer hours of daylight.

But our four-season year is not experienced all over the globe. Four seasons only occur in the midlatitudes, which are places that are not too near the poles or Equator. The further north (or south) you go within these mid-latitudes, the bigger the differences in the seasons. For example, Helsinki in Finland sees a full 18.5 hours of daylight in the middle of June whereas in mid-December it barely gets 6 hours.

Athens in Greece however in the far south of Europe, has a smaller variation, with 14.5 hours of daylight in June and 9.5 hours in December.

Places near the Equator experience little seasonal variation and receive the same amount of daylight and darkness throughout the whole year. These places remain warm year-round and typically have just two seasons, a rainy season, and a dry one.

Polar regions do experience seasonal variation, although they are obviously colder than most other places on the planet. Near the poles, the amount of daylight changes dramatically between summer and winter. In Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost city in the U.S., it stays light all day long between mid-May and early August, while in winter the city is in total darkness.

I love the fact we have four seasons in the UK but just a small change in global temperature could cause the seasons to shift or become more extreme. We can’t take our wonderful seasons for granted.

By Kate McCarthy

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Seasonal Recipe

Slow-roasted paprika chicken with lemon and artichokes

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours 30 minutes Serves 6

This is such an easy recipe. Everything is simply placed in a roasting dish and slow-cooked in the oven, creating an amazing spicy lemony flavour. Serve leftovers for lunch the following day cold with salad.

Ingredients 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 tsp sumac 3 tbsp olive oil 1 organic chicken, jointed 1 bulb of garlic (separated into unpeeled cloves) Sprig of thyme 2 unwaxed lemons, cut into quarters 150 ml chicken stock Black pepper 1 x 400g can artichoke hearts

1. Pre-heat the oven to 160°C/150°C fan/gas mark 3.

2. Mix together the paprika, sumac and olive oil. Put the chicken pieces into a roasting tin and add the garlic cloves, thyme and lemon quarters. Pour over the paprika oil and rub all over the chicken pieces.

3. Drizzle over the stock and season with black pepper. Cover the dish with foil and cook in the oven for 2 hours.

4. Remove the foil from the roasting tin, add the artichoke hearts and turn the oven up to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6.

Cook for another 30 minutes or until the chicken is golden.

Nutrition per serving: 387kcal, fat 27.8g (of which saturates 7g), carbohydrate 1.4g (of which sugars 0.6g), protein 33.2g.

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House of Colour

Buying outerwear, activity wear, winter wear without losing style Considerations of practicality often trump any thoughts of style when it comes to wet weather clothing, activity wear and colder weather items.

Our desire to be warm and comfortable can often mean any considerations of style are long left behind. These clothes do not often put a spring in our step or enhance our look! I thought I’d give you a few ideas to boost your look and tackle buying those practical pieces we all need.

1) Decide what you need. I know this sound really obvious but our lifestyles can change year on year, so be honest about what you are going to need. Get all those clothes you currently have in this category together and cast a critical eye over them. What is now past its best, could do with renewing or needs some other attention (dry cleaners?). What is missing?

2) Start early. Kick this process off ahead of the season. If you know in advance what you need you have more time to consider the options and find something great rather than buying out of desperation an item ‘that’ll do’ that you subsequently regret and then feel you have to hang on to. You want to feel great in these clothes too!

3) Online research can really come into its own at this stage. If you need serious performance or have some particular requirements get online and again start sooner rather than later. Clothing retailers start getting their first season’s options out early. Don’t just go to your usual option, keep a broad mind. Contact your consultant too to see if they have any top tips for particular brands that might work for you.

4) Colour is key. A neutral or a wow colour will serve you best for investment pieces. You will be confident that it looks fab on you too. It will also work with everything else in your wardrobe.

It will also add some style and interest in it’s own right. Plus it will be a boost when you put it on.

5) Styles. Remember there is huge variety out there with new brands coming along all the time so don’t go for the first thing. Does this highly practical waterproof hit any of my style considerations? Does it come in at my waist if that’s what my style needs (they do exist)? Is there an interesting detail that adds something

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to it? If you’re not seeing anything great leave it a little while and come back to it.

6) Accessories. If you’re not investing in a new snow proof, rain proof option just yet think about renewing the gloves, hats, etc. in some fab colours. This is where you can add some more personality (and if you’ve done style consultation you’ll know what that could look like) to your look. Again don’t necessarily just opt for the first woolley hat offering warmth that comes your way. Be choosy, would a little felt trilby (they can be waterproof!) actually be more fun and stylish while walking the dog?

7) Don’t compromise. You might be spending a fair amount of time in that winter jacket, why not absolutely love it. We owe it to ourselves.

Article by Jennie Billings House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-astylist

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Time of Year

Bike to School Week 27th Sept – 1st Oct Bike to School Week takes place from 27th September to 1st October 2021. It encourage families to cycle and scoot to school.

Cycling is second only to swimming as a low impact activity that offers full-body workout. When your child is cycling, almost all of their major muscle group gets into action. Even though riding a bike primarily depends on the muscles on the lower body, the muscles on the upper body are also engaged.

Children who cycle regularly have improved cardiovascular fitness. They have stronger bones, better joint mobility, and tend to be more flexible.

Cycling also improves postural balance and coordination.

Being outside exposes them to more vitamin D, which is good for the immune system…just make sure they wear sunscreen if the weather is fine.

The combination of exercise and light reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, while improving brain development, mental well-being.

Most importantly, children who are active while growing up, are more likely to become active healthy adults. So, get your kids cycling to school and start a good habit that will last a (healthy) lifetime.

By Louise Addison

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A FREE WILL for Homeowners Protect your home and legacy for your children • • • • • •

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Finance

Don’t Pay Too Much Tax There are several HMRC programs that can reduce your taxable income. These aren’t shady scams but rather perfectly legitimate offers from the government, though admittedly ones they don’t always shout about.

Marriage Allowance If you are married or in a civil partnership you could get up to £252 a year through Marriage Allowance.

That’s where one partner transfers £1,260 of their personal allowance to the other partner, who’ll then pay less in tax.

The allowance is only available (and only makes financial sense) if one partner is a basic-rate taxpayer and the other doesn’t pay income tax and you should always crunch the numbers before applying.

The person making the transfer (the non-taxpayer) can apply online at www.gov.uk/apply-marriageallowance. The person receiving the transfer (the taxpayer) can’t make the application. All you need to apply is both partners’ national insurance numbers and proof of identity. HMRC will then apply the changes to both partners, either through their tax code or self-assessment.

When you apply, you can backdate your claim to cover any of the previous four tax years where you met the criteria. For previous-year claims, HMRC simply sends a cheque or bank payment for the relevant amount to the partner receiving the personal allowance transfer.

Once you’ve had an application approved, the personal allowance transfer will remain in place until you cancel it.

Working From Home Allowance If you’ve worked at home regularly (even if it’s part-time or a ‘temporary’ arrangement during COVID), you can get tax relief to compensate you for your costs. This tax relief will reduce your taxable income and thus you’ll pay less tax. You can claim it at www.tax.service.gov.uk/claim-tax-relief-expenses/only-claiming-working-fromhome-tax-relief.

You have two ways to work out the amount of the relief. One is to calculate the actual extra costs you’ve incurred, which can include a share of utility bills and costs such as office equipment. The other is to take a flat amount of £6 a week, which doesn’t require any evidence of the costs. It’s a small amount but adds up to more than £60 a year just for filling in a short online application. You can also backdate claims to cover two years, though the rate was £4 a week until April 2020.

Work Uniform Claims If you’re an employee with a work uniform and pay to clean it yourself, or you pay for repairing work equipment, you can claim tax relief on these costs. The uniform expenses are only for clothes that you have to wear for work and people wouldn’t normally wear outside of work. For example, you couldn’t claim for an ordinary suit.

You can claim the actual expenses of cleaning or repairs, but you will need to apply by post and send supporting receipts to HMRC. Alternatively you can claim a flat rate based on occupation. For example, army staff can claim £100 a year, ambulance staff £185 a year and prison officers £80 a year.

Full details are at www.gov.uk/guidance/job-expenses-for-uniforms-work-clothing-and-tools.

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Interiors

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By Katherine Sorrell

Beautiful children’s bedrooms Why not make your little one’s room as goodlooking as it is practical? Choose coordinating colours and attractive textures, with appealing accessories to complete the look.

The priority in any young child’s bedroom is, of course, to ensure it’s a safe, calm and comfortable space in which to sleep and, once they are a little older, a great place to enjoy playing. What are the key ingredients? To start with, a good mattress and a set of well-fitting blackout curtains or blinds will go a long way towards helping them get a full night’s rest. You will also need suitable flooring, excellent storage and flexible lighting. Finally, add interesting furniture and accessories, and brighten up the walls with eye-catching art.

The ideal bedroom floor would be soft and cosy, durable, non-slip and easy to mop. While some man-made carpets claim to be washable, they are still susceptible to spills and accidents, and perhaps a more versatile choice would be wooden or laminate floorboards plus a soft rug (with an anti-slip mat beneath). Alternatives include vinyl, linoleum, cork or rubber and, to add extra play potential, why not add a play rug with a printed design such as hopscotch or a racetrack? If you do opt for carpet, look for a

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texture or pattern that won’t show the dirt, and ask for a stain-resistant treatment before installation.

To encourage children to put things away after themselves, toy and book storage should be plentiful and easy to access. Try to incorporate it into tucked-away spaces such as the alcoves either side of a chimney or below a window, co-ordinating built-in storage with the decorative features of your home as a whole. Low shelving, securely fixed to the wall, plus a variety of boxes or baskets, is ideal; you could install a few higher shelves for items that you would prefer only to be used under supervision.

Avoid heavy-lidded, traditional toy chests that could trap tiny fingers, and remember the basic rule of storage: suit the size of the container to the size of its contents. Small plastic lidded boxes are perfect for LEGO, Playmobil and so on, while a large basket is great for soft toys. Don’t forget peg rails, hooks and hanging fabric organisers – all of which are useful space savers – but in your storage choices, try to stick to a limited colour palette or a group of similar textures (the natural, neutral look is fashionable and will stand the test of time) so that the room looks thought-through rather than randomly assembled.

Well-designed lighting is essential – bright enough

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to play by in the dim winter months, with a bedside lamp (and maybe one on a desk, too) and some purely decorative extras, such as strings of fairy lights, colour-changing LEDs or a projector lamp. In general, remember always to use the correct wattage of bulb, and position the fitting so that there are no trailing flexes. Inset ceiling lights and high-up wall lights are better than too many floor or table lamps that could get in the way of games and be knocked over. One option is a wireless lamp that you charge up and can then place wherever it’s needed. Avoid pendant shades that reveal the dazzle of a bulb – though a diffuser will conceal the bulb discreetly. For great adaptability, consider a dimmer switch, which can be retro-fitted quite cheaply (though check that your bulb will work with a dimmer, as not all of them are suitable), and smart lights, operated via remote control, an app or even voice commands.

In terms of furniture, it’s best to keep larger, more expensive items relatively neutral, so that they last as long as possible as your child grows up.

However, if you have the budget, then a special bed makes an amazing centrepiece, and there are some wonderful options, from tepee beds to cars, rockets and high sleepers that look like castles or tree houses. Without crowding the room too much, you’ll want to add a chest of drawers and a small wardrobe, and possibly a low table or a small desk for reading, writing and craft activities. These can be smartly coordinating or second-hand, vintage or repurposed – provided there are no sharp bits or splinters, a lick of paint can brighten up an old piece no end, and will add heaps of character. For quiet play and general lounging, floor cushions, low stools and beanbags are probably a better (and less expensive) idea than miniature children’s sofas and chairs, which are quickly outgrown.

When it comes to finishing touches, there are plenty of ways to add pizzazz to plain walls, from

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decorative stickers to an entire wall of attractive storage. Oversized images – a mural or an enlarged child’s painting – are full of impact and can set a theme, if you so wish, complementing your furnishings. Add quirky cushions, sweet rugs and interesting lamp shades, and you’ve got an attractive room that’s flexible, functional and – importantly – great fun.

1 This fun tent bed is made from solid pine and MDF, with lookout holes at each end.

Kids Teepee cabin bed by Woood, from £399; matching bookcase, £215; both Cuckooland: 01305 231 231; cuckooland.com.

2 Natural colours and textures, with piles of cushions, make a child’s room feel supercomfortable. Nihla bed by Bloomingville, £195; Bloomingville Kesa storage box, £124; Bloomingville Eman sleepy bear basket, £93; all Sweetpea & Willow: 0345 257 2627; sweetpeaandwillow.com.

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3 Create a play corner with shelves, desk space and plenty of storage, all at a low level. Bloomingville Moris shelf (on floor), £70; Bloomingville Hubert rattan stool, £50; both Sweetpea & Willow, as above.

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Gardening

Low-maintenance gardening Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Ask anyone who looks after a garden if they would like a high-maintenance outdoor space and the answer will almost definitely be no. So how do you achieve a garden that is easy to look after.

Keep it Simple Start with simple things. Look around to see how potty you have gone over pots - you really don’t want too many. The content within pots and containers requires regular watering by the head gardener and nutrients within the compost depletes within just a few weeks and they require feeding. Plants also require gentle snipping to keep them looking neat and attractive, and to encourage more flowers. If you have shrubs in pots, they might need pruning as well as turning so that each side of the plant receives an equal amount of light. If all this is making you feel exhausted, just keep a few very large containers for certain specimens and make them into a feature. If, however, you aren’t ready to abandon your potaholic habits, group them together so that they can create their own microclimate. Each pot will provide a bit of shade for another and the air around them will enjoy increased humidity.

No Mow Next, we come to the lawn, if there is one. You don’t need to mow every week and you could allow the grass sward to grow longer. Welcome weeds and wildflowers into the lawn; it’s far better for wildlife than a monoculture of grass. Provided the lawn looks

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vaguely green, it really doesn’t matter if there are daisies, dandelions, moss or most other self-seeded delights amongst the grass. The gentle buzzing of bees is the reward you get for being more relaxed about your green carpet. Lawn edges can be defined by using some sort of edging system that will stop the grass spreading into the flowerbeds. These really do take the stress out of maintaining a neat edge. There are dozens of options, from rustic and durable Corten weathering steel through to rubber, plastic, wood and brick.

Keep Weeds in the Dark Ask a gardener about a job that always needs doing and weeds will be high on the agenda. There’s a very simple way to stop weeds growing: cover up your soil! It’s inevitable that nature will send something to infiltrate any little patch of bare ground. So, if you would rather choose your own variety of species to grow in your garden, rather than whatever a passing bird decides to eject, ensure you plant densely. While new plants are establishing, spread mulch onto any bare soil to stop weeds taking hold.

Shrubby Heroes Shrubs are generally the best low-maintenance plant of all. Replace any annual planting schemes with shrub beds, but don’t inflict the hedge-cutter ‘blob treatment’ on them. The secret lies in choosing your plants wisely and thus not planting something that grows larger than the space available. You can allow them to grow into their natural form.

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Pets

Are Tortoises Good Pets?

Step back into a 1970s garden and you might see an unfortunate tortoise tethered by a string. In the days when we didn’t understand these creatures, we thought it was OK to drill a hole through a thin portion of the shell and use this to thread a string. Hopefully we are now kind enough to know that being tethered represents a very poor living environment for any animal.

Do tortoises make good pets? If you have a young child, it’s probably a ‘no’. They are not cuddly and can deliver a painful bite. But most importantly, it’s all about the care that an owner is prepared to offer and children will probably not be able to satisfy their needs. It’s not so much about what a tortoise can give to its owner, but what a caring tortoise-keeper can offer to this very special reptile.

These prehistoric creatures have strong personalities and can be addictive, but their multiple needs include heat, light, dry housing and appropriate nutrition. They require space to roam and company at a ratio of one male to at least five females, otherwise injury from vicious biting will occur. They can’t fend for themselves in this country and will rely on you for all their needs.

Most tortoises in the UK require certification, as many of the various species are now listed on CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

By Caroline Knight Always check that you are buying from a reputable source.

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Pets

Wildlife Friendly Back Gardens

How wildlife friendly is your back garden?

Wildlife can struggle during particularly warm spells and heatwaves. This might be from a lack of water or suddenly having limited food supplies. As humans we enjoy a cold drink or dipping our feet in a paddling pool to cool down. So do our garden birds, pollinators and hedgehogs. Providing fresh, clean drinking and bathing water, along with some shade will help immensely.

What can you do specifically?

Planning is a good idea in order to create an attractive and productive wildlife habitat. Think vertically as well as horizontally when you are creating a new environment for your garden wildlife. Trees and shrubs provide wonderful amounts of shade and food for small animals. Include varieties like hosta, japonica and even rhubarb for their large leaves. Ground covering plants are also valuable additions to your garden and enjoyed by a wide range of creatures and insects.

Consider installing feeders and nesting boxes for the local birds. If you keep them well stocked and in good

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condition you will have plenty of regular visitors.

Bird baths are increasing in popularity and can either be homemade or shop bought. Garden Centres and nurseries are getting much better now at providing us with information about which plants are bee friendly.

Again, plan carefully where these will go in your garden – perhaps away from the main walkways and seating areas. Selecting fruit or nut bearing varieties of plants will be very much appreciated by the local wildlife.

There are some shrubs that produce berries all year round. Deciduous trees and shrubs can be planted along a south facing walls to provide summer shade.

If you haven’t got a garden, then worry not. Patios and balconies are great locations for container gardens!

Autumn is round the corner It is worth noting we will be slipping into Autumn after the heatwaves of summer. Quite often we like to ‘tidy’ our gardens and fill our green wheelie bins with leaves, cuttings and other plant material. Much of our wildlife actually relies on the leaves and dead flower heads that we like to completely remove. Consider whether you can have a ‘wild’ area of your garden this year that you do not completely clear, and marvel at the little creatures who make it their home – and larder! Similarly, there maybe areas of your garden that you chose to leave and allow to grow wild. Resisting the urge to weed sections, allowing plants to grow without being pruned back.

Have a potter around your garden this week and see if there are any small changes that can be made, to help the wildlife flourish during these warmer months.

If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, contact; 0300 1234 999.

Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7.

Email: info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk Tel: 01234 266965 / 01234 930304

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www.acs-aggregates.com

Collection & Delivery of Loose Aggregates Building Sand • Sharp Sand • Ballast • MOT Type 1 • 10 & 20mm shingle Top Soil • Granite Dust • Cements • Drainage • EASYjoint • Sleepers

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Business gone slow?

Let us help!

THE GARDEN ROBIN Complete Garden Design & Landscape Service

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Technology

A Dream World Sleep aids from clever cots to mattress monitors Many new parents would pay anything for a good night’s sleep, and it turns out that ‘anything’ might mean £1,145. That’s what the SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Cot costs, but if it works then it’s priceless. The SNOO has sensors to detect baby’s movement and responds with calming sounds and motion, helping to settle fractious babies and help them learn to self-soothe. It’s all controlled via a smartphone app that also enables you to get daily sleep reports and healthy sleep tips.

Smart beds aren’t just for babies. From smart mattresses using a mix of memory foam and other supportive fabrics (to keep you comfortable without making your bed feel like an oven) to smart beds that are packed with technology, there are lots of bedtime options for every body shape and every kind of sleeper.

Most of the beds dubbed smart beds are really just connected beds, so for example the £1,999 Hargen Smart Bed’s smart features are Bluetooth audio, a password-protected built-in safe and a remote-controlled massage feature. But you can make any bed a smart bed by adding some sleep sensors such as Withings’ Sleep Analyzer (£90). This fits under your mattress and communicates with your phone, enabling you to track your sleep patterns and monitor conditions such as sleep apnoea that may be preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep.

If you’d rather use a wearable, the Apple Watch and many wearable fitness trackers such as Garmin and Fitbit trackers can track your sleep. The available features vary by product but they can typically distinguish between deep and light sleep, and in some cases they can even monitor your oxygen saturation and heart rate to get a fuller picture of your sleep habits. You can use that information to identify the things that might be interfering with your sleep, especially if you also use your phone’s health app to track other data such as exercise or alcohol intake: the more data you have about your body, the easier it becomes to identify triggers and trends that you can take steps to change.

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SNOO Smart Sleeper The award-winning SNOO promises to lull baby to sleep by responding to their movements with soothing motions and womb-like sounds. £1,145 from happiestbaby.co.uk

Hargen Smart Bed Smart refers to the design rather than the tech: the Hargen bed is packed with storage cubbyholes as well as a stereo speaker system with Bluetooth connectivity. £1,999 from sleekliving.co.uk Apple Watch Series 6 Apple’s own sleep-tracking system is really good, particularly now the Apple Watch doesn’t require recharging every night.

There are stacks of third-party sleep-tracking apps too. £349 from apple.com

Withings Sleep Analyzer Turn any bed into a smart bed with this clever sleep sensor.

It tracks your sleep through the night (or day) and sends the data to your phone so you can identify trends. £89.95 from amazon.co.uk

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Sudoku

Hard Sudoku

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

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Business Profile

Updating your bathroom?

AHM Installations takes the hassle out of finding the right tradespeople When you’re updating your bathroom, naturally the style of shower, basin and tiles are important.

But there may be structural work needed too – AHM Installations can do it all.

For example, you could create a bigger bathroom by removing a wall or create a new ensuite bathroom by adding a wall. If you wanted a more powerful shower the electric cables could need updating. A floor might need taking up to examine the pipework underneath.

A good installations company doesn’t shy away from this type of work because it ensures that your bathroom is safe; that it meets regulations and that it works for you. The last thing you want in your bathroom is dodgy electrics!

The Booth family called AHM Installations for advice as their father, who uses a wheelchair, was struggling to access the bathroom easily and safely. They wanted to have their downstairs study and toilet knocked together to form one large wetroom. This may sound like a job for a builder, but AHM have all the skills and experience you need.

“We created a completely new space from scratch”, said Charles Weeks, Bathroom Surveyor at AHM. The dividing wall was knocked down, a new ceiling was put in and a new extractor fan was installed.

The fuse board, which was previously situated in the study, was moved out into the hallway – a complex electrical job. Light switches were moved and a shaving socket was added, all to make the room easier for Mr Booth to use.

The family are delighted with their new wetroom.

COVID-19 SAFEGUARDING “AHM is an absolutely wonderful -company – we couldn’t recommendCUSTOMERS it more. It’s made such & COLLEAGUES a difference to Dad and to all of us. Amazing designers and the men who fitted it were * wonderful, polite and patient.”

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FREE

AHM often have jobs that require structural work.

“We frequently have to do electrical work to ensure our bathrooms meet regulations,” said Terry Filler, technical surveyor at AHM. “If you want to upgrade or move your shower, you need to make sure all of your electrics are up to date before you do anything else.

“And we have another job happening at the moment where someone is having their garage converted into a bathroom.”

AHM take the hassle out of organising the tradespeople you need to complete the job. All our fitters are members of BIKBBI which means they are DBS checked, fully insured and continually monitored.

AHM Installations is a family-run firm installing safe, affordable bathrooms for people with limited mobility.

Call us on 01462 530477 to discuss your needs.

• Member of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) • Check-a-trade score 10/10 (May 2021)

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COVID-19 - SAFEGUARDING CUSTOMERS & COLLEAGUES

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H&M Rubbish Clearance Est. 10 years in Hitchin.

Support local business Call us for a free no obligation quote House and Garden Clearance Helping to keep Hertfordshire Cleaner and Greener Waste carrier no. CBDU172513 We have Public Liability Insurance

Call 01462 431284 or 07557 527416 / 07368 374811 H & M Clearance @clearance_h

Bathing a problem? – we can help • Wet rooms • Walk in showers and baths • Waterproof wall panelling • Slip resistant safety flooring • Grab rails & shower seats • Zero VAT on disabled bathrooms • Discounts for over 60s SSAFA and Ex Service personnel • Disabled Facilities Grants • Charity work and grants Call for friendly advice and free survey and quote

01462 530477

info@ahminstallations.co.uk www.ahminstallations.co.uk Terms and conditions apply, visit our website for more details.

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Our services include: Loft Ladders Loft Hatches Insulation Loft Boarding Loft Lighting Balustrades We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed.

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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 39

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Crossword Puzzle Solution from our August Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Diana Williams, Alconbury

August’s Codeword and Sudoku Solutions

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword Prize

£25

Across 1 Entrance (6) 4 Be owned by (6) 9 Hold (7) 10 Previous (5) 11 Brush (5) 12 Conversing (7) 13 Promises (11) 18 Sediment (7) 20 Undressed (5) 22 Avoid (5) 23 In the open air (7) 24 Guard (6) 25 Grown-ups (6)

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th September 2021 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random from the correct completed entries.

Down 1 Blame (6) 2 Type of light boat (5) 3 Soap (7) 5 Banish (5) 6 Belief (7) 7 Car repair centre (6) 8 Directive (11) 14 Make clear (7) 15 Caught fire (7) 16 Snakes (6) 17 Worships (6) 19 Curse (5) 21 Small hill (5)

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RELIABLE ROOFING COMPANY ESTABLISHED FOR OVER 35 YEARS BUILT UP FELT ROOFING SPECIALISTS & GENERAL ROOF REPAIRS • SLATE & TILE • REPLACEMENT FASCIAS/ SOFFITS, UPVC OR TIMBER • GUTTERING MAINTENANCE & REPLACEMENT • GUARANTEED WORKMANSHIP AT REALISTIC PRICES PROPRIETOR R.S. CROW F.I.O.R. • FREE ESTIMATES

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Call Richard on: 01767 317387 or 07968 787496 Email: muscleandmotor@gmail.com www.muscleandmotor.co.uk

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Books

Challenges Faced and Struggles Overcome Conjure Women Afia Atakora

Set a few years after the abolition of slavery, Conjure Women tells the story of Rue. As a ‘conjure woman’, Rue has learnt how to treat minor ailments and birth babies. But when a baby is born with black eyes and other children succumb to a mysterious illness, Rue’s community starts to turn against her.

Rue has many secrets, one of which could change her community forever. A beautifully written book for fans of Toni Morrison and Yaa Gyasi.

Widowland CJ Carey

In a reimagined timeline where the Nazis won World War II, women in Britain are subject to strict controls. As an elite ‘Geli woman’ with a high-up boyfriend, Rose enjoys some privileges and has seemingly settled into the role prescribed for her. She’s tasked with rewriting classic books to align them to this new world order. However, when Rose is sent to infiltrate Widowland – the slums where childless, husbandless women over fifty are banished to – in order to report back on a rebellious faction, she has to decide whose side she’s really on. A slow-burner, but ultimately gripping.

The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club Josie Lloyd

The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club is a surprisingly lighthearted, uplifting read based on the author’s own experiences with cancer. The main character is Keira, whose world comes crashing down after a cancer diagnosis. Struggling to come to terms with her illness, Keira finds solace, companionship and laughter in a running group of other cancer patients and survivors.

Sea Prayer Khalid Hosseini

A father and son wait for a boat that they hope will take them to a new life. The father talks of the beauty of Syria before the bombs hit – the bustling markets, olive groves and tight-knit families. He talks of his hopes for the future and his belief that the country they’re travelling to will see all the goodness and potential in his son. Written in response to the death of Alan Kurdi and other refugee children, Sea Prayer is a deeply moving, beautifully illustrated book. It’s very short but welldeserving of a place on your bookshelf.

Beautiful Country Qian Julie Wang

The author moved to America when she was seven.

While her parents were professors back in China, they found themselves relegated to working in sweatshops in the US. As undocumented migrants, the family had few rights and lived in fear of being sent back to China.

Such fear that when Qian’s mother grew sick, the family could not seek help. A stunning memoir, Beautiful Country will take your breath away.

My Time Will Come Ian Manuel

Ian Manuel was sentenced to life in prison at just fourteen years old for his role in a botched robbery. He was placed in solitary confinement. This is Ian’s story of where it all went wrong, how he survived twenty-six years in the American prison system (most of which he spent in solitary), where he was beaten, chained and belittled, and how he came to befriend the woman he shot.

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By Kate Duggan 45

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www.scrubbish.co.uk or call our office on

01462 416565

Shire Roofing

Quality above all

Family Run Roof Design and Costing • Slate and Tiled Roofing • Specialist Lead Roofing Installations Mineral Felt & GRP Roofing • Maintenance and Repairs • Property Maintenance

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 07778 634900 or email: russ@shireroofing.com 46

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