The South Wilts Magazine - March/April 2020

MARCH/APRIL 2020 • ISSUE 64

FREE

The

South Wilts magazine

800 YEARS

OF SPIRIT & ENDEAVOUR

+ LOCAL LISTINGS EVOLVED HEALTH NORTHWOOD SOUTHONS & MUCH MORE

AT SALISBURY CATHEDRAL

WIN TICKETS TO AVON VALE RACES!!

POINT-TOPOINT AVON VALE RACES RETURN

HOUSE CALLS

OUR SPRING HOME & GARDENS SPECIAL

A TALE OF SPICE RECIPES FROM THE FOOD WIFE

WALLOP! WE CHAT TO ROB BECKETT BEFORE HIS NEW TOUR ROLLS INTO CITY HALL

FOOD & DRINK // PUZZLES // PROPERTY // LISTINGS // COMMENT

contents Published by Wired Publishing Editor Lisa Rockliffe Contributors Fran Stevens, Brian Donaldson, Phil Rockliffe, Andy Diffey Advertising Enquiries Lisa Rockliffe e: lisa@wired-publishing.co.uk t: 01225 807775 General Enquiries e: info@wired-publishing.co.uk t: 01225 807775 www.wired-publishing.co.uk Address 20 Azalea Drive, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 9GG This magazine is printed on paper sourced from sustainable forests.

Please recycle it when you are done, or pass it on! The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by the failure of an advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions or misprints. Reproduction of this magazine in whole, or in part is strictly prohibited wihout prior permission of the publishers.

Front Cover: Rob Beckett

March/April 2020 // issue 64

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nother edition and another great interview to enjoy, this time from comic Rob Beckett, who’s coming to City Hall later this spring.

His interview though is but the cherry on the top of another fantastic edition of The South Wilts Magazine.

As part of Salisbury’s 800 year anniversary events are taking place all across the city at times throughout the year. One of the biggest is Salisbury Cathedral’s 800 Years of Spirit & Endeavour - its largest exhibition of modern art for almost two decades. Read more about it on p12.

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Great horse racing is one of the highlights of the spring sporting calendar, and Point-To-Point racing at Avon Vale is a real county favourite. Find out more, and win tickets to this year’s event, on p9!

The Food Wife has some delicious Indian recipes to help spice up your evening meals and we’ve a great Spring home and garden feature (p21) covering everything from new kitchens to sofas, gardens, extensions and even a guide to buying a new home this spring! That, and a whole lot more besides. Enjoy!

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Lisa Rockliffe, Editor wired-publishing.co.uk

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Follow us on Twitter... @wiredpublishing

in this issue...

HOMES & GARDENS

LOCAL LISTINGS What’s on in March & April

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Northwood 24 Southons of Salisbury

LOCAL NEWS Arundells 10

HEALTH & WELLBEING

800 Years of Spirit & Endeavour

Evolved Health

12

15

FEATURES Avon Vale Races

26

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES

FOOD & DRINK Indian recipes from The Food Wife

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9

Rob Beckett interview

17

Spring Home & Gardens

21

Win tickets to Avon Vale Races

9

Wordsearch, sudoku and quiz

28

COMMENT The Last Word

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events

listings local

March/April 2020

CITY HALL

Rob Brydon, City Hall

Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7TU 01722 434434 cityhallsalisbury.co.uk For full listings go to the website.

ROB BRYDON - SONGS & STORIES 12 March, 7.30pm Tickets: £39 Featuring a sensational live band ‘Songs and Stories’ tells Rob’s personal musical journey from South Wales to Hollywood and back. With a hugely entertaining and sometimes brilliantly unexpected selection of songs from Tom Jones to Tom Waits and his famed impressions of the likes of Mick Jagger, Michael Caine and Steve Coogan, Rob will regale audiences with hilarious BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL tales from his distant and recent past.

WORLD TOUR 26 March, 7.30pm SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS Tickets: from £14.50 19 March, 7.30pm The Festival joins the world’s best Tickets: £26.50 adventure film-makers and explorers Direct from the West End, the show as they push themselves to the limits in brings to life the music of Ireland’s the most remote and stunning corners favourite sons ‘The Dubliners’. Telling of the globe. Witness epic humanthe story of a career spanning 50 years powered feats, life-affirming challenges this talented cast of musicians and and mind-blowing cinematography – singers bring the music of this iconic all on the big screen! group to life.

THE HORNE SECTION SALISBURY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2 April, 8pm 21 March, 7.30pm Tickets: £27 Tickets: £18 (Concs £10) They’ve had their own TV special at Salisbury Symphony Orchestra return the London Palladium, they have an for their annual Spring concert at City iTunes-chart-topping podcast and Hall with a programme including now they’re touring the country; it’s pieces from Dvorak, Weber and the one and only Horne Section’s one Shostakovich. and only 2020 Tour.

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KING KING 4 April, 7.30pm Tickets: £30 The mission is far from accomplished for the Glaswegian Rock band so don’t hang about to get your tickets for this concert. King King are hot and they are arguably one the best live acts out there at the moment.

MILTON JONES: MILTON IMPOSSIBLE 5 April, 7.30pm Tickets: £29.50 Milton reveals the truth about being an international spy, before being given a disappointing new identity which forced him to appear on Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo. But this is also a love story with the twist, or at least a really bad sprain. Just gloriously daft nonsense or is there a deeper meaning?

send your listings to info@wired-publishing.co.uk

events AGNES OBEL 8 April, 7pm Tickets: £26 Critically acclaimed composer, singer and pianist, Agnes Obel with brand new songs, alongside a set list from Obel’s award-winning and platinumselling album Philharmonics, Aventine, and Citizen of Glass.

MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL 2 30 April, 7.30pm Tickets: £32 A hilarious, heartfelt, reassuring and unflinching look at menopause and friendship. When your life is a bumpy ride full of twists and turns, it’s hard to find true friends. But step on board and we’ll take you on a trip of self-discovery, love and friendship all backed by a soundtrack of brand-new toe-tapping parodied hits!

SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7RA 01722 320333 wiltshirecreative.co.uk WILLY RUSSELL’S SHIRLEY VALENTINE Until 7 March, various times Tickets: £29 (Concs £13) A heart-warming comedy by Willy Russell starring Claire Sweeney in the title role of Shirley, who’s feeling stagnant, stuck in a rut preparing egg and chips for her emotionally distant husband. When the opportunity arises to leave Merseyside behind for a holiday in Greece, Shirley leaves a note and heads for the sun where she starts to see the world and herself very differently.

DIAL M FOR MURDER 10 - 14 March, various times Tickets: £28 (Concs £14) Tom Chambers stars as Tony a jaded ex-tennis pro who has given it all up for his wife Margot, performed by Sally Bretton. When he discovers she has been unfaithful his mind turns to revenge and the pursuit of the 6

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Shirley Valentine, Salisbury Playhouse

‘perfect crime’. Made famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s film of 1950, Dial M for Murder will leave you spellbound as Tony becomes more tangled in the web of his own making. Also featuring Christopher Harper and Michael Salami this ultimate masterclass in suspense is guaranteed to entwine you with its spine-chilling twists and turns.

THE KITE RUNNER 17 - 21 March, various times Tickets: £30 (Concs £14) Afghanistan is a country on the verge of war and best friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul, the skies are full of colour and the streets are full of the excitement of a kite flying tournament, but no one can foresee the terrible incident that will shatter their lives forever.

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? 26 March - 11 April, various times Tickets: £29 (Concs £13) Two professors and their wives living the American Dream. Following an innocent invitation after a college campus party, the paper-thin illusion that all is well starts to peel away as George and Martha realise they have a captive audience for their toxic domestic games. As dawn approaches, there is only one way this party can

end. And whether they like it or not, everyone must play their part.

HAY FEVER 22 April - 16 May, various times Tickets: £29 (Concs £13) In deepest Berkshire, retired actress Judith Bliss and her family have invited guests over for a weekend. But the promise of an idyllic stay is quickly forgotten as the hapless visitors become playthings in the family’s self-made melodrama, resulting in comedic chaos. Cleverly constructed, wittily written and brilliantly entertaining, this is Coward at his best.

SALISBURY MUSEUM

The Kings House, 65 The Close, Salisbury SP1 2EN 01722 332151 salisburymuseum.org.uk ALBERT GOODWIN: VISIONARY LANDSCAPES Until 18 April An exhibition of watercolour paintings and sketches that illustrate the travels and influences of the landscape artist Albert Goodwin (1845 - 1932).

BEER: ANCIENT TO MODERN WITH SIMON JACKSON 26 March, 6.30pm Tickets: from £12

Send your listings to info@wired-publishing.co.uk

events 2020 marks the 800th year since the foundation stone of Salisbury Cathedral. This talk will explore the history of beer and consider what beer 800 years ago might have looked and tasted like. Beers tasted will include some reproductions of ancient styles as well as some current style leaders.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES: OLD SARUM AND NEW 31 March – 2 April, 10am Tickets: FREE but ticket required A great opportunity to participate in modern archaeological survey at Hudson’s Field, beneath Old Sarum.

Non-intrusive methods of sensing what lies beneath the surface provide invaluable information to the modern archaeologist. Adult learners will have an opportunity to learn, alongside archaeology students, a number of techniques in field classes led by technical experts, Dominic Barker and Dr Kris Strutt.

SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE

Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT 01722 321744 wiltshirecreative.co.uk THE MUSTANG (Cert 15) 11 March, 7.30pm Tickets: £8 The Mustang tells the story of Roman Coleman, a violent convict, who is given the chance to participate in a rehabilitation therapy program involving the training of wild mustangs.

JEN BRISTER: UNDER PRIVILEGE 12 March, 8pm Tickets: £13 Brister has it all: a wife, kids, a house and a job she loves (sometimes) so what the hell is she moaning about?

Join Jen as she takes an irreverent look at the, often controversial, subject of ‘privilege’. Who has it? Who doesn’t?

And why does no one like to admit they have any?

MRS LOWRY & SON (Cert PG) 18 March, 2.30pm Tickets: £5 Mrs Lowry & Son depicts the relationship between L.S. Lowry, one of Britain’s most iconic artists, and his mother Elizabeth, with whom he lived until her death. Timothy Spall plays Lowry and Vanessa Redgrave plays his overbearing mother.

THE KINGMAKER (Cert 15) 18 March, 7.30pm Tickets: £8 From award-winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield comes The Kingmaker, centred on the indomitable character of Imelda Marcos. With intimate access to the Marcos family, witness their improbable return to power in the Philippines. The film explores the disturbing legacy of the Marcos regime and chronicles Imelda’s present-day push to help her son, Bongbong, with the vice-presidency.

KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN 20 March, 8pm Tickets: £15.50 This popular wife and husband duo have established themselves as one of the UK folk scene’s most enduring partnerships. Here the couple will revisit songs which span their career.

From the early days of folk supergroup Equation through to the current release Personae with a nod or two along the way to their extra-curricular musical adventures, the evening promises a whistle-stop tour through their artistic journey to date.

THE BUSTER KEATON PICTURE SHOW WITH LIVE ORIGINAL SCORE. 3 April, 8pm Tickets: £15 (Concs £13) Acclaimed instrumental group Haiku Salut perform an original, contemporary live score to Buster Keaton’s 1926 comedy classic film The General, described by Orson Welles as “the greatest comedy ever made”.

Send your listings to info@wired-publishing.co.uk

LEVANTES DANCE THEATRE: THE BAND 23 April, 8pm Tickets: £14 (Concs £12) A quirky, humorous display of desperate ambition and blind affection told through awe-inspiring dance, theatre and circus with striking aesthetics and a rousing soundtrack.

THE GOLDFINCH (Cert 15) 29 April, 2.30pm Tickets: £5 Theodore Decker was 13 years old when his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a stirring odyssey of grief and guilt, reinvention and redemption, and even love.

FOR SAMA (Cert 18) 29 April, 7.30pm Tickets: £8 An intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war. A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives

Mrs Lowry & Son (PG), Salisbury Arts Centre

The Goldfinch (15), Salisbury Arts Centre

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events birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Salisbury Arts Centre

SHAFTESBURY ARTS CENTRE 13 Bell Street, Shaftesbury SP7 8AR 01722 555198 shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk

NICK ANDREW & TANYA HINTON Until 10 March A series of paintings and mixed media drawings by Nick Andrew, exploring the upper reaches of the River Wylye and surrounding meadow, woodland and downland landscapes and collection of unique and unusual paintings by Tanya Hinton of animals and birds on weathered, aged and reclaimed wood.

THE BOOTLEG SHADOWS 21 March, 7.30pm Tickets: £22.50 (Concs £12) For anyone who loves the sounds of the 60s ‘The Bootleg Shadows’ perform a must-see tribute.

ANNETTE GREGORY: JAZZ AND ME 28 March, 7.30pm Tickets: £12.50 (Concs £10) Annette will be sharing her love of the great jazz standards and other songs that have inspired her.

WAITING FOR GODOT 3 & 4 April, 7.30pm Tickets: £10 Waiting for Godot was written shortly after the Second World War and first performed in Paris in 1953. Few plays have been subjected to so much literary analysis to so little effect. A lot of people dislike it intensely. Others see it as a masterpiece. So, will you enjoy it? Who knows? Go along and find out!

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM 15-18 April, 7.30pm Tickets: from £7.50 Be prepared to “tune in, turn on, and drop out” in this hippy version of Shakespeare’s famous play. Set 8

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in the 1960s in a field of gigantic technicolour flowers, this is a chance to experience the hallucinogenic vision of Shakespeare’s dream play.

OTHERS WILTON HOUSE ANTIQUES FAIR .

Wilton House 6-8 March Tickets: £6 Held at the beautiful Palladian home of the Earl & Countess of Pembroke, this independent, three-day event hosts 40 exhibitors presenting a choice of art, antiques, design and decorative arts, including jewellery, furniture, carpets, textiles, antiquities, clocks, ceramics, silver and fine art.

For details go to wiltonhouse.co.uk or call 01722 746728.

CELEBRATING SALISBURY Arundells, 59 Cathedral Close, Salisbury 14 March - 19 May An exhibition of work by Plain Art Members to celebrate local art in Salisbury coinciding with the ongoing celebrations of the 800th anniversary.

CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT 2020 Mompesson House, Cathedral Close, Salisbury 10-13 April

NT members free. Normal admisison applies, but if you’re just coming to do the Easter Egg Hunt you can buy a garden only ticket. Adult £1.50, Child 75p, Family £3.75 Venture over to Mompesson House for the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt.

Complete the nature checklist around the garden to claim a delicious Cadbury chocolate treat. £2 per checklist.

FAMILY DINO DAY Salisbury Racecourse, Netherhampton, Salisbury 26 April, 12-5.30pm Tickets: adults from £10, kids free Calling all dinosaur owners! Bring your little explorers to come and meet some dinosaurs - and learn how to train your own dinosaur. Expect lots of Dinosaur magic - and maybe a little mischief!

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, Mompesson House

Send your listings to info@wired-publishing.co.uk

competition

AVON VALE RACES

The much loved annual Avon Vale Races take place this year on Saturday 28 March.

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fter this wettest of winters, let us hope the laws of probability allow for an early and warm spring. One event dominates the spring sporting calendar like no other... Cheltenham Festival – four days of racing admired and revered throughout the world.

The six race card is hugely competitive, but it's by no means the only entertainment on offer

Racing and breeding horses is big business in Wiltshire, despite only hosting one professional racecourse up on Netherhampton Down. Yet the county actually hosts two other racecourses. To the north Barbury stages three fixtures from December "Point-to-Point racing is the grass roots of the to April. But it’s Larkhill, just 8 miles north of Salisbury, that dominates the sport – pop-up steeplechase events where Wiltshire and Dorset calendar, with 7 amateur riders and trainers compete for prizes fixtures from December to late April, that rarely cover the cost of getting to the track." featuring arguably its most popular all learnt their horsemanship skills on to Salisbury Plain for some of the event in the Avon Vale Races on 'between the flags' .

This is a sport best views in the South West, and Saturday 28 March. where you can say, ”I saw him/her some entertaining horseracing too.

Point-to-Point racing is the grass roots there first.”

• avonvaleraces.com of the sport – pop-up steeplechase There’s plenty to entertain you at this events where amateur riders and COMPETITION TIME year’s event. Pony races accompany trainers compete for prizes that We have teamed up with the six steeplechases, there’s a dog rarely cover the cost of getting to Avon Vale Races to offer 5 LUCKY agility show, loads of shops, and the track. Yet don’t underestimate WINNERS A RESERVED PARKING even a restaurant where those that the quality of what you may see.

LABEL WORTH £40, which affords enjoy creature comforts can get This is where plenty of future a trackside parking position by the lunch, admission and a racecard for steeplechasers of note have learnt winning line and admission for four only £48pp. Alternatively, a spring their trade. Champion jockey Dickie occupants. All you have to do to be picnic is a ritual of the Point-to-Point Johnson, as well as current jockeys in with a chance of winning is email Daryl Jacob and Sam Twiston-Davies, experience. If lunch isn’t for you, the your answer to the following question range of concessions will keep you not to mention a certain AP McCoy to comp@wired-publishing.co.uk and Richard Dunwoody in their time, filled and warm, and there’s ample HOW MANY parking to enjoy your viewing from STEEPLECHASES ARE around your car, even up by a fence.

SCHEDULED AT THIS YEAR’S Adult admission is just £10, or less AVON VALE RACES? if booked in advance. Book by 21 March for a chance to win free beer Email your answers now. Good luck! for a year from Wadworth!

Closing date for entries is 21.03.2020. Entrants A dog agility show is a new addition for 2020

Save the date, brush down the wellies, and get a thick jumper as you venture

must be 18 or over. Prize is as stated and is not transferrable. The winners will be picked at random from all the entrants received.

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local news

ARUNDELLS IN 2020 Arundells is opening for a new season on Saturday 14 March.

to climate change, so keep an eye on the website and Facebook page for details or call 01722 326546.

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he house has had its winter deep clean and the exterior has been redecorated from top to bottom, ready for this year’s visitors.

This year promises to be a busy and exciting one for Arundells, with some

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Arundells is hosting an exhibition

by Martin Jennings

fantastic outdoor music and theatre events such as Jazz, The Great Gatsby, The Hound of the Baskervilles and David Walliam’s Mr Stink. There are also some brilliant speakers lined up to enlighten on subjects from history

It is with great excitement that Arundells will be hosting a sculptural exhibition by the brilliant Martin Jennings, entitled ‘Illustrious Britons

by Martin Jennings: The Bronze Maquettes’. Martin created the bust of Sir Edward, now in the music room, and has some brilliant tales of his time here at Arundells with Sir Edward as sitter. The exhibition will open on Saturday 13 June and will run until Wednesday 23 September. Martin will also be giving a talk on 2 July, so again, check the website for tickets as they won't hang around.

• arundells.org

SATURDAY 28 MARCH GATES OPEN FROM 10AM

• Six Steeplechases • Parade of Hounds • Children’s Entertainment • Bar • Food from the Larkhill Nosebag • Bookmakers NEW FOR 2020

DOG AGILITY SHOW

BUY BEFORE 21 MARCH FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN FREE BEER FOR A YEAR FROM WADWORTH! At Larkhill Racecourse, near Amesbury SP4 8AT

avonvaleraces.com

Unit 11, Glenmore Business Park Telford Rd, Salisbury SP2 7GL www.inspiremobility.co.uk 01722 323 666

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local news

800 YEARS OF SPIRIT & ENDEAVOUR Salisbury Cathedral is celebrating its 800th anniversary with its largest exhibition of contemporary art in nearly two decades.

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ednesday 25 March sees Salisbury Cathedral open 'Celebrating 800 years of Spirit and Endeavour', its largest contemporary art exhibition for nearly 20 years.

The multimedia exhibition marks the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral’s

"The challenge for Jacquiline Cresswell has been to mount an exhibition that embodies the spirit, ambition, faith and endeavour that brought about the construction of this magnificent building."

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move to its present site and the development of the city, and is part of a year-long programme of celebratory events and activities across the city.

The exhibition is curated by Jacquiline Creswell, the Cathedral’s Visual Arts Adviser, who has brought together work from some of the most important and influential contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st century, including Sir Antony Gormley, Shirazeh Houshiary, Henry Moore, Grayson Perry, Conrad Shawcross, Stanza and Mark Wallinger. This collection will be shown alongside sculptures by Dame Elisabeth Frink, Dame Barbara Hepworth and Helaine Blumenfeld from the Cathedral’s own permanent collection. The Cathedral has also commissioned new works from Bruce Munro and Daniel Chadwick.

The move from Old Sarum was politically, logistically, commercially and spiritually audacious, made in defiance of the King’s soldiers, with a building plan that would test even modern, technologically advanced builders. The challenge for Jacquiline has been to mount an exhibition that embodies the spirit, ambition, faith and endeavour that brought about that move and the construction of this magnificent building.

Jacquiline Creswell, Salisbury Cathedral Visual Arts Adviser and curator said: “The exhibition is inspired by the ordinary people who came together in faith and

resolve to achieve something extraordinary, and the exhibition seeks to articulate the potential that humankind has consistently shown over eight centuries. Collectively the works explore the human condition in many different ways, seeking to understand what it is about people and faith that can inspire such vision and creativity.”

Death of a Working Hero by Grayson Perry

image courtesy of Osborne Samuel Gallery

Image courtesy of Stanza

The Reader by Stanza

Dr Robert Titley, Canon Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral and Chair of the Cathedral’s Arts Advisory Committee said: “Art speaks where words often fail. What better way to mark the foundation of this extraordinary building? The works have brought their own meanings – and now, in conversation with this place created for the meeting of heaven and earth, new meanings are emerging for us to ponder, about what it means to be human - and, for some, about God.” • salisburycathedral.org.uk

image courtesy of Osborne Samuel Gallery

recipes

TALE OF SPICE

Last month we featured recipes from Japan and Korea, this month FRAN STEVENS, aka The Food Wife, offers three delicious recipes from India...

My husband loves cheese, as do I, but he loves it so much he wrote a book about it. His family love reciting the story of him leaving a family wedding with a wheel of cheese tucked under his arm.

MAKE YOUR OWN PANEER Makes 250g

A family get together always involves a cheeseboard but we hosted the latest celebration and decided we’d also have a cheese dish as part of the main course, a saag paneer to accompany a chicken curry.

Ingredients 2 litres whole milk Juice of 1 lemon Method Heat the milk in a heavy-bottomed saucepan until it begins to froth and boil (be careful though as a moment too long and the milk will cascade

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out of your pan; I’m speaking from experience!) then lower the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Continue to stir until the milk curdles and separates into the lumpy curds and watery whey.

Line a large sieve with a muslin or cheesecloth and place over a pan or large bowl. Carefully pour the curdled milk through, so the curds remain.

Run some cold water through the curds to rinse off any whey.

Tie the curds in the cloth to hang from the tap for 10 minutes to allow excess whey to drip from it.

Remove the cloth-tied curds from the tap and place on a plate, with a heavy object (I used the same milk pan filled with water) on top for 40 minutes. By this time the curds should be set and your paneer ready to use. Store in the fridge, and any remaining cheese can be frozen.

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Whilst paneer is readily available from the supermarket, it’s easy to make your own and takes only two ingredients and just an hour (during most of which you don’t actually have to do anything) and you’ll have your own homemade batch, plus the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made your own cheese!

SAAG PANEER

After a few seconds add the onion and cook for a few minutes until softened.

Armed with your homemade paneer, here is a simple recipe to use it in a meal, suitable as an accompaniment to a curry, although it also makes an excellent wrap/flatbread filling with any of the leftovers.

Add the ginger, garlic and chillis and cook for a further couple of minutes.

Add the coriander and a pinch of salt.

Serves 8

It’s best to make this at the last minute to ensure the spinach keeps its vibrant green, although you can prepare the first couple of steps in advance. Before continuing to step 3, ensure your paneer and puréed spinach are ready to use.

Ingredients 250g paneer, cut into cubes 800g-1kg frozen spinach, defrosted and blitzed to a purée 2 tbsp oil 1 tsp ground cumin 1 onion, cut into small dice 1 inch of root ginger, peeled & finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 1-2 green chillis, left whole but pierced three times with the point of a knife 2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp garam masala Salt Juice of half a lemon 50-100ml cream Method Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and add the cumin.

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recipes

Add the puréed spinach and stir, cooking for just a minute or two until warmed through. Fold through the paneer and cream.

Season with the lemon and garam masala and check if more salt is needed. Garnish with coriander (optional) and serve immediately.

CHICKPEA & SPINACH CURRY Serves 6

Good for all the family, this mildly spiced, creamy curry, is quick to make and suitable for a range of dietary requirements: dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

Ingredients 1 tbsp (coconut) oil 2 onions, medium dice 1 fat clove of garlic, finely chopped 2 inches of ginger, peeled & finely grated 1 cinnamon stick 1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tbsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground turmeric 2 tins of chickpeas, drained 150g red lentils 400ml coconut milk 500ml vegetable stock (gf if required) 250g spinach, fresh or frozen (defrosted) roughly chopped Salt and pepper Method In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the oil over a medium heat. Add the onions and cook for five minutes or so; when softened add the garlic and ginger and cook for another two minutes.

Add the spices and cook for two minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the chickpeas, lentils, coconut milk and stock. Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes or until the lentils are soft.

Add the spinach, cook for a couple more minutes and then check the seasoning and adjust as necessary before serving. n.b. Add the spinach at the very end to keep its vibrant green colour.

Find more recipes at: thefoodwife.co.uk

It’s made with standard store cupboard (or freezer) ingredients so you probably won’t need to do a special shop for it either and can easily fling it together on a weeknight without too much effort.

Serve with rice (I like it with nutty brown basmati) or with flat breads. It would also make a suitable side dish for a bigger Indian meal.

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interview

WALLOP!

The Mouth of the South himself, Mr Rob Beckett, is currently on a tour of the UK and Ireland. WALLOP! is taking in a whole host of big venues, and on Saturday 30 May the show rolls into Salisbury City Hall. BRIAN DONALDSON caught up with him to find out more.

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R rob beckett

“As a word, ‘wallop’ just isn’t used enough but I use it quite a lot. I think it sums up me and my show. ‘Here it is, have a bit of that’. We’ll enjoy ourselves and then go home. I’m very much in it for the audience and to do whatever it takes to be as funny as possible for an hour and a half as opposed to delivering a message or narrative or life-changing view of the world. My show isn’t going to sort out Brexit, but it will take your mind off it for an hour and a half. Essentially, the show is all about the funniest things that have happened to me, or I’ve thought of, since the last tour.”

As a father now of two toddlers, the temptation for Beckett might have been to make Wallop! his ‘new-dad’ show. He’s more or less resisted that. “Though I have kids, it’s not my ‘I’m gonna talk about my kids for 90minutes tour’. I love the kids and 18

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that’s going to be the hardest thing about going on tour. It’s not really about the things my kids have said, it’s more about my new relationship with my in-laws and my own parents.

The show is about family. I’ve always

and it’s not spoken about. They’re all proud, though, don’t get me wrong.”

His mum is also no doubt very proud of her lad’s achievements, but in Rob’s eyes has a funny way of showing it:

Rob (pictured on stage) is hitting the road for the first time since his 2015 tour Mouth Of The South

image © Andy Hollingworth

ob Beckett’s comedy has long been packing a solid punch, so he’s found the ideal title for his new touring show in Wallop! The London comic is a regular face on TV, having been a team captain on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, hooked up with Mr Ranganathan on Rob And Romesh Vs., narrated Celebs Go Dating and made numerous appearances on The Jonathan Ross Show, A League Of Their Own and The Graham Norton Show.

Meanwhile, he’s recently started hosting two more programmes: an E4 show which commentates on the week’s social media activity, and Head Hunters, a daytime quiz show for the BBC. As he prepares to hit the road for the first time since his wildly successful 2015 tour, Mouth Of The South, he’s making a few promises.

"My show isn’t going to sort out Brexit, but it will take your mind off it for an hour and a half.

Essentially, the show is all about the funniest things that have happened to me, or I’ve thought of, since the last tour" wanted a whole family to sit down and laugh at my stuff; before it was more of a happy accident because my comedy is quite accessible, but now, all ages can get a lot from it.”

Coming from a very large family (“Everyone’s my cousin in South East London”), where Rob is the second youngest of five brothers, he’s noticed an over-compensating tendency for those siblings to stop him from getting ideas above his station. “The level they go to to keep my feet on the ground is actually quite rude. It’s really odd how much they don’t talk about my job. If I worked at Sainsbury’s they’d ask me more about my work. They almost go out of their way to not turn me into some sort of showbusiness d*ck,

“My mum always likes to have a go: ‘If you could get a degree in annoying . . . you’d have a degree in annoying.’

Thanks mum. If she could get a degree in analogies . . . I don’t think she’d get one.”

While his feet might be planted solidly on terra firma, that doesn’t mean Rob won’t have ideas and nurture dreams about where his career might be headed. “I want to do stand-up forever; I’d love to fill my local, the O2. It would be a dream of mine to have that many people in one place coming to see me. That would be amazing.”

His natural flair for shooting the breeze with anyone who comes into his orbit means one day he can see

interview himself fronting his own talk show. “I love hosting and presenting TV, and I’d love to have a chat show later on in my career when I’ve calmed down a bit. I don’t think I’d get that much out of the guests at this point, but later on when I’m a bit more tired, I think I’d be a good chat-show host.”

In terms of the ideal TV show he’d loved to have appeared on, Rob mentions Game Of Thrones (“I saw Ed Sheeran and I think I would have ruined it as well”), and namechecks Match Of The Day (“to get on that, I would suddenly have to have a full career as a footballer”). While a big fan of football, he has recently got heavily into boxing. “It’s the comedy equivalent of sport, though obviously boxing is way harder. In performance terms, a singer has a band and an actor has a crew, but in stand-up comedy and boxing you’re on your own. To do all that and then get punched in the face? I’m in awe of them.”

It’s been ten years since Rob Beckett first launched his career in the stand-up game, and nine years since he took third spot (“I prefer to call it runner-up!”) in the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny competition which culminates each year at the Edinburgh Fringe. So, what would he say to his younger self, a decade on, now that he has a wealth of experience in stand-up comedy and the wider entertainment world in general?

know the Edinburgh Fringe existed, so I went in not giving a sh*t. Both parents were so supportive and there was no pressure, but if you had been to Oxbridge or Durham and your parents had funded your education, they’d be saying ‘Why are you going to the Edinburgh Fringe?

You should be off being a barrister!’ So there was no expectation on me... But mainly I’d say to him, ‘Cut your hair because it’s an absolute disgrace!’”

Rob Beckett's Wallop show rolls into Salisbury City Hall on Saturday 30 May. Tickets are £25 - limited availability. Go online to book or call 01722 434434.

• cityhallsalisbury. co.uk

“There are loads of things I would have told him not to do, but he wouldn’t have listened. I was just enjoying it and ploughing on, and obviously you make mistakes. But by throwing yourself into stuff and making mistakes you learn invaluable lessons. I had come from a workingclass background and had no idea about the industry and didn’t even THESOUTHWILTSMAGAZINE

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As well as the wide range of trees, shrubs, patio plants and perennials, you will also find a select range of quality garden furniture, barbecues and gifts. Find Lakeside on the A350 in Crockerton, just outside Warminster, on the edge of the Longleat estate. What really marks this garden centre apart is the beautiful setting - no visit to Lakeside is complete without a stroll around the lake and a chance to meet the resident ducks and geese!

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house & home

THE HOUSE HUNTER’S GUIDE

MARYAM CALVERT at Northwood Salisbury offers some great advice if you are looking to move this spring.

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earching for a new home is both an exciting and nervewracking time. There’s so much to do and get organised and there are certainly plenty of challenges to overcome. House hunting can quickly become frustrating if you don’t have your gameplan right.

SET YOUR BUDGET

Be realistic about your budget and what you can afford. A lot will depend on what size home you are looking for and the area you want to move to. Don’t forget to factor in costs in addition to the purchase price, such as legal fees, surveys, searches and removals costs.

MAKE A WISHLIST

Your wishlist should be split into sections: definite must-haves (e.g. the number of bedrooms you require), what features you’d really like but aren’t essential (e.g. a garage or office space), and then lastly anything that would be a bonus. The list shouldn’t only include requirements for the house. You may want to include location factors such as proximity to the local transport links, amenities as well as the quality of local schools.

Most of it can be done in front of a computer or with your local estate agent. For this job you will need to put aside some time to do it regularly.

Houses are coming onto the market all the time and you don’t want to miss out.

Make sure you read all the relevant details for each property and fill in your list as you go along. Keep those properties that most closely fit your needs and shortlist these to view.

KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK

It is easy to let your emotions get the better of you when it comes to house hunting and viewing properties. After all, this is probably one of the biggest investments you are ever going to make. You might find yourself swayed by a beautiful garden or a feature such as a large en-suite bathroom.

That’s why you should always give yourself a chance to cool off, step back and check your list again.

VIEW HOUSES AT DIFFERENT TIMES

You will want to do your main viewing during the day when you can see everything clearly. Educate yourself on spotting potential problems such as damp or disrepair and make sure that you gather as much information on the property as possible so you know what to expect.

Once you have done your main viewing, if you are still interested in the property, visit the area at different times, including at night. That way you can assess what your street looks like when everyone is home from work, is parking an issue? Is it a quiet neighbourhood?

TALK TO THE EXPERTS

Throughout the process of buying a new home one of your most valuable assets will be your estate agent.

At Northwood we have local property experts that can help you find the right home for you. Find us at 56 Castle Street, Salisbury or call 01722 330066.

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The reason for making this list and formalising it is so you can compare like for like during your search. It will give you a clear idea of which properties are meeting most of your needs. It will also help your agent and will prevent them from showing you properties that aren’t relevant.

SHORTLIST PROPERTIES

This can take a lot of time and work.

24 THESOUTHWILTSMAGAZINE

Be smart about your househunt with the help of our guide

house & home

TRENDSETTING ITALIAN CHIC

Find the finest Italian furniture fashions at Southons of Salisbury this spring.

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he Italians know a thing or two about style and this is never more evident than with Natuzzi Editions range of fabric and leather sofas and chairs. Each piece is an iconic mix of style, craftsmanship and a thorough understanding of how to use different materials to maximum effect. Natuzzi Editions is also a brand that is continually updating its collection of sofas, chairs and accessories, as well as the choice of leather, fabric and colours it has to offer. At the forthcoming furniture show in April in Milan, Chris Southon, proprietor of Southons, will be meeting with Natuzzi Editions to see their range of new innovations and designs.

Southons operates an exclusive Natuzzi Gallery in their Catherine Street showroom. Every care is taken over the presentation of the extensive range of corner seating arrangements, sofas and chairs.

Chris explains, "As furniture tends to be fashion-led, it’s important that our displays are as inspirational as possible, showing the latest range of colours and styles available."

The look is quintessentially Italian: sleek, low sofas and chairs in the finest leather or plush fabric perfectly complemented with rugs, contrasting scatter cushions and rectangular and circular coffee tables.

Natuzzi Editions even has their own visualizer, who is responsible for overseeing the perfect positioning and presentation of the furniture in Southons Natuzzi Gallery. In fact, all the plans for the layout and interior

Southons operates an exclusive Natuzzi Gallery from their Salisbury showroom

"When you visit the Natuzzi Editions Gallery, you will experience the height of Italian chic" design of the studio, even the wall colour, have had to be approved by Pasquale Natuzzi himself, the founder and Chairman of the company.

When you visit the Natuzzi Editions Gallery, you will experience the height of Italian chic along with the sumptuous comfort of the beautifully designed sofas, chairs and corner units. The selection of colours to choose from, both in leather and fabric, is also amazing, as well as the range of different grades of leather, which means that there’s something for everyone’s budget.

You will also be able to discuss your requirements with the friendly team, who can share their extensive knowledge of the Natuzzi Edition range so you can choose the ideal sofa and chair combination that will transform your home, reflecting your unique style and taste in interiors.

As Christopher says, "Up-to-the moment designer furniture that combines style and comfort at affordable prices. What could be better?!"

• southonsfurniture.co.uk THESOUTHWILTSMAGAZINE

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health & wellbeing

TIME TO EVOLVE

Get fit and feel well in time for summer with the help of the experts at Evolved Health, Salisbury’s no 1 fitness, sports massage and injury rehab centre.

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volved Health is widely regarded as the go to place for sports massage, injury rehab and personal training.

Evolved now offers the revolutionary ELDOA method, which is helping people with back pain and other issues as well as in the prevention of injuries, improvement of posture, recovery, and overall wellbeing.

ELDOA was developed by world renowned osteopath Guy Voyer. “The ELDOA targets the decompression of a joint. ELDOA positions can be modified to suit any level, needs or restrictions.” Says Matt Chappell, owner of Evolved, “The body is placed in a very precise posture to treat a specific joint, segmentally. There is an ELDOA for every joint in the body. We also offer Osteo Articular Joint Pumping of the lower limbs, a technique that moves stagnated fluid in a chronically painful or tight joint to make it mobile and function more efficiently. It is particularly useful for those suffering with osteoarthritis.”

Evolved use targeted muscular reinforcement exercises to address abdominal wall separations, improve spinal control and stability, and to mechanically stimulate the physiology of digestion in order to ease IBS symptoms, constipation and other digestive issues. Runners meanwhile will benefit from more resilient hips, knees and ankles, all via specific muscular strengthening.

Evolved can help anyone with a pain or performance issue.

Evolved also have the well respected Charlie Blake performing sports massage and injury rehabilitation.

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Evolved Health can help improve your health, fitness and wellbeing

“It is often said personal training is an expensive luxury, but Evolved turn that into a valuable essential.”

Charlie can provide exercises either in the gym or at home to assist with recovery from pain or injury.

“We are able to combine a treat and train approach which means after hands on work we can re integrate movement and exercise seamlessly” Matt continues. “It’s a one stop shop for your body”.

At this private fitness facility, all sessions are by appointment only, so you have exclusive use of all the equipment. Their 1:1 or semiprivate (two to three people sharing a session) options mean you get personal attention and access to a superb gym at a time that suits you.

It is often said personal training is an expensive luxury, but Evolved turn that into a valuable essential. And, with their different training options it doesn’t cost as much as you think, with small group training classes a great option. These fun sessions use HIIT, bodyweight exercises, weight

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To find out more about how Matt and his team can help you transform your health and body in 2020 call 01722 415302 or email info@evolvedhealth.co.uk.

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THE BIATHLON MAN

n our house we love watching a bit of live sport. Being from round these parts rugby is top of the tree – we’re always at Bath’s home games and watch them and other live games on the TV at weekends. And there’s the Six Nations at the moment too! It’s very much the rock around which we build our weekend viewing habits.

My wife is also particularly fond of cricket. Always in the summer but also in the winter. She loves watching England playing test matches in foreign climes where they have sunshine and warmth. If she had her time again I’m sure cricket correspondent would be top of her list of career priorities. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the sound of leather on willow as much as the next man, or woman, but for me, it’s all a bit hot and bothery…

Those of you who read these words regularly will already know how fond of the winter I am. Hearty winter stews, crackling log fires, snowy walks and warming cuppas is what I’m all about. Yes watching the cricket is mildly diverting but I prefer my sport a little cooler…

Yes my friends I enjoy nothing more than watching winter sports.

Biathlon is my fave although I have been known to also get involved in watching the skiing. Biathlon, for those of you who don’t know (apparently not everyone is as obsessed with it as I?!) involves cross country skiing with the added jeopardy of having to stop every so often and shoot at targets the size of a 50p piece 50m away. That sounds hard enough in itself but then you realise that before they shoot

30 THESOUTHWILTSMAGAZINE

(sometimes standing up, sometimes lying on the ground, obvs) they have bring their heartrates down enough - after the exertions of their skiing - to be able to shoot accurately.

Sometimes they’ve expended so much energy you can see them shaking. And if they miss they have to do penalty loops and everything it’s riveting stuff people!

I tend to watch the women’s races, the men’s are a bit of a foregone conclusion and so a bit boring. The

appeal. Plenty of my friends have, over the years, taken the plunge and strapped long, thin, wood and carbon fibre strips to their feet and then tried to get down a mountainside on one of the most slippery substances known to man….why you would do that I just don’t know!!

The other thing that has always put me off is the people. Not the type of people necessarily, just the sheer volume of them. If I could go to a beautiful mountain with pristine,

“Biathlon, for those of you who don’t know (apparently not everyone is as obsessed with it as I?!) involves cross country skiing with the added jeopardy of having to stop every so often and shoot at targets the size of a 50p piece 50m away.”

Italians are one of the better teams along with the Norwegians and, of course, the Germans. As well as the standard races, they do relays and mixed relays too.

The slightly odd side of this – according to my wife at least – is that I should be so keen to watch winter sports despite having inclination, whatsoever, to try them. Now no-one in their right mind is going to let me loose with a small caliber rifle, especially on snow, knowing my reputation for clumsiness. Can you imagine the carnage?! So that side of it isn’t an option but the skiing has never tempted me either. I used to think I might like the apres ski… I could just wait back at the lodge, or in a bar, drinking Gluhwein, eating Apfelkuchen and watching everyone falling over but as I don’t drink anymore that doesn’t hold the same

untouched ski slopes fresh, virgin snow and not another soul around maybe I’d give it a shot but having to slide around with hundreds if not thousands of other people is just not my idea of fun.

I’m not sure why people find it surprising that I enjoy watching something that I don’t want to have a go at. I also enjoy watching rugby and boxing and I’d rather not try those things out anytime soon thank you!!

Phil Rockliffe