cotswold esscence june-august 2014

Inspiring life in the Cotswolds

Issue 39June/July/August

THE MAGAZINE AT THE HEART OF THE COTSWOLDS FOOD&DRINK | HEALTH&BEAUTY | HOTELS | HOMES&GARDENS | LIFESTYLE | MOTORS

www.cotswoldessence.co.uk Free

WIN

WINA CHIMENEA FOR THOSE LONG, LINGERING SUMMER EVENINGS

TICKETS TO GIFFORDS

CIRCUSA CHIMENEA FOR THOSE LONG, LINGERING

WIN

TICKETS TO THE COTSWOLD SHOW

4 COTSWOLDESSENCE | June - August 2014 www.cotswoldessence.co.uk

IF you have been gripped by the Great British Sewing Bee on our TV screens recently you may also be one of the many who have joined myriad sewing classes popping up all around the country. Sue Bradley went along to the Stroud School of Sewing and like me she has now got the needle bug although Victoria Beckham need not start worrying just yet.

Isn’t it great to see the sun at last? One lucky reader has the chance to win a beautiful chimenea from Stroud-based company La Hacienda to help prolong those long, summer evenings ahead. Not only can you cook your sausages on them but the smouldering embers mean you can stay outside just that little bit longer to get the very last dregs out of the good weather. There’s a great success story behind the company too which will be inspiring to any budding young entrepreneurs out there.

But ambition is not the prerogative of the young, photographer Gemma Dawks who provided the beautiful photograph for our cover for this issue went down many career paths before finally plucking up the courage to follow her heart and her passion and it paid off in bucket loads with a flood of prestigious awards within her first two years of branching out.

We also hopped on board one of the Willow Trust’s boats moored at Saul Junction to have a look at

the work this amazing charity does giving around 7,000 disabled and seriously ill children and adults every year, the chance to spend a day cruising on the glorious Gloucester-Sharpness Canal soaking up the freedom and excitement of a day afloat. The Trust is in desperate need of more friends to join and support the fantastic work they do, maybe you will be moved to offer your support when you read about it.

Summer is the season for festivals; we look ahead to Cornbury this year which has some brilliant acts to have us if not exactly dancing in the streets, at least in the fields.

And with all this talk of heat, the latest craze for hot yoga and Pilates has reached Gloucestershire. Lottie Keble explains what is it is all about and in the next issue I will be writing firsthand about what it is like to exercise in 40 degrees.

AdvertisingSales ManagerDean AmosCotswold Essence Magazine74 Dyer Street, Cirencester, GL2 2PW.01285 [email protected]

Advertising SalesHelen Perry 01285 [email protected] Tandy 01285 627310 [email protected] Gray 01285 [email protected] Baker 01453 [email protected] Shipton 01453 [email protected] Woodhouse 01453 769426 [email protected] Green 01453 769412 [email protected] Advertising SalesWendy McCafferty 01285 [email protected]

EditorSue Smith 01453 [email protected]

What’s OnTonia Stratford 01285 [email protected]

COTSWOLDESSENCE MagazineIssue 39

Sue SmithEditor ~ Cotswold Essence Magazine

Publisher Julia LancettEditor Sue SmithAdvertising Dean AmosDesign Katie AdamsPhotography Thomas Wren, Steve Richards

June - August 2014

Published quarterly by:

A Division of Newsquest Media (Southern) Limited. A Gannett Company.

58 Church Street, Weybridge KT13 8DP. Reg. Number 1350 England

Contributors

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emm

a D

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Sue BradleyTonia StratfordLottie KebleCaroline PeytonMarianne Sweet

Skip WalkerJoanne CollierMegan ArcherJayne BennettBrendan Mcfadden

Marianne Sweet Rebecca Jones Madeleine SpencerLinda Diggory

Enjoy!

is like to exercise in 40 degrees.

EDITOR’S

Welcome


www.cotswoldessence.co.ukContents Issue 39

18, 49, 63, 65, 84COMPETITIONSGet the most out of the lovely summer evenings that are hopefully ahead with a beautiful Circles clay chimenea worth £77.99. There’s also the chance to win tickets to the annual favourite with families, The Cotswold Show as well as a family ticket to the Cirencester show from Giffords Circus. We also have ten sets of the latest eyelashes on the market from Kiss, guaranteed to demand a second look as they are so light and realistic people will be wondering just whether those fluttering peepers shades are real or not. And for anyone who has every complained they can’t find the time to go to the gym it is time to throw out those excuses because The Pop Up Gym will now come to you. We have 10 copies of this fantastic portfolio of exercises to give away so you can keep fit wherever you are without any costly gym membership.

58, 59 WHAT’S ONCheck out this summer’s festivals plus a host of events taking place throughout the county and beyond from the Balloon Fiesta in Bristol to the Royal International Air Tattoo and Giffords Circus, there’s just so much to do over the next few months.

20 - 29 HOMES & GARDENSFind out about the stylish Everhot kitchen range, an Aga look-a-like, produced in Dursley and the invention of engineer Osman Goring who wanted to heat his kitchen and cook his meals using the electricity supplied by his hydro generator. It was such a success he decided to make it available to a wider audience and last year 1,200 sales were made around the world.

We take a look behind the scenes at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show where the theme this year is the Seven Deadly Sins while closer to home the beautiful Matara Gardens of Wellbeing at Kingscote near Tetbury will push away all your feelings of stress if you take the time to soak up its tranquil beauty.

82, 83 TRAVELSoar Mill Cove nr Salcombe in Devon is one of those magical places that people return to time and time again. Marianne Sweet revisited it after a lull of ten years and found herself wrapped in a warm welcome where the staff are like an extended family and the views are breathtaking.

74, 76, 77, 80, 81 FOOD & DRINKMeet Sam Angelo whose exotic handmade cordials are taking Stroud by storm. What started as a hobby for family and friends has quickly grown into a business as demand for his Creole inspired products expand. The Porch House at Stow-on-the-Wold is well worth a visit. Claiming to be England’s oldest inn the food is anything but dated. And just on the Gloucestershire/Oxfordshire border there awaits a taste of luxury rarely seen in the modern day at the Manor Hotel at Weston-on-the-green where there is even a Martini on the menu for breakfast.

FEATURES18 HOT, HOT, HOTLa Hacienda, a Stroud-based company started out after one of the director’s was working as a guide in the rain forests of Ecuador and saw an opportunity to import products back to the UK. The company now supplies outdoor heating to some of the country’s largest retailers and exports all over the world.

32 A POET TO THE RESCUELovely Pam Ayres always raises a smile with her cheeky grin and quirky poems and now she is putting her name to an animal rescue centre. Oak and Furrows near Cirencester takes in injured wild animals and looks after them until they are ready to go back into the wild.

40 - 41 SEW WHAT?From curtains to Chanel style jackets, it is amazing what can be achieved with a needle and thread. Sew-ing Schools are the new going out venue since the hit TV series The Great British Sewing Bee.

54, 55, 56WHERE THERE’S A WILL(OW)The Willow Trust has been taking disabled children and adults up and down the glorious Gloucester Sharpness canal on its specially adapted boats since 1989 after it started out with just the germ of an idea and a fiver.

68 IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW ITLife coach and counsellor Carrie Rose believes we don’t have to go searching for happiness as what makes us happy is really just right here under our nose – we just haven’t recognised it.

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Let’s talk Moore

THE number of properties available for rent has declined throughout the first few months of this year, with some short term ‘reluctant’ landlords leaving the market now that house prices are on the up, while demand increases from people unable to secure a mortgage.

The buy-to-let phenomenon which fuelled the rental market during the early part of the decade was curtailed in more recent times when some investors were unable to secure re-mortgages for their properties or they were bailing out at the first sign of a recovery in house prices.

Meanwhile, many people – especially young singles and couples – are finding it increasingly hard to step on to the housing ladder, as 100 percent mortgages have become a thing of the past, the help to buy scheme has failed to make a lasting impact on many, living costs are rising and savings continue to be squeezed.

The result is a boon for landlords who own their properties, either as part of an investment portfolio or because they have decided against selling their houses for the foreseeable future. “The lack of rental properties means landlords can enjoy a pick of tenants paying reasonable rents, and good properties are never left empty for long,” said Paul Oughton who heads the lettings department at Cotswold letting agent Moore Allen & Innocent.

Another factor that has been positively affecting the Cotswold rental market during the recession is the lure of the area’s schools.

Families who would previously have chosen a private education for their children are now opting for a good state school – and the Cotswolds has some of the best in the country.

The easiest way to secure a place at a top state school may be to ‘parachute’ into the catchment area by renting a property, then look around for somewhere to buy.

Moore Allen & Innocent have been successfully letting and managing property for years and our reputation speaks for itself. The fee structure is simple and competitive whilst our service is professional, comprehensive and tailored to the needs of the individual Landlord.

We are experienced in providing landlords with all kinds of information and intelligence about an area, either prior to buying or for those who already own properties, and we know how to make the most of the selling points of a particular area or property. Coupled with excellent local knowledge and a personal, friendly approach, it all adds up to a quality service and peace of mind for you.

For further information and a no obligation chat on letting or managing your property, please contact Paul Oughton and Issy McCarthy at Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester on 01285 648 118 or Lorraine Kyte and Nancy Haughton in Lechlade on 01367 253 138 or email: [email protected]

Homeowners who want to make a profit from vacant properties are in one of the best positions in years to do so according to Cotswold Lettings Agent Moore Allen & Innocent.

COTSWOLD

Properties

WHAT WILL THE HOUSING MARKET DO NOW... YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINESEARLES Property Consultancy Ltd continues to be proud to stand out as the only independent ARLA Agent solely dedicated to lettings in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and North Wiltshire. The winter months were ones where the motto was “make hay while you can.” Unusually, January and February were active months for all shapes and sizes of houses to rent – strange really, when historically these are “hibernating” months when most people are more focussed on recovering from Christmas and put moving house on a back burner. Perhaps it was the British fighting spirit that helped as the demand and activity went on well into March.

Now it feels like “the lull before the storm” and, as we move forward into summer, we are all hoping that the energetic activity will continue but we are well aware that, like all markets, the letting market does peak and trough with highs and lows just like any market.

Sadly the simple issues of supply and demand are compounded by lack of construction and the virtual

impossibility to borrow and the changes in the mortgage market. Then we have talk of the “correction” in the Housing Market which will inevitably cause interest rates to rise so Letting Agents will be guaranteed to keep on their toes to keep up with the ever changing market place and it is certainly never dull.

We are all blessed, however, with the unchanging beauty of the Cotswolds which looks at its best in the summer months plus there are plenty of activities in villages, towns and cities to encourage people to visit and perhaps stay and keep this part of England buoyant for Landlords and Tenants alike.

If you have a property that you cannot sell or one that is empty that you would like to let, please call Soffi Searle on 07887 888686 for free, fast and friendly advice email Soffi at [email protected] or see all shapes of houses that can be let and visit the website at www.searlespc.co.uk

COTSWOLD

Properties

13Inspiring life in the Cotswolds

COTSWOLD

Properties

• HORNBURY CLOSE, MINETY • £1,795 PCM • UNFURNISHED• AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY

• CORNWALL CLOSE, TETBURY • £1,500 PCM• UNFURNISHED• AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY

Properties to let

LOCATED in the idyllic Wiltshire village of Minety, this five-bedroom detached house is being offered to let by Perry Bishop & Leaders.

It is ideally situated in a peaceful off-road position, ensuring you will be free of any noise or disruption. What’s more, despite its rural location, Minety is less than five miles from the M4, making it easy to reach London and the south-west by road.

The entrance/dining hall is fitted with elegant wood flooring, while the living room features patio doors that lead to a conservatory.

There is a modern fitted kitchen with an integrated double oven in place, as well as an extractor hood, halogen hob and adjoining utility room. This also offers access to the garden.

A master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a separate shower cubicle is the most spacious of all the quarters, while there is a second bedroom also with an en-suite bathroom and an over-bath shower.

Three further double bedrooms

are available, one of which features a vanity basin and built-in wardrobe. Such a range of bedrooms and washing facilities make this an ideal property for a large and busy family.

In addition to the en-suite options, there is a separate family bathroom. Double glazing is fitted throughout the house, while oil central heating is also in use, complementing an inset gas fire located in the living area.

Further advantages of securing this abode in Hornbury Close at a cost of £1,795 PCM include its double garage with electric door and a driveway that is large enough for several cars.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Perry Bishop & Leaders on 01285 642550 or visit the branch at 2 Silver Street, Cirencester. Alternatively, go to www.perrybishopleaders.com and search for the reference key 1347984.

PERRY Bishop & Leaders is delighted to offer this magnificent four-bedroom house just a short distance from Tetbury town centre.

The property boasts large rooms, attractive neutral decor and modern features, making it an extremely comfortable home.

At the centre of the property is a spacious living room with a bay window, Bath stone feature fireplace and French doors leading to a well-maintained garden. The dining room also includes a bay window, ensuring ample light and wonderful views.

The kitchen and breakfast room is adorned with a stylish tiled floor and a plethora of integrated appliances that are sure to make your life easy. Another set of French doors lead from this room to the garden.

In the master bedroom, you will benefit from a luxurious en-suite shower and fitted wardrobes. The guest bedroom also has an en-suite shower, while there are two further double bedrooms, making this the

ideal property for a large family or simply those who enjoy plenty of space.

A separate family bathroom includes its own shower cubicle, while double glazing and gas central heating are in place throughout the property.

The garden is fully enclosed and offers both a patio area, which is ideal for social gatherings and al fresco dining, and an immaculate lawn.

Available to let with a monthly rent of £1,500, this house comes unfurnished, giving you a chance to move all of your own belongings in with ease. There is also parking provisions for up to four cars, including two on a double carport.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Perry Bishop & Leaders on 01285 642550 or visit the branch at 2 Silver Street, Cirencester. Alternatively, go to www.perrybishopleaders.com and search for the reference key 1313005.

spacious living room with a bay window, Bath stone feature fireplace and French doors leading to a well-maintained garden. The dining room also includes a bay window, ensuring ample light and wonderful views.

adorned with a stylish tiled floor and a plethora of integrated appliances that are sure to make your life easy. Another set of French doors lead from this room to the garden.

benefit from a luxurious en-suite shower and fitted wardrobes. The guest bedroom also has an en-suite shower, while there are two further double bedrooms, making this the


The Cotswold Collection are home remodeling specialists and can help with the creation, management and implementation of an integrated plan from concept through to its completion.

This covers every aspect of design, building and planning specification, building regulations, building and construction work, designing and installing a new kitchen, bathrooms and flooring. In fact all the professional trades and services required to efficiently, smoothly, manage and deliver your newly remodelled home.

So, how can we help you to remodel your home.

It’s about removing you from risk, removing you from the need to appoint, negotiate, and manage all the builders, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, tilers etc.

It’s about removing you from the need to source separate kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and study designers, none of whom, in general, has any understanding or experience of how their products and designs, however costly, impact or complement the overall scheme.

It’s about helping you pull together all the products you’ve seen in those beautiful magazines; about making sure you don’t make mistakes in bringing together all the different styles, materials and textures.

It’s about helping you, when you are remodelling your home and don’t have an understanding of how to create public and private areas in the home - how to make sure doors are in the right place so you don’t create large corridors or introduce people traffic where there shouldn’t be any, making the most of a beautiful view, the sunlight and your garden.

It’s about giving you the confidence to move forward

It’s about making sure that childrens’ bedrooms are not directly above noisy social areas, about making sure that windows and doors make the most of the available light, and giving you good access to your garden.

It’s about making sure your kitchen is in the right room, facing the right way, making sure that when you’re cooking you are not disturbed and have sufficient preparation space when handling hot pans and casseroles,

The Cotswold CollectionWhen embarking on any kind of major home improvement, whether it is the planning and building of a new house or extension, interior remodelling, installing a luxury kitchen or bathroom you will be working, in most cases, with your biggest single asset – your home.

your work surfaces are close to hand and uncluttered, the dishwasher door doesn’t catch your ankles when it’s down. Making sure you don’t inadvertently design in bottle necks and that there is room to entertain family and friends and you have an area for the dogs and those muddy boots.

It’s about making sure, when you settle the final bill that you have added value to your home. That whenever possible you haven’t spent money, you have just transferred it from your bank account to your property account.

It’s about working with people who have the skill, knowledge and experience to guide you on the right path, and a proven track record in delivering their promises.

In the first instance, you will have become frustrated with some of your home’s layout and design; it’s not all bad, but it just doesn’t fulfil the needs of you or your family.

You will have identified that you need to make changes and improvements, but are not sure where to start, but you all agree...

It’s time we did somethingYou will have probably made dozens of

phone calls, chatted with friends over dinner, spent hours on the internet, driven hundreds of miles looking at showrooms for inspiration, and fallen asleep looking at magazines and

brochures with “home” in the title. You will have discovered there is a bewildering array of choice, quality, price points and standards of service.

In order to make any sense of it all, you’re going to have to make hundreds of decisions and choices you’re not confident in making on your own or necessarily qualified to do.

All this is good groundwork, as it gives you an understanding of your likes and dislikes, establishes the standards of quality and workmanship you want in your home and crystalises the need for you to get professional help, the need to appoint a business that can bring all these elements together.

Take the first step and see what we can do for you...

T: 01666 503555E: [email protected]: Hangar No 1, Babdown Airfield Beverstone, Nr Tetbury, GL8 8YL Open seven days a weekwww.cotswoldcollection.net

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Feature


25 years of outdoor heating

FOR a while it was no more than ethnic sweaters and garden products purchased in the street markets from these jungle frontier towns and sold to retailers from the back of a van by his brother Simon in England.

But by the 1990s the brothers were importing chimeneas back to Britain, one of the first companies to do so.

They began with an office, a storeroom and a spare bedroom.

It was a brave and inspired move in a climate at the time where outdoor living had not quite taken off in this country.

But it was this entreprenural spirit that sparked the birth of La Hacienda, a Gloucestershire –based company which is now the largest outdoor heating supplier in the country.

La Hacienda now employs more than 30 people and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

But despite its growth it remains a family business with John, Simon and their wives, Caroline and Maria on the board of directors.

From its site at Aston Down airfield near Minchinhampton goods are sent out to some of the UK’s biggest retailers including John Lewis, Argos and B&Q.

The company also exports goods all over the world including Africa, Asia, Australasia, North America and the Middle East.

Over the years, La Hacienda has expanded its outdoor heating products to include firepits, firebowls, outdoor ovens, garden

oil torches, garden lanterns and patio heaters as well as an extensive range of decorative mirrors, wall planters and wall art.

And despite the emergence of similar companies that have sprung up over the years since it started, La Hacienda remains the market leader in real fire and outdoor heating products.“We work hard and we are good at what we do,” says Caroline Goodwin.

“We offer good customer service and our staff go on regular buying trips looking for something different each time to expand the range.”

Trips to South America however, are a thing of the past as most of the production now takes place in China although the buyers are currently scouring in Poland with a view to sourcing from the EU.

Recently La Hacienda secured two distributors in the US on the east and west coast and it has increased its turnover year on year.

“We have outgrown our premises twice,” says Caroline “although with the assistance of our landlords we remain a local company.”

“We believe our growth is due to our competitive pricing, fast delivery and a superior product range.”

It’s been a long journey from Ecuador, the back of a van and a spare room.

It was while working as a guide in the rainforest in ecuador in the 1980s that a young John Goodwin hit upon the idea of sending locally made products back to the UK.By Sue Smith

Cotswold Essence is offering readers the chance to win a beautiful Circles clay chimenea worth £77.99. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the simple question on the coupon and send it to: Cotswold Essence/Chimenea Competition, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1BE to arrive no later than noon on Friday, July 18, 2014.

Q. In which country has La Hacienda secured distributors on the east and west coast?

A....................................................................................................... ......................

Name................................................................................................. ....................

Address............................................................................................... ..................

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Daytime tel no......................................................................................... ............

Cotswold Essence is offering readers the chance to win a beautiful

outdoor heating

WIN a beautiful Circles clay chimenea worth £77.99

COTSWOLD

Garden

The healingpower of nature

The Matara Gardens of Wellbeing, Kingscote, Near Tetbury.

By Joanne Collier

COTSWOLD

Garden


AMONG the 3,800 gardens in the National Gardens Scheme’s ‘Yellow Book’ listing gardens open to the public there can be few that have been so specifically designed to be inspirational as the Matara Gardens of Wellbeing at Kingscote, near Tetbury.

These gardens have been supporting the NGS for some 10 years, and are this year open for the charity on Sunday, June 15 from 1.00pm to .00pm.

There are other opportunities to visit throughout the summer months, when the gardens are open from Sundays to Thursdays from May 1 to September 30.

They have a tranquil beauty and are dedicated to the symbolic, spiritual and cultural role of trees, and are a place for peace and relaxation.

Matara is a Sanscrit word used to describe the creative heaven and earth.

The founder of the gardens, Geoffrey Higgins, describes them as a place where East meets West.

Among their special features are a Japanese Tea Garden, a Shinto Woodland and a Chinese Meditation Garden.

The Walled Garden was a Western influence and its plantings include beds of culinary and medicinal herbs.

Mr Higgins has created the gardens from land surrounding Kingscote Manor House, which is his home, from 28 acres of land

that had previously been used as a stud farm.

He explains how this all began:“The Matara centre was born

out of tragedy and hope and it is now a place of celebration and healing.

My partner and soul friend of 25 years, June, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

June first and foremost wanted to get better; if she couldn’t, she wanted others to benefit from our journey together,” he relates.

“We designed the Matara Centre as a wellbeing centre.

June died before it could be built but I continued with the project as part of my grieving and healing process.

Everything was done with love and care.

“Throughout the construction, I held the intention that Matara would be a place where people could reconnect with their mind, body and spirit, in a sense of unity and wholeness.

“Just as June had wished, I believe the Matara Centre has evolved to be a special place – a meditative healing centre, dedicated to the full expression of the human spirit and a deeper relationship with nature.

“We explore the principles and practice of wellbeing at home and in the workplace, helping people to find practical ways of slowing down, quietening the mind and reconnect their inner selves with


the natural world.The gardens were first

opened to the public in 2000.Mr Higgins’ friend and

landscape gardener Elizabeth Richardson has been working with him for 18 years.

Hundreds of trees have been planted, including oaks, beech, apple trees, rowan and groves of cherries.

An atmosphere of calm pervades the entire garden.

Pathways have a curving effect, a natural way of slowing down progress and aiding a state of relaxation.

The central path is soft to the tread, being covered with moss which is revered as a natural ground cover.

In the centre of this intriguing landscape is a meditative garden, inspired by the great Scholars’ Gardens of China.

These were originally developed from the belief that contemplation of natural landscapes – mountains, lakes and plants – leads to human fulfilment.

Given that it is not always possible to be among such landscapes, the skilled Chinese designers created over a period of more than 500 years representations of

natural landscapes on a garden-sized scale.

Here can be seen an example of how they achieved this, using pools for lakes, carefully selecting and placing rocks for mountains, and choosing plants indigenous to such areas but restricted in growth and habit.

At the Matara the Chinese garden, which runs alongside the main rooms of the centre, has a pool as its central focus.

Among the rocks ferns are growing and the plantings include rhododendrons and acers.

The Shinto-inspired garden which has been established in what was once an overgown area of woodland also has water – with its life-giving properties, and rocks softly covered with moss and lichen.

Here a yew tree has taken on the role of the centre’s Celtic wishing tree.

It is decorated with ribbons of many colours, tied there by visitors as they make a wish of their own.

Care and respect for the natural world is all-important and there are areas of land set aside where wildlife can flourish.

Plantings have been designed to encourage butterflies and bees.

Skylarks nest in the meadows.The entire centre is run on ethical

principles.The food served is fresh, seasonal,

local, organic, from sustainable sources and free from animal cruelty in its production.

The purchasing policy is to source as many environmentally-friendly, ethical and organic products as possible.

This approach is to every aspect of life at the centre makes it an ideal stage for green weddings.

These have been taking place here for more than 10 years, and this year 80 couples have chosen it as the setting for the most important day of their lives.

The house is also available as accommodation for up to 24 people, who can stay overnight – an ideal arrangement for members of the immediate families.

Couples who have sealed their vows here can have a tree dedicated in their names.

The gardens have visitors of all ages, and often they include families where the parents bring their children to show them the tree that

was dedicated to celebrate their marriage.

There is an appropriately romantic aspect to the history of the house.

Edward Jenner, the scientist who developed the vaccine for smallpox, among other achievements, lived in this part of Gloucestershire.

In 1784 he launched a hydrogen-filled balloon from Berkeley Castle and it came down not far from Kingscote Park House, at Symond’s Hall.

He met a member of the family from the park, Katherine Kingscote, when he came to collect the balloon.

They fell in love, were married at Kingscote Church and lived on the estate in the Regency house.

To return to the present day: the Matara Gardens embrace modern technology and feature on both Facebook and Twitter, where they have attracted many followers.

As well as there, information is available on the website mataragardensofwellbeing.com, with details of The Community Farm nearby.

Telephone 01453 861050.


The heat is on! One of the most successful manufacturing companies in Gloucestershire – a county that

punches above its weight when it comes to manufacturing according to the county’s Lord Lieutenant Dame Janet Trotter – is based on an industrial estate in Dursley.

By Skip Walker

Everhots newest cooker with an induction hob

The company has increased sales every year since its foundation in 1995 and because the product it produces, invented by a Dursley engineer, is not only stylish but also one of the most environmentally-sound on the market it is becomingly increasingly popular all over Britain and abroad with caring cooks.

The product is the Everhot kitchen range, an Aga-style cooker and room heater that runs on a small amount of electricity supplied from a 13am wall socket, unlike convention cookers which are wired in using

a high capacity cable and create a surge on the network whenever they are switched on.

Everhot is the invention of engineer Osman Goring, who had installed a hydro-electric generator at his home in Coaley, near Dursley, and wanted to be able to heat his kitchen and cook his meals using the electricity supplied erratically by his hydro generator.

As there was no such appliance in existence he invented one himself, based on the traditional Aga kitchen range, which at that time was only available in solid fuel

versions, but working from electricity that could be trickle fed to the cooker and the heat stored.

Because the range is made predominantly of cast iron it retains the heat and can be used as the heating in the colder months of the year. Unlike its rivals, however, in the hot summer months it can be regulated so that the heat is reduced and the kitchen will not resemble a sauna.

The temperature of the ovens can also be regulated, for cooks who require precise temperatures for their baking and the

COTSWOLD

Home


Ossie Goring

Guy Goring with one of his Everhot cookers at their showroom

Everhot 90 cooker

Adam Cole of Everhot checking

a cooker before delivery

running costs are low, typically £10-12 a week when the range is operating 24 hours a day. When switched on from cold it reaches full temperature in two hours but it can be set to “sleep” during the night at a temperature chosen by the householder.

Seeing the potential of Ossie’s invention his son decided to make it available to a wider public and Everhot Ltd was founded by Guy in 1995. In the first year the company sold 20 ranges, all to UK customers, mostly in Gloucestershire. Last year they sold 1,200 to customers all over the world, including New Zealand, France, Belgium and Scandinavia.

Several sizes are available, ranging in price from £685 for the single oven with double hotplate (the same size as most household cookers) to around £9,000 for the four oven version with an optional induction hob. The range of colours includes black, cream, white, burgundy, green, graphite and blue.

The factory in Dursley operates in accordance with the environmentally-friendly ideals of its founder and is completely self-sufficent in electricity, with a roof covered in solar panels. The ranges are delivered to customers, and fitted on site, by Everhot staff from Dursley using padded protection that can be used time and time again, so no wasteful packaging. And to contribute yet more to the wellbeing of the planet the company owns 12

acres of land in Cam on which it has planted 10,000 oak and ash trees.

Guy Goring is not a boastful man but he is understandably proud of the Everhot range. “I love the job,” he says. “It is a very satisfying thing to do.”

For details of the Everhot range visit www.everhot.co.uk

26 COTSWOLDESSENCE | June - August 2014 www.cotswoldessence.co.uk26 COTSWOLDESSENCE | June - August 2014 www.cotswoldessence.co.uk

Award - winningphotography

Having studied engineering at university it seemed Gemma Dawks was destined for a

successful career in a male-dominated industry.By Sue Smith

pompom-dahlia

COTSWOLD

Home


ALTHOUGH she had a burning passion for photography for as long as she could remember, it had never occurred to her while growing up, that she might be able to follow this path and make a living.

After a patchwork of jobs in graphic and web design and a stint running pubs over the years, Gemma finally found herself full-circle with a burning desire to try and make her love of photography work for her.

Although she continued to dabble in her hobby it was while she was as a stay-at-home mum with two young boys to look after that she saw the opportunity to pursue it further.

She joined The Guild of Photographers and decided to start entering its Image of the Month competition.

No-one was more surprised than Gemma when she started to win awards and the accolades have snowballed ever since.

Two years ago she turned professional and hasn’t looked back.

“I got my first camera when I was eight-years-old, says Gemma.

“I can’t remember not loving photography. Whenever I got a new camera I would take a picture of my old camera and

absolutely anything else around.”At school, Gemma would develop her

own film in the darkroom and she was constantly snapping up images of still-life.

Three years ago she got her first DSLR camera and at the end of 2012 she decided to start entering competitions.

“I was looking for something that would fit in with family life and looking after the children,” she says.

“My mum makes jewellery and at first I started joining her twice a month at Tetbury market selling little childrens’ illustrations I had done, alphabets and bunting.

But soon after sending in entries to The Guild of Photographers Gemma was awarded the International Top Ten Photographer Award in the Open Category and that gave her the courage to continue.

To date, Gemma has snapped up three prestigious awards from the Guild of Professional Photographers.

Specialising in still life and fine art photographer, she is the recipient of two top ten awards and is now a member of The Photographers Bar.

This unique distinction is awarded to

very few photographers who have successfully had images assessed by the Guild.

“Despite all the hard work I never imagined that I would be winning international awards so soon,” she said.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have received them.”

Her light and airy home in Minchinhampton is filled with her work, there are many pictures of her boys, relaxed and playing on the beach and lots of still life.

Gemma prints all her own work from her home and sells it at Tetbury market on Wednesdays and Saturdays twice a month. See www.TetburyMarketHouseTraders.com for dates.

In the future Gemma says she would like to have her own photography shop selling her own work as well as crafts by other local artists.

“I am trying to build up the foundations of a career for the future for when the boys are older and in full-time school,” she says.

To see more of Gemma’s work go to: Gemmadawks.co.uk

Gemma Dawks with her award Sunshine Tulip

Peonie Hyacinths

Peonies


THE seven deadly sins is the theme for the event’s conceptual gardens section, which is renowned for producing thought-provoking creations.

Elsewhere designer Jim Fogarty will be celebrating plants that grow ‘Down Under’ in his Essence of Australia Garden, while the rolling fields of Castle Carey are the inspiration for the Macmillan Legacy Garden designed by Rebecca Govier.

The 30th anniversary of the Ethiopian famine will be marked by the World Vision Garden by John Warland, first time exhibitor Luke Heydon will be fusing different cultures from throughout the ages in The Flintknapper’s Garden while Stephen Dennis will be creating an artistic horticultural installation based on man’s influence on the building of a bird’s nest.

Other highlights at the world’s largest flower show include inspiration for creating gardens on a budget, a floral marquee hosting 95 award-winning nurseries from around the UK, rose and floristry displays and around 40 food stands featuring artisan producers.

Gloucestershire’s Chris Beardshaw added to his tally of gold medals at the 2013 event with his garden

for McCarthy and Stone, the UK’s largest builder of retirement dwellings.

Within it he celebrated the wisdom of the older generation by challenging preconceptions of later life and honouring the experiences of the country’s growing population of over 60-year-olds.

The garden, launched in the company of British Olympian Dame Mary Peters and John Ellis, former guitarist with The Stranglers, was surrounded by a symbolic outer high hedge and flower meadow and groups of woodland trees.

“The trees were there to represent the barrier between the generations and to convey the idea that older people tend to be lumped together; treated identically rather than as multi-faceted individuals,” explained Chris, who lives near Cirencester.

“There was also an outer meadow representing the idea of loneliness and isolation which many older people experience.”

Once they had found their way through this perceived ‘barrier’, visitors came across three pathways, each designed to represent different areas of life: personal experiences, technological advances and fashions and trends from throughout the 20th

Century.Chris’s choices of plants,

including several old English roses to convey opulence and fragrance, were complemented by recordings that offered vivid personal snapshots of real people’s lives, ranging from wartime evacuees to Dame Mary Peters’ memories of competing at Olympic and Commonwealth events and former midwife Madeline McGill’s account of being one of the first women to take the contraceptive pill.

“The audio within the design was a key element in the concept for the garden as I wanted people to be able to engage with the garden in a way that is rarely possible in a show garden,” said Chris.

Chris believes that gardens should be a means to “bring people together”.

“This garden shows how society makes judgements based on the outer appearance of older people. What we hope to do is to try to get the individual who has retired to connect with the outside world and talk about their lives and to interact with younger generations,” he said.

This year’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show takes place between July 8 and 13. To buy tickets visit www.rhs.org.uk

Sharing the best

Lust, gluttony, envy and sloth can all be found at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, along with good measures of greed, pride and wrath. By Sue Bradley

Memory deck chairs in the gold medal-

winning McCarthy & Stone Garden

designed by Chris Beardshaw.

Jane Southcott, Chris Beardshaw and Frances Toase

Chris Beardshaw talks gardening with British Olympian Dame Mary Peters

in gardening

COTSWOLD

Garden


PAM Ayers has passionately supported Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre for many years, ever since it rescued a poorly badger she found near her home outside Cirencester.

So when Pam was approached by the centre and asked if she would like to become its patron, she accepted without hesitation.

Popular poet Pam is lending her support to Oak and Furrows by taking on her role which she hopes will boost the profile of the charity and help raise cash for its desperately needed move to a new home.

I met Pam at Oak and Furrow’s Somerford Keynes headquarters, where we sat and took in the spring sunshine as she explained her passion for the centre and the animals.

“I like Oak and Furrows because it gives you somewhere to bring an injured wild animal. It is such a reassurance if you find something injured that you have somewhere to turn to,” Pam said with a beaming smile.

“We are very lucky to have it in the area. I just think this centre does a really great job and if I can help in any way I will.

“I would like to think that if someone finds an injured animal they would know about OAF and if they ring they would get a good response.

“The badger I found was in a bad way

and I didn’t know what to do with it so I rang the wildlife centre and Paul (one of the staff members) came out in his ambulance and took it away with such kindness and confidence and that is why I came to support them.”

“We are encroaching on other creatures habitats everywhere, you just have to have a look around the globe. This is just a small gesture from me. If everyone tries to do something then a lot gets done.”

As a Patron Pam plans to speak about the centre publicly and thinks that using social media is going to be a useful tool in getting the message out about what Oak and Furrows do.

“I will talk about it on Twitter – I have got 29 thousand followers – so that’s 29 thousand people I can get the message across to.”

Through her role Pam will also be actively involved in the work the centre currently does with the community, starting by judging an upcoming animal themed picture poetry competition, which will be open to primary schools in the area.

And not content with just representing the centre as its patron, she has converted parts of land she owns outside her home into release sites for poorly hedgehogs.

“I am looking forward to releasing them

immensely,” said Pam. “I am making them a nice habitat. I have

been putting together piles of wood chippings and tree prunings and anything they could make a home.”

Famous for her witty poems, Pam is a household name through a career that has spanned nearly four decades.

She says that outside of her work as an entertainer she has always held a burning love for animals and has supported animal charities, Cheltenham Animal Shelter and the Battery Hen Welfare Trust for whom she is also a patron.

“I have 11 cows, eight sheep, 16 chickens and 15 guinea fowls,” she says. “I like animals a lot, they are a nice contrast for me because I spend a lot of time doing performances and driving on the M25.

Barry Branigan, OAF general manager asked Pam if she wanted to be a patron after spotting her name of the centre’s list of members.

He says he was overjoyed when she agreed.

“I have worked for charities for the last 20 years. I have found an essential part of raising awareness for what a charity does is having a well known person as patron,” he said.

For her love of animalsShe is known for her sharp wit and poetic genius but a side of one of Britain’s

national treasures not often seen is her love for the animal kingdom. By Brendan McFadden

COTSWOLD

Profile


CORNBURY Festival is unlike any other festival. Forget images of unkempt ‘yoofs’ falling about in the mud, and imagine instead the very essence of a summer garden party – but on a very grand scale, and with much louder music.

Indeed, the Festival is proud of its ‘Poshstock’ moniker, and there are few festivals that can cite Prime Minister David Cameron as a regular patron.

“The ‘Poshstock’ thing stems from a feature that appeared in a magazine called The Word, back in 2005,” says Cornbury’s founder and director, Hugh Phillimore.

“At first I was absolutely appalled, but I have got used to it now. After all, we might as well be an upmarket festival as any other kind – as it’s clean, safe and the grass is mown,” laughs Hugh.

‘Spot the Celebrity’ is a favourite game for visitors to Cornbury, with the likes of Jeremy Clarkson, Rowan Atkinson and Alex James often seen mooching around.

The festival began in 2004 at Cornbury

Park, near Charlbury but switched to the rolling Estate of Great Tew four years ago.

“We were incredibly lucky to get Great Tew. It has a magic: just 80 homes, a pub, a school. And Nick Johnston, the landlord, has a very ‘can do’ attitude, which helps,” says Hugh.

Yes, there is the usual variety of stalls selling world food, beer and wacky clothing, but many will choose to spend their pennies at the local school’s cake stall at the Festival that still, very firmly, has the community at its heart.

“For me, that’s the essence of it,” Hugh adds.

“ I’m dreading it this year because the weather was so glorious last year,” he says. “It will be impossible to match.”

But that doesn’t mean the music suffers, as Hugh – who also manages singer Imelda May – knows exactly what musicians to book to keep the punters happy.

As I spoke to Hugh, the final Sunday headliner was yet to be announced.

“It’s a very strange situation, and the first time it’s happened in 11 years,” he said.

“But we are so excited with the rest of the line-up, too. We’ve got Sam Bailey, Simple Minds, Suzanne Vega and Jools is back, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Arrested Development, to mix things up a bit.

“The Festival is still about 99 percent me,” says Hugh, “although my partners often suggest things. This year, we’ve got Tomoyasu Hotei from Japan. I had never heard of him but it turns out he supported The Rolling Stones and is absolutely huge in Japan. He wrote the theme for ‘Kill Bill.’

“I look at the list and think ‘God, that’s great!’. I’m particularly excited about Kacey Musgraves, the country and western singer.

Cornbury Festival takes place at the Great Tew Estate, Oxfordshire, on the weekend of July 4 to 6, 2014. Tickets are available from www.bookingsdirect.com or call 0844 338 0000, or visit the Cornbury Festival website at www.cornburyfestival.com

Nestled in a green valley, the Great Tew Estate is the very essence of peace and tranquillity in the Cotswolds. Until, that is, one very special weekend in July…

By Jayne Bennett

Unlike any other...

COTSWOLD

Suzanne Vega

COTSWOLD

Festivals

THE project ensures toads are helped across one of their main crossing points, the busy Ermine Street near Latton, in order to reach their breeding grounds.

In comparison with figures of rescued toads from 2013, the volunteers found the numbers of toads which they helped across the road had declined by almost 400 percent.

While the declining figures may be due to a combination of factors, it was also felt it was mainly due to the difference in the weather, as toads tend to move from their hibernation

sites to breeding grounds when the weather is mild and wet.

The early part of 2014 saw no real cold weather , in fact temperatures were quite mild. This year 102 toads were rescued by a total of 16 volunteers, all of whom took it in turns to spend time patrolling the road with torches during twilight.

Any toads found on the edge of the road were helped across in a bucket to their regular breeding ground.

The largest number of toads were recorded

on the evenings on either side of the full moon. To illustrate how difficult it is to save every single toad, 67 squashed toads were recorded over the period of the patrol.

The records will be sent to the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust who are coordinating results from across the area, and to the national charity Frog Life.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for projects like this should contact Volunteer Coordinator Paul Attaway on [email protected]

JOIN THe TOAD PATROLVolunteers from the Cotswold Water Park Trust have been actively involved in the annual Toad Patrol project over recent months.

COTSWOLD

Feature

SO many things in the exercise arena seem cyclical but there are always those that remain stalwart, managing to outsmart the tag “new fad.” Recently, we’ve been raising the heat, drawing on the success of Bikram Yoga, where studios are typically heated to 40 degrees, and trialling other forms such as Hatha and Vinyasa to reap the benefits. Now, the Cotswolds has it’s very own hot yoga studios, Ella & Fleur Hot Yoga in Cheltenham, and I am proud to be currently the only HOT Pilates Instructor in Gloucestershire.

Initially, the thought of working out in a heated environment might seem anything but attractive, but, once you understand the benefits and submit yourself to the heat you emerge from a class feeling oddly cleansed with a sense of achievement and a camaraderie with your fellow participants. It’s an almost “we survived” sensation and it’s extremely addictive. A direct quote from of one of my clients “you sweat like a pig, to look like a fox”, really captures it’s appeal.

With HOT Pilates, even though the room is hot I still feel it is integral to perform an active warmup ensuring the muscles are warm through physical mobilisation as well as artificial environment. This directly counters the criticism that working out in heat provides a false sense of muscle capability potentially leading to injury. It also adds a slight cardiovascular challenge as the temperature elevates the heart rate making the body work harder. Thus, moving into the mat work, the Pilates repertoire combined with the heat, delivers an intense muscle workout, to ramp up the strength and tone gained through this championed technique.

Heat is also a detoxifier, with heavy sweating said to help flush toxins away from the skin. Whilst it might not be pleasant to let the sweat flow it is actually far better, as wiping simply closes the pores, forcing the body to produce that sweat again to cool the area. Embracing the sweat is the secret to success in such a class.

At the end of a class, five to ten minutes is also spent on breathing the heat, encouraging relaxation, improving the respiratory system to help with conditions such as asthma, and building mindfulness.

Obviously every body has specific requirements and pregnant women would not benefit from such a class. However, for the most, even those with high blood pressure, working at your own pace, recognising your own limitations, HOT classes could be the way to a HOT new you.

• HOT Pilates is currently taught by Lottie Keble on Thursday mornings at 10am in Ella & Fleur Hot Yoga Studios, Cheltenham. For more information on this or any other classes either contact Lottie on 07771587053 or email [email protected], or visit www.ellaandfleurhotyoga.co.uk.

Cotswold Essence columnist, Lottie Keble

COTSWOLD

Fitness

KEEPING IT HOT


Great StroudSewing Bee

RUNNING up a pair of curtains, making a dress or even altering a hem might seem easy enough for contestants on The Great British Sewing Bee, but for most people these tasks require skills that have either been forgotten or never learned in the first place.

And while books and internet sites can go so far in teaching us

what to do, how much better it would be to have a friendly expert to oversee the work and step in when things go wrong.

Fortunately such a person exists in the form of Judi Evans, who runs the Stroud School of Sewing from her home in Brimscombe.

With more than 40 years’ experience under her belt working

Feeling inspired by the TV series The Great British Sewing Bee but not sure where to start? Sue Bradley visits the Stroud School of Sewing to see how students are learning new skills while making beautiful garments.By Sue Bradley

COTSWOLD

Feature


for companies such as Courtaulds producing clothes for Marks & Spencer before joining a company that made garments for Next and Laura Ashley, she’s a woman who knows all about seam allowances, basting stiches and darts.

Every week groups of people gather in her light and airy kitchen to learn how to sew; from school children to pensioners, each student works at his or her own pace, tackling ever more difficult projects and learning new skills along the way under Judi’s watchful gaze.

Paper patterns fly around and sewing machines whirr as each of Judi’s protégés concentrate on their projects during the sessions.

One of her newest pupils is Hayley Larkham, a hairdresser from Gloucester who had been wanting to learn to sew for a long time.

“I’ve always been a bit scared to have a go and wondered if I had enough time,” admits Hayley. “Previously I had only got my machine out to sew hems up.”

By the end of her first session Hayley went home with a handy lined bag.

“I think it’s nice for people to have something they can finish by the end of their first lesson,” says Judi. “It gives confidence.”

This tactic certainly worked for Hayley, who is now working on a dress.

“I was thinking about doing a little top but went into the shop and saw a little dress on the front of the pattern book, so I am going to have a go at that,” says Hayley. “Going from a bag to a dress in two weeks isn’t bad. The first step is adjusting the pattern. I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”

Mum-of-two Denise Colwell last made her own clothes when she was at university.

The IT supplies buyer from Cheltenham started attending sessions with Judi in September and has gone on to produce a variety of items, including skirt and a table runner. She’s currently working on a pair of summer trousers.

“Making things yourself means the garments you end up with are unique,” says Denise. “They’re completely your own work.

“Coming to a group means you meet new people. The internet is a very good thing but having an instructor is a lot easier than trying to follow something on your own. Having somebody around to help step by step means you will get a decent garment and hopefully be able to do it again next time. It’s very satisfying.”

A made-to-measure Chanel-style jacket is retired insurance broker Carolyn Brundell’s latest project and she’s certainly glad to have Judi around for advice.

“I thought it would be easy –

there’s no collar after all,” laughs Carolyn, who lives in Bussage.

“It is actually around 90 hours’ work. The more I look into it the more I realised there was more to learn.”

Carolyn has started by creating a toile – a mock up garment used to ensure the finished article is a perfect fit – before setting about on her more expensive fabric.

“Toiles are what old duvets are for,” laughs Judi. “They allow people to adjust their patterns to fit an individual. They don’t take long to make and at every stage the person making the garment can go back and see if it works.”

The Stroud School of Sewing runs two-and-a-half-hour sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. There are also holds special classes for children. Students can bring along their own sewing machines or use one provided by the school.

Judi says she has seen a renewed interest in sewing in recent years, something that has been especially noticeable

during airings of The Great British Sewing Bee.

“Those who learn to sew are never bored,” says Judi, a qualified teacher.

“The Sewing Bee effect is having a big impact on people wanting to learn. There’s definitely been a big surge. The only bad side to that is people get in touch and want it all now. It’s something you have to learn but I don’t put anybody off.

“Most people have a feel for sewing and find it quite satisfying. It’s always a useful thing to know if you need to knock up costumes for the kids’ book day or shorten a pair of curtains.

“Some people find sewing to be quite therapeutic as well. I am glad there is a huge move back towards hand skills. It’s creative and very peaceful.”•www.stroudschoolofsewing.com. Latest examples of students’ work can be found on the school’s Facebook page.

for companies such as Courtaulds producing clothes for Marks & Spencer before joining a company that made garments for Next and Laura Ashley, she’s a woman who knows all about seam allowances, basting stiches and darts.

Every week groups of people gather in her light and airy kitchen to learn how to sew; from school children to pensioners, each student works at his or her own pace, tackling ever more difficult projects and learning new skills along the way under Judi’s watchful gaze.

Paper patterns fly around and sewing machines whirr as each of Judi’s protégés concentrate on their projects during the sessions.

One of her newest pupils is Hayley Larkham, a hairdresser from Gloucester who had been wanting to learn to sew for a long time.

“I’ve always been a bit scared to have a go and wondered if I had enough time,” admits Hayley. “Previously I had only got my machine out to sew hems up.”

By the end of her first session Hayley went home with a handy lined bag.

“I think it’s nice for people to


The popular villa at Chedworth was built in the second century AD and was one of the largest and most lavishly decorated houses in Roman Britain.

In the fifth century, the villa fell to ruin and lay buried for thousands of years until a chance discovery in 1864, 150 years ago.

This year members of staff at the villa have planned a full year of events for both adults and children, to celebrate discovering the remains 150 years ago.

“This year is a very special one for Chedworth Roman Villa,” said visitor services co-ordinator Sigute Barniskyte. “There will be all kinds of events and activities. People will be walking around the site in Roman or Victorian costume giving talks.”

The celebratory season at the villa kicked off in February with activities including Valentine’s weekend crafts, a collection of Victorian fashion items to dress up in and a talk with National Trust archaeologist

Nancy Grace, who spent time with visitors handling real archaeological finds.

“Chedworth is a special site because although a lot of people have dug holes here, we still don’t know a lot about it,” said Nancy.

“Just when you think you’ve exhausted every avenue, you discover something else. There is so much mystery. People could be walking over mosaics right now without knowing.

What the Victorians did...Chedworth Roman Villa has swapped Roman tunics for Victorian top-hats this

year to celebrate its 150th anniversary season. By Megan Archer. Pictures by Richard Pasco

Professor Richmond excavations - taken in the 1960s

COTSWOLD

Feature


Visitors enjoyed mosaic making, holding real Roman artefacts, and taking a tour of the museum over February half term. One visitor Anna-Silvia Dooley came with her son Freddie and said she thought the site was amazing.

“I want to come back again. I’ve seen a few Roman villas in england and Freddie is learning about Romans at school. It’s phenomenal, I wish we had come here earlier.”

Archaeologist Nancy was a hit with all visitors during her trips to Chedworth over half term. Despite working at sites all over the south west with two other archaeologists she admits she has a special soft-spot for Chedworth.

She said that it is unusual discoveries are still being made 150 years after the site was first discovered.

“It’s quite amazing. It’s also unusual that the Victorians did such a good job in covering up the mosaics and protecting them. Chedworth Roman Villa is just such a great place.”

Nancy is already getting involved with the anniversary celebrations and is returning to the villa in July for the Festival of Archaeology.

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworth-roman-villa for more information about the anniversary celebrations over the year.

Artefacts at Chedworth Roman Villa

One of the mosaics at Chedworth Roman Villa

Some of the artefacts discovered by archaeologists

Artists impression of Chedworth Roman

Villa

The Victorian house and museum at Chedworth Roman Villa


The dressing of the village

COMe rain or shine, war or peace: children have processed through Bisley with flowers to decorate their village wells on every Ascension Day since 1863.

Local vicar the Rev Thomas Keble started the tradition 151 years ago after the seven springs that once provided the main source of water for the community were remodelled using money raised through public subscription. he is thought to have come up with the idea to dress and bless the wells after seeing a similar ceremony in Derbyshire.

Since then children from the local Blue Coat School have continued to mark the

day with an annual procession through the village, with younger pupils carrying posies and older ones armed with hoops, stars and letters and numbers spelling the word ASCeNSION and the relevant year.

For almost all, if not all, of this time the youngsters’ procession has been accompanied by rousing music, which in recent years has been provided by players from Avening Silver Band.

Much of the wells dressing and blessing ceremony has remained unchanged since the time that Rev Thomas Keble was Bisley’s vicar, although the passing of the years have seen some changes, not least

the demise of the custom of Ascension Day being designated a school holiday.

The tradition of following the ceremony with games at the village recreation field has also faded, although children do still enjoy a special tea after the event.

Over the years the weather has been a constant pre-occupation for Bisley Blue Coat C of e Primary School on Ascension Day, which can fall at any time in May depending on the overall church calendar for the year.

In 1928 the Stroud Journal reported that heavy falls of rain marred the celebrations, at which Bisley children were

Schoolchildren in Bisley are preparing to continue their tradition of dressing their village wells with flowers this May. Sue Bradley takes a look through the archives to see how the

ceremony has been celebrated over the years.

COTSWOLD

Feature


joined by youngsters from Augustine’s Sunday School in eastcombe.

“Owing to a downpour of rain, the stay in church was prolonged and the time was spent in listening to some voluntaries splendidly rendered by MR JW Browning and the singing of Ascension hymns,” the newspaper said.

Interestingly, many of the flowers used to create the letters, numbers and symbols carried by the children were gleamed from local gardens, as well as from the wild.

“A new scheme of decoration was evolved this year, in which the following flowers were used: narcissi, cowslips, wallflowers, wild orchids, parsley, red daisies, lilac, laburnum, cuckoo flowers, king cups, campions, cornflowers, forget-me-nots and snow on the mountain,” the report stated.

The report states how the rain returned at tea time, leaving the school to invoke its wet weather plan.

“Owing to the continued rain it was found impossible to adjourn to the recreation ground and so games for the

pupils and dancing for adults took place in school,” said the newspaper.

In a contrast with this wet weather, an edition of the Stroud News from 1954 reported how “warm may sunshine greeted the procession taking part in this year’s traditional dressing and blessing of the wells at Bisley.”

A report in The Stroud News of 1941 recorded how the tradition was continued during the war years. It also delved into the past to describe how the setting of Bisley’s wells had been carefully created to provide “a little corner in Bisley where passers-by should find a help to worship.”

“Those trees which we see on the bank above the Wells stand like sentinels that guard a sacred shrine and remind us that God takes care of us; and the streams of water spouting forth from the wall below are sacramental in their suggestiveness of the living water with which God refreshes the souls of men,” it quoted from an article in Bisley’s parish magazine.

An edition of the same newspaper from 1956 quoted a former vicar’s theory that

wells blessing ceremonies dated back to Roman times, when people offered gifts of flowers to the gods.

“The surviving custom was made Christian years afterwards,” stated the newspaper. “Certainly remains of a Roman Villa have been found at Lilyhorn nearby.”

By 1958 a report in the Stroud News and Journal struck a familiar tone: “The children of the school, who had a holiday to celebrate the occasion, paraded in the school yard carrying symbols of the ceremony, including the word ‘Ascension’ in flowers, which was later placed on the wells,” it reported.

“After the ceremony the children attended a tea in the WI hall and a programme of sports followed, which was cut short half way through by a sudden change in the weather.”

SUNDAY June 8, will mark the seventh year of Open Farm Sunday. This is where farms across the country open their gates to the public to show families how life on the farm is busy and rewarding. Last year more than 200,000 people attended events and this year is set to top that.

The event is run by LeAF Linking environment And Farming which promotes sustainable food and farming and helps the farmers produce good food with high environmental standards.

So far more than 13 farms have registered to host an event this year around Gloucestershire. There will be lots to do from interacting

with the animals where you could milk a goat, feed a lamb, watch the farmer milk his cows so you can see that milk doesn’t just come from a bottle. Watch sheep shearing displays and working dogs round them up. There will also be tractor and trailer rides around the farms and off in to the fields.

Not all farms have animals, you could visit a fruit farm or an arable farm and learn about the crops that grow in the fields from wheat for your bread to barley in your beer. Self-guided walks are available so you can break away from the crowds and really get in touch with nature and just see how farming and the

environment are working together.

On the day some farms will be asking you to help them with a pollinator survey. This records the number of pollinating insects they have, which will then be put down in to the national records. In 2012 they recorded 16,000 insects in the pilot scheme and now sees it in its 3rd year. Its exciting for the children to discover what bugs are around and to learn the different species.

Check to see which farms are taking part by going to the Open Farm Sunday website www.farmsunday.org and simply clicking on “Visit a farm.

Visit your local farmThe Cotswold Shepherdess, Rebecca Jones writes about Open Farm Sunday and how you can visit farms across the Cotswolds and get involved with animals, sample produce and find out where your food comes from and show you just how important farming is to us.

people attended events and this year is set to top that.

Linking environment And Farming which promotes sustainable food and farming and helps the farmers produce good food with high environmental standards.

have registered to host an event this year around Gloucestershire. There will be lots to do from interacting

COTSWOLD

Farming

WIN! of Kiss Lashes

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IN 2008, he discovered Canine Partners and was given Daxi, an assistance dog, to help with everyday tasks from shopping to fetching the post.

Now this partnership is celebrating a prestigious prize– the Canine Partners’ Platinum Award – only the third achieved in the charity’s history.

With help from young neighbour Chelsea, Daxi has learned to complete a range of complicated tasks that showcase how remarkable a dog he is.

Arthur explained, “There were things on the platinum award that I couldn’t do myself so Chelsea helped with all of those. She was amazing. She was very quick at learning to

teach Daxi and she came round every day for about an hour for three months.

“Daxi loves working but it is very difficult. even the most patient carer is going to get hacked off when I throw the pencil on the ground four times in a row. With Daxi if I drop it again he’ll pick it up again every time.”

A diagnosis of MS 13 years ago turned Arthur Findlater’s life upside down. An able, fit and practical man, Arthur had to adjust to a new future of steadily

increasing disability.

A helping paw

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As well as the constant companionship and the special bond that they share Daxi also helps Arthur in more subtle ways.

“People find it difficult to know how to talk to me, but with dog people find another thing to talk about. I’m no longer that funny man in the wheelchair, I’m the man with that lovely dog.”

Despite his usual discipline Arthur also added “When you take his lead off he becomes a normal hooligan dog, and to see him running around the park is very uplifting.”

Daxi is now seven years old, and eight in August. As a puppy he received three months of intensive training at the Canine Partners’ training centre and then a further two weeks when he and Arthur were partnered so they could learn to work together.

Canine Partners hopes to raise funds for more of these amazing dogs and holds sponsored yearly bluebell walks, including this year, to raise the charity’s profile and to help train more dogs.

Paul and Daxi took part in a walk on May 15 this year, with the aim of improving on the £1,000 they managed to raise for the organisation last year.

Their walk was in honour of the colossal difference that their partnership has made to Arthur’s life and to celebrate Daxi’s recent platinum award.

Donations can be made via Arthur’s JustGiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/arthur-findlater or in person if you happen to spot Arthur and Daxi out and about in Cirencester.

Athur Findlater and his award-winning Canine Partner Daxi at their home in Sapperton

Daxi closes the conservatory door

Daxi brings the post from the door mat

Daxi takes Arthur his slippers

Daxi retrieves Arthur’s keys from the floor


The Doomsday Book of 1086 describes Woodstock as a royal forest. Since it’s auspicious start, it continued to be a place of interest for the elite - King henry II courted ‘Fair’ Rosamund Clifford there and many medieval kings resided in Woodstock Palace prior to it being destroyed during the english Civil War. elizabeth the 1st was once held prisoner in the town. Woodstock’s place in the hearts of the modern aristocracy was, however, cemented with the construction of Blenheim Palace, the residency of the Duke of Marlborough.

Today, the picturesque town bears some evidence of its extraordinary history.

Though most of the buildings were constructed in the 17th century, when the first Duke of Marlborough moved in, some much older ones still stand - The Macdonald Bear hotel, for example, is built around the original coaching inn that dates back to the 13th century.

Fittingly for a town whose name derives from the Old english meaning ‘clearing in the woods’, at the heart of Woodstock is Blenheim Palace. Set in over 2,000 acres of Capability Brown’s landscaped gardens, this is the place to start when visiting Woodstock and a long, leisurely walk around the grounds is an excellent way to

while away the afternoon (wellingtons are advisable). Don’t forget to have a look inside the palace itself - the bedroom in which Winston Churchill was born is a particular highlight.

Once in the small knot of market streets that comprise Woodstock, there is plenty with which to fill ones time. Start by visiting the Oxfordshire Museum to see some examples of the gloves in which Queen Victoria placed her hands (and esteem- a Royal Warrant was issued to local glove manufacturers of Woodstock by the monarch).

The town centre itself is home to a fair

A visit to one of our quintessentially English towns is a great way to spend a day now that spring is on the horizon. Madeleine Spencer took a trip to Woodstock, home of the beautiful

Blenheim Palace.

A truly royal experienceBlenheim Palace

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few shops of note. For clothes, head to The Cotswold Tailor, who specialise in making a wide range of apparel out of traditional British cloth, and the Chica ho boutique, which stock modern luxury clothes. Woodstock is also home to two impressive furniture shops which provide plenty of scope between them for lovers of old-fashioned and modern carpentry - they are Antiques at heritage and The Real Wood Furniture Company respectively. For a bargain, drive to nearby Bicester Village.

hunger brought on by all that exploring is easy to sate in Woodstock; The King’s Arms offers a mix of modern and classic British cuisine and tea and snacks are amply supplied at either harriet’s Cake Shop and Tea Rooms or hampers Food and Wine. If you wish to head further afield, Michelin-starred Le Manoir Aux Quat-Saisons and The Fat Duck are within easy driving distance. Organic treats can be found at

the nearby Daylesford Organic Farm.

Though a small town, Woodstock offers two excellent options for accommodation. The first is the aforementioned Macdonald Bear hotel. Steeped in history, ask a member of staff to show you the original beams and some of the glove-making machinery.

The second, hope house, was constructed at the same time as Blenheim. It is now a luxury boutique hotel within the ancestral home of a descendant of the original occupants - the Money family. The hotel now offers a glimpse of the spectacular history of the house (The Moneys were well acquainted with the Churchills and throughout the hotel are little reminders of the friendship, from letters to Churchill footprints carved into the lead of the roof) within the impressively and lovingly updated accommodation.


All aboard!For a wonderful day of freedom with The Willow Trust

By Linda Diggory. Pictures by Tom Wren and courtesy of the Willow Trust

I STAND under the shade of a Willow Tree and watch from a distance as two broad-beamed canal boats resplendent in their freshly painted scarlet and racing green colours are expertly guided into their individual moorings at Saul Junction, near Frampton-on-Severn. Rounds of cheers and applause ring out

for the Trust’s two full-time skippers Dave and John and today’s volunteers before wheelchair ramps are carefully put into place and around 60 disabled guests and their carers make their way chatting and laughing back on to the bank before dispersing into mini-buses, coaches and cars.

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They are homeward bound – many to other parts of Gloucestershire, some to Bristol, some to South Wales – some have several hours of travel ahead but no-one minds. It’s been a good day – a special day – a day of excitement and tranquillity that many of the guests on board today would never have dreamed possible. This is the magic of a day on board with the Willow Trust - and all this started with just £5.

“We did literally commission the building of our first canal boat with a deposit of £5 – but we were very determined,” says Trust Administrator Liz Rowland MBe who has been with the Willow Trust charity from the very start in 1989.

The idea was to build a purpose-built canal boat that would take even the most profoundly disabled for days of freedom on the canal.

I get the impression speaking with the determined Mrs Rowland that she would have built the boat with her own hands if needed but fortunately tenacious fundraising and the incredible generosity of the Gloucester Lions Club and the public enabled the Willow Trust to take delivery of its first canal boat Spirit of Freedom in 1991 and the Spirit of Freedom II just two years later in 1993.

Designed and built to take the larger modern wheelchairs, Leonard Matchan replaced the original Spirit of Freedom in 1993, and now both boats - which take up to 30 guests each (including their carers) - are fully equipped with

hydraulic lifts to the bridge deck, electric hoists and adult changing facilities, hearing induction loops and full wheelchair access throughout. The bridge deck is also designed with an adjustable wheel so that disabled guests can take a turn at the helm – although the skipper always remains in overall charge with a steering control small enough to be operated discreetly so as not to spoil the fun.

But it is not just the state-of-the-art boats, the qualified skippers and the 95 strong team of trained, loyal volunteers making teas, coffees and ensuring everyone feels at home, that provide the guests with a wonderful sense of freedom – it is the very ethos of the charity itself.

every weekday from April until the end of October, around 7,000 disabled and seriously ill children and adults spend a day cruising on the glorious Gloucester-Sharpness Canal soaking up the freedom and excitement of a day afloat.

With an office in Cirencester and the boats moored at Saul Junction, the Willow Trust is a truly local charity, welcoming groups from virtually every organisation and school in Gloucestershire who help people with disabilities. And as Liz explains: “Our philosophy has remained constant from the outset, nobody pays for a day on board which makes the Willow Trust totally dependent on the generosity and kindness of our many supporters.”

“As well as ongoing costs to

maintain the two boats in first class condition, refuelling the boats every few weeks during the season costs around £1,400 each, so we are constantly fundraising,” says Liz. “We are extremely grateful to our loyal supporters, the Cirencester Coventry Building Society and we are also delighted to announce that we have been chosen by M&S Simply Food in Cirencester as its charity of the year and recently by Waitrose Stroud for its community collection. It’s true to say that every cake sale, quiz night and raffle count for us – we appreciate every single penny that people raise.”

The charity also hosts regular events including monthly Willow Trust Tea Cruises which are open to the public and rival the Ritz in terms of sumptuousness.

So what does the future hold for the Willow Trust which next year celebrates its 25th anniversary?

“Well, it’s an exciting time for the Trust,” says Liz “We have embraced the brave new world of social media with our @WillowTrust Twitter account and set up a Captain’s Blog on our website www.willowtrust.org to keep our Friends up-to-date as well as give our fundraisers the thanks they deserve online.

“We are also encouraging as many people as possible to sign up as a Friend of the Willow Trust – for just £15 a year you can do so much to help.”


Liz Rowland MBE and her dog Jester

With typical modesty Liz brushes aside any personal credit for her work at the helm of the Willow Trust.

“everyone involved in the Trust deserves acknowledgement,” she says.

And she is right. The Willow Trust could not manage without its skippers, helpers, Friends and supporters but as one of the volunteers mentioned quietly as he helped tidy the boats in preparation for the next days’ groups of guests: “We know we all play our part in making the Willow Trust a success but without Liz’s passion, the Willow Trust would have remained just a wonderful idea.”

It’s amazing what you can do with a fiver.

If you would like to become a Friend of The Willow Trust, fundraise, volunteer or you have a group who would like to have a day out on the canal call 01285 651661 or email [email protected].

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If you would like to become a Friend of The Willow Trust, fundraise, volunteer or you have a group who would like to have a day out on the canal call 01285 651661 or email [email protected].


June, July & August 2014June, July

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What’s on POULTONAn international all-star concert in Poulton Church on Sunday, June 8. Much acclaimed mezzo-soprano Maria Jagusz, distinguished Indian cellist Anup Kumar Biswas and the brilliant young violinist Julia Lang come together to provide a rare musical treat – a virtuoso concert to raise funds for the Mathleson Music School, which gives stability and a rounded education to some of the poorest children of Calcutta. Tickets £10 in advance, £15 on the door. Ring 01285 850773 or 01285 851237.

SHERSTONSherstonfest 2014. Local talent mixes with international performers at Sherston Fest this summer. Folk rockers Billy in the Lowground, who supported the Wurzels at Knockdown last year, Henry Green, who recently played the famous Ronnie Scott’s jazz club and acoustic artist Ami Kaelyn are part of the lineup. Rock, ska, reggae funk and latin feature on the programme along with folk and jazz. The South Cotswolds Music and Cider Festival takes place at Thompsons Field, Sherston, in Wiltshire on the evening of Friday, June 13 and and all day/night on Saturday, June 14.This year the festival introduces a second stage and features more acts than ever before. www.sherstonfest.com

CHELTENHAMOpen Air Art Exhibition. The 45th annual ‘Art in the Park’ in Cheltenham will start on Saturday, June 21 and will run for four weeks, until Sunday, July 20, with different artists exhibiting their work each week. The event is held in Imperial Gardens and is organised and run by the artists themselves, and admission to the public is free. Open daily, 10am-8pm. www.cheltenham-art.com

CIRENCESTERCotswold Craftsmen Summer Show. An eclectic mix of crafts at this wonderful summer exhibition by the Cotswold Craftsmen. Bringing together a variety of media and styles, the Cotswold Craftsmen bring high quality, hand made objects to the Corinium Museum gallery, June 29-August 10. Free admission. coriniummusuem.org

Commemorating The First World War. The Cirencester Historical and Archaeological Society will illustrate the impact of the First World War on Cirencester and residents through this retrospective exhibition. Extensive research of the town’s War Memorials, objects and ephemera from the County archives, Corinium Museum, Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum together with community stories and contributions, have all been pulled together to share a picture of the Cirencester community during the First World War. The exhibition is part of a wider HLF funded project entitled Cirencester Commemorates, which brings

organisations in the town together to commemorate100 years since the start of the First World War. Corinium Museum, August 16-September 14. Free admission.

The Feathered Aviator Exhibition. New wire sculpture exhibition by artist Celia Smith inspired by the use of the Carrier Pigeon in WW1 bringing history to life in a uniquely creative way. Wire birds created by schools and families from Duke of Gloucester Barracks will add to the exhibition. Supported by Heritage Lottery Fund. New Brewery Arts, Brewery Court, July 5-September 7. Free admission.www.newbreweryarts.org.uk

ADLESTROPAdlestrop Open Day. Enjoy an afternoon in Adlestrop, one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. Browse around the village’s beautiful gardens, the 13th century church and look at the thoroughbreds at the racing stables. Enjoy ploughman’s lunches and tea and cakes at the village hall. Also numerous stalls for bric-a-brac, plants, delicious home made produce, a raffle to enter, tombola, children’s pony rides and art sale by local artists. Adlestrop is situated about three miles from Stow-on-the-Wold and six miles from Chipping Norton – just half a mile off the A436. Sunday, June 15, noon–5pm; £4 per person, children free; free car park. www.adlestrop.org.uk

BRISTOLBristol International Balloon Fiesta. A spectacular free, four days of fun for the whole family from August 7–10. During the fiesta over 150 hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes will take off from Ashton Court Estate at 6am and 6pm and light up the skies on Thursday and Saturday night with the famous night-glows. There is also entertainment for all the family with fairground rides, food stalls and bars, face painting, arts and craft fair, dance stage, arena entertainment, the world famous Red Arrows and a local talent music bandstand. www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

CHELTENHAMThe Times Cheltenham Science Festival. A six-day feast of debate, delight and entertainment. Some of the world’s greatest thinkers, comedians, writers and scientists come together to celebrate and explore all things scientific. Town Hall, June 3-8. www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science

CIRENCESTERCotswold Show and Country Fair. An action packed, family fun day out at Cirencester Park. Full two-day

BIBURYThe fantastic voices of The Treorchy Male Voice Choir can be heard in concert at St Mary’s Church in Bibury on Saturday, July 5, at 7pm. Bar and doors open from 6pm. Tickets are £15 and are available in advance on 01285 740496. www.treorchymalechoir.org

CHARLTON, near MalmesburyWOMAD – World of Music, Arts and Dance, the internationally established festival which brings together artists from all over the globe. The full line up features around 100 artists from 40 countries performing over the festival weekend. There is also a full programme of adult and children’s workshops, a huge market of world crafts and children’s entertainment. Charlton Park, July 24-27. www.womad.org.uk

CHELTENHAMWychwood Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse over the weekend of May 30 – June 1. www.wychwoodfestival.com

CIRENCESTERThe Cate Cody Quartet will perform sparkling jazz on Saturday, June 21, at Cirencester Parish Church. Tickets £10 to include first glass of beer or sparkling elderflower. Available from the Cornerstone, Gosditch Street or Visitor Information Centre 01285 654180 or 01285 658021.

The Phoenix Festival. Fantastic talented and local artists will once again perform at this year’s brilliant free two-day music festival in Cirencester’s Abbey Grounds. Audiences will also be able to enjoy local stalls, catering and an array of entertainment for the whole family making it a weekend not to be missed. August 30-31. www.phoenix-festival.co.uk

WW1 Commemorative Concert. A choral concert performed by MJ-UK Music and Arts featuring songs and music relating to WW1 period. Cirencester Parish Church, August 8, 7.30pm. www.friendscirencesterparish.org.uk

The Pirates of Penzance. MJ-UK presents the smash hit Broadway version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance at the Bingham Hall, King Street, August 14-16, 7.30pm. Matinee performance Saturday, August 16, 2.30pm.Tickets from Cirencester Visitor Information Centre on 01285 654180. www.mj-uk.co.uk

CORNBURYMusic festival at the Great Tew Estate, a favourite of David Cameron, Alex James and Jeremy Clarkson. July 4-6. www.cornburyfestival.com

Music & Dance

Exhibitions

Events

June, July 2014

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programme, arena events, country pursuits, rural crafts, food festival, trade stands and more. July 5-6. 01285 652007 www.cotswoldshow.co.uk

Love Parks Week. This year’s national Love Parks Week will take place from Saturday, July 27-Sunday, August 4, coinciding with the first week of the school holidays. Various events and activities will be taking place in the Abbey Grounds, St Michael’s Park, City Bank, 4 Acre Field and Thistle Park. For further details visit www.cirencester.gov.uk

Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza. A huge array of vintage transport, including buses, motorcycles, military vehicles, classic cars, tractors, aircraft and traction engines. A live action arena, interactive demonstrations, rare breeds, trade stands and a vintage fun fair along with hundreds of curiosity stalls. South Cerney Airfield, August 1-3, 10am-5pm. www.glossteamextravaganza.com

Talent Show: The Big One. Launching the Arts Faculty ‘Festival of Arts’, The Big One features a ‘Ciren’s got talent’ show like never before. A full panel of judges and outstanding prizes, coupled with audience voting, are going to make this a classic showcase for local talent. A variety of talent from across the region will be taking part. If you love watching raw talent you need to be at the Sundial Theatre on June 20. 01285 654228 www.sundial-theatre.co.uk

Royal International Air Tattoo. The world’s largest military show featuring eight hours of flying displays, two miles of static aircraft, interactive activities and ground exhibitions. RAF Fairford, July 11-13. Free admission for under 16s. 0800 107 1940. www.airtattoo.com

LECHLADEClassic Gardens of Lechlade and a Midsummer Concert. On Saturday, June 21 Lechlade will see the opening of at least seven fine gardens, from 1.30pm, with a cream tea and a fine concert by the excellent Castle Brass quartet, from Wales, at St Lawrence School, at 4pm. Tickets £5 for gardens (children free) and £5 at the school gate for the concert and tea (children half price). Garden tickets from Lechlade News and from gardens on the day. Joint venture with proceeds shared between the British Heart Foundation and the St Lawrence Restoration Fund.

Lechlade Festival, May 23-25. Three day family-friendly music event featuring everything from rock to hip-hop. Free workshops for all the family. Real ales, camping and maypole dancing.

PAINSWICKThe Art Couture Festival takes place this year on Sunday, July 13. Set in the streets and the iconic churchyard of the village, this unique arts festival aims to encourage creative people of all ages and walks of life to participate in making works of art that are displayed on the body, and features a jam-packed programme of catwalk shows, arts, craft and food stalls, live entertainment and more. www.acpfestival.co.uk

POULTONAnnual Steam and Rally Show, Quarry Farm, Poulton August 16-17. Veteran and vintage vehicles, arena displays, working section, trade stands, live music, horticultural show and more. 01285 712587 www.fairfordsteamrally.com

CHELTENHAMBlack Coffee. Actor Robert Powell will take to the stage at the Everyman Theatre from June 9-14 as Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee. Also starring Liza Goddard, Gary Mavers and Ben Nealon. 01242 572573. everymantheatre.org.uk

History of Britain. Join the critically acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company for a breathless race through the centuries in this delightfully inventive and historically hysterical open-air show, packed with songs, sketches and silliness, suitable for all ages. The open-air Tuckwell Amphitheatre, July 18, 7.30pm. Grounds open 6pm for picnics, bring own low-backed seating. 01242 258002 www.bacontheatre.co.uk

The Merchant of Venice. Rain or Shine Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice at the open-air Tuckwell Amphitheatre, July 23, 7.30pm. Bring seating and a picnic. Gates open at 6pm. Box office as above.

CIRENCESTEREmily Brown & The Thing. Exciting original music, physical storytelling and lots of comedy combine to create a fantastic adventure for children. Suitable for ages three years plus. Sundial Theatre, June 14, 3pm. Box Office 0844 8700 887 or www.sundial-theatre.co.uk

Same Time Next War. This new play, written by local writer and director

Christopher Denys, is an entertainment of words and music showing the war as lived by local people. Presented by Cirencester School of Acting, performed by the Brandywine Theatre Company. July 31-August 2, 7.30pm, Barn Theatre, Beeches Road. www.ingledsidethebarn.com

MINCHINHAMPTONGiffords Circus presents their latest show The Thunders - a Greek mythology inspired production with exciting new acts, music, and more. All your favourite ancient Greek myths and gods in a beautiful, hilarious rip roaring 90-minute swords and sandals show. Minchinhampton Common, August 7-18. www.giffordscircus.com

SWINDONChris Packham. Chris Packham goes wild in Swindon with an entertaining and informative look at some of nature’s most popular and interesting species, illustrated with his superb photographs from around the world, he explains the fascinating behaviours of creatures from Leopards to Barn Owls. Wyvern Theatre, July 7. wyverntheatre.org.uk 01793 524481.

Theatre & Cinema

Womad FestivalJuly 24-27

Royal International Air TattooJuly 11-13

Giffords CircusAugust 7-18

The Art Couture FestivalJuly 13.

60 COTSWOLDESSENCE | June - August 2014 www.cotswoldessence.co.ukwww.cotswoldessence.co.uk

The sleepy town of Wotton-under-edge has always had a thriving arts scene; from the Arts Centre (appropriately named Under The edge Arts) to the many and varied amateur artists who garner inspiration from the hills and vales surrounding the town.

But look a little closer and you might see a little ray of Mediterranean sunlight shining from a new gallery on Long Street, where commercial artist Philip hill has transformed a dingy retail unit into a thriving premises where he can not only exhibit his own works, but also share his space with other local artists.

“I’ve always wanted my own gallery in the UK, but I didn’t plan this at all,” says Philip, who spends his summer months on the Greek Island of Lipsi, where he produces much of his work.

“I was in town visiting my brother and just happened to stumble across this empty shop. We were looking through the window when the owner came up behind us and offered to show us round.

“It’s a beautiful property - one of the oldest in Wotton - but I was in a hurry to get back to Greece and so it didn’t go any further. But when I sold my London flat, I realised I no longer had a base in Britain, which is when my thoughts returned to this property and what is now my gallery. All the pieces just seemed to fit into place.”

But there was a fair amount of work to do before the gallery was ready to open.

“We had to rip out all the shop fittings and strip the place right back,” said Philip, who uncovered some interesting and ancient

Let there be light!There has always been an artistic edge to Wotton, but artist Philip Hill is hoping that his new gallery, on Long Street, will shed some

light on the subject, as Jayne Bennett has been finding out.

Artist Philip Hill and Gallery manager Amanda McKnightCOTSWOLD

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61Inspiring life in the Cotswolds 61Inspiring life in the Cotswolds

architectural features during the recent refurbishment, including the ancient archway leading to the property next door, which has now become a major feature of the gallery.

“Many people comment that the colour scheme we have chosen is very unusual, being dark grey rather than white, but when the main lights are off you it really shows off the artworks to their best advantage. It’s a wonderful space.”

And the reason for this is obvious, as light is at the very core of Philip’s work.

Using sculpture in Perspex and acrylic sheet, Philip spends hours carefully crafting and creating spectacular sculptures, both large and small, which can be lit up from within, thereby making them both beautiful and useful.

Drift wood, motor parts, vintage hair dryers and even an old Vespa moped have all been used to form the basis of Philip’s sculpture, and he takes great joy from taking discarded items and breathing new life into them. What’s more, Philip hopes

not only that his artwork will be affordable to many, but that it will also engage and inspire. “I like the idea of working with everyday objects and turning them into an art form,” he says.

“We sold five pieces on the night we held our launch party,” says Philip, referring to some gaps on the shelf, “but I want my art to be accessible and affordable to everyone. For some reason people seem scared to walk into a gallery and just have a look round. I don’t want my place to be like that at all; I want people to come in and have a look round. I want to encourage people. There is nothing here that costs more than £1,000.

“I gauge everything by eye. Some pieces work well with the lights off, some better with lights on. And you don’t need many pieces in a room; one piece is often enough.

“The sculptures are incredibly robust, but they are also beautiful. At night-time, just one piece will simply fill a room with light.”

each piece can take many hours to finish off to Philip’s exacting standards and take enormous physical effort, using a technique

and materials that few artists have been able to master.

“It has been suggested that I could bring my work out to the front of the gallery,” said Philip, “but it is really messy and strenuous work. Most of the time I am breaking the top of my fingers!

“In Greece, I work outside in the courtyard in the sun. here I have the option of a workshop, where I intend to work over the winter. In the summer, I shall be handing things over to the capable care of my gallery manager, Amanda McKnight.

“Most importantly I want to promote art, and I like the idea that by having this gallery we can host events and give other artists exposure, too.

“The permanent work will be all mine, but I am hoping that other artists will always have a presence.”

You can find the Wotton Gallery at 42 Long Street. It is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. For more information, call 01453 845286 or visit www.wottongallery.com

Artist Philip Hill

COTSWOLD

What’s onThe new-wave 80’s band blazed an iconic trail across the 1980’s, led by the charismatic singer songwriter Robert howard (aka Dr Robert). Last year, Cherry Red Records successfully re-issued the band’s first 2 albums with a special “deluxe edition” of the iconic “She Was Only A Grocer’s Daughter” from 1987. Complete with unreleased demos and bountiful remixes, the album features some of the band’s biggest hits including the UK top 5 “It Doesn’t have to Be This Way” plus the BBC banned “Celebrate (The Day After You)” recorded with the late, great Curtis Mayfield.

They are now celebrating the continued success of their critically acclaimed

album Feels like A New Morning with a string of dates over the summer, including the Lechlade Festival.

With all four original members and the wind in their sails, The Blow Monkeys are a “must see” band at the moment. Playing songs from a career that spans three decades they continue to surprise, sparkle and evolve.

From intimate club shows to festivals, the band will be playing all over the UK in the coming months so be sure to keep an eye on their Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/TheBlowMonkeysOfficial

and website www.theblowmonkeys.com

for updates.

The Blow MonkeysThe Blow Monkeys are headlining on the main stage at Lechlade Festival on Sunday May 25.

blazed an iconic trail across the 1980’s, led by the charismatic singer songwriter Robert howard (aka Dr Robert). Last year, Cherry Red Records successfully re-issued the band’s first 2 albums with a special “deluxe edition” of the iconic “She Was Only A Grocer’s Daughter” from 1987. Complete with unreleased demos and bountiful remixes, the album features some of the band’s biggest hits including the UK top 5 “It Doesn’t have to Be This Way” plus the BBC banned “Celebrate (The Day After You)” recorded with the late, great Curtis Mayfield.

album Feels like A New Morning with a string of dates over the summer, including the Lechlade Festival.

With all four original members and the wind in their sails, The Blow Monkeys are a “must see” band at the moment. Playing songs from a career that spans three decades they continue to surprise, sparkle and evolve.

From intimate club shows to festivals, the band will be playing all over the UK in the coming months so be sure to keep an eye on their Facebook

www.facebook.com/TheBlowMonkeysOfficial

and website www.theblowmonkeys.com

for updates.

The Blow MonkeysThe Blow Monkeys are headlining on the main stage at

WIN! A copy of The Pop-Up GymThe standard excuse for not working out is usually “I haven’t got time to go to the gym.”

Well now you don’t have to. The gym can come to you.

The Pop-Up-Gym by Jon Denoris removes all the barriers to exercise. It’s for the “silent majority” of people that don’t feel they belong in the gym but still want to engage with movement, keep fit and be healthy.

It is a handbook and tool to enable people to just get up and move, no equipment necessary. So no more excuses.

So so many of the health issues we have nowadays are lifestyle related, so building healthy habits earlier on in life prevents you becoming the health problem of the future.

By following the six week programme in the book, the author promises you will burn fat and lose weight.

The Pop-Up Gym incorporates high intensity and easier workouts. It is packed with

motivational tips, nutritional information and other useful advice.

It is a tough but sustainable plan that you should be able to use and adapt over time and one that you can carry around with you and use wherever you are, whether travelling on a business trip or on holiday.

By being your own coach, The Pop-Up Gym allows you to go at your own pace and develop habits that support your fitness.

Cotswold essence has 10 copies of The Pop-Up Gym to give away. All you have to do to be in with a chance is answer the question and send your completed coupon to: Cotswold essence/Pop-Up Gym Competition, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1Be to arrive no later than noon on Friday, July 18, 2014

For more details on The Pop-Up Gym go to: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-pop-up-gym-9781408196328/

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Q. How long is the Pop-Up Gym programme?

COTSWOLD

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ThANKS to the overwhelming success of its debut in 2013, the stunning show, organised by Aztec events, will return to the grounds of the Oxfordshire stately home from 20-22 June 20-22.

Packed with inspiration and vibrant colour, the sweet-smelling event will feature more than 150 floral and garden exhibitors. Some of the UK’s finest landscape designers such as Nicholsons, Green Art, Slate Grey and Prime Design will be displaying breath-taking outdoor spaces to showcase their exquisite design work.

On hand to open the three-day show will be horticultural expert Monty Don, best known for presenting the BBC television series Gardeners’ World.

The writer and speaker will be welcoming and sharing his extensive gardening knowledge with visitors.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, June 21, presenter, author and gardener, Joe Swift, will be joined by ITV’s Love Your Garden presenter Frances Tophill in the experts Theatre.

Joe will be talking about landscaping, garden design and home gardening while Frances will be encouraging people to get out into their gardens and to make the most of whatever space they have.

The ever-popular Ground Force television duo Charlie Dimmock and Tomy Walsh

are back in action on Sunday, June 22. Charlie will be entertaining visitors with expert advice on choosing and installing water features and Tommy will be sharing knowledge and tips on various garden building projects.

“No summer flower show could hope for a finer setting than Woodstock’s Blenheim Palace,” said Aztec events director Matt Upson who, given the success of the 2013 show, expects to attract 40 thousand this year.

“Once again we’re expecting visitors of all ages from across the UK and not just keen gardeners. Our show is also popular with those passionate about food, local heritage and the great British outdoors as the elegant palace provides a stunning backdrop to rival those offered by the Chelsea and hampton Court shows,” added Upson.

Built by Vanbrugh and now home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and his family, visitors to the Blenheim Palace Flower Show can also visit the beautiful surrounding landscaped parkland and gardens free of charge. The inspirational World heritage Site, which was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, offers a memorable day out in its own right.

For more information www.blenheimflowershow.co.uk.

Blooming Blenheim Palace Flower Show is set to burst into bloom in June to celebrate the very best of gardening in the UK. By Sue Smith

Charlie Dimmock

Monty Donmarvelous

COTSWOLD

Garden


Charlie Dimmock

The Cotswolds’ own Giffords Circus returns to villages, towns and cities across the county this summer with its latest show The Thunders. Sue Bradley discovers how rehearsals haven’t been the only thing that has been keeping its performers busy. And there’s a chance to win a family ticket to see this spectacular show.

There was a time when Giffords Circus was one of the Cotswolds’ best kept secrets; a joyful and eclectic explosion of gravity-defying feats, sensational high wire stunts, exciting horse riding, hilarious clowns, riveting theatre and adorable farmyard animals, all set against a backdrop of spirit-lifting music and even impassioned opera singing.

But, as is often the case, it’s impossible to keep a good thing quiet, with more and more people making sure that their summers include at least one performance from Giffords’ four-month tour.

Now the number of folks who know about this Cotswolds’ institution has grown even larger after the London-based Ted Baker fashion house used the circus as the backdrop for its spring and summer 2014 look book and magical promotional film ‘Get In On The Act’, which can be viewed on You Tube.

Members of the Giffords Circus company subsequently joined highflying fashionistas, buyers, and journalists for the brand’s 2014 presentation launch, with fire juggling duo Bibi & Bichu working their magic alongside catwalk models.

“We teamed up with Giffords because of its unique home-spun vibe and unbelievable talent,” said a spokesman for Ted Baker.

“The relatively small big top houses

equestrian magic, clowns, tight rope walking that’ll leave you with your heart in your mouth, fire jugglers, opera, and one prima donna goose.

“And that’s not to mention the live musicians, the sad clown and the hapless bear tamer in a constant struggle against his quick-witted charge.

“There’s a charm about Giffords that’s impossible to not love. Full belly laughs from the kids and adults alike make it one of our favourite theatre experiences of last year. Watch out for their upcoming performances – we heartily recommend a visit!”

If all this wasn’t enough, various artistes were in London in the lead up to the festive period to entertain shoppers at the luxury department store Selfridge’s; Tweedy the Clown returned to Cheltenham everyman Theatre to perform in its pantomime and Bibi & Bichu performed alongside pop icons James Arthur and Jessie J at the iconic Oxford Street Christmas lights event.

The magical world of Greek myth and legend is the theme for The Thunders.

Directed by Cal McCrystal, the show promises plenty of Giffords’ iconic high jinks with a hilarious 90-minute swords and sandals show featuring dancing horses, dashing Dalmatians, live music, flying people and jugglers Bibi & Bichu, not forgetting Tweedy the clown and show stealer Brian the goose.

“This show is going where no circus has gone before and aims to be our most extravagant and

glorious to date,” said Cal.Giffords Circus was established in 2000 by

Bourton-on-the-Water-based Nell and Toti

WIN! A family ticket to see Giffords Circus A ......................................................................

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WIN! A family ticket to see Giffords Circus. Cotswold essence has a family ticket for the circus on Friday, September 5 at 6pm at Stratton Meadow, Cirencester. To enter, simply answer this question and send your completed form to: Cotswold essence/Giffords Competition, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1Be to arrive no later than noon on Friday, July 18, 2014

Q: In which Cotswolds town is Giffords Circus based?

Gifford and its billowing big top and signature burgundy and gold showmen’s wagons are now a summer staple on village greens and in market towns and cities all over Gloucestershire and the south west.

The couple source artistes from all over the world, some of whom return for several years, as well as nurturing home-grown talent from around the Cotswolds.

There’s even a 42-seat travelling restaurant serving a three-course dinner to artistes and audience members using seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients.

This year’s tour starts at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe on Friday May 23 and will be visiting a number of locations throughout the Cotswolds, including Cheltenham, Frampton-on-Severn and Minchinhampton before finishing off in Cirencester in September.

For more information about Gifford’s Circus visit www.giffordscircus.com.

COTSWOLD

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BUT on enquiry it turned out the interested purchaser was in sunny Los Angeles, California and had tracked Rachel down on the internet.

“Luckily, her favourite picture, the Owl, was still available,” says Rachel. “It will shortly be flying off to its new home in the USA.”

Like Rachel, the American buyer is from a family who have a keen interest in stamp collecting and fine art.

Stroud-based Rachel has combined those

two great passions to great effect.“I first started making collages some

years ago,” says Rachel. “My parents had been stamp dealers all

my life and when my dad passed away we were left with the task of sorting out an awful lot stock.

Rachel had taken part in Stroud’s Open Studios for many years, exhibiting paintings and oil pastel pictures.

But more recently she has been focusing on the stamp collaging.

“It is certainly a very different art form,” says Rachel. Many people who come to my exhibitions have never before seen anything like it.

“It is only when they study the work closely they realise what I have used to create the image.”

The fusion with her artistic talents and the stamp collections have resulted in some stunning pictures which are now selling the world over.

A couple of orders have recently been

Stamp of approvalWhen artist Rachel Markwick received an email asking if one of her pictures was

still available for purchase she assumed the buyer had seen it at a recent exhibition in Gloucestershire.

By Sue Smith

COTSWOLD

Feature


dispatched to Italy and Australia.“I think my dad would have loved what I

do now,” says Rachel.her subjects are quite wide-ranging. “I love making pictures of ships,” says

Rachel. “But I have also made flags of many countries using their own stamps.”

The Union Jack is of course very popular.“ I’ve made many different versions

including one for the Queen’s Jubilee and one featuring the Beatles,” says Rachel.

Gardens, landmarks and collages inspired by patchwork have also featured in some of her recent work.

“The Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa have created great talking points,” she says.

“ I’ve visited both and loved the challenge of making them, particularly enjoying the search for people on stamps to make the crowds of tourists.” -

her Landmark series is ongoing, having also made pictures of the eiffel Tower, Pyramids and Brandenburg gate.

“ I’m currently tackling Mount Fuji, using mainly Japanese stamps.” Says Rachel.

“ I have many stories to tell based on the stamps I use in my collages and I hope that visitors to my studio always have an interesting experience.”

Rachel’s work is available as greetings cards, prints, canvas and some original work is also for sale.

“I am often asked where I get all the stamps from,” says Rachel. “I think people imagine I have raided valuable stamp collections but I still have stamps going back to my own collection from a young age.

The national flags collages which were exhibited at the Gloucester Guildhall in March this year brought in many enquiries about other country’s flags including the flag of Jamaica.

“I have started making this beautiful black, yellow and green flag to add to the portfolio.

“I love to include iconic images in the flags so I couldn’t possibly leave out Bob Marley,” she says.

Unfortunately stamps commemorating the famo9us reggae star were lacking from Rachel’s stock books but she was lucky enough to receive through the post just what she had been looking for – a set of stamps issued in 1995 on the 50th anniversary of the musician’s birth.

“SO I can now add the final touches to that one,” says Rachel.

Other collages include using the stamps of the celebrated Jamaican bobsled team, the first Jamaicans to take part in a winter Olympics event.

They competed in Calgary in 1988 and the film Cool Runnings told their inspiring story.

Rachel is also working with 1968 cricket stamps issued to commemorate the MCC tour of the West Indies.

“I remember having these in my own childhood stamp collection. The vibrant green of the pitch against the palm trees and blue sky are a striking memory. “

Rachel recently took part in Stroud’s Site Festival and Open Studios which runs until May 31 and she will be at the Tetbury MayFair Art exhibition at the Dolphins hall from Saturday, May 24 -26.

For more examples of Rachel’s work go to: rachelmarkwick.co.uk

Rachel Markwick with some of her work


Hotoff the press

Life-coach, counsellor and author Carrie Rose believes we all have everything we need to be happy – it is just buried under all the stuff that life throws at us.By Sue Smith

How To Get From Here To There Without Going Anywhere

Cotswold Essence has 5 copies of How To Get From Here To There Without Going Anywhere to give away. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the simple question and send your coupon to: Cotswold Essence/Carrie Rose Competition, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1BE to arrive no later than noon on Friday, July 18, 2014.

Q.Which Cirencester bookshop stocks Carrie’s new book?

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From Here To There

heR recently published book, how To Get From here To There Without Going Anywhere debunks the idea that happiness it “out there somewhere” rather than right under our own nose.

“We tend to look for fulfilment in all the wrong places,” says Carrie who is a professional, qualified coach with a post-graduate diploma in psychosynthesis counselling.

Carrie is passionate about helping people. She believes we all have the potential to lead a happier and more rewarding life.

She has been helping women and couples to work through their problems for many years and along the way has helped people to see that they don’t have to look very far to become happy. hence the book.

“Through my work I have discovered how to be happy and I wanted to share that with others,” says Carrie.

“Whatever situation we are in, the one thing we can choose is how we are going to approach things. Are we going to see what is happening as a disaster or are we going to find a way forward?”

her book is very easy to read and down to earth

“There is a lot of myself in it,” says Carrie. “I have tried to keep it light and not full of heavy ideas as can often be the case in books of this nature.”

A former TV script writer, her mother created the hit childrens’ series Biker Grove, which Carrie worked on before becoming an

interior designer and now life counsellor, she laughs when I ask her if her discovery of what makes us happy means she is now happy all the time.

“No, no,” she says, shaking her head. “But I have learned what to do when I am unhappy. I know how to talk to myself and how to work through negative thoughts in my head so that I don’t fall through the black hole.”

For Carrie, it is the simple things that lift her mood and make her happy – being surrounded by nature, a long walk or a run.

“For me it is the awareness of the present moment. Seeing beauty that is all around us, really seeing it and appreciating the now and not what might be out there in the future.

“Different things obviously make others happy – perhaps choosing to be really present with your child,” she says.

“Whatever it is, the thing that makes people really happy will be something they already have but they just don’t realise it. “

“We start off in life as our brand new shiny selves with all our gifts, qualities and unique offerings for the world firmly in place,” Carrie writes in her book.

“If we were to exist in an environment of complete love, support, acceptance and encouragement from day one to adulthood, it would be easy to express ourselves fully.”

But she says: “By the time we’ve reached adulthood most of us have been through challenging, emotional situations and as a result have taken on board all sorts of beliefs about ourselves.”

Carrie believes that these beliefs which shape us later in life can keep us imprisoned in unhappiness and by challenging those beliefs and stripping off the layers that evolve over the years, we can all get back to being that shiny new self without those shackles and will find happiness in our own belief in ourselves.

Carrie currently runs two courses in Cirencester – The BBB Club (Bigger, Bolder, Better) for people who want to have a more rewarding life by making the best possible life choices.

And Passion, Power and Purpose if you are stuck in a rut and your life feels boring and lacking purpose.

How To Get From Here To There Without Going Anywhere is available from Amazon and Waterstones in Cirencester and from Carrie’s own website: www.onelifeyourlifeloveit.com

But she says: “By the time we’ve reached adulthood most of us have been through adulthood most of us have been through challenging, emotional situations and as a result challenging, emotional situations and as a result have taken on board all sorts of beliefs about have taken on board all sorts of beliefs about ourselves.”ourselves.”

Carrie believes that these beliefs which shape us

“Y��’�� go� ��y��n� y�� e�. Y�� us� �i��’� �e��i�� i�.” Glinda, the good witch from The Wizard of Oz


Cotswold Essence columnist, naturopathic nutritional therapist Caroline Peyton gives seasonal tips on how to improve our health and well-being.

COTSWOLD

Nutrition

NO matter what our age we need to take care of our bones. we all know it is important but little seems to be known about what we can do day to day to help ensure good bone health throughout our lives.

Of course we tend to immediately think of calcium and this is an essential mineral since 70 percent of bone is made up of this vital mineral and why we believe that milk and all dairy is an essential part of our diets. But why is it then that many parts of the world such as Asia do not consume dairy (and do not suffer osteoporosis as a result)? And why is it that humans are the only mammals to consume dairy after weaning? I consume very little (other than my one sneaky daily coffee/cappuccino) for many reasons that I don’t have space to go into here.

We need to recognise that a good varied diet will deliver good levels of calcium. For example foods richer in calcium than dairy (per weight) are sardines and spinach and all dark green leafy vegetables are very rich in calcium too. Other good foods are nuts, seeds, eggs and oranges. And there are other good reasons why these foods are important for bone health too as I explain below. In Asia the diet is high in unfermented soya (not the same as Western processed sources) like natto, misu and tempeh, a really good calcium source, hence why they have no reason to consider dairy at all.

We can eat or supplement all the calcium in the world but if we are not also consuming the correct co-factors, then calcium may firstly not get absorbed from

the gut into the bloodstream and then not taken from the blood up into the bone. Research has shown that too much calcium supplementation without the relevant co-factors I describe below may cause calcium to be deposited in other places in the body other than bone and this can cause other health issues.

First of all we need vitamin D (eggs, oily fish, good old fashioned butter) to help absorb calcium into the bloodstream. Sunshine is our number one source though so get outside during the warmer months as much as possible.

Secondly magnesium helps the uptake of calcium from the bloodstream into bone. Without it, calcium may circulate in the blood but not find its way into bones. This is where the dark green leafy vegetables and nuts come into their own (as dairy has a low magnesium content).

There are other considerations such as avoiding tannins (tea) with a meal which may bind to all minerals and cause some to be excreted rather than absorbed. Thee are other types of compounds that may also cause this happen too. This is one area I help clients by looking at their overall dietary intake and lifestyle and working out a more balanced approach.

• Caroline is a recently qualified naturopath as well as an experienced nutritional therapist. She sees clients in Kempsford, Cheltenham and Swindon. Please contact her on 07730 513303, [email protected] for more information. www.peytonprinciples.com

BUILDING STRONG BONES


By Sue Bradley

Here’s what you do:

Ingredients:Courgette and doubleGloucester muffins

By Sue Bradley

THERE’S NO GETTING AWAY FROM IT: BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY AND EATING WELL IN THE MORNING REALLY SETS US UP FOR THE HOURS AHEAD.

SUe Bradley combines her courgette glut with delicious locally-produced cheese, bacon and eggs to make a dish that’s great for breakfast or brunch.

Courgettes are tricky vegetables to grow: they need the right amount of warmth to get them to germinate, while those that do succeed in sticking their first leaves above the soil are at the mercy of marauding slugs and snails.

But for the plants that survive the initial trials that nature throws at them, the challenge lies in how to use the many courgettes that each is capable of producing throughout the later summer months.

Fortunately this is one of the garden’s most versatile vegetables, good for savoury and sweet dishes.

They can be grilled, fried, used in ratatouille or flans or even grated up and baked in a cinnamon-flavoured cake.

Alternatively why not combine them with delicious local ingredients such as Double Gloucester cheese and bacon made from the meat of Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs to create these scrumptious

breakfast muffins that are lovely served with poached eggs.

Double Gloucester is one of our county’s local food success stories. Looking back it’s hard to believe that a product made in Gloucestershire and once shipped all over the world could possibly disappear from its place of its origin, but this is what happened for many years before Charles Martell decided to start making the cheese on his farm in Dymock in the 1970s.

Traditionally created from the milk of Old Gloucester Cattle, whose milk has small fat globules and a high protein content that’s exceptionally well suited to cheese making, Double Gloucester is now produced in several parts of the county.

It gets its distinctive colour from the addition of annatto to the milk, a practice that dates back to the 16th Century. The reason is thought to lie in the high levels of carotene in the grass grazed by cows during the summer months, which would give an orangey hue to the cheese; a colour thought to denote the very best cheese.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4 and grease a muffin tray with oil.

2. Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper, courgette, cheese and thyme.

3. Place the egg, milk and olive oil in a jug or separate bowl and mix together. Add the liquid to the dry mixture and mix together well.

4. Divide the mixture generously between the muffin holes and bake for around 20 to 25 minutes until they are well risen and golden brown.

5. Split the muffins and spread with butter. Serve with a poached egg and a rasher of bacon.

6. Recipe makes a dozen muffins.

• 450g/1lb self-raising flour• 200g/8oz grated courgette• 150g/6oz grated Double Gloucester cheese• 4 pre-cooked and chopped rashers of bacon• 350ml/12fl oz fresh milk• 2 beaten eggs• 2 tsp (2 x 5ml spoon) baking powder • Salt and pepper• 150ml / 5 ½ fl oz olive or rapeseed oil, plus a little extra for greasing • 1 ½ tbsp (1 ½ x 15ml spoon) chopped fresh thyme

To serve: butter, a couple of rashers of bacon per person and an egg.

COTSWOLD

Food

Here’s what you do:


TheRe are now seven cordials in Sam’s range, with enticing names including Blossom Spark (spiced hibiscus) Mulled Sunshine (spiced orange) and Caribbean homecoming (banana, tamarind and ginger).

Cherished Crown (pineapple, lemon and ginger) Glacial Bliss (Thai basil and Lime) and Thai Caress (grapefruit, galangal and lemongrass) are summer favourites, as well as a limited edition of elderflower and pine needles.

Influenced by his Martinique parentage and brought up in France with lots of Creole-style cooking, Sam is passionate about flavours and good, quality, organic ingredients.

Working from his kitchen in Summer Street which has been awarded five stars for hygiene, Sam uses only 100 percent natural ingredients.

“There is nothing refined in my cordials,” he says.

“I use raw sugar and the spices are ground by hand to release the flavours

slowly.“All the citrus juices are squeezed by

hand and everything is heated at very low temperatures so that the flavours remain intact.”

The fruits are then filtered through muslin twice and poured into sterilized bottles.

Sam is self-taught having learned a lot through observation while working as a kitchen porter in London hotels.

“I was always asking the chef to give me jobs to do after my shifts and I was always willing to help out in the kitchens,” he says.

he is constantly scouring preserving books for ideas including his favourite by Canadian nun Soeur Berthe.

Sam put down roots in Stroud 18-months ago where he lives with his partner Katerina and baby daughter Astraia.

he has already made an impact on Stroud’s food afficionados.

he started out putting leaftlets through doors offering a delivery service of fresh breads and cordials.

And he was happy to leave it at that but two of his customers Douglas and Susan Maxwell were so impressed after putting in their order they decided more people should have the chance to taste them.

They introduced him to the hill family at Sunshine health Shop in Stroud’s Church Street and the cordials are now flying off the shelves.

The hill family have been helping to promote the cordials and design the labels and are currently developing the marketing concepts for a number of new products soon to be available at the shop.

They are particularly excited about a West-Indian spiced hot chocolate dry mix which Sam has adapted from the hot chocolate his mum used to make for him.

Sam delivers a range of organic breads around Stroud as well as homemade pizza bases and frozen vegetarian and vegan meals.

For more information call Sam on 07898 663806 or Kat on 07958 211936 or email [email protected].

A recipe for successStroud cordial producer, Sam Angelo has a taste for the finer things in life and one hot summer when he needed a thirst-quenching drink there was nothing on the market that appealed to him. He spoke to Sue Smith about mixing up his own syrup with spices and

fruits and thus sparking a growing business producing handmade exotic cordials.

COTSWOLD

Food


IT was a crisp spring day with a chill in the air but the sun was shining for the first time after a grey and wet spell and the bar was four-deep at lunchtime.

Well-heeled looking customers perused the menus as a couple of thirsty dogs lapped up the water in the dog bowls at the entrance and enjoyed the complimentary dog biscuits.

Business was bustling but stepping

through a door to the restaurant, a calm descended and an army of smiling, helpful staff seemed to morph out of nowhere.

The stunning dining room seats 50 and exudes and easy, laid-back style. Ancient, exposed oak beams and oak timber flooring are complemented by subdued colours on the walls in blue denim, greys and greens with checks and velvets on the dining chairs and old books on the window ledges in glass

domes.Copper and stone artefacts set the scene

for a long-leisurely lunch as lazy jazz played in the background.

Soon a jug of refreshing water delicately flavoured with cucumber appeared on the table as we struggled to make some choices from the tempting, robust menu.

For starters we settled on a generous plate of smoked salmon with horseradish,

Steeped in history...It claims to be England’s oldest inn, dating back to 947AD and the scratched symbols on the 16th Century inglenook fireplace in the dining room are said to ward off witches. Sue

Smith visited the slightly quirky boutique hotel, The Porch House, at Stow-on-the-Wold and discovered a modern and contemporary gastronomic experience.

COTSWOLD

Food


watercress and crispy shallot rings for my companion and croquet of goat’s cheese on top of celery roasted and pureed beetroot for me.

To follow, a fish pie was presented in a caste-iron pan with a handle set beside a small earthenware bowl full of kale.

My seabream with greens was fine in texture and bursting with flavour.

Other dishes on the regularly changing seasonal menu created by head chef, Stephen Small, could include roast wood pigeon with butternut squash and apple tart and wild mushrooms or confit pork belly with black sausage, spinach and goose fat potatoes.

Dessert is something I can normally take or leave but having spotted what was coming out of the kitchen to some of the other tables, we couldn’t resist.

Apple crumble with cinnamon custard and a cheeseboard with celery, apple and biscuits were both washed down with a glass of port.

When the coffee arrived it came in a pot with its own individual miniature milk bottles.

The hotel in the centre of this pretty Cotswold town was only re-opened in 2013, having previously been a local boozer and within five months it had been awarded the highest accoclades by AA Guide

inspectors – five gold stars for guest accommodation , two rosettes for the restaurant and a breakfast award.

The Porch house is a duvet sort of place where customers are immediately scooped up and wrapped warmly in an atmosphere of helpful efficiency and attention to detail.

All cares are quickly left at the door on arrival and time takes on a different pace. This is not a place to rush into for a quick bite as there is more than the food to savour.

The hotel suffered a terrible fire earlier this year which took 40 firefighters seven hours to contain.

But the kitchen is now back up and running and a series of special events have been planned including a garden party on Sunday, May 25.

On Sunday, June 1, head chefs from three pubs in the group, including The Porch house will travel down to Brixham to join the fishing boats the next morning for some serious fishing to then travel back with their catch to prepare in their own kitchens for a Coast to Table evening on Monday, June 2.

The Porch house is at Digbeth Street, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1BN. Tel 01451 870048 [email protected] www.porch-house.co.uk

One of the bedrooms

cheese board

dining room

Creedy Carver duck breast, horseradish mash, roast root vegetables, thyme and garlic sauce

Post all entries to Cotswold Essence (name of competition) 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 1BE

ThIS is the time of year when we start thinking holidays in the sun. But if you need to shed a few pounds before you start shedding your clothes, Cotswold essence is offering a helping hand to get you started.

WeightWatchers is adding to its hugely successful mini series with four additional titles.

And we have seven sets, worth £30 each, to give away. Published by Simon & Schuster, each book is beautifully illustrated with 60 photographs of recipes, and ingredients and are the perfect size to slip in a handbag or pocket.

As well as the four mini books: Best-ever Chicken, Classic Curries, Meals in 30 Minutes and Perfect Pasta, we are also including the new WeightWatchers’ Seriously Satisfying with 130 mouth-watering recipes from breakfast and brunch ideas, family meals and cooking for one as well as desserts. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a set of five books is answer the simple question:

WIN! A series of Weight Watchersmini cook books

A ................................................................................................

Name ........................................................................................

Address ....................................................................................

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Daytime tel no .......................................................................

Q. How many recipes are included in the Seriously Satisfying book fromWeightWatchers?

Send your answer on the completed coupon to Cotswold essence/Weight Watchers Competition, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1Be to arrive no later than noon on Friday, July 4, 2014

A series of Weight Watchersmini cook

ThIS is the time of year when we start thinking holidays in the sun. But if you need to shed a few pounds before you start shedding your clothes, Cotswold essence is offering a helping hand to get you started.

mini cook books

of Weight Watchersmini cook

mini series with four additional titles.

away. Published by Simon & Schuster, each book is beautifully illustrated with 60 photographs of recipes, and ingredients and are the perfect size to slip in a handbag or pocket.

Classic Curries, Meals in 30 Minutes and Perfect Pasta, we are also including the new WeightWatchers’

pounds before you start shedding your clothes, Cotswold essence is offering a helping hand to get you started.

Pasta, we are also including the new WeightWatchers’ Seriously Satisfying with 130 mouth-watering recipes from breakfast and brunch ideas, family meals and cooking for one as well as desserts. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a set of five books is answer the simple question:

Q. How many recipes are included in the Seriously Satisfying book fromWeightWatchers?

Send your answer on the completed coupon to Cotswold essence/Weight Watchers Competition, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1Be to arrive no later than noon on Friday, July 4, 2014

Pasta, we are also including the new WeightWatchers’ Seriously Satisfying with 130 mouth-watering recipes from breakfast and brunch ideas, family meals and cooking for one as well as desserts. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a set of five books is

COTSWOLD

CompsCOTSWOLD

COTSWOLDDrinkBy Simon Thomson, Managing DirectorTalking Wines, Cirencester.

eASTeRN europe has had a reputation for producing dismal wines for many years, but things are changing. Wines of great quality are beginning to emerge from countries that had been behind the iron curtain for half a century.

Under the communist years the state took over wine production which led to large volume production of poor quality wine. It was not possible to produce hand crafted wines and reputations were lost. however things are now changing. Good quality inexpensive wines are emerging from where once only drab wines were made.

One challenge wine producers had to overcome was to buy land

large enough for a commercially viable vineyard. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, land was returned to the original owners. Tracking down the owners or their descendants, many of whom had emigrated or died without descendants was a difficult task. Pockets of land had to be acquired one by one to put together a vineyard.

Now Romania is producing inexpensive good quality wine from international grape varieties such as the Pinot Noir from Calusari vineyards. Romania lies on the same latitude as France with many varying soil types and two mountain ranges providing local micro climates to suit particular

grapes.Bulgaria is producing

some outstanding wines, with the enira vineyard a good example of how some wonderful complex wines are being produced. hungary and Slovenia are two other countries making great strides with indigenous grape varieties as well as the more familiar international ones.

The next step for these countries is to persuade more wine drinkers to explore these less well known and often difficult to pronounce grapes to add to the more familiar names. Maybe you could seek out one or two yourself to join the exploration.

THE RISE OF THE EASTeASTeRN europe has

THE RISE OF THE EAST


The Manor is quite rightly proud of its 900-year-old history. The 25 bedrooms with their sumptuous beds and grand furniture are more synonymous with the great stately homes of a bygone era where a maid would be on hand to unpack the luggage delivered to the room by the footman.

We arrived in the floods of February and as we drove up the sweeping driveway we could see the trees on either side reflected in great pools of water.

But inside it was a world away from the storms enveloping the country. Nothing was penetrable through those solid, thick walls.

Feet soon disappeared into luxurious pile carpets and up a great swirling staircase until the door was opened on to a room that in comparison to some modern hotels would give Wembley Stadium a run for its money.

An enormous velvet sofa beckoned beside

which a table stood with a selection of home-made chocolates on a slate along with a bowl of fruit and bottled water.

There was a decanter of sherry for a preprandial drink, the fluffiest bath robes and myriad luxury bath and body goodies in an en-suite bathroom easily capable of sheltering a small family.

Botanical prints on the walls and on the cushions on the bed in soft-muted colours were offset by heavy, thick silk curtains behind which the leaded windows looked out onto a vast expanse housing a hidden knot garden, a croquet lawn and a series of terraces for summer drinks and snacks.

Two lambs sculpted out of grass on the lawn are guaranteed to raise a smile.

The rooms have names such as Osney Abbey, Rycote and Lord William and as often the way in many of these elegant

places it is sometimes a wrench to leave the luxury of the room when only on a flying visit.

But Bertie’s Bar did not disappoint. The bar was named in honour of the Bertie family who took possession of the Manor in the 18th Century.

The olive green walls and soft rose coloured chairs all bathed in subdued lighting was just the place to enjoy a cocktail.

There is even a Bertie’s Breakfast Martini made of pink grapefruit, vodka, citrus liquers and homemade orange marmalade all shaken to perfection.

Casual snacks in the bar include sandwiches made from the finest Montgomery cheese.

eat either in the bar, the Baron’s hall with its linen-fold oak panelling or on the

Luxury at its bestGuests are invited to treat the Manor Hotel at Weston-on-the-Green like their own home and not stand on ceremony. And what a grand home it turns out to be if you are lucky enough to

stay there, as Sue Smith found out on a recent visit

COTSWOLD

Food

81Inspiring life in the Cotswolds 81Inspiring life in the Cotswolds

terrace if the weather permits. We ate surrounded by tapestries and a minstrel’s

gallery half expecting a musician with a lute to appear at anytime.

Two type of Irish butter arrived with the bread- unsalted nutty that looked like a Walnut Whip and plain, unsalted, equally gorgeous.

The bread had barely made it out of the oven before being consumed.

The chef’s special that day was Orkney pancea with scallops which came with textured cauliflower and cauliflower puree.

The quail with red cabbage was an explosion of taste and as tender as a freshly picked pea.

A sorbet of sharp lime kept the palette expectant and delighted with the arrival of Galloway beef and roasted Loch Dart Salmon.

Breakfast the next day was in the Morning Room , a beautiful Georgian addition to the Manor added by Peregrine Bertie in the 18th Century.

It was bathed in sunlight, the storms of the previous

night long forgotten, and we read newspapers and ate under glass chandeliers under the watchful eye of various ancestors staring out from the oil paintings on the wall.

The Manor, sitting as it does on the borders of Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds is a fabulous weekend escape.

The gardens are designed to celebrate the changing seasons with a lavender walk in the summer and woodlands in the winter.

The heated outdoor azure swimming pool is often the scene for private parties with its barbecue area and if you are feeling really energetic why not borrow some racquets and balls from reception and have a game of tennis on the newly created hard court.

Nearby is the beautiful city of Oxford with its dreaming spires, golf club and polo park and the famous Bicester shopping village as well as Blenheim Palace.

We left feeling as though we had stepped briefly into a luxurious world when the finer things in life were expected and desired to nurture the soul.

As we wended our way out of the grounds my companion looked back and said wistfully: “It’s a long time since I have been to a proper hotel like that .”

I sincerely hope it won’t be the last.The Manor at Weston-on-the-Green

is at Northampton Road 0X25 3QL. Tel 01869 350621


Hotels are all about people. It can be the most luxurious, uber-chic building with the toweling robes and linen to

die for but without good people to make you feel welcomed – and spoilt – it is nothing.

By Marianne Sweet

Where memories are madeCOTSWOLD

Food


FROM the moment you step into the lobby of Soar Mill Cove - that is after you regain your composure from the breath-taking views – you are made to feel welcome.

It’s not that superficial “have a nice day” welcome but a genuine interest in you the person and the how team can make your break extra special. It also helps that you are welcomed with a traditional cream tea.

Memories of my first visit to Soar Mill almost a decade ago remain rosy and vivid. We were late arriving after a horrific day at work and an equally horrific journey. We were too late for dinner.

We were treated to a feast in our room complete with a lovely crisp bottle of white wine. The cares of our day fell away. The care and attention to making us feel welcomed then stayed with me.

Soar Mill has had a major refurbishment since then (if only it was as easy for me) and everywhere from the lounge to the rooms are tastefully decorated and pleasant.

Ours overlooked the sea and I must admit I whiled away hours watching the squalls build and break over the water to be followed by apocalyptic beams of sunshine.

Soar Mill Cove is set in 10 acres of South hams coastland with direct access to the SouthWest Coast Path. The hotel has been run by the Makepeace family for 35 years.

Keith, who is the present owner, grew up in the hotel, helping his parents from the age of nine. By the time he was 22 he was head chef following in his mother’s footsteps.

his parents, Keith and Norma, discovered Soar Mill Cove through an advert in a catering magazine for a cook. They moved to Devon and eventually took over the guest house turning it into a hotel.

The staff are like an extended family with many being there for more than a decade. left Kent to move to the Devon coast. They fell in love with Soar Mill and stayed. I can understand why.

head Chef Ian MacDonald is one of those long-serving team members and has a magic touch in the kitchen. he is passionate about seasonal and local food. During our stay we feast on line-caught sea bass, Salcombe crab, Brixham plaice and Start Bay hand-dived scallops.

I could wax lyrical for columns about what came out of Ian’s kitchen though I apparently gave him a fright when I asked him to recommend what I should eat on my first night. he suggested crab to start and then sea bass steam over Soar Bay chowder – he was very wise.

Then there is breakfast. One of those meals that can make or break your hotel stay. A full english or anything beyond porridge is an indulgence. how

often have I sat down full of anticipation to be sadly disappointed.

Soar Mill’s breakfasts are wonderful. They are tasty and hot and escape that “full of fat” taste or texture. The traditional breakfast was a joy. The cheese and mushroom omelet was simply perfect – light, airy and with tasty cheddar not some bland plastic.

Another new addition since my last visit to Soar Mill is the spa, saltwater pool and gym. The spa is ideal as a massage is just what you want after an invigorating day of coast walking.

I opted for some serious relaxation with a 90-minute sea spa salt body glow exfoliation and conditioning massage. The therapist started with using an exfoliation brush on my winter weary body before applying a salt scrub full of relaxing oils. Then I washed it off in the shower and enjoyed a 45-minute body massage. So relaxed I was that you could

have poured me back into my room.

If you fancy a bit of independence Soar Mill also provide self-catering accommodation. West Soar is a five-bedroom farmhouse complete with den and sea views. There are also two new two and three-bedroom self-catering retreats next to the hotel.

Soar Mill also welcomes dogs. As with their staff, Soar Mill has incredibly loyal guests. Many of those staying while we were there were seasoned Soar Mill customers who return when their batteries need recharging.

As I sipped my cocktail watching the twilight settle into the clear horizon I understood perfectly why this is a place return to.Soar Mill Cove HotelNr SalcombeSouth Devon TQ7 3DST: 01548 561566www.soarmillcove.co.ukRooms from £149 (bed and breakfast per room per night)


ThIS year’s Cotswold Show on July 5 & 6 at Cirencester Park has a brand new attraction - a Food Festival.

Food and drink have always been a big part of the Show but this year’s Festival will see more than 100 stallholders in three, joined marquees.

The Festival is being supported by BITe in association with The Cotswold Table who will bring food and drink suppliers, as well as artisan potters and tableware providers, and Taste of the West who have a fabulous array of members from the Cotswolds and throughout the Westcountry.

This year’s show promises to be a bumper, action-packed weekend and sees the return, by popular demand, of the Monster Truck Display

Just the sheer power in crushing cars is awesome and definitely a crowd pleaser, especially with children.

Other Bathurst arena acts include the fun and frenetic Shetland Pony Grand National, with the qualifying round for the world famous Olympia horse Show being held at the Show.

The Quack Pack will showcase the agility of Border Collies in a sheepdog display with Indian Runner ducks, providing an entertaining, educational and interactive demonstration.

The Apsley Arena will once again be the centre of countryside pursuits including a display of

working horses, gundog training and sheep racing. New this year is a fascinating display of bushcraft skills.

Also on the 100 acre site will be a Falconry Village with 30 birds of prey in stunning aerial displays, a Living Working Countryside area with demonstrations of traditional crafts and some for adults and children to have a go at.

There will also be are clay pigeon competitions, the Queen Anne Cup Scurry Competition for working gun dogs and lots more.

Fun for children will include go-karts, giant inflatables, trampolines, donkey rides, fun fair and tree climbing. There is also a new activity tent for younger children.

Dogs are welcome to the show and even have their own activities including an agility course and a fun dog show.

Other animals include rare breeds from Butts Farm, an area displaying all aspects of farming alpacas, a meerkat display and a fascinating new attraction for horse lovers from the Practical horsemanship.

Food and drink is a big part of the Show and this year’s inaugural Food Festival will see more than 100 foodie stallholders in three, joined marquees. There will also be Cotswold street food on offer to add to a wide range of delicious picnic options.

• www.cotswoldshow.co.uk

WIN! Two family tickets to the Cotswold Show

Post all entries to Cotswold Essence (name of competition) 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 1BE

Cotswold essence has two family tickets to give away to this event. All you have to do to be in with a chance is answer the simple question and send the completed coupon to: Cotswold essence Competition, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1Be to arrive no later than noon on Friday, June 20, 2014.

Q. How many food stallholders will be at the Cotswold Show this year?

A ...........................................................................................................................

Name ...................................................................................................................

Address ...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................

Daytime tel no ...................................................................................................

Two family WIN!

This year sees the

arrival of a brand

new food festival!

working horses, gundog training

tickets to the Cotswold Show

new food festival!

COTSWOLD

CompsCOTSWOLD

COTSWOLD

Motors

ThAT’S why the smart and intuitive technologies in Ford Fiesta work with just the press of a button or the sound of your voice.

You will find a whole host of cutting-edge features directly at your fingertips, including Bluetooth with Voice Control, MP3 and USB connectivity, as well as a few Sony Dab digital radio, to name but a few.

So every time you drive a Fiesta, you will enjoy a truly effortless journey.

Like a brand new smartphone, the Ford Fiesta combines contemporary style, with state-of-the-art technology.

And every feature’s designed to help you get the most out of your day.

With Ford SYNC you can select a music track from USB or MP3/IPOD, or stream it from your mobile via Bluetooth connectivity. The system enables you to make and receive calls using simple

voice commands. Additionally, SYNC even

reads your text messages aloud, and responds by using pre selected commands, enabling you to stay connected to friends and family while on the move.

You won’t have to stop for fuel too often either: the award-winning 1.0 ecoBoost petrol engine combines satisfying power with exceptional fuel-efficiency of up to 65.7 mpg.

A range of innovative technologies will make driving safe, comfortable, entertaining, and fun. And the car comes in a range of 12 striking colours.

Bear Street, Wotton-Under-edge now has the new Ford Focus 1.0 125ps on its demonstration fleet and it is available to test drive.

With the same amount of power as the current 1.6 and up 58.9 mpg on the combined cycle it really does need to be driven to be believed.

WE ALL WANT TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES LIFE EASIER

Bear Street Garage is a family-owned and run Ford dealership with a petrol station and car wash, covering the area s of Gloucestershire, Bristol and the Cotswolds.

cotswold esscence june-august 2014

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